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January 16, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture

The Most Infamous Stock Car Ever!

What’s the most famous stock car? Good question that I can’t answer. NASCAR aficionados will argue until the cows come home. But, ask them what the most infamous stock car ever to pound the pavement is, and you will immediately know that it is the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Grand National modified by Smokey Yunick. There’s no denying that it is awesome. Even Smokey Yunick said so. The black and gold beauty shown below never raced. Why? Read below.

Smokey Yunick himself once said of the car that it was “The little car that could…but didn’t.” The car itself was so inventive that it failed to pass the technology inspection at Daytona in the summer of 1966. Long after cars that won at the Daytona 500 have been forgotten, the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Grand National lives on in myth and lore. “Experts” say it was never a Chevelle, but a 7/8 model. Some say that it was powered by a destroked, nitros-oxide powered big-block. Then, there’s the story of the missing gas tank, a role model for racing cheaters.

According to the story enshrined by any NASCAR lover, Yunick hid oversized gas lines in the rails. The technical inspectors didn’t find the gas lines, but they ordered Smokey Yunick to take out the fuel cell and fix ten other irregularities. Yunick snapped, “Make it 11,” and knocked down one of the inspectors. He tore out of the tech inspection arena in a haze of tire smoke, leaving the fuel cell on the ground.

Of course, the creator of the car was the cause of much of the confusion. In his uproarious autobiography, he describes every detail of the car, but had also written two magazine articles about the car. No two accounts of the car were the same. Mark Mountanos, the car’s current owner, bought the car in 2000 when demand was high for old stock cars. In fact, the Chevelle raced on many dirt tracks until the mid-1980s, when Yunick bought the car and restored it himself from spare parts collected in 1967. As longtime NASCAR historian John Craft notes: “Smokey put everything he’d learned about NASCAR into that car.”

The secret of Smokey Yunick? His somewhat-magical ability to coax almost 150 horsepower out of an engine. That, and his ability to bend the rules in creative ways. It wasn’t cheating in his eyes. He viewed it in this simple way: If the rulebook doesn’t say anything against it, then it can be used to your advantage. His success started with stepped-down Hudson Hornets, and he was the man who brought the Chevy small-block to NASCAR. His history with the Chevrolet Chevelle started in 1965, when his good friend, Bunkie Knudsen, the head of Chevrolet asked him to prep their then-new muscle car for the upcoming Daytona 500. The driver, Mario Andretti commented on the car. “Every detail of the car was perfect,” recalls Andretti, who wrecked the car early in the race. But it was just diabolical to drive. I’ve never been so happy to crash in my life.” The car was designed for superspeedways, so it feels out of place on road courses. How fast the car can go is a question none can answer. Smokey’s previous Chevelle won first place at Daytona in 1965 at 180 mph, so this car should go around 210 mph. Why? The bigger engine helps, the oversized gas lines, and the tuned four-speed Muncie “rock crusher” transmission. 210 mph is about today’s race pace, and that’s quite impressive for a car that was created in the 1960’s. Some may say that the Richard Petty Plymouth Superbirds were the most infamous, but they weren’t nearly so diabolical. And the debates go on.

January 12, 2013 zoomvroom Book reviews and good reading, Humor, The History of Autos

How Fifteen Cars Can Tell the Tale of the American Dream

“An innovative car (the Prius), its insufferable drivers (the pious), and the advent of a new era” proclaims chapter 13 in the book, Engines of Change. Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Paul Ingrassia, has a HUGE stash of knowledge about Detroit’s ups and downs, Japan’s ups and downs, and the automobile’s upa and downs. Engines of Change comprehensively covers fifteen cars. It starts at the revolutionizing Ford Model T, and works its way up to the Toyota Prius.

The front cover pretty much says it all. “A narrative like no other: a cultural history that explores how cars have both propelled and reflected the American Experience-from the Model T to the Prius.”

“From the assembly lines of Henry Ford to the open roads of Route 66, from the lore of Jack Kerouac to the sex appeal of the Hot Rod, America’s history is a vehicular history-an idea brought brilliantly to life in this major work by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Ingrassia. Ingrassia offers a wondrous epic in fifteen automobiles, including the Corvette, the Beetle, and the Chevy Corvair, as well as the personalities and tales behind them: Robert McNamara’s unlikely role in Lee Iacocca’s Mustang, John Z. DeLorian’s Pontiac GTO, Henry Ford’s Model T, as well as Honda’s Accord, the BMW 3 Series, and the Jeep, among others. Through these cars and these characters, Ingrassia shows how the car has expressed the particularly American tension between the lure of freedom and the obligations of utility. He also takes us through the rise of American manufaturing, the suburbanization of the country, the birth of the hippie and the yuppie, the emancipation of women, and many more fateful episodes and eras, including the car’s unintended consequences: trial lawyers, energy crises, and urban sprawl. Narrative history of the highest caliber, Engines of Change is an entirely edifying new way to look at the American story.”

I recommend reading it. It may be a bit expensive ($30.00), but it’s money very well spent. Once you’ve read the first chapter, you’ll be hooked in to the book. You probably won’t stop until you’ve finished the book. Paul Ingrassia has a sense of humor, just itching for you to start laughing aloud about various people’s (and cars) mistakes.

I would like to thank my faithful reader, Uncle Howie for giving me the book. Thanks, Uncle Howie! It’s an awesome book!

January 9, 2013 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

Is BMW Crazy?

BMW is usually conservative when coming out with limited-edition cars. They don’t do it frequently, but when they do, they are usually collector’s items. The BMW K2 Concept Powder Ride is the result of BMW and K2 (which is known as “America’s Ski Company”). It is based off of the new BMW X1 SUV, and the upcoming Powder Ride Edition X1. BMW says that the K2 Concept Powder Ride is the blend of sumptuous interior materials, and an exclusive roof structure. BMW’s Valencia Orange paint is complemented by a large graphic that is a close-up of limited-edition K2 skis.

Also, the exterior gets an extra eight millimeters of suspension travel over the standard X1, and 19-inch five-spoke wheels covered in Ferric Grey and then polished half to death. A Harman Kardon sound system takes shelter in the two luggage spots on the driver’s side. These nice speakers are two-way, and BMW says they create a “powerful sound stage for apres ski fun with a difference at the end of the valley run.” Plus, the gigantic roof box can be illuminated in orange or blue. Oh, and three VERY powerful LED spotlights are integrated into the roof structure.

BMW is going unusual and offering a CONCEPT vehicle for sale to the public for the span of the winter. A toned-down version of the K2 Concept Powder Ride called the BMW X1 Powder Ride Edition is on sale for $44,390, including destination and handling.

I’ve attached a picture for you to possibly drool at. You can find out technical specs at http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/x/x1/2012/showroom/highlights/concept_k2.html

This car makes me want to drive a BMW, and go skiing. Who wants to drive up to the slopes together?

BMW X1 Edition Powder Ride

January 5, 2013 zoomvroom Uncategorized

The Missing Part of the American Dream – a Dog in Every Car!

Here’s the truth about me. Are you ready? Okay. I am a dog lover – the wet nose, floppy ears, wagging tail, fur flying everywhere type. You can’t have a pup without fur flying everywhere. And of course, the cuddles that ensue. I believe that every car should have a dog in every seat. Window down, muzzle out, ears flapping and drool flying. Or a pooch in the back of a pick up truck. Particularly, a Chevy S10. Sadly, ever so sadly, just nine days ago, we had to say farewell to my fuzzy best friend – my companion for 9 1/2 fun, story-filled years. Leo, my canine companion, Leo the Lovely is gone. Leo was an amazing dog. Part comic, part teacher, and 100% cuddler. Plus, he was a fine lookin’ dog.

Leo kept us well entertained. Be it tearing down walls, opening kitchen windows (from the sink) and jumping onto rocks, or sneaking in to the car (he was ALWAYS ready for a drive and adventure). Leo went on hundreds of drives, and countless road trips with us. Here are just a few of the Leo and the car stories.

One fine day, my sister had dropped a basket of fresh eggs all over our front steps. While we were scratching our heads trying to figure out what to do, Leo squirmed his way through us and started eating the eggs. We figured, “What the heck, he’s happy…”. He was. Until we were in the car with my friend and sister. My sister and Leo were in the third-row seat when Leo went “ZEEEEEAAAAAAAARGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!” and threw up all over my sister. It smelled pretty bad, and looked it, too! Then, we were heading home when we heard the whining. We stopped the car and diarrhea of Biblical proportions came out. Need I say more?

Another great story of ours is the train station. The very sound of it sounds forbidding…Anyways, we had gone down to the City of the Angels for an 80th birthday party. We had taken my dad’s truck (for reasons still unknown to me!), and the dogs were in the camper shell. We left on a train bound for Burbank. Leo wanted to join us. Leo jumped out of the camper shell via the 8″ X 6″ window. Leo then supposedly ran around the parking lot before coming back to the truck. He sat there whining and looking at poor old Bongo in the camper shell. Eventually, a family saw Leo and Bongo. They put two and two together, picked up Leo and heaved him into the window. All would have gone well, except Leo got stuck in the window. Half of him was inside, half was outside! The family called my dad, as they had seen his tag before. Then, they called him again to tell him that Leo was stuck! Then, they called again to say that Leo had popped in through the window and was safe. However, my dad didn’t get the message until we got back in the truck. Then, he was wondering why he had six voice mails. We didn’t believe them (for obvious reasons!!!)! But, it’s a great story.

Then, the time that my mom had just come back from the hospital, and Bongo and Leo escaped. I was in the car with my cousin Robin when we saw Bongo and Leo. We stopped, Bongo came down, squeezed through a fence hole not much bigger than an iPad! We opened the door, Bongo jumped in, and we started going home. Bongo started sucking a Pepsi that was in the cup holder (the only time that I’ve heard of a dog sucking a soda at that!). Leo was still on the hillside when my dad came to get him. At this point, Leo had been skunked AND taken a bath in a vineyard pond. Leo jumped into the cab of my dad’s truck and started looking happy. My dad didn’t buy it. My dad had just gotten his truck up fitted with a work body (a week before!), and opened the camper shell and shoved Leo in there! My dad took Leo home, hosed him off, and then took tomato paste and mariana sauce and slathered poor Leo in it. All of Leo’s white spots were pink – for a while! Then, Leo spent the whole night whining. My parents couldn’t figure it out, so Leo went to the vet first thing in the morning. His tail was sprained. The poor dog went around with a cast on his tail for about three weeks. Then, all was relatively well.

Yet another story of Leo was the time that he tore my dad’s truck up trying to get to my mom. We were at my aunt and uncle’s for Thanksgiving and Leo had a panic attack. He scratched the glass on my dad’s truck’s windows, shredded a panel (my dad never got a replacement panel!), and bit the trim along the doors. My dad was pissed. To say the least. I was the one who saved Leo from an almost-certain death that year. I told my parents that Leo had a big heart, but he couldn’t control himself. My desperate ploy worked, and Leo stayed. We are glad that he did.

Then, there are the countless car trips that we took Leo down with us and he hogged the whole rear seat! We just can’t forget the time that we were in my dad’s truck and my sister cracked gum in Leo’s face. Leo got so scared that he crawled over the center console to sit in my mom’s lap. Leo was no small dog, weighing in about 70 pounds. And this was in the Central Valley. He wouldn’t budge until we got home. I think that somebody was happy!

Yet another story of Leo involves eight loaves of Pita bread. We had gotten a bag of Pita bread in L.A. and were driving up when Leo ate ALL of the Pita bread! We saw the loaves sticking out for days! Anyways, Leo was in the third row seat and passing gas that could be a credible alternative to tear gas. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much! We then spent the rest of our drive back up the Interstate 5 with the windows down!

I’m sure that Leo is pigging out on Pita bread in the backseat of a car with the windows open (for obvious reasons) with Bongo in the countryside. Then, after the drive, it’s off to some imaginary racetrack where he gets as many laps as he wants.

December 30, 2012December 30, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture, Out N' About

Out ‘N About In Sonoma County

I am going easy on you, what with the holiday rush. So, here’s a picture heavy/text light post. Look at what great cars I get to see as I go about my daily life.

The photos of the Datsun pickup are of our mechanic’s 1973 Datsun 1/4 ton that he inherited from his grandfather.

It’s a pretty cool truck with a nice leather interior. It’s got American Racing Torqthrust wheels that give it a shiny aftertaste. It’s a nice little hauler/daily driver!

A couple of weeks ago, my mom was driving by a smoke shop and happened to see this lovely 1930s Cadillac. I like the Chevy Aveo trying to look cool in the picture!In Santa Rosa, CA, there is an avid fire truck collector/restorer. I happened to be driving by and there was an early Ward LaFrance fire truck from the 1960s! They don’t get much nicer than this one!

We also saw a lovely 1942 Ford Tudor Convertible (I know that they didn’t make any Tudor convertibles, but the owner seems to think so…)

While volunteering for community service at an event at John Ash & Co, I happened to see this lovely 1952 Chevy delivery van. It’s driven most days, from what I’ve heard. Go to the event in style and have a lot of space left over! Booyah!

My mom snapped the pictures of this lovely Ford Ranchero when she was at “work.”

Yet another beauty we saw was this pristine 1960 Chevrolet Impala wagon.

For those of you who enjoy old Ford pickups, this one’s for you. My mom and I were going to pick my sister up and we saw this beautiful old Ford F-2 from around 1955 driving along. From what I could see, it’s used a lot.

When my dad and I were at a regatta, we saw quite a few lovely old trucks. I’ll start off with this old Dodge rat rod. I’ve seen it a lot, but it’s usually being driven too fast for me to take a picture! It’s pretty cool.

We also saw this ancient Chevy Cameo pickup from Oregon. It’s loaded with a lot of miscellaneous items, but it’s a hard-working old pickup that earns it’s oil changes.

While there, we also happened to see this period-correct Ford F-1 ice cream truck. The owner was raking in the cash, and the truck got a lot of thumbs-up!

The El Camino peeking its nose into the picture with the ice cream truck is driven daily, and looks amazing. It was marketed as a truck that drove like a car. This one is from the late 1970s, and is all original!

I hope that you had a bountiful holiday season, and wish you a happy New Year. Since New Year’s day is on a Tuesday, I’m going to take a mini-vacation from the blog, and will be back next week. Thanks for being such loyal and wonderful readers. You can look forward to more interesting and wonderful posts in 2013. I happen to have a FABULOUS one up my sleeve! Stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

December 22, 2012 zoomvroom Gifts for the Car Enthusiast

Gifts for the Car Enthusiast!

I know it is a bit late for me to publish this post, but I’ve been fighting my way through finals. Yuck. Anyways, I’m done with finals, so I figured I’d write up this post. Those nutty relatives in the attic need to be satisfied with some gifts… Wait, or am I talking about myself? Hmmm…

AllPosters 1966 Shelby Cobra Poster. $12.99 Holiday price. This poster can come as a paper poster or a tin poster. Either of these are great gifts that can be hung on the wall.

Accutire Ms-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge. Coming in at a cheap $9.94, this tire gauge is an amazing gift, as you are able to program in the factory-recommended tire pressures for BOTH the front and rear tires. It reads from 5-99 PSI in 1/2 pound increments. It comes with a five-year warranty, so there shouldn’t be too many worries. This is a good gift for somebody who inflates and deflates their car’s tires a lot.

I’m A Classic: T-Shirt from AllPosters. This t-shirt is a bit expensive at $21.99, but it’s funny AND a great gift. This is holiday pricing, and the shirt will arrive by January 14.

LifeLine First Aid AAA Explorer Road Kit. This kit is a mere $16.99, and it has a full first-aid kit from LifeLine (they normally sell to emergency services) that has 70 items, plus a full AAA road kit. This is a good gift for anybody. Plus, the bag is big enough to hold items like Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary and Thesaurus.

If you’re too young to drive, but you have an Xbox, then the NASCAR 09 is for you. This game is put out by EA, and you live the life of a big NASCAR driver, signing big fat contracts and racing against all the big names. You can buy NASCAR 09 online at Amazon.com for $29.99.

Puma driving shoes. Puma is known for their stylish shoes, and they have recently come out with a new line of driving shoes. Most shoe stores will have them, along with any good car parts store worth it’s salt. These driving shoes are stylish, and allows the driver an accurate feel of the pedals. These shoes are relatively inexpensive at $100, and they are well worth every penny of it!

Ray Ban Sunglasses. Since sun glare causes so many accidents, why not give a nice pair of sunglasses to the car nut in your family? If they have a sense of style, then they will LOVE the Ray Ban Ultra Caravan sunglasses! These sunglasses are a bit expensive, coming in for a grand total of $340, but they are stylish and awesome. They have military-grade polarized lenses, and the frame is covered in 18-karat gold. Plus, they are retro. What’s not to love?

GoPro Cameras. Ever go onto YouTube and watch all of those high-performance driving videos? Well, all of the in-car shots are from GoPro cameras. Yep. GoPro offers small hand-held cameras that start around $50 and go all the way up to $650. These cameras are rugged, and can be configured to do live feeds. Plus, they are compatible with almost any camera harness, tether, or stand.

If you know a car enthusiast who still hasn’t seen this gearhead classic, you’d be doing them a monumental disservice if you don’t give them this movie. Aside from being a solid 60s crime thriller, Bullitt is loaded to the gills with vintage Detroit iron in nearly every scene, and the showdown between McQueen’s ’68 Mustang fastback and the bad guys’ ’68 Dodge Charger R/T is the car chase by which all others are measured. It still remains at the top of the heap – even after more than forty years. I should get Bullitt. Hint.

Carville Die-cast cars. Die-casts are scale cars that look awesome. Carville makes a variety of die-casts that range from a Ford Model T (I’ll have it in black, please!) to a Pagani Huayra. And the best part is they are handmade here in the US of A.

If you have a relative who is planning on buying a classic car, or going to an auction, then the 2013 Collector Car Price Guide is for them. It has over 250,000 accurate price listings for just about every car made from 1901-2005. It only costs $21.99, making it a great gift for that special somebody!

These are just a few of the amazing gifts out there for the car enthusiast (or nutty relative). The recipients can be both gifts for car loversstylin’ and cool. And even though a Pagani Huayra won’t fit in a stocking hung with care, I will be most happy should I be gifted with one!

Happy Shopping!

December 19, 2012 zoomvroom New car info

Own a Volkswagen? Get $1,000 from Chrysler – Trade-In or Not!

Fiat and Volkswagen have been going through a public feud in Europe, due to the fact that there is a large financial crisis going on there. The effects of the crisis can mean manufacturing over-capacity. Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne is currently president of the ACEA (basically the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association). VW has repeatedly called for Marchionne to resign. However, Marchionne and VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn “buried the hatchet” last year at the Paris Motor Show.

The rivalry may not be completely buried, as Chrysler is offering $1,000 to current VW owners and/or lessees. Since Fiat owns 58% of Chrysler, you get the connection. Unlike most programs, this doesn’t even require owners to trade in their VW! The offer applies to most Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/SRT/Ram/Fiat products, excluding the VW Routan. Why the Routan? Because it is essentially a Chrysler Town & Country with a VW badge on it. You have until January 2, 2013 to make use of this offer. All you need to do is go to your local Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/SRT/Fiat dealer and show them your proof-of-ownership/lease papers and get the cash.

Fiat only holds a skimpy 6.4% of the European car market, while Volkswagen holds a massive 24.5% of the European car market. However, the tables are turned on Volkswagen in the U.S., where they hold a tiny 4.0% of the U.S. car market, while Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/SRT/Ram/Fiat holds 11.4% of the total U.S. car market. Is this a sign that Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/SRT/Fiat is struggling in the U.S.? Nope, Chrysler has sold almost 375,000 units of every model that is currently offered in the U.S., and earned $381 million dollars in this quarter alone.

December 12, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews

The 2013 Motor Trend Truck of the Year!

As many of you might know, Dodge products have been kind of yucky and disappointing (i.e. Dodge Caliber). To use better vocabulary, they are lacking a certain sophistication, and not up to expectations.

The trucks made by Dodge weren’t very good, and people bought them because they were cheap. From the late 1960s to the late 1990s, Dodge’s trucks were kept afloat by government fleet sales. In 1994, Dodge came out with a game-changer. The new Ram 1500/2500/3500 were revolutionary – they had enough power to send a big rig running, and they were at the top of their class in terms of towing. Further, their design was top-notch. And, they sent Chevy/GMC and Ford back to the drawing board.

The generation that debuted for the 2001 model year was something of a joke. It wasn’t comfortable, the only “real” power for the 1500 came in the form of an outdated 5.7 liter Hemi V8, and the 2500 got its power from a 5.9 liter Cummins diesel that had been in service since 1990. It was slow, and outdated. Dodge was a joke. Again. This was during the time of the race to see which half-ton could tow the most with the most power. Then, the economy tanked.

Dodge came out with the current generation of the Ram 1500/2500/3500 in the darkest days of the recession. That was back in 2008, and the Ram was expensive ( yet very nice). As all truck owners know, there is no truck that is the magic truck that changes everything. Sometimes, we have to suck it up and buy the truck that works for us, not the masses.

Well, Ford has been going the way of smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, Chevy/GMC is coming out with a new line of trucks next year, and Ram is leaning towards more efficient engines and eight-speed transmissions. The old 3.7-liter V6 that used to serve duty in everything from most Jeeps to all the Ram products except the 2500/3500. So that engine was a disaster – it was slow, it had very little power, and it sounded like a diesel. Now, the new Pentastar V6 displaces 3.6 liters, and has 42% more power than the old engine. Plus, it offers 13% more torque. Oh, and it’s mated to the excellent new 8-speed ZF automatic that has been beefed up a bit for towing duty. Yahoo.

The historic 5.7-liter Hemi V8 has been around since 2001. However, it has been updated every single time the Ram 1500 gets an update. This time, it has the same amount of power (390 horsepower, 410 lb-ft of torque), but it is more efficient, thanks to Variable Valve Timing. Plus, there are revised cooling systems, electric power steering, and a cool new electrical system with pulse modulation that uses power more efficiently to lessen the strain on the alternator.

Most people focus on the powertrain of a pickup truck, yet that may be one of the less important topics on the refreshed Ram 1500. Ram has added air suspension, which may raise concerns about reliability. But, the Ram 1500’s air suspension looks like the ones found in modern full-size luxury cars, which typically weigh about as much as a half-ton pickup. This air suspension is cool. It can raise the truck 1.2 or 2.0 inches, depending on which off-road mode the 4WD system is set to. There is also an aero mode that will lower the truck 0.6 inches (this is intended for long drives on the interstate). Active shutters behind the grill will close at highway speeds, directing air AROUND the truck, not UNDER. This, plus the slightly redesigned body cut the truck’s coeffecient of drag from 0.39 to 0.36, to net a 6 percent increase in aerodynamic efficiency.

If you are thinking that Ram left the interior of the Ram 1500 as disgusting as it was four years ago, then you would be greatly mistaken. The Ram 1500’s interior has gotten as much attention as the exterior and mechanicals. The interior layout is the same, so if you have driven a Ram 1500 of this generation before, you will know that the Uconnect infotainment system was slow and horrible. The screen is brighter than before, and it has higher resolution than most navigation screens. The screen is now a massive 8.4 inches (think of putting an iPad Mini in the dash), and you can further upgrade the system with various apps like: Pandora internet radio, etc. Plus, it can provide you with an in-vehicle WiFi hotspot. While Motor Trend likes the layout of the system, problems from before still plague the Ram 1500. Sometimes, it’s slow to respond. Also, the navigation system can sometimes lose track of the truck when it is in motion. It sometimes thinks that the truck will be a few hundred yards off the highway!

The new 8-speed automatic is essentially the same ZF transmission found in the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger and Rolls-Royce Ghost. The transmission control is a radical departure from the column shifters or console shifters we are used to. It is a dial. It may seem like truck blasphemy, and to some it is. It is nice to have it placed on the dashboard, however. The Motor Trend testers weren’t the only ones who turned up the radio when attempting to do a three-point turn.

Another gripe about the Ram 1500’s transmission controls – the tiny pushbuttons on the steering wheel are right above the cruise control buttons, and aren’t clearly differentiated from the cruise control buttons. IF Ram is concerned about customers shifting the truck while wearing work gloves, then they would have installed shift paddles, NOT tiny buttons.

One of the things that many truck buyers want is on/off-road prowess. If you are looking for off-road prowess, get a Ford F150 SVT Raptor. If, however, you need some off-roading chops, then the Ram 1500 might be your ticket.

For those of you who have driven the current generation of the Chrysler 300, you will be shocked to find out that the Ram 1500 SLT with the Pentastar V6 drives almost exactly like a Chrysler 300 with a bed. The 2013 Motor Trend Truck of the Year judges were amazed at how well the Ram 1500 SLT drove. The torque comes in at relatively low RPMs, with a peak of 269 lb-ft. Plus, you can still be rewarded by swinging the tachometer up to 4500 RPM to get the full 305 horsepower. Plus, the Pentastar sounds good for a V6. The Pentastar and the 8-speed automatic make for a potent entry-level truck. Plus, the air suspension works as well off-road as it does on asphalt. Body motions are relatively few in cornering, while bumps are soaked up quickly and quietly without any complaint.

The Ram 1500 V-8 Sport is a totally different animal. Of course, 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque will make it quicker. A lot quicker. The interior will remind you of an SRT product, with the same seats as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8, and the same feel as an SRT product. The interior is also a bit louder in the V-8 Sport, with engine note and road noise being a bit louder than the SLT. The anti-roll bars and coil springs allow for less body roll in cornering, but they don’t give the driver the same feeling of control the driver would get in an SLT. The steering is the same, but bigger tires give more grip and tire slap.

The V-8 Sport has so much power that it is hard to hook up the rear tires to the pavement. With a good launch, look for 60 in a scant 6.9 seconds. Ford’s Ecoboost engine might give quicker results, but if you want a classic American V8, then the Hemi V8 is a good choice. When the V-8 Sport is hooked up to a trailer, that’s when the engine comes alive. The quarter mile will disappear in 20.0 seconds at 69.4 mph. Yikes. The Ram SLT with the Pentastar may have a bit less power, but it still has enough power to tow at 75% towing capacity.

The 2013 Motor Trend Truck of the Year judges were extremely impressed with the Ram 1500. The V6 covers the area once patrolled by the Dakota, and the V8 turns the truck into a truck that inspires confidence like no other half ton.

They say brand loyalty is one of the strongest criteria in buying a truck. It would be a shame to be a Ford guy and never think of the Ram 1500. As good a truck as the F150 is, the Ram is better. For now. I may have a Chevy pickup, but I should say that the Ram 1500 is a good choice for those who need a truck that is bigger than a Toyota Tacoma, yet smaller than a Ford F250. The 2013 Ram 1500 is a job that comes close to perfect. It may not be a game-changer for trucks like the Porsche 959 was for supercars, but it is a very good truck. Congrats, Ram.

December 7, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture, Gifts for the Car Enthusiast

The Original 1966 Batmobile Will Hit the Auction Block in January!

There have been many cars that have won the hearts of car enthusiasts and TV enthusiasts alike. We all fondly remember the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and the Batmobile from the original TV series in the mid-60s. You can now buy the original Batmobile at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. When? January 19, 2013.

Legendary customizer, George Barris built the car in 1955 on a $15,000 budget. I’m sure that it’ll go for much, much more than that… The Batmobile is based off of the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car with a Ghia body. Some may be fooled by the afterburner sticking out the back, but those car nuts out there will know that it is actually powered by a 390-cubic in (6.4 liters) Lincoln V8 that is bolted to the original B&M Hydro Automatic Transmission. George Barris is the one and only owner of the car, and he is unfortunately putting it up for auction.

You can read more about the Batmobile and George Barris at the Barrett-Jackson website. http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=5037&aid=466

With the holidays just around the corner, what a thoughtful gift for the car enthusiast in your family. So what if it’s a little late?

December 5, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture

The Chrysler Museum is Shutting Down After Just Thirteen Years

Chrysler has recently announced that they intend to close the Walter P. Chrysler Museum at the end of the year.

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is shutting down after just thirteen short years of exhibiting 67 lovely pieces of automotive history in Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps, and long-gone brands like: Hudson, Willys-Overland, Rambler, DeSoto, American Motors, and Plymouth have long been displayed. The oldest car there is a 1902 Rambler Runabout Roadster.

The collection of cars will be purchased by the Chrysler Group, the company stated in a press release. “The proceeds from the sale along with the remaining cash reserves of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Foundation will be transferred to the Chrysler Foundation, where they will support a broad range of charitable community activities and organizations,” said Brian Glowiak, the museum’s president.

Glowiak was also heard to say, “Chrysler will continue to share its automotive heritage housed at the museum with the public during special exhibitions. The existing museum facilities will be also be used to meet Chrysler Group needs.” This may mean that Chrysler will loan the cars to other museums or keep the cars in storage until special events come up. Perhaps they will one day make their way to Los Angeles and the Peterson Museum. One can hope, at any rate.

The museum will close on December 30, 2012. Its last temporary exhibition is called “Cars, Trees, and Traditions.” Does that mean driving into them? I know a certain grandparent that might have liked (or starred in) that particular exhibit… It certainly is his tradition.