Atlanta Spotters Thread

Why no pics of the silver 997, Doug?!

 

The 997 was a TechArt GT Street. It was cool, but tuner cars do absolutely nothing for me - I never photograph anything Brabus, Dinan, Gemballa, etc. Once I passed up a Porsche on a flatbed that had RUF badges and every indication that it was a "true" RUF model. It's just personal preference, I guess.

Here's a shot of the GT Street for you, though, Rue.
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Apologies for the double post, but while I'm here, spots from yesterday:

- silver Aston-Martin DB9 on South Carolina "Keep it Beautiful" plates at the Hyatt Buckhead.
- red Aston-Martin DB9 Volante on Virginia "Air and Space Museum" plates reading GOTDB9 in general parking at Lenox Mall.
- silver Audi R8 on Florida plates reading VENTURE at Terminus.
- black Ferrari 360 Spider at Phipps Plaza valet.
- Young Jeezy's light blue Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster - still on temporary plates - at Houston's on Lenox Road. Later I saw Jeezy again at an intersection downtown where he pulled alongside a Cadillac Escalade EXT, got out of his car, and began rapping to the people inside the Cadillac. Here's another shot. When the light turned green, he got back in his car and drove away. I'm sorry I didn't get better pictures of this, as it was one of the stranger things I've seen.

I continue to see new Georgia license plates: Oglethorpe and GCSU now have designs, as does the University of Tennessee and Children's Hospital. There's also one promoting golfing. Despite this, certain forum members are too cheap to spring for plates promoting their alma mater.
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...aaand, now a triple post.

I want to thank ZonderF for help with this one. I received a text message from him letting me know that Usher's Porsche Carrera GT was parked in general parking at Lenox Mall and immediately headed to Lenox. Indeed, the car was there, parked among regular cars. Here's another angle, and here's another. Finally, here's a shot of the whole area. Unlike in my past experiences with Carrera GTs, many people noticed the car including a middle-aged woman who was unfazed when I told her it was Usher's - but described the engine as "****ing awesome," before wishing me a happy Mother's Day. I was in Buckhead about an hour, from 2pm to 3pm, and the car was there the whole time. This is my favorite car and it's been fifteen months since I've seen one. Again, thanks Andrew for the tip - I almost certainly wouldn't have seen the car otherwise!

Other spots today:
- black or dark blue Ferrari 360 Modena at Roswell Road at Andrews Drive.
- red Ferrari F430 Spider on South Carolina plates being driven by a blonde woman on Peachtree through Buckhead. I believe this is just the second female-driven Ferrari I've ever seen.
- yellow Lamborghini Gallardo at Lenox Mall valet.
- black Maybach 57 on California plates driving near Lenox Mall.
- black Rolls-Royce Phantom on New Jersey plate GOT MIX at Lenox Mall valet.
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That's what I like to see -- someone who's not afraid to park an expensive exotic among the common folk.

 

Ouch...I should have seen it coming though. $70 is a bit much to spend on a plate though, even you agreed with that, and when you tack on a $45 a year extra charge on top of the ridiculous ad velorem BS that we already have to pay, I'm fine with my regular plate.

Anyways, on to the awesomeness from today!

-rental Gallardo and Phantom on New Jersey plate "GOT MIX" together at Lenox
-Usher's Carrera GT parked in regular parking as Doug said above, it really caught me off guard to see this thing parked here, but it was tucked away pretty well so it didn't draw anywhere near as much attention as it would have if it had been in valet. Still an amazing car to see and the first time I've seen his car since September 14 last year.
-Vantage pulling into the restaurant valet directly behind Chops
-not too sure what to make of this Porsche, it had all the makings of a GT3 RS but the back said "911" and the exhausts were wrong
-the last one is for Exoticspotter, since I passed on taking a picture of this car a few nights ago, it's a Gran Turismo S with black rims...it pulled up behind me and the roar of the exhaust really caught me off guard
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Do you have an other pics? What did the exhaust look like? Is there anything else that was strange with the car that you noticed?

 

Nope, that was the only picture I took. Exhausts were like a regular 911, not like the GT3 or RS where they are in the middle. Other than that, it looked really good, the thing that stuck out for me was that it didn't have the sound of a GT3, had I heard a nice exhaust note, I would have probably turned around and taken more pictures.

 

Yeah, this is very strange. Like you said, all signs are pointing to the GT3/RS but the exhaust is huge indicator that it is most likely that it is a regular 911. Body panels can be fitted to different cars - same for rear wings - same with wheels. So, my vote, regular 911 with a lot of convincing work into it.

Also, this is a mix bag of both the GT3 and the GT3RS. The GT3RS has the rear wing that is featured on this car here and the GT3 has much more a flowing rear wing. And, I am guessing, that this car is all black, which is mostly a GT3 trait considering that the GT3RS is usually a two-tone car and most people would keep it that way.

Having said all of that - something looks strange about this car to me.

 

Some from today...

-H1 being used for its intended purpose, I love the toolboxes on the roof
-some old Rolls Royce at Lenox
-Alpina B7 on a side road down from St. Regis
-DB9 at St. Regis
-430 turning from Piedmont onto Lenox Rd
-430 Spyder on Florida plates at Publix on Roswell Rd
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A few sightings lately:

Sunday May 10:
- red Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe on vanity plate EJH waaaay up on Cobb Parkway and Old 41 in Kennesaw. This is a car we see from time to time in Buckhead, so I was surprised to see it all the way up there.

Monday May 11:
- worst photograph ever of an Aston-Martin DB9 at the St. Regis.
- white Audi R8 on Roswell Road near Piedmont.
- black Maybach 57 on California plates on Peachtree over GA-400.
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If you had been there the day before, you would have seen a couple of Ferraris -- mine and Seth's -- at the Hooter's car show across the road. In fact I walked over to that very Shell and had a Red Bull.

 

Some from today...

-Alpina B7 in the big lot behind Tin Lizzy's....I don't quite know why someone would change the rims on this car though
-rental Gallardo for the 3rd time in 4 days, either somebody is paying through the nose for this thing or business is good. Also an IS-F with hideous Nascar plates in front of it, second time I've seen these two cars together
-Jeezy's smurf-mobile at Phipps
-430 Spyder at Houston's, it was joined by a Datsun GT-R just after I took the picture

Also saw a DB9 parked on the road by Chops but it was wayyy too dark and my camera is awful at night.
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I'm aware - I saw your post in the other thread! We need to get you to take that 328 down to Buckhead, Jim - the newer cars might beat yours in performance, but they're nowhere near as thrilling to see on the road as yours would be.

Recent spots:

Tuesday May 12:
- black Aston-Martin DB7 Volante in a parking lot on Pharr Road.
- silver Aston-Martin DB9 on West Paces in front of Chops.
- white Bentley Arnage on West Paces in front of Chops.
- silver Ferrari 360 Modena on California plates at Atlantic Station.
- silver Ferrari 550 Maranello on wildlife (eagle) plates at Aria.
- gray Ferrari F430 Spider at Houston's valet.
- Young Jeezy's light blue Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster at Phipps Plaza valet.

Wednesday May 13:
- silver Ferrari 360 Modena on California plates on Peachtree near Piedmont.
- silver Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder on wildlife (eagle) plates at Cactus Car Wash on Piedmont.
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Thanks for the compliment, Doug. Outside of the new "Potenza on Peachtree" monthly event, the only places I ever go in Buckhead are to Lenox Square once in a long while, and to Nancy's Pizza down the street. The problem with many places is "valet parking only", and I despise valet parking! (If it were in my power, I'd make it illegal.)

Right now the 328 is looking a bit ugly, as my horse is missing its chin. I just got back from Bo Pirkle's, where the spoiler is being fixed yet again; that seems to be about an every-two-year occurrence. Someone at work suggested that we should try to make a mold of a 328 spoiler and make them out of polyurethane or some other flexible plastic!

(Incidentally, Bo had 355 and 430 spiders on the premises, along with an Iso Grifo.)

 

I admit, I completely agree. I hate that valet parking is "the rule" in Buckhead. In fact, I cite that as the main reason we don't see more "older" cars. However, just as I'm complaining I never see any pre-360 Ferraris, we have tonight's spots:

- black Aston-Martin V8 Vantage at Piedmont and Lenox.
- black Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed on temporary plates on West Paces and Andrews Drive.
- black Bentley Continental GT Speed at Phipps Plaza valet.
- red Ferrari 328 GTS on Piedmont and Habersham. When I first saw this car, I thought it was yours, Jim, taking my advice! But it turned out to be a different car. I gave the owner a thumbs up as I do with owners of older Ferraris; he returned the gesture.
- red Ferrari 456 at Chops valet. I was shocked and delighted to see a Ferrari of Denver license plate frame on this car, despite local plates! I've never seen this car before on the road, at a show, or at an event. It was a great surprise this evening.
- black Ferrari 550 Maranello on East Paces and Piedmont. Here's another angle.
- black Rolls-Royce Phantom on dealer plates in general parking at Phipps Plaza. This Phantom did not look like it was in good shape, with aftermarket chrome silver trim applied above the wheels and a large dent on the trunk below the license plate! This is the 50th different standard wheelbase Phantom I've seen, making the standard wheelbase Phantom the very first exotic car I've seen fifty of in one bodystyle.

Though I didn't see a huge number of cars tonight, any night you can see three different pre-F1 transmission Ferraris is a great night in my book!
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Mine from today...

-Gallardo Spyder on Peachtree
-Bentley GT Speed at Phipps along with two other Bentley GT's and showing how ridiculously many Bentleys there are in Buckhead
-red 456 on the road by Chops, the first red one I've ever seen
-Bentley Flying Spur Speed at St. Regis
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Today turned out to be pretty good...

-Vanquish at Phipps
-Gallardo Spyder at Kyma on Piedmont
-Elise on Piedmont
-997 GT2 underground at Phipps
-430 Spyder on California plates, driver was smoking a cigar just cruising....he tried to race a Gallardo but the Lambo owner wasn't interested
-Gallardo Spyder that didn't want to race on temporary plates at Lenox
-Phantom at the car wash at Lenox on Texas plates
-Vantage on Peachtree in front of Phipps
-355 Spyder in the Publix shopping center on Roswell Rd
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Quite a few spots tonight, as Andrew showed above!

- gray Ferrari 360 Modena on California plates at Atlantic Station.
- black Ferrari 550 Maranello at a restaurant near Lindbergh and Piedmont.
- red Ferrari F355 Spider in a parking lot off Roswell Road.
- gray Ferrari F430 at West Paces and Peachtree.
- red Ferrari F430 Spider on California plates at Peachtree and Lenox.
- red Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder on local plate RYN KNG in valet at Kyma.
- yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder on temporary plates on Peachtree, then later at Lenox Mall valet.
- silver Porsche 911 GT2 [997] in underground parking at Phipps Plaza.
- black Rolls-Royce Phantom on Texas plates at Lenox Mall valet.

The highlight of the evening was some great shots of the F430 and Gallardo together on the road: here's one, here's another, and here's another. Very cool!
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Did he seriously valet a Ferrari at Taco Mac? The only other 'nice' place around there would be Tongue and Grove but they have there own valet.

 

A few from today...

Started out at the FoA sidewalk sale, a few pictures are posted in the other thread. F50, Enzo and California were out front and a Scuderia Spider 16M was in the back.

-Gallardo at Phipps
-Phantom on Tennessee dealer plates at the Ritz
-360 on California plates at Lenox
-Arnage, LP560/4 on dealer plates, 997 GT2 and Drophead all at Chops/St. Regis
-DB9 at Hal's
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Double posting, don't get lazy on me Doug...

-I don't quite know what to say about this first one...a Challenger convertible
-360 at Phipps, the color is amazing in person (Andy308?)
-Phantom at the Ritz
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Good to see that lp560-4 out on the streets.

On another note, I am currently in China for 2 months for a summer program. I have spotted some pretty rare cars given that im on the other side of the world. Spotted a Maserati GT, H2 Hummer, and some other notable cars in China. I'll try and have my camera on me to take pictures of these cars. Hopefully, some Ferraris can come out and play in the hectic chaos of things here.

I'll post up some pics here and in the appropriate threads under regional forums. Keep it going guys, this thread brings a little piece of life and joy back from ATL.

 

You got me, had dinner at Phipps.

 

In asking that, you piqued my curiousity, so I went back and checked. It's actually the shared valet for Longhorn Steakhouse and Chili's. Do you live in that area? I have a friend (actually an ex, but I suppose we're friendly) who lives about a block from there - it's very nice!

I've been astonishingly busy in my new summer job - literally the only free time I've had I've spent eating, sleeping, and spotting cars. In fact, I should be working now, but I have a slightly more free day and I have to clear the backlog of photos! Hopefully things will calm down once I get my office completely set up in the next day or two.

Recent spots:

Friday May 15:
- goldish Aston-Martin DB9 on Peachtree at Piedmont.
- horrible photo of an Aston-Martin DB9 at St. Regis valet.
- black Bentley Arnage on dealer plates leaving Atlantic Station.
- white Bentley Arnage at Chops valet.
- gray Ferrari 360 Modena on California plates at Atlantic Station.
- white Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 on dealer plates at Chops valet.
- Jermaine Dupri's white Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster on temporary plates at Phipps Plaza valet, and then later at Lenox Road and GA-400.
- horrible photo of a black Porsche 911 GT2 [997] at St. Regis valet.
- black Rolls-Royce Phantom at Lenox Mall valet.
- dark blue Rolls-Royce Phantom on Tennessee dealer plates at Hal's valet.

Saturday May 16:
- gray Aston-Martin V8 Vantage on Florida plates at Briarcliff and Ponce de Leon in strong rain.
- red Ferrari 360 Modena at Phipps Plaza.
- silver Ferrari 550 Maranello on wildlife (eagle) plates on Holcomb Bridge Road at GA-400.
- red Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder on vanity plate RYN KNG at Phipps Plaza valet parked next to the red 360.
- dark blue Rolls-Royce Phantom on Tennessee dealer plates at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

Sunday May 17:
- tan Bentley Arnage on vanity plate QUAN at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

I also caught that orange Dodge Challenger SRT-8 convertible at Lenox Mall on Saturday. Very cool!
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