The technology used in designing customized Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Land Rover vehicles has changed over the years and for this same reason, these car owners can rest assured that the Brabus, Techart, and Startech products they receive are of the highest quality. You are now able to get all these products and services from American Wheel and Tire. American Wheel and Tire is the new and exclusive Texas dealer of all their products. They have been in the business for the past 25 years and as such, they indeed understand the needs of the client and the entire market. All products are installed in-house, so the quality should be the least of your concerns.

At American Wheel and Tire you can choose from a wide selection of car products and tuning services that are affordable, effective and reliable. For many years, Brabus, Techart, and Startech have been giving car and SUV owners a chance to improve their Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Land Rover performance and appearance by tuning and remodeling them in order to meet customer’s demands. Therefore, it is important to learn how you can benefit from the products and car tuning services offered by these well-known brands.

Brabus is a company that is known worldwide for delivering high performing products and tuning services for the Mercedes Benz vehicles. They offer a variety of interior and exterior modification packages that will make your vehicle stand out. They have performance upgrade packages that are compatible with different types of Mercedes Benz models. Brabus employs experts that are concerned about one thing, performance for Mercedes Benz vehicles. They have been in the industry for many years. This has resulted in highly experienced and skilled professionals that have the ability to modify and tune any type of Mercedes Benz according to your preferences.

Techart is a company known for delivering high performing products and tuning services for Porsche vehicles. They are ranked as one of the top independent car manufacturers in the customization of Porsche cars, which come with unrivaled standards. Techart has performance upgrade packages and accessories that are compatible with different types of Porsche cars. These include a variety of interior and exterior improvements that will make them stand out. The customization of Porsche cars by Techart ensures that they are of great performance and have unrivaled aesthetic grandeur.



Startech is dedicated towards meeting the needs of different Jaguar and Land Rover owners. Startech modifications and tuning methods include body-kits, headlight conversion, re-spray, wheels, and other accessories. It is worth noting the fact that Startech does not let any car out of their shop unless it has some custom work done. There are a variety of Startech options to choose from, including; Range Rover, Evoque, and XJ, among others. Regardless of which model you settle with, you can rest assured that Startech products and services deliver the best quality.

High performance and reliability on their services are just some of the qualities that define Brabus, Techart and Startech, making them some of the best products you could investment in. For more information, visit: www.amercanwheelandtire.com

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HRE Performance Wheels recently introduced its new Vintage Series line. This line of wheels is a modern example of throwback designs. The classically styled wheels are hand built just as they were almost thirty years ago. The auto industry could use a little old school mixed in with its new school, and this wheel line molds these two opposites together seamlessly, keeping the traditional wheel designs alive through new school flair. View the making-of video below. Follow the link for individual photos of the wheels.

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German tuning firm ASMA has increased the width of the current 958 Cayenne by nearly two and a half inches to create a giant. Actually, it has created “The Giant.” The carbon-fiber kit comprises a new front apron, hood, fenders, side skirts, rear apron, and rear spoiler. It pushes the wheels out and replaces the stock rims with 22-inch units wearing 265/35 tires up front and 295/30 tires at the rear. It also comes with a new dual central exhaust, which helps increase output from 500 to 550 hp.

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Stealing the spotlight from the nearby white Ferrari California in the duPont REGISTRY showroom is a Mustang so sharp, duPont REGISTRY Co-Founder, Thomas duPont, even describes it as a “eyeball show-stopper.” Of course, since he also owns the sinister-looking convertible, he may be a little biased.

The 2012 Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) wide-body Mustang GT Convertible is truly unique because the kit is one-of-a-kind. GAS does not have the one-size-fits-all mentality, so no two GAS wide-body kits are the same. Each one is hand built specifically for the car. The kit stretches the car’s width by a full nine inches, and, unlike most fiberglass body kits, this one features a hand-formed metal construction.



The car is finished in dark gray and comes equipped with a custom dark red interior, complete with black stitching and black piano accents. The wide-body Mustang also features a Wilwood brake package that features drilled and slotted rotors behind a full set of staggered three-piece Forgiato wheels. The front tires size is 295/25ZR-21 while the back tire size is 335/25ZR-22, which enhances the already substantial nature of the car’s hind quarters. The car was lowered using Eibach lowering springs. A Magnaflow exhaust system was added in so that the car’s sinister look would be complete with a menacing growl. GAS also added a deep chin spoiler to further enhance the visual appeal of the car. The car’s total price including the body kit and all of its other goodies comes to around $82,000.

So what brought duPont, known for his older classic cars, to purchase such an aggressive-looking, new vehicle? It appears he was in the market for a convertible that was different than the rest. He remembered meeting the people from GAS at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County show in June and knew they had a solid reputation because of a wide-body orange Mustang coupe they also built. He chose the GT Premium package, opposed to other more extreme variants because those other models would simply “waste tires,” revealing a conservative side to the car collector.



The 2012 GAS wide-body Mustang GT Convertible will go in his private collection, but he said he would consider selling the car if the right buyer comes along.

GAS, also known as Galpin Ford, was founded by Frank Galpin on February 25, 1947, and quickly became known for selling vehicles that have been “galpinized.” They are also the same company responsible for customizing the cars for two seasons on MTV’s hit show Pimp My Ride. West Coast Customs originally started out as the customization shop for the hit TV show, but then GAS took over sometime in 2006 and customized multiple vehicles on the show before the show was cancelled in 2007.

GAS’s whole motto is that it can “galpanize” any make and any model for any budget. It can take your car to the extreme or make subtle modifications to make the vehicle more appealing. It has definitely taken duPont REGISTRY’s new addition to new heights; this 2012 Mustang GT Convertible has officially been pimped!

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InsideLine says that Sony’s carbon-fiber-wrapped Audi R8 V-10 is the second best car featured at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. Boulevard Customs, which is owned by duPont REGISTRY, modified this ride to the extreme, including some of Sony’s—the car’s major sponsor—latest technology: an XDP-PK1000 Digital Link Sound System that interfaces between the stock OEM system and the Sony audio upgrades, XS-PK120LC subwoofer, 1,000-watt XM-PK100K Class D amplifier, and RM-X251 remote bass control. The Digital Link system provides an easy way to upgrade a factory system, adding amplification, time alignment, iPod integration, and pre-amp outputs, too.

The car was also sponsored by 3M and Forgiato. 3M provided the vinyl carbon-fiber wrap for the car while Forgiato provided the rims. Pictures do not do this car enough justice, and its beauty must be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Boulevard Customs took two full weeks to finish the car, completing it just in time for the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. The cars next stop will be Barrett-Jackson’s Scottdale auction!

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Sareni United, a new division of Lamborghini-racing-specialists Reiter Engineering, was created to field a new Chevrolet Camaro to FIA GT3 racing. Sareni will be bringing its Chevrolet Camaro GT to FIA GT3 racing later on this year, adding some much needed American muscle in the usual European mix. A team of 12 developed this car in one-year’s time. This Camaro has been upgraded with a Katech 7.9-liter V-8 that produces up to 650 hp and a little more than 620 lb-ft of torque.

Katech is a U.S.-based company that is works in advanced racing and high-performance engine development. It provides services such as boring, honing, fabrication, and welding and also develops prototype parts. Katech products have earned respect from racing customers all over the world.

The Chevy Camaro GT’s gearbox control system will have the new 2012 Holinger speed shift system. - According to Sareni, “the Holinger speed shift system with paddle shift on the steering wheel is extremely light, weighing only 82 pounds, shifts gears very fast and is designed for high torque.”

As a result of its stripped-down interior, the Camaro GT has shed approximately 1,000 pounds compared to its stock counterpart for a new curb weight of 2,850 pounds. It also receives a Reiter-designed racing suspension and Teves Racing anti-lock brakes.

The first track tests went very well and leading developer for Sareni United, Franz Russegger, was satisfied with the results, stating, “The Camaro is fast and the lap times are similar to the Lamborghini Gallardo. We had hoped for this result but there is still a lot of work to do.”

The company has been working very hard to make sure this car secure, adding mandatory roll cages and a newly designed fuel system; all raise the bar with regard to security. The company already has its first customer, Yaco Racing Team from Germany. The team has already ordered two Camaros that will be used in the ADAC GT Masters races in Germany 2012. Hans Reiter, founder of Sareni United, says, “This racing car is an option for a lot of teams because it provides an interesting cost structure”. How much you ask? Well expect to pay about €195,000-plus or apprxomately $253,000, which in all rights, is a bargain compared to its competitors like the Porsche 911 GT3 R (304,500 Euros or approximately $390,000).

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The very best collectible automobiles are sometimes tucked away and off-limits to prying eyes. In the upcoming months, we will be gaining access to some of these amazing collections and bringing you never-before-seen photographs as well as insight into the cars and the people that collect them.



This fabulous collection is stored in a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. It holds some of the most-sought-after, best-performing models of the 1960s as well as some distinctive older classics. All of the examples reflect the individual character of the collector, and each one comes with its own story. We met with the owner, Cliff Ernst, who gave us a guided tour and educated us on drag racing, big blocks, and choosing the perfect car. His passion for performance is rooted in drag racing; he cut his teeth on the drag strips and stoplights of Ohio during the 1960s.



Walking around his immaculate white-tile showroom, we were shocked to see everything from Super Duty Pontiacs, Shelby Mustangs, factory-supercharged Thunderbirds, Corvettes and more! His awe-inspiring collection seems to culminate with two of the rarest and most desirable Camaros ever made: a gold 1969 Yenko Camaro and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The former was the product of Chevy-dealer-turned-aftermarket-tuner Don Yenko. The latter was Chevrolet’s answer for the serious drag racer who could append an extra $4,500 for an all-aluminum 427-cubic-inch engine option. Both are as powerful as they are rare.

Ernst sat down with us to answer a few questions and tell us more about his passion.



What was the first car in your collection?

In the mid-‘70s, I bought a 1930 Model A Ford. I always wanted one in high school, but I needed to save $150 for college.



At what point did this evolve from a garage at your home into a dedicated facility?

In the 1980s, I allocated space at my business to keep the growing collection safely stored. In 1991, we built a dedicated warehouse for the collection. It was around thirty cars at the time. We now have around 45 cars.



Tell us a little bit about the gold Yenko.

The gold car was the prototype for the ‘69 Yenko. Certain features of this car did not make it into the 1969 Yenko production models. I am the second owner, and I have professionally restored it twice. It was featured in the July 1969 issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine. Ed Professional driver Ed Hedrick was able to run an 11.94 (quarter-mile time) in stock form.



Do you think the previous owner regrets parting with it?

I sent him photos I had taken after the restoration, but I never heard back from him, so I like to think they got lost in the mail!



What feature of the Yenko cars do you like most?

The performance. When the Yenko cars first hit the streets, I was drag racing a ‘65 Corvette. They consistently posted faster times (than the Corvette). They made winning look easy!



Besides the gold Yenko, what is your favorite car?

The ‘32 Packard V12 or the supercharged ‘57 T-bird.



Performance does seem to be the theme here. Was it a goal of yours to have the ultimate production versions of these cars or is it a coincidence?

I prefer to have the highest-performance model available. The ‘57 Chevy is fuel injected and the T-birds are supercharged. You get the idea!



With the quality of the restorations you have here, have you ever considered restoring and building cars as a business?

No, my employees are so meticulous that this could not be a profitable business!



Did you foresee that the ’69 Camaro would be the iconic collector car that it is today?

No, I just thought they had great styling and a multitude of performance options.



I know your cars are well documented, but what do you think about clones and recreation cars?

Let’s just say they are not for me.



Owning one of the original ZL1 Camaros is a real honor; do you see the 2012 ZL1 as a worthy successor?

It is a good continuation of the name and a nice move by Chevy.



Do you have anything special in your home garage?

I have my first ‘69 Yenko that I purchased in 1987. It is kept at the house for weekend cruises.

My daily driver is a 2008 black (Dodge) Challenger SRT8.



Are you done collecting, or is there always room for one more?

Certain cars will continue to be possible additions, but, more realistically, I need to be thinking about thinning the herd.



Thanks, Cliff, and happy motoring!

Follow the link to the full Facebook photo album.

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The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is up and running strong on its second day, and we already have the winners of the show’s hottest awards. The winners were not picked by a committee but were a simple tally of the number of vehicles accessorized at this year’s show (i.e., these cars represent the rides most often featured in the vendor booths). This year’s winners are no different from last year, except for the addition of one more award— Hottest Sport Compact Car—into the fray. This is the second year that SEMA has handed out awards.

The hottest car, period, goes to the Chevrolet Camaro. One such Camaro that attracted our eyes is the Hot Wheels Concept. Its bright green-over-chrome paint was inspired by the metallic paint finishes of the original toy cars, which many of us can kindly remember from our younger years.



The Hottest 4x4 SUV went to the Jeep Wrangler. One standout Wrangler comes from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), which brought a new four-door Brute Double Cab to this year's show. The original AEV Brute was unveiled at SEMA in 2002 as a Jeep/pickup conversion. Just a year short of ten years later, AEV has introduced its Brute Double Cab. It starts with a four-door Wrangler and stretches the chassis 23 inches. Overall length grows 30 inches for a total length of 216 inches, or three inches shy of a Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase.

Other winners include the Ford F-Series for the Hottest Truck and the Fiat 500 for the Hottest Sport Compact Car. SEMA says its awards identify the most accessory-friendly new models from more than 2,000 exhibitors, and the ability to accessorize a vehicle influences the purchasing decision of many people.

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The small British firm Imperium has sent us some photos of its package for new 2012 Bentley Continental GT coupe. Called Audentia, which is Latin for boldness and courage, the package will be limited to 50 units worldwide. It comprises a new front and rear aprons and side skirts, all made from the customer’s choice of either carbon fiber or Polyurethane Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) plastic. Prices for this unique limited-edition package start at £25,000, or approximately $40,000.

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Shelby American and Electronic Arts (EA) will offer a 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake “Need for Speed” Edition to promote EA’s new game, Need for Speed The Run, which will hit stores this holiday season. The special one-off car, which will be featured on the cover of the video game, is going on a world tour—making appearances at major automotive and gaming events—before it hits the auction block in late 2012. Proceeds from the car’s sale will benefit the Carroll Shelby Foundation, which has grown from helping kids with serious illnesses to also helping young adults prosper by awarding funds for higher education. Expect the car to fetch a premium over the $83,000 base price of a 2012 Super Snake.

Fortunately, for the buyer, this car is not a dressed-up nonfunctional show car; based off the Mustang GT500, it features a 750-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. Modifications include an upgraded driveshaft, new throttle bodies, dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, and stabilizer bars. The car wears a Wimbledon White paint with custom gray Super Snake stripes, “Shelby” lettering across the rear deck lid, and official “Super Snake” vehicle badges. Inside is a custom two-tone black interior.

EA assures us that we will get to drive this rare muscle car—in a virtual world—when Need for Speed The Run hits store shelves on November 15, 2011.

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