The annual Scorching Wheels Legends Tour kicked off in Miami, Florida, on Might 13, and the judges have chosen 2023’s first semifinalist. Completed in a head-turning shade of blue, this heavily-modified 1989 Volkswagen Cabriolet may get scaled-down and added to the Scorching Wheels catalog.
Pembroke Pines, Florida, resident Giraldo Penton purchased this drop-top in 2016 as a “run-down” mission automotive. As a substitute of conserving it inventory, he got down to construct a one-of-a-kind Cabriolet that turns heads in all places it goes. Scorching Wheels notes that the listing of modifications features a Berg Cup physique package, a Clipper physique package and15-inch BBS Flip Face wheels. Lambo Blue paint provides a crowning glory to the design.
Suspension modifications considerably decrease the trip peak — Penton’s Cabriolet sits only a few inches off the bottom. Inside, there is a three-spoke Nardi steering wheel, white upholstery, a Pioneer head unit and quite a few small modifications like vibrant window cranks.
Scorching Wheels hasn’t launched pictures of the Volkswagen’s engine bay, and that is probably as a result of it feels like there is not a lot to see beneath the hood. The model notes that Penton stopped in need of making mechanical modifications, that means energy comes from a fuel-injected, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 90 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque. It spins the entrance wheels by way of a five-speed guide transmission.
By profitable the Miami spherical, this Cabriolet will transfer on to one of many two semifinal rounds scheduled to happen in late 2023. We do not know which vehicles it might want to compete towards to win, however this yr’s Legends Tour guarantees to be extremely aggressive: Scorching Wheels plans to go to eight American cities and a complete of 17 nations, together with France and Italy, to search out the following automotive it’ll add to its vary of 1/64-scale vehicles.
The competition is open to absolutely anything with wheels and an engine so long as it has been modified. For context, the judges chosen a 1992 Autozam Scrum — a tiny pickup constructed to Japan’s kei automotive specs — become a V8-powered monster truck because the winner.
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