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The First Real Hypercar Makes Beautiful Music With 16 Cylinders

The First Real Hypercar Makes Beautiful Music With 16 Cylinders

Yahoo07-03-2025

It was Claudio Zampolli's ambition to change the face of automotive history with a new kind of car when he launched the mighty V16T in 1988. A former Lamborghini development engineer, Zampolli used a cast-off Marcello Gandini design—an early draft for the Lamborghini Diablo—for his world-beating machine, but it was the engine that truly made the car special. About as wide as a city block, the Cizeta (Zampolli's initials CZ in Italian) V16T was designed around a pair of V8s joined with a common block mounted transversely behind the driver. This is a truly bizarre car that exemplifies 1980s excess, and probably would have been a wild success if it weren't for Zampolli's brash mannerisms, a global economic slowdown, and severe production delays.
In all, just ten of these machines were sold over 12 years. Instead of making the world stand up and pay attention, Cizeta kind of faded into nothing, but the story of its rise and fall is well worth telling. Thankfully Jason Cammisa went through the full history in an easily-digestible 23-minute breakdown on YouTube. It's a story you'll want to hear. Click the play button and check it out.
Read more: Dodge Will Pay You $10 Per Horsepower To Buy A New Charger, Challenger, Or Durango
After securing funding to make his vision a reality from legendary 70s and 80s producer Giorgio Moroder, Zampolli went to work building what might be the coolest car of the 1980s. What else has two separate sets of pop up headlights, and can take down the almighty Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 (when it's running right)? This car is everything that the Lamborghini Countach dreamed of being when it grew up. Only one car could do it like this. Of course, in the process of building his dream, Zampolli managed to piss off everyone who he came into contact with. Maybe car company CEOs should leave the marketing and product communication to professional PR folks, and that would solve a few problems.
It's hard to call a ten-car run a wildly successful business, but Cizeta did accomplish what it set out to do. Maybe a little late, over budget, and creating a ton of enemies, but it's real, and it's fantastic.
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From School Bus to Showstopper: ‘Yeti' Skoolie Rolls Into Mecum's Summer Auction
From School Bus to Showstopper: ‘Yeti' Skoolie Rolls Into Mecum's Summer Auction

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

From School Bus to Showstopper: ‘Yeti' Skoolie Rolls Into Mecum's Summer Auction

'Labor of love' is a phrase that doesn't really do this auction-bound build justice. It was somehow bigger than that—driven by a force arguably even more powerful than love. This was an act of survival—a defiant stand against death itself, or at least against the death of one man's heart and soul, and what could be more powerful than that? This custom-built 2006 Thomas Freightliner FS65 Skoolie Mobile Home, now headed for the Mecum auction this July in Kissimmee, Florida, was born of the tumultuous time when the COVID pandemic was at its peak, an event that forever altered the course of human history in ways both big and small. They were difficult years for many, and transformational ones for many others. But for each and every person alive on this earth, something shifted; few emerged unchanged, and for better or worse, things have never been the same. Eddie Kreder was living in Florida with his wife, Sherrie, and son, Nicholas, when the pandemic hit. He'd made a career remodeling homes, owning and operating his own very successful remodeling company, called Veterans Home Improvements LLC. It was a skill that he'd picked up after high school, when he was hired by a local Tour de France cyclist named Joe, who'd been paralyzed after being struck by a car while biking. Joe purchased an old sprawling colonial home that he wanted to renovate from the ground up. He had the skills, but not the physical ability, so he brought in Eddie right out of high school to serve as something of a surrogate and protege, and he taught him many of the skills he still uses today. Eddie didn't set up shop as a home remodeler right away. He first served in the United States Army as a paratrooper, and he served most of his tour in Panama, Central America. After being Honorably Discharged from the military, he earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and then taught for a handful of years. However, the creativity that was required by the remodeling industry was something that continued to call his name. Eventually, Eddie got back into remodeling homes and quickly earned a solid reputation as a project manager at Grayhawk Remodeling in Bradenton, Florida. As most creatively driven individuals can attest, there is a lot of inspiration to be found in the art and accomplishments of others with like minds, and Eddie soon found a pivotal source in the work of one now very popular YouTube channel, 'The Nomadic Movement.' 'I started following 'The Nomadic Movement' on YouTube just before COVID,' Eddie explained, 'and I also started following a bunch of other nomads who were transforming buses and vans and traveling across the United States. I was checking it out to see how they were doing it and the lifestyles they were living. 'Jordan and Kaylee started 'The Nomadic Movement.' They traveled all over the United States, and then they traveled down to Panama, Central America, and ended up in a small mountain town called Boquete, which I'm very familiar with because I was stationed in Panama in the military. It's a small mountain town; it's like 3,000 feet above sea level, and it's like 70 degrees all year long. Jordan and Kaylee ended up creating a homestead down there, and they're thriving. So that's what got me the bug, and I hope to meet them both someday as well.' Just before COVID hit, Eddie said he went out in search of a bus to begin converting. He contacted a company called BGA School Buses in nearby Hudson, Florida, as the company is solely dedicated to purchasing decommissioned school buses from around the country and claims to seek out the absolute best available examples anywhere. With a mission to specifically serve both churches and the 'Skoolie' bus-RV conversion community, the company even offers titling services that allow purchasers to title their new-to-them bus as an RV right from the point of sale, saving them the trouble down the road. 'So, I bought this bus,' Eddie said with a smile, 'and I named it Yeti. It's a 24-foot school bus. It was yellow. It had all kinds of seats—it looked like a school bus!' Eddie said there are a couple of key things that attract devotees of the so-called 'Skoolie' community to school buses instead of RVs, aside from the obvious creative customization opportunities. 'You can roll a school bus, and it won't disintegrate like an RV would, because they're made to protect kids,' he said. He also noted that they tend to decommission school buses long before their engines are spent as a further safety measure. 'And diesel engines can go for like 500,000 miles,' he said, 'so 100,000 is nothing.' Eddie had one special request for BGA before he took delivery of the bus: he wanted it painted in the ultra-cool all-black finish that it currently wears today. The company obliged, and Eddie took on the rest of the work himself. 'The only thing I didn't do,' he noted, 'was the electrical, the plumbing, and the gas. I wanted a licensed electrician and a licensed plumber to do all that, so that it's all certified.' To create his dream skoolie, Eddie first had to strip the bus down, including the seats, insulate the heavy-duty steel walls, and then build something of a framed-out interior using 2x4s and plywood, as he said he didn't want to use prefab materials that often lack in quality construction. As a result, the entire interior of the bus is custom-built, from the custom cabinetry with soft-close hinges and the cedar tongue-and-groove ceilings, to the diamond-plated shift column and driver-side floor. And it's not just pretty finishings either; the functionality is just as well thought-out, with stunning custom modern appearances. The back of the skoolie bus houses a full-size bed with storage and water tanks underneath, along with one of the bus's two air-conditioning units mounted to the ceiling above. Next comes a functional water closet with a custom cedar barn door on one side of the bus and a full stand-up shower directly across, which includes a convenient instant water heater. Beyond that are large sections of drawers and cabinets for an abundance of storage needs, and then comes the most welcoming part of all: the skoolie's custom kitchen and adjacent sitting area. A full-size sink, two-burner stovetop, brand-new mini fridge, and tons of additional storage make the space exceptionally practical, while a black granite countertop, rustic multicolored barnwood backsplash, white cabinetry, and wide-plank wood floors give it a stunning modern appearance that is hard not to swoon over. Eddie said that although the build took considerable time to finish (on and off for a year), there weren't too many hiccups along the way, at least not with the bus itself. The world around him, however, was undergoing dramatic changes, and none of it was going as smoothly as the building of his skoolie. COVID struck first, and as the global landscape seemed to crumble before his eyes, Eddie found that his job and family were far from immune to its effects. Throughout the earthly upheaval, his job shut down temporarily, and his family's dynamics would also suffer. While Eddie and his wife, Sherrie, managed these difficult times, they weren't destined to make it through the changing landscape as a married couple. Eddie was able to help his son, Nick, establish his own remodeling business called Shooting Star Home Improvement LLC, which is doing very well. 'Nick and I had a couple of difficult years; however, we worked through it. He even helped me out with the build, which helped strengthen our relationship again,' Eddie said. 'Now, he has his own business doing renovations, and he's doing amazing.' Eddie said his ultimate goal for the bus was to serve as a retirement plan, not to make money off it, but to take him around the country to see as many national parks as possible. 'So, then what happened was,' Eddie paused to collect himself before continuing, 'I had it all done, and I was looking forward to retirement and everything, and then my mom, Mary, had a severe stroke.' Sadly, instead of a joyful ride into retirement, his maiden voyage in the bus became a trip to visit his mother in the hospital in upstate New York, where she was recovering from her stroke. 'They didn't think she was going to make it, but she proved them all wrong,' Eddie said. 'It took like 30 hours to get there from Florida, and that bus ran like a champ.' Equipped with a Mercedes-Benz MBE-900 4.8L inline 6-cylinder diesel engine and a new alternator and starter, Eddie pointed out that he didn't 'cut any corners on anything, because it was going to be my personal RV. I never had any intentions of selling it!' But sometimes, life has other plans. Eddie's mother soon asked if she could move down to Florida to stay with him, as she was now struggling to live on her own. A man of honor and duty with great respect and gratitude for his mother, Eddie agreed without hesitation. As something of a last hurrah with the bus, Eddie took his mom on one trip in the skoolie. The two drove up to Memphis, Tennessee, together to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland. He said his mom was a massive Elvis fan in her youthful years, and while she did have tickets to one of his shows, Elvis passed away shortly before the concert was to take place. 'So, I took her up there, and it was an amazing experience,' Eddie said. He added that at one point, his mom exclaimed, 'If I die tomorrow, it would be okay!' While the trip was a success, Eddie said his mother's limited mobility makes the bus a difficult accommodation for her to enjoy, and so traveling with her more regularly isn't really an option. It's just one more reason that selling the bus now is the right move for Eddie. Once the skoolie sells, Eddie and his mom plan to go on a few more adventures, sans skoolie, while she still can. At the end of the day, Eddie said building the bus was nothing short of a deeply therapeutic exercise for him and a truly life-changing experience. In some ways, it has served to help save his life and some of those around him, carrying them through possibly the most difficult periods they'd ever experienced. While he may not get to enjoy it in all the ways he'd imagined, it's already made a world of difference in his life, and he hopes that now, it can show someone else a bit more of the world. 'I just hope that whoever buys it will just appreciate it and enjoy it and use it for what it's for,' he said, holding back tears. A labor of love, an act of survival: whatever you decide to call it, this skoolie is a bus with a whole lot of heart, and some new nomad is soon going to inherit a rolling work of art when it crosses the block this summer in Kissimmee. It may even have a few lives yet to save or at least a handful of hearts to inspire. In any case, it's a bus that's bound to go far. This one-of-a-kind Skoolie hits the Mecum Harrisburg Auction July 23–26, alongside hundreds of other head-turning rides. We hope to see you there! Special thanks to Mecum Auctions for allowing us to share this feature. All photography by Matt Mahan, courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. This article has been syndicated with permission. All rights reserved by Mecum Auctions, Inc.

What Today's Leaders Can Learn From Building Brands That Connect With Both Niche and Mass Audiences
What Today's Leaders Can Learn From Building Brands That Connect With Both Niche and Mass Audiences

Time Business News

time6 hours ago

  • Time Business News

What Today's Leaders Can Learn From Building Brands That Connect With Both Niche and Mass Audiences

A decade ago, choosing to focus on mass or niche markets was one of the key decisions a company would make. It was an 'either/or' choice that would propel a company in a definite direction. But when the era of big data began to dawn, the business landscape changed rapidly. Companies suddenly had the tools to play in both arenas. And as they crunched the numbers, they realized that becoming a 'both/and' company — mass and niche — gave them a greater capacity for growth. 'In today's attention-deficient, culture-whiplash marketplace, you can't just be one thing to one group — at least not if you want to scale,' warns Jared Navarre, founder of Keyni Consulting. 'You've got to be specific enough to mean something, and broad enough to matter.' Jared Navarre is a multidisciplinary founder and creative strategist with a proven track record in launching, scaling, and exiting ventures across IT, logistics, entertainment, and service industries. He has consulted over 250 businesses, specializing in building operational systems, designing resilient technology infrastructure, and developing multi-platform brand ecosystems that resonate with niche and mainstream audiences alike. 'If you're content being niche and boutique, great — build a tight cult and stay weird,' Navarre says, 'but if you're trying to play on a bigger stage, this dual-audience approach becomes essential. Brands that master this duality don't just survive — they take the field swinging, while everyone else is still defending their TAM slide.' Options for building brands that do both In many cases, brands keep both mass and niche market shoppers satisfied by strategically segmenting their product lines. For example, Ford does this by providing the F-150 for the masses while producing the Raptor for those who want to draw a crowd on YouTube. Porsche has a similar approach, with the Cayenne keeping the lights on while the 911 keeps the brand holy. 'A diverse product line, which includes both mass and niche options, democratizes entry while providing an aspirational ceiling,' Navarre explains. 'Nike balances shopping mall shelf ubiquity with niche cultural obsession. Apple sells to the masses but still whispers sweet nothings to filmmakers, musicians, and developers.' Companies also achieve the diversity needed to connect with mass and niche markets by building a cadre of brands aimed at different targets. Toyota, which provides reliability and accessibility to the mass market, uses Lexus to connect with smaller markets seeking a refined and luxurious option. 'VW Group has Volkswagen to get you there, Audi to get you there in style, and Lamborghini to get you there screaming,' Navarre says. The importance of bringing all stories under one narrative The key to succeeding with a 'both/and' strategy is understanding that segmenting does not mean separating. While a company's mass and niche offerings need to connect with unique customer sensibilities, they must still be seen as a part of the same brand narrative. 'Clear brand architecture, in which each tier has purpose, boundaries, and distinct positioning, is critical,' Navarre shares. 'Confusion kills trust, which can cause a brand to lose in all markets. Without discipline and clarity, a brand can be diluted into oblivion.' However, Navarre also says companies must find a way to build their strategy around a single strand of brand DNA. Segment-specific storytelling should make sense within the larger brand narrative. 'The essence should be consistent, even if the price tags aren't,' he advises. 'Your messaging needs to hit differently for each group, but should still feel like it came from the same soul. When messaging gets messy, you build a house of friction where operations, marketing, and product constantly step on each other's toes.' Using brand tension to gain an advantage Clarity can give way to complexity as brands strive to craft a strategy that appeals to both mass and niche markets, which can give rise to brand tension. Although the instinct is to find a way to resolve the tension, that can inadvertently limit a brand's potential for success. According to Navarre, the brands that endure and thrive are often the ones that learn to live in the in-between. 'One of the most overlooked dynamics in building a brand that straddles both niche and mass audiences is the productive tension it creates,' he says. 'When embraced rather than avoided, that tension becomes a long-term competitive advantage.' As they embrace tension, brands build a layered identity, adopting elements that some may see as contradictions. Apple, for example, strives for a level of simplicity that maximizes its accessibility while also providing powerful developer tools that require a professional-level understanding. Rather than seeing the layers as contradictions, savvy companies understand them as a way to create brand depth. 'This kind of brand strategy is harder because it requires more discipline, more nuance, and an internal culture that resists the urge to collapse complexity into something neat,' Navarre says. 'But in a world increasingly flattened by sameness, tension is a signal that invites curiosity, rewards exploration, and keeps a brand interesting long after the product alone would've lost momentum.' Indeed, making a play for both mass and niche markets increases potential, but also increases risks. Brands that make it work are those that avoid confusion, manage tension, and deliver authenticity. Regardless of the market, success requires developing and deploying a strategy that drives the brand's cultural and commercial relevance forward. TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Equip Expo's Expanded UTV Test Track, Demo Yard Let Attendees Test Before Investing
Equip Expo's Expanded UTV Test Track, Demo Yard Let Attendees Test Before Investing

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Equip Expo's Expanded UTV Test Track, Demo Yard Let Attendees Test Before Investing

Unique hands-on experience found only in Louisville Oct. 21-24 LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly-expanded UTV Test Track will debut at Equip Exposition's 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) October 21-24, 2025. Thousands of landscapers, contractors and dealers will be given the opportunity to try the latest mowers, UTVs, compact tractors, chainsaws, leaf blowers, trenchers, skid steers, backhoes, and the other equipment at this one-of-a-kind experience. "Our show is the only place where you can get your hands on and operate so many different types of equipment all in one place. We know how much landscapers, contractors and dealers rely on the ability to try before they buy," says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns the award-winning trade show. "In the Outdoor Demo Yard, you can get a feel for how all the major brand's equipment handles, and where you can mow, dig, saw, drive and more." The Outdoor Demo Yard will be open: Wednesday, October 22 from 12 pm - 5 pm Thursday, October 23 from 9 am - 5 pm Friday, October 24 from 9 am - 1 pm "We're particularly excited about the expanded UTV test track, which has been relocated for better access and beefed up," says Kiser. Attendees can drive and compare the latest vehicles while navigating curves, hills, rocks, and bumps. Drivers must be age 16 or older with a valid driver's license and will drive alongside a representative of the manufacturer who can answer questions about load capacity, features, price and more. "Outdoor power equipment is an important investment for any business," Kiser adds, "Equip helps our attendees make smart decisions. After all, a landscaper and their staff will spend hours operating that equipment, and they need to feel its maneuverability and weight, know how the different features work and more." As one of the largest annual trade shows in the country, Equip Expo drew a record-breaking 28,500 attendees last year and will offer 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space for attendees, who use an app, sponsored by CASE Construction Equipment. "Many manufacturers exhibit new products at Equip Expo, so you can also see where the industry is headed and what's coming next," says Kiser. For information on exhibit space sales and sponsorships, contact the Equip Exposition office at info@ or call 502-536-7050. Equip Expo Photos Available: Embeddable Video:Video showing the Outdoor Demo Yard: showing the UTV Driving Experience: Embeddable YouTube videos: Media contactsAmi Neiberger, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, ami@ Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 240-988-6243, debbi@ About Equip Exposition Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition, is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, and is one of the top five largest trade shows in the United States. The show is a Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Grand Award Winner, and is co-located with Hardscape North America. Equip publishes "equip" magazine and is owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, parts, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars, and their suppliers. For more information visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Equip Exposition Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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