Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 2009 Pontiac G8 V6 / Holden Commodore SV6

About the only way this Pontiac G8 could be a more perfect Holden Commodore SV6 is if it were converted to right-hand drive. All exterior and interior touches appear to be there, even the Holden logo on the steering wheel. The SV6 is the high-output 3.6 liter V6 version in its home market, probably comparable to the V6 G8 that was sold here. It certainly made me look twice.

The Valet Stand: Ferrari 456M GT

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a Ferrari 456M GT, photographed in late winter 2011.

The 456 was a family car among Ferraris, a 4-seat grand tourer with a V12 in the front. The 456 enjoyed a long production run from 1992 to 2003. I've always seen it as a more relaxed Ferrari, available with either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Yes, a Ferrari available with a full automatic transmission. And that same Ferrari could do 188 mph so quit whining. Think about the fact that this was the last Ferrari ever to use pop-up headlights, a feature no longer available on anything. This is a 456M, the post-1998 refresh of the 456 line. Despite being made for another five years, only 1,338 456Ms were built, of which 688 were manual GTs and another 650 were automatic GTAs.

Wednesday WTF: Mitsubishi Lancer

I have no idea what happened here. I was waiting for the BART train in Castro Valley, CA one morning and this tractor-trailer rolled by on the freeway, carrying a Mitsubishi Lancer suspended in what looks like rather precarious fashion (at least it's strapped down). The Lancer appears to be a 2005 OZ Rally edition that suffered some interesting damage to warrant its high-flying ride. The car was only two years old at the time this photo was taken.

The Valet Stand: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a UK-spec Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe that was in town for a Rolls-Royce press event in fall 2008.

The Valet Stand: Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. This week's feature is a Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG (C216), a large luxury coupe with a 6.0 liter AMG twin-turbo V12 engine. This car stickered for roughly $200,000 new.

The Valet Stand: 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at high-end cars found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo. These pictures are from 2008 when this particular car still had dealership paper plates from British Motor Car Distributors on Van Ness Avenue.

The Valet Stand: Ferrari F430 Spider

Welcome to The Valet Stand, a new feature that looks at some of the best cars I've photographed in front of the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. I like the St. Regis for its modern, photogenic lobby exterior and frequently wealthy clientele. We begin with a triple-black 2008 Ferrari F430 Spider.
Note the Rolls-Royce sign -- the St. Regis is sometimes used for manufacturer press events and one was held in 2008 to introduce the expanded Phantom range to journalists.

Parking Lot Sighting: 2009 Pontiac G8 GT

This is one of those cars that I photographed because it's a personal dream vehicle of mine. The Pontiac G8 is rare enough by itself, having been produced only for the 2008-09 model years, but my dream G8 is a GT trim in Pacific Slate Metallic (aka Karma Metallic on the Holden Commodore). Pacific Slate was only available in 2009 and accounts for a mere 1748 cars - of which 690 were V6 models, 1063 were GTs and just 45 were GXPs. This one is a GT Sport with the 19-inch wheels.

Wednesday WTF: Nissan Sentra 'NASCAR'

I really don't know what the story is behind this unusual stock car homage Nissan Sentra, made to look like Tony Stewart's #20 Home Depot racer. I first saw it at a local Goodguys car show in 2006, then again two years later in the parking lot of my local supermarket. Mojo Pac Racing seems to be a defunct or nonexistent organization as I can't find anything about it online. I can't see how a cheap FWD Nissan sedan would be much good for racing, SE-R Spec-V notwithstanding. Maybe it's just a guy having fun messing with people.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 2000 Dodge Viper GTS