by Gabrielle DeSantis

John Cena is a renaissance man, from pro wrestler to actor to children’s book author. He’s also one of many celebrities who are car enthusiasts. In fact, he owns more than 20 vehicles, including some as muscular as he. Here’s a look at some of the coolest and weirdest cars in the F9 star’s collection.

John Cena’s muscles are his signature

John Cena loves fast cars | Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images

Born in 1977 in West Newbury, Massachusetts, John Cena moved to California after college to become a bodybuilder, Biography reports. After switching to pro wrestling, he quickly found success. He won the Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) title in 2000 and the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) heavyweight title in 2002. By 2004, Cena had won the United States WWE Championship. Along with his wrestling success, he also appeared in movies and TV series and even released a rap album.

Even today, Cena’s workout ensures he retains his muscular physique. Though he no longer bodybuilds, he lifts “to keep aesthetic muscles while improving his athleticism and resistance to injury,” Men’s Journal reports. His goal is to increase the maximum for his main lifts every six weeks.

The muscle cars in John Cena’s collection

Cena owns many cool and unique cars. “I have an affection for the obscure, the crazy paint jobs, and the crazy body styling [of muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s] — not necessarily the cars everyone else likes,” he told MotorTrend.

Among those models is a first-generation 1966 Dodge Hemi Charger 426, HotCars reports. It’s also rare because only 468 units packed the powerful Hemi engine. This classic fastback boasts a 7.0-liter V8 Hemi engine harnessing 425 hp. All of that power lets the car roar from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds.

Cena also owns a 1970 Buick GSX. This classic muscle car also features a powerful engine. Its 7.5-liter V8 produces 510 lb-ft of torque.

On the newer end is a 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang. Only 500 were made. This car “is a homage to the 302 Boss Mustang from 1970 with black side stripes and a stripe along with the long hood,” HotCars points out. It also has plenty of power from its 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing 400 hp.

Finally, there’s Cena’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird. This winged car was an altered version of the Plymouth Road Runner. It has a 7.0-liter V8 engine generating 425 hp that pushes this classic car to more than 150 mph.

“You can’t go anyplace without the car being the talk of the town,” Cena told MotorTrend. “It’s a very big piece of NASCAR heritage, and I was pretty impressed by the movie [Cars], how they used that car and the Hudson. Those cars were very important in the development of major manufacturers getting involved in NASCAR.”

The ‘worst’ cars in the star’s collection

Cena also owns some uncool cars, according to HotCars. Some he keeps for sentimental reasons. They include the first car he ever owned: a 1984 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. It’s also the car Cena learned to drive in, he told MotorTrend. The car’s 5.7-liter V8 engine generates a measly 105 hp.

Cena also still has a 1991 Lincoln Continental — the only thing he owned when his career began. In addition, he has a 1989 Jeep Wrangler, which he purchased with his first WWE paycheck.

Also in his collection is a 2013 Chevy Corvette CR dubbed the InCENArator. This custom car was built on a Corvette C7 R platform. The futuristic vehicle has a 491-hp 5.5-liter V8 engine and, yes, flamethrowers. But it’s terrible to drive. Occupants must enter through the glass roof because the car has no doors, and it doesn’t offer any comfort upgrades.

Overall, John Cena’s collection includes some greats and some duds. But they’re all cars with interesting backstories. Cena even shared his cars in his Auto Geek series on the Bella Twins’ YouTube Channel.

RELATED: Jay Leno Reveals the Real Reason He Bought Himself a Tesla Years Ago

The post John Cena’s Car Collection Is as Muscular as the Pro Wrestling Star appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Given how well their resale value holds, some might think secondhand Porsches are unaffordable. However, not every used Porsche is expensive, and that includes its sports cars. One model, in particular, is often found at reasonably affordable prices. And this week, there’s one up for sale on Bring a Trailer: a 2007 987 Porsche Cayman.

A used 987 Porsche Cayman is a fun mid-engine sports car that rivals the 911

2007 Porsche Cayman front | Porsche

While the rear-engine 911 is Porsche’s most iconic car, some critics argue that it’s not necessarily the German brand’s best sports car. In terms of balance and fun, the mid-engine Cayman is regularly considered the 911’s equal, if not it’s better. And that’s been the case since the first-gen 987 Porsche Cayman debuted in 2006.

At first, the 987 Porsche Cayman was only available in 295-hp, 3.4-liter flat-six Cayman S trim. But in 2007 came the base Cayman, with a 2.7-liter flat-six engine rated at 245 hp and 201 lb-ft of torque. And while the 987 Cayman S has a standard six-speed manual, that was optional on the base Cayman, which came standard with a five-speed manual. As a result, the base model goes 0-62 mph in 6.1 seconds, 0.3 seconds slower than the S, Road & Track says.

Besides the smaller engine, the 987 Porsche Cayman also has smaller front brakes than the S and a softer suspension tune. And it doesn’t have quite as much standard equipment. However, it’s also 88 pounds lighter than the Cayman S, Car notes. Plus, with a softer ride, the 987 Cayman is more forgiving on rough roads than the Cayman S.

Also, a base 987 Porsche Cayman is still a mid-engine Porsche sports car. To quote Autocar, its “high-speed stability is superb and noticeably better than the [contemporary] 911’s.” Even with the retuned suspension, the base car “delivers crisp handling,” R&T reports, and the smaller rotors don’t noticeably affect braking performance. There’s also plenty of feedback through the steering wheel. And the five-speed transmission gives up little, if anything, to the six-speed, Car says.

There’s a 2007 model for sale on Bring a Trailer

A black 2007 Porsche Cayman 5-Speed in a parking lot
2007 Porsche Cayman 5-Speed | Bring a Trailer

To be fair, the modern 718 Cayman has more tech and more power than the 987 Porsche Cayman. The older car, though, has a critical advantage over the new one (disregarding the GT4): that sweet flat-six engine.

But the five-speed 2007 Cayman currently listed on Bring a Trailer offers a little more than that. Besides the coupe’s standard equipment, it has 18” Cayman S wheels, leather upholstery, heated seats, and automatic climate control. It also has the Sound Package Plus, which adds extra speakers, a more powerful amplifier, and CD storage in the glovebox. And it rides on H&R lowering springs. Those are the only modifications besides the paint protection film.

The gray-leather-upholstered seats and dashboard of a 2007 Porsche Cayman 5-Speed
2007 Porsche Cayman 5-Speed interior | Bring a Trailer

Besides being mostly stock, this 2007 987 Porsche Cayman has less than 76,000 miles on the clock. It also has a zero-accident history. And BaT reports that the seller has addressed several maintenance items in preparation for the sale. Besides changing the oil, they also replaced the tie rod ends, sway bar links, shocks, tires, and the battery.

This used 987 Porsche Cayman might be a bargain buy, but will it be expensive to maintain?

As of this writing, this 2007 987 Porsche Cayman is listed on BaT for $22,000 with three days left in the auction. To be sure, you can find cheaper Caymans, but not significantly cheaper ones. On BaT, the average used Cayman hovers closer to $30,000. Considering this car’s condition and mileage, it’s a true bargain.

Given that it’s a used Porsche sports car, some might be wary of bidding on it. As always, we recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection beforehand. Additionally, this 987 Cayman is a ‘987.1’ car, which means it has an M97 engine with an intermediate shaft, PCA explains. The phrase ‘IMS failure’ sparks fear for many potential Porsche owners, as it can mean buying a new engine.

However, it’s worth noting that IMS failures are often overblown, and affect the Cayman less than the 911. Also, in 2007, Porsche gave the 987 Cayman a stronger IMS bearing, further reducing failure rates, Motorious says. And while 987.1 engines can suffer from cylinder scoring and leaking rear main seals, the 2.7-liter engines are less prone to the former. Based on the BaT post’s description and comments, this 2007 Cayman appears to suffer from neither.

In short, this 2007 987 Porsche Cayman offers 911-level fun and handling at a fraction of the price. And while some parts can be pricey, in this spec, this coupe should be just as affordable to maintain.

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

Houston Raceway Park, the site of the NHRA SpringNationals for 35 years, is shutting down in 2022. Located in Baytown, Texas, the facility has hosted many drag races over the decades supporting the Houston area. Four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders started her drag racing career at the famous track in 1992.

A Belgium logistics company bought the Houston Raceway Park property

NHRA SpringNationals | NHRA

Katoen Natie, a Belgium-based logistics and port operations company, owns a five million square feet warehouse facility adjoining Houston Raceway Park. It wants to expand its operations and has purchased the drag racing facility sealing its fate. The business currently receives, stores, and distributes petroleum-based products; as well as housing an engineering process center and other ventures. 

Seth Angel, the HRP operator, told Autoweek, “This is no surprise, no surprise to NHRA. We’ve been in constant communication with them as to where things sat for us. Back in 2018, we engaged with some folks that were interested in purchasing the property, and it led to a deal that closed in 2019. We were not interested in departing the sport in a manner that was detrimental to the sport. And we weren’t going to just jerk the rug out from underneath the NHRA, from our fans, from our racers. We wanted to do it the right way. So part of that was we were going to lease back the property for four years to fulfill all of our obligations with NHRA and with our partners. That’s what we’ve done. So that deal comes to a close in April of next year.”

What is NHRA doing about this fourth major track closure in three years?

NHRA SpringNationals 2019 at Houston Raceway Park
NHRA Top Fuel Dragster (left lane) has a major mechanical problem causing the engine to explode against competitor Larry Dixon (right lane) during the first round of the 2009 NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park | Ron Lewis/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)

This is now the fourth significant drag racing track in the last three years to close shop. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, better known as “Englishtown drag strip,” was bulldozed in 2018. From there we’ve seen Route 66 Raceway in Chicago stop racing last year, and Atlanta Dragway ends operations by this year’s end. 

It’s a stunning blow for drag racing enthusiasts, and calls into question what NHRA, the sanctioning body for drag racing, is doing? All of the professional classes have seen dwindling qualifiers, its Pro Stock racing category looks to be on thin ice, and it is selling its Glendora, California, headquarters. Now, with another track retrenchment, everyone is wondering what, if anything, NHRA plans to do?

HRP has always been considered a nectar spot being at sea level. And it services an area rich in drag racing interest and history. It pulls fans not only from the Houston area but also from Oklahoma and Louisiana. Veteran drag racer Don Gay and the Angel brothers co-owned the 500-acre facility since the 1980s. The Angels bought out the Gay family in 2004.

Angel says, We’re going to go out on top. It’s just the ‘going out’ part that puts the ‘bitter’ in ‘bittersweet.”

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The post NHRA Home of SpringNationals For 35 Years Is Closing Down appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the coolest automotive events in the world. Every year it showcases some of the coolest examples of new and vintage speed monsters the world has to offer. This year’s 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed showcased what might be the fastest and loudest EV the world has ever seen. 

McMurtry Speirling | Goodwood

What the hell is a McMurtry Spéirling? 

McMurtry Automotive is a British auto company that took to the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed with its new all-electric compact hypercar called the Spéirling. This thing looks like someone shot the Batmobile with a shrink ray – and made it way faster. 

One of the most notable aspects of the Spéirling is how loud it is. One of the biggest cons to the electric car scene for enthusiasts is that they don’t have the satisfying sound of an engine. I’d wager if more EVs sounded like the Spéirling; you wouldn’t hear nearly the amount of whinging from the old boys. 

What makes this the loudest EV? 

First, let’s get a better grasp on what we are looking at/hearing here. According to New Atlas, the Spéirling is a single-seater designed for track-only use, for now. It wears a full carbon fiber body which measures a tiny 10.5ft wide x 3.4ft high x 4.9ft wide.

The Spéirling is powered by a rear-wheel-drive two-motor e-axle system of McMurtry’s own design, running off a 60-kWh battery pack placed low and in the middle. Power figures aren’t yet available, but the company promises it’ll offer at least one horsepower per kilogram of weight, with the final weight figure under 2,205 lb. The company says it’ll be enough power to comfortably escort you from 0-186 mph in less than nine seconds. 

One of the coolest aspects of the Spéirling is the two 80-hp fans set underneath the car, generating more than 50 percent of the car’s weight in downforce even before it starts moving. And here lay the culprit for all the racket. 

As previously mentioned, this thing is crazy fast and crazy loud. The power to weight ratio clearly shows why this car is so stinking fast, but the noise from the fans is really something to take note of. The Spéirling stands out in the EV segment that is known for its ghostly quiet cars. The Spéirling makes roughly 120 decibels of what sounds more like a jet engine than a car. 

Even though the Spéirling is technically too loud to be run on many city streets and even some race tracks, McMurtry told AutoTrader that he sees the noise as a “happy accident” that brings some needed drama and excitement to an otherwise sterile segment. 

What’s next for this super-loud and super-fast EV? 

The McMurtry Speirling is not only one of the fastest EVs it is also the loudest EV in the game
McMurtry Speirling | Goodwood

“McMurtry intends to launch an assault on a number of world records with the Spéirling demonstrator in the coming year,” says the monster EV’s home website. New Atlas takes the quote a step further by suggesting that the Spéirling would be wise to go after the Volkswagen ID.4’s records. 

There is still no way of knowing when we might see a Spéirling for sale, seeing how this one is still very much in the prototype phase. Whenever (or if ever) that day comes, something tells me this EV might twist some old boys’ mustaches in a way other EVs have failed to do. 

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