New Seat Belt Law

This becomes effective March 1, 2009, in ALL states.

The national Highway Safety Council has done extensive testing on a newly designed seat belt. Results show that accidents can be reduced by as much as 45% when the belt is properly installed. Correct installation is illustrated below.......



This may save a life!

I Know....You Smiled.

Yeah, You smiled again.

Be sure to buckle up and drive safely.

Author Unknown

Rare American Made Automobiles

Harley Earl and the 1938 Buick. Think about this.


This picture was taken 70 years ago.


1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt


1951 Buick LeSabre

What would you give for that car now?


1951 Chrysler K310


1953 Buick Wildcat


1954 Buick Wildcat II


1954 Dodge Firearrow

Back in the days when cars had style, and even with so many makes & models, all changing every year, they made a profit.

And, not only that . . .But one could sit on the porch (like at Rye) and name the cars as they drove by . . .unlike today . . .When they all look the same . . .

Woodward Dream Cruise Gets New Sponsor, Changes Name

The MotorCity Casino has stepped in to become the presenting sponsor of the Woodward Dream Cruise, the annual classic car cruise held in the suburbs of Detroit in August. According to the event's executive director, Tony Michaels, the cruise will now be officially known as the "Woodward Dream Cruise presented by the MotorCity Casino Hotel."

Michaels made the announcement earlier this week at a press conference.

"For nine years, the MotorCity Casino has been a sponsor of the Woodward Dream Cruise," he said. "This year they stepped up to become the presenting sponsor of the 15th annual Woodward Dream Cruise. The Woodward Dream Cruise is here to stay; it will be better than ever with this new sponsorship."

The Woodward Dream Cruise was started in 1995 as a fundraising effort for a soccer field in Ferndale, Michigan. Today, it is the world's largest one-day automotive event, with as many as 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars attending from around the world. Market research suggests the event generates about $56 million for the Detroit economy - more than Super Bowl XL or the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game generated.

According to a Detroit Free Press article, the cruise has lost about $235,000 in annual support from the auto industry since 2006. Michaels would not give specific numbers, but said the casino would commit significant funds for the event.

"The casino will help with the cost of entertainment in the participating communities," Michael said. "The casino is in the entertainment business and so will also help line up entertainment for the dream cruise."

The city of Birmingham recently announced that it was pulling out of the cruise and would set up its own event on the same day as the Woodward Dream Cruise. Michaels shrugged off the announcement.

"Woodward has tried several approaches to the cruise in the past," he said. "The important thing is that it's a great event all the way up and down Woodward.

The 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise is scheduled for August 15.

Source

All-Original 1937 Bugatti 57 S Atlante To Be Auctioned in February

To restore or not to restore? That will be the gut-wrenching question faced by the winning bidder for this 1937 Bugatti 57S Atlante. Remarkably, the coupe is in all-original condition, and has traveled but 26,824 kilometers in its lifetime.

Chassis number 57502 was originally delivered to Francis Curzon, a British racing enthusiast, Member of Parliament, and the fifth Earl of Howe, in the summer of 1937. Earl Howe used the car as his primary vehicle, fitting numerous custom touches (including unique bumpers and a luggage rack) until World War Two, when he served with the Royal Navy. Following the war, the car was sold and, like many other 57S models, was upgraded to 57SC specification by adding a supercharger.



The car would only change hands three times afterwards, but its purchase by a Dr. Harold Carr in 1955 would prove to be its last for quite some time. Carr drove the car briefly in his first years of ownership, but stored it away in a barn for the last fifty years. Following his death in 2007, Carr's family decided to remove the car from storage and part ways with it.



Howe's 57S Atlante will headline the Bonhams auction at February's 2009 Retromobile show in Paris, France, and it's easy to see why. Though other cars, including a 1934Bugatti 57 Ventoux, will be up for sale, few - if any - have the provenance of this coupe. To the winning bidder: we'd insist you refrain from restoring this excellently preserved example of one of the finest creations to wear the Bugatti name.

Top Designers Voted Citroen DS Most Beautiful Car Of All Time

A panel of well-known car designers recently voted on what they thought was the most beautiful car of all time. While Ferrari garnered the most votes as a brand, the Citroen DS received the most votes as an individual car.

The Citroen DS is a beautiful car regarded as a technical masterpiece in addition to winning praise for its sculpted exterior. The DS’s self-leveling suspension, power steering, and amazing clutch and brake feel (compared to cars of the time) helped the car achieve its status as a technical wonder and a mechanic’s nightmare. The car’s exterior was styled by Italian sculptor Flaminio Bertoni and became an instant classic.

Classic & Sports Car magazine brought together the judging panel that consisted of well-known designers including Ian Callum, Gordon Murray, Peter Stevens, and Giorgetto Giugiaro. The designers were asked to submit their favorite three cars and nominate the one example of their work they are most proud of.

In nominating personal designs, Gordon Murray chose his McLaren F1 of course, but Ian Callum chose his Jaguar XF somewhat surprisingly. The XF is a gorgeous car, but it rests among Callum’s work on the new XK and several Aston Martins. “It is the biggest challenge I’ve faced, but I think we pulled it off. I don’t think people appreciate how well proportioned it is, given that it’s a five-seater,” commented Callum on the XF.

Classic & Sports Cars magazine lists all the nominees in addition to the top vote. As the list is rather extensive, we’ll give you the top ten:
1. Citroen DS
2. Jaguar XK120
2. Ferrari 275GTB
4. Cord 810/812
4. Ferrari 250GT Lusso
4. Ferrari 250GT Short-wheelbase
4. Jaguar E-type

Source

1985 Pontiac Trans Am Kammback Wagon Up For Grabs

Wish you could mix the versatility of a wagon with the hairy brawn of a Firebird? You may want to hit RM Auction’s Automobiles of Amelia Island auction on March 13. One of two prototypes for a 1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Kammback will be sold to the highest bidder.

We're not sure how they contracted the sickness, but for decades Pontiac engineers seemed hell-bent on crafting a Nomad-esque wagon from their F-body. Although one almost went into production in 1970, the division’s engineering ranks built four additional concepts -- two in 1977 and two in 1985, respectively.

While one of the 1985 cars was later updated to resemble a Trans Am GTA (a model launched in 1987), the white car you see here remained relatively unscathed. John McMullen, a longtime Pontiac dealer, found the car hidden in GM’s warehouse back in 1998, and used his leverage to purchase the car for his private collection.

McMullen auctioned this car (along with most of his collection) back in 2007, but it seems the Pontiac is back up for grabs. Apart from the wagon roofline -- which bolts in lieu of the standard fastback glass, much like the GTA’s optional notchback insert -- the car is otherwise a stock ’85 Trans Am. Power comes from the “high-output” 5.0-liter V-8, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Still, as the car wears a VIN tag that leads with “EXP,” it will be tough -- if not impossible -- to title and register.

RM anticipates the Kammback will bring between $50,000 and $80,000 when it rolls across the auction block -- much more than your typical ’85 Trans Am. For more information, visit www.rmauctions.com