A Gallardo Restomod?! Bugatti CEO’s Bugatti STOLEN! Civic Type R HRC! THIS CAR POD! EP136
Doug DeMuro · 2026-11-06
💡 Quick Take
1. Buy Ed Bullian's Vintique / Vinwiki collection on Cars and Bids if you want enthusiastic, well-documented enthusiast vehicles.
2. Don't buy the million-dollar Lamborghini Gallardo restomod because it is based on a too-recent car and mimics cheap in-period mods.
3. Buy the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 studded winter tires if you face harsh, icy commutes.
4. Wait for the production version of the Honda Civic Type R HRC edition if you want track-focused aero without excessive price gouging.
5. Don't buy the Ferrari Luchesse (Luce) as it lacks traditional design cues and carries questionable value retention.
📊 Detailed Explanation
Ed Bullian joins the podcast to discuss a massive collection of cars heading to Cars and Bids, featuring vehicles like a 993 Porsche RS tribute, a Ferrari 430 Scuderia (Scud missile), an outlaw 911, and even Post Malone former 720S. The speaker and guest recommend these vehicles because they offer genuine enthusiast appeal and clear history, making them great driver cars for enthusiasts who actually want to use them rather than stash them away.
A new Lamborghini Gallardo restomod debuted at the Las Vegas Concours with a million-dollar price tag, limited to 25 units. The host strongly criticizes it, pointing out that the Gallardo is only about thirteen years old, making it too young for this treatment. Furthermore, the exterior design elements and black reflectors mimic cheap in-period modifications done by owners trying to fake a newer look, rendering the high price unjustified.
Honda teased a track-focused Civic Type R HRC edition featuring aggressive aero and suspension tweaks, bridging the gap between a standard Type R and a full GT3 car. The host expects it to be quite expensive and lack extra engine power, but it should still serve as a fantastic, highly capable daily driver for enthusiasts who appreciate Honda engineering and reliability.
Ferrari announced strong profits and allocated all units of their new Luce model, but the host is highly skeptical of this carefully worded corporate language. He suggests the cars are merely distributed to dealerships rather than truly sold to eager private buyers, warning that like the SF90, buyers risk severe depreciation and bruised egos chasing highline Ferrari allocations.
Ed Bullian shares his two-year ownership experience with a Bugatti Veyron, having driven it roughly 16,000 miles. While major service intervals like plugs and coils cost around 25,000 dollars at the dealership, the car is surprisingly usable and reliable compared to its terrifying reputation, functioning well on long road trips as long as owners anticipate high running costs.
The debate over factory manual supercars versus aftermarket manual-swapped cars highlights significant reliability and financial risks. The speaker warns that aftermarket conversion shops often suffer from business instability and varying build quality, making factory original manual cars a safer bet for collectors, whereas swaps suit budget-stretching enthusiasts willing to tolerate high mechanical risks.
🎯 Automotive Expert Opinion
The automotive landscape presented in this discussion highlights a fascinating dichotomy between traditional hypercar collecting and modern internet-driven car culture. The conversation around the Lamborghini Gallardo restomod underscores a vital industry truth: not every performance car from the early 2000s warrants a million-dollar reimagining. Attempting to restomod a vehicle that already bridges modern performance with accessible usability often feels like solving a problem that does not exist, especially when the styling cues echo tasteless period-correct aftermarket accessories.
Ed Bullian perspective on daily-driving a Bugatti Veyron serves as a masterclass in supercar ownership reality. Too many collectors treat seven-figure machines as garage ornaments out of irrational fear, missing out on the engineering brilliance that VW and Bugatti poured into the platform. While maintenance bills are undeniably astronomical, Bullian's real-world mileage proves that these machines thrive on actual use rather than stagnation, provided the owner maintains robust financial reserves.
The persistent debate regarding manual transmissions versus automated manuals and aftermarket swaps reveals deep enthusiast psychology. While aftermarket conversions democratize the gated-shifter experience for owners priced out of rare factory-manual exotics, the inherent risks of dealing with boutique conversion shops cannot be overstated. True collectors will always pay a massive premium for factory provenance because the craftsmanship, resale stability, and integration are fundamentally superior to aftermarket retrofits.
Ultimately, the market for ultra-exclusive high-end vehicles is reaching a saturation point where corporate allocation tricks and vanity models like the Ferrari Luce are testing customer patience. As enthusiasts grow weary of subsidizing depreciating hybrid flagships just for a ticket to buy a special edition, the smart money remains anchored to timeless, mechanically pure drivers cars. Whether buying from a curated enthusiast auction like Cars and Bids or preserving an iconic analog V12, the best automotive decisions are driven by genuine passion rather than hollow status seeking.
Kanal: Doug DeMuro