Design Element

You're driving late All Hallows' Eve and you see these evil eyes glaring back at you....do you know what make and model this is?

Hover over the image with your mouse to confirm or deny your answer. Happy Halloween!

 

Car Spell

With Halloween on the horizon, we here at the REVolution offices sought to do what we always do; think outside the engine bay. After several seconds of pondering, we came up with the query what do witches and warlocks drive? We kicked around a number of ideas, including a Toyota Prius with Hello Kitty stickers and pentagrams plastered all over it but instead of that mildly insulting postulation, we searched the InterWebz for an answer. What we came up with wasn't what we were expecting.

Photo: The Black Sheep Sticker Company

Surprisingly, Wiccan-folk drive normal cars, no different than any other. What sets them apart is that they have some rather novel ways of dealing with the trials and tribulations of modern car ownership. The best of which (at least, to us) is the Urban Wiccan's Car Protection Spell.

Let us know how it works out for you, should you give it a whirl. We can imagine grocery carts magically deflecting, folks unable to open their doors and putting a dent in yours and fewer accidents. Wouldn't that be great?!?

Lexus GS400 and GS430

With only a couple of days left till Halloween arrives, our next spirited spotlight (ghostly pun...or ghost of a joke?) is on the first (and second) generation Lexus GS with the V8.

Photo: ebay

1983 Mercury Capri Black Magic Edition

In our windup to Halloween, we’re featuring some spooky conveyances that fit right into the spirit of things.

First up is the 1983 Mercury Capri Black Magic, a special edition that featured all black paint with gold pinstripes, fifteen inch gold-colored aluminum wheels, gold badges and black seats with gold cloth inserts…none of which were actual gold but there was also an upgraded suspension. Is that compensation or is that just excessive bling-bling? Only you can decide.

Japanese People Movers

Here are five people movers that the Japanese automakers have chosen not to bring to the States. When our cousins Brim and Stone come to visit, it would be nice to have the Vellfire to haul them around in.

New Mazda RX Concept

The new Mazda RX-VISION rotary sports coupe concept has been revealed. While we here at the REVolution like it and are excited to see the rotary return to the market, we're honestly a bit underwhelmed. What do you think of it?

Photo: Mazda

2016 Toyota Marai

In the States, the electric-hydrogen hybrid Marai sedan is available only in California for now, with an MSRP of around $55K-$60K. It's been for sale in Japan for over a year. Will this car catch on like the Prius? All signs indicate no, there are too few hydrogen refueling points at this time. That could change but it seems unlikely. The word "Marai" translates to "the future". MPG for the Marai is around 60, but the math doesn't seem to add up when you can buy a 50+ mpg Prius with a half-priced MSRP.

2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI KBB Value

Now is the time to note the current values of the VW turbodiesels that will be subject to the recall to see how all of that directly affects prices.

Skill

Think you're a good driver? I know I do; I have quick reflexes and can be very smooth when I want to be. But the more I analyze my own driving, especially in the past (as opposed to the present), I realized how overtly aggressive I've been at times, choosing to operate my vehicle in a dangerous manner. I blame my SoCal upbringing but there's no excuse that can justify any of those ridiculous decisions.

It got me to wondering; do other car enthusiasts think of themselves as good drivers but fall into the same trap? My guess is yes, 100% of the time!

Food for thought.

GM Recalls 1.4M Cars

That's right, another recall. According to reports, in cars with the GM 3.8 V6 known as the L36 (but not the supercharged L67?), a valve cover gasket can degrade over time (no surprise), allowing oil to seep out. Under hard braking, oil can drip onto the exhaust manifold and catch fire.

Frankly, this is normal for just about any engine and the valve covers exhibiting issues nearly 20 years after manufacture is not surprising. The fire part is not acceptable, just the stuff wearing out over time issue. Unfortunately, most of these cars are not seemingly old enough (that would be sarcasm, there) to be displaying this behavior and so people are up in arms and something must be done, thus the recall.

Note that this recall does not impact the LS4 cars that were recently featured here on REVolution. What's extremely odd is that there are plenty of other models that use this same engine but aren't included in the recall (more Buicks, several Oldsmobile models, the Firebird and Camaro....?).

Here's the current list of the affected vehicles; buy s'more makings or get your car to a dealer pronto.

• 1997-2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Regal
• 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala
• 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue
• 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

If you have a vehicle with the L36 or the L67, I'd recommend calling your local stealership.

Art

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci recreation by Freddy Fabris

Is it time to recreate famous Renaissance paintings featuring modern-day auto mechanics? Art (You know Art right, from last year's Christmas party?) is never wrong, so I guess it is.

1979 DiNapoli

Here's a 1979 DiNapoli (or is it really Di Napoli?) for those days when you're living the big pimpin' lifestyle.

The crazily capitalized ad copy reads, "This is a Factory Built Car.  This is Not a Kit Car. Hand Built in California by Pacific Coachworks. 100 Were Slated For Production. One Report Says Only 7 Were Produced. This is DiNapoli Unit #5. No Expense Spared During Manufacturing. Price in February 1980 - $70,000 to $75,000. In Perspective - 4 Bedroom House That Same Year - $60K. Mechanically Very Sound. Strong Engine ,Equipped With a Buick V6 Turbo. Similar to the Gran National. Built Around a Turbocharged Buick Regal, Retaining The Original Buick Driveline. Showing Little Over 8000 Miles.

BMW C1

Phew. What a week it’s been around here at the REVolution offices. Still, can’t stop thinking about cars and more importantly, the relationship between cars and people.

June is a friend but she’s not a car enthusiast. She’s owned a first generation Scion xB for the past several years and just loves it. It’s perfect for her and makes a great dog hauler, with a low step in height. She’s worked at a prominent university in the Northeast for a lifetime but she gotten so sick of paying exorbitant parking fees (about $200 a month) that she leaves the Scion at home and rides the thirteen miles each way on her mountain bike. That’s right; in the snow, ice and rain…and she doesn’t even work for the United States Post Office, either.

Design Element

Do you know what make, model and variant this is? Hover over the image with your mouse to confirm or deny your answer. Click the tiny box below for the original image but take a guess first!

Interesting Car(s) o' the Day

Think fast; what do these two cars have in common?

 

If your best guess is "Stop bothering me with trivial matters, ya nutter," then you are excused and may return to your nap time. But if your right eyelid convulsed as you instinctively yelled out "They're both Land Cruisers!", you're right on the money! Despite the fact that the ad reads 1953 Studebaker Land Curser (!@#$%^&*), this is in fact a Studebaker Land Cruiser. And the second vehicle is an honest-to-goodness 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ74 Turbo Diesel. Two cool cars from completely different companies that share a model name! Now you can go back to your nap and don't forget your binky!

Here's a screen cap of the "Curser" (ha!) ad, if it's vanished already. Really cool car, would love to buy it. Click the image to see a larger version.

 

History

Did you know that the word jaywalking is a construct of the car industry? Yep. To promote the popularity of the automobile and distract the population from the dangers of pedestrian fatalities and injuries, the rights of a person who wants to cross a road on their own two feet has not only been vilified by big business but also legislated (politicians can be bought, who knew) into a legal term. It didn't exist until the car companies conjured it up.

Want to learn more? Read "Street Rivals: Jaywalking and the Invention of the Motor Age Street" by Peter Norton.

By the way, the word jay was a slur back in the day; it meant you were a complete moron and an easy victim. Imagine the dirtiest word you can right now and substitute it for jay. That's what the carmakers thought of you back then. These are the folks you hand your hard earned money over to.

1997 Land Rover Discovery XD Edition

In observance of whatever the current politically correct phrase is for Columbus Day, check out this 1997 Land Rover Discovery XD Edition, one of just 250 produced for the US only. My best guess is that there's about half that number left.

Get it...Discovery? No? Nothing?

Special mention of the not for US consumption rebadged LR Disco, the Honda Crossroad. And you thought Honda just did this particular tango with Isuzu...no siree Bob, they did it with LR too.

1970 Meyers Manx SR

Ever wonder what it would be like to own a collector car that was owned by a brand fanatic and historian? Ever wonder what it would be like to own the second car produced? Here's your chance to own and drive a piece of car history. Not only that, but it's easy to maintain and fun to drive! An amazing car for the right collector.

Design Element

Do you know what make, model and variant this is? Hover over the image with your mouse to confirm or deny your answer!

1958 DKW MUNGA 4

 

1958 DKW MUNGA 4..."The only one in the U.S., a hybrid German Border Patrol Jeep made by the predecessor of AUDI [DKW Auto Union] in the late 50's. Has a newly rebuilt VW air cooled engine with manual trans, big Military type tires and runs great....especially in parades and is a winner in car shows. Need room in my collector car garage so am letting go this special one of a kind. Registered in NJ as a antique '68 VW and MUNGA model."

2009 45th Anniversary Iaccoca Mustang

Sometimes unique options and an extremely limited edition can make a common car model quite rare. This 2009 45th Anniversary Iaccoca Mustang is a good example of that occurrence.

FWD American Sedans: LS 4 Less

News of the new Honda Civic Type R sedan has crossed the pond and, much to the chagrin of every American fan, the plans are to release it everywhere but here; brilliant. But that doesn’t stop us from drooling over the specs; a 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, top speed nearly hits 170 miles per hour, 3050 pounds and a two-liter turbocharged four cylinder pumping out 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft connected to a 6-speed manual transmission.