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Happy Birthday Smart Car

Smart Car

Smart Car

Smart Car has been on sale in the US for one year!  This nifty car was originally introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1998 developing from initial sketches and design studio efforts in 1993.   Smart production began with the watch people Swatch who ultimately need the cooperation, guidance and capital of Mercedes Benz to bring the project forward to today. 

There are many great photos that show this ultimate small vehicle in all sorts of places that you would not expect.  Smart is about the size of a typical golf car but it can travel with freeway traffic and gets a lot of miles per gallon.  It is also a definite smile statement type of vehicle.  Maybe it is the size, maybe color coordination between body panels and safety frame, or maybe a statement about being concerned for environment and society. … Continue Reading

Brock Yates Leaves Car & Driver

Tribune Editor and Brock Yates in 2003 at the Amelia Island ConcoursBrock Yates, the trivia, blasphemy, and other unprintable news man reports about being fired in his January 30, 2008  article at www.thetruthaboutcars.com where Editor Csabe Csere of Car and Driver magazine “let him go”.

Automotive Tribune Editor (L) and Brock Yates (R) photo taken at the Amelia Island Concours in 2003.

Right now Brock seems to be in a position of re-assessment of options regarding which forum or podium he wants to ascend / tackle / affiliate because of the public’s shift from print to internet.

Brock is absolutely one of the preimminent automotive journalists in the world.  I enjoyed his humor in Car & Driver starting in the late 1960’s.  Brock is opinionated in a manner that probably turns many people off but his writing is always tied to freedom / USA / individual success / upbeat-at-heart even in tough times. … Continue Reading

Daytona Speedweeks — Living Legends

On the sand at Daytona Beach

On the sand at Daytona Beach

On the wide expanse of sand at low tide in 1903 Ransom E. Olds [think Oldsmobile & REO cars & trucks] is credited with the first timed run at Daytona Beach, Florida.  Just to the north of Daytona Beach is Ormond Beach, proclaimed by the city as the Birthplace of Speed because racing started there in 1902.  On a roll, Ormond Beach had their first race where Alexander Winton’s Winton Bullett powered by a 492 cubic-inch 57 horsepower engine beat the Olds Pirate, a stripped down and light weight version of the Curved Dash Olds, for the Challenge Cup by .2 second.

Beach racing had started, the press was there to cover the action, and the public followed these activities.  Nascar ultimately came out the beach races and the famous Daytona International Speedway.  Historic racing fans have a special love and respect for beach racing. … Continue Reading

Kings For Another Era

Little brother to the ZR1, the 2009 Z06 Corvette has 550 HP

Little brother to the ZR1, the 2009 Z06 Corvette has 550 HP

2009 CTS-V

2009 CTS-V

CTS-V and ZR1

arguably represent the finest passenger car and Corvette built by GM.  These monster performance vehicles are at the zenith of advertized horsepower with 556 and 638 as explained on their respective pages at the GM web site.

Both vehicles have accolades from the world wide automotive press.  This is absolutely impressive, because now the press really does provide positive commentary about GM vehicles.  The CTS-V can feel right at home in the company of BMW M products and Mercedes AMG while the ZR1 Corvette can out perform almost every car ever produced.

Dinosaurs once romed the earth and in today’s environmentally conscious society and GM’s negotiation with Washington for capital CTS-V and ZR1 vehicles will end the run for ultra high power internal combustion engine GM vehicles.  This is a terrible consequence for performance car fans, who would love to have one of these vehicles and GM, who needs positive press for providing a fantastic car at a reasonable price for cars in that perforance category.  Admittedly, prices that start at $60K and $106K are not cheap but then that is the price required to get into this exclusive performance group. … Continue Reading

Sales Improve

Car Sales Bottom Out and Rebound

Car sales analysts are paid a lot of money to get the numbers right.  Massive investments ride on predictions of economists and mathematicians.  Production decisions must be made months in advance so that suppliers can have the parts and components ready at the assembly line. … Continue Reading

Ford Vision

February 27, 2009 Auto Manufacturer No Comments

Ford is the Premiere North Americford-logoan Automaker

To say these words almost sounds like shock for many who have followed American and World automotive car business.  However, the simple fact that both GM and Chrysler are at the financial edge and recognize cash flow failure and bankruptcy are real possibilities absolutely moves both companies to a file folder with the title of “Reorganize Business Model”.

Automotive history texts will likely say that Ford Motor Company recognized that its Business Model did not work for the 21st Centry in 2004 and that if effective change was not implemented then Ford was going to fail.  Harsh reality for a company incorporated in 1903 but absolutely true based on money in and money out. … Continue Reading