Autoblog
by Zach Bowman
6 Feb 2012 at 7:01pm
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Videos, Toyota 
There is likely no end to the amount of fun one can have with an empty parking lot, a few cones and a willing vehicle. Add two capable machines to the mix and the enjoyment increases exponentially. When those happen to be two Toyota GT86 coupes, all that's missing is the not-so judicious application of one's right foot. Two pro drift drivers recently got the chance to fling the GT86 around in a quick battle, and the result is a video that shows just how controllable the GT86 is right out of the box.
While we could think of a handful of other sports cars that are as capable right from the showroom floor, the list of those with price tags as slim as the GT86 and its Scion and Subaru brethren is considerably thinner. Hit the jump for a few lessons in car control.Continue reading Pair of Toyota GT86s duel in parking lot drift battle Pair of Toyota GT86s duel in parking lot drift battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Drew Phillips
6 Feb 2012 at 6:13pm
Filed under: Performance, Ford 
Today marks twenty years since Ford first announced its Special Vehicle Team, most famously known as SVT. With performance mastermind John Colleti at the helm, SVT produced some legendary cars during its first 10 years, beginning with the 1993 SVT Cobra (and its even more hardcore sibling the SVT Cobra R) as well as the 2003 F-150 SVT Lightning. Since then we've had numerous updates to each, most notably the the SVT Cobra of 2003-2004 lovingly referred to by Mustang fans as the "Terminator," plus new models like the SVT Contour and the SVT Focus built from 2002-2004.
Today SVT is alive and well with the lineup consisting of the Shelby GT500 and F-150 SVT Raptor, and we're guessing that back in 1993 no one could have imagined just how far the brand has come. A 650 horsepower Mustang capable of 200 mph or a Ford F-150 capable of running the Baja 1000 in nearly stock form would have seemed insane at the time. And it still does today.
Have a look at some of the vehicles produced by SVT over the past 20 years in the gallery above, and let us know what you think might come from Ford's performance division in the next 20 years in the comments section below.Ford's SVT celebrates 20 years of Blue Oval performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Dan Roth
6 Feb 2012 at 5:26pm
Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos 
Here's a Super Bowl commercial that most of us probably missed, even those of you who stayed on the couch for all four quarters and didn't even get up during halftime.
It's a fantastic car-chase commercial that features a first-generation Cadillac CTS-V and a pair of iconic Panther-platform Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. The ad is promoting high-speed Exo service for Canadian cable provider Shaw, which explains the couch potatoes and flatscreens riding atop each car.
Check it out after the jump, and get another chuckle now that the newness of the U.S.-market spots has worn off.Continue reading Canada's Shaw creates a Super Bowl commercial, Canadian-style Canada's Shaw creates a Super Bowl commercial, Canadian-style originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Noah Joseph
6 Feb 2012 at 4:45pm
Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Skoda 
On this side of the Atlantic, one Volkswagen division's new product may not have a significant impact on those of another. That's because the German auto giant's brands are kept quite separate in North America. Less so, however, back in Europe, where a new VW is likely to reappear in due time as a Seat or Skoda.
Case in point: the new Up! city car, which is also sold overseas as the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo. And, true to form, with the Volkswagen brand having enlarged its city car to a five-door, its Czech cousin has followed suit.
And so, starting in May (after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show), European buyers will be able to get their hands on a five-door Citigo, offering the same 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine (in either 60- or 75-horsepower guise) as the Up, Mii and three-door Citigo. Details in the press release after the jump.Continue reading Skoda up!grades with five-door Citigo Skoda up!grades with five-door Citigo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Zach Bowman
6 Feb 2012 at 3:55pm
Filed under: Classics, Performance, Etc., Videos, Celebrities 
Jay Leno has a special place in his heart for steam power. The comedian has a collection of vintage vehicles that have more in common with a classic train than a modern car, and of those, his 1906 Stanley Steamer seems to be one of his favorites.
In 2007, the Stanley suffered a bit of a catastrophic failure, and Leno and his team of steam mechanics have been working to get the vehicle back into ship shape ever since. Of course, in Leno's vocabulary, "ship shape" means better than ever. The Stanley now wears hydraulic drum brakes from a Jaguar XK120 instead of the manual drums found on the original Steamer.
The crew also worked in a set of electric fuel pumps and replaced the acetylene headlights and oil tail lamps with electric versions. The team also managed to bump up the horsepower. The Steamer originally cruised along with a 23-inch boiler, but Leno had a new 30-inch boiler made and installed. It took his shop 26 tries to design boiler baffles that could accurately and evenly spread heat across the full surface, but now Leno has the equivalent of a hot rod Steamer. Pure awesomeness. Hit the jump to check out the lengthy video for yourself.Continue reading Jay Leno upgrades his 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Cup Racer Jay Leno upgrades his 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Cup Racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Zach Bowman
6 Feb 2012 at 3:13pm
Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorcycle, UK, Design/Style 
We don't envy the designers who pen bikes for the likes of Triumph or Harley-Davidson. Machines like the Bonneville and Sportster are inherently popular for their nostalgic looks, and die-hard fans are the first to cry foul when the bikes wander too far from the original recipe. As the Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin Concept elegantly illustrates, that's a crying shame. As the brainchild of English designers Roy Norton and Tom Kasher, the Speed Twin is a modern take on the classic Bonneville. The two started with a Bonnie as a base platform and proceeded to update the machine's aesthetics accordingly.
The conceit began with the simple notion of what the Bonneville could have evolved into were it not so saddled with the nostalgia millstone. The two contacted Triumph while working for a design studio shortly after college, and Triumph Product Manager Simon Warburton gave the concept the go-ahead. The result is what you see here.
The concept uses a heavily modified Bonneville frame in conjunction with muscular-looking girder forks. Barbour cloth covers both the seats and the grips. With an 865cc engine, Thruxton brakes and unique gauges and levers, the Speed Twin is distilled awesome. Warburton is apparently pleased with the final result as well, and says some of the elements may make their way to future Triumph models. Head over to BikeExif for the full story.Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin Concept is what two-wheel dreams are made of originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Zach Bowman
6 Feb 2012 at 2:31pm
Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Videos, Motorcycle 
If you've ever wondered what keeps small-business owners up at night, allow us to direct your attention to the video after the jump.
From what we can gather, the driver in the black sedan got into a fender bender in a parking lot outside of a motorcycle speed shop. Worried about what the long-arm of the law would have to say about the collision, the driver then proceeded to attempt to make a speedy getaway. Rather than throwing the vehicle in reverse, however, the operator opted for drive, sending the vehicle careening through the front glass, though untold merchandise and into the back wall. Then the driver does something a bit odd.
Rather than throwing in the towel, they go for the old wash-rinse-repeat by backing up, gathering speed and ramming the rear wall. Over and over. As far as we can tell, no one was seriously injured in the spectacle. We wish we could say the same for the bike on the showroom floor. Hit the jump to see the video, just skip ahead to 1:30 to save yourself some waiting.Continue reading If at first you don't succeed crashing through a store... If at first you don't succeed crashing through a store... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Jeremy Korzeniewski
6 Feb 2012 at 2:00pm
Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage 
Stellar fuel efficiency is still the name of the game when it comes to our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI, as it's averaging well over its EPA-estimated 30 city and 42 highway miles per gallon in our hands. In fact, with a deft throttle foot, it's not terribly difficult to crest the 50-mpg plateau on long, steady-state trips.
The oil-burning steed recently made the trek from Southern California to the Phoenix, Arizona area so that our resident photographer, Drew Phillips, could make sure we got all the right shots as we lead-footed our way around the Bondurant circuit with the Chevy Camaro ZL1.
Parking the Jetta TDI next to the Camaro ZL1 was an interesting exercise - it's hard to imagine two vehicles more diametrically opposed than these. And, needless to say, moving directly from 580 supercharged horsepower in the ZL1 to just 140 horses in the VW took a bit of right-foot recalibration.
The good news is that, with 236 pound-feet of torque on tap, the Jetta TDI is fun to drive in its own right. Short-shifting the six-speed manual gearbox to keep the diesel mill in its sweet spot produces the most satisfying experience in the Jetta, and it allows you to feel the rush of torque as the turbocharger gets a hold of the spent diesel fumes, pushing your body into the seatback.Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Jeremy Korzeniewski
6 Feb 2012 at 1:29pm
Filed under: Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Mini 
The naming of a storm seems innocuous enough. After all, when some sort of weather event - be it a hurricane, tropical storm, blizzard or flood - comes along, we as human beings are going to talk about it, and having a name makes that a much easier process.
So, the marketing folk at Sassenbach, the ad agency used by Mini in its home country, probably thought it would be harmless and fun to buy the naming rights for an upcoming storm in Germany (as an aside... yes, you apparently can buy the naming rights to a storm in Germany!) to get people talking about Mini, even when not directly referencing their cars.
Harmless, though, it was not. As it turned out, Weather System Cooper spread snow, ice and freezing temperatures throughout all of Europe, claiming the lives of at least 100 people and sending thousands to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia and frostbite.
According to BBC News, both Mini and the ad agency have stopped commenting on the apparent flub, having previously stated that they didn't have direct control over which storm front would be named and couldn't know in advance how severe any specific storm may be.
While that's obviously true, we bet Mini and Sassenbach are praying to the god of good weather that Weather System Minnie - they bought the rights to two storms, presumably before the first turned into an unmitigated disaster - brings nothing worse than sunshine, rainbows and unicorns to the woebegone victims of Storm Cooper's swath of destruction.Mini accidentally names deadly European weather front after its cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Chris Shunk
6 Feb 2012 at 1:01pm
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Nissan 
Nissan is partnering with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) to create an all new Spec Z Series that promises low costs and performance parity. The single classification series will feature 350Z models from 2003 to 2008, and prizes that part-time track warriors can really get behind.
At the regional level, podium finishers can earn up to $850 in prize money. Further, Nissan will pony up $6,500 in cash support for top Spec Z finishers at the 2012 NASA Championships. Further support will come from BFGoodrich, which will be the control tire for the series and will back a contingency price program for Spec Z.
Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release, which includes a link that will provide still more information on the Spec Z series.Continue reading Nissan and NASA announce 350Z-based spec series Nissan and NASA announce 350Z-based spec series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Noah Joseph
6 Feb 2012 at 12:31pm
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Racing 
It might have seemed like a joke when an energy drink company bought the first of two F1 teams in 2004, but eight years and two world titles later, the only ones laughing are those inside the team. For 2012, Red Bull Racing returns as the force to be reckoned with as it aims to make it three in a row, and this is the car in which it aims to get there.
Red Bull hasn't released much in the way of details on how the RB8 differs from the hugely successful RB7 it replaces, but the most obvious change is the stepped nose design that is unfortunately becoming the defining trait of the 2012 grid. The engine is once again furnished by Renault, with KERS and DRS in place to help Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber get to the front of the field... and stay there. Sebastien Buemi joins the team this season as its official test driver, having been jettisoned from Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Follow the jump for a rather bizarre video clip of the RB8's online launch, check out the only two images released thus far in the gallery below, and watch this space for more as the pretenders to Red Bull's throne present their latest machinery.Continue reading Red Bull Racing going for the hat-trick with new RB8 [w/video] Red Bull Racing going for the hat-trick with new RB8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Zach Bowman
6 Feb 2012 at 12:01pm
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Hatchback, Kia, Design/Style 
Kia has officially dropped new teaser for its Chicago-bound Track'Ster concept. Word has it the new hatch will be based largely on the company's Soul five-door, though with a few notable tweaks. For starters, designers scrapped the rear doors for more of a hot hatch look. A new front fascia looks to be part of the recipe as well, and odds are the Track'Ster will rock suitably outrageous wheels befitting a true concept.
But will it come to production? It's hard telling. As you may recall, the Soul has been a go-to favorite as a concept platform in the past. Kia showed off the beach-going Soul'ster concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and while the vehicle generated enormous buzz, the economic slowdown put a stop to any production plans. Still, with corporate cousin Hyundai rocking the Veloster, there may be room in the Kia stable for a performance hatch.
The Track'Ster Concept will make its official debut later this week.Kia releases second Track'Ster teaser ahead of Chicago debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Jonathon Ramsey
6 Feb 2012 at 11:33am
Filed under: Budget, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet 
Chevrolet alluded to it in its "Stunt Anthem" Super Bowl commercial for the Sonic, and during this weekend's Super Bowl, the genuine article appeared. As promised, the Sonic tests out its musical chops by playing OK Go's "Needing/Getting."
Two miles of instruments were laid out in the Southern California desert, lots of practice and planning to get it just right. Of course, that was after four months of preparation, during which time OK Go's lead singer had to learn how to stunt drive.
Follow the jump to check it out, and follow the source link to get more behind-the-scenes tidbits on what went into it.Continue reading OK Go plays "Needing/Getting" with the Chevy Sonic OK Go plays "Needing/Getting" with the Chevy Sonic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by John Neff
6 Feb 2012 at 10:57am
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising 
Just like Super Bowl XLVI had to have a winner and a loser, so do the commercials. We've assembled every car commercial that aired during the big game after the jump, along with a poll allowing you to vote on your favorite.
To help you decide, we've graded the ads based on the opinions of our own AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley. Having been marketing editor at BusinessWeek, an Adweek and Advertising Age columnist and reporter, and an ad executive at three agencies that worked on Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Cadillac accounts, Kiley's judgment counts more than most in this sort of discussion.
Follow the jump to review our report card and vote for your favorite Super Bowl car commercial in our poll. The automakers are listening, so use your vote to tell them the ad you liked most, and just maybe you'll see more like it next year.Continue reading AdSpotting Super Bowl Edition: Grading the Ads AdSpotting Super Bowl Edition: Grading the Ads originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
by Jeff Sabatini
6 Feb 2012 at 10:29am
Filed under: Videos, Chrysler 
The gritty Chrysler Super Bowl commercial starring Clint Eastwood may not have been as much of a shock - or as universally well-regarded - as last year's Eminem spot, but it's certainly going to have cube-dwellers trawling YouTube to catch another viewing. Problem is, Chrysler's YouTube channel ran into some problems this morning. Viewers attempting to watch the commercial instead got a message saying "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by NFL Properties LLC."
When we reached Chrysler spokeswoman Diana Gutierrez earlier today, she could only say, "We are investigating right now."
The video did become available on the Chrsyler YouTube channel by 11:00 AM Eastern time, though we are awaiting some explanation of what happened from Chrysler's PR team. As a stopgap measure while the Chrysler channel was still down, the ad was posted to another Chrysler YouTube page, PentastarVideo. Still, Chrysler's problems during a high-traffic part of the day means it must have missed plenty of eyeballs.
Watch the video after the jump.Continue reading What happened to the Chrysler Super Bowl commercial? What happened to the Chrysler Super Bowl commercial? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
 
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Jalopnik
by Ray Wert
6 Feb 2012 at 7:45pm
#clinteastwood
As one of the first to call the Chrysler Clint Eastwood commercial from last night's Super Bowl a "political ad" — for a moment I felt like the brouhaha over it was partly my fault. Well, until the political hacks weighed in and I realized they were living in a fantasy world. More »
   
by Matt Hardigree
6 Feb 2012 at 4:15pm
#carporn
Yes, the Acura NSX Concept is still a long-off dream of a hybridized, AWD sports car that'll be built in Ohio. So what? Looking forward to something is important, especially if it's from Honda/Acura. Even Leno and Seinfeld agree. More »
 
by Patrick Frawley
6 Feb 2012 at 4:00pm
#commenteroftheday
Eating alone is not a penalty. Yes, company can be wonderful; for many, dining isn't so much about the food as it is the conversation. But sometimes the chance to be alone and contemplative and reflective is something to be savored like a good glass of wine or a dessert. More »
 
by Raphael Orlove
6 Feb 2012 at 3:30pm
#formulaone
The international racing community got its last look at the front end of Red Bull's new F1 car, the RB8, unveiled on video today. It's expected to be showing the rest of the field its exhausts for the rest of the season. More »
 
by Patrick Frawley
6 Feb 2012 at 3:00pm
#lolcars
This may not be the most inappropriate homage to every good ol' boy's favorite jumping Dodge Charger we've seen lately, but this E90 four-door M3 in orange with blocky "01" numbers leaves us wondering just what everyone involved was thinking. More »
 
by Matt Hardigree
6 Feb 2012 at 2:30pm
#licenseplates
Last night's Super Bowl was less a victory for the Giants of New York and more a triumph of schadenfreude in the form of a Patriots loss. Should you be a Giants fan or merely desire to remind everyone Tom Brady failed, again, you can get a Giants victory-themed license plate for just $60. More »
 
by Matt Hardigree
6 Feb 2012 at 2:00pm
#superbowladwatch
The Clint Eastwood Super Bowl Ad was a pep talk for Detroit and a threat to those people who don't think automakers like Chrysler are capable of making a comeback. People like Clint Eastwood, who voiced his opposition to the auto bailout in very clear terms just a few months ago. More »
 
by Raphael Orlove
6 Feb 2012 at 1:30pm
#carcrashes
A woman driving a Camaro SS reportedly had a seizure at this past weekend's Cars and Coffee in Dallas, pinning her foot to the throttle and driving into two Corvette Z06s. The driver was quickly hospitalized and is in unknown condition. More »
 
by Matt Hardigree
6 Feb 2012 at 1:00pm
#japanferraricrash
We dubbed December's Ferrari-on-Ferrari-on-many-more-Ferraris accident the "World's Most Expensive Car Crash" because it not only makes for a great headline but is probably true. Want more proof? How about this video of the aftermath. Oh those poor, poor Ferraris. More »
 
by Raphael Orlove
6 Feb 2012 at 12:30pm
#2013nissanaltima
A Jalopnik reader spotted this super-secret 2013 Nissan Altima mule near his office and managed to get a snapshot of its meaty proportions. With funky wheels and big-bore exhausts, it's possible the aging Altima could once again make the mid-size market more interesting. More »
 
by Raphael Orlove
6 Feb 2012 at 12:00pm
#hoonoftheday
These two F355 spiders both have custom exhausts. Listen to their V8s scream through the mountains of Northern England's Peak District, wailing past traffic on icy, wet roads. More »
 
by Peter Orosz
6 Feb 2012 at 11:30am
#formulaone
Back in the days of Formula One’s 1.5-liter years, there was no winter off-season for the best drivers. Once the Grands Prix in Europe were over, drivers and teams flew down New Zealand and Australia to compete against the locals, who put up quite a fight. More »
 
by Jason Torchinsky
6 Feb 2012 at 11:00am
#thereifixedit
No laws will change our capacity for stupidity behind the wheel. People will drive and text no matter what legislation is passed. But I think I know how we can use technology to mitigate the danger to fellow drivers. Enter the Center-Mount Distraction Light (CMDL). I think you'll love it. More »
 
by Patrick Frawley
6 Feb 2012 at 10:30am
#questionoftheday
Our friends over at Lifehacker are spreading the word on what well-informed gearheads have long known: luxury cars usually undergo tremendous depreciation, turning what were exclusive rides into better bargains than new economy cars. We want to offer some buying advice. What's the best econobox-shaming value in a used luxury car? More »
 
by Patrick Frawley
6 Feb 2012 at 10:00am
#answersoftheday
There's high-minded discussions about a motor's balance and drivability, and then there's the hedonistic glee of unearthly amounts of power and noise in short druglike bursts. These are Jalopnik readers' picks for the best dyno videos of all time. More »
 
CARBLog
by admin
2 Feb 2012 at 7:35am
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Five-Door Hatchback was captured on video without any camouflage in the Canary Islands. It seems that the Mercedes-Benz team was at the island to shoot video and pictures of the luxury A-Class for its press material.
As you can see, A-Class is the five-door hatchback, which will be the first body style to be launched onto the market. Mercedes has already confirmed that the 5-door version will make its world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in early March.
As you saw, the design of the front bumper with the stretched out side pockets, the large alloy wheels and the side skirts that the A-Class seen here is either the rumored A25 AMG or the regular model fitted with an AMG sports package.
Mercedes-Benz has kept a tight lid on the AMG version of the A-Class but sources claim that it will feature all-wheel drive with power coming from a high-performance four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine producing up to 300HP.
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by admin
30 Jan 2012 at 10:06am
Skoda released a first photo of its five-door version Citigo. The five-door Skoda’s city car will make its debut at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in March and will goes on sale in Europe together with the three-door version from mid-May. Both body versions will share a common engine range comprising a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine in two states of tune delivering 60-horsepower and 75-horsepower.
Skoda says that it most efficient Green tech variant, the Citigo returns a combined fuel consumption of 4.1lt/100km (57.4mpg US) with CO2 emissions of just 96g/km.Similar Posts:
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by admin
23 Jan 2012 at 8:26am
Passing a driving test is always an exciting prospect for younger drivers. Most cannot wait to turn 17 so that they can obtain a provisional driving license and start taking lessons with an approved instructor. Whether drivers take 70 or just 20 lessons, there is nothing quite like that feeling of taking to the open road by yourself for the first time. It gives a sense of independence never before experienced and it is one of the first steps to becoming properly grown up.
Buying a first car is the next important factor to consider once the test is out the way. Parents frequently purchase cars for their children as birthday presents or young people buy for themselves. If you are considering buying, there are often other costs such as road tax and insurance which can add up. MoneySupermarket insurance for young drivers is great since it allows you to make price comparisons, also offering some tips for ways to make savings. Remember that having a cool car to take away to university should not be your only priority!
For students in particular this is an expensive time, you will probably be contemplating the price of renting accommodation, food, those party nights with new friends not to mention tuition fees and taking out student loans.
In order to save some money on your car insurance you should definitely select the vehicle carefully – insurers band cars into 50 categories depending upon factors such as engine size and modifications. Another option to consider is taking a course such as the Driving Standards Agency’s Pass Plus course, enabling you to become more confident about driving on motorways, in the city or night driving, all considered risky by providers of insurance. If you have an old banger, the legal minimum requirement for insurance could be enough.
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by admin
20 Jan 2012 at 7:04am
A new Lexus LX 570 price increased to $82k. The Lexus LX 570, a luxury version of the Toyota Land Cruiser, gets spindle grille and it has revised front and rear fascias among the other upgrades that Lexus says justify its 1.9-percent price increase.
The Lexus LX 570 also got an updated Crawl Control mode and terrain-select for the all-wheel-drive system, a new multimedia system with the next-generation Lexus Enform system. There’s also a $1,510 luxury package that adds some higher grade trim and features, and a backseat entertainment system for $2,005.
Toyota only sold 3,167 units of the Lexus LX last year, down by about 20 percent.
Full Press Release
Lexus Announces Pricing for 2013 LX 570
Lexus today announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2013 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle, which will arrive at dealerships in early February with bold new styling, interior enhancements, cutting-edge technology and remarkable off-road capabilities. The LX will carry an MSRP of $80,930, an increase of 1.9 percent or $1,475. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.
“With all of the enhanced features, the LX 570 offers perhaps the most exciting combination of luxury, on-road smoothness and off-road performance of any vehicle in its segment,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division.
The 2013 LX 570 gets a new look at both the front and rear. The fresh look is highlighted by the Lexus spindle grille. New LED daytime running lights complement an updated headlamp design with new larger fog lamp bezels. Taillamps are also updated, while the rear license plate surround gets a revised look and the tow hitch cover is more integrated. Both front and rear bumpers are refreshed, with the rear bumper protector enhanced by a chrome accent. Turn signals have been integrated into the side mirrors, and wider bodyside moldings sport a new appearance.
The LX 570 is powered by an advanced 5.7-liter V8, four cams, and four valves per cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). At 383 horsepower and 403 lb.-ft. of torque it is built to handle demanding tasks with remarkable smoothness.
The LX receives an updated Crawl Control feature which provides optimum throttle and brake modulation when maneuvering over rough, uneven or difficult surfaces. The new Turn Assist feature tightens turning circles by adding more brake force to the inside rear wheel. The new Multi-terrain Select also allows the driver to optimize performance by choosing from five types of terrain settings.
The LX interior receives a new multimedia system (with available next-generation Lexus Enform), a color TFT multi-information display, improved front seat cooling, easy access for the driver’s seat, a power outlet for the middle row and unique trims and accents.
With the standard navigation system, LX owners can enjoy a high-resolution multi-media display. The high-resolution screen supports an enhanced map display, with audio, climate and other vehicle information. The navigation system will also have access to the next-generation Lexus Enform Application Suite, the system that leverages the customers’ mobile phone technology to provide a new level of connectivity and information management. Users can conduct local searches through Bing, utilize voice-enabled apps to make restaurant reservations through OpenTable, purchase movie tickets via MovieTickets.com or tap into internet radio services, including Pandora or iHeartRadio.
Lexus Enform also gives LX owners the ability to check-in on Facebook, and search for various restaurant and business reviews on Yelp. SiriusXM data services offer information on stocks, traffic, weather, sports and fuel prices. Enform is supported on iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
The LX offers an optional Luxury Package priced at $1,510 that includes a cool box for beverages, semi-aniline leather-trimmed upholstery with new contrast stitching, a heated steering wheel, new mahogany wood-trimmed door switch plates, a rear-center armrest cover, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats (outboard position only) and Smart Access card key.
In addition to the Luxury Package, the new LX 570 features an available dual screen rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones and three-prong electrical outlet, priced at $2,005. This system allows two video sources to be viewed at the same time – for instance, one can be used as a DVD player while the other as a game console or audio player.
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by admin
19 Jan 2012 at 2:43am
People living in Kent want access to the best possible used vehicles to meet their needs. Motors.co.uk has made it possible to search for specific makes and models within a specified geographic location. On their home page is a tool called “Looking for a used car in Kent?” To use this tool you must first enter your postcode. This will help determine which used car dealers are closest to where you live. Next, you can specify the distance you are willing to travel from your current location to get a used vehicle. The bottom part of the tool allows you to set a price range for possible vehicle choices.
When perusing the listings at Motors.co.uk, you will notice certain icons on some pages. For instance a green icon with a checkmark and a car means that Motors has checked the vehicles for certain fraudulent conditions, including theft, scrapped, imported or exported and written off. A red icon also with a vehicle but this time a checkmark means that Motors was unable to verify the car’s history. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the car, just make sure you look the car over thoroughly.
Of all the used cars in Kent, the ones at Motors show that silver is the most popular car for purchasing a used vehicle. The average age of used cars found through Motors is three years. The average price for a vehicle is £11748.18 as determined by used car sales in Kent.
When perusing the lists found at Motors, they have made it quite easy to contact the seller of the vehicle. For instance, most of them come with a link to email the specific director directly. This is helpful when you’re looking for more information about a particular vehicle.Similar Posts:
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by admin
11 Jan 2012 at 5:28am
Here are first official photos and specs of the brand new 2013 Audi A6 Allroad. The new A6 Allroad is 4.94 meters long, 1.90 meters wide and 1.47 meters tall. The body of the new Allroad sits 60mm higher than that of the regular A6 Avant.
The 2013 Allroad gets new bumpers with the massive front grille with the chromed vertical slats, more widely flared fenders, stainless steel covers and chunkier roof bars.
The total vehicle weight on the Allroad has been reduced by as much as 70 kg compared with the previous model. In Europe, there are four available powerplants including one TFSI gasoline engine and three TDI diesel units.
The 3.0-liter V6 TFSI is rated at 310HP and accelerates the Allroad to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. It consumes 8.9 liters of fuel per 100km. All three diesel engines are based on Audi’s 3.0-liter V6 TDI producing 204HP, 245HP and 313HP. The most powerful diesel, which is linked to an 8-speed auto, allows for 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds. The TSI and the two less potent diesel engines are paired to Audi’s 7-speed dual clutch transmission.
No word about plans to bring the A6 Allroad to U.S., but in Europe, it goes on sale this spring the base 204HP TDI model starting from US$70,000.
  
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by admin
10 Jan 2012 at 6:07am
Look at the all-new 2013 MY Buick Encore, that was missing fell into place today at the Detroit Auto Show. Based on a modified version of GM’s Gamma II platform that underpins the Chevrolet Spark / Sonic and the next Opel Corsa, the Encore measures 168.5 inches in length, 69.9 inches in width and 64.8 inches in height.
Even though it’s roughly the same size as the Nissan Juke, Buick prefers to position it against two more luxurious crossovers that are not sold in the U.S., the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.
Buick’s new small crossover Encore is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 140HP. It is available with a six-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive.
Depending on the trim model, the 2013 Buick Encore will be offered with 10 airbags, electronic stability control, USB smartphone connection, a seven-inch LCD display, remote engine start, automatic wipers, heated, leather-covered and power front seats and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Sales of Buick’s new small crossover will start in the first quarter of 2013 year, while Opel will also offer its own version of the Encore named Mokka.
  
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by admin
6 Jan 2012 at 6:40am
Toyota has announced first photos and details on the North American version of its facelifted Land Cruiser SUV that will go on sale later this year. In exterior, the facelifted Land Cruiser gains an updated front grille and headlamps with HID low-beams and LED Daytime Running Lights, enlarged front and rear fenders, chrome side moldings, and redesigned outer side mirrors and tail lamps.
The revised model rides on newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels with a high-gloss finish that are shod in P285/60 R18 mud-and-snow steel-belted radial tires.
Inside, Toyota refined the interior of its eight-seater model with a higher gloss wood grain finish, brighter silver instrument panel ornamentation, chrome-plated air registers and updated meter-cluster lighting.
New Land Cruiser will equipped with a Multi-terrain Monitor with front, side or rear selectable views; a redesigned Multi-information Display; an Eco Driving Indicator light and zone display; heated steering wheel; Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; an additional power outlet at the rear of the center console; and an AC 120V rear cargo deck power outlet. These include the rear-seat DVD entertainment system, color-keyed rear spoiler, rain-sensing windshield wipers, center-console cooler box, headlamp cleaners, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, multi-information display, voice and Bluetooth hands-free controls, and heated second row seats plus Toyota’s Premium Hard Disk Drive Navigation with Entune multi-media system and JBL audio.
While the Land Cruiser continues with the 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission, Toyota has made changes to the 4×4′s various electronic systems.
Toyota also introduced a new five-speed CRAWL Control with an Off-Road Turn Assist feature. The CRAW Control system is activated when the transfer case is shifted into low range regulating engine speed and output along with braking force to help the driver on extremely rough level ground or steep grades. As for the Off-Road Turn Assist feature, it pulses the rear corner brakes to help the 4×4 make sharper turns when steering through tight quarters on rugged terrain.
 
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by admin
5 Jan 2012 at 6:39am
The 2012 Citroen C1 mini has received a facelift and will make its world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium on January 10. In exterior, a facelift include the newly designed front bumper that incorporates fog lights and vertical LED daytime running lights, a shorter bonnet, a different set of alloy wheel options plus the Citroen’s new chevrons and badging.
Inside, Citroen mini car features a new leather steering wheel for EGS models, and a new-look gearstick for manual gearbox versions. In addition, the Citroen has added a Leather/Alcantara option while there are also new audio systems.
Citroen has tweaked the 68HP 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, which now boasts improved fuel economy of up to 54.7mpg US (4.3lt/100km) on the combined cycle.
2012 Citroen C1 facelift equipped with the Electronic Gearbox System (EGS) deliver 52.3mpg US (4.5lt/100km). Citroen says that the 3.44m long city car also features new power steering settings and shock absorbers that promise to enhance ride comfort and agility at low speeds. The 2012 Citroen C1 is offered in both 3- and 5-door flavors and is expected to go on sale across Europe by April.
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by admin
4 Jan 2012 at 9:35am
Porsche will reveal the Cayenne Diesel at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Motor Show, which will arrive in showrooms in 2013. The Cayenne Diesel was recently updated with a modified version of the VW’s 3.0-liter V6 featuring a new turbocharger, increased direct injection pressure and a lighter crankshaft.
The diesel unit is rated at 245-horses offering the Cayenne a 0 to 62 mph sprint time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph, while returning a combined fuel consumption of 32.7 mpg.
As for the new Cajun, Porsche continues testing the Cayenne’s smaller crossover sibling in Europe. The Cajun will share its platform architecture with the Audi Q5 and will likely offer both four-cylinder and V6 engine options.
Other models being prepared by Porsche include the replacements for the Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe.
 
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by Daniel Strohl
6 Feb 2012 at 11:02am
Over at Ohio Memory, where we found the great shot of Athens, Ohio, last week, we also found this shot of another Ohio locale. Unfortunately, Ohio Memory didn’t have a date or location to go with it, so we looked close at all the signs and figured Woodco Furniture would be in Wood County. Of the cities in Wood County large enough for such a wide thoroughfare, only one – Bowling Green, Ohio – has a Court Street that doglegs across Main Street as shown here. So with the location pegged, see if you can give us a date based on the cars and trucks in the photo.
by Daniel Strohl
6 Feb 2012 at 8:00am
We saw one of these yacht-paneled convertibles at Glenmoor last year and can attest that seeing so much Di-Noc anywhere but on a station wagon is enough to keep people scratching their heads for hours on end. This particular yacht-paneled 1968 Mercury Park Lane convertible for sale on Hemmings.com looks from the photos to be just as nice as that one we saw. From the seller’s description:
A few of these woodside paneled convertibles were built in 1967 and 1968 only; Mercury Registry says only a few dozen still registered; even fewer with factory options like cold A/C and 8-track tape deck and gorgeous color combination. Equipped with the powerful 4-barrel 390 V-8 engine. Car runs and drives beautifully.
See more Mercurys for sale on Hemmings.com.
by Daniel Strohl
6 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
Photo courtesy Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
The great thing about anniversary parties is that some choice pieces of history come out of the woodwork, and that’s exactly what will happen when not one but two of the remaining Shelby-modified Cooper Monacos better known as the King Cobras will appear at the Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, one of several events taking place across the country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra.
Conceived and built to compete against the mid-engine cars then coming into dominance in sports car racing, the King Cobras followed essentially the same pattern as the Shelby Cobras, with Carroll Shelby marrying a British chassis and body with an American engine – in this case the mid-engine tube-frame Cooper T61M Monaco with a full-race Ford 289-cu.in. V-8. The contemporary press called them King Cobras. Shelby built just eight in 1963 and 1964, and while the cars took a number of wins and accolades, Ford never backed Shelby’s development of the cars. Competing mid-engine sports cars thus rendered the King Cobras obsolete in a hurry, and Shelby soon turned his focus to the Ford-funded GT40 program.
According to Bill Hartman, the owner of one of the two King Cobras to appear at the reunion, only three King Cobras remain in existence: CM1/63, which belongs to Hartman; CM 3/63; and CM 6/64, which belong to Donn Vickery. Hartman’s King Cobra is best known not only as the first King Cobra, but also as the car that Dave MacDonald used to win the 1963 LA Times Grand Prix, the 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix and Laguna Seca, and the 1963 USRRC championship. Vickery’s, which will also appear at the reunion, is best known as the car that Parnelli Jones used to win the 1964 LA Times Grand Prix.
The Ford-Cobra-Shelby Reunion, scheduled for April 19-21, will include three days of open track time on the historic Pomona Road Race course, a car show open to all Shelby and Ford-powered vehicles, a panel discussion with Bob Bondurant and Parnelli Jones, and a banquet honoring Carroll Shelby.
The reunion will also coincide with the opening of “Speed Merchants of Venice,” an exhibit at the museum commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra that will include Hartman’s King Cobra, the El Cid Dragonsnake, Bruce Meyer‘s first production Cobra, and a number of other 289 and 427 competition cars. The exhibit will run through August.
For more information on the reunion and the exhibit, visit Museum.NHRA.com.
by Jim Donnelly
6 Feb 2012 at 7:58am
 Finally, some happy news to report about auto racing. In March, we told you that National Speed Sport News, the weekly paper founded in 1934 by the iconic Chris Economaki, was ceasing publication. Now, it’s coming back, beginning next month, as SPEED SPORT Magazine.
The publication frequency isn’t the only change. SPEED SPORT‘s leadership team is Turn 3 Media LLC, formed by publishing executive Curt Moon, former SPEED TV executive Joe Tripp, and longtime motorsport TV analyst Ralph Sheheen, who will be SPEED SPORT’s publisher. The magazine’s editor-in-chief will be Mike Kerchner, who’s been with NSSN continuously since 1991 and ran its website, NationalSpeedSportNews.com, after the print edition folded. The magazine promises to continue NSSN‘s tradition of columnists, features and breaking news, plus analysis, aimed at racing on two wheels and four, alike. You can order a print subscription at the website for $24.95, but mobile and tablet packages will also be offered.
by Geoff Hacker
6 Feb 2012 at 7:02am
One of the most interesting stories of early fiberglass history is that of Eric Irwin and his Lancers – yes, more than one of them. Despite being one of the first to be recognized as creating a fiberglass sports car, alongside his good friend Bill Tritt, Eric Irwin has been virtually forgotten, which makes him a perfect topic for us.
Back in 1951, Eric Irwin and Bill Tritt were neighbors on Industrial Way, a business street in Costa Mesa, California. Tritt was growing his newly formed company, Glasspar, which built fiberglass boats, and Irwin was building a 50-foot motorboat for his own use. Both of these men were artisans in woodworking, and Tritt had already made the transition to working in fiberglass. Irwin didn’t know it at the time, but he was soon to follow.
Irwin started building his car – which would ultimately be called the Lancer – in the fall of 1950. He was inspired to change directions and work on a car after watching Tritt work out the requirements for producing a sports car body in fiberglass. Why fiberglass? Tritt had convinced the person who commissioned the car to be built – Air Force Major Ken Brooks – that fiberglass had the perfect properties for a sports car body: It was lightweight, strong, and easily repairable when damaged. Aluminum was lightweight, but required much more time in the shop if repairs were needed. Brooks agreed, and Irwin – a nearby fly on the wall during these conversations – took notice.
According to noted author Joseph H. Wherry in an article published in Modern Man in November 1952, Tritt finished his sports car (initially called the Brooks Boxer before he changed the name to Glasspar G2) in June 1951 and Eric Irwin finished his in May 1951. These sports cars seemed destined to race from the beginning of their design, and at mile marker 1 – the finished product – Irwin was ahead by a month. Lots of activity surrounded these two men from the summer of 1951 through late 1952. For example, Harley Earl stopped by and spent half a day with Irwin, then later retained Tritt as a consultant to GM. Both of Tritt’s sons remember their father making more than one trip to Detroit, contributing to the knowledge base of building a fiberglass sports car – and GM wanted to build a car that numbered in the thousands, which would be quite a feat.
But that was just the first of the story for both of these men. Eric continued promoting the use of fiberglass as a new wonder material for car bodies across the world. To get a feel for his work at the time, think about carbon fiber today. This is the new wonder material for our generation, and we stand in awe of a car built of carbon fiber composite. It’s handcrafted, resilient, lightweight, strong, malleable, and acts just like fiberglass in many ways. If you’re one of those car guys who think carbon-fiber cars are the pinnacle of modern automotive engineering, then you would have fallen in love with fiberglass as both Tritt and Irwin did from 1951 forward.
The reason Irwin’s story is fascinating to us at Forgotten Fiberglass is that he’s unknown to virtually all car guys nowadays. Yet he accomplished so much in the early years of fiberglass:
* He authored the first article written on how to create your own fiberglass-bodied sports car, which appeared in the November 1951 issue of Motor Trend.
* He wrote the first book that you could buy on how to create your own fiberglass sports car.
* His fiberglass sports car, the Lancer, was available for purchase in early 1951 before other fiberglass manufacturers – including Glasspar – tooled up and made their bodies available.
* The first article to appear about a fiberglass car being built that you could buy was published in the U.K. magazine The Motor and was published on January 30th, 1952.
* His Lancer was even featured in the program for the 1951 Petersen Motorama where it debuted – the only fiberglass car to be shown in the program.
* It went on to appear in a number of other publications, including Motor Trend, Auto Speed and Sport, Westways, Popular Science, Modern Man, Road & Track, Cars, Auto Sportsman, Hot Rod, Modern Plastics, and the Los Angeles Times
The last contemporary mention of Irwin’s Lancers appeared in the Spring of 1955 in Herb Shriner’s first and only issue of a magazine titled Motor America.
Irwin built 12 bodies for his sports cars from 1951 through 1955, according to his nephew, 72-year-old Brian Jennings of Arizona. I was very excited when I heard from Brian last year, and was able to peruse the family archives for clues about Irwin and this history of his cars. Thankfully, Irwin made it easy for me. He wrote the history of his company and cars out across several pages detailing his company, the cars he built, the bodies he made, and the people he met. For a one-man operation, Eric represented the industrious fiberglass-driven hard-working young man of the early ’50s. He finished what he started with great energy, focus, and drive.
Eric built three variations of his sports car. All would be considered large, but each used the following specifications:
* Overall length: 172 inches
* Wheelbase: 100-112 inches
* Tread: standard
* Cockpit length: 33 inches
* Hood length: 87 inches
* Tail length: 52 inches
* Clearance: 7 inches
* Height to coupe top: 46 inches
* Height to body top: 30 inches
* Body depth: 29 inches
* Width: 71 inches
* Weight: 200 pounds (body alone)
     
He noted in his brochure that “the body shell is shipped without wheel cut-out. This allows greater leeway in adapting the body to your chassis.” Most cars we’ve seen or have found have the 112-inch wheelbase. For comparison, a typical car from the era has a 100-inch wheelbase.
The first Lancer he made – the one that debuted at the Petersen Motorama in 1951 – was unique. The others used different configurations or designs for the front, and sometimes the rear. In between, it was the same body style. One of the pictures shown inside his brochure shows three of the body styles together with Irwin in between the two nearest cars. This will give you a feel for the man and his sports cars.
So we’re on a mission at Forgotten Fiberglass, and that’s to share and celebrate the accomplishments of the craftsman, artisans, designers, and fabricators who used fiberglass as their medium in helping realize their dreams of building the perfect sports car. We take our fiberglass hats off and salute you, Eric Irwin, a pioneer in fiberglass who accomplished so much in so short a period of time.
Geoff Hacker is a Tampa, Florida-based automotive historian who specializes in tracking down bizarre, off-beat, and undocumented automobiles. His favorites are Fifties American fiberglass-bodied cars, and he shares his research into those cars at ForgottenFiberglass.com.
by Daniel Strohl
5 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
When Willys decided to market the Jeep to a civilian audience after World War II, what they had in mind – a light vehicle for farm use – is perfectly exemplified by this 1946 Jeep CJ-2A for sale on Hemmings.com. Sure, it’s a little rough around the edges, and it’ll need some work to get it up and running again, but the original accessories included with the Jeep, some of them never used, should make the purchase worthwhile for any postwar Jeep enthusiast. From the seller’s description:
Was purchased in ’46 at a San Francisco CA dealership and driven home 75 miles. Then was used as a farm tractor for the next 35 years. Then was parked til I bought it about 15 years ago, from my neighbor. Overall condition is good all original, but unrestored. Has always been kept inside.
Original body, no rot. Some surface rust, and one spot where there appears to be any damage is by the right step where it hit a tree in the orchard. Was repaired and the whole car was painted in the early 80′s. Interior has original front and rear seats. Gauges working with odometer showing 5791 miles.
All the accessories were removed, and put in storage when it was purchased. Which included: Full Top, original canvas never used. Half Top, original canvas never used. All poles for the tops. Full doors one set. Half doors one set. Windshield, frame no glass missing slide brackets to swing up. Spare tire Orig. Orig. Spare tire side mount. Front PTO Drive. Governor. Front bumper weight. Mirror. Removed. Horn. Removed. Front skid plate. Removed. Grill protection screen. Tow Bar. Original Maintenance Manual.
All original 134 ci flat head 4 cyl. engine. Was running when parked 17 years ago, and still turns freely. All Original drive train, 3sp. trans. (Column shift) 2 sp. transfer case, PTO, and axle’s. Original leather seals leaking will need to be replaced. As well as brake wheel cylinders, and master cylinder before it can be driven.
See more Jeeps for sale on Hemmings.com.
by Daniel Strohl
5 Feb 2012 at 7:00am
The car of the future invariably has a clear bubble canopy. Sure, it might have some nifty technology or an atomic engine, but if you really want to get the point across that this is what people will be driving 10 or 20 years hence, you give it a bubbletop. For SIA #114, December 1989, Jim Hockenhull traced the history and use of the bubbletop, the influences that gave rise to it, and how dumb an idea it really is.
     
by Daniel Strohl
4 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
We’ve had a number of discussions recently about when to keep a car in as-found condition versus when to restore it, and this 1950 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe for sale on Hemmings.com illustrates a sort of in-between approach of leaving the major aspects of the car – paint, upholstery, the engine – untouched while repairing or replacing the ancillary items that need attention, resulting in a largely original car that’s still driveable. From the seller’s description:
This car was owned by one family until I bought it last year! Grandfather bought it new. He reportedly never drove the car over 45 miles an hour. He gave the car to his son who painted it and re-upholstered it around 1979. Due to health reasons he parked the car around that time and there it sat until HIS son sold it to me. The car sat in storage for over 30 years!
I brought the car home and gave it the loving care it deserved. It now has new shoes (Wide whites with tubes), new fuel tank, fuel pump, new brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder, water pump and the radiator was cleaned out. The valves have been adjusted, and side cover resealed. I also replaced the wiper inserts on the VACUUM operated wipers that still work. The tube radio and clock also work! All the glass and body panels are orignal and rust free! (There is some surface rust under the car. But, it cleans up nicely and all floor pans are solid including trunk.) I have done nothing to the paint except clean and buff it.
Back in the day, many owners packed the rear springs in wheel bearing grease then wrapped them in canvas both to protect the springs and soften the ride. The rear springs on this car are still wrapped!
This car starts and runs very well….and very quiet. No smoke! I was considering painting the engine. But, I really like the original patina of the car. The only modifications I have made is to bump the 6v system to 8v and replace the voltage regulator.
This Styline Deluxe was nicely equipped with Am radio, Clock, Cigar lighter additional chrome and rear windows that rolled down.
See more Chevrolets for sale on Hemmings.com.
by Daniel Strohl
4 Feb 2012 at 7:00am
* Porsche produced plenty of posters commemorating its motorsports efforts over the years, and Flickr user UDPride has posted quite a few of them for your perusal. (via)
* If you haven’t been following Leigh Dorrington’s series of articles on Cunningham on The Old Motor, now would be a good time to catch up.
* The fellas at Japanese Nostalgic Car have been wondering for ages what those OK logo decals plastered to old Japanese racecars were all about, so they did a little research this week and came up with an interesting answer. Oh, and they’re now reproducing the stickers too.
* In South Africa, the Vauxhall Viva in coupe form was sold as the Chevrolet Firenza. And when GM’s South African arm wanted to take the Firenza racing, they stuffed a 302 from a Camaro Z/28 into it and homologated it, calling it the Firenza Can Am. StreetLegalTV has the story.
* Finally, “Burn On,” a drag racing documentary from 1973.
by Terry Shea
4 Feb 2012 at 12:02am
 Lincoln badges through the ages. Image courtesy Ford Motor Company
On February 4, 1922, Ford Motor Company officially closed the deal on the purchase of the bankrupt Lincoln Motor Company from Henry Leland, giving Ford a true luxury division to compete against the likes of Cadillac, Packard and Auburn.
Founded just a few years earlier, in 1917, by Henry Leland to manufacture V-12 aircraft engines for the war effort, Lincoln’s valiant attempt at selling a luxury car was as much an exercise in bad timing as anything. The economic instability following World War I made for a tough market for a $6,000-plus car when a Model T could be had for $400. Despite an initial $8 million capitalization, Lincoln found themselves stretched thin, their first car, the Model L, having appeared only in 1920. Henry Ford came to the rescue and was able to quickly turn Lincoln into a world-class luxury leader, a status the marque enjoyed for decades.
 Henry M. Leland
In an incredible example of the incestuous nature of the early days of the automotive industry, Leland’s claim to fame was in creating the Cadillac Automobile Company 20 years previous from the ashes of the Henry Ford’s first eponymous car company. Leland convinced a group of investors that had ousted Ford to not liquidate the Henry Ford Company when they started Cadillac instead. A veteran machinist, Leland used his experiences in the gun industry, where interchangeable parts were the norm, to change the fledgling car industry. In 1909, Billy Durant purchased Cadillac for $4.5 million as part of the creation of General Motors. When Durant returned some years later, he had a dispute with Leland, namely that Durant was a pacifist and did not want to get involved in the war materiel business.
Leland didn’t last long and left in 1917 to create Lincoln, which was named after the President he so greatly admired. With a government contract in hand, Lincoln made thousands of Liberty V-12s for allied aircraft. After the war, they invested $6 million in converting the factory to produce luxury cars. The 1920 Lincoln L was powered by a narrow 60-degree V-8. With the economy in depression throughout 1920 and well into 1921, demand was soft for such a car and Lincoln fell into receivership, necessitating Ford’s rescue.
 Henry Ford. Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Henry installed his 28-year-old son, Edsel, in the top job at Lincoln and the company had decent success throughout the rest of the decade, managing to turn a profit after just one year under the Ford umbrella. Lincoln would go on to become the number one competitor to Cadillac for much of the post-war era before the rise of European and Japanese luxury cars in recent decades.
by Daniel Strohl
3 Feb 2012 at 11:02am
The hot rod guys in the audience may have already seen this video posted by Dave Welles of Seabright Hot Rods when it made the rounds late last year, but it’s still an excellent glimpse of some of the standouts from the pre-war dry lakes racing scene. As one of the commenters over on YouTube put it, it’s like a Don Montgomery book put to 8mm film. We’re guessing that this all takes place at Muroc or Rosamond, two of the dry lakes in heavy use at the time. What do you see here?
by Daniel Strohl
3 Feb 2012 at 8:00am
The seller of this 1931 Marmon Sixteen LeBaron convertible coupe for sale on Hemmings.com believes that it’s only a matter of time before Sixteens match Duesenberg Model Js in price as well as prestige. Whether that actually happens, who knows, but the Sixteen certainly deserves all the recognition it can get, and this one in particular looks like an excellent example to lead the way. From the seller’s description:
#22 of 22 built in 1931, and one of only two remaining. Known, interesting history from new. AACA National First Prize, CCCA Premier First Prize with 100 points. The best Sixteen available anywhere.
The lovely paint scheme on this car is a very light teal with a cream pinstripe, a color combination devised by former GM designer Dave Holls and the owner?s wife. It?s a wonderful, subtle contrast to the many glamour restorations performed on Marmon Sixteens, and the understated elegance of the finish suits the rakish rumble seat bodywork quite well. Of course, the workmanship is beyond reproach and the finish remains exceptional, with a beautiful shine and no signs of wear, use, or damage on any of the painted surfaces. All the chrome is beautifully restored and remains in better-than-new condition with no blemishes, cracking, or scratching.
Inside, contrasting dark teal leather was stitched in the original patterns, covering the generous front bench seat, door panels, and kick panels, as well as the rumble seat area. The hides remain in almost new condition, with only the driver?s seat showing the most minor creases from people seated behind the wheel, but the rest remains as-new. Fresh carpets were fitted with a suitably luxurious pile, and continued onto the lower doors to protect the leather, as well as custom-fitted matching floor mats bound in matching teal leather. Inspired by aircraft design, the instrument panel offers an array of comprehensive and easy-to-read instruments, including an AC speedometer and a Jaeger eight-day clock, with individual control levers underneath for such things as throttle, spark, heat, and ventilation. Overhead, the tightly fitted top is gray canvas bound in more teal leather, and a matching boot is included with the car, although it has never been installed. The rumble seat offers spacious seating for two, and easy access thanks to three steps up the long rear deck, and a hinged panel that makes entry and exit at least slightly more graceful. Matching teal leather flaps protect the body and tuck out of sight when the rumble seat lid is closed.
The 51,827 miles shown on the odometer are believed to be authentic, and the car has been driven very sparingly since the restoration was completed. The engine shows only light signs of use, most notably some minor discoloration of the finish around the exhaust ports. The porcelainized manifolds remain shiny and undamaged, the bright aluminum valve covers have a lovely soft shine, and the correct two-barrel downdraft carburetor remains in place atop the engine. Using the added electric fuel pump to prime the carburetor, it starts quickly and idles smoothly, although the muscular note from the dual exhaust system suggests great power, a wonderful accompaniment to open-air motoring. 18-inch wire wheels were standard equipment on the Marmon Sixteen, with those on this car hidden behind stylish chrome wheel discs that further emphasize the car?s sporty demeanor.
See more Marmons for sale on Hemmings.com.
by Matt Litwin
3 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
Photo courtesy Mecum Auctions
Tell us if this sounds familiar: The top seller at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale this past weekend was the 1963 Shelby Cobra Dragonsnake originally piloted by drag racing legend Bruce Larson.
It ought to sound familiar. After all, the Dragonsnake, CSX 2093, topped Mecum’s Kissimmee sale last year and in 2007. The only difference among the three sales has been the price – $1.417 million in 2007, $875,000 in 2011, and $850,000 this year. Kissimmee must be the place for it, too, because Mecum tried to sell it in Monterey last August, but the Dragonsnake only bid up to $825,000 there.
Mecum has described CSX 2093 – powered by a Weber-carbureted Ford 289-cu.in. V-8 – as the winningest competition Cobra in history. One of eight Cobras built specifically for drag racing, owned by Jim Costilow, and shoed by Larson, it
dominated the NHRA?s A/SP, AA/SP, B/SP and C/SP classes in 1964. It set all new records in the 1965 season and won the NHRA Springnationals, Winternationals and U.S. Indy Nationals that year.
Later, with subsequent owner Ed Hedrick behind the wheel, CSX 2093 went on to win the 1966 Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. It also chalked up class wins at the 1967 Springnationals, Winternationals, U.S. Indy Nationals, and finished out the season with the World Points Championship. It continued to set records in 1968. All told, CSX 2093 held national titles in four separate classes.
Total take for Mecum’s Kissimmee auction – which included more than 2,100 cars, 73 percent of which were reported sold – amounted to more than $55 million without buyer’s premiums. Rounding out the top 10 sales were a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible that sold for $610,000, a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe that sold for $270,000, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette restomod that sold for $255,000, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible that sold for $227,500, a 1930 Packard 745 Waterhouse that sold for $225,000, a 1941 Packard Darrin 180 Convertible Victoria that sold for $220,000 (look for a more detailed auction report on this vehicle in an upcoming issue of Hemmings Motor News), a 1970 Plymouth Superbird that sold for $200,000, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible that sold for $200,000, and a 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Bird that sold for $200,000 (all sales reflect hammer prices).
Look for further coverage in upcoming issues of Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Muscle Machines and Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. Complete Mecum Kissimmee results can be found at Mecum.com.
by Dave LaChance
3 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
From Coventry, England, comes word that the Jaguar Heritage Museum will be closing, though plans are apparently in the works for an all-new museum. Our contact with the automaker could not confirm the September 2012 closing date that’s been reported in the British media, but provided us with a statement from Ken McConomy, Jaguar Land Rover’s global PR director, about the rumors. According to McConomy, historical sports cars from the collection will participating in a greater number of events this year, putting the cars in the public eye. Here’s McConomy’s statement:
The Jaguar Heritage trustees and JLR are aware of the increasing rumours around the future of the Jaguar Heritage Museum and its operations.
I want to assure everyone that we have agreed a mid-term solution where Jaguar Heritage staff will relocate to new office premises, close to Jaguar Land Rover’s corporate headquarters in Whitley, Coventry. The longer term vision is that we will have an all new Jaguar Heritage museum, however we are not disclosing any further details at the moment.
Hopefully this clarifies the situation and confirms that Jaguar’s heritage is very important to Jaguar’s new leadership team, in fact we will be making a formal announcement about Jaguar Heritage and its future strategic direction next month. The Jaguar brand will always protect and preserve its priceless heritage.
We will confirm a series of global Jaguar Heritage events for this year, with the team attending an increasing amount of activities with our historical sports cars.
Founded at the site of the former Browns Lane factory in Coventry, the museum contains more than 120 road and race cars from Jaguar Cars’ illustrious history – Jaguars and associated marques that include Swallow, SS, Lanchester and Daimler. The museum dates back to William Lyons himself, who gathered together some of his early efforts in the mid-1950s.
We’ll keep you updated on plans for the museum as we learn more.
by David Traver Adolphus
3 Feb 2012 at 7:59am
I’m just going to warn you straight up – you may want to, you may be willing to sell your children to, but if you’re an American, you’re probably not going to see it. Australians will, though, when this humpster Javelin becomes seven-time Bathurst champion Jim Richards’s new ride at the Touring Car Masters at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 on March 4.
This is not the first collaboration between Richards and Shannons, the big auction house which sponsors him. His most recent major title came in 2010, when at a Newmanesque age 63 he won the Biante Touring Car Masters series in his Shannons 1964 Falcon Sprint.
Ssecond-generation Javelins were sold in Australia under the AMI (Australian Motor Industries) Rambler name, all with a 343 and three-speed ShiftCommand automatic. But the Shannons car is an AMC in deference to the Donohue and Penske Trans-Am teams, and has a 600-plus horsepower 360. The car weighs 3,483 pounds, which is mandatory for the Masters series, plus an assessed additional 66-pound driver penalty, for a stout 3,549. At least they didn’t have to skimp on the safety equipment.
Only 178 total Javelins were sold in Australia, including this one, so needless to say it will be the only one in a series dominated by Mustangs and Camaros. Richards and former Gibson Motorsport Crew Chief Bruce Tyson started the build in 2009, while simultaneously campaigning their Falcon. “The Javelin is a step up from the Falcon in every way and all the lessons we have learned from four decades of racing touring cars have gone into it,” he said. “Being more aerodynamic, wider and with a slightly better brake package, it should also handle and stop a little better than the Sprint, but we can’t guarantee that it will be faster out of the blocks. We’ll have to wait until Clipsal for that!”
If anyone knows of a live broadcast of the race, please let me know. I’m also trying to track down video of testing laps at Melbourne’s Calder Raceway, because boy howdy do I want to hear this thing run. And Shannons – I can’t help but notice this thing was built with a passenger seat. I cover auctions too, you know…
UPDATE: I just got in some build pics. We normally don’t condone cutting into restorable cars, but this thing is just killer. A car should be honored to be treated this well.
As found in North Melbourne. Jim had been looking in the United States, but stumbled onto this one close to his home.
I don’t think they salt the roads much in Melbourne.
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