Raleigh Cars & Coffee 9/3/11

Last month, the normal Cars & Coffee meet in Raleigh was called due to rain.  This Saturday, it was sunny and 90°+ outside, so attendance was good.  I try to avoid showing you the same cars twice, which works out just fine because there's always an interesting variety of cars that shows up for C&C - here's some of the cool stuff spotted this month.

A very clean, original Boss 302 Mustang.  This one was for sale - yours for only around $54,000!  (which is actually more than the new Boss 302's cost before inevitable crazy dealer markup.)

A collection of Vipers, two first gens and two second.  Note: that red one with grey stripes on the far right has a twin-turbo V10 built by Underground Racing in Charlotte, and a drag chute on the back.  Which style of Viper do you prefer?

You can tell there is still some work to be done on this Cobra, but it's getting there.

Two rare GM's.  While more jaws tend to drop at the 638 horsepower Corvette ZR-1 on the left (and quite deservedly), the Pontiac on the right is an even more rare site: the G8 GXP packed a 415bhp 6.2L LS3 V8 from the Corvette, a 6-speed tranny, big brakes and tighter suspension.  Only 1,829 of them were sold before the Pontiac brand itself was cancelled; might as well end on a high note I suppose!

This is the first Aston Martin Rapide I've seen in the metal, and it's quite an elegant car.  It's a lot smaller than it looks in pictures; it does have rear seats but they don't look particularly commodious for those of a taller persuasion.  There's a lot of DB9 in there.  Speaking of DB9's...

Here's a relatively recent DB9 Coupe.  It's funny to think the DB9 is going on 8 years old now, it doesn't look out of date at all.  The new, cleaner wheels help, but it's a shape that's aged quite gracefully in my eyes.  The engine bay is still a treat as well.

Aston's Quad-Cam 48v 6.0L V12 may be down on power (470bhp) compared to some rivals, but it still looks amazing, moves the DB9 out quickly, and makes all the right noises.  That plaque in front of the engine has the name of the worker who assembled it, too.

How's this for variety?  Nissan GT-R, (B6) Audi RS4 Sedan, Porsche Boxster S, Aston Martin Rapide, and a Stingray Corvette all in a row - which would you want most?  (I'll go for the RS4.)

The new Boss 302 Mustang looks particularly great in Orange; black wheels don't hurt, either.

A late-model Acura NSX, with the larger wheels and the fixed headlights.  A design that still turns heads 21 years later, and doesn't look a day old.

Different strokes for different folks.  This Lancer Evo X had carbon fiber hood, front fenders, doors, door sills, and trunk - but stock suspension wheels and tires.  Colin Chapman would approve?

Under the hood of the just-barely-street-legal Dodge Viper ACR.  8.4L of Fury - they just don't make 'em like this in Europe.

You see, what's going on here is "huge turbo Volvo."  This is a 940 Turbo, which normally has either a Garrett T3 (on early models) or a Mitsubishi TD04 (on later models.)  This one has a custom exhaust manifold which is current straining under the weight of a Holset HX351 from a Dodge Cummins.  There was a minor "thermal event" under the hood recently but all seems to be working still.  I would imagine this is violent when it hits boost.  Gotta watch out for those old Turbo Bricks!

It's hard to count all the rare and exotic cars in this picture.  Gallardo Spyder, two GT-R's, classic Mustang, four Vipers, a Qvale Mangusta(!), a Challenger SRT8...

And finally, one for the stance crowd - although they'd probably still say "needs more low!"  An Audi A3 on Rotiform BLQ Monoblocks.  To me, it's just low enough.  Rotiform is quickly becoming one of my favorite wheel manufacturers, they make some gorgeous and really original wheels.

Thankfully I didn't get a photo of the gentleman laying his rare-as-heck Honda RC30 homologation bike over while parking; that was surely the crunch heard 'round the world.  Till next month!