Jalopnik

2009 Bullrun: Big Apple Means Big Horsepower And Big... Everything Else! [2009 Bullrun]

Ray Wert — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:20:00 -0400

Jalopnik reader and photographer Alvin Baugh of AVB Auto-Media was on hand to capture the 2009 Bullrun road ~~race~~ rally send-off in lower Manhattan this morning. Here's his gallery of the high horsepower, high heels and often highly over-sized egos.
This year's running of the Bull goes from the 10th to the 17th of July and runs from New York to Austin, Texas. As always, we wish the runners well and pray none of them break anything or anyone. Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media Photo Credit: Alvin Baugh, AVB Auto-Media

Another California AMX Back On The Street! [Down On The Street Bonus Edition]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0400

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Want to see another AMX?

We love perfectly restored AMXs, of course, but seeing one with a few rough spots that still survives on the street is pretty cool. Patrick was inspired by the Alameda '69 AMX to send in these shots from his neighborhood:

This one appeared a few months ago on my block in Santa Monica and calls the street home. It's riding on its original glass tires and is in 100% pure time-warp condition. Virtually its entire life was spent sitting in storage before recent liberation.

DOTS FAQ

Some Of The Classic British VW Commercials We Missed Last Week [Classic Ad Watch]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:30:00 -0400

We had the predictable uproar about all the great VW ads we overlooked in our 20 Classic Volkswagen Commercials post last week, because VW has always done great advertising and you can't possibly cover everything.

Yes, yes, we know that the "Umpimp Your Ride" commercials were hilarious, the Beetle-dropped-from-helicopter Corrado ad was a winner, and some folks even mentioned the ad that used that annoying song. We'll get to them on Classic Ad Watch, eventually. Then we heard about this collection of UK-market Volkswagen ads over on MotorTorque and decided it would be best to post it right away. You see, it was so shocking to see that VW's marketers dared to get all eggheady and put a goddamn Dylan Thomas poem in a car ad that we had to share this outrage with y'all! Why, if General Westmoreland hadn't'a kicked Archdude Franz Ferdinand's ass in Grenada, those warm-beer-drinkin' Brits would all be speakin' Afrikaans by now! Anyway, here's the ad, which we're forced to admit is pretty cool… in the same geeked-out-yet-useless way that the Apple Cube was pretty cool. When you're done with that, go watch the other 15 ads.

A Proud Day For Saab 99 Fans! [24 Hours Of Lemons]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0400

We're sure that all you ~~really scary, foaming-at-mouth~~ passionate Saab ~~zealots~~ aficionados are eager to see how the Adopted By Jets '71 Saab 99 is faring at LeMons New England!

So far, the glass appears to be ~~bone dry and covered with leeches~~ half full, as the ABJ team performs what appears to be major surgery on the rear suspension and/or axle and/or fuel tank. But plenty of racing remains, so we expect to see this fine example of Swedish steel ~~dropping components on~~ roaring around the track soon.

Thanks to Christine The Arc Angel for the great photos!

Three Hours In, Civic Leads At 24 Hours Of LeMons New England [24 Hours Of Lemons]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0400

Communications with the folks at the race have been intermittent, but we've finally got a fresh round of LeMons updates for you. Right now, the Kielbasa Kids Civic sedan sits in first place.

That's a photo from last year's New England race, in which the Kielbasa Kids came in a strong second place; as long as that head gasket holds out- always a big question mark with Honda products in LeMons events- they ought to be the team to beat.

But there's plenty of racing left; they'll be at it until 10:00 PM tonight, and the Buffalo Knuckles '86 Supra is already breathing down that Civic's neck. In third place is the Scuderia Limoni Alfa Romeo Milano (which finished third in '08), and the fifth-in-'08 Scuderia Testa di Spillo Milano is right behind it in fourth. The fifth-place Volvo 240 wagon run by Team Vermont Cow Tippers is no doubt making the Italians quite nervous- we're all familiar with the storied white-hot drama of world-class 240-versus-Milano competition- and there's just no telling what might happen next!

We can tell you what will happen next with the Index Of Effluency contenders, however. The Adopted By Jets '71 Saab 99 blew up early and often, and now sits in 49th place (out of 55), while its team tries to duct-tape it back into running condition; that's better than the Safari Taxi Peugeot 504, which has managed to climb to 50th place between lengthy wrenching sessions. The Craptation Chevy Citation X-11, which Assistant Perp Nick Pon describes as "hands down, one of the most horrible cars in LeMons history," clanked off the track with the driver unable to see past the clouds of toxic smoke pouring from the dash- didn't GM have a Citation recall over that issue, back in the day?- but the team is totally contending for the IOE with an intimidating 44th place. The Trailing Throttle Oversteer '63 Corvair has paid some visits to the Penalty Box, thanks to its Ralph Nader-enraging handling quirks, but has remained in good mechanical shape: 32nd place!

Citroën-Driving French Cops Versus Buick Sport Wagon: L'homme à la Buick! [Car Movies]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0400

Say you're a French jewel smuggler in the late 1960s and you're shopping for the ideal work vehicle. How about a Buick Sport Wagon? A little on the conspicuous side, sure, but such style!

Citroën Mehari-driving Project Car Hell Poster Child Franzouse stumbled across this fine 1968 motion picture and was kind enough to send in a tip. After seeing the sad Olds Vista Cruiser earlier, I thought it would be nice for us to see a GM Skywagon while it's still young and healthy. Here's what Franzouse has to say:

Just came back from a business day-trip to Brussels (hooray for Thalys): they make the best French fries there, amazing. Anyways, I'm watching a 30 year old French movie right now titled "l'Homme à la Buick" (the man with the buick). Pretty cool story, and ok film about a provincial dandy who is actually a smuggler and drives around in a big buick station wagon often being chased by cops in DS's and 404's.

Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Gets Last View Of California Sky Through Roof Windows [Down On The Junkyard]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:30:00 -0400

I can't recall the last time I saw a GM Skywagon in the junkyard; these things have been getting lovingly restored for decades. This Vista Cruiser, however, didn't get that memo… and here it sits.

It's pretty rough, and plenty of parts have been picked from it by now, but the all-important roof glass remains. There's an example of today's Engine Of The Day honoree under the hood, too- looks like a 2-barrel 350. Nice Bondo-y patina on the tailgate!

24 Hours Of LeMons New England Underway: Peugeot, Datsun 510, Citation Broken Already [24 Hours Of Lemons]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:20:00 -0400

We're just starting to get updates from the action at Stafford Motor Speedway now. Apparently the inspections went smoothly, but cars started to disintegrate as soon as they touched the track.

According to LeMons Assistant Perpetrator Nick Pon, the Peugeot 504 sputtered to a halt and had to be pushed off the track two laps into transponder testing (which takes place at about 30 MPH, so you know that the weekend will be full of excitement for the Peugeot team if they can get the car out there during, like, real racing). The Team Craptation Chevy Citation X-11 lived up to all the advance billing and crapped out minutes later. The eagerly anticipated first-ever LeMons Datsun 510 fried its alternator and had to limp off the track, according to tweets from Team Knights Who Say Ni-ssan… whose 200SX has already lost an idler pulley. Not only that, the Team Crumpled Rusted And Pathetic Plymouth Laser just shed a wheel on the track, with unpleasant results.

On the positive side, UDMan's '63 Corvair hasn't missed a beat, continuing to rack up lap after lap. It's too early for Team Trailing Throttle Oversteer to start measuring garage shelf space for the Index Of Effluency trophy, but things are looking good for them so far. We'll be passing along photos and updates as they come in from Connecticut, so check in later!

Engine Of The Day: Oldsmobile Generation 2 V8 [Engine Of The Day]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0400

Maybe it didn't make financial sense for GM to have each division design its own engines- a policy that continued into, and sometimes beyond, the Malaise Era- but the results were some excellent pushrod V8s!

Say what you will about Detroit's primitive suspensions and iffy build quality during the postwar period, but there's no denying that The General cranked out inexpensive, reliable, and powerful pushrod V8s by the tens of millions. We've honored the Buick 215 aka Rover V8, the Buick Nailhead, the Cadillac OHV, the Pontiac V8, and the Small-Block Chevrolet so far in this series, and today it's the turn of the Olds V8s built during the 1964-1990 period (yes, we'll eventually get to the big-block Chevy and the others, so be patient). Starting with the 330-cubic-inch Jetfire Rocket, this engine family (technically split into "small-block" and "big-block" categories based on deck height, but otherwise the same) included the axle-snapping 455 that powered the '70 442, countless 350s and 400s that were stuffed inside Cutlasses, and the 403, which was stuffed into just about every GM vehicle that would hold still on the assembly line. The "6.6 Litre" engines in the Malaise Trans Ams were Olds 403s… and we'd say that perhaps that engine is best forgotten, but we're saving that distinction for the ill-fated diesel version of the 350. I had a purple '69 Cutlass with the (gas) 350 for a regrettably brief, donuts-on-your-lawn period in my teens, and I think I turned more cheap tires into black marks on the pavement with this engine than with any other. Hooray for torque!

[Wikipedia, 442.com; Image source: Fotki]

Pontiac G8 To Live On As Chevy Caprice! [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:40:00 -0400

Despite denials from the highest levels, including GM CEO Fritz Henderson, newly-re-tasked GM marketing man Bob Lutz told Automobile the Pontiac G8 would find its way into Chevrolet showrooms as the Caprice. A RWD Chevy Caprice? Is the Carpocalypse over?

No, unfortunately, it's not. But what it does mean is Lutz will have a greater say in product planning than sources had initially claimed.

"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet," Lutz said. "It is kind of too good to waste."

CEO Fritz Henderson has repeatedly denied that the G8 would survive as part of another brand, saying he's "not a fan of rebadging."

But Lutz, citing export agreements with Australia and the fact that the Holden Commodore is already sold in many countries as a Chevrolet, assured Automobile GM would not let the car die. Find out more over at Automobile Magazine.

Photo Credit: GM Press Photo

Celebrating 450 Old Vehicles Down On The Alameda Street: The Non-Big 3 American Machines [Down On The Street 450]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:30:00 -0400

We're actually up to 482 Alameda street-parked classics in this series, but I'm still working on chronicling the 450-machine milestone. The Server Hamsters resist in all their maddened rodential fury, but we press on!

So, in an attempt to get the 450 DOTS Celebration to show up on your computer, I'm breaking it up into sections. We've had the Germans and the Wagons, and today I've been so inspired by the beautiful DOTS '69 AMX that I've put together a collection of Alameda's street-parked vintage American cars and trucks that were not designed by Detroit's Big Three (I say "designed" because I think that the '45 Jeep counts as a Willys, in spite of being built by Ford). I believe that the trio of kit cars, the Shay Model A, the CMC Gazelle, and the Fieroborghini- based on Pinto, Chevette, and Fiero chassis, respectively- qualify here, because, well, why not? You Scout fans will find plenty of iron to admire, we've got some Ramblers and a couple of Studes, and there's even a Packard!

1943 IHC	1945 Ford	1948 IHC	1951 Willys	1953 Packard	1956 Willys
1958 Willys	1960 Studebaker	1960 Rambler	1961 Rambler	1964 Studebaker	1964 Jeep
1964 Checker	1965 IHC	1965 Rambler	1969 AMC	1969 AMC	1972 IHC
1972 IHC	1972 IHC	1976 AMC	1976 IHC	1977 IHC	1979 Shay
1980 IHC	1983 Jeep	1984 Jeep	1988 CMC	2000 Fieroborghini

First 400 DOTS Vehicles • DOTS FAQ

1969 AMC AMX [Down On The Street]

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. We need more AMCs in this series!

If you count Ramblers, so far the only Kenosha cars we've seen on the island have been this '60 American, this '61 American, this '65 American, this '69 Ambassador SST wagon, and this '76 Pacer X. While I've got a real soft spot for the Oleg Cassini Edition '75 Matador, most car freaks would suggest the AMX- or maybe the SC/Rambler- as their all-time favorite AMC product. Here's one, with a 4-speed and everything!

This car lives on the same block as the '65 Mercury Comet, seen here in the foreground, and both machines are part of the same family; father owns the AMX and daughter drives the Comet.

Since the Comet DOTS photos resulted in some very Robert Bechtle-esque photographs, I decided to shoot for that effect with the AMC as well. This one's a little dark for true Bechtle style, but what the heck.

First 400 DOTS Vehicles • DOTS FAQ

License Plate Of The Day: Odd Numbers Edition [License Plates]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:30:00 -0400

We're a little confused here. Does someone want to explain to us how exactly this would work?

(Hat tip to Julia!)

The Dodge Viper Is Alive! [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:01:00 -0400

We were the first to report the Dodge Viper was dead before Chrysler actually killed it. Now, like a zombie from a time before fuel economy, it's back. That's right, Chrysler's telling us today the Dodge Viper will live on!

That's right, Chrysler's announced today production will continue on the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10. The automaker, which is also back from the dead, will also shelve plans to sell the Viper program. Here's the full press release with all the details.

Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On
Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 10, 2009 - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.

Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant - the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 - will continue to build the V-10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.

"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. "We're extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand."

Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car.

The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corporation immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited-production sports car in no more than three years.

In May 1990, after months of intensive study and testing, Chrysler Corporation announced that the Dodge Viper, powered by an aluminum V-10 was a "go."

Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory customization options than before.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark.

To date, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Mopar® and Global Electric Motors (GEM) brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat's complementary technology – from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

About Dodge
With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars, trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles and a sales-leading, fifth-generation minivan in 2009. Dodge will soon add to its award-winning Ram lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.

Dodge introduced several new vehicles last year, including the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan-firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold, Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation, including unsurpassed 17 city / 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is also the first minivan in the segment to feature the all-new Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advance safety systems.

Also in 2008, the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America, joining the Dodge Avenger, Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.

Helicopter Mom Wants "Newly Licensed" Magnet Stuck To Teens Cars [Driving Laws]

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:40:00 -0400

Susie Kessler's scared her 16-year-old is driving, so she's created a "Caution: Newly Licensed" magnet and slapped it on his car. Now she, along with 15,000 other parents, want to make them legally required.

We'll let Ms. Kessler herself explain her reasons for creating this sticker:

We lived in Ohio when my other children were learning to drive. And when we moved to Georgia, oh, the traffic. I think everyone would agree, Georgia drivers are pretty crazy. I was so worried about Donne learning how to drive with all this traffic. So I got started thinking, what can I do to keep him safe? I didn't know at the time that car accidents were the No. 1 killer of teens.

Followed by:

I was a nervous driver with the traffic, and I thought, how am I going to let this kid get on the highway? I've got to do something about this. … I've got to put something on the car that lets everybody know that he's just learning how to drive. So we worked on a design. I wanted to have something positive, so instead of saying "New Driver," or something that the child would be embarrassed about, we said "Newly Licensed."

That magnet, like the one you see above is now on her sons car, and some 15,000 other perpetually terrified parents have bought magnets for their own kids from Kessler. Her non-profit, the "Caution and Courtesy Driver Alliance" has now found a sympathetic ear in the Georgia senate who will sponsor a bill to make such magnets or decals legally required for teens, punishable by a fine should the kids remove them. Would somebody please think of the children! (...and Ms. Kessler's bank account!) [Atlanta Journal-Constitution via TheCollegeDriver]

Photo credit: Phil Skinner / Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Caption This: Hoff Hassles New Jaguar XJ Edition [Caption This]

Wes Siler — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:15:00 -0400

A picture's worth a thousand words and we look to you, the all-knowing Jalopnik commentariat to provide the caption to this photo that'll wow your peers and make the stone-faced Jalopnik editors crack a smile.

This shot, snapped during last night's live unveiling of the 2010 Jaguar XJ also gets a cameo by JalopFriend Kimatni Rawlins.

Commenter Of The Day: Clash Of The Titans Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0400

Most would not consider 1981 to be the best year in film, but there were a few notable exceptions, including the almost completely forgotten fantasy/mythology flick Clash Of The Titans. Featuring Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith and Harry Hamlin, the film reignited the myth of Perseus for a new generation. It remains one of the best film versions of classic mythology, though the production values aren't quite as impressive today as they may have been then. It was a hit, at the time, though most people don't remember it. Why? The film itself clashed with a titan: Raiders Of The Lost Ark, one of the highest grossing films of all time. History has remembered Indiana Jones but forgotten Perseus (the film character, at least). We saw the first glimpse of Leno v. Clarkson last night, and ThreeLitre sees another clash in the works.

This is really the ultimate clash of the car culture titans. Clarkson is so bull-headedly anti-american and Jay is just about the most visible American gearhead out there. I think this interview will either be hilarious or incredibly, wretchedly awkward.

Petrolhead vs. Gearhead. An epic clash of the titans. This week's show should be a good 'un.

New Panamera,too...

We'll be tuning in.

EBay Says No Deal Yet With GM [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:50:00 -0400

Remember that deal GM had this morning with EBay to experiment with auctioning new cars? The one designed to make the ol' Detroit automaker look innovative? Turns out there's no deal with EBay. When will GM learn?

Hey, GM, would you mind meeting us over at camera three for a minute?

OK, GM, seriously, between us, you've got to stop this whole half-assed PR thing. It's no longer about doing things to make you look good, or looking for ways to make people think you're looking good, it's about actually doing good. So if you've got the idea to work on a deal with EBay, work on a deal with EBay, finish it and then announce it. Don't announce that you're thinking of possibly engaging in talks on a deal to try stuff out with EBay and then have EBay turn around and call you out for not actually doing anything.

In most cases it's ridiculous to use Apple in comparison with GM because, well, they're two completely different types of companies, but one way it works is PR. When Steve Jobs announces a new product, he's got it ready to hit stores and it's going on sale that day. Not three months from now. Not six months from now. Of course, autos are a different deal. I know it takes five years to bring a new car to market. But we're not talking about cars — we're talking about PR. Or what you should be calling PR instead of the shit you've pulled recently like the "deal" with Segway for the PUMA or now this "deal" with EBay. Quit coming to the public with half a thing and come to the public when you've got the whole thing.

I don't know if this constantly half-baked idea problem is an issue with Steve Harris's PR team or if it's an issue with the entire C-suite, but fercrissakes, quit doing what looks like the equivalent of walking out of a bathroom with your zipper down and the back of your shirt tucked into your underwear. Frankly, you look like the jackass old guy in the office who still talks about the good ol' days when he could play grab-ass with the secretarial pool. No offense, Bob.

The point is, if you want to be considered a world-class automaker with world-class, innovative ideas, you've got to actually have some world-class, innovative ideas — which it sounds like you do — but then you have to deliver on them. But if you keep coming up with great ideas and then fall down on the implementation and marketing of them, you're never going to figure out you've got your shirt tucked into your ass crack.

/Rant

[via NYT]

Fox Business Network Explains Trucker Bombs [LOLCars]

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:40:00 -0400

If you don't know, a trucker bomb is... well... let's just let Fox Business Network explain. Bottom line: you don't want to be around when one explodes. [FBN]

Brazilian Ford Fusion Ad Features Scary SpiderHorse [Ad Watch]

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:20:00 -0400

Wanna stay up tonight, eyes wide open while you contemplate the sleep you'll never get? Click on this Brazilian ad pitching the V6 AWD Ford Fusion. Scary SpiderHorse is scary! [Copyranter]

VW Passat Lands In Precarious Position After Failed Ken Block Impersonation [LOLCars]

The Auto Insider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0400

This Virginia commuter found herself in a precarious position after losing all sense of direction traveling through a construction zone. How's she going to explain this mishap to her insurance company?

We could attempt to make some sort of sense out of the situation at hand, but the NASIOC forum member and Virginia Transportation Engineer who took these images has taken the time to umm... delicately... dissect the actions and reactions that resulted in this epic 'Dukes of Hazzard' style failure. Read on:

Dear Asian Woman in Grey VW Passat,

Every once in a while I come across pictures of accidents that are amazing, embarrassing, stupid, tragic and hilarious. But never have I ever come across an accident such as the one you had at one of our job sites this morning.

The first thought to go though my mind was the emoticon :-D, then a set of Internet slangs (ROFL and WTF to be exact) then an Internet meme of failblog. That's right, you have managed to create a scene so jawdroppingly incomprehensible, completely illogical, and physics defying that all the logical and reasoning receptors of my brain rejected these thoughts and they jumped straight to the portion of my brain destroyed by the Internet and alcohol. Taking the time to deduce the events prior to the current situation in the picture has made my brain hurt.

I have seen the maintenance of traffic plans on Frying Pan Road/Route 28 interchange and they are pretty simple. There were no sudden lane shift or complicated detours and the project was signing and marking was placed by the book. The lanes were narrowed from 12 feet to 11 feet and the traffic was shifted to one side to allow room for the construction area off the shoulder. The situation created should have been anything but confusing. All the cars entering the work zone were reduced in speed and the giant orange reflective barrels, signs and concrete barriers on either side channeled you into your lane.

If you could, please answer the following questions because Deep Blue would have trouble crunching the permutations it took for you to end up the way you did.

* How did you not notice that you at one point came off pavement and onto 50 feet of dirt, still manage to have enough speed traverse the dirt pile and jump 20 feet to land on the concrete wing wall?
* Are you familiar with operating a vehicle on a US roadway before?
* Do you know that on US roadways there is always pavement under your tires?
* Do you know the difference between driving on dirt and asphalt?
* Were you under the influence of and drugs, video game episodes or alcohol?
* Are you aware that there are no jumps to clear giant concrete obstacles while driving?
* Are you aware that there are no points, money, gold coins to gain if you attempt to jump mounds of dirt on the side of the road?
* Do you think you are Ken Block?
* Has the positions of the gas and brake pedals been modified on your vehicle?
* Do you know which pedal does what in your vehicle?
* Has your car been modified in anyway such as rocket boosters or anti gravity jets?

Thank you in advance. Hopefully these answers will stop the hemorrhaging in my brain. If this incident has not taken your license away permanently please voluntarily cut it up right now.

Cheers,
Oodles-of-Noodles

P.S. I was going to put the typical unamused picture here but I am not. This was anything but. In fact, it requires an applause picture. Bravo for making my day, Bravo.

Too harsh? Probably exactly what she deserves. (Hat Tip To Angus!)

[via NASIOC]

RAF Red Arrows: When Ground Speed Is Not Enough [Goodwood]

Peter Orosz — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:45:00 -0400

Noon was marked in high style at the Festival of Speed: the RAF’s Red Arrows acrobatic team performed a tight and very loud flyby. Click through for the scream of nine Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofans.

The Red Arrows use BAE Hawk T1A jet trainers to display their aerial moves in their incredibly busy schedule. The unit was set up in 1964 and has flown over 4000 shows since.

Forming an excellent and even redder backdrop to their acrobatics was a line of Ferraris you can see in the video. Not a shabby selection, with the rosso corsa on one of the world’s 39 250 GTO’s, a 1969 312P Le Mans prototype and a 1950 166 MM Barchetta wreaking havoc with MPEG compression algorithms. But the real star of the lineup is the second from right: Scuderia Serenissima’s mad Breadvan. It’s the racing car with perhaps the most insane, comical, revengeful and inspiring story ever.

This I knew well before Goodwood. What I didn’t was that it eclipses pretty much everything in aural ferocity. You’ll hear it soon enough.

Photo Credit: ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images (Red Arrows) and the author

The Dumbest Thing You'll See Today: Aussie Smashes Car Window With Head [LOLCars]

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0400

Let it not be said Australians aren't a tough breed, as this one proves the point by smashing his now-bleeding forehead through the laminated windshield of a busted up Ford not once, but twice.

This video was originally posted to Youtube in early December, and we're assuming large quantities of alcohol where involved prior to being filmed, which probably led to the inevitable airing of grievances followed by boasts of feats of strength. What we have here is the Aussie version of Festivus. Instead of an aluminum pole and wrestling the head of the household to the floor, we have a clapped out Ford and smashing your forehead on the front window until you either make it through or pass out from the concussion. A fine tradition going on down there in Australia, a fine tradition indeed. [Youtube]

REPORT: Mercedes Preparing 532 HP Electric SLS Gullwing [Over The Back Fence]

Wes Siler — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0400

According to Autocar, development of the Mercedes SLS Gullwing eDrive is well underway. The magazine claims to have seen internal documents describing four electric motors making a combined 532 HP and 649 Lb-Ft of torque.

The original Mercedes 300SL was ahead of its time, offering peerless luxury and extreme performance that outpaced 1950s competitors. An electric SLS could perform a similar feat, becoming the first zero-emissions supercar to be produced by a major manufacturer.

Wolf Zimmerman, the engineer in charge of the vehicle's development, claims the SLS eDrive would accelerate to 62 MPH in less than four seconds and continue on to a top speed in excess of 120 MPH. Range will be between 93 and 112 miles depending on how it's driven.

Front suspension is being swapped from upright double wishbone to pushrods with coilovers to accommodate electric motors sitting close to each of the wheels. Each 133 HP motor will drive its own wheel, effectively mimicking the performance of a torque vectoring all-wheel drive system.

Off-the-line performance should compare favorably with the 571 HP, 479 Lb-Ft 6.2-liter V8 version, but the eDrive will obviously give up top speed to the gasoline-powered Mercedes SLS Gullwing.

Autocar suggests that the battery pack would be mounted in the transmission tunnel and behind the seats, where the fuel tank is located in the regular SLS. Sales could start as early as 2015. [via Autocar]

Bob Lutz on CNBC [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:30:00 -0400

GM's newly-re-employed "Maximum" Bob Lutz will be on CNBC at 4 PM EST. Watch it.

Twelve Cars Killed By The Carpocalypse [Carpocalypse]

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400

The Carpocalypse has meant the end of many storied automotive nameplates, performance variants and others — some before they even had a chance to live. Here's our list of the twelve most important vehicles killed by the Carpocalypse.

All the important details, including birthday, time of death, and cause are in the coroner's report below.

Cobalt SS Sedan
Introduced: 2004
Time Of Death: May 2009
Reason: When GM axed nearly every performance trim the Cobalt SS Sedan, despite a small but rabid following, was also on the chopping block.

Acura NSX
Introduced: 1990 originally, still in concept phase
Time Of Death: December 2008
Reason: According to Honda Chairman Takeo Fukui it's so the company can focus on green technology.

Chevy Impala SS
Introduced: 1961
Time Of Death: May 2009
Reason: Quite possibly the least likable of the defunct GM performance trims, we won't miss it much.

Mercury Sable
Introduced: 1986
Time Of Death: May 2009
Reason: Though Ford has high hopes for the new Ford Taurus, they don't want to weigh down the excitement with the Mercury version.

Camaro Z28
Introduced: 1967 originally, still in concept phase
Time Of Death: March 2009
Reason: The 2010 Chevy Camaro is, so far, a hit. For the moment, coming out with a 400+ HP Camaro while you're creating a new, green GM, didn't seem like a good use of money. We'll always have the SS.

Pontiac G8 GXP... And Every Other Pontiac
Introduced: 2008
Time Of Death: April 2009
Reason: With Pontiac dead the beloved G8 GXP is no more. Also gone, the beloved Pontiac G8 ST and the beloved-by-some Pontiac Solstice. No one, though, will miss the G3.

Toyota A-Bat
http://jalopnik.com/5210418/doa+bat-toyota-hybrid-truck-concept-dead
Introduced: Concept revealed December 2007
Time Of Death: April 2009
Reason: Designed to compete with the not-particularly-popular Honda Ridgeline, the Toyota A-Bat was going to be a car-like hybrid truck. Instead, it died so that more Scions could live.

Cadillac STS-V
http://jalopnik.com/140692/between-the-lines-autoweek-on-the-cadillac-sts+v
Introduced: 2006
Time Of Death: May 2009
Reason: Like many other GM products, the every performance trim>SSocalypse also claimed the non CTS-V Caddy performance models.

GT-R Sedan
Introduced: Rumored Concept
Time Of Death: April 2009
Reason: The longstanding rumors of a GT-R based Infiniti collapsed because, in the business climate, it wasn't a priority. I mean, c'mon, how old is the Altima?

HHR SS Panel
http://jalopnik.com/cars/jalopnik-reviews/chevrolet-hhr-ss-part-1-334563.php
Introduced: 2007
Time Of Death: May 2009
Reason: Though a Retro-styled, tubrocharged panel van appeals to us, it wasn't worth the investment for GM.

Diesel Ram 1500
Introduced: 1981
Time Of Death: June 2009
Reason: With a bankrupt company a diesel-powered light-duty truck isn't a priority.

GMC TopKick
http://jalopnik.com/5283259/gm-kills-ironhide-ceases-production-of-topkick-kodiak
Introduced: 1980
Time Of Death: June 2009
Reason: GM's medium-duty truck offerings weren't as crucial as Ford's and, with no super interested buyers, the Kodiak and TopKick finally kick the bucket.

Bad Parking Job? Try These Passive-Aggressive Parking Tickets [Parking]

The Auto Insider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:30:00 -0400

People with below average and downright horrible parking etiquette are everywhere. Rather than retaliate in a way that would wind your short-tempered ass in jail, give them one of these passive-aggressive, yet still straight-to-the-point parking tickets instead.

Packaged and printed in a glossy, heavy card stock stack of 20, you'll have enough of these great little 'tell 'em offs' for at least month, unless you're horribly anal and in that case maybe you're the one with the problem and not everyone else as you'd like to think (Now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done!). [via ShineBox]

Bugatti Veyron Ticketed In California Going 210 MPH+ [Hoon Of The Day]

The Auto Insider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0400

Social media "mogul" Philip Odegard mysteriously included this amazing California speeding ticket in his Flickr photostream this week showing an estimated speed of 210 MPH+ in a 65 MPH zone driving a Bugatti Veyron.

A lack of supplemental information about the ticket other than it was received on the California State Route 73 toll road leaves us in question, but if it is indeed a true speeding ticket and not some ill-conceived joke, it may be the most epic display of supercar hoonage ever caught by the California Highway Patrol. And for those of you playing at home, here's what the California law for speeding above 100 MPH is:

"every person convicted of an infraction for a violation described in subdivision (b) of Section 22348 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500)."

So, no jail time as far as we can see, but a fairly hefty fine. (Hat tip to Less Lincoln!) [via Flickr]

Cayman Shooting Brake Confirmed In Forza 3 Screen Shot? [Spy Photos]

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0400

This screen cap, reportedly from the yet-unreleased Forza 3 for Xbox 360, is adding credibility to the Porsche Cayman shooting brake rumor. Has Forza got the digital data on a shocking new Porsche offering?

The screen capture, posted on Xbox-scene, comes from "a friend in Prague," which could mean anything from the latest element in an elaborate hoax to a legitimate, but unnamed source. What the screen capture shows is basically the exact same car we saw in Wednesday's surprising amateur spy shots.

We're doing a little more digging, but if this turns out to be true, a Porsche Cayman shooting brake will be quite a shocking new product from the Germans. Our mouths are agape at the prospect of a mid-engined, two door station wagon from Porsche. This might be the greatest thing ever. Click here for the full-sized image. [Xbox-scene Forums]

The Bugatti Veyron Really Does Sound Like Victorian Plumbing [Goodwood]

Peter Orosz — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:01:00 -0400

Ever since Jeremy Clarkson’s original review of the Veyron, we've wondered how close his description of its sound was to reality. It turns out he was spot on.

My last visit to the United States of America was in the early spring of 2004. I landed at JFK in a freezing wind, clattered in raw metal subway cars up to St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem and proceeded to spend the next few weeks getting hooked on Krispy Kreme donuts, Macintosh computers and a Cadillac Seville with no ass.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

The apartment was on the first floor of an old house by St. Nicholas Park, bathed in regular clouds of marijuana smoke wafting up from the street below, visited by the occasional cockroach and heated by a silver-painted contraption seemingly from the early days of the Industrial Revolution.

They say it was a radiator. Perhaps, but it was certainly an awful radiator. You couldn’t trust it at all. During the cold winter of 2003-2004, it let down the apartment’s two permanent inhabitants—Bertalan pictured above, Lili behind the camera—so many times that it became a sad running joke. There were reports of entire days spent shivering in winter clothes and under blankets. Watching exhaled air form clouds as the ambient temperature approached the bottom edge of water in the liquid state.

But all that was forgotten when the radiator came to life. It snorted and hawked and gurgled and hissed, it was a machine from Victorian England living a second lease on life. You never felt safe in its immediate vicinity as a violent steam explosion with shrapnels of red-hot metal flying through the air often seemed imminent. And it gave off ample heat. It dried towels, warmed up St. Nicholas Avenue, it lifted the spirits.

The Bugatti Veyron sounds exactly like that radiator. That, of course, is no great surprise, as Jeremy Clarkson has already described the car in very similar terms in his December 2005 review for The Sunday Times, writing that “the engine sounds like Victorian plumbing — it looks like Victorian plumbing as well, to be honest.”

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

The Veyron is at 03:07

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.

But it’s one thing to read that in the paper and quite another to stand three and a half years later behind bales of hay in the south of England and hear this modern-day Turbopanzer for the first time. You get used to supercars screaming on the upper edge of the human hearing spectrum and nothing really prepares you for the ultimate of their breed—at least in numbers—to gurgle by as a Victorian battleship, barely exercising the depths of its quirky 8-liter W16 engine. Sounding not like a car at all.

I wonder what Ettore Bugatti would make of this. That the latest incarnation of his lithe French racers is built by Germans to sound like the war machines of the British Empire.

Incidentally, the blue car pictured here is the T-top Veyron, also known as Officially The Fastest Road Legal Production Convertible. It was among the few cars cordoned off from the swirling masses at the Festival of Speed. You could, of course, lean in and poke its polished aluminum wheels, if you had long enough fingers.

I had long enough fingers but restrained myself. But I did lean in to bring you this picture of the Stig's head, which apparently comes on the side of your $2,000,000 purchase:

Photo of apartment with radiator by Lili Mesterhazy.

What Car Model Needs A Complete Makeover? [Question Of The Day]

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0400

Although already an attractive, if stale, design, the 2010 Jaguar XJ just received a profound makeover. But there's a lot of dead weight out there. What model needs a complete makeover?

To us it's clear: the Chevy Impala. Even with the overwhelming blandness of the current model, GM has yet to completely squander the good will associated with the classic nameplate. People love the older Impalas, and not just in the "I drive a lowered 6-4" sort of way. There's The Beach Boys old "409" and, a personal favorite, the seventh-generation B-body SS. But the current model is FWD, the SS version is clunky and both have zero style. They make decent police cars, but not much else. GM should follow Fritz Henderson's claimed desire to "excite buyers" by resurrecting the excitement of the Impala. If only they had a vehicle around that was RWD and powerful.... hmm... like, say, the Pontiac G8 GXP? Please?

What say you?

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

Mercedes SLS Gullwing Leaked! [Spy Photos]

The Auto Insider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0400

We showed you the interior details two days ago, and those headers of fire a while back, but thanks to an as-yet-unnamed magazine, we've got what's supposedly the first look at the upcoming 571 HP supercharged V8-powered Mercedes SLS Gullwing.

We'll update as soon as we hear more on the Brucegasmic modern throwback to the classic gullwing 300SL. [fourwheelnews]

New General Motors Company: A Primer [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:45:00 -0400

The NYT primer on the "New GM" here and cool info-graphic here.

Tehran's Got Mad Love For The Screamin' Chicken [Classic Cars]

The Auto Insider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:30:00 -0400

Pontiac's Firebird has been a staple of 'Merican hoons ever since Burt Reynolds, our favorite mustachioed star, drove one in Smokey and the Bandit, but we're not the only ones fascinated with the flaming chicken.

Amid all the recent political uproar, car enthusiasts in Tehran, Iran still have something good to live for and it's not the new Mercedes-McLaren SLR 722GT Type R Chrome Edition. No, there's a unique group of individuals that have fallen in love with the Pontiac Firebird. As it turns out, cruising in any one of the various vintage 'Birds — or any car really — is one of the very few outlets for young men to meet women in Iran due to very strict rules regarding male/female interaction. We applaud this crew for everything they stand for because at the end of the day, vintage American muscle knows no borders. (Hat Tip To Taylor!)

[via The Atlantic]

Man Nabbed For Drunk Driving Without Pants [Daily DUI]

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0400

41-year-old Jonathan Schultz was busted in Maryland doing 69 MPH in a 55 MPH zone while also intoxicated. Not out of the ordinary, right? Wrong. Mr. Schultz also somehow managed to lose his pants.

It sounds like the end of every story that starts out with tequila, but Mr. Schultz was pulled over for speeding yesterday and the officer on the scene couldn't help but notice the booze on his breath and his total lack of pants and skivvies. He was hiding his shame with a towel, though it wasn't completely doing the job. When asked where his pants were, he simply said he'd lost them. The officer did not find the missing pants in the car. Schulz is facing drunk driving charges, and will be forced to tell this story for all of eternity. [MSNBC]

GM Partners With EBay To Auction New Cars [Found On EBay]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:30:00 -0400

We always hear complaints about the new car buying process being antiquated and "old n' busted." GM's apparently seeking to change that as it emerges from bankruptcy by partnering with eBay for new car auctions.

Although the salient details are slim as of now, here's what we know from today's press release announcing the "New GM", aka the "General Motors Company.":

"We're also working on new ways to make car buying more convenient for our customers, including an innovative new partnership with eBay in California to revolutionize how people buy vehicles online," Henderson said. "Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'buy it now' price. We'll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months. In all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned."

We're told by GM CEO Fritz Henderson that it's "just an experiment." But they are "really excited about it."

So no idea yet as to whether it'd be for all vehicles, whether it would be for just a select few vehicles. The biggest hurdle such an idea faces is the dealer network. More than likely the line in the press release of "testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks" indicates it'll more than likely be the dealers who'll be providing these services as opposed to direct-from-manufacturer sales. Either way, as long as the consumer experience is eBay-like, it won't matter to them as they'll perceive it to be direct-from-manufacturer — which is often how they perceive the experience now.

New "General Motors Company" Logo May Go Green? [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.According to the AP, the logo for the "New GM" (now called "General Motors Company") may change from blue to green to show ~~Congress and the President~~ consumers it's greener and focused on fuel efficiency. UPDATE: It's not gonna happen.

UPDATE: Our sources now tell us this is probably not gonna happen. Sorry folks, no green-washing today!

The AP continues:

"Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of design, is leading a group that is studying name and logo changes, but no recommendation has been made, according to one of the people. Changing the background of the familiar square blue-and-white GM logo has been discussed, said the people, who requested anonymity because no decision has been reached."

(Hat tip to tiberiuswise!) [AP via AOL Autos]

Image Credit: Adam Morath, AOL Autos

GM CEO Bankruptcy Update Press Conference At 9 AM [Carpocalypse]

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:35:00 -0400

GM CEO Fritz Henderson's press conference starts at 9 AM here. We'll be twittering here.

Recession-Friendly Twenty-Four Cylinder Jag for $40,000! [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

Graverobber — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0400

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.In 1776 the American colonists routed the British. Two hundred years later, Jaguar debuted the XJS coupe with Lucas electrics and a thirsty V12, proving it's never too late for revenge.

Yesterday was filled with change- some of it good, some of it bad, and some of it found under the cushions of the sofa. The trophy-winning Dodge took home a well-deserved Crack Pipe prize, and Jalopnik Commenting 2.0 brought cheers from a hungry and appreciative commenterati. But today we're getting back to brass tacks. That's because brass tacks were what was used to build the interior of our Nice Price or Crack Pipe contender - a 1986 Jaguar XJS that has had more work done than Madonna, but is hella-more British.

Jaguar had an impressive run starting in 1949 with the XK120 sports car. Sleek, fast, and reasonably priced became synonymous with the brand's two-door sportsters. 1961 brought the legendary, and incredibly rewarding to drive E-Type which, through four iterations - concluding with the dachshund-like V12 - brought exotica to the masses. Replacing the long-in-the-tooth E was tough for cash-strapped Jaguar, and instead of developing a new platform for the next two-door, they used the underpinnings of the XJ sedan, already seven years old at the time. The result was the XJS, and its grand-tourer image stood in sharp contrast to the lithe sporting pretensions of the E-Type.

Like the E-Type, the 1976 model-year S was styled by Malcolm Sayer, and the story goes that it was the last Jag personally approved by Sir William Lyons. Despite being introduced at the height of the first gas crisis, the car was exotic in feature, if not in appearance. The 5.3 litre V12, which had first made an appearance in the E and XJ12 sedan, elevated the coupe into the same haughty league as Ferrari and Lamborghini, and was the only English V12 sold at that time.

Jaguar managed to muddle through the remainder of the disco era, and made some headway in the ‘80s, enough so that Ford envisioned eventual profitability for the brand, buying the company in 1989. Before that happened however, our '86 XJS left its Coventry birthplace, and first suckled at the petrol-soaked teat of OPEC's deliverers.

The seller appears to have been trying to unload this car for some time, and remarks that the auction reserve has been lowered "due to the recession". That can only serve to cut into his profit margin as it's evident that he has dumped some cash into making it both shiny and mobile. The paint is reasonably fresh, and pictures provide evidence that it was a bare-metal job. Not only that, but you get two of the H.E. V12 motors- one installed, and a spare - it is British after all. He has also installed a Hess and Eisenhardt Sunroof and has a complete set of Dayton 90-spokes in case you want to go full Cleveland. And despite his claim of being cognizant of the realities of our nation's current financial doldrums, he's still trying to sell this 23-year old, 9MPG boat for $40,000. That kind of wampum gets you all the goodies listed in the ad, plus a woefully claustrophobic interior and climate control that does little of what its name implies. Also, while later cars came as cabriolets and full drop-tops, this year only coupes were available so you can't enjoy the wind in your hair while watching that gas gauge roll over to E and will have to develop the "Lane Change Wince" caused by just missing the horn-blaring Kenworth which was hidden in the blind spot of the flying buttress.

But it's a big V12 coupe, and it has a presence, and there's a significant following to the marque so you'd run with a fun, and dedicated crowd. And it's veddy, veddy British, which is always a nice thing when you're justifying trying to track down which of the three fuse boxes (no, I'm not kidding) has the blown wiper fuse - in the pouring rain.

So, does $40,000 feel like the right spot for 24 cylinders of big cat scat? Or does that sound like a seller who's been sniffing more than just cans of B.R.G. Krylon?

You decide!

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Cars.com or go here if the ad disappears. Hat tip to JFreeman!

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Jay Leno Meets The Stig [Top Gear]

Wes Siler — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:15:00 -0400

Looks like we were right when we told you Jay Leno was Top Gear's Star In A Reasonably Priced Car. The meeting of Clarkson's and Jay's egos does not appear to be a comfortable thing.

Jay's in England to visit the Goodwood Festival of Speed and flirt with Elle MacPherson, but it looks like he also managed to swing past the production studio of a television show with many, many more viewers than his own. At least now we know Leno's not The Stig, they never would have packed all that chin into that full-face Simpson helmet anyways. [via Jay's Garage]