Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SEMA Wheels: Clear has staying power]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/sema-wheels-clear-has-staying-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/sema-wheels-clear-has-staying-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/sema-wheels-clear-has-staying-power/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click for a mini gallery of some of this year's clear rims

Last year "clear" was very in at SEMA: Clear wheels, clear hoods, clear heels, even clear engine blocks. This year a few wheel companies are keeping the trend alive with more on the clear front. While there was a set of massive 30-something-inchers on a particularly clean Riviera, we also saw some slightly more tame sizes on display as well. The big ones on the Riv were from Rimshot, but Dub had some out there, too, on a nearby Benz. The Dubs didn't capitalize on the all-clear concept quite as well, but they seem a bit more realistic in some odd way. Still kind of ridiculous for anything other than display, they at least LOOKED somewhat usable.

Gallery: SEMA clear wheels

SEMA Wheels: Clear has staying power originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clear wheelsClearWheelsDubDUBSrimsRimshotSEMAwheelsThu, 01 Nov 2007 10:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1026414/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/11/01/sema-wheels-clear-has-staying-power/1026414/article-detail.xml 1026414 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/semaclearwheels---1sm_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/semaclearwheels---1sm.jpg <![CDATA[New York Auto Show: It's donktacular! RIDES does up a taxi, skyscraper style]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-its-donktacular-rides-does-up-a-taxi-skys/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-its-donktacular-rides-does-up-a-taxi-skys/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-its-donktacular-rides-does-up-a-taxi-skys/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Say that you're RIDES Magazine and you want to celebrate the 100th anniversary of taxi cab service in New York City - what to do? Simple - take a 1996 Crown Vic (arguably better looking than Ford's current take on the Panther platform), put a lift on it that shames many custom pickups, and shove a set of Pirelli-shod 30" MHT wheels under it. Not included is the milkcrate you'll need to stand on in order to enter the beast.

Now, we realize that this probably isn't a proper "donk" to most folks (and those that specifically associate the name with mid-70s Caprices are particularly likely to be offended by using the name to describe a Crown Vic), but this thing seems to defy any other name - well, at least any name that's suitable to print. No word yet on whether it'll be whisking us away from the Javits convention center tomorrow night, but such a scenario isn't out of the question - the nine-foot-tall ride is said to wear an official NYC taxi medallion.

[Source: RIDES, Jalopnik]

New York Auto Show: It's donktacular! RIDES does up a taxi, skyscraper style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30sauto showboxbubblecrown vicdonkdubsnew yorkNYCNYIAStaxiWed, 04 Apr 2007 13:54:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/866682/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-its-donktacular-rides-does-up-a-taxi-skys/866682/article-detail.xml 866682 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/rides-donk-taxi-(resized)_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/rides-donk-taxi-(resized).jpg <![CDATA[Rimblems communicate the size of a man's rims]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/02/rimblems-communicate-the-size-of-a-mans-rims/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/02/rimblems-communicate-the-size-of-a-mans-rims/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/02/rimblems-communicate-the-size-of-a-mans-rims/#commentsFiled under: ,



Who says size doesn't matter? We've all had it happen to us. You roll up to an event in your pimped out ride, DUBBED to the fender wells, with every eye on you. You step out and notice to your chagrin, that your admirers are squinting rather than smiling. Your massive wheels are obviously attracting a lot of attention, but the crowd is stumped. They can tell you've supersized your rims, but they can't tell exactly HOW big they are. They all wanna know what you're packing. Are they 20s? 22s? Bigger? Let's not keep them guessing. Why not advertise your investment? Sure it's stamped on the sidewall, but why not announce your measurements in style? Enter Rimblem.

Created by Christopher Harrell, the Rimblem is a tasteful badge you can affix to your fender to let everybody know at a glance what size rims you're running. Starting at $75.00 a pair, the stylish Rimblems come in your choice of chrome, gold, or black pearl finish. Rimblem Inc. is based in Weston, Florida, and offers the Rimblems for wheel sizes 19", 20", 22", 24", 26", and 28". We're fairly certain they'll add larger sizes as they hit the market. Maybe even a 34 for those massive Lexanis we saw at SEMA. While we can appreciate a filled wheel opening as much as the next guy, this trend towards bigger and bigger rims is getting out of hand. Definitely a matter of form over function, we can see the day when the Rimblems will read "stupid big," "satellite dish," and "F@#! unsprung weight."

[Source: Rimblem via Winding Road]

Rimblems communicate the size of a man's rims originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Christopher HarrellChristopherHarrellDUBSLexaniRimblemsrimsFri, 02 Mar 2007 10:53:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/843892/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/03/02/rimblems-communicate-the-size-of-a-mans-rims/843892/article-detail.xml 843892 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/rimblems_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/rimblems.jpg <![CDATA[How big of a hit will the Chrysler's 300C LWB be?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/21/how-big-of-a-hit-will-the-chrysler-s-300c-lwb-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/21/how-big-of-a-hit-will-the-chrysler-s-300c-lwb-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/21/how-big-of-a-hit-will-the-chrysler-s-300c-lwb-be/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Rick Kranz of Automotive News recently penned a piece asking just how popular will the upcoming Chrysler 300C LWB (Long Wheelbase) be, and is Chrysler underestimating its appeal to the public. DCX is saying it expects to sell around 70 percent of its LWB models to the livery business, which includes limo and high-end taxi services. But Myles Kovacs, president of Dub magazine, thinks the company is underestimating the car's appeal to the public, which includes the superstar athletes and entertainers that grace his mag's covers.

And it's not just the 300C's image, but also it's practical increase in interior volume, that will endear it to the big and tall among us. Its wheelbase is stretched by a full six inches, and we can tell you after sitting in one at the New York Auto Show that the difference in interior volume is profound.  Back seat passengers sit so far back that an intercom system should be standard equipment so they can communicate with those up front.

And don't forget about all the old money out there that Lincoln has been attracting with its Town Car Executive L. While prices of the 300C LWB have yet to be announced, Chrysler has assured us that it will be substantially under the Town Car's price of around $51,345.

[Source: Automotive News via Winding Road]

How big of a hit will the Chrysler's 300C LWB be? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300CDubsliverylong wheelbaseLongWheelbaseLWBtaxiWed, 21 Jun 2006 12:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/635379/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/21/how-big-of-a-hit-will-the-chrysler-s-300c-lwb-be/635379/article-detail.xml 635379 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/img_5982_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/img_5982.jpg <![CDATA[Aftermarket auto parts now a $34B business in the US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/aftermarket-auto-parts-now-a-34b-business-in-the-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/aftermarket-auto-parts-now-a-34b-business-in-the-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/aftermarket-auto-parts-now-a-34b-business-in-the-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

Showing yet another year of strong growth, the specialty-equipment aftermarket parts business grew by 9 percent in 2005 to end up at $34.3B. That's nearly double the size of the market ten years ago, and in each of those years, the auto aftermarket has grown at a faster rate than the US Gross Domestic Product.

As SEMA points out, the automotive aftermarket in the US now rivals book sales, the pet-care industry, and the coffee business, and is even larger than the global athletic-shoe market. Yeah, sure, everyone needs Starbucks and comfy shoes, but apparently there's just as much demand for mobile audio, nitrous systems, and big wheels.

[Source: SEMA]

Aftermarket auto parts now a $34B business in the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpineclariondaytondubsedelbrockholleynitrous expressnitrous oxideNitrousOxidenosNXrockford fosgateFri, 09 Jun 2006 13:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/631177/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/09/aftermarket-auto-parts-now-a-34b-business-in-the-us/631177/article-detail.xml 631177 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/NOS_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/NOS.jpg <![CDATA[Young drivers going after "grandpa cars"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/young-drivers-going-after-grandpa-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/young-drivers-going-after-grandpa-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/young-drivers-going-after-grandpa-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a rather disturbing trend among younger buyers of new and used cars - the tendency to buy outside of the culturally acceptable boundaries of age and generation. Why, there's an absolute epidemic of young adults, some not even yet out of their teens, cruising around in Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes, Buick Park Avenues, and Chevrolet Caprices! Buick's Lucerne appears to be one of the heirs to the throne currently occupied by Chrysler's 300C, and there are more than a few youngsters roaming around Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln dealerships as well.  

We mock the WSJ only because this isn't a new trend (despite the CNW marketing data - specifically, its "stodgy index" - that shows the emergence of this buying habit). The release of the Chevrolet Impala SS in 1994 attracted buyers that were an amazing 10 years younger than typical Caprice owners, and lit off a B-body customization craze that continues today. Older RWD cars, including the large number of retired police cruisers that hit the market every year, are a blank canvas for the custom crowd. Want to throw it on bags and "lay frame"? No problem. Do you have a desire, as misplaced as it may be, to lift your car four feet and throw on a set of monstrous 28s? Go right ahead - it's as easy as lifting a pickup truck. There's also some serious performance potential. And for those going for a more subdued look, a clean set of dubs on an mid-nineties Buick Riv or Ford* Lincoln Continental is an easy and affordable way to stand out from the sport-compact crowd while still giving yourself and three or four friends plenty of room to stretch out during road trips. Of course, there's an ironic tinge to all this, what with so many pensioners going after 'youth brand' cars like the Scion xB.

In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the author of this Autoblog post owns two vehicles with wire-spoke hubcaps and stand-up hood ornaments.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

*Thanks to the reader who pointed out my error - apparently, driving old-people cars can also cause slight dementia.

Young drivers going after "grandpa cars" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 May 2006 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bagCapriceContinentalCrown VicdonkdubsImpalalay frameLucerneRivieraTue, 09 May 2006 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/616377/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/09/young-drivers-going-after-grandpa-cars/616377/article-detail.xml 616377 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/Caprice-wagon-450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/Caprice-wagon-450.JPG -1 2