PETTY'S GARAGE NOW TURNING OUT CUSTOM MACHINES

The change at 311 Branson Mill Road in Level Cross, N.C., a facility that has produced more race winners than any other shop in the history of NASCAR, is amazing. The employees of a newly-formed Petty's Garage are transplanting that legacy of success into a new endeavor producing performance automobiles there. The first car from the historic garage will be a custom 2009 Dodge Challenger to be sold for charity at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in January 2010.



"For 61 years, Petty Enterprises built, engineered and raced some of the most-historic cars in all of NASCAR right from this shop," said 'The King' Richard Petty. "You're talking about Plymouth Belvederes, Superbirds, Road Runners, Torino's and Dodge Chargers. When racecars went from being a purely production car to a car built from the ground up, or modified, solely for racing, many of them came out of Level Cross. We are proud of what we were able to accomplish here and it was important for us to keep this place going."





Over the years, Petty Enterprises garnered 268 wins in what is now the Sprint Cup Series, ten championships and nine Daytona 500 wins from this facility. Now, Petty's Garage will focus on the manufacturing of performance vehicles, including the "museum-quality" restoration of vintage race vehicles, custom cars and high performance street vehicles. The first complete car project is the build of a Dodge Challenger to be sold at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in January of 2010 by the Petty Family Foundation (PFF). The proceeds of the sale will benefit the PFF and the charities it supports.



Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces "The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™" in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas and Orange County, Calif. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind insurance offering for collector vehicles and other valued belongings.





"Richard Petty made a huge impact at our Scottsdale event earlier this year when he helped sell another MOPAR for charity," stated Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "We're pleased that he chose one of our world class automotive lifestyle events to showcase the shop's talents and raise money for such a fantastic charity. It will be truly a historic event where someone will get to own a well-documented car built by the one and only, Richard Petty."





The 2009 Dodge Challenger was completely disassembled and placed on a rotisserie so it could be painted the trademark Petty Blue by BASF R ̶ M. Reassembly included a Late Model 426 Hemi by Arrington Engines with 585 hp, Pedders suspension upgrades, Brembo Gran Turismo brakes, a new Corsa Exhaust system with a Petty's Garage custom center exhaust exit and refinished all of the suspension to Petty Parts Blue by BASF R ̶ M. Body Modifications consisted of a Petty's Garage custom front fascia and rear bumper cover, Petty's Garage custom rocker panels, rear spoiler and Petty's Garage branded interior seats and door panels.





"This Challenger is special to me because I wanted to build something that I would drive on a daily basis," stated Petty. "I wanted the car to have a race car look, but be functional on the street and I think the guys really captured that. But most importantly it provides our foundation with the platform to help our Veterans, children with life threatening illness and our neighbors in need. Everyone at Petty's Garage is excited about getting this Challenger to Barrett-Jackson in January. I think it will do well when we get there. It definitely shows our capabilities and the auction will put us in front of the right people to show what we can do."

More Photos

GRAN TURISMO® AWARDS' "BEST OF SHOW" WINNER RACES AWAY WITH THE PRIVILEDGE TO BE FEATURED IN THE WORLD'S BEST-SELLING RACING FRANCHISE

Seventh Annual Awards Ceremony at SEMA Show Celebrates Car Culture by Honoring Automotive Excellence in Six Categories

LAS VEGAS, November 6, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) hosted its seventh annual Gran Turismo® Awards at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas last night to embrace the passion of customizing cars and showcase the efforts in the Gran Turismo® franchise, one of the top-selling video game franchises of all time with more than 53 million units shipped worldwide. Once a year, the Gran Turismo Awards offer SEMA show exhibitors the opportunity to be included among the ranks of the famed Gran Turismo racing franchise, as one car is chosen to be added to a future Gran Turismo title and driven virtually by millions across the globe. Many entries were received for this year's Gran Turismo Awards, but only one vehicle will be immortalized in Gran Turismo. After deliberation from the judges panel and Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi himself, the 2009 prestigious "Best in Show" was awarded to "Best Hot Rod" winner, Philip Koenen for his 1970 Ford Mustang "Trans-Cammer."

"The Gran Turismo Awards continue to seek out and reward automotive enthusiasts who demonstrate passion for outstanding design and performance, while also celebrating a strong collaboration with the gaming industry," said Kazunori Yamauchi, famed creator of the Gran Turismo franchise and President of Polyphony Digital. "We have been very pleased with the high quality of vehicles vying for the award the past seven years, and look forward to having this 1970 Ford Mustang 'Trans-Cammer' join our list of distinguished past winners as part of the Gran Turismo franchise."

The GT Award winning vehicles from the past two years, Brian Filoteo's high- performance Infinity G37 from 2008 and Marcel Horn's HPA Audi TT from 2007, were both available for guests to test drive in the latest version of Gran Turismo 5® shown at the event. Previous Gran Turismo Award winners can now be raced in past installments of the Gran Turismo series, including Gran Turismo®5 Prologue, available exclusively on the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system.


About Judging For The Gran Turismo Awards

Prior to SEMA 2009, all exhibitors were invited to enter their vehicles into the Gran Turismo Awards, which honor five different categories comprised of: "Best Domestic Automobile," "Best European Import," "Best Hot Rod," "Best Asian Import," and "Best Truck/SUV." Judges consisted of various respected automotive journalists representing media outlets such as Motor Trend, European Tuner, and Import Tuner, with judging for each category based on a balance between performance, style, and speed. amauchi then bestows the "Best in Show" award honor to one of these five category winners.


About the Gran Turismo Award Winners

The seventh annual Gran Turismo Awards ceremony was held at the Palms Resort & Casino's Rain Nightclub, international Las Vegas hot spot and celebrity playground. Award winners, automotive industry VIP's and party guests were treated to a blistering live performance by California punk band The Offspring and music by DJ Z-Trip. Guests were also invited to test drive Gran Turismo 5 and the recently released Gran Turismo for PSP.

Koenen's "Trans-Cammer" received the "Best Hot Rod" award, and in addition to winning "Best of Show," we will have the honor of seeing this 1970 Ford Mustang in full high-definition glory as part of the automotive stable of a future Gran Turismo property. The "Best Truck/SUV" honor was presented to Scott Bailey and Tony Vanillo's Ford F250 Unlimited 2 Class short-course race truck. The "Best Asian Import" award was given to Chris Rado's World Racing Unlimited Front-Wheel-Drive Time Attack Scion TC.

The "Best European Import" award was given to KC Howet's 2009 Underground Racing Lamborghini LP560-4TT. The final category for "Best Domestic Automobile" was awarded to Nicholas Ashby's Moment Carbon Camaro.


About the Gran Turismo® Franchise

With more than 53 million units shipped worldwide, the award-winning Gran Turismo® franchise for the PlayStation®, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) is regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulator ever created due to its true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and design. Since the inception of the Gran Turismo franchise, famed creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to showcase their products.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated all Gran Turismo properties "E" for Everyone. For more information about the ESRB, please visit www.esrb.org.


About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
# # #
Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com
More Photos

Meguiar’s Introduces Wraptivo Designer Car Wraps

Irvine, Calif. (November 3, 2009) – In the age of ultimate personalization, Meguiar's®, the leader in surface care technology, announced today the introduction of Wraptivo™, a line of designer car wraps allowing consumers to create a one-off temporary skin that transforms the outer shell of their vehicles.

Wraptivo allows consumers to modify their cars in an interchangeable and fun way, without the commitment and cost of full body paint. Dull vehicles are transformed into bold personalized creations with Wraptivo's safe, thin adhesive-backed film in as little as 4-8 hours. A limitless palette of customization opportunities, including personal photos, licensed logos and patterns, exist through a state-of-the-art Customizer accessible online, For the first time, Wraptivo will provide the US automotive consumer with the ability to choose textured finishes, such as chrome, carbon and matte.


Wraptivo's Customizer provides individuals with the ability to have absolute creative control to configure and modify the outside shell of their car, ultimately producing a four-wheeled work of art from the privacy of their very own computer.

Meguiar's will preview this bold new technology during the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show by showcasing a Scion xB and a 2009 Mustang wrapped in different-themed Wraptivo skins each day. At the Wraptivo booth (24643), the company will also have an online customizer that will allow attendees to design, produce and share their own Wraptivo designer car wraps with friends.

Meguiar's Wraptivo is not for consumers who believe a vehicle is simply a mode of transportation, but rather for those who view their car as an extension of individual style. This product gives fans of racing, fashion, sports or pop culture a platform to showcase and show off their interests and personalities on any and all parts of their ride. "From the mild to the wild, anything is possible with Wraptivo," said automotive stylist and Wraptivo spokesperson, RJ de Vera.

De Vera adds, "Our goal at SEMA is to give our audience a sneak peek into something progressive, fresh, and exciting in the automotive world. Consumers now have the ultimate tool to let their minds create limitless customization. Who needs anything typical or run-of-the-mill when you can let your imagination run wild on your hood, truck or roof? With Wraptivo, you can be as understated or loud as you wish, separating yourself from your neighbors and everyone else at a red light."

Meguiar's will also hold a contest for the most creative wrap designed in the Wraptivo booth through its state-of-the-art Customizer during the SEMA Show. Two free wraps will be awarded; one for the most creative 2009 Mustang wrap design and the second for the most creative 2009 Scion xB wrap design. The online customizers will be showcased in the Wraptivo booth, #24643, at the Las Vegas Convention Center this November 3-6. Wraptivo customization will soon be available to car enthusiasts with a passion for personalization at www.Wraptivo.com.
More Photos

SEMA Show: 1962 Corvette C1-RS is a worthy Goodguys Street Machine of the Year

Columbus, OH - In the world of custom automobiles a car comes along every five to ten years that represents a sea change, raising the bar to seemingly unreachable new heights. It happened again in Columbus, Ohio at the Goodguys 12th PPG Nationals when Phil and Jeremy Gerber and the Roadster Shop team debuted their "C1RS" '62 Corvette for customer Barry Blomquist. From the moment the car was uncovered gasps and gawks came over the masses. The performance automotive scene hasn't seen a car quite like this. Both Blomquist and the Gerber's beamed proudly as the car was unanimously named 2009 Goodguys/Air Ride Technologies "Street Machine of the Year."


Designed by the Roadster shop and artist Eric Brockmeyer, Blomquists's "C1RS" Corvette is a striking blend of hand formed aluminum and carbon fiber built in step with today's F-1 race cars. It also served as the launch platform for The Roadster Shop's new C1 line of Corvette chassis. Mated with Detroit Speed & Engineering suspension components, Brembo 14 ½" 6-piston brakes and one off custom spindle mount Forgeline wheels, the car's ground hugging underpinnings served it well in the mandatory Autocross competition at the Goodguys PPG Nationals (Street Machine of the Year award criteria calls for all participants to log at least 3 laps on the Autocross course). With Phil Gerber doing the driving the 'Vette posted the fastest lap of the event in 32.222 effortless seconds. Onlookers claimed it looked like the car was merely out for a Sunday drive while blowing the doors off the other 31 Street Machine of the Year competitors.


Under the hand-formed hood lies the heart of the beast – a 618 horsepower LS7 by Turnkey Engines producing 640ft lbs of torque. Custom stainless 2-inch primary headers emit a throaty roar and the Bowler T-56 transmission gets it flying in a hurry.

Aesthetically, the cars low, smooth lines give it spectacular curb appeal. Everything on the 'Vette has been changed, massaged, smoothed and redesigned by The Roadster Shop staying true to Brockmeyer's original design. The entire front end is custom formed from sixty-thousandths sheet aluminum including all grills, grille surrounds, front bumper and grille bar. One off headlights with billet trim rings, carbon fiber side louvers, a recessed cove and a completely restyled rear end would make even Zora Arkus Duntov envious.


Being a roadster, the car's interior plays a dominant roll in its overall look and feel. The custom formed seats are adorned in Italian red leather with Alcantara suede accents. The aluminum dash is hand-sculpted to perfection housing Classic Instruments carbon fiber gauges. The waterfall center console was also made by hand and the F-1 inspired foot pedals would make former Ferrari team driver Michael Schumacher feel right at home.

The C1RS Corvette not only won the world's biggest award for a performance Street Machine, it allowed The Roadster Shop team to realize their full potential. "We've had this car in our minds for a long time," Jeremy Gerber smiled. "Our guys at the shop worked tirelessly over an entire year getting this car to Columbus. Barry Blonquist gave us the resources and opportunity to build our vision. We're thankful to win this award for Barry and the Roadster Shop."


The top five finalists for this year's Goodguys/Air Ride Technologies Street Machine of the Year included Nathan Powell, Birmingham, AL 1969 Camaro, Devan Glissmeyer, Salt Lake City, UT 1968 Mustang, Barry Blomquist, Onalaska, WI 1962 Corvette, Bryan Frank, Scotts Bluff, NE 1969 Pontiac Trans Am and Tom Boldry, Kansas City, MO 1969 Dodge Charger.
More Photos

SEMA Show: HPP Daytona is one big Hot Wheels toy

Yes, it's a new Dodge Challenger wearing a Charger Daytona costume, but updated for today's muscle car aficionados. Under the hood sits a standard 5.7-liter HEMI V8, further proving the point that when it comes to the Daytona/Superbird, it's what's on the outside that counts! Luckily for us, HPP did a pretty decent job on the outside.


While we're positive that it's the same dimensions as the mondo-sized Daytona/Superbird wing, the new Challenger's trunk is about half the length of the Sixties/Seventies cars. Meaning it looks... not quite right. Also, this Mopar muscle car has grown so much since forty years ago that the car is just screaming for more wing. But we'll still happily take one, as the HPP Daytona was/is totally worth the hunt.



The nose cone works, and works well. Here comes the hate mail, but this author thinks the nose actually looks better than the original 1969 Charger Daytona's does. Here's a pic for reference. To be fair, the HPP's schnoz is actually much more like a Plymouth Superbird's than the Dodge. The wheels are great, the fake vents on the door are bad, the stance is right... and then we get to the rear wing.
More Photos

Local Motors Premiers the Rally Fighter Off-Road Desert Racer at SEMA

The Off-Road Racer designed for car enthusiasts, by car enthusiasts is debuted at the biggest industry event of the year at SEMA, in the 'Making Green Cool Zone'

It's one of the most exciting cars to hit the road in ages. Aggressive, sleek and inspired by old War Birds, the Local Motors Rally Fighter has the heritage of legacy with fresh appeal.

The story of this vehicle is in its revolutionary yet simple development process - it was designed and developed by a community of car enthusiasts. New American car company Local Motors invites anyone with a passion for cars to collaborate in an open design process to help choose and shape the look of each Local Motors vehicle. Now home to over 4,000 car designers, engineers and enthusiasts, the Local Motors community is the largest of its kind - and the only to bring a new car to market.


The Rally Fighter is a premium, authentic off-of-road experience, custom designed and built for the deserts of the American Southwest. It was designed by community member Sangho Kim while many Local Motors' members participated in the open development process. Together with the company they helped collaborate on body design details, side vent creation, interior and even accessory design.

Undiluted design, power and efficiency is the result. The Rally Fighter is powered by a BMW 3.0 liter twin-turbo clean diesel sporting 265 ponies and a striking 425 pound-feet of torque at only 1750rpm that are directed to the rear wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Rally Fighter is lightweight at only 3,200 pounds which allows for exceptional performance and efficiency.


Build process and end product are so efficient the car is debuting in SEMA sponsored 'Making Green Cool Zone'. At 30-36mpg, the Rally Fighter is competing for most efficient in its desert off-road class. In addition, Local Motors utilizes a sustainable build methodology and builds cars 'Just-In-Time'. This process creates little or no waste, and allows customers to actually participate in the build process of their own Rally Fighter. Local Motors builds cars with customers in regional Micro-Factories which double as service stations. The first Micro-Factory is in Wareham, Massachusetts, and the second will be built in Phoenix, Arizona in 2010. Local Motors plans for 50 Micro-Factories around the country.

This enthusiast experience continues as Local Motors allows customers to host 'Custom Car Skins' Competitions on local-motors.com. Local Motors designers compete to create custom graphics to for Rally Fighter owners based on desired specifications- every outcome is unique. The graphics are applied with vinyl, not paint, which is lightweight, customizable, and recyclable.


Local Motors is introducing a heart-pounding new vehicle for enthusiasts, and with it, a new automotive experience. Participate in the car design process; build the car you want; choose a custom car skin. It's all part of the new, sustainable Local Motors experience.

Rally Fighters are now available for reservation: http://www.local-motors.com/rf
Early builds will begin this Summer, 6/8/10.

Local Motors premier vehicle, the Rally Fighter, will premier at SEMA on November 3, 2009.


Rally Fighter Key Stats:

• Designed by community member Sangho Kim of Pasadena, California

• Original, welded steel tubular space frame with lightweight thermoplastic and carbon fiber body panels

• BMW M57 clean diesel engine

• Eye-popping 36mpg on the highway, or 30mpg in an off-road setting

• 425 lb-ft of torque, 265 horsepower, and only 3,100 lbs

• 18' of suspension travel, to take on any desert - jumps and all

• Manually adjustable dual ride-height options, to go from the desert to the city with ease

• Seats for 4 adults, or 2 adults & 3 children

About Local Motors

Local Motors is a new American car company setting an exciting and sustainable course to design, manufacture, and sell cars.

Revolutionary yet simple, Local Motors creates a direct connection with customers who guide design development based on personal desires. The outcome of this open, collaborative process is meaningful, exciting cars designed specifically for car enthusiasts in local areas. Local Motors will build micro-factories in regions where demand is highest and cars are built and sold from the micro-factories on a just-in-time basis. Both the products and process are sustainable. Local Motors vehicles feature best in class fuel efficiency while the development and manufacturing process dramatically reduces waste while maintaining the flexibility to incorporate new efficient technology as it emerges. The design, manufacturing, and sales processes are sustainable and agile while creating a direct physical connection with more fully satisfied customers in each region.

The first Local Motors design concept to be designed by a community of enthusiasts and talented designers world-wide, is the Rally Fighter by Sangho Kim. You can view the Rally Fighter and contribute to the design development at www.local-motors.com.
More Photos

SEMA Show: Scion xB Tuner by Peter Colell breaks cover

Scion has given three of the most innovative and creative visionaries the opportunity to showcase their talents through three project vehicles shown at the SEMA Auto Show. The xB Tuner Challenge was participated in by Peter Colello of Mummbles Marketing, Bowls LA, and Eneri Abillar, who is working with Leigh Guarnieri from BRS Autodesign.


Peter Colello established a name for himself back in 2002 with his Toyota Celica GT of the same year and a 2001 Ford Focus ZTS. With this years xB Tuner Challenge car Colello sought to produce a "well-rounded show car with pure functionality, building and expanding from past projects." The project includes elements such as a wide-body kit, lots of carbon-fiber in the hood, hatch, wing and custom roof, and a color motif of teal to tie the exterior together. Other elements include a turbo kit, air-ride suspension, TRD exhaust, and an over-the-top in-car entertainment system, one of Colello's signatures.




HIGHLIGHTS:

• Descendant turbocharger system

• Shaved engine bay, doors and interior

• Universal Air Kit suspension

• BASF Custom "Teal Blue Pearl" Paint

• BRS Autodesign 9-piece wide-body kit (modified)

• Seibon carbon-fiber body parts

• NRG seats, harnesses, steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever

• Custom 6-point roll cage and dashboard

• Mobile Spec ICE

via:4wheelsnews

Video: Bowls LA Scion xB Project Truck by SEMA

The Bowls project truck is part of this year’s ‘Scion xB Tuner Challenge’ that pits three designers, including Leung, against each other to build the best customized xB for SEMA. Each was given a car to modify, with $10,000 cash awarded for the best vehicle.





The Bowls ScionB is inspired by the 1970 Toyota Crown pickup - a kind of Japanese El Camino - which wasn't released in the US. It features TRD parts like the clutch, a limited-slip differential, a rear stabiliser bar and brakes. For added safety a roll cage is installed. Expect a cool ICE kit courtesy of Pioneer.





Bowls LA partnered with Advanced Design Fabrication to convert the xB from humble city people mover into a pickup. First, they lengthened its wheelbase to accommodate a matching bike that will sit in its cargo box.





There’s a reason for the go fast kit inside the cabin. The xB’s engine has been tweaked with an AEM cold air intake, performance parts from Brian Crower and a Nitrous Oxide injection system. The five-speed manual transmission has been strengthened with a Toyota Racing Development heavy-duty clutch and to help lay all that power to the road, there's a TRD limited-slip diff. TRD has also donated a front strut tower brace and rear sway bar that work with a digital air ride kit from Air Lift.





Bowls also created a custom bike which will fit snugly on the truck bed. Overall a 1970s Southern California feel has been achieved.

via:pickuptrucks

SEMA Show: Scion xD by 0-60 Magazine and Sparco Rally

Sparco

• Pro-ADV Race Seats

• Safari Race Steering Wheel

• Navigators Footrest

• 6 Point Harnesses

• Mud Flaps

• Communications Unit

• Helmet / Information Storage Box

• Piuma Shift Knob

• Race Pedals

• Quick Hub Adapter/Release

Seibon

• Front Carbon Hood

• Rear Carbon Hatch

• APR / Design Craft

• GTC Carbon Wing (Fabricated by DC)

• Carbon Panels/Sheets

PIAA

• 80 Pro XT Lights

Wheels

• Volks TE-37 15 x 6.5

Tires

• BFG Rally Tires

B&G

• Custom RS2 Coilovers and Springs

Performance Friction Brakes

• Custom Calipers / Pads / Rotors

Design Craft

• FIA Spec Rally Cage

• Universal Light Pod

• Front Aluminum Skid Plate

• Spoiler

• Front Bumper Pod Mounts

• Installed All Products

Greddy

• Gauges and Exhaust System

More Photos

SEMA Show: Jeep Lower Forty concept

The Jeep "Lower Forty" takes the Jeep Wrangler platform to a new extreme. The vehicle is equipped with massive 40-inch x 13.5-inch tires mounted on Mopar's 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels. Mopar added aggressive wheels and tires to a stock, two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon without the use of a suspension lift. The team's goal was to achieve added ground clearance without dramatically altering the vehicle's center of gravity. The team removed copious amounts of body metal in order to provide room for 40-inch meats. Three inches are chopped from the windshield frame and a 10-degree rake is added.


Custom front and rear fender flares are 1-inch wider and are located 4 inches higher than a stock Jeep Wrangler. A new one-piece carbon-fiber hood with a Jeep CJ-like power dome and an all-new drop-down tailgate stamped with the "Jeep" logo are added to complete the exterior design.


On the interior, an all-new roll cage is neatly integrated into the body tub and tied directly into the frame rails. A custom made bikini top from Bestop keeps drivers in the shade. The spare tire is relocated to the cargo floor and a custom cargo rack, supplied by Poly Performance, holds extra gear. Once all body modifications were completed, the exterior received a fresh coat of Red Eye No. 3 paint, a custom color developed by Mopar.


Custom touches throughout the interior include a color-matched center console and instrument panel. Seats are re-covered with Mopar's Katzkin leather package in a two-tone scheme. Replacing the carpet is a durable, spray-in truck-bed liner. Rugged Mopar floor mats complete the theme.


Mechanical upgrades came directly out of the Mopar catalog. The Jeep "Lower Forty" features an all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine and a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission. Powertrain installations were handled by Burnsville Off-Road using an AEV 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 conversion kit.


The Mopar-supplied Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle, fitted with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers, were assembled by Dynatrac and revalved Bilstein shocks maintain vehicle stability on rough terrain.
More Photos

Ford EcoBoost '34 Hot Rod rocks a V6 in style for SEMA

Hot rodders have always lived by the motto "There's no replacement for displacement," indicating that the more cubic inches an engine has, the better the resulting performance. Ford Powertrain and Detroit Street Rods are out to prove that thinking out-of-date with their EcoBoost™-powered '34 Ford hot rod.

To be introduced at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the Ford hot rod will be the "first" rear-wheel-drive application of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 delivering an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque – power numbers that easily rival a typical hot rod's 302-cubic-inch V-8 or even a modern-day V-8 of similar size.

"EcoBoost technology shows that there is a viable replacement for displacement," said Dan Kapp, director of Ford Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering, who will be part of a SEMA "Driving Green" technology briefing panel discussion during the show. "As consumers' demand for fuel efficiency continues to grow, and our commitment to delivering best-in-class fuel economy remains steadfast, it's important to show that performance does not need to suffer as a result."


"Hot rod builds provide blank canvases for SEMA member companies and SEMA is uniquely positioned to demonstrate that horsepower and green power can coexist without sacrificing performance or the cool factor," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of Vehicle Technology. "This '34 EcoBoost hot rod is a fantastic example of modern green technology being applied in a manner that any performance enthusiast would love."

The EcoBoost family of engines uses turbocharging and direct injection technology to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.

"The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power," said Kapp. "We're able to decrease the size of the available engine – such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 – yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque to that larger engine."


The first EcoBoost engine, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, launched this year on the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and Flex and on the Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT. The EcoBoost V-6 produces 355 horsepower (365 hp in the Taurus SHO) and 350 ft.-lb. of torque.

Ford has recently announced the first four-cylinder EcoBoost engines, launching in global applications beginning next year. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 first arrives in Europe, followed by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 launching on products in both Europe and North America.

Going forward, Ford will shift its powertrain strategy to be built around EcoBoost technology. Under the new system:

* A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would replace naturally aspirated V-8 engines
* A 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated V-6 engines
* A 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated large I-4 engines


Following the launches of the new EcoBoost I-4s will be the extension of the 3.5-liter V-6 to the first rear-wheel-drive configuration in the F-150 pickup truck late next year. Another global application, the Ford Falcon sedan in Australia, will receive a rear-wheel-drive version of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 in 2011.

The fun-to-drive nature of EcoBoost engines is leading Ford to introduce these fuel-saving powertrains in large volumes virtually across its lineup. For example, by 2013 more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology, and nearly 80 percent of Ford's global nameplates will have an available EcoBoost option.

By 2013, global EcoBoost volume throughout the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle family is expected to be 1.3 million units, with up to 750,000 sales coming from North America alone.


'34 Ford EcoBoost hot rod project
Detroit Street Rods' latest build is a 1934 Ford and is a joint venture with Ford Motor Company and Experi-metal. In this '34 application, the EcoBoost engine is configured for rear-wheel drive and is coupled with a Tremec five-speed manual transmission.

"The decision to use the EcoBoost engine for our powertrain on this project was an easy one in that it gave us the opportunity to combine the iconic '34 Ford sculpted body lines with the advanced technology of the EcoBoost powerplant," stated Robert Smith, president of Detroit Street Rods. "The result is the perfect hot rod marriage of advanced technology for power and legendary automobile design."

While the stock Honeywell turbochargers that drive the EcoBoost engine are used, they were repackaged to fit the engine bay of this all-steel replica body. The engine configuration and turbocharger packaging was dynamometer tested by Ford Powertrain for proper calibration of the engine electronic control module (ECM). In addition to the all-stock engine, other components including the fuel pump, ECM, fuel pump module, fuel pump processor and drive-by-wire throttle were utilized in their original production configuration.

The body is from Steve's Auto Restoration and is the recently released 1934 Ford 3-Window coupe. The complete body and fenders are from brand-new tooling, and are designed, stamped and manufactured by Experi-metal in Sterling Heights, Mich. This "replica" '34 features all-steel construction, full fenders, running boards, electronic power windows, air conditioning and custom bumpers.

The engine was repackaged and fitted with an engine plate adapter to mate with an aluminum flywheel, performance clutch and a Tremec TKO five-speed transmission. The turbochargers were repositioned to the front of the cylinder heads and custom aluminum tubing was used to route the air from the custom air cleaner through the air-to-air intercooler. The exhaust gases are routed from the cylinder heads through coated headers, through the stock wastegates, and pass through large custom exhaust cones located outside the engine bay and just above the front fenders.
More Photos