I’ve been a fan of the Chevrolet Corvette since the time I collected auto magazines and when I got hooked on Gran Turismo PS games. The Corvette model is absolutely the all-American super car and the world’s most renowned vehicle over the last 5 decades. One of the best Corvettes ever created is the ’69 Stingray.

The 1969 Stingray is perhaps the most pleasing of all the C3 models with the hottest engine and radiator. There were lots of useful developments compared to the ‘68 model.  Some changes were aesthetic, but nearly all would be measured as the "bug" attachments and feature enrichments.

Check out the specs courtesy of MidLifeClassics.com:

SPECIFICATIONS

• MANUFACTURER: Chevrolet
• MODEL YEAR: 1969
• MODEL NAME: Corvette Stingray
• MILEAGE: 110,032 (8/24/03)
• REG EXPIRES: 11/03

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION:

• Model: 350 V8
• Type: V8, OHV, Hydraulic Lifter
• Horsepower: 300
• Carburetor: Rochestor Quadrajet
• Overhauled/Rebuilt:
• Pistons: Hypereutectic .040" Overbore
• Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
• Transmission: 3-Speed Turbo 350 Automatic

CHASSIS:

• Manufacture Date: November 29, 1969
• Paint Color: Monaco Orange
• Condition: Excellent
• Front Suspension: Independent A-Arms, Coil Springs
• Rear Suspension: Independent Trailing Link, Transverse Spring
• Wheels: 15" x 8" Rallys
• Tires: BF Goodrich Radial T/A - 225/70R15

INTERIOR:

• Color: Black
• Material: Vinyl

Features:

• Center Console
• Fiberoptic Indicators of Exterior Lighting
• Door Ajar Warning Indicator
• Seat Belt Reminder
• Headlights In-Transit Warning Indicator
• Full Instrumentation
• 160 MPH Speedometer
• Tachometer
• Oil Pressure
• Coolant Temperature
• Ammeter
• Fuel Level
• Clock

STANDARD FEATURES:

• Pop-Up Hidden Headlights
• Hidden Windshield Wipers with Vacuum Operated Door
• 4-Wheel Independent Suspension
• Power Assisted 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Teak Stearing Wheel

OPTIONAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT:

• "Astro Vent" Air Conditioning
• Removable T-Top
• Pop-Out Rear Window
• Alarm System
• Power Windows
• Power Steering
• 15"x8" Rally Wheels
• Shoulder Harnesses
• Chrome/Black "Gill" Trim
• Head Rests
• Tilt and Telescoping Steering Wheel

I didn’t know that there’s an existing site entitled 1967GTO.com until I searched for the 1967 Pontiac GTO online. This website is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of the 1967 Pontiac GTO as written in the homepage. It was so cool because everything I wanted to know about the car was all there! Isn’t it cool? It’s learning the simple way - spoon feeding to be exact. Anyway, here’s a piece of history bits from the site, courtesy of www.1969gto.com:

By the middle of the 1966 model year, James Roche, the chairman of General Motors, had already been doing a slow burn about Pontiac’s GeeTO Tiger and Wide Track Tigers advertising campaign. He simply didn’t like it, and every magazine ad he read and every TV spot he watched just added to his anger.

Unaware of Roche’s displeasure with the Tiger, the people at Pontiac were delighted with the success of the campaign. "We had taken the Tiger theme, which came right out of the GTO, and spread it over the whole line," [Jim] Wangers recounted. "All of the Pontiacs were promoted around the Tiger image. That was when we really reached our maturity in terms of recognizing the value of the GTO as an entire image builder for the division."

Unfortunately, that argument failed to cut any wood with Roche: he ordered the Tiger be returned to its cage. Pontiac needed to find a new theme for 1967.

 

Honda Accord in the UK is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! For this year’s celebration, it will highlight the 15,800,000 units manufactured and sold by the group worldwide for the past 40 years that made the large sedan a big hit across the planet.  

According to my source, the first-ever Accord built went on sale in the UK in 1977 after being launched in the US and Japan first.

“We have a growing customer base and the popularity of Accord has helped to drive this,” said Harvey Hughes, the Manager for Corporate Operations at Honda (UK). “The new Sport GT we launched in September embodies all that the Accord stands for – high spec and great value for money.”

Check out Honda Accord’s timeline provided by my number one source, The Auto Channel:

1976 First generation Accord launched in Japan and US

• Car of the Year (Motor Fan Magazine)

1977 Accord launched in the UK

1981 Second generation Accord launched

• Japanese Car of the Year, 1982. Accord became the best selling Japanese car by name in the US (a record maintained for 15 years)

1985 Third generation Accord launched

• First 4-wheel double wishbone suspension in the FF Class, 3-channel digitally controlled anti-lock brakes and retractable headlights. Japanese Car of the Year, 1985 and 1986

1989 Honda launches a completely re-designed fourth generation Accord with driver airbag system

1991 Honda of the UK Manufacturing starts production of the European Accord. This continues until 2002

1993 Fifth generation Accord launched incorporating world-class safety standards, low emissions and environmental considerations, and driving enjoyment.

1997 Sixth generation Accord was launched with the first ever Irregular Driving Detection function on-board

2003 Seventh generation Accord launched

• Best Estate Car two years running (Auto Express New Car Honours 2004 and 2006). Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) launched in 2006. New models Sport GT and SE launched in September 2007.

Land Rover has reigned over its segment for so many years now and they are still continuing with their counting. The brand is so famous everyone considers and respects Land Rover as an iconic legend that has captured a lot of hearts since the group started manufacturing vehicles in the 1860s. Land Rover’s components like its bumper brackets has proven its toughness and stability with consistency over numerous decades since the 80s.

I guess it’s about time we take a simple crash course in Land Rover History 101! I have gathered some info about Land Rover’s timeline courtesy of my great source, WinWaed.com. Check this out: 

1990 - 90" and 110" vehicles rebranded as ‘Defender’.
In parallel to the launch of the Discovery, the 90" and 110" Land Rovers are rebranded under the ‘Defender’ name to reflect their use be defence forces. Rebranding is accompanied with a new 200TDi diesel engine option, with the 300TDi option following in 1993.

1994 - British Aerospace sell the Rover Group to BMW.

1994 - New Shape P38 Range Rover introduced.
The Range Rover is completely re-modelled. The modern P38 Range Rover is aimed more at the on-road luxury SUV market, but is still a good off-road performer - unlike the bulk the competition.

1996 - Classic Range Rover ceases production.
Production of the ‘Classic’ Range Rover continued in parallel to the P38, but finally cease in 1996.

1997 - Freelander introduced.
The much rumoured CB40 project is revealed to the press as the Freelander. Designed to compete against small 4x4s such as the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4, the Freelander departed from standard Land Rover design technologies, with a monocoque body and independent strut suspension. The Freelander quickly becomes Europe’s best selling 4x4.

1998 - Discovery Series 2 launched.
Remodelled Discovery Series 2, codename ‘Tempest’ is launched.

2000 - BMW sell Land Rover to Ford.
BMW splits the Rover Group into two, selling Land Rover to Ford. The car division is sold to the British Phoenix management group.

2002 - Range Rover Mk III launched.
The second major redesign of the Range Rover, is launched.

2004 - Discovery 3 launched.
Discovery 3 is launched with a significant re-styling.

It is an intermediate sized automobile sold in Japan and other countries. It is a four door car as it was first produced but later on, a wagon version was built because of the outstanding demand. More of its version comes handling automatic transmissions.

The original production car does not handle BMW 740 parts and accessories but it was made specifically for the Japanese car market. The top model also is worn by a R32 Nissan Skyline - a 2 litre turbo charged 6 cylinder engines. The sedan car can run on 20 horsepower produced by its 2 litre turbo charged 6 cylinder engine. Soon, several versions were made and some of which come handling the Nissan RB engine. The last Cefiro made was slightly more expensive than the equivalent Nissan Skyline.

These are the important details of the Cefiro made for the US car market:

Engine Specs:

• Engine model: RB20E, RB20DE, RB25DE, RB20DET
• Max.power: 205 PS (151 kW) / 6400 rpm RB20DET
• Max.power: 190 PS (138 kW) / 6400 rpm RB25DE
• Max.power: 155 PS (114 kW) / 6400 rpm RB20DE
• Max.power: 125 PS (91.94 kW) / 5600 rpm RB20E
• Turbo Information: Ceramic
• Fuel system: NISSAN EGI (ECCS) (electronic gasoline injection) electrically controlled gasoline injection
• Turbocharger: Intercooled turbo
• Fuel type: Unleaded premium gasoline

Exterior specifications:

• Exterior dimensions (LxWxH): 4690 x 1695 x 1375 mm
• Interior dimensions (LxWxH): 1910 x 1425 x 1140 mm
• Wheel base: 2670 mm
• Ground clearance: 150 mm
• Curb vehicle weight: 1350 kg (auto turbo) 1330 kg (manual turbo) 1260 kg (manual RB20E) 1280 kg (auto RB20E) 1300 kg (RB20DE manual) 1320 kg (RB20DE auto), 1400kg (auto turbo 4wd)
• Seating capacity: 5
• Doors number: 4
• Min. turning radius: 5 m
• Fuel tank capacity: 65 L

Suspension specifications:

• Power steering: Yes
• Suspension system: front Independent suspension strut type
• Suspension system: rear Independent suspension multiple link type

In Australia, the Nissan Frontier is recognized as the Navara. The Nissan truck model is one among the most famous pickup truck models of the Japanese car maker. The very first Nissan Frontier was revealed to the car market back in 1959, but it was joined by Toyota in 1960. But ever since it was revealed in the car market of pickup trucks, it was regarded as the very first compact pickup truck. And this includes the first extended cab body style (in the 1976 Nissan King Cab) which is also the very first crew cab in the US car market particularly in North America. In 2000, Frontiers were built in Smyrna, Tennessee, like its immediate predecessor, the Nissan Hardbody Truck.

The Navara name was revealed in 1997 for the 1998 model year as a replacement for the aging 1986.5–1997 Nissan Hardbody Truck. Wikipedia.org informs us of this. The truck handles the 4-cylinder engine, the KA24DE, but added the 6-cylinder engine, the VG33E, in 1999.

But everything changed when the 2000 Frontier Crew Cab was released. The first compact truck has a four door body style made for North America. The truck was the heavy duty version of the crew cabs which are used by most of the US’ crew drivers. In later years, the truck reached Asia and Europe as a four-door compact pickup. It was mainly used as commercial vehicle.

The Nissan Frontier received a facelift in 2001 and it has become more appealing to customers especially to young buyers.

 

Reinventing that vintage car in your garage may not be that easy. But it’s pretty much rewarding. Aside from self-gratification, rust-free vintage cars are worth your time, money and effort.

So far, your greatest enemy is rust. Jim Taylor, a metal fabricator at the Roadster Shop in Elgin, Ill. has this to say: “The cliché ‘rust never sleeps’ is so true,” he said. “Removing corroded panels to weld in new ones is like assembling a puzzle. And when you’re done, holding rust at bay is almost impossible.”

Good thing there are companies to take care of the problem…

One of the trusted companies in recreating vintage cars is Dynacorn Classic Bodies of Oxnard, Calif. The company has experimented on the first-gen Camaro coupes and convertibles that Chevrolet built from 1967 through 1969. Using steel sheets from Japan and labor and manufacturing in Taiwan, the company sells its complete bodies for $13,995.

The company started offering classic auto parts and panels a couple of decades ago. Strong sales of Camaro replicas motivated Dynacorn to proceed with bodies for 1967-68 Ford Mustang fastbacks and 1947-50 Chevy pickups; bodies for later generations of Chevy pickups and Mustangs are in the planning stages.

Larry Brogdin, national sales manager of Dynacorn, said that under the company’s licensing agreement with Ford and General Motors, the company used modern welding techniques. He added the fit of the body panels had been improved to the present standards.

Another reliable company is the Experi-Metal of Sterling Heights, Mich., has revived the 1957 Chevy. This company’s principal business is stamping the panels for Detroit’s prototypes so the low-volume die-making equipment, measuring tools and assembly fixtures are in ready supply here. Also, Experi-Metal has supplied repair panels to restorers for 2 decades now.

“We eventually realized that we were lacking only four or five parts to build a complete ’57 Chevy convertible body. So we closed the loop as an experiment to gauge demand for such a product,” said Mark Modine, the company’s manager of aftermarket sales.

To offer superb rust resistance, the company builds its hoods, doors and decklids of galvanized steel. To note, the company has delivered 15 of the ’57 Chevy convertible bodies to its retailers, who sell them for $34,500 each.

True, it’s hard to find Oldsmobile Toronado parts as well classic auto accessories. But not if you know where to find them. Thus, it is an advantage for collectors and aficionados alike to travel around.

Next stop – the Shadow Rods and Dearborn Deuce. The company’s reproduction bodies are made in America. A number of other companies use panels stamped in Taiwan. But the Kirkham Motorsports 289 and 427 Roadsters, replicas of Cobra sports cars made by Carroll Shelby in partnership with AC Cars of England, took a different path.

Now, you can enjoy all-new vintage cars thanks to the cutting-edge technology.

[credit: NYTimes]

We grew up considering the Mustang as the most powerful muscle car and most loved pony car in the world - and that maybe is a fact. We’re not worthy, I know! However, if we try to go back in time, specifically in the 70s, there’s another great vehicle that embodies the real significance of a muscle car. And that is the 1970 Pontiac Firebird…

The 1970 Pontiac Trans Am’s standard engine acquired the 345-horsepower Ram Air 400-cid V-8 and it provided low-14-second elapsed times at the drag strip. Every Firebird owner was satisfied because of the performance brought by this exceptional vehicle. The Firebird Trans Am exhibited a brand new face in the muscle car department, bringing up the statement that it is a hot property like the Mustang… definitely as hot as a smoking radiator.

Because of so much impressive qualities, critics bent down on their knees. "Overall handling feel - for a production car - was as near to a front engine race car as we have ever driven." And Car and Driver called the 1970 Pontiac Trans Am "a hard muscled, lightning-flexed commando of a car, the likes of which doesn’t exist anywhere in the world, even for twice the price,” says Sport Car Graphic.

The 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Specifications:

• Wheelbase, inches: 108.0
• Weight, lbs: 3,800
• Number built: 3198
• Base price: $4,305

Top Available Engine

• Type: ohv V-8
• Displacement, cid: 400
• Fuel system: 1 x 4 bbl.
• Compression ratio: 10.5:1
• Horsepower @ rpm: 370 @ 5500
• Torque @ rpm: 445 @ 3900

Representative Performance

• 0-60 mph, sec: 5.6
• 1/4 mile, sec @ mph: 13.9 @ 102

 

This is one among the hottest compact crossover SUVs from Hyundai and it was released in 2005. The SUV shares its platform with the Elantra as well as the redesigned 2005 Kia Sportage. Tucson is also found below Santa Fe which actually has similar physical features - the difference is only that Tucson is a little smaller than the Santa Fe. Tucson has been very famous because of its balance between comfort, space and price. The world recognizes the existence of Tucson.

Under the hood lies a “2.0 L I4 with a five-speed, front-drive manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic transmission with ’sport shift’ manual shifting capability or a 2.7 L V6 available with the automatic only. Four wheel drive is optional with a Borg-Warner torque controller system. In some markets, the Tucson is also available with a 2.0 L diesel engine equipped with common rail technology”, Wikipedia.com says.

It does not have the Acura distributor cap but the safety equipments like standard airbags, curtain bags and anti-lock brake system will never make the Tucson an outdated car. The SUV is usually found in Asian countries like Korea, Philippines and Japan.