Ultra-Rare V10-Powered Ford Shelby Cobra Concept Heads to Auction

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Based on the famous sports car of the 1960s, the 2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept was supposed to highlight what the American carmaker could build at the time. While it shares a similar look to the original car, this Ford concept hides a naturally-aspirated V10 under its hood and plenty of goodies directly off the GT supercar. However, now you’ve got a chance to own it because it’s heading to auction.

According to Mecum Auctions via The Drive, this concept is a one-off, tested by Carol Shelby himself. Today, the car is owned by former Ford Vice President of Product Development, Chris Theodore. Given how much he paid for it a few years ago, this auction won’t be cheap.

What was the Ford Shelby Cobra Concept based on?

2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept | Mecum Auctions

As this Ford Shelby Cobra Concept underwent development, it was simply known by its codename, “Daisy.” According to Mecum, Shelby shared a wish back in the early 2000s to build a brand-new Cobra, and this is what he came up with. What is perhaps most important about this build is the fact that Ford was developing its GT racecar while this concept came to life. As a result, it benefited from these new parts.

According to Mecum, the concept features an “engineered welded and bonded space frame, made up of billet aluminum plus castings and extruded aluminum sections sourced from the Ford GT.” Additionally, the concept utilizes the GT’s front and rear suspension as well as its Brembo brakes.

While Mecum didn’t post an exact odometer, chances are this car hasn’t seen much time out on the open road. In total, we know that Carol Shelby covered at least 150 miles during testing. Despite this, the current owner decided to send the car out to get a full service, meaning it and its massive engine are ready to go.

How much power does this V10 offer up?

An image of a Ford Shelby Cobra Concept outdoors.
2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept | Mecum Auctions

At the front of this Ford Shelby Cobra Concept, you’ll find a naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter V10 engine pushing out around 605 hp. Aside from existing in a concept car, this engine is special because it is just one of four V10s built by Ford Advanced Powertrain. Keeping with the theme of borrowing from the GT, this roadster features its six-speed manual transaxle.

One of the main goals surrounding the inclusion of the transaxle is that it would provide greater legroom. To put this strange machine in context, it is almost as long as a Miata with more legroom than a Crown Victoria. All-in, this could’ve made a great GT car if it had made it into production.

How much will this Ford Shelby Cobra Concept Cost?

An image of a Ford Shelby Cobra Concept outdoors.
2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept | Mecum Auctions

RELATED: Missing Ultra-Rare Lamborghini Countach Turbo Pops up on Instagram

As you might imagine, buying a one-off Ford Shelby Cobra Concept certainly won’t be cheap. For reference, its current owner paid $825,000 for it back in 2017. Given the recent boom in the car market, this car could attract some serious cash. Aside from being a one-off, it is completely road legal, meaning its new owner could actually go out and enjoy it. Because of this, Mecum doesn’t even have an estimated price range. Instead, we’ll have to see what it sells for this August.

The post Ultra-Rare V10-Powered Ford Shelby Cobra Concept Heads to Auction appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Florida Man Builds Cadillac Escalade Pickup Truck Out of a Chevy Silverado

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for a Cadillac Escalade pickup truck, you’re pretty much out of luck. That’s because the last time we saw an Escalade with a bed in the back was for the 2013 model year. As you might imagine, there’s still plenty of demand for this sort of build, especially in Florida, it seems.

According to The Drive, a shop called Dom’s Garage Miami came up with the idea to resurrect this forgotten truck. However, they’ve chosen to do so by grafting the Escalade’s face directly onto a Chevy Silverado. Upon first impressions, it seems they’ve done a fantastic job with it.

How do you make a new Cadillac Escalade pickup truck?

Cadillac Escalade Pickup Truck | Doms Garage Miami via Instagram

As you might imagine, turning a Cadillac Escalade into a pickup truck would be an impossible task. As a result, it’s much easier to take the Escalade’s face and transplant it onto an existing truck. That’s exactly what this custom shop in Miami decided to do for this particular build. When you think about it, the swap makes complete sense.

The current-gen Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado share the exact same T1 platform. This also underpins trucks and SUVs from GMC. While this might seem like an easy swap, The Drive reports that this build required significant fender modifications to ensure that everything fits properly.

What is perhaps most impressive about this build is the fact that it looks completely stock. There are very few indications that would tell you that GM didn’t build this truck itself. All of the existing body lines still flow well, and the Cadillac’s front end is a perfect match for the Chevy’s boxy cab.

The rest of the truck features small modifications

An image of a Cadillac Escalade pickup truck outdoors.
Cadillac Escalade Pickup Truck | Doms Garage Miami via Instagram

In order to give this Cadillac Escalade pickup truck a more official look, the custom shop added a large Cadillac badge to the rear end. In terms of modifications, this truck is clearly lowered, running on a set of large wheels and skinny tires.

Chances are, this build isn’t cheap by any means. While we don’t have exact pricing, you have to imagine that the entire front end of a brand-new Escalade is far from cheap. Additionally, when you add up all of the labor costs, we’re easily looking at a six-figure truck.

However, aside from just being a flashy daily driver, this truck makes a great case as to how easily Cadillac could put together its own full-size truck if it wants to. In fact, it already did so in the past.

When did the Cadillac Escalade pickup truck go extinct?

RELATED: Broken 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor Cost $77,000 and Arrived With Unmentioned Mileage

While this Cadillac Escalade pickup truck just rolled out of the shop floor, the American carmaker built an official truck almost a decade ago. It was called the EXT, and it first appeared for the 2003 model year. Unlike its Chevy and GMC siblings, the EXT never looked like a true truck. Instead, it served as an odd SUV/truck hybrid that never truly sold well. As a result, Cadillac pulled the plug for the 2013 model year. So if you want an Escalade truck, it seems you’re going to Miami.

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Class-action Lawsuit Says These Ford F-350s Have a Major Label Problem

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A class-action lawsuit alleges that Ford sold F-350s incapable of handling the workloads they advertised. This means the trucks weren’t as valuable as buyers believed them to be. A recall was announced to address the issue, but many owners were left unsatisfied with Ford’s solution. Plantiffs hope the lawsuit will address issues that the recall process did not resolve.

Super Duty trucks recalled for inaccurate labels

Ford F-350 | John Sommers II/ Bloomberg News via Getty Images

In early 2021 Ford announced a recall for nearly 12,000 F-350 pickup trucks. The affected units were assembled in the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant between May 13, 2019, and September 19, 2020. Nearly 10,000 of the trucks were sold in the U.S., with the remainder being sold in Canada.

The recall states that trucks equipped with the 6.7-Liter Powerstroke diesel powertrain were incorrectly labeled. Their payload capacities had been overstated on the tire and loading information label. Inaccurate accessory reserve capacities were printed on safety certification labels, and incorrect weights were listed in the truck camper loading document.

Ford began contacting affected truck owners on March 22. Drivers who suspect their trucks may be affected can search for their VIN with the manufacturer. They can also call Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 20S73.

The lawsuit highlights unaddressed Ford F-350 customer concerns

In response to the recall, Ford dealerships were instructed to replace labeling and documentation of affected vehicles. Many found this remedy to be unsatisfactory. A class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco division.

The suit addresses buyer concerns over the value of their trucks. Plaintiff David I. Rathmann claims he and the other 10,000 plus buyers would not have purchased their trucks if they had known they were mislabeled. The lawsuit alleges that Ford did not offer refunds or compensation to buyers who felt they paid too much for too little truck.

Correcting the numbers on labels and documentation technically addresses the issue at face value. It does little to appease buyers who feel like they paid for power they didn’t get. The lawsuit aims to address that issue in the courts.

Why these numbers matter

Weight capacities are clearly labeled on pickup trucks and other vehicles for a reason. They affect the performance and safety of the vehicles they apply to. To sell a mislabeled truck leaves buyers at risk of overloading their vehicle. This could damage any number of systems or cause an accident.

When a truck is carrying too much weight, it can drastically increase the amount of time it takes for that vehicle to stop. This dangerous mislabeling issue could increase the risk of collision if drivers are unable to predict stopping distance. Ford revealed that they are unaware of any accident or injury caused by the labeling issue.

As the class-action lawsuit affirms, the mislabeled F-350 trucks proved more than an inconvenience. The issues addressed by both the recall and this class-action lawsuit are a matter of safety. The lawsuit will determine Ford’s liability and if buyers are entitled to any compensation.

RELATED: Can the Ford F-350 Handle 6.5 Tons of Concrete?

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Ram Class-Action Lawsuit Over Diesel Engine Failures

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A class-action lawsuit was just filed by a Ram 5500 Chassis Cab owner. He claims these diesel-powered Rams are prone to engine failures. It includes all 2019-2020 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab trucks with Cummins diesel engines.

The lawsuit says Ram did recall of these trucks in 2020 

Ram 3500 | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

This goes back to September 2020 according to carcomplaints. Ram had a recall of 2019 and 2020 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks. It focussed on engine fires and outright failures. The problem was described as a rod bearing failure because they weren’t getting the proper amount of oil during warmups. 

With a lack of oil film, the connecting rods would fail. Then they would punch out of the engine block. Hot oil would leak out and start fires from hitting components like the exhaust manifolds. The fix was to flash the engine calibration software so that engine warm-ups improved engine protection. 

The plaintiff bought a new Ram 5500 Chassis Cab in 2019. He paid around $75,000 for it. After less than a year’s use, the engine locked up on the freeway with no warning. The engine had seized. He had the truck towed to a Ram dealership.

The Ram’s warranty did not cover the engine failure

2021 Ram 5500 heavy-duty chassis-cab truck
2020 Ram 5500 heavy-duty truck | Stellantis

Almost three months passed before the dealership gave him the bad news. His warranty did not cover the repairs necessary to get the Cummins engine up and running. The dealership claimed that the truck has low oil pressure for 3,000 miles and that was the cause of the engine failure. 

A service invoice for the repair noted, “Concern Customer states oil leak Cause tech found large hole in engine block. Tech started case #101775894. Star engineering and cummins verified failure is not warrantable due to low oil pressure at the time of failure. Correction warranty repair denied by chrysler and cummins. No repairs made.”

Chrysler told him Cummins would not fix or replace the engine

2021 Ram 5500 heavy-duty truck
2020 Ram 5500 heavy-duty truck | Stellantis

Once the plaintiff received the denial he contacted Chrysler and got a case number. He was then contacted by Chrysler which told him that Cummins would not fix or replace the engine. With that, the owner took the truck to an expert diesel mechanic. 

He found no evidence of anything wrong leading up to the failure. A note from him says, “After inspection of the vehicle I found a huge hole in the side of the engine block. One of the connection rods broke, which caused the hole in the block. This is caused by connecting rod bearing failure due to a lack of oil pressure. While doing some research on this particular truck and engine combination, I came across a service bulletin recall on this exact truck.”

An outside mechanic has an idea as to why Ram launched a recall

2021 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, one of the best new diesel pickup trucks according to Edmunds
2020 Ram Heavy Duty | Stellantis

Based on this info the mechanic determined that the recall included reprogramming the computer because it was found there was not adequate warm time. The initial program lowered the oil pressure when the engine was cold to lower warm-up times. 

After all of this time, the truck is still not functional and the owner has purchased a different make and model of truck.

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