Cadillac's Beast in the Wilds of Brooklyn

Brooklyn's Red Hook waterfront neighborhood is populated largely by warehouses, piers, and a storage depot for Chinatown buses. So it took me by surprise last night to find GM's latest fire breathing monster at the side of the road as I went for my evening constitutional. The cel-phone shot is grainy, but you can see a rather fetching Anthracite Grey example of the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, which bore Michigan plates. It's the first one I've seen in the flesh and I have to say it's pretty sensational in person. It has just the right stance, and a clean, mean, "all business" tautness that is more teutonic than almost anything being done by the Germans these days.  I actually think it's nicer than the upcoming CTS coupe, plus it has plenty of space for the hounds, who will have to be peeled off the tailgate after a romp through the twisties in this 556bhp beast. It seriously looks better in person than in any photo I have seen.  I'll have to start saving now, because these wagons come in at about 63 G's.  But when you consider they are faster around the 'ring than any kraut-wagen (like the $86K M5), that seems like a more sensible price.

New Years Day -- Brooklyn, 1968

Sometimes, Williamsburg can look like a time warp. Happy 2011 everyone!

Snowpocalypse leads to automotive carnage in Brooklyn

The heavy snowfall in New York City has actually proved too much even for some of the city's finest snow-clearing equipment. Watch as a massive front-loader flails around like a wounded lobster, causing severe damage to a luckless Brooklyn resident's SUV this morning.  I think the incompetent tow truck and front-loader operators might have done well to just dig the damn thing out by shovel!  I feel bad for the owner (though he/she will no doubt be compensated by the city) but the video is pretty hilarious, and we can mark one more SUV off the road! (Warning: salty language and mechanical brutality)

Click here to see the gruesome aftermath!

via brooklynheightsblog

Rat Rods invade Brooklyn!

Today was the 10th annual "Kustom Kills and Hot Rod Thrills" show, organized by the Rumblers NYC Club. The venue was really fitting for this type of car: The show is held underneath the BQE (Brooklyn Queens Expressway) in Williamsburg. It sort of looks like the kind of place the Sharks and Jets might have had their rumble in West Side Story. The predominant color for cars and for attire (preferably leather) was matte black. Most of the 100 or more custom cars in attendance were sinister looking rat rods rather than Kandy Kolor Kustom Konfections that one might associate with Biggy Daddy Ed Roth or George Barris. There were tons of chopped and channeled coupes, and many had elaborate pinstriping that was really impressive to see up close. People were really dressed the part too. Plenty of Jesse James lookalikes and Betty Page wannabes. I found the number of tattoos a tad excessive, but then I am more used to the concours crowd with their tight asses and straw hats. The best part though was that there was a Rat Rod barber who had set up shop amidst the cars, and you could get a ducktail haircut right on the spot if you wanted! There were plenty of custom bikes in attendance and there were folks of all ages, from the local hipsters to older guys who probably built some of the original rat rods back in the old days. It was a lot of fun, and the sounds of burnouts and drivebys reverberated under the expressway every few minutes! Click the pic below for the whole badass gallery!

Street Sighting: FIAT 500 Abarth replica

I snagged these shots in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I have no idea where the owner was, but I kept hoping he would show up while I was standing there. I sort of doubt this car is a real Abarth, but it does have some fun go-fast details, and was clearly fresh from the restoration shop. Click the pic for more shots.