I grew up when MTV had just started out Of course being a car guy, I'd always look for one in a video. Right off-hand the one stands out is in Billy Joel's 1983 video Keeping the Faith in which his then wife Kristie Brinkley rolls into the courtroom in a '56 Chevy convertible. Click... Continue Reading →
Braking News: 1st Hellcat Wacked
With great speed comes great responsibility That's what I tell people who ask me if I've ever had my Suzuki Hayabusa up to its top speed of 180 mph. And no I haven't. Maybe on a closed course but not the open road. I have had it up to 120 mph but don't tell my... Continue Reading →
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe RWD Premium
Sporty, stylish ATS Coupe takes aim at younger monied buyers Cadillac has a hit on its hands with the compact luxury ATS sedan, and now there’s a sporty coupe for you to tuck in your garage next to the 4-door. That’s certainly Cadillac’s hope. Its marketers are looking for a lot of well-off younger buyers opting... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Automodello 1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria
Packard Twelve highlights elegant 1930s styling While I prefer post-war cars, probably something to do with my age, I appreciate fine car design from earlier eras, such as the 1930s. Automodello’s fine 1:43 resin models seem to know no styling limits and certainly bridge a variety of decades. So there’s no surprise that Automodello now turns... Continue Reading →
2015 Acura TLX 3.5L SH-AWD Tech
New TLX a blend of two Acura winners Acura basically blends two of its fine sedans, the TL and TSX into one, now the mid-size TLX. Beyond the alphabet scrambling, the tested dark blue TLX 3.5L SH-AWD Tech is a solid luxury sedan that will seat four in comfort, five if needed. This version comes too... Continue Reading →
Slot Car: Ninco Formula 1 (Jordan)
Ninco, now being distributed exclusively by Professor Motor in the U.S., is reintroducing a series of five somewhat generic Formula 1 cars to its lineup, a good product for clubs or groups that enjoy racing identical cars. These racers resemble the former SCX F1 cars in that the front suspension looks real, with A-arms and... Continue Reading →
2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Chubby Challenger falls short in muscle car wars Funny, muscle cars came and went in the 1960s and early 1970s as gas prices soared and insurance prices became an issue for many buyers. Yet muscle cars made a strong comeback in the last decade, despite high gas prices and a shift toward “green” eco-friendly vehicles.... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Maserati MC12
Maserati MC12 a winner on track, or on display For a century Maserati has been churning out distinctive, sporty and often championship winning cars. Maserati’s place in the U.S. market has never been huge, but their cars’ reputations for speed and style have been legend. They are considered rare gems in the U.S. Autoart knows... Continue Reading →
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC
Outlander remains a middler in SUV market Mitsubishi’s new Outlander is a handsome SUV, but remains a middler. Its performance falls in the middle of the crowded small to mid-sized sport-utility market. Little stands out. The tested “rally red” ute was the 3.0 GT S-AWC model, meaning it’s loaded with Mitsubishi’s more desirable V6 engine... Continue Reading →
Chasing Classic Cars: Collectible cars under $15,000
Let's face it, most of us don't have a pile of money So collecting cars, like this Ferrari GTO, which is now the most expensive car ever after being auctioned off for $38 million this summer, is pretty much not going to happen. Boy if I had that kind of cash and bought it the... Continue Reading →