Pontiac G8 Bad News/Good News/Bad News

Pontiac G8 photo by Jason Lawrence

Pontiac G8 photo by Rich Niewiroski Jr.

Bad News: The Pontiac G8 bit the dust with GM's bankruptcy along with the rest of Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer & Saab. It was the best looking 4-door from GM in decades and it could compete with BMW.

Good News: The G8 is actually from GM's Australian Holden Division and is being reintroduced to the USA as we speak as a Chevrolet Caprice!

Holden Calais photo by Aaaaplay

Bad News:  The new Caprice is ONLY available for fleet purchase as the Caprice PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle.) So if you really want one, be ready to fight cabbies over it in a few years and we hope you like black and white.

Harry Bradley's 1951 Custom Chevy, the LaJolla

This is a famous car I was reading about a short time ago, the well crafted custom was Harry's first car, and he'd made a deal with his parents not to customize it. Ha!

As Harry put it in a 1985 ­article in Super Rod & Custom magazine, "They had gotten to me -- 'they' being Pinin Farina, Harley Earl, Joe Bailon, the Barris brothers. My parents didn't have a chance against the likes of them." Harry immediately began an extensive customizing process.

Harry Bradley, was one of the most respected custom car stylists in history. A well-known designer for General Motors and Mattel's Hot Wheels brand, Harry kept his hand in the custom car arena throughout his career. The La Jolla was acquired in 1954 when he was still in high school in La Jolla, California. Stricken with polio at a young age, Harry couldn't drive a conventional car, so he had friend Floyd Martin make hand controls for the throttle and brakes. Under the hood, Harry installed a new 283-cid Chevy V-8 engine. For paint, he chose a deep chocolate-ebony candy pearl color. The La Jolla is unique among custom cars in that Harry owned it for more than 45 years, driving it much of the time. It followed him through college, family, and his automotive design career. Harry eventually sold the car in 1999 to noted custom collector Jack Walker. Jack worked with Harry to restore the car, adding two Bradley-approved changes.

Jack has an extensive collection of customs and even replicated the Hirohata Merc, except for Von Dutch's pinstriping on the dash and bumper guards
images from http://onlycarsandcars.blogspot.com and http://designyoutrust.com/2009/07/20/icons-of-speed-and-style-auction/

info from http://auto.howstuffworks.com/la-jolla-custom-car.htm

1971 Chevy El Camino Bodywork & Paint Job

Maaco Fremont's Car of the Day is a great 1971 Chevrolet El Camino. The owner had the car for sale when it got hit on the fender during a test drive. He didn't want to invest a lot of money but he needed to repair the classic to sell it for its full value. He bought a fender and fender liner himself then he came to Maaco. Our price to install the parts and paint the entire car fit his budget. It's a great car if you are interested in buying one.

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Hybrid and Electric Powered Cars, Now and in the Future

Now, in 2011, the Chevrolet Volt and 2011 Nissan Leaf arrives at dealerships and homes set of owners, the Renaissance electric vehicle officially begun.

recently bought a volt for a long term test at any time of year to address the questions many consumers have to live with this kind of long-term vehicle. You can follow our coverage here.

There is currently a high demand for leaves and Volt, leaving many potential buyers sitting on the sidelines wondering how they can participate in the race for electric cars. If you have $ 100,000 for an all-electric Tesla Roadster, you can buy one today. Do not worry - options more convenient and less expensive would join these cars this year, including an electric version of the new Ford Focus. But it will still take some time before electric cars are so easy and common to buy a hybrid is typical today.

Increasingly in cars, either complete or hybrid electric plug-ins, coming on the market.

EVS is not a new concept: they were among the first cars on the roads. versions gasoline has slightly due to a century of cheap oil, battery technology and low long-distance road travel. Despite a slight recovery in California in the 1990s, the electric car was more a myth than a reality over the last 20 years. The recent volatility in gasoline prices helped revive interest in EVs.

Tomorrow RSV is not limited to small sports cars like the Tesla Roadster. "Different people need different types of vehicles," said Sherry Boschert Vice President of Plug-in America, non-profit advocacy group EVS. The reason is that companies will auto build a plug-in cars, commercial vans, SUVs and sedans.

A major obstacle to electric vehicles is the fear - the fear that the electric car can not be everywhere you need, or at least there. Some automakers, including GM, were added to board or ethanol gas generators in their electric vehicles. "The internal combustion engine is like a security policy that makes [drivers] feel safe," said Bosch. The gasoline engine kicks in when the batteries are running out of juice.

new battery technology that will ensure a longer range, can make electric vehicles more attractive to consumers. lithium-ion batteries are relatively new, but their chemical composition will be used in all future plug-in. Why? "You get the same amount of energy with only half the weight of nickel-metal hydride batteries. They are smaller and have higher power density," says Nick Cappa, spokesman for Chrysler in advanced technology. nickel-metal hydride batteries used in many hybrid cars today.

To help offset the cost of electric vehicles, the federal government offers tax credits for the purchase of $ 2.500 $ 7.500 EV. Nissan Sheet "red" price with the tax credit instead of $ 7500 MSRP. Most electric vehicles should be eligible for the maximum credit.

Here is a list of models supported by the EV car manufacturers, investors and companies. Four models of the road at this time, many more to come soon. In today's economy, some machines are designed to fail from the capital and consumption continues to slow.

"A lot can happen between now and then," Boschert said. "I know from experience that seeing is believing. Until you can go out and buy a [EV], it is not safe."

Developed electric vehicles already on the way

Tesla Roadster: This two-seater sports roadster is the poster child revolution RSV and sporting a stylish-looking machine is a range of 244 km. When the Fed $ 7,500 tax credit Tesla Roadster MSRP is $ 101,500.

Chevrolet Volt: This compact, four-passenger vehicle uses an electric motor to power the wheels with onboard gas generator to recharge the battery. V, can drive up to 40 km of electricity-only travel 400 miles between the gas station filling up.

Nissan leaf blade is an all-electric sedan to five seats that are available in selected markets and will be widely available in 2011, according to Nissan. Unlike the Volt, the sheet does not use a motor-end extension to charge the battery. With a full charge, the range of the sheet is estimated at 100 miles, top speed is said to be over 90 miles per hour.

Electric Ford Transit Connect: Designed for professional use, utility van Transit Connect, Ford's first electric car battery with a range of about 80 miles. Ford he drove last year only a few commercial fleets, but it should be offered to regular users of this year.

Electric vehicles on the horizon

Production for the following vehicles may change based electrical product development and other conditions. The year is the date of the planned sale of detail.

Ford Focus Electric, 2011: The biggest competitor for the Volt and Leaf will be the electric version of strong-looking new Ford Focus compact car. It has a scope similar to that of leaves, but promises to reduce charging time by half. Expect to wait until the end of this year to go on sale.

CODA Sedan, 2011: This is one of a number of small companies on our list have problems getting production started. Several executives have left the company, put anything SR $ 44.900 in doubt, despite the fact that the vehicle has an approval for the tax credit the government $ 7,500.

Fisker Karma 2011: The four-passenger plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan will have a range of 50 miles, the power, the company said. Is expected to be available in March 2011. Like the Volt, the Karma uses a motor range expansion to increase the range of 300 miles. The hybrid combined to propel the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

Fiat 500 EV, 2012, petrol Fiat 500 hits the U.S. this year, and fully electric version in 2012. 500 Chrysler EV uses the technology and its electronic programming, although many important details, including vehicle range, and the price will remain confidential.

Toyota Prius plug-in, 2012: A plug-in version of its popular Prius sedan will go on sale in the first half of 2012, Toyota said. He will be able to Run 13 miles on the battery to a speed of 60 km / h. Because of this limited range before the gas hybrid system takes over, charging the car takes only 1.7 hours on a 220 volt. It will be offered in 14 states with the most current Prius units sold in 2012, with the rest of the country had to wait until 2013.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV, 2011-12: A small four-seater electric car is 80-100 km. I-MiEV is expected to go on sale in the United States in March 2012, the Northeast and across the country by the end of 2012. Waiting for prices on this car at about $ 30,000 before tax incentives, says Mitsubishi.

Highway Speed ​​EV Miles, TBD: Miles EV says its five-seat sedan is electrical safety test. It should be 100 kilometers. However, no mention of the date of sale has been deprived of its website.

Think City, to determine: This European company is waiting for the loans the U.S. Department of Energy before starting production. The city will be built in Elkhart, Indiana, designed for urban environments, the electric city small first to see the use in New York. Its range is about 100 miles, and says its Think City can reach highway speeds.

Tesla Model S, 2012: Tesla wants to keep track of its roadster with a five-passenger sedan EV. Sedan had a 240-mile range with an expected price around $ 60,000, according to Tesla. The company has delayed the original target date to at least the 2012th

Scott Sanchez Spins at Las Vegas Blackjack 121 Race

#24 Scott Sanchez Chevrolet Spins in Las Vegas

The Maaco-Fremont sponsored Chevrolet Impala SS of Scott Sanchez tangled with Brian Herzog in turns 3 & 4 of the Blackjack 121 Race at the Bullring in Las Vegas May 14, 2011. Skilled driving and a bit of luck allowed Sanchez to finish the race but the spin would put him out of contention for the podium.

For more on Scott Sanchez, the #24 Chevrolet Impala SS and SRL Racing visit:
www.racingwest.com

RaceToWinCorvette.com

Just a head's up to our friends. Chevrolet is giving away a 2011 Corvette and a trip to LeMans. Sign up at racetowincorvette.com.

1977 CHEVY DUALLY WORK TRUCK COMPLETE

Maaco Fremont's Car of the Day is this 1977 Chevy Dually. The customer came to Maaco Fremont to make the truck look more presentable. It needed a lot of work. The old paint was peeling and raw fiberglass was showing through the paint on the fenders. Maaco Fremont took it from eyesore to the good looking truck it once was. We started by machine sanding the surface to get rid of  most of the old paint. Then we applied a coat of poly-lok 2 component  primer sealer. Finally we painted it with a durable, single stage paint. The customer picked a nice brown from Maaco's color book. The customer is so happy with the work that we did that he's not sure if he will use it for work any more--he doesn't want it to get scratched.

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Chevrolet Monte Carlo Review

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LT Coupe

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo traces its roots back several decades to the height of the muscle car era, when Chevy sought to entice customers with a sporty, upscale rear-drive V8 coupe that provided a balance of performance and comfort in a stylish package. From those early years -- which included big-block SS (Super Sport) editions -- the Monte Carlo evolved toward a more luxury-oriented persona, saw significant downsizing (to optimize fuel efficiency) and soldiered on as a popular rear-drive sport coupe until 1988, when it was replaced by the Lumina coupe.

Following a lengthy hiatus, the Chevy Monte Carlo emerged once again in 1995. However, by then it had been softened and saddled with a carryover front-wheel-drive platform and V6 engines that barely hinted at the performance of years gone by. It was, in essence, a Lumina coupe.

The current-generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe debuted in 2000 with more distinctive styling and updated underpinnings from the Impala sedan to better meet the needs of today's buyers. Significant changes in 2006 have helped the Monte Carlo come nearly full circle back to its original mission with sportier chassis tuning, improved driving dynamics and more power in SS models, while freshened interior and exterior styling offer a sculpted and pleasing contemporary appearance.

Although much improved in the past few years -- including a return to available V8 power in SS trim -- we feel that other performance sport coupe competitors like the Mustang offer a more satisfying choice as long as you don't mind giving up some interior room. In reviews, our editors say the Monte Carlo is primarily a comfortable cruiser that's more at home in the fast lane than on twisty mountain roads. If the latter is your preferred driving environment, you may want to consider other brighter, more focused alternatives.

The current-generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which received a major update for the 2006 model year, is a midsize two-door coupe that comes in three trim levels: the base but reasonably well-equipped LS, the more upscale LT and the performance-oriented SS. Under the hood of LS and LT models is a 3.5-liter V6 with 211 horsepower, while the SS boasts a responsive 5.3-liter V8 with 303 hp. Impressive numbers, yes. But we'd like them even better if they powered the rear wheels like Monte Carlos of years ago, especially in the case of the SS. A front-engine/rear-drive layout is typically preferable for optimum weight distribution and balanced handling, especially when that engine is a heavy V8.

Overall, this Chevy Monte Carlo is a spacious sport coupe that offers buyers a reasonably good comfort/performance trade-off for a relatively low sticker price. The V8-equipped Monte Carlo SS suffers from a nose-heavy feel, however. If quick reflexes are on your wish list instead and you don't mind tighter quarters, we suggest you consider one of its smaller but more nimble sport coupe competitors.

Used-car shoppers interested in a late-model Monte Carlo will likely encounter the previous-generation model, which was available from the 2000-'05 model years. Based on the then-new Impala platform and wearing distinctive, fresh sheet metal with heritage styling cues, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo was originally offered as an LS with a 3.4-liter V6 engine making 180 hp, or an SS with a 200-hp 3.8-liter V6. A driver-side airbag -- as well as traction control and OnStar on SS models -- was added as standard safety equipment in 2001, and all models received four-wheel disc brakes, traction control and remote keyless entry in 2003. In a bid to boost its performance image, Chevrolet added a 240-hp supercharged engine option for the SS in 2004.

Previous to this model, there was the Lumina-based Monte Carlo, which became available for the 1995 model year in LS or Z34 sport trim levels. Those wishing to hit the fast lane are advised to stick with the 210-hp 3.4-liter twincam V6 in the Z34. Detail improvements carried the Chevrolet Monte Carlo through the next several years, though only the most eagle-eyed used-car shoppers are likely to appreciate the differences.

Pontiac GTO Judge Resurrected…Sort Of: Tuner Prepped Model Based on the Camaro

The makers of the fire-breathing Phoenix T/Athat we saw at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas are back with yet another proposal for a Pontiac model based on the latest iteration of Chevy’s Camaro pony car. This time the people over at Trans Am Depot will give birth to a modern day interpretation of Pontiac’s famed 1969 GTO Judge. The tuner named its creation “The GT9 Goat”.

The teaser renderings and photos of the faux-Pontiac reveal a bespoke front end with a split grille and a revised hood with air scoops, while at the back we find new tail lamp and bumper designs as well as a restyled trunk sporting a prominent wing. The characteristic profile side stripes, quad tail pipes and the newly styled alloy wheel options round off the exterior changes. There’s no word yet if there will be any kind of upgrades to the interior and the mechanical hardware of the Camaro.
Trans Am Depot said that the GT9 Goat will be available for order this fall. “The 6T9 Goat concept was created by designer Kevin Morgan to capture the look and feel of the classic '69 GTO Judge,” the company said in a statement.
As we mentioned here previously “The 1969 GTO is considered by many to be one of the top ten muscle cars of all time. Available this fall, this modern day version incorporates the look of yesteryear with the modern convenience and technology of today.”

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GM Recall Chevrolet Cruze Models for 2011

After the initial 2,100 inspections triggered by a detached steering wheel, General Motors announced a new recall involving 154,112 units of the 2011 model year Cruze - pretty much all models built for North America since production started in summer 2010.
The reason for this action is related to a steering issue as well, with GM saying it wants to check that the steering shaft was properly installed. The company didn't say whether or not the two recalls are related, but added it will use the latest one action to check on another issue that might affect some 120,000 models with automatic transmission. In this case, GM wants to verify whether the transmission shift linkage was properly installed.
GM stressed in a statement that “very few” of the recalled models should have both problems and that it has already made quality process changes to make sure neither error occurs again. According to a GM spokesman, the steering shaft issue was discovered when a customer lost steering control in a parking lot, without being involved in any type of accident. As for the automatic transmission problem, the carmaker says it was discovered when customers brought in their cars under warranty.
The company added that no accidents or injuries related to the Cruze recall have been reported. Built in Lordstown, Ohio for the U.S. and Canadian markets, the compact sedan was GM's second best selling vehicle in April.

GALLERY

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