Geo Metro Stretched Limo

While out on patrol the other day, a car caught my attention out the corner of my eye. I got a good enough glimpse of it that I knew what it was, and had to turn the scout around to not only get a closer look, but snap a few quick pictures with my phone. What stood before me was a Geo Metro, stretched out into a limo. I was cracking up, yet could appreciate the amount of work somebody put into creating such a monstrosity. I've seen some pretty good hack jobs in my day, and this one probably ranks closer to the middle of the road. As I drove off, taking one last look at the flame job, I was still left scratching my head, why? What would possess somebody to build a Geo Limo?

THIS IS THE MOTOR CITY, THIS IS WHAT WE DO!!!

I'll have to try and get my phone out more often along my day's adventures. While this little gem takes the cake in regards of ANYTHING I've stumbled upon in my life, there are plenty of worthy project cars out there sitting in backyards and alleys, waiting to be saved, or at least stories to be told.

2011 Hot Rod Power Tour

The stops have been announced for the 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour. I'm glad to see that the final stop will be in Metro Detroit, with the long haul awards held in downtown Detroit at Cobo Hall.

As luck would have it, it appears Detroit will also be a part of the 2012 Power Tour, as Cobo Hall has also been reserved for a Hot Rod event. I have heard that next year Detroit may actually be the starting point. ,While I didn't exactly build my Camaro for "long haulin'," it will at least be at the final stop of the tour. As for the 2011 Tour stops, see below.


2011 HOT ROD Power Tour Dates & Cities

Saturday June 4, Cocoa Beach, FL Port Canaveral

Sunday June 5, Valdosta, GA South Georgia Motorsports Park

Monday June 6, Montgomery, AL Montgomery Motorsports Park

Tuesday June 7, Nashville, TN LP Field

Wednesday June 8, Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Thursday June 9, Muskegon, MI Downtown Muskegon

Friday June 10, Detroit, MI Metro Beach Metropark

Saturday June 11, Detroit, MI Long Haulers Ceremony (Location TBD)

Get all the Power Tour updates by texting "HRPT" to "59925."

2011 Hot Rod Power Tour

2011 Detroit Autorama Pictures

This year, I think I truly got an overdose of the Detroit Autorama. On any given year, I'll attend the show twice. Once, simply to take 300 or so photos of each and every car I think is cool, or more often, until I run out of space on my memory card. My second visit is simply to walk the show, usually leave the camera at home, and to socialize with the builders/owners of these wicked-awesome rides.

Upon returning from family leave, I was informed by my Sgt that I was submitted to work the Autorama. Directing traffic and roaming the floor would be my primary duties. First, I was excited, then, concerned whether or not I'd be able to enjoy the show. I figured I'd at least give it a shot. In addition to working the 3 days, I hit the show Saturday morning for my walk through and photo session. In the future, I think I'll stick to simply attending the show on my own time, as walking around for 8 hrs with a 30 lb duty belt and uniform to keep you warm outside, though cooks you while indoors, took away from the enjoyment. As has been the case in previous years, the show was top notch, so without further delay, I'll get to the cars.

I'm going to start off with a car that was built by Rod Calvin, a friend of mine, as well as the guy who painted my Camaro. This car was built for a customer, and is in my opinion, Rod's finest car to date. It seems I wasn't the only one to take notice of that fact, as the owner, Ron, took home 2nd place in the Pre-1935 Altered Sedan class. The pictures can't even begin to show how spectacular the paint is. The color is a candy, which started with black pearl, then had red layered over the top. The body is a fiberglass Outlaw body, which among streetrodders, is considered perhaps they best glass body on the market.

The Legendary Boss 429 Mustang, 1 of 2 that were at the show.

While I usually don't much care for the cars up for the Riddler award, as they are often too over the top in terms of cost as well as build mentality (come on, chrome brake rotors? Really?). This particular one was nicely done, perfect in most every way.


You don't see a lot of Buick GS's on the road, let alone convertibles. This one was a perfect example, and a nice alternative to the many 1970 Chevelles out there.

An early 1960's Mopar, just what the wife wants.



A very nice Firebird!


Now THIS is one cool SUV.



I've always been a fan of the Mustang LX. Labeled "Modern Muscle," in my book, I suppose that applies to anything post-1980, though a few cars such as the 81 Camaro/Firebird may slip past me and still receive the "Muscle Car" label.


A fair amount of AMC products in the house this year. This was by far the most over the top of them all. The owner claimed low 9 seconds on the AMC 401 alcohol injected engine. I got to hear it fire up as it left the show, all I can say is: Goosebumps.



Ok, I'll admit, this little 6 cylinder with a blower on top poking through the hood of a Toyota Forerunner, which was ruined in most every way imaginable, is still intimidating to say the least.


Large amount of new Camaros at the show, and a lot of vendors showing off their modified models, with many in the 750 hp range.


Beautiful blue 69 Camaro with some serious power between the fenders.



Nice flame job.

Chrysler Imperial...shrunk.

One of the nicest Plymouth Dusters I've ever seen.

Not often that you see a customized Jag, but this one was sweet as hell.

Totally customized 3rd Gen Camaro, modified by Rides by Troy (Troy Trepanier) For more on this car, check it out at Rad Rides: F87 Camaro

There is no arguing, a blown car is badass!

Pontiac Lives!!!

Built by Gordon Rojewski, this is one of the nicest 3rd gen Firebirds I've seen. Under the hood is a turbo charged small block Chevy making 920 hp. Look for an upcoming entry that reviews this ride in greater detail.

This was a Shelby made a few years ago by the man himself, Carroll Shelby. Though I think production numbers never reached original expectations, this is still an awesome looking car.

Total class with this baby.

Front Engine Dragster....one of my "Bucket List" cars.

For more pictures from Autorama, click below.

2011 Detroit Autorama Pictures

The Soul of an Automobile

For as long as I can remember, I've felt that cars have had a soul. While not in the same sense as humans, I have always tied a personality to an automobile, regardless of make, model, or condition. When I lost my first car to a collision with another car, I lost a part of me. While the insurance company classified it as totaled, today, I would have saved her, out of guilt. I often wonder where the car ended up, whether it still sits in a salvage yard, got rebuilt with a salvaged title, or has long since been crushed.

I view cars with the same philosophy of "if these walls could talk," except instead of walls, I guess you could replace the saying with "if these wheels could talk." The different owners, the different families, the mechanics and shop technicians that have kept the car going over the years, all add history to the car. Each vehicle has their own assignment, be it transporting a kids baseball team, or putting a smile on the owner's face carving corners and pulling some g's racing to the finish line.

Dings, dents, and rust all add charactor to the car, though can just as easily lead to the car's demise. Yesterday, I took my car for it's first wash in months. The winter has not been kind to the body, and the rust is beginning to spread along the door bottoms at an alarming rate. This is where the car's emotions come into play.

Back in college, up at CMU, there was an old car junkyard on Winn Rd. It was the coolest salvage yard I ever stepped foot on, as the cars dated from as far back as the 1930's to the early 70's. As cool as it was, it also felt like a mass funeral, a burial ground, where cars were laid to rest. Here were cars dating back generations, from companies long since out of business. Thousands of voices, whispering with the wind "please, save me."

My down fall is probably the fact that I'd love to save them all, and if not for lack of storage and funds, I'd be rescuing cars until I ran out of both. While I don't share the same love for all cars, there are plenty I come across in my daily ventures, cars sitting undrivable, slowing decaying. I have a good 1/2 dozen cars I'd love to rescue right now if I could, though I'll be lucky to be able to save any of them. Two in particular that come to mind are beyond saving, a couple of mid 60's Mustangs. Left for dead in a Detroit alley. I was fortunate enough to come across the owner one day. The cars were his dad's, and the son still has visions of restoring the cars. Perhaps he lacks to automotive knowledge to bring him to accept, these cars are far beyond saving. Such a shame too, as one is a convertible.

Perhaps this connection to cars is why I recently started seriously considering a new car, perhaps a new Camaro, but maybe a Challenger or Mustang, in the next year or so. I want an untainted car, built to my liking, never used/abused by anybody but me. A car in which I can account for each and every imperfection picked up along the highway of life over the years. I have often said that I could never see justifying buying a new car, as I could easily get a year or two old car in like new condition, while saving several thousand dollars. Now, seeing that my yearly commutes are averaging a little over 2,000 miles, I can see the advantage of having a brand new car. With the proper care and maintenance, years down the road, I can have one of those low mileage gems that you see for sale from time to time. I wanna have that new car bond, take her to the track, and let the car smile ear to ear, and share that car years down the road with my kids, and perhaps even my grandkids, and pass that bond on like a family heirloom. :)

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevy has announced that the new, top of the line, high performance Camaro will be labeled the Camaro ZL1, producing around 550 hp/550 ft/lbs of torque. Produced in 1969, with only 69 being built, the original ZL1 was an all aluminum 427 cubic inch dragstrip terror. The new ZL1 should live up to those standards.

Some may question as to why the new Camaro is not labeled the Z28. I personally find ZL1 much more appropriate. The Z28 was a road course warrior, with it's high revving 302 small block. The Z28 however was NOT the king of the hill in regards to all out performance. That title was held the the big block powered SS Camaros, COPO Camaros, and at the summit, the ZL1.

Good call by GM, as this still leaves the window of opportunity open for a Z28 to be built. In my opinion, the new Z28 should be more true to it's original roots. Build a high revving 5.3 or smaller engine, lighten up the car buy a few hundred pounds, like the Z06 Vette, and tighten up the suspension for better cornering. You can retain power windows/locks, but lose all the navigation crap, 10 way power seats, and any other heavy options that a dedicated performer does not require. I'm not saying a totally stripped down car lacking A/C and has a radio delete option, but there are many things I could do without. THAT would be more true to the Z28 heritage, and fill a muscle car segment that the industry continues to ignore.

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

GM unveils 2012 ZL1 Camaro

Miss Evelyn driving the new Chevy Camaro

Miss Evelyn tearing it up in a new Camaro...always entertaining!

We are certainly no one's Emerald City

Watching yesterday's Super Bowl, I was very skeptical when I had heard prior that Eminem was going to be pushing the new Chrysler 200, the Sebring replacement. In my mind, I couldn't envision how such a ploy could be anything but a disaster. Once the commercial aired, it stopped me in my tracks. I quieted my guests, hit rewind on the dvr, and watched in utter amazement. Never before has a commercial captured the essence of Detroit, told our story in under 2 minutes, and underneath all of that, successfully advertised a new car looking to help rejuvinate a company. This commercial was a slam dunk, among the best ever made. Not just because I have perhaps a biased view living in Detroit, as this blue collar-hardened steel-American Made concept stretches far beyond the reaches of Detroit. It speaks volumes, that WE CAN still make things here, WE CAN set the standard.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Station Wagons have always been cool in my book. From the California surfer models of the 1950's, and through even the lackluster 1970's and 1980's, where neither power or style were strong points, I still found wagons always appealing to some degree. Even the Griswold family truckster, which took gawdiness to a whole new level, had an appeal. Even though it was a behemoth of a car, it screamed "I own the road, outta my way, me and the family are coming through."

Perhaps the most recent/best re-invention of the wagon proved to be short lived. The Dodge Magnum was without a doubt the coolest interpretation in decades. Dodges efforts proved to be short lived, as lackluster sales made for a short life cycle. Built from 2005-2008, the Magnum was one badass ride. The exterior was in my opinion perfect. The car had the look, the stance, and all the right stuff. Under the hood, you could get all the way up to the 425 hp SRT-8 model. Also availailable in the SXT and R/T model was an all wheel drive option, making this wagon a tank that could plow through even the harshest conditions. The one major complaint I had was the visibly cheap interior, especially the cloth interior. Even with the bland interior, the Magnum is a car that I could undoubtedly slide behind the wheel of and call my own.

Onto the main course, the new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Station Wagon picked up where the Magnum left off, and then turned things up a few notches. The V option is what makes this car so iconic, as they transfused the blood of a ZR1 Corvette into the wagons veins, bumping the car up to 556 hp, and enough grunt to embarrass most every "sports car" on the road. Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers, enjoy the Cadillac's tail lights, as that's about as close as you'll get. Only real downside is the price, at $62,000, it's at a luxury level that most of us can't afford.

0-60 in 4.3 seconds
1/4 mile in 12.6 seconds
top speed of about 190 mph

With numbers like those, I don't think anybody can argue that wagons aren't cool, and they are WAAAAAY cooler than a "Man Van."

2011 Cadillac V Wagon a dragster in disguise

2011 CTS-V Sport Wagon - Car and Driver review

2011 Detroit Autorama February 25-27

Just a reminder that the 2011 Detroit Autorama is just a few weeks away. Always a great show, and arguably WAY more interesting than the North American International Auto Show, I'm as anxious as ever. For the first time in 10 years, I'll be attending the show while having a running/driving classic car of my own stored away for the winter. In fact, I don't believe I had ever attended the Detroit Autorama while my Camaro was still running, only Toledo, Ohio's scaled down version, as I was yet to move to the Detroit region.

This year will be different, as the cars I see, and the ideas I take away, I can actually apply them to my own car. I always enjoyed the Autorama, but it's simply not the same when your ride is not running and in a million pieces. 2011 will be a great year, as right out of the gates, my Camaro is ready to go.

I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures and offer plenty of input regarding the show, as I'll be attending all three days (working) and one day before work, to take all my pictures. I've never attended all three days, so this will be a first for me. Stay tuned.

2011 Detroit Autorama

2010 North American International Auto Show Coverage

I probably picked the best day possible to attend this year's show. First, being the day after MLK day, I avoided a good portion of the auto workers. Secondly, a forecast of snow/ice/winter advisory conditions likely kept a great number away, at least till later in the day. Lastly, I got there minutes after the doors were opened. The show was very desolate at this time of the day, and taking pictures, sitting in cars, and and seeing all there is to see was a breeze!

First impression? This year's show was proof that things have turned the corner for the industry, as the smell of death no longer lingered in the air. That said, there really wasn't much ground breaking product, but there was a lot of nice cars displayed ready to be bought.

Perhaps my favorite of the show, even with 2 too many doors, was the newly revised Dodge Charger. While a 4 door family car, it has 100% muscle car flowing through the veins. The new retro body lines combined with the sweet-as-I've seen tail lights for a modern car give it the best of show award in my opinion. So, without further delay, here are the cars that caught my eye.





Rice 2.0? The small 2-4 seat sub-compact cars leave me scratching my head. Is there really much of a market for them? Perhaps a fresh college grad would be interested, but once the family starts to grow, they become a very impractical car. Yet with the fuel efficient/hybrid push, we keep seeing more and more of these super small/high mileage cars coming to production.



The return of the Boss 302. While I'm a Chevy fan at heart, I could just as easily slide behind a blue oval or Ma Mopar pony car without giving it a second thought. While I can't say I'm real big fan of the gawdy color scheme they displayed at the show, the overall package is long over due.



Another amazing product on display was this American made super car, the Falcon. Start saving your pennies though, it'll set you back nearly $200K. One final note, this car is designed and will be built in Michigan.



Falcon

The Camaro convertible is arguably better looking than the hard top. The lines just flow oh so nicely. Can't wait to see these cars hit the roads with their tops off.



Cadillac was once THE car in which all others strived to be in regards to luxury. Today, Cadillac has taken back that crown, and is arguably amongst the best lurury cars money can buy. I sat in one of the Cadillacs on display, and I have to admit, the interiors are without a doubt the most comfortable and best looking that I have ever seen.



Ok, ok, I'll post an import car pictures. While not usually my cup of tea, there is no denying that this Lexus super car has all the right things.



The new Scion, super sub-compact car. At what point does a car qualify as a go-cart?



The new Chrysler 300 looks to build upon the success the current 300 had. I think it'll be a very successful car, as it still retains what made the 300 a smash hit, while refining that styling enough to make it feel new.



A stretched Mini.


Lastly, I would just like to say, try as they may, Mini Vans are not, and will not, EVER be cool. They put an attractive model in front of one, stuff a decked out road bike in the back, and another maker filled the back with a full drum set. Newsflash, ya can't polish a turd. Man van will never catch on, and being caught behind the wheel of one of these 4 wheeled boxes is nothing to be proud of. Are they practical? Sure. Are they necessary? Sometimes. But market them as practical family transportation, as your level of coolness you are trying to achieve will never happen.








For more pictures, check them out below. Stay tuned for my upcoming show coverage from the 2011 Detroit Autorama, which yours truly will be both attending and working at 3 days straight.

2011 North American International Auto Show