Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Prius schmius -- try an Austin-Healey Sprite and 36 mpg]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/10/prius-schmius-try-an-austin-healy-sprite-and-36-mpg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/10/prius-schmius-try-an-austin-healy-sprite-and-36-mpg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/10/prius-schmius-try-an-austin-healy-sprite-and-36-mpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Of course your wallet hurts every time you have to fill the car up. Nevertheless, in these trying times we must always remember the words of Fernando Lamas: it is better to look good than to feel good. Cars That Matter has put together a list of classic automobiles that get anywhere from 21 to 48 mpg, which means you can look good while you save money.

The heaviest drinker is the Datsun 240Z, just cracking into the twenties. But plenty of cars hover around the 30 mpg mark, like the Lotus Europa, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and Fiat X1/9. If you want to crack the big four-oh, you've still got choices: BMW Isetta and Honda S800. And the Crosley Hotshot will get you a miserly 48 mpg.

All right, so there are some niggling issues of practicality -- almost all the cars have only two chairs -- unsuitability for winter, plus many of them are mechanical horrors. As such, we must always remember the words of dear old dad: there are no free lunches. But there are choices, and that has to count for something...

[Source: Cars That Matter, Photo by Liftarn | Creative Commons 2.0]

Prius schmius -- try an Austin-Healey Sprite and 36 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antique carAntiqueCargasgas mileagegas pricesGasMileageGasPricesmiles per gallonMilesPerGallonmpgvintage carsVintageCarsSun, 10 Aug 2008 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/autoblog-visits-the-all-gm-car-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/autoblog-visits-the-all-gm-car-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/autoblog-visits-the-all-gm-car-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a ghres gallery from The All GM Car Show

On sunny 90-degree day that felt like a lot more than 90 degrees, Autoblog made the trek to a park in Van Nuys, California for The All GM Car Show. Old mingled with new, with a 1911 Buick sitting across the aisle from a Cadillac Allante, and a 1950 Oldsmobile next to a Shelby Series 1 supercar. And age didn't stop anyone from winning prizes: in fact, a 2008 Pontiac G8 GT took home one of the day's awards.

The show also featured concept cars, customizations, and some absolutely superb hood ornaments and detailing. Follow the jump to get the scoop on The All GM Car Show, and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

Gallery: California All GM Car Show


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Jonathon R. Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show

Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A recently-restored 1967 Chevrolet Corvette has been written-off, and its driver killed in a bizarre accident in a San Francisco-area cemetery.

The unidentified 52-year-old 'Vette driver sped into the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery early Sunday morning along with a newer Mercedes-Benz convertible, in what witnesses believe may have been an episode of road rage. The 'Vette driver lost control, crashing into a mausoleum and opening up two crypts as a group of mourners at an adjacent burial ceremony looked on, slack jawed.

The driver was pronounced dead at the Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, and authorities are looking to have a few words with the driver of the mystery Mercedes.

[Sources: San Francisco Chronicle via SFGate.com; PerformancePlusCorvettes.net]

 

Vintage Corvette driver killed in bizarre cemetery crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At least one of Autoblog's staffers is a sucker for the monthly 'Discovered' and 'Lost & Found' features British rags Thoroughbred & Classic Cars and Classic and Sports Car. Great 'barn finds' make our hairs stand up on end and constantly have us peering into farmyards whenever we drive through the countryside.

In this regard, at least, Cubans have it easy. Their streets fairly team with vintage iron, particularly American classics from the 1940's and 1950's. While this isn't exactly 'news,' Reuters has put a big number to the phenomenon: 60,000. That's how many of the buggers it believes are navigating the communist nation's roads, most of which are in states of tune that would make the cars' original engineers scratch their heads in wonder.

Given a 40+ year trade embargo with the U.S., modern vehicles are essentially unavailable, so many American classics have been pressed into service as cabs and private transports. With the availability of quality, affordable replacement parts being similarly non-existent, locals have taken to jury-rigging their rides with whatever bits they can muster- ancient Russian diesel engines, tatty Kia bits, baling wire, used cigar wrappers, anything. From the sounds of it, they're raising a generation of MacGyvers over there.

Cuban grand pooh-bah, Fidel Castro has announced plans to supplant privateer hacks out of business by buying some 8,000 Chinese cabs and busses. If El Presidente grinds the vintage iron to dust, it'd be a real shame. As it is, there are apparently some genuinely important classics lurking in Cuba, though efforts by American restorers and collectors have largely proven fruitless in getting around trade barriers.

[Sources: Reuters via CNN.com; HavanaJournal.com]

(Top tip, Evan!)

Vintage American iron thriving in Cuba originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 May 2006 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our hunt through eBay's automotive treasure trove for rare 1950's cars continues with this 1953 Muntz Jet. Created by Earl Muntz, entrepreuer extraordinaire who earned his fortune plying consumer electronics and used cars. But selling yesterday's iron wasn't enough for the "Madman," so he embarked on creating his dream car-- a process that resulted in the vehicle shown here. Not a one-off 'special' like the other cars we've seen recently, the Jet was actually a serialized production car, though less than 400 units are thought to have been manufactured between 1952 and 1953.

Unusually, all Muntz Jets are in fact removable hardtop convertibles. Designed by Frank Kurtis of Indianapolis and dirt oval motorsports fame, the Jet made use of both Lincoln and Cadillac V8 drivetrains, depending on when the model was built. This particular example is powered by the former, and has been restored in plum metallic and white leather.

Estimated to be perhaps one of 50 surviving Jets, this rare bird has been bid to more than $58,000 as this is written, but has yet to crack its reserve.

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: 1953 Muntz Jet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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