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Commenter Of The Day: Perfect Strangers Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Few shows in the annals of television history are as widely known and completely strange as Perfect Strangers. Employing the typical “fish out of water” scenario that has been abused by sitcoms for the entire breadth of the medium, there’s a certain quality of Perfect Strangers that sets it apart from more beloved and successful shows like The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. One need to look only to the show’s genesis, which saw series creator Dale McRaven (who also created Mork & Mindy) trying to capitalize on the patriotism America felt after the 1984 Olympics in LA. No joke. The story of an immigrant trying to enjoy the promise of America, Perfect Strangers is our story.

And so it is with Jalopnik. We’re all different people from different walks of life who all believe in the same basic tenants of the automobile including a respect for effort on any scale. And speaking of scale, Ben mentioned this freaking Lego V8 Engine today and, lo and behold, the creator is one of us. And while there was a long discussion with mad tinkerer Nicjasno this one comment tickled us pink:

It’s shot in my basement, where the air compressor is.

The fact that this comment makes perfect sense to all of us is probably some sign that we need help. But it’s help we don’t want.

Original post by Matt Hardigree

Max Mosley Threatens FIA Will Go To Crap If He’s Ousted, Officially Channeling Nixon [Max Mosley]

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:40:00 +0000

We’d rather not devote time to Max Mosley and his ongoing attempts to screw up racing like he’s screwed up his life, but the story keeps getting crazier and crazier. After being asked to avoid F1 events and, basically, being benched for Monaco, Mosley has issued a letter stating that FIA will be ruined and Formula One destroyed if he’s voted out in the big “vote of no confidence” meeting this June. This is basically the Nixon approach. The nation will be ruined and the media, who are blowing everything out of proportion for political reasons, will win. Snippets from the crazy letter discovered by Autosport.com below.

Just as a little background, Bernie Ecclestone is the commercial rights holder to Formula One and he’s been trying to get more control of the sport from FIA. Obviously, FIA wants to be able to maintain some control of the sport. But we think it’s maybe taking it a bit far to say that Mosley is the only person that can stop Ecclestone, that he actually cares to stop Ecclestone or that Ecclestone can be stopped at all. And now, for your Nixon-speak:

“Anyone could stand and there would be no list to stabilise the process and ensure that each candidate had the support of a real cross-section of FIA member clubs. During the two to four month election period, the complex negotiations (with Ecclestone/CVC) ….would necessarily slow or even cease. A new president would then take over with no knowledge of the background and, worse, might perhaps have been elected with the support of the very people with whom we are negotiating.”

“I have been determined to fight for the rights and role of the FIA in F1 and it is possibly for this reason that the media have been encouraged by those who have an interest in undermining my Presidency.”

“I believe, therefore, that whatever the Extraordinary General Assembly decides, it should not reward those who have deliberately set out to destabilise the FIA at such a crucial time in its history.”

He then reveals that if he is given the boot, he’ll stick around until the end of his term in October 2009!

“This will give me the time I need to progress the current negotiations to the point where proposals safeguarding the fundamental interests of the FIA can be submitted to the WMSC (World Motor Sport Council) and the General Assembly.”

“It will also give me time to pursue the legal proceedings I have started against those who have caused so much unnecessary trouble and embarrassment. Above all, it will allow a smooth and orderly transition to a new presidency satisfactory to the membership as a whole.”

Just 17 more months of strange behavior to go.

“I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice. People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”

Actually, that last one may not be Mosley.

(h/t PhkMark) [A full account at Autosport.com]

Original post by Matt Hardigree

PCH, Ten Grand To Glory Edition: Acura NSX or ‘59 Corvette? [Choose Your Eternity]

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:20:00 +0000

The extremely cheap, extremely sketchy (putatively) NSX-engine-powered Acura Legend obliterated the dime-a-dozen turbo Civic in yesterday’s Choose Your Eternity poll, which is about what we expected. So what if we could find not just an NSX engine but an entire car for cheap (well, maybe entire isn’t the right word here, but you get the idea)- what then? Well, then we have quite a dilemma when trying to find something to stack up against the Acura, a car that’s equally cool, in spittin’ distance of the NSX’s price range, and hideously expensive when it comes to part obtainment. Perhaps it’s an impossible task, but let’s see how things sort out in today’s Detroit-versus-Japan matchup!

You want an NSX, and so do I. It’s safe to say that you wouldn’t be reading this series in the first place if you were the sort who doesn’t want an NSX (unless your brand of garage masochism requires engines with carburetors… lots and lots of carburetors, in which case you most likely still think the NSX is a good idea, even if you wouldn’t drive an EFI car yourself). But damn! they’re expensive critters, and nobody seems to want to sell theirs. However, we looked and looked and finally found an NSX for just $10,000! No, really! Take a gander at this ‘92 Acura NSX and then try to offer us the usual lame excuses about how you can’t afford your own Japanese supercar. This car is available at “a fraction of the price,” though the price isn’t defined, because it needs a little work. Actually, all it really needs is some TLC- like so many Hell Projects- in order to repair the damage from what looks like a half-completed ripoff-and-chopshop adventure. The engine appears to be there, and no doubt more than 50% of the rest of the vehicle’s parts are present as well. How hard can it be to find a pair of NSX doors? You’ll find out!

Say you admire the engineering of the NSX, but you’re more of a fan of classic Detroit machinery. In that case, what you need is an early Corvette… but- holy Barrett-Jackson!- the price of nice 50s Vettes is utter madness! That’s why you want to try to find a project car and turn oceans of sweat and rivers of tears into a top-notch concours-qualiity restoration, one that will convince even the most sphincterish Corvette obsesso that you don’t deserve to be ground into hamburger for defiling such a sacred machine. You’ll have your work cut out for you with this 1959 Chevrolet Corvette, because it’s actually a ‘59 frame with a “thick fiberglass” replica ‘57 body and a 283 out of a ‘66 Chevy (no mention of the transmission, which means it’s probably a Powerglide). But, hey, the car is only $9,100! Hmm… maybe that idea of a restoration isn’t really feasible here, but ya never know, ya know? Just put the correct stuff on the engine, find the right 4-speed, and dive into Itchy Fiberglass Land, and you’ll be out cruising your ‘57/’59 in no time!

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Original post by Murilee Martin

2009 Toyota Tacoma To Get Better Fiddle, Argent-Painted Grille [2009 Toyota Tacoma]

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

The Toyota Tacoma has played second fiddle to darn near everybody for its entire life. Early on it was the domestics, now its the full size Toyota Tundra. That doesn’t mean its standing still as far as updates go. We managed to find this dealer product brief buried within the Toyota Nation forums cataloging, detailing what buyers can expect to see on the sales floor soon. The most notable upgrades including the audio system, LED tail lights, and a new backup camera.

The camera system comes with a 2.5″ dash mounted monitor and will help prevent you from running over Tiny Tim if those bright new LED lights don’t catch his eye. Inside there’s a new aux-input for MP3 players, an MP3 enabled CD player, and new under-seat storage in the Access cab models. The trucks also get standard traction control systems and “smoked” headlight lenses along with an assortment of other stuff that awaits those willing to read through the dealer data HERE.

Original post by Ben Wojdyla

2009 Toyota Tacoma Update Details Emerge [2009 Toyota Tacoma]

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

The Toyota Tacoma has played second fiddle to darn near everybody for its entire life. Early on it was the domestics, now its the full size Toyota Tundra. That doesn’t mean its standing still as far as updates go. We managed to find this dealer product brief buried within the Toyotanation forums cataloging, detailing what buyers can expect to see on the sales floor soon. The most notable upgrades including the audio system, LED tail lights, and a new backup camera.

Original post by Ben Wojdyla

Huge Wing, Eyeballs Propel Make:Way Escort To 33rd-Place LeMons Finish! [24 Hours Of Lemons Altamont]

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Even though we vowed to crush Team Make:Way’s Escort like a drained beercan beneath our hobnailed racing shoes (as the Lord Humungus would say about their car, what a puny plan!), the little slushbox-equipped Escort managed to evade the wrath of Odin and hang on for a respectable 33rd-place finish at the race. They had a scary moment when a front wheel parted company with the vehicle on the track, but for the most part they kept on knocking out lap after lap. Good work, Make:Way, and next time we hope to see some junkyard turbocharging on that thing! [MakeWayRacing.com]

galleryPost(’LemonsAlt88′, 16, ‘Team MakeWay At 24 Hours of Lemons’);

Original post by Murilee Martin

Nooooo! Two Sweet Pontiacs Destroyed For Sake Of Art [Novelties]

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:00:00 +0000

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We’ve heard of this “Jonathan Schipper” before through his exploits slowly grinding scale models and throw-away IROC-Z’s together. Now he’s gone and mashed a Pontiac Firebird into a Pontiac Trans Am, both examples of sweet malaise goodness. True they may have been on the underpowered side when stock, and their engines have been removed for this exercise, but they were masterpieces of hair-over-neck styling before this literal mash-up. Seeing these two run face to face into each other over the course of four days is pure pain, or pleasure, depends on how you feel about Pontiacs. [Auto.Coone.com]

Original post by Ben Wojdyla

Saab 95 Survives San Francisco Streets, Plus Bonus Lancia [Down On The Street Bonus Edition]

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:40:00 +0000

When WhatWouldJesseDo isn’t working on his Datsun 411, Mini, Puma GT, or the Black Metal V8olvo, he’s doing his day job across the Bay in San Francisco. That’s a city in which most street-parked cars get scraped, bumped, and dinged with depressing regularity, yet plenty of cool old machinery still thrives on its streets. Here’s a very clean Saab 95 and an equally clean Lancia Fulvia that Jesse sees regularly in North Beach.

galleryPost(’DOTSBESaabLancia’, 10, ‘Saab 95 and Lancia Fulvia Down On The North Beach Street’);

Original post by Murilee Martin

Look To The Swift! Suzuki Brings Germans Together With “Black And White” Editions [New Cars]

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:20:00 +0000

Suzuki is clearly firing back at Ford and their Focus CC Black Edition with this, the Suzuki Swift Black and White edition. Nothing says automotive harmony like matching hatchbacks. We got the chance to drive a very pedestrian version of the 2008 Suzuki Swift a few weeks ago and had a great time with it. This particular limited edition Swift comes in either black or white with special 16-inch rims, unique decals, a DVD/Nav system, 30GB hard drive and a few other tweaks. The body kit on the black Swift looks great, though we’re still waiting for a GTI.

galleryPost(’swiftbandw’, 6, ‘Black And White And Driven All Over’);
[Suzuki via CarScoop]

Original post by Matt Hardigree

GM Says Challenge X Is The Future, We Say We Want It Now [Alternative Energy]

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Looking at the array of biodiesel hybrids, ethanol hydrogen hybrids and fuel cells on display in Central Park this morning, the impression we got was GM is looking to these technologies as the future. All we could think was how much they should be the present. You see, this wasn’t a display of pie-in-the-sky concepts or prototypes, but actual vehicles capable of competently carrying humans and all of them designed and built by students on a limited budget. If a couple of pubescent geeks still waiting for their first pocket protectors can put a functioning biodiesel hybrid on a driveway, why isn’t GM doing so right now?

galleryPost(’challengex’, 6, ‘University of Waterloo Fuel Cell’);

We’ve heard all the arguments before: lack of infrastructure, high development costs, unproven technology, bad leadership; but here are vehicles which, as we speak, are being driven to Washington DC in climate-controlled comfort by their student creators

Yes, GM is developing the Volt, a car that’s essentially electric on a platform allowing for production-swappable powertrain technology to eliminate the limited range. Basically, it allows for every powertrain under the sun including diesel, petrol, hydrogen and probably poop — but we don’t want to wait until 2011 to drive it, we want it now damnit. Yes, even the poop-powered version. The company intends for Challenge X to highlight possibilities, and it does. However the unfortunate flip-side is it also highlights the lack of foresight in their past, a mistake they’re only now trying to fix. After all, if a bunch of kids can build a fleet of alternate-fuel cars, why can’t one of the world’s biggest companies? And no, a limited-run fuel cell Equinox fleet does not count.

Original post by Wes Siler