The Car Thread

[7rob7]

... gardening supplies, paint and the like...

But that's what trunks and back seats are for.

Or station wagons, if you're serious about it.

Sorry: these little shortbed trucks I see always make me shake my head over the folks who ignore the "form follows function" axiom.

No biggie: I have the same reaction to creamy peanut butter, football bats, and tits on a boar.

[JeffDeWitt]

Rob, keep in mind that a lot of people buy trucks as tow vehicles, they don't need the bed, plus it's a LOT easier to clean up spilled paint, much, and pine straw leavings from a truck bed then a trunk.

I've carried many bails of pine straw in my Jeep (which is basically a small station wagon), and my truck. It's a PAIN getting all that leftover pine straw out of the Jeep, with the truck it's about two min. with a hose.

[7rob7]

Sure.

I'm just saying it makes no sense to ME. When I decide to invest in a tool, it needs to do what I need it to do, and in the case of a truck, it needs to carry lumber as often as it needs to carry/tow anything else.

YMMV.

[JeffDeWitt]

Sure.

I'm just saying it makes no sense to ME. When I decide to invest in a tool, it needs to do what I need it to do, and in the case of a truck, it needs to carry lumber as often as it needs to carry/tow anything else.

YMMV.

Of course it doesn't Rob, just as a ball peen hammer doesn't make any sense to a guy that regularly uses a sledge hammer. You need the right tool for the job.

That's one of the fun things about working on Studebakers, sometimes the right tool for the job is a bigger hammer. <G>

[7rob7]

And sometimes it's not a hammer at all...

[JeffDeWitt]

And sometimes it's not a hammer at all...

You've never worked on a Studebaker!

[7rob7]

You got me there.

[JeffDeWitt]

Some are saying this might be the best Ford ad ever, it might just be the best car ad ever.

[Catus Magnus]

very cool. That's a '69 Fastback, I think.

The orig Mustang just got heavier and heavier... after 1970, waaay to big. I've owned a 1966, a 1967, and an '88 LX 5.0 - and I think the current Mustang is the bombdiggity. Even the steering wheel looks right.

[JROBERT1]

Wow...I wish I could buy my son one.

He leaves Dec 14.


Maybe I can.

My daughter actually bought her a 2005 Mustang with her sign up bonus.

It is cool.

[Catus Magnus]

found this one:

[Dr. Rude McNasty]

Jeff being the resident Studebaker affectionado/expert, this question is asked of you.
Looking at a 1964 Studebaker GT Hawk, 61,000 miles, real nice shape, do you think it's worth the asking price of $6,500.00?
And, how hard are parts to find for this beauty?
Thanks,
Bill

[JeffDeWitt]

Yes absolutely. 64 was the last year for the Hawk, the Avanti and the trucks, all production was moved to Canada for 64 and 65.

For the shortened 64 model year Studebaker made a lot of refinements in the Hawk, a lot of people consider the 64 among the most desirable Hawks. They are fast, comfortable, beautiful and elegant.

Don't just take my word for it...

http://www.hagerty.com/lifestyle/hobby_ ... x?id=32950

Some trim parts are somewhat hard to get, but many have been reproduced, and the mechanical parts are standard Studebaker and easy to find.



As with any Studebaker (or any old car for that matter) watch for rust... it's far easier to do something like rebuild an engine than to repair extensive rust.

[JeffDeWitt]

This one ought to make Rob happy!

Along with the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, Ford has formally announced the Transit Connect will indeed be the battery electric van announced in December. Many an interesting detail ahead.

The Transit Connect represents a new entry into a vacant commercial market in the US, and as such Ford is planning on entering with both barrels blazing. Aside from the standard gas engine Transit Connect, Ford is planning to introduce two varieties of all-electric Transit available in the second half of 2010. Since most commercial market buyers know the daily range of their vehicles they'll be able to buy for their targeted range, the entry level version will come with a 60 mile lithium ion battery and the buyer can opt for a 100 mile if their application calls for it. The commercial entry for EV makes a lot of sense when you consider the vehicles will be under the most severe duty cycles as well as closely monitored by fleet operators, it makes collecting field data an engineers dream.

As noteworthy as the actual van is, the production method merits a mention as well. The rolling chassis and interior will be assembled right next to the regular Transit Connect, but at the point where the powertrain is set for installation, the BEV Transit Connect will get nothing. The unfinished vehicle then gets shipped to its destination port, where it will be delivered to longtime EV outfitter Smith Electric Vehicles, who will install the batteries, power control module, and 50 KW drive unit, as well as wrap up the final assembly elements. Then it's back on the truck for delivery to the local dealer.

The idea of an electric Transit Connect is interesting, but it's only a part of Ford's electric and hybrid strategy going forward. They've also announced an electric small car for 2011, the Ford version of the next-generation hybrid in 2012 and a plug-in hybrid for 2012. This seemingly aggressive timing reflects the last few years of non-stop work on electrification coming to fruition. Considering that timing on the small car, we wouldn't be shocked (heh) to see either the Ford Fiesta or the next generation C1 global platform Ford Focus hitting dealers in electric form.

We often malign electric vehicles, but it's due primarily to the wild-eyed claims from startups with some neat sketches and venture capital money. Now that Ford is giving us dates and vehicles, we're intrigued. Nothing will ever replace a cammed-out V8 or a frantically turbocharged inline four, but we'd be lying if we said we aren't at least curious. Complete details below:

http://jalopnik.com/5147717/2010-ford-t ... ic-vehicle

[Dr. Rude McNasty]

Here's a really nice classic for sale on Craigslist, 1957 Pontiac Chieftan.
Man wants $25G for it.