Commercial Success

For anyone that hasn't been living under a rock for the past few years, it's common knowledge that the housing market has been going through a rough patch with the economy being in the gutter.  Considering this is an automotive blog, the previous statement would seem to be coming out of left field.  If you think long and hard, there is a correlation here.  A house is the most financially important purchase most people buy.  Now consider the volume of people that aren't in the position to buy a house and a car becomes their biggest purchase which ties up most of their income.  So it's no surprise that the car industry has been going through its own turbulent time.  But hold on just a minute!  While 2012 may mark the end of the world, the recent sales figures are saying 2012 is a renaissance for the auto industry.

Vincenzo Lancia Rolls In His Grave

The partnership between Fiat and Chrysler was supposed to be a beautiful thing. After a very long absence, Fiat returns to North America making a statement with the blockbuster Fiat 500. In a few months time, we are promised the return of the fabulous Alfa Romeo marque as well.

However, things get ghastly when they're switched around. The new Chrysler 200 convertible, essentially the old Sebring that car enthusiasts love to hate, will soon be sold in Europe as a rebadged Lancia. It's an insult. Whatever the heck happened to the company that was behind the awesome Lancia Stratos long ago?

One word. Tragedy.

1962 Lancia Flavia

A pig's face

Odd Man Out - 4 - Chrysler Mod Top

Photo from Moore's Mopars

Chrysler as a company has historically marched to the beat of its own drum. When they hit, they hit big boy Babe Ruth grand slams. See the original 30 or any of their muscle cars and their Hemi motors. But when they miss, and they've missed very often, it's so devastating that it has put the company under multiple times.

In the the late 60's and early 70's they were in the midst of a hot streak. The success of their staple muscle cars like the Dart, Challenger, and Cuda shot them to the top of the heap, outshining their mediocre at best full size lineup. They were not shy about taking chances, offering their full lineup of high impact colors like Green Go and Top Banana. But in 1969, they went over the top. Literally.

Freak of the Week: Beep Beep!!

My last post was a rant towards Chrysler, but today in FotW #14, we take a look at a specimen from the Pentastar's "Golden Years."

After the domination of the Dodge Charger Daytona during the 1969 season of NASCAR, Plymouth would get its own version with "King" Richard Petty behind the wheel. In fact, the Superbird was so dominant, NASCAR's decided to implement a 305 cubic inch displacement limit for "aero cars." We all know, in the world of motor sports, there's no bigger compliment for a car's racing success than a ban.

Forty years later, Aussie Murray Markwell of Southern Customs shows off his Plymouth GTX-to-Superbird conversion with the help of Bandit Films.


Welcome to Murray Country from Bandit Films on Vimeo.

Happy Monday, everybody!

Tip of the Iceberg

There have been two stories that have been revisited multiple times throughout the past week. While Japan’s status prompts should come to mind first, I humbly admit that our operations currently lack the resources to properly cover the affairs. Rather, I’d like to discuss the significance of automotive journalist Scott Burgess’ resignation from Detroit News.

Why Chrysler Failed?

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was absolutely hilarious. 

Affordable Supercar Series (ASS)

If you're sensitive to explicit material, just stop reading right now because this is pure smut!  This installment of ASS presents the most hardcore of any affordable supercar.  Of course, the car in question can only be the Dodge Viper.

netcarshow.com

Odd Man Out - 3 - 1961 Chrysler Imperial

I dub thee king of the fin, ruler of the winged, dictator of the decadent... For me the height of the finned era that began in 1949 with the Cadillac ended in 1961 with the Chrysler Imperial. It is a land yacht of epic proportions with more doo-dads than a swiss army knife. From the head lights that are pods set into a cutout to the squared steering wheel, its just over the top... and I love it. I can just imagine the conversation that lead to the tail lights...

- The designer is doing the final massage on the prototype, in walks the engineer -

E - Uh, that's a sweet three foot fin and all but didn't you forget something?
D - No! Of course not, it's design perfection symbolizing our march into the future!
E - Yes you did, the only future this thing will have is the wrecking yard if you don't put some tail lights on it
D - SHITTTTTTTTTTT, uh run down to Quality Farm and Fleet and pick up some tractor lights, we'll just stick them on there somewhere

TWO HOURS LATER...

D - Perfect! It looks like it was meant to be
E - That looks like absolute shit
D - I'm the designer and I say it's aesthetically pleasing
E - It looks like a tractor light bolted to a fin
D - Shut up...

I would love to cruise in one of these beasts, of course I would need an extra long garage to keep it in but oh well I still want one. The king of fin is another odd man out.