Franco Sbarro built some of the craziest vehicles to ever hit the road. The Monster G is no exception.
The truck was commissioned by a German named Thomas Gerhig, who was still in his twenties. Gerhig already owned a couple of Sbarro creations, and he wanted something that would push out the boat on being the wildest off-roader possible.
Sbarro turned to his already successful recipe of stripping a Range Rover down to its chassis to use as a base. He then fitted the huge Boeing wheels—measuring 20 inches by 14 inches—and had tires specially made by Goodyear.
Power came from a 6.3-liter Mercedes-Benz V-8, with a claimed output of 350 hp. That’s quite a lot of shove for a Merc V-8 in 1987, but it certainly didn’t have to worry about backpressure with the exhaust manifold routed to eight shiny exhaust pipes bursting through the hood.
The bodywork was Kevlar, at a time when Ferrari was using the material in its 288 GTO. There were no doors, windows, or covering over the rear bed, just two seats and a couple of fun extras.
Integrated into the rear interior bodywork was a portable generator, a cooler, and a folding minibike reminiscent of the Honda Motocompo. More functional concept than fun off-roader, the Monster G wasn’t actually legal to be road-registered in Germany. It reportedly cost Gehrig $240,000, an absolutely staggering amount for the time.
Happily, however, the Monster G is still around today. Sbarro ended up retaining a number of his creations, either as personal possessions or left in his care by owners. A couple of years ago, it was part of a Sbarro exhibition at Switzerland’s Autobau Erlebniswelt museum, along with the Golf Turbo, some Can Am cars, and a number of other one-off machines.
The level of audacity in fitting airplane wheels to a functioning V-8 off-roader is something perhaps missing in the current automotive legion of hypercar makers and firms willing to restomod your Porsche 911 or Lancia Integrale. Franco Sbarro’s Monster G, among his other wild creations, are an encouragement to think bigger. Not even the sky is the limit.
Tap the link in bio to learn more.
✒️ : @brendan.mcaleer
📸 : Sbarro
four-door muscle is underrated 💪
Frankly, there’s nothing stopping anyone from bolting the best parts of a muscle car onto a sedan. That’s what Brian Gage did with his more-door Chevelle Malibu.
Gage is from Aguanga, between Southern California’s wine country of Temecula and the vast dunes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
He first spotted this 1967 Chevelle Malibu sedan about 25 years ago, in his local Pennysaver classifieds.
A nearby salvage yard had recently acquired it, and someone had the foresight to sell it whole rather than part it out.
Gage coaxed the small-block back to life, swapped in a four-speed, and used the car as his daily for the better part of two decades before he got the urge to build the Malibu into something serious.
Out with well-worn 283, and in with a big-block. The current iteration is basic by Gage’s reckoning, although the results are still impressive.
The short block is topped by a set of aluminum heads from Skip White Performance that work with the rotating assembly to deliver 10:1 compression.
And this thing can corner, too. The front suspension uses Speedway Motors tubular control arms with the factory GM A-body spindles and a set of Proforged upper ball joints that alter the geometry. “I did correct the bumpsteer on it, so as I change camber, it toes it out and helps with corner entry,” explained Gage.
In the rear, he built his own tubular control arms with Heim joints and relocated the upper arms to keep the axle centered under hard cornering.
“I started to learn how to drive a little better, so we put some 18-inch wheels on it with 315/30s,” Gage recalled, “We cut the inner fender out and used the Porta Power against the upper control arm and just pushed it out.”
With improved suspension and huge slabs of rubber at each corner, the grip was tremendous. “I was getting so much traction, it was twisting really bad and almost popped the window out!”
Tap the 🔗 link in @hagerty 's bio for the full story and gallery.
📸 & 🖊️: Brandan Gillogly (@brandang )
What do you think of the changes?
With Forza Horizon 6, the developers focused heavily on re-engineering the sounds for nearly all the cars in the game, with some getting small tweaks, while many got completely reworked.
With some high-revving V12s like the one in this Centenario, the sound in previous games was dramatic, but not particularly true to life. The new audio definitely has more depth and detail, if not maybe missing a tiny bit of that high-pitched scream that it once had.
IROC and roll on over to @hagertymarketplace ❤️
Introduced for 1985, Chevrolet’s IROC‑Z package elevated the third‑generation Camaro with motorsport‑inspired styling and upgraded performance hardware, quickly cementing its place as one of the defining American performance cars of the late ‘80s. Named for the International Race of Champions series, the IROC‑Z package added a quintessentially 1980s ground-effects body kit, unique suspension tuning, and full instrumentation.
This 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 IROC‑Z Coupe shows just over 35,000 miles and is powered by a fuel-injected 5.0L V8 paired with a five‑speed manual transmission. Finished in Dark Red Metallic over Medium Dark Grey leather, the car features power windows and door locks, a replacement headliner, and an aftermarket Bluetooth stereo; the seller reports the original stereo was functional when removed and is included in the sale.
The seller reports recent service work includes replacement of hoses, belts, suspension bushings, and transmission mount bushings. Additionally, the transmission and rear differential were flushed and refilled with fresh fluids, and the power antenna was rebuilt with a steel cable in 2023.
This low‑mileage 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 IROC‑Z is now offered on Hagerty Marketplace. Tap the link in bio to view the listing.
Which sounds better?
It's launch day for Forza Horizon 6, so we're taking a break from real-life cars and instead spending some time in Japan.
Is there anything you'd like to see from Forza's latest open-world racing game? Let us know!
A few weeks ago, our Web team discovered that baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) have been increasingly active in the collector car market of 2025 and ’26. Early last year, they even retook their spot from Gen X (born between ’65 and ’81) as the market’s largest cohort, a spot they had lost in 2022.
Even as older buyers keep on buyin’, the younger ones are still car-crazy. We’re watching what they’re interested in, too. After all, the children (young adults, in this case) are the future, and the vehicles they’re most interested in are different from the vehicles that their parents, uncles, or grandpas gravitate toward—in some cases, very different. We scoured Hagerty’s insurance quote data, specifically looking for the vehicles that are disproportionately popular with the youngest enthusiasts (Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012).
Tap the link in bio to read more.
📸 : Octane Magazine, Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi, Acura + Chevrolet
✍️ : Andrew Newton
Italian engineering guru Giotto Bizzarrini was born 100 years ago, and to honor the occasion the company that still bears his name today has launched a special edition of its 5300 GT Corsa Revival continuation car.
The Centenario Edition’s composite body, which is formed as a single piece, is finished in a deep gloss black paint, with its alloy wheels glowing gold. Huge ‘100’ racing roundels adorn the doors, hood and tail.
Although these decals are just for show, real racing numbers can be applied to any Bizzarrini Corsa Revival, as they are all built to the FIA’s Appendix K regulations, which means they’re ready to take on historic competition.
Powering the 5300 GT is a period-specific 5.3-liter V-8, which produces a much more contemporary 400 horsepower, and is mated to a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed transmission. The car’s steel chassis features independent suspension, and all-round disc brakes. Extra stiffness and safety is provided by an integrated roll cage.
The Centenerio Edition will be the last of the reborn Bizzarrini 5300 GTs, with the company confirming that it will soon launch an all-new model.
“The Centenario Edition is the perfect reflection of our legacy, as well as an homage to our founder, Giotto Bizzarrini,” says Isobel Dando, Chief Executive of Bizzarrini. “At Bizzarrini we believe that authenticity is not something you can manufacture, it must be earned, lived and fiercely protected. Giotto Bizzarrini was an engineering genius, whose story has become legend, and that story is the very foundation upon which this brand is built. The great luxury marques of the world understand this instinctively: you do not distance yourself from your past, you cherish and embrace it: You honour your founder. You guard the myth. One hundred years on from his birth, the Bizzarrini brand is about to take the next exciting step in that story, the Centenario Edition exists to celebrate what has come before as we close that chapter and step into the future.”
Tap the link in bio to read more.
📸 : Bizzarrini
✍️ : Nik Berg
something blue? 💙
Introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the facelifted Lamborghini Murciélago LP640-4 was a decisive evolution of the marque's flagship V-12 supercar, elevating both the performance and presence of the original Murciélago.
Redesigned front and rear fascias, larger center-exit exhaust, and enhanced aero sharpened its visual aggression. The LP640-4 featured asymmetrical side intakes, the left of which routed to the car's oil cooler. Refined interior appointments included more headroom and a new dashboard with upgraded stereo, pairing the Murciélago's new performance with enhanced livability.
The LP640-4's uprated 6.5L V-12 delivered 640 CV and its upgraded six-speed e-Gear automatic transmission now featured launch control, rocketing the Raging Bull to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 340 km/h. At the time, Lamborghini was fully committed to its new single-clutch automatic transmission, driven by the belief that an automatic supercar represented the pinnacle of modern performance and luxury. As a result, the traditional manual gearbox which had long managed the power of Lamborghini's legendary V-12 family was quietly phased out, making three-pedal Murciélagos increasingly scarce. In the years since however, collectors have rediscovered the magic of the gated six-speed: perfectly pairing visceral, analog engagement with Lamborghini's refined flagship V12 supercar of the 2000s.
This 2009 Lamborghini Murciélago is one of just 88 LP640-4 Coupés equipped with the six-speed gated manual transmission and is believed to be the only one finished in Celeste Phoebe. Tap the link in bio to learn more about the car.
✒️ & 📸 : @broadarrow_auctions
draggin' wagon 💫
The third-generation Impala Wagon introduced brought crisp styling, expansive interior space, and potent V8 performance to Chevrolet’s full-size lineup. Once regarded as utilitarian family haulers, early Impala Wagons have become highly desirable long‑roofs for custom builds. This 1963 Chevrolet Impala Wagon exemplifies that evolution, showcasing an extensive restomod blending custom fabrication, modern LS V-8 power, and award-winning presentation.
Finished in PPG Brilliant White with charcoal accents, this Impala estate has received a comprehensive overhaul by The Hot Rod Shop in Sacramento, California. Body modifications include shaved door handles and tailgate, reworked quarter panels, and custom‑modified bumpers finished in a distinctive cast gray along with a custom grille. The hood and tail panel contrast in charcoal to complete the exterior theme. Power comes from a fuel-injected 5.7‑liter LS1 V-8, fitted with distinctive valve covers and cowl, paired with a 4L60E automatic transmission.
The interior features red leather upholstery by Roman’s Upholstery over Impala SS bucket seats. A smoothed dash houses Dakota Digital VHX instrumentation, while a Lokar shifter sits in a custom center console. Air suspension with AccuAir management provides a ground‑hugging stance, and Wilwood disc brakes bring the wagon to a halt behind staggered Rushforth Whiplash wheels.
This customized Impala reportedly won a Goodguys award in 2019 and was acquired by the seller in 2021.
This 1963 Chevrolet Impala Wagon restomod is now on @hagertymarketplace .
Almost a decade and half after Saab’s demise, a handful of cars that remained in the Trollhättan factory are being sold at auction.
Saab originated as an aircraft manufacturer, but in 1947 it showed its first car, the 92. The company built a hard-won reputation for reliability through rallying on the world stage with victories in the RAC and Monte Carlo rallies, and many more, thanks to the skills of Erik Carlsson, driving a 96.
The company was an innovator, running V-4 engines, introducing turbocharging to the masses in the 900 series, and was known for its excellent ergonomics. When Saab’s car manufacturing division was split from its aviation arm in 1989, General Motors took a 50 percent stake in the business. In 2000, GM bought the remainder, but ten years later, the General retreated, selling to the Dutch Spyker Cars, who really didn’t have the money to keep it going.
Saab shuttered in 2012, but its assets were taken over by a group of former employees, backed by Chinese cash. The new company, NEVS, with funding from the Evergrande Group, set its ambitions on electric and autonomous cars, but little truly tangible emerged.
Evergrande went bust in 2021, and almost all the staff at NEVS were let go in 2023. In 2025, NEVS began auctioning off parts from the factory’s stores, and now a new sale will see seven of the last ever 9-3s go under the gavel.
Three of the 9-3s are pre-production gasoline-powered cars manufactured in 2014, with between 18,000 and 58,000 km on the odometer, while a NEVS pre-preproduction EV has covered 38,000 km, and all are said to have been used only for “internal transport.”
Three further EV prototypes assembled by NEVS demonstrate the different technologies NEVS was developing. One vehicle features in-wheel electric motors, another is loaded with GPS, lidar, and cameras for autonomous driving, and the last car is a hybrid with a range-extender powertrain. All the cars are unregistered
To trigger the auction by Klaravik, the doors of the Trollhätten factory will open on May 30 so that the cars can be viewed where they were made, offering enthusiasts one last chance to say farewell.
✒️ : Nik Berg
📸 : Klaravik
PSA: don't do a spoiler delete on your Audi TT
On the latest edition of Revelations, @jasoncammisa tells the story of the little German coupe that enthusiasts dismissed, the Audi TT.
Not VW group's first foray into sporty two-doors based on economy cars, the TT followed the sales successes of the Karmann Ghia and Scirocco, and even through a period when small coupes were floundering in the market, it succeeded as well. Though not without some problems along the way...
Watch the full episode now, at the link in bio.
