Happy Birthday, LeSupra!
Ende 2006. Zwanzig Jahre ist das jetzt her. Wenn mir damals jemand gesagt hätte, dass der »LeSupra« zwei Jahrzehnte später nicht nur immer noch lebt, sondern radikaler und kompromissloser ist als je zuvor, hätte ich wohl nur wehmütig gelächelt. Denn seien wir ehrlich: Die meisten dieser Umbauten sterben irgendwann einen stillen Tod in irgendeiner Scheune.
Ende 2006. Zwanzig Jahre ist das jetzt her. Wenn mir damals jemand gesagt hätte, dass der »LeSupra« zwei Jahrzehnte später nicht nur immer noch lebt, sondern radikaler und kompromissloser ist als je zuvor, hätte ich wohl nur wehmütig gelächelt. Denn seien wir ehrlich: Die meisten dieser Umbauten sterben irgendwann einen stillen Tod in irgendeiner Scheune.
Über Umwege war mir 2005 ein 1972er Pontiac LeMans 2dr Sedan zugelaufen. Ein perfektes »Chromjuwelen«-Projekt. Der Wagen war optisch durch einen früheren Frontclip auf das Jahr 1970 frisiert, hatte einen müden Sechszylinder und war in einem mehr als bedauerlichen Zustand. Was uns aber nicht davon abhielt, damit erst einmal nach Västerås in Schweden zu einem Autotreffen zu fahren. Was der Reihensechser übrigens tadellos absolvierte: langsam zwar, aber dafür dank Cherry Bomb sehr lautstark.
Ungefähr zur gleichen Zeit debütierte “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”. Für alle, die dieses Detail vielleicht verpasst haben: Der Protagonist fährt einen 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback mit dem auf Single-Turbo umgebauten RB26DETT-Motor aus einem Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32). Die fixe Idee, wir könnten ja auch einen Engine-Swap auf einen japanischen Antriebsstrang bei dem LeMans machen, wurde schneller Realität, als ich schalten konnte. Doch eine Idee ist das eine – die handwerkliche Realität das andere. Dass aus dem Projekt »LeSupra« am Ende keine hohle Marketing-Hülle wurde, sondern etwas mit echter Substanz, ist vor allem einem Mann zu verdanken: Michael Wolf. Er ist der Schrauber, der das handwerkliche Können hatte, um aus Wahnwitz Realität zu machen.
Michael hatte in der Zwischenzeit längst einen 7M-GTE aus einer 1991er Supra gefunden und gekauft. Das war genau die Geschichte das Storytelling, das wir für die Chromjuwelen brauchten: Deutsche („German Engineering“) opfern ein (naja, fast) Muscle-Car für einen Nippon-Antrieb. Aus dem LeMans wird der »LeSupra«.
Der Aufschrei war vorprogrammiert – und kam prompt. Doch nachdem unsere US-Kollegen von Hemmings das Projekt heiliggesprochen hatten (vielen Dank, Dave!), wurde der Wagen in den Medien mit Respekt behandelt und die „Hot-Rodding-3.0“-Attitüde der Chromjuwelen offiziell gesetzt.
Was wir damals machten, geschah lange bevor es Begriffe wie Content Creator, Storytelling oder Influencer überhaupt gab. Da gab es keinen Redaktionsplan und kein Algorithmen-Tuning. Dafür gab es mehr als genug Leidenschaft, Lust auf neue Ideen und unseren Drang, Geschichten so zu erzählen, wie wir sie selbst am liebsten gelesen hätten.
Mit der Straßenzulassung 2009 wurde es ruhiger um den LeMans. Es folgten weitere Karosserieumbauten und Blecharbeiten (u. a. die nahtlose Integration der hinteren Stoßstange ins Heck) und schließlich zog der LeSupra wieder bei Michael ein. Denn Michael hatte noch eine Rechnung offen.
Einen weiteren Austauschmotor samt Innereien, diverse Kupplungen und etliche Fahrwerksmodifikationen später ist der LeSupra jetzt erwachsen geworden. Der Mad-Max-Endzeit-Aufzug ist einem echten Lackkleid gewichen, man kann die Fenster jetzt auch während der Fahrt öffnen (die Kurbeln schlagen nicht mehr am Überrollkäfig an) und die Benzinpumpe liefert selbst bei sportlicher Beschleunigung zuverlässig immer genug Treibstoff.
Zur genauen Leistung möge man sich bitte an den Erschaffer wenden. An dieser Stelle nur so viel: Der Wagen hat mehr als genug Reserven und es macht einen Mordsspaß, ihn zu fahren. Offiziell, auf der German Autobahn.
Mich macht es demütig, dass Michael dieses Auto mit so viel Herzblut zu Ende gebaut hat. Ich bin dankbar, dass das Projekt nicht zum Sterben irgendwo in einer Ecke steht.
Back to Daddy
Blame it on me. I am a bad person. I abused my 1972 Pontiac "LeSupra" LeMans – I left it outside.
Blame it on me. I am a bad person. I abused my 1972 Pontiac "LeSupra" LeMans – I left it outside.
The reason for this inexcusable outrage is I was shilly-shallying how to proceed with this project. When I brought the Pontiac to Oliver "Style Deluxe" Kaps, our intention was to do some body modifications and to create a mind blowing paint job. But in the meantime we figured out that there was still too much technical work to be done. As it would be batsh*t to paint the car first and tear out the drivetrain afterwards, I said: "Er ... wait a moment, let me think ...". This moment took me far too long, which is obvious when you see the pictures above.
Another thing was that Michael Wolf, the Dr. Frankenstein behind this incredible engine swap monster, never finished his work. And it was also me, who is responsible for this. I wanted to drive that car, although I knew it was not finished. To cut a long story short: the car just returned home to West Coast Resto, so Michael Wolf can finish his masterpiece. Which was high time I did this.
Beautiful Beast
During our Chromjuwelen En Route video shoot last weekend — see sneak previews above — I had the opportunity to race my Nippon Pontiac for a few meters. Damn, that Poncho kicks *ss. Maybe this is due to the fact the "Kustom City family" worked a little on the setup of my 7M-GTE?
During our Chromjuwelen En Route video shoot last weekend — see sneak previews above — I had the opportunity to race my Nippon Pontiac for a few meters. Damn, that Poncho kicks *ss. Maybe this is due to the fact the "Kustom City family" worked a little on the setup of my 7M-GTE?
At the moment the LeSupra waits to get customized at Style Deluxe Hamburg, but I must admit I start loving the Millenium Falcon "Piece of Junk" style ...
A.DCF: Muscle Cars 1960-1974
Just in case you have not ordered your Muscle Cars Poster from Amilcar de Carvalho Fernandes yet — do it now! Here are some bigger images.
Just in case you have not ordered your Muscle Cars Poster from Amilcar de Carvalho Fernandes yet — do it now! Here are some bigger images.
Btw, I love that sketch of my LeSupra Amilcar just posted on Facebook!
Never Mind the Motorkultur
When we went to Las Vegas earlier this year, we met Klaus Rasch. Klaus is the mastermind behind race-deZert.com und introduced us to the wide world of Desert Racing. In the meantime Klaus became a very good friend and we often share thoughts about the differences between "Motorkultur" in Germany and "Motor Culture" in the States. It is good to discuss those topics with somebody who understands how both cultures are working.
When we went to Las Vegas earlier this year, we met Klaus Rasch. Klaus is the mastermind behind race-deZert.com und introduced us to the wide world of Desert Racing. In the meantime Klaus became a very good friend and we often share thoughts about the differences between "Motorkultur" in Germany and "Motor Culture" in the States. It is good to discuss those topics with somebody who understands how both cultures are working.
Klaus just passed me some thoughts he hacked together on his iPad last night, after he just had survived the Oktoberfest. I think his thoughts are definitely worth to share, although they are truly some kind of alarmingly for us Germans. We invented Motorkultur, but act kinda philistine and passionless. Hmm, I think Germany is well known for its cultural background, but what happened to its wheeled culture? Is it too dirty? Embarrassing? Traumatized? It is time for a change. Life is too short for ugly cars.
Enough said. Let me hand over to Klaus.
There is no motor culture in Germany. Obviously a bolt and somewhat false statement but let me explain my thought process further.
I live in Southern California for the last 17 years but grew up in Germany. I'm currently spending the last three weeks in the old Vaterland and get reminded of one of the reasons I left this place nearly two decades ago. The automobile.
Gas costs 3-4 times more then currently in the US. Car registration is based on it environmental impact. The TÜV makes it impossible to keep an older car in operation. It appears that 98% of all cars on the streets are built within the last ten years. New exotic sports cars are rare on the streets. Speed limits are set unrealistically low at some places.
How is all this possible when after all Germany invented the car, they make without a doubt the best cars money can buy? Every major innovation in the automotive world can be traced back to right here. How can they come up with all this go-fast stuff but not have it embraced by it's citizens. Yes the Autobahn in principle has no speed limit and it's perfectly legal to open up going 250km/h in between all the 80km/h construction zones. Yes the roads are far smoother then many roads I have seen all over the planet but how come so many people drive such boring cars?
Kids don't tune their cars and meet every Friday in every city for a little show & tell street racing? There are no local drag strips or local stock car race tracks where you can race on a budget. Nobody lifts their trucks or lowers their sports car nor installs the latest in wheels, paints or decals their car in search of the latest craze. Cars are small 1.x liter 4 cylinder machines mixed up with the 3.0TDI station wagon in between. All bone stock, silver or black and look like they are fresh of the showroom floor. Boring.
I know that there is car culture. I read the German car blogs and magazines. Car culture is not dead it's just hidden, not out in the open. What I like to see is American muscle cars, fast Audi, BMW and Porsche products on the street all the time utilizing all gears, spinning wheels and making noise. Low riders scraping the pavement, Asian imports fast and furious style and Italian sports cars cruising the streets.
There is little public imagination in car culture but then those few that do express their love for the car in public do it well. A revolution is needed that makes me believe that "Fahrvergnügen" is truly a German word.
LeSupra Deluxe
Some images I have just stolen from Jo Fischer. They show the friggin' unbelievable "Cremer" (metal god and welding wizard), and Oliver Kaps (Style Deluxe) working on my Poncho. If you are interested in what they are really doing - beside trying to look authentic and greasy - check this out. It's stunning!
Some images I have just stolen from Jo Fischer. They show the friggin' unbelievable "Cremer" (metal god and welding wizard), and Oliver Kaps (Style Deluxe) working on my Poncho. If you are interested in what they are really doing - beside trying to look authentic and greasy - check this out. It's stunning!
Sneak Preview: My Pontiac gets some minor modification
That's exactly why I love working with Oliver Kaps and Christian Cremer from Style Deluxe Hamburg so much: Do you recognize, what he did to my rear bumper? Yep, he welded it on! And do you see bondo anywhere? Nope - 'cause he is working with lead.
That's exactly why I love working with Oliver Kaps and Christian Cremer from Style Deluxe Hamburg so much: Do you recognize, what he did to my rear bumper? Yep, he welded it on! And do you see bondo anywhere? Nope - 'cause he is working with lead.
Wow, that's awesome ...