Tag Archives: vehicles

News

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sold for $225,000

When it comes to first-generation Mustangs, few examples can boast the story—and condition—of this 1971 Mach 1. With just 5,200 miles on the clock and nearly half a century in the hands of its original owner, this white-over-black SportsRoof is a time capsule of early-’70s American muscle. Recently sold at auction for $225,000 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, it’s a reminder of just how special untouched classics can be.

The car’s journey began in 1971 when a 21-year-old treated himself to what would become a lifelong obsession: a brand-new Mustang Mach 1. Equipped with a 351ci Cleveland V8 producing 285 horsepower, a four-speed manual transmission, and a 3.25 Traction-Lok rear differential, this Mach 1 offered the full spectrum of muscle-car thrills—albeit tempered with thoughtful factory options.

From the factory, it came dressed in white with black side stripes, a Ram Air hood, tinted glass, a rear spoiler, and 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels. Inside, the optional Mach 1 Sports Interior provided high-back bucket seats with knit vinyl inserts and silver stripes, woodgrain accents, a rim-blow deluxe steering wheel, a Sport Deck rear seat, and a console. Extras like power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, an AM/FM stereo, and a heated rear window completed a package that balanced performance and comfort. A personalized plaque behind the Hurst shifter commemorates the car’s original production date: August 16, 1971.

What makes this Mach 1 truly remarkable is its preservation. Aside from routine maintenance, the car remains largely untouched: the exterior paint is pristine, the interior still feels period-correct, and the original 15-inch Magnum 500 rims wear their factory tires. To ready it for sale, the dealer replaced the battery, fuel pump, fuel lines, and rebuilt the carburetor, making it perfectly driveable for the next caretaker who wants to experience the Cleveland V8 in action rather than just admire it from a garage.

Historical documentation accompanies the car, including a Deluxe Marti Report, the original window sticker, the owner’s manual, spare parts, and a clean Pennsylvania title. Adjusted for inflation, the Mach 1’s original $4,002 price tag is roughly $32,000 today—a bargain by comparison to what collectors are now willing to pay for this sort of low-mileage, all-original muscle.

In a market flooded with restored and modified examples, this Mach 1 stands out not only for its condition but for the story it carries: a single owner who cherished it for decades. For anyone chasing authenticity, low miles, and a V8 experience that feels straight out of 1971, this Mustang is the kind of opportunity that comes around once in a generation.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Sale

This Tesla-Powered Beetle Outguns Supercars — and You Can Buy It

If you’re waiting for the familiar thrum of an air-cooled flat-four, forget it. The Knepper 1303 RS-E doesn’t bark, sputter, or cough to life. It erupts. The rear wheels haze over instantly, tire smoke billows behind the stubby fenders, and bits of rubber are left tattooed on the asphalt. Whatever nostalgic image you have of a gentle, smiling VW Beetle, throw it out the window. This thing is a railgun in retro sheetmetal.

And yes—purists, clutch your pearls now—the beating heart of this Franken-Bug isn’t a boxer engine at all, but a modern three-phase asynchronous electric motor. Sacrilege? Maybe. But the team behind it calls the RS-E a perfect marriage of classic charm and cutting-edge EV engineering. After a few minutes behind it, it’s hard to disagree.

FROM JUNKYARD TO ELECTRIC MONSTER

Meet Rüdiger Knepper, the man behind Knepper Bugs & More and the mastermind of this project, along with his son René. The duo found the donor car—a battered 1975 VW 1303—rotting away in a California junkyard. Structurally sound but cosmetically trashed, it was the ideal canvas for a complete reimagining.

The restoration was obsessive. Every bolt removed, every system rethought. The body was returned to factory-fresh crispness and repainted in a rich Marathon Blue. Carbon-fiber rear fenders add subtle width, while a carbon roof spoiler delivers high-speed stability and a hint of motorsport intent. It looks like a Beetle, sure—but not quite like any Beetle Wolfsburg ever imagined.

PORSCHE BONES, TESLA MUSCLE

Underneath the retro shell, nearly nothing remains stock. The suspension is largely Porsche 944, enhanced with KW, Bilstein, and Kerscher hardware. Brakes come from a 944 Turbo S, with Porsche 964 rotors up front. Grip is courtesy of Toyo Proxes TR-1s—195/45R17 up front and 235/45R17 out back—wrapped around Porsche Cup 2 wheels.

Then there’s the battery situation. Seventeen Porsche Taycan modules, split across the chassis, feed a Tesla Model S Performance rear-motor spinning modified voltage. No transmission—just direct drive through Porsche 930 axles delivering absurd levels of torque straight to the pavement.

The result? A fully charged Beetle that hits 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. Let that sink in. A classic Bug running toe-to-toe with supercars. Top speed: 190 km/h. Range: up to 250 km from a 48-kWh pack if you’re gentle—though gentle driving probably isn’t why you build a 600-hp electric Beetle.

CALM MODE? SORT OF.

With traction control absent, Rüdiger Knepper wisely offers “street mode,” capped at around 200 hp—still a massive bump over anything the original Bug ever dreamed of. TÜV regulators approve that figure for public roads. Switch to full output, though, and the RS-E unleashes all 604 hp and 702 Nm of barely manageable fury. “Race only,” warns Knepper, and he isn’t joking. Even dialed back, acceleration is immediate, linear, and punch-you-in-the-chest violent.

Charging comes via CCS or standard AC with an adapter. The hardware install is pure Knepper craftsmanship; the brain behind the system—the electronic control unit—comes from Alexander Lührmann and his ESDI EV Technologies team in Herford.

INSIDE: ORIGINAL BEETLE, WITH MODERN ATTITUDE

The cabin keeps most of its vintage quirks, minus the parts an EV doesn’t need—no clutch, no gear lever. Instead, you settle into wonderfully supportive Recaro seats borrowed from a BMW 2002. Heating comes from an electric unit tucked beneath the rear bench. It feels familiar, cozy, and deceptively innocent. Until you tap the accelerator.

TRADITION BE DAMNED—THIS IS GENIUS

Some will insist an electrified Beetle is a crime against automotive heritage. But spend a moment in the 1303 RS-E’s presence and you realize this isn’t replacing history—it’s rewriting it with blistering, tire-vaporizing enthusiasm. Knepper’s creation respects the original Beetle’s playful soul while injecting enough power to terrify modern sports cars.

It’s absurd. It’s brilliant. And it proves that sometimes, the best way to honor the past is to electrify it until the tires scream.

Source: Knepper Bugs & More

News

Why Citroën Is Ending Chrome for Good

Chrome has long been the automotive industry’s jewelry—flashy, shiny, and, for many brands, essential to projecting an upscale image. But Citroën is done with the glitz. With the launch of its new “Chrome Detox” initiative, the French automaker is stripping chrome from its lineup for good, beginning with the freshly updated C4 and C4X. And unlike old-school fad-chasing, this shift has little to do with fashion and everything to do with environmental responsibility.

Chrome: A Shiny Relic of Automotive History

There was a time when no car was complete without a generous helping of chrome. Think tailfins, jukeboxes, and midcentury American boulevards—chrome was king. It became shorthand for prestige, and for decades, carmakers treated it as a visual shortcut to “premium.”

But modern sustainability standards haven’t been kind to the material. Hexavalent chromium, a compound commonly used in chrome plating, is a known carcinogen. The parts themselves aren’t dangerous, but the manufacturing process can expose workers to harmful fumes and consumes significant amounts of energy and resources.

Manufacturers have already been tapering off chrome use, but Stellantis—Citroën’s parent company—made a decisive move in June 2024, announcing a complete long-term phaseout. Citroën is now the first Stellantis brand to bring that pledge into production reality.

What “Chrome Detox” Actually Changes

The facelifted C4 and C4X, arriving in early 2025, are the first models to undergo a cosmetic and ethical cleanse. Out goes the shiny brightwork. In its place:

  • Matte silver trim replacing chrome elements
  • Matte black accents for contrast
  • A more understated, contemporary look that aligns with modern design trends

Citroën says the goal is dual: cut down on environmental impact while meeting the expectations of younger buyers who increasingly value responsible design choices. The brand claims that ditching chrome meaningfully reduces the energy footprint of its production process, even though advanced plating methods can reduce emissions by up to 99.9 percent. Ultimately, it’s about eliminating a resource-intensive process rather than trying to clean it up.

A Moral Stand—or the New Normal?

Citroën is framing Chrome Detox as a “moral decision,” and in a way, it is. Chrome may evoke nostalgia, but in 2025 it’s hard to justify its environmental cost—especially when cleaner alternatives can produce equally appealing design cues.

Will other automakers follow? Most likely. The industry already leans heavily toward dark, satin, and de-glossed finishes, and Citroën’s move could accelerate a broader shift away from plating altogether.

A Future with Less Shine, but More Substance

The refreshed C4 and C4X won’t blind you in a parking lot anymore, but that’s kind of the point. Citroën’s Chrome Detox program positions the brand as a sustainability-focused player willing to give up cosmetic tradition for environmental progress. Whether customers will miss the sparkle is up for debate, but the direction of travel—both for Stellantis and the industry—seems clear.

Cleaner production. Leaner looks. And a future where luxury means less flash and more conscience.

Source: Citroen