Latest news with #carrestoration
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
YouTubers Are Already Restoring 'Barn-Find' BMW E36 M3s, In Case You Wanted To Feel Ancient Today
For those of us in our 30s, it's time to face facts. Restoring an E36-generation BMW M3 in 2025 is about the same time gap as restoring a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle would have been when the E36 was still available new. For a certain subset of enthusiasts, the E36 is still considered a modern car that can be reliably pushed into daily driver duty without a second's hesitation, while the Chevelle is a relic from yesteryear. Built between 1992 and 1999, even the newest E36 M3 is 26 years old now, so it's not all that surprising to see one in dire need of rehabbing, despite reminding me of my own aging bones and eventual mortality. The folks at StanceWorks dragged this $8,000 decrepit M3 out of its hiding place and set about putting it right again, and the finished result is truly stunning. While Mike at StanceWorks may best be known these days for his ridiculous Ferrari project cars, he's got a long history in the BMW community, and knows these E36s like the back of his hand. The cars are new enough to have modern amenities like fuel injection and anti-lock braking, but old enough that they're still somewhat easy to work on yourself, making them great throwback rad-era machines. Fortunately, being a southern California car, this particular car isn't facing any rust, and the trim and seals all appear intact, so this was largely a cosmetic restoration. The video glosses over some of the other work the car needed, as an evident engine grenading necessitated a replacement, but it's still a fun watch for a quick rehab in just 20 minutes of YouTube time. Read more: These Are The Cars You'd Buy If They Were $20,000 Cheaper While this M3 didn't look great when the project began, it just goes to show that a car is completely revitalized with a good set of wheels, the right ride height, and a good paint job. In this case the car was wrapped, but they went with a super high end wrap that makes the car look like it was painted. And purple is a great color for a BMW, for any car really, so the result was truly stunning. Going with a nice three-piece set of period-correct five-spoke AC Schnitzer wheels really set the project off for me. This is an incredible build that most Euro enthusiasts would be ecstatic to drive, and it didn't take all that much work or effort to make it look totally sick. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Car and Driver
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
1959 Lincoln Continental on Bring a Trailer Is Full On '50s Exuberence
Here's a late-'50s land yacht with all kinds of angle-eyed, pointy-finned, chrome-plated charisma. It's crammed with features including ultra-cool, reverse-canted, power rear glass for summer breezes. Expensively restored, it's a former AACA winner. The 1950s was a decade that saw the widespread adoption of television, the building boom of America's suburbs and the Interstate highway system, and the physical expansion of the United States with Alaska and Hawaii's admission to the union, all set against a backdrop of a rising standard of living for most people. It was a time to dream big—and to drive big. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer The cars reached their zenith in size and outlandish style at the decade's end, as epitomized by the offerings of America's three luxury-car brands. Cars like this 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV four-door hardtop, up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). This is a sedan so big it should probably have "SS" painted on its bow. Spectacular in Cameo Rose, it glitters with chrome and mid-century optimism in equal measure, just shy of nineteen feet of opulence. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer This example was refurbished in the early 1990s, going on to win a national prize with the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). The restoration looks to have been thoroughly comprehensive, more than $60,000 worth of ground-up work—and that's in 1990s money. After earning 100 points in judging, it then spent two decades in long-term storage, surfacing in 2016. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer If you think this car's big on the outside, check the interior. There's enough legroom for an NBA forward, two sofa-sized bench seats, and a voluminous trunk that gets the seal of approval from the Springfield Legitimate Businessman's Social Club. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer There's also a surfeit of options including six power side windows and the power-retracting "breezeway" rear glass, a power seat, central vacuum door locks, and an automatic headlight dimmer. Everything works, and the air-conditioning has been overhauled and blows cold. Although you'd probably want to keep all the windows down when summer cruising in this majestic land yacht, especially with that opening rear glass. Under the hood is a huge 430-cubic-inc V-8 that put out 350 horsepower and an unstressed 490 pound-feet of torque when new. That elephantine torque and three-speed automatic should make this Continental an effortless tourer. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer Lincoln threw everything it had into this generation Continental in a desperate attempt to outdo Cadillac, and it shows. But the effort failed to break Cadillac's lock on the luxury-car market. So, while the similarly outrageous '59 Caddy has become a visual shorthand for the decade that spawned it, the lesser-known, less-often seen, but every bit as exuberant '59 Lincoln arguably carries a bigger visual wallop today. Courtesy: Bring a Trailer The auction ends on May 29. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
With more oomph than a BMW M3 sports coupe, restored VW Beetles fly down German autobahns
There are sheets of rusty metal all over the place along with deflated tyres, torn upholstery, battered panels and seized-up engines. A walk through Georg Memminger's used VW warehouse in southern Germany is sobering. That is until you reach his showroom. It contains gleaming examples of the car that made Volkswagen famous, with a level of finish never achieved when the model was still in production in Germany and later at foreign plants. Open-top and closed versions of the Beetle which pass through his workshop get a second lease of life after being lovingly rebuilt on four floors of an industrial building north of Munich on the outskirts of the town of Reichertshofen. Turning a rust bucket into an eye-catcher takes nine months of work for the firm's 10 employees and a cabriolet version can cost from €171,000 (US$193,000) to buy. Georg Memminger restores VW Beetles in southern Germany. Photo: Memminger Memminger's restored VW Beetles far outshine the originals. Photo: Instagram/feine_cabrios Hardly anyone in the world restores Beetles as thoroughly as Georg Memminger, who has been doing this for a quarter of a century. The cars end up looking much the same on the outside, but when the team is finished little of the original remains.
The Review Geek
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Motorheads – Season 1 Episode 8 'Wiring' Recap & Review
Wiring Episode 8 of Motorheads starts with a flashback to when Hugo promised Ezra that he would have his money if he took the fall for the robbery. In the present, Ezra gets out of prison three years earlier, and Ryan picks him up outside the prison. Meanwhile, Cate and Curtis continue to rebuild the car. Some of the wiring works while others do not. There is a homecoming at school. Marcel designed the theme, so he will be going. Curtis and Cate decide not to go since there is much more work to do at the garage. Sam hovers over Logan and Zac at the race track. Logan thinks he is ready to compete, but Sam is not ready. Elsewhere, Harris tries to figure out how to beat Zac in the upcoming race in the car he won from Mateo. With one week to go until the race, Cate hopes the UNB10 will be ready. Marcel gets his car back. Harris tries to get some money from his father to fix up the car he will use to race. His father says that the money he got from selling the buildings is in a trust fund which he will start getting when he is 25 years. Harris gets angry at his father, while Zac also gets angry with his mother. In an argument, Zac feels his mother thinks he is not good enough to win. Ezra finds Hugo as soon as he gets out of prison. He is out to get the money he was promised. He does not plan to stay in Ironwood, so he wants the money. Hugo finds Logan to tell him that Ezra is out and needs the money. It turns out that the robbery plan was Logan's idea, even though he was not in the car. Logan has no money to spare. Later, Ezra is unconvinced when he learns that Hugo did not find the money, so he threatens him. At school, Curtis changes his mind when he learns that Brooke is a fan of Mad Max and chooses to go to the dance. Alicia clears up with Harris that they broke up. Kiara confesses to Alicia that she likes someone else but is not sure her parents would agree. Zac also chooses to go when he learns that Alicia broke up with Harris. Cate chooses to go to the dance with Marcel when he is turned down by his potential dates. Sam and Darren decide to go to the dance as chaperones. Everything at the dance is going well until Harris gets into a heated argument with Brooke. Harris wants them to date since he is now broken up with Alicia. Brooke gets angry and attracts the attention of other students. She says that she likes Curtis now, and Harris insults her, saying she is just his side piece. Curtis gets into a fight with Harris. While Curtis leaves with Brooke, Alicia gets angry at Zac after knowing he did not tell her about Harris and Brooke. Kiara thinks Zac is a good person since he had the ammunition to break up Harris and Alicia, but he kept quiet. Sam learns that Darren sold out their town to bandit technology, which drove a wedge between him and Harris. He wishes he could have consulted with Harris and asked what he wanted instead of assuming. Darren tells Sam to make sure the same does not happen with Zac, and she should listen to him. Marcel was hoping to win the homecoming King title, which he did not happen. Kiara and Harris win the queen and king titles, respectively. Since Harris is not around, Kiara is told to choose a dance partner. It looks like she will choose Cate, but Noah swoops in and takes over. Alicia notices that the person Kiara likes might be Cate. Sam says she will consider letting Zac race an opponent. Elsewhere, Logan joins Hugo to meet Ezra. Ezra has made a new friend, Ray, and has told him that Hugo was also in the car. Logan and Hugo hit the brakes on confronting Ezra since Ray is around. Later, Hugo asks Logan about what happened to Christian. Hugo says that he saw the gloves that Christian wore in the garage, and Logan says that he pulled Christian out of the river. Meanwhile, Cate leaves the party alone and heads back to the garage. Alicia drives Kiara home and then spends time walking the race track with Zac. Marcel goes back to the Diner to meet up with Brooke and Curtis. At the race track, Alicia and Zac take a step closer to each other and kiss. Back at the garage, Cate finally figures out the lights and the radio on the UNB10. Curtis shows up at the garage, and they slow-dance together at the end of the episode. The Episode Review The episode is like a blast from the past as it gives more information about what happened seventeen years ago. Logan was in on the plan for the robbery. However, after Christian drove the car into the water, no one ever saw the money again. However, Logan might know what happened to Christian since he pulled him out of the water. It leaves us on a cliff-hanger, wondering whether Logan pulled out a dead Christian or if he is still alive. The relationships among the teenagers get more complicated. Cate is still torn between Curtis and Kiara, while Kiara is still afraid to choose Cate. Cate's feelings for Curtis are getting stronger, and it feels like Curtis might still be into her. Who will Cate end up with? Who is your pick between Curtis and Kiara? The writing is doing an amazing job of blending the past with the present and keeping the viewer hooked. Bruce is fading in the background, so perhaps he is just a genuine businessman without any hidden agendas for the town. What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments below.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I bought Marcus Rashford's wrecked £700,000 Rolls-Royce after footie star's crash – you won't believe the transformation
REBUILDING a Rolls-Royce might seem impossible to most - for Mat Armstrong, it's just another day at the office. But when a written-off Rolls, pranged by football ace Marcus Rashford, came along at a bargain price, it proved a bit more tricky to bring back to life. 8 8 8 The 31-year-old YouTube star from Leicester has built a devoted following by restoring and modifying luxury cars, with his projects often involving challenges that even seasoned mechanics might shy away from. His boldest challenge yet? Breathing new life into Rashford's Mansory-customised Rolls-Royce Wraith, declared a write-off after a collision in September 2023. The £700,000 luxury car was badly damaged in a crash shortly after Rashford left United's Carrington training base following a match against Burnley. Footage showed the Rolls-Royce dented at the roadside near a toppled traffic island pole - with details later revealing the accident involved another car being driven by a 74-year-old grandmother. Thankfully, Rashford - and the grandmother - were left completely unharmed, but the Roller was a wreck and was promptly sold at an almighty loss. For Mat and his channel, MatArmstrongbmx, the wrecked Wraith was the perfect challenge. With over 4.5 million subscribers, fans eagerly watch as Mat transforms wrecks into works of art, all while managing the demands of his growing channel. ROLLING THE DICE One of Mat's most ambitious challenges began last year when he stumbled across Rashford's Mansory-built Rolls-Royce on an auction website. Despite its extensive damage, Mat splashed out £185,000 on the trashed motor, which had just 1,135 miles on the clock. 'At the time, it was a massive risk,' Mat said. 'It was the most expensive car I'd ever bought, but something just told me it was the right move.' To bring the Rolls-Royce back to life, Mat spent £90,000 on a second Wraith for parts, £50,000 on Mansory components, and £35,000 on an interior overhaul – including extensive rewiring and adjustments. 'The crazy thing is, if you buy a Rolls-Royce today, it's almost the exact same car as the 2015 model,' Mat said. 'But the cost of parts hasn't changed – you're still paying today's prices even for parts on a 2015 car. 'So, weirdly, it actually made more sense to buy an entire car rather than source the parts individually. It was cheaper that way, basically.' Additional expenses included £9,500 for side skirting and carbon fibre, £7,100 for the exhaust system, and £20,000 for the rear, including £700 for black paint. By the end, the total cost of the project reached £324,000. THE FINAL TEST The six-month rebuild wasn't without its challenges – both emotional and technical. 'The hardest part was having to chop up a Rolls-Royce just to use it for panels to fix Rashford's Rolls-Royce,' Mat said. 'Not only was that tough emotionally, because you're cutting up such a high-end car – but it was also incredibly technical. 'Making sure everything fit perfectly and matched factory standards was a huge challenge.' Even after completing the rebuild, Mat faced unexpected scrutiny from Kourosh Mansory, the founder of the famed Mansory tuning house that originally customised Rashford's Rolls-Royce. Having caught wind of Mat's work, Mansory invited him to their headquarters in Germany – but the reception was less than welcoming. "Everything is wrong with you fixing the car!" Mansory told him, pointing out flaws like the grille not lining up with the bonnet, a popped-off side skirt, and damage to the front bumper. Over the next day, Mansory's team meticulously addressed these issues, adding their signature wheels and fine-tuning every detail. 'We were massively surprised by Mr. Mansory's reaction to the car,' Mat said. 'He wasn't happy with the job we did at first, which caught us off guard – but to his credit, he was kind enough to help make it right. 'Now, the car is perfect.' DRIVING AMBITION Since the wild ride surrounding Rashford's Roller, Mat's channel has only continued to soar. Known for his car DIY tutorials and transformations, he's built a reputation for tackling seemingly impossible projects and turning them into YouTube gold. Despite his success, Mat remains humble about his journey. He isn't a professionally trained mechanic and describes himself as 'just a regular guy winging it as I go along'. Having dropped out of school at 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a pro BMX rider, Mat made it as far as the sport's World Championships. 8 8 8 But after a lack of funding, he found himself working two jobs – at a local car garage and an Indian restaurant – while teaching himself how to rebuild cars in his spare time. Even now, Mat credits his daily routine with helping him stay focused and productive amidst the chaos of running a successful YouTube channel. Mat, who works with food brand YFood, says: 'My day usually kicks off with a good cup of coffee to get me going, then it's straight to the gym for about an hour,' Mat said 'After that, I head to my unit around 11am, where I film non-stop until anywhere between 11pm and 1am depending on what's on the schedule. 'I stick to this routine about four to five days a week. The other two or three days are all about editing in my office, with gym sessions squeezed in between.' COMMUNITY IMPACT Mat is also known for occasionally running raffle competitions on his channel, giving fans the chance to win one of his customised or rebuilt cars – or even cash prizes. 'It's not about the money for me; it's about the impact I'm making in my community,' Mat said. 'One time, I surprised one of my subscribers, Molly, who was a student paramedic. 'Molly and her boyfriend were big fans of the channel, and she'd planned to buy him a hoodie before he sadly passed away. As a promise to him, she still bought it but faced some financial pressures. 'Fans of our channel are so important, so I surprised her with some MA merchandise and £1,500 spending money. It's the least I can do to help change lives.' DOWN THE ROAD With his channel continuing to grow, Mat is always on the lookout for his next big project or collaboration. 'We're always looking for the next big challenge – especially cars with a story,' Mat said. 'If you've got a crashed car with a bit of history behind it, hit us up. 'That's exactly the kind of thing we love to take on. 'We'd also love to work with people like Formula One drivers or anyone who shares a real passion for cars, because at the end of the day, we're all just car lovers!' Mat Armstrong's YFood limited-edition "Happy Banana" flavoured ready-to-drink meal features a unique label design inspired by Mat's personality, including his car, dog, and a cameo of himself. 8 8
