Ben Branch

New York

Automotive Writer, Founder and Editor at Silodrome

Automotive writer at Silodrome and (formerly) at a number of print magazines.

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Articles

Forgotten In A Warehouse For 50+ Years: A Honda CB450 Crate Engine

2 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

Reading time: about 4 minutes This is said to be an original OEM Honda CB450 crate engine that was forgotten in the back corner of a warehouse for 50+ years, only recently having been rediscovered and dusted off for some pictures.
This Is The 50. Cal Ammo Can Humidor

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is a real M2A1 50. cal ammo can that has been professionally converted into a cigar humidor by the team at Case Elegance. Case Elegance is based in Indiana in the United States and as their company name implies, they make a range of cases, including humidors, watch bases, jewelry cases, and more. Their most famous offering is the humidor shown here, made from a 50. cal ammo can. What Is The M2A1 50. Cal?
Still In The Factory Crate After 20 Years! A Classic Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is a Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR SC57 from 2005 that has been left in its original factory crate for the last 20 years and counting – having never been ridden. It’s likely the last new Fireblade of this vintage available anywhere in the world, except maybe the Honda Museum in Japan, and it’s now being offered for sale.
Still In The Factory Crate After 20 Years! A Classic Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Ben Branch

13 hours agoTesla’s head of Optimus humanoid robot, Milan Kovac, announced that he is leaving the automaker after 9 years. It leaves just as CEO Elon Musk claimed that the humanoid robot is going to make Tesla a”$25 trillion company.” Electrek first reported on Tesla hiring Kovac back in 2016 to work on the …
The Holy Grail From "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade"

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is the holy grail prop that was used while filming Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, starring Harrison Ford. This prop is central to the storyline of the film, and will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has seen the movie. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is widely regarded as one of the great films of the 1980s, typically listed alongside other classics from the decade like Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, The Goonies, Stand By Me, Top Gun, Die Hard, and ET.
Wayne Carini's 1957 Spohn DV-13 Convertible Is For Sale

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is a rare 1957 Spohn DV-13 Convertible, it’s a coachbuilt German car based on a 1939 Ford chassis, and powered by a Cadillac V8. The styling is somewhat, let’s say unique, and as a result it’s become a bit of a celebrity in its own right. Before WWII, Hermann Spohn Karosseriebau had been one of the preeminent coachbuilding companies in Germany, building bodies for the likes of Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, and others.
The Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is one of just 55 examples of the Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon that were made, and one of only 47 thought to have survived to the modern day. The Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon was ultimately an ill-fated project launched by Aston Martin’s David Brown as a high-performance competitor to the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley – offering more speed and better handling for the gentleman owner who liked to drive his own automobile.
Hellcat-Swapped! A 707 BHP 1972 Dodge Demon

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is a 1972 Dodge Demon that now benefits from a series of major upgrades, the most significant of which is an SRT Hellcat V8 transplant that has increased horsepower to up over 700 bhp – slightly up on the 110 bhp the car made originally. The Hellcat engine is a supercharged 6.2 liter Hemi V8 that produces 707 bhp and 650 lb ft of torque. These are figures that were reserved for Formula 1 cars back in the 1970s when this Demon was first built.
For Sale: An Original 1/10ᵗʰ Scale Dassault Falcon Wind Tunnel Model

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is an original 1/10ᵗʰ scale wind tunnel model of the Dassault Falcon private jet from 1975 – a time long before computerized design, let alone CAD or CFD. This model was made by hand by craftsmen at Dassault Aviation from walnut and oak. It was then put through a rigorous wind tunnel testing program largely focused on the aircraft’s low-speed performance, with a view to dialing in approach and takeoff phases of flight – the most dangerous for any aircraft.
Barn Find: Hidden For 20 Years - An Incredible Airstream 350 LE

3 weeks ago | silodrome.com | Ben Branch

This is an Airstream 350 LE Motorhome that was built 35 years ago, but it’s spent the last 20 of those years sitting in a dry barn with just 17,000 miles on the odometer. It’s now been rediscovered in remarkably good, time-capsule-like condition and it’s being offered for sale in the hopes that a new owner will take it on the road and add considerably to the somewhat low mileage it currently has.