American cars? Be careful what you wish for

IT’S the baking heat, one too many cheeseburgers, and The Beach Boys blasting out over the loudspeakers which I blame for my latest motoring misadventure.

Cast your mind back a couple of weeks, to that first swelteringly hot Saturday of July. While you were queuing up for ice cream served by a bald bloke in the back of an ancient Bedford van I was rolling up in the grounds of a stately home in Cheshire that, for the day at least, had become a little overseas corner of California. Acres of nothing but old American cars – that’s the Stars ‘n’ Stripes show at Tatton Park for you.

Old Yank tanks aren’t normally my bag but what started out as a work assignment quickly became an indulgence in fins, chrome and people wearing precious little but denim shorts and cowboy hats. As Sweet Home Alabama belted out of the stereo and I wandered, slightly heat hazed, through a sea of Confederate flags, pick-up trucks and Cadillacs, I might have got a bit carried away with the whole yee-ha-aren’t-American-cars-brilliant thing. I left Tatton Park not just with plenty of pictures, but my very own American dream too.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice, I pondered, to don my best pair of shades, stick on a cowboy hat and get behind the wheel of an American car myself? My head, for about a fortnight afterwards, was full of ideas. Perhaps I could lower the power-operated hood on a ’62 Cadillac – so much cooler than the Thelma and Louisa ’59 model – and cruise down the nearest sun-kissed boulevard, or play the rebel without a clue in a Chevrolet El Camino SS (Google it, trust me). I even entertained the idea, despite the ongoing Queer As Folk connotations in this country, of blagging a go in a Jeep Wrangler.

I really, really, wanted to go for a drive in an American car. Unfortunately, fate dealt me with a cruel hand and gave me one.

True, it was a Chevy, but it wasn’t an old Corvette or Bel Air. It wasn’t even the intriguingly entertaining Camaro Convertible I tried last year. It was a Captiva, which is the Vauxhall Antara’s cheapskate American cousin. Only it isn’t really all that American because – like the Antara – it was developed and made in South Korea. Not that I’d mind if it was any good, but it isn’t. It’s roomy and generously equipped, for sure, but it’s not especially nice to drive, uninspiring to look at, and the materials on the inside feel at least a generation behind most of the competition. It’s not as bad as Ssangyong’s Korando, but that other Korean contender, Kia’s Sportage, runs rings around the Captiva.

Worst of all, it’s a Chevrolet, so you know full well that while your Stateside cousins are lapping up the sunshine in proper American cars, you’re getting lumbered with what’s basically a old Daewoo cast-off. Still, I was looking for a drive in an American car, and I sort of got one.

As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

utes Chevrolet Vehicles as opposed to the actual 50's Kia Vehicles

The actual vehicles in the 1950s had been genuinely design symbols. In the designs towards the architectural, Common Engines as well as Kia designed revolutionary styles which are nevertheless adored through numerous. Go to any kind of traditional vehicle display and you'll observe numerous versions in the 1950s. There's some thing unique regarding these types of automobiles.

Competition because United states carmakers

Kia as well as Common Engines every experienced the aim of identifying exactly what United states customers desired within automobiles as well as attempting to function as the very first organization to provide which item. The actual viewpoint associated with -I could make which better- grew to become common amongst carmakers. The actual United states customer benefited in the extreme competitors between your 2 car titans. Prices had been inexpensive whilst design had been higher. Chevrolet Vehicles Photos with their Kia counterparts had been observed in printing advertisements within papers as well as publications.

Chevrolet Bel Atmosphere

The first 1950s noticed the actual automakers taking a look at retooling aged suggestions. Chevrolet arrived on the scene along with among the very first inexpensive hardtop convertibles within 1950; the actual design had been known as Bel Atmosphere. These people attempted to enhance on the actual aged soft-top vehicles which were simply not achievable within rainfall or even the winter season. GM produced the crossbreed design which supplied the actual convertible encounter whenever opened, but additionally offered the actual comfort and ease as well as safety required from the climate whenever shut. Chevrolet Vehicles Pictures, specially the Bel Atmosphere, had been observed almost everywhere. Within 1950, 74, 634 Bel Airs had been offered as well as Chevrolet obtained it's placement more than Kia because marketplace innovator.

Ford's reaction to Bel Atmosphere: Overhead Victoria

The next 12 months Kia revealed the actual Customized Victoria. This outsold the actual Bel Atmosphere within 1951 through 7, 000 models. The actual architectural from the Customized Victoria consist of a cutting-edge pillarless superstructure. Kia vehicle photos of the design display fantastically thoroughly clean outlines. This particular coupled with the classy inside as well as great overall performance having a flathead V-8 propelled this particular design in order to over shadow the actual Chevrolet Bel Atmosphere.

Ford's Ranchero

Kia defeat Chevrolet within the rollout from the Ranchero design. Regarded as the -crossover-, the actual Ranchero become a huge hit similarly in order to vehicle as well as pickup truck motorists. This shown power functions and will be offering comfort and ease capability. Aged Kia Vehicle Photos from the Ranchero had been the two-door truck using the back portion of the actual roofing removed along with a bedliner put into the ground strategy.

Chevy's response: El Camino

GM's equal in order to Ford's Ranchero had been the actual El Camino. Amongst classic Chevrolet vehicles, the actual El Camino is extremely distinctive to look at. Utilizing an incorporated pick-up container, the four door had been morphed right into a pick-up.

utes Chevrolet Vehicles As opposed to The actual 1950s Kia Vehicles

The actual vehicles in the 1950s had been genuinely design symbols. In the designs towards the architectural, Common Engines as well as Kia designed revolutionary styles which are nevertheless adored through numerous. Go to any kind of traditional vehicle display and you'll observe numerous versions in the 1950s. There's some thing unique regarding these types of automobiles.

Competition because United states carmakers

Kia as well as Common Engines every experienced the aim of identifying exactly what United states customers desired within automobiles as well as attempting to function as the very first organization to provide which item. The actual viewpoint associated with I will help to make which much better grew to become common amongst carmakers. The actual United states customer benefited in the extreme competitors between your 2 car titans. Prices had been inexpensive whilst design had been higher. Chevrolet Vehicles Photos with their Kia counterparts had been observed in printing advertisements within papers as well as publications.

Chevrolet Bel Atmosphere

The first 1950s noticed the actual automakers taking a look at retooling aged suggestions. Chevrolet arrived on the scene along with among the very first inexpensive hardtop convertibles within 1950; the actual design had been known as Bel Atmosphere. These people attempted to enhance on the actual aged soft-top vehicles which were simply not achievable within rainfall or even the winter season. GM produced the crossbreed design which supplied the actual convertible encounter whenever opened, but additionally offered the actual comfort and ease as well as safety required from the climate whenever shut. Chevrolet Vehicles Pictures, specially the Bel Atmosphere, had been observed almost everywhere. Within 1950, 74, 634 Bel Airs had been offered as well as Chevrolet obtained it's placement more than Kia because marketplace innovator.

Fords reaction to Bel Atmosphere: Overhead Victoria

The next 12 months Kia revealed the actual Customized Victoria. This outsold the actual Bel Atmosphere within 1951 through 7, 000 models. The actual architectural from the Customized Victoria consist of a cutting-edge pillarless superstructure. Kia vehicle photos of the design display fantastically thoroughly clean outlines. This particular coupled with the classy inside as well as great overall performance having a flathead V-8 propelled this particular design in order to over shadow the actual Chevrolet Bel Atmosphere.

Fords Ranchero

Kia defeat Chevrolet within the rollout from the Ranchero design. Regarded as the crossover, the actual Ranchero become a huge hit similarly in order to vehicle as well as pickup truck motorists. This shown power functions and will be offering comfort and ease capability. Aged Kia Vehicle Photos from the Ranchero had been the two-door truck using the back portion of the actual roofing removed along with a bedliner put into the ground strategy.

Chevys response: El Camino

GMs equal in order to Fords Ranchero had been the actual El Camino. Amongst Classic Chevrolet vehicles, the actual El Camino is extremely distinctive to look at. Utilizing an incorporated pick-up container, the four door had been morphed right into a pick-up.

The return of the Corvette Stingray

HISTORY has a habit of repeating itself. Here's proof of that in automotive form; fifty years after the fabulous Corvette Sting Ray emerged, there's now a new one on the way.

Chevrolet reckons its new Corvette Stingray - don't worry grammar pedants, it became a single word back in the late Sixties - is the rightful heir to one of the best known names in the sports car business, although whether or not it'll be a hit with sports car fans on this side of the Pond is another matter. There's no doubt, however, that it shares one crucial trait with the split-window orginal, however; the latest Corvette looks, for want of a better word, stunning.

General Motors North America President Mark Reuss said: "Like the ’63 Sting Ray, the best Corvettes embodied performance leadership, delivering cutting-edge technologies, breathtaking design and awe-inspiring driving experiences.

"The all-new Corvette goes farther than ever, thanks to today’s advancements in design, technology and engineering."

The new 'Vette might still be made out of plastic in a factory in Kentucky and it might still be powered by a General Motors V8 engine but the car's makers say it'll be little bit better than its predecessor in just about every way, promising more performance, sharper handling and - wait for it - better fuel economy. GM have also said they weren't prepared to revive the Corvette Stingray unless they make a car good enough to wear the name with pride, so hopes are high it'll have the substance to match its Baywatch style.

The new Corvette goes on sale later this year in America, and odds are over here not too long after that. If it's as fun-packed and keenly priced as the Camaro Convertible Life On Cars drove last year, the Stingray should be a bit of a hit.

I'll have mine in right-hand-drive, please.

those damn Chevy engine reference codes I've never learned

L36 390 hp 427
L48
L68 400 hp 427
L71 435 hp 427
L72 425 hp 427
L78 425 hp 396
L79 350 hp 327
L88 480 to 560 hp 427 only 60 pounds heavier than the L79 (327) but with 130 more hp, it cost $950 more
L89 aluminum heads on the L88 only 16 sets made
the 36 gallon fuel tanks for the coupe were only made in 2 corvettes

L84 mechanical fuel injected 327  360 hp
LT1 370 hp 350 with solid lifters and a carb until 1972, then 255 hp

ZL1 was a special L88, in 1967 20 were made, in1968 80 were made, in 1969 116 were made. 69 went to Gibb Chevy for Camaros, and Duntov got 2 put into customers cars, 1 for his developement mule, and 3 in engineering cars

ZR1 stands for Zora Racer 1.0 (1970-71) this was a drivetrain package with the LT1 engine, M22 trans

ZR2 Zora Racer 2.0 (1972)

LS5 365 hp 454 (1970-71)
LS6 425 hp 454 (1970-71)

8 of the ZR1 LT1 packages were made
12 of the ZR2 LS6 packages were made
Both were heater and radio delete for racing

If anyone knows a source for more of these codes and what they meant in simple terms, please email me a llink at jbohjkl@yahoo.com 

Some lucky guy bought a Camaro from Nickey Chevorolet back in '68... luck-e guy!

in the 60's Nickey Chevrolet was a legend. I mean among the many Chevrolet dealerships you could go to fro crazy horsepower drag racing Camaros, they stood out. There was Baldwin Motion, Yenko, Gibb, Thomas, and Nickey... I think that about covers the legends in Chevy dealerships... did I miss any?

Photo from the Nickey Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nickey-Chicago/90454798582 it's mostly the new Camaros (they are in business to sell cars, not to reminisce... that's what I do)

Fire up the... Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

CHEESEBURGERS. Bottles of Budweiser. Episodes of Friends. Some American ideas, whether you love them or loathe them, just cross the Atlantic well.

Yet American cars, with the notable exception of Jeep, are the exception to the rule; for some reason we Brits just haven't taken to them to our bosom. Now it's the latest Chevrolet Camaro that's oversexed, overpaid and over here, but don't be too quick to dismiss the latest iteration of a Stateside icon.

Sure, the Camaro looks like something that should be in the Transformers movies - which, funnily enough, it is - but you can't deny it's a handsome son of a gun, blending the sculpted good looks of a Hollywood hunk with the bright colours, stripes and shiny bits of metal you'd expect in a Marvel comic. It's a just a shame the interior, which has leather everything and lots of toys to play with, looks a bit cheap by comparision.

Yet the biggest drawback about the Camaro is that in this country it's flummoxed by that other most American of institutions, the drive-thru, because you can only buy the convertible I tested and its coupe sibling in left hand drive. If you're frightened of driving ‘left hookers' on Her Majesty's highways and byways then don't be put off, because it's easy enough to master, but I still reckon it'll severely limit the big, bold Camaro's appeal with buyers over here.

Which is a pity, because Chevrolet have cracked setting up the previously all American Camaro for European tastes - while it's not BMW sharp it's fun to drive in a lazy, laid-back sort of way, the £40,000 pricetag makes it bit of a bargain for a convertible of its size, and because the 400bhp V8 can shut down its cylinders to save fuel it's even vaguely economical to run.

The Camaro is good looking, practical, oodles of fun to potter around in, and - thanks to it being a V8 muscle car - cast iron cool to boot.

Get that steering wheel switched over, Chevrolet, and I reckon you've got a hit on your hands.

Cool ad in the Comic Con magazine, good placement for this ad campaign

SMMT Test Day 2012 at Millbrook Proving Ground - a flavour of what's on the way

 

THE slightly guttural cough that accompanies the bellow of Jaguar’s supercharged V8, fitted to the frantic XKR-S someone had foolishly lent me, was worth the trip alone.

The sun has been shining on the nation’s road testers today – literally, as temperatures soared into the high twenties – at this year’s SMMT Test Day. Even though it meant setting the alarm clock for a depressingly early 4am it’s always worth the journey to the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, partly because it’s an incredible automotive playground in any car, but also because it’s a chance to find out more about some of 2012’s most important new arrivals.

I’ve put no less than 20 different cars through their paces and there’ll be more on here and in The Champion over the next couple of weeks, but to whet your appetite I can offer you a few snippets of automotive enlightenment I’ve picked up:

• The Jaguar XKR-S doesn’t need to have a supercharged 5.3 litre V8 pumping out 542bhp, but boy am I glad it does... 

• The electric entrants are getting better each year – in 2010 I was, er, shocked by what I drove, in 2011 I found a car that I would’ve liked if it hadn’t been cripplingly expensive, but this year I’ve found two that I’d actually buy. With money and everything! 

• I just couldn’t warm to one of this year’s most eagerly-awaited motors, no matter how hard I tried. Clue: it’s got three doors (or is it four?).

• It was a choice of testing 20 cars or queuing, Alton Towers style, to try just one; Subaru’s BRZ, which attracted queues of salivating journalists throughout the day. I’ve no doubt it could be the driver’s hit of the decade but the Life On Cars treatment will have to wait until another day... 

• ...as will a review of Vauxhall’s loopy Maloo pick-up (pictured above, next to the rather fetching vintage Vauxhall) which broke down and got withdrawn from the event just minutes before I was due to have a go. What a rotten bit of luck! Chances are, though, it'll be an awful lot like the VXR8 saloon I tested at Millbrook last year.

• The rebadged batch of Lancias that Chrysler’s taken into its showrooms are a bit of mixed bunch – but the good news is there’s an absolute gem among ‘em.
  
• Nobody I spoke to agreed on their winner of the great city car battle of 2012: Fiat Panda vs Up/Citigo/Mii. I’ll let you know my verdict in the next few weeks.

• It’s still possible to make a bad car, even in this day and age. I know, because I drove at least one today. 

• Chevrolet really ought to make the Camaro in right-hand-drive – it’s a great car for cruising around Wild West Lancashire! 

With variety being the spice of life I was keen to make sure that I didn't just stick to the shiny supercars (tempting though it was), and try and test a broad variety of cars that are significant in one way or other this year. That's why the 19 cars I drove included a Fiat, two VWs, two Chryslers, two Jaguars, a Land Rover, a Suzuki, a SEAT, a Ssangyong, two Vauxhalls, a Renault, a MINI, a BMW, two Hyundais and a Chevrolet. 

I’ll keep you posted...

optioned out Chevy, even has the armrest

 plus the GM compass, umbrella and holder, delux steering wheel, and kleenex dispenser

Good car I must sell, Chevrolet Cruze Eco, 2011 model year, gets about 40 mpg on the freeway, owned exactly 14 months, 18,500 miles

This Cruze Eco model is the lightweight, no spare tire, lightweight rims, built in aerodynamic variation blades in the grill to vary the amount of air into the radiator and lessen the drag coefficient when at higher speeds.

It's all made to get you better gas mileage than the ridiculously twice as expensive hybrid cars... no joke.

I just spent all Saturday cleaning and detailing the interior, it looks as good as the day I got it from Courtesy Chevrolet here in San Diego's Mission Valley, last April.

It has a dash pad to keep the sun from damaging the dash, and the front seat had covers on til last week... I forgot to take off the seat uppers, so those too are immaculate.

XM/Sirius, all the AC/PS/PB stuff, USB link and Blutooth link from your cell to the car stereo, the back seat has never been used, nothing's ever been spilled in it, and it's got all the paperwork from the dealership since day one. Window sticker, booklets for all the OnStar, XM/Sirius, etc etc.

1.4 liter turbo engine, 6 speed manual with overdrive, front wheel drive with traction control, and here is the PRAISE from Car and Driver magazine http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2011-chevrolet-cruze-eco-drive-chevy-cruze-review on a drive from Los Angeles to San Diego in a manual-equipped Eco, the (probably optimistic) trip computer showed an average of 43.8 mpg, with most of our cruising done at 80 mph with the air conditioning on

email me at jbohjkl@yahoo.com if you want to buy it, taking over payments is cool too, this car is financed through GM Financial / Ally whatever they call themselves, and if you have good credit like I do, I'd guess you'd get the 1.9 or 2.9 % I did. No, I don't remember which one it was, it doesn't matter that much to me which one, they are both good, and this isn't a house where the tenths of a % matter. 

Chevrolet to offer cool Camaro to UK customers

AVEO, Captive, Cruze and Orlando. The names of these Chevrolets - now a familar sight on Britain's roads - aren't exactly evocative of the company's American heritage.

Things, however, are about to change if you mosey on down to your nearest Chevrolet showroom, after the company confirmed that UK buyers will now be able to buy officially-imported versions of the current Camaro for the first time.

Chevrolet UK, which can draw its origins back to the rather humbler roots of Daewoo's former operations in this country, is excited about having a model which can draw more directly on Chevy's all-American heritage in its showrooms.

A spokesperson for the company said this week: “There ain’t no muscle like Detroit muscle, and British fans of the iconic cars that ruled American roads throughout the 1960s can now place orders for the modern incarnation of one of the greatest muscle cars of all time – the Chevrolet Camaro.

”Priced at £34,995 for the Coupe or £39,995 for the soft-top Convertible model, the new Camaro exudes all of the attributes that made the original muscle cars famous – great performance, stunning looks and incredible value for money.“

The Camaro is one of America's best known muscle car brands, and trace its roots back to the mid 1960s when General Motors decided to take on Ford's all-conquering Mustang in a bid to bring younger buyers into its showrooms. Although the car's now something of an institution in the States, Brit buyers have long been denied the Camaro and the faster Corvette sports cars.

General Motors did import a small number of the previous generation Camaro into the UK in the 1990s, but despite its competitive price and ample power it failed to attract large numbers of buyers, but that was before Chevrolet established itself as a brand in its own right in this country and before the current, retro-styled generation arrived.

If you're up for an all-American muscle car which thumps out 432bhp from a 6.2 litre V8 - they don't do political correctness in the States - get yourself down to Chevrolet's showrooms in the spring.

On the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet, a look at it's roots, it's first dealership, and the town where that dealership has been a part of the community for 94 years

Episode One: Bridgeville | Welcome to Bridgeville | The Road We're On | Chevy Centennial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WtX-Cp_w2I  this is in 1080 res, high def, full screen if you select the settings on the bottom of the video

each video is about 2 minutes long

Thanks to Jeffers High grad Dan at Big Fuel Communications for letting me know about this video, episode one, and the rest of the series that follows you can see by clicking on the episode at the end of each one you've watched

Episode 2: The Colussys
Dating back to 1918, the Colussy family owns and operates the oldest Chevy dealership in the United States
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPnOmoijfoI&feature=relmfu

Episode 3: Half Mile of Dirt
24 year old driver Jared Miley carries on the traditions and breaks new ground with his family-run race team
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZEg2kNCcds&feature=relmfu

Episode 4: Steel Roots
Lisa Baer, a 4th generation steel contractor, tells the story of taking over a family business and the importance of keeping businesses local
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqAJD04hEvY&feature=relmfu

Episode 5: History of Bridgeville
The story of how Bridgeville, PA came to be what it is today and what it will be tomorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBvaMMUU_kk&feature=relmfu

Episode 6: The Road Ahead
What does the future of mobility hold for a small town in America?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoXAteTr14M&feature=relmfu

Episode 7: Sarasnick's
The story of the Sarasnick's and how they helped build their family-run business helped build their community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T41CVhx1k2Q

Episode 8: Me & My Chevy
A look at local car clubs and profiles of vintage auto enthusiasts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YcdiQwIeTA&feature=related

You may have never heard of a Chevrolet Parkwood and Brookwood... that is because no one seems to have a thing for station wagons, I was surprised to see them at Goodguys!

 cool rabbit, I doubt anyone else but Von Dutch ever did a pinstriped rabbit.  http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/ever-come-across-von-dutch-tribute.html

Parkwood above has 4 doors, Brookwood below has 2 doors

Great advertising theme... from father to son, Chevy runs deep (son searches for 5 years to find his dad's Impala SS, and gives it to his dad)

Short tv commercial above, full length story below of finding the car after looking across 6 states and Canada below... worth watching the full thing!

And the father and sons were at the LA Auto Show by invitation of Chevrolet, with the 65 Impala SS http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/11/18/herb-younger-and-his-1965-impala-ss-396-make-appearance-at-the-l-a-auto-show/

I didn't know it, but about a week ago Dan at Hemmings posted all about this http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/11/09/chevrolet-at-100-pulling-on-your-heartstrings/
I just watched the commercial on tv and had to add this to my blog... great bloggers think alike



The first commercial reminded me of the video I posted years ago about a son who delivers a car to his dad at work

Chevy info / trivia / interesting stuff found in Automobile Magazines 100 years of Chevrolet

Founded by Billy Durant, it was one of three car companies he founded that year (he had founded GM years before, but got fired) He founded 2 more companies the next year

Durant did so well with Chevy, that by 1915, he took over control of GM... yeah, Chevy bought out GM.

The depression in 1920 jsut decimated his businesses., and he left in Dec, 1920

When Chevrolet started in business, there were 270 car companies in America

How American is Chevrolet? Well, Louis Chevrolet was Swiss, Zora Arkus Duntov was Belgian... you get the point right? Immigrants are Americas greatest asset, and they made Chevy and GM one of the few comapnies to survive 100 years, and one of only a handful of car manufacturers to stay in the car making business for 100 years or more.

Durant wanted to capitalize on Louis Chevrolet's racing notoriety, and had Lou design a car. It was completed in 1912. Lou quit because Durant nagged about his smoking, and went on to design Indy winning race cars, and found the Frontenac car company

1915 was the year Chevy tried to compete with the less expensive Ford, and made the 490 which was the same price as the Ford (Fiat 500 was the cost in thousands of Lira for a cinquecento) Ford retaliated by dropping his price by 50 bucks. Lots of money in 1915

1923 Chevy had 500 copper air fin equipped cars available, as this early in the car making development process, getting water cooling to work wasn't perfected for another 30 years, and the Franklin was successful as an aircooled engine... they work fine in hot climates, like the American mid and southwest.
The Copper Cooled Chevys were a flop, they detonated terrribly, and of the 100 bought by customers, all but 2 were reaquired by Chevy, AND DUMPED THEM IN LAKE EIRE!

Fangio's first big victory was in a Chevy Master 85. It was an endurance race round trip Buenos Aires to Lima and back

The longest running nameplate in auto history is the Chevy Suburban, launched in 1935

The 55 Chevy Bel Air grill design was ripped off from Ferrari. It only was used in 55.

Chevy's first international competition win was a 1953 210 sedan in the La Carrera Panamericana

1960 Daytona 500, the Junior Johnson Chevy was 20 mph slower than the leading Pontiacs,... and Junior discovered drafting, and won the race. He'd been in prison for running moonshine in 57 and couldn't race in first NASCAR Grand National Championship

Jim Halls Chaparral 2J "sucker car" used a 2 stroke snowmobile engine to produce suction in the ground effects race car to capitalize on the design

The Nassau Speed Week of Dec 1963 proved that the Corvette Grand Sport could beat the Shelby Cobras and Ferrari 250 GTOs ... but that was the last call for Chevy in racing before the AMA ban. Zora was about to take them to Sebring and LeMans

The Chevy LUV (light utility vehicle) was the first Chevy sold in the US built by a foreign manufacturer. Isuzu

The Vega had 2 notorious recalls, the rear tires falling off, and the carb filling with gas til it spilled out onto the engine onto overheating aluminum engines

GM went into partnership with Toyota to get better manufacturing processes and production systems, and reopened a GM facility in Fremont Ca, and Toyota would gain experience in building cars in the US. UAW workers were flown to Japan, learned the Toyota way, production began in 1984, was an immediate success, and they built 8 million cars before shutting down in 2009. The things learned from Toyota were implemented in GM in 1992

Dick Guldstrand was commisioned to make a high speed Corvette to test Bridgestones, he hit 176 at Talledega . It's in the auction cycle right now, and it didn't sell at 40 thou.

Evolution of the Chevy bowtie logo

found in the Nov 2011 Automobile magazine