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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What looks like an unusual listing for a 2006 Ford GT on eBay is actually a quite unusual listing detailing the sale of more than 15 Ford GTs from one single seller.

A private Ebay seller, maindrainboat, has listed an immaculate, unmolested 2006 Ford GT in limited edition Heritage Blue for a no reserve auction. The current bid is at $210,100, and it has a total of nine days left until close of the auction. But if you dig a little deeper, you will notice that this private seller claims to have more than fifteen Ford GTs in his or her private collection. It appears the cars are located somewhere near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are being stored in a humidity-controlled garage maintained to aircraft standards. The current Ford GT on the auction block has only 38 shipping miles on its digitally displayed speedometer, and the seller reminds us in the listing that all Ford GTs go through a 25 miles track test from the factory before shipping.

If Heritage Blue is not your color then we’re sure one of the other fifteen or more mint Ford GTs are bound to have another color variation that suits your style. Feel free to contact the seller with any questions you might have pertaining to the car because as the seller states in the auction listing: “don’t miss your last chance to order the new Ford GT you’ve been waiting for.”

We’ll let you know if they all turn out to be Factory Five reproductions.

[via Jalopnik]

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Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, Arizona, event has become arguably the world’s premier collector-car auction. Starting out as a small charity function in 1967, the multi-day event now attracts more than 250,000 people and hundreds of classic cars. Scottsdale’s 2012 auction appears to be just as big since many rare and exclusive automobiles have already registered to cross the auction block.

Because every collector has his or her own particular likes and dislikes and considering the variety of cars, I could never label a small set of automobiles as standing absolutely above all the rest. But, despite the glorious assortment of fine and collectible cars, I have assembled a list of seven of the more notable automobiles (in no particular order) that will go under the auctioneer’s hammer.

Follow the jump to read our guest post at MyCarQuest.

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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.

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

The sixth annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance is celebrating 50 years of the Shelby Cobra and upcoming 100th anniversary of Aston Martin with a tremendous commemoration on February 24–26, 2012, at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

As a special tribute to the man behind the brand, Carroll Shelby will be presented with an Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award. Following the ceremony, guests will have the rare opportunity to bid of some exclusive Shelby products. The event will be auctioning off three limited-edition commemorative Shelby Cobras.

The first authentic recreation is a 50th-anniversary 1962 Shelby Cobra 289 CSX8992, and the other two authentic recreations are a pair of 1965 Shelby Cobra 427s: CSX6063 and CSX6100. It will also be auctioning two limited-edition commemorative 2012 models: an 800-hp 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake and a 2012 Shelby GT350. Shelby built each of these cars specifically for the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance.

This year's concours kicks off on Friday night with the duPont Registry Live! Hangar Party. On Saturday night, duPont will also host a black-tie-optional gala dinner and show with Comedian / Actor Dana Carvey. Sunday, the main event takes place, as an expert panel evaluates some of the finest automobiles and motorcycles ever built.

This three-day series of events benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

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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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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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Icon provided us with a few studio photos of its new Bronco project as it prepares for its live showing at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 1st. As we have been telling you, Icon is celebrating 45 years of the Ford Bronco with the new limited-edition Icon Bronco.



The project’s focus has been to modernize the classic American SUV while retaining the original car’s spirit. Icon even went as far as to access the truck’s original blueprints to stay true to its basic form. Icon says the result is a Bronco with modern conveniences and manners that retains a classic and timeless aesthetic.





The 5.0-liter V-8 engine, currently found in the new Mustang GT and Ford F-150, was worked into the Bronco. It produces 412 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque for relatively speedy acceleration while still returning above-average fuel economy of 25 mpg. The Coyote engine is connected to either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission and powers all four wheels through a part-time 4x4 transfer case. Each Icon Bronco will be hand-built and available with a number of different options. The first ten vehicles will be a part of a limited series of serial numbered and signed units.

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Icon, which already mastered the reincarnation of the Toyota FJ (better than Toyota, we will add) and Willy CJ, has its sights on a new project for 2011: the first-generation Bronco.

Owner Jonathan Ward has worked with Camilo Pardo, designer of the Ford GT, on the design and even Nike has shown its support by providing key engineering, CAD math, and prototyping. We expect Icon's interpretation of the Bronco to be finished in its proprietary tough-as-nails powder-coat finish and powered by a powerful V-8.

The Icon Bronco should debut this fall.

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A small number of movie cars from the The Fast and the Furious franchise, 1975's cult classic Death Race 2000, Indiana Jones, RoboCop 3, and more, are being auctioned by the Volo Auto Museum of Volo, Illinois. The no-reserve auctions will begin on eBay on June 8 with a closing date set for June 15. The cars include such notables as Vin Diesel’s 1970 Chevelle from the original The Fast and the Furious, Vin Diesel’s 1973 Camaro “F-Bomb” from the Fast & Furious, and a Detroit police car from RoboCop 3.

[via Volo Cars]

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