This 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Sedan Delivery is said to have been refurbished in the early 2000s and was acquired by the current owner in September 2019. It is powered by a 350ci V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, and modifications reportedly include a boxed chassis with an independent front suspension as well as a Chevrolet 10-bolt rear end, front and rear sway bars, and a relocated fuel tank. Finished in off-white and green, the car is equipped with 15″ steel wheels, chrome Chevrolet-branded hubcaps, front disc brakes, power steering, a chrome grille and bumpers, air conditioning, and a Pioneer CD stereo. This JB-series Chevrolet is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner with an extra front grille, a fitted cover, battery charging cables, and a clean California title in the owner’s name.
The seller notes that the body was refinished in its current combination of off-white and green with red pinstripes as part of the aforementioned refurbishment and fitted over a boxed frame. The grille and bumpers are said to have been re-chromed under current ownership and replacement tinted glass was installed in the rear and side doors. Exterior features include smoothed drip rails, composite rear fenders, amber cat-eye front fog lamps, turn signals integrated into the headlights, dual brake lights, and a retractable antenna. Paint meter readings are shown in the gallery below.
Color-matched 15″ artillery-style wheels wear chrome Chevrolet-branded hubcaps and are mounted with 225/75 BFGoodrich whitewall tires that are said to have been installed following the seller’s acquisition. Braking is handled by front discs featuring a remote power brake booster. The seller notes that the shocks were replaced under current ownership. Independent front suspension and front and rear sway bars are fitted. A power rack-and-pinion steering system with spline couplers was installed in September 2022.
The cabin houses bucket seats that are equipped with lumbar adjustment and upholstered in maroon cloth. Coordinated carpets, door panels, and cargo area paneling are fitted. Amenities include a Vintage Air air conditioning system, an analog clock, map pockets, and lap belts as well as a Pioneer CD head unit linked to aftermarket speakers and an amplifier.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel is mounted on a Flaming River tilting column and sits ahead of Classic Instruments gauges featuring a 120-mph speedometer flanked by readouts for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The six-digit mechanical odometer shows 8k miles, which is said to indicate the distance traveled since the completion of the build. Approximately 1k miles were added under current ownership, and true mileage is unknown.
The seller notes that the 350ci Chevrolet V8 was installed under prior ownership and is equipped with polished aluminum valve covers with a matching air cleaner assembly in addition to electronic ignition, a Weber carburetor, an Edelbrock performance intake, and a radiator with an electrostatic fan. The fuel tank is said to be a 16-gallon polyurethane unit that has been relocated to the rear of the car. Service under current ownership has reportedly included replacing the battery, starter, and spark plugs in addition to performing an oil change.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed 700R4 automatic transmission with overdrive and a 10-bolt rear end with a 3.50:1 final drive ratio, according to the seller. A dual exhaust system with Super Turbo mufflers is fitted.
This 1935 Chevrolet school bus was produced by Superior Body Company and was refurbished and modified under prior ownership. Power comes from a 454ci V8 paired with a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission, and the bus is finished in yellow with black accents over a reconfigured interior with mixed seating for 11. Additional features include air conditioning, tinted windows, an Alpine CD stereo, and a rear entertainment system with a fold-down flat screen and a DVD player. This modified school bus was acquired by the selling dealer in 2022 and is now offered at no reserve in Texas with a conditional Georgia title.
Superior Body Company operated from 1909 to 1980 under various names and produced school buses in Lima, Ohio. This example was reportedly refinished in yellow under prior ownership and features black accent stripes and “Just Kiddin’” side decals. Additional details include a chrome front bumper, chrome headlight hardware, tinted windows, a folding entry door, a black rear bumper, and an emergency-exit rear door. Scratches are visible in the paint on the rear door.
Silver 19″ wheels are wrapped in Linglong tires up front and 225/70 Aurora tires out back. The bus is equipped with power steering, power-assisted brakes, and a dually rear axle. An anti-sway bar has reportedly been installed.
The cab is equipped with a high-back driver seat upholstered in red vinyl along with a matching padded arm rest, lower dash panel, and black carpeting. Features include a lap belt, a floor shifter, a lever for opening the folding entry door, a multi-panel rear-view mirror, air conditioning, and an Alpine CD stereo.
The four-spoke steering wheel features a Chevrolet-logo center cap and sits ahead of a 120-mph speedometer along with gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The five-digit odometer shows 5k miles, approximately 300 of which were added by the selling dealer. Total mileage is unknown.
The rear compartment features seating for 10 with four forward-facing seats and two inward-facing benches. Amenities include crank side windows, overhead lighting, collapsible cup holders, a Pyle fold-down flat-screen monitor, a DVD player, and audio speakers.
The replacement 454ci V8 was installed under prior ownership and sends power to the rear wheels through a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes an open-element air cleaner, an aluminum radiator, an electric cooling fan, exhaust headers, and a dual exhaust system. The oil was changed in preparation for the sale.
Additional underside photos can be viewed in the gallery below.
This REO Speed Wagon pickup was the subject of a custom build conducted over a multi-decade period by its previous owner, and it is powered by a 460ci Ford V8 mated to a C6 three-speed automatic transmission. The truck is finished in yellow over gray upholstery, and the body was modified with a custom-fabricated bed assembly and Chevrolet-sourced front fenders. Additional modifications include a replacement Ford truck frame, a dually rear axle, power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, 16″ wheels, bucket seats, and a touchscreen media unit. Acquired by the selling dealer in 2022, this modified REO is now offered at no reserve with a clean Oregon title listing it as a 1942 REO pickup.
The body was customized, mounted over a replacement Ford-sourced frame, and refinished in yellow during the build according to the seller, who notes the hood and fenders have been welded together to form a front-hinged clamshell-style enclosure. Exterior details include a custom-fabricated bed and tailgate, Cadillac-style taillights, Chevrolet-model front fenders and headlights, chrome bumpers, fresh-air vents, side mirrors, and REO badging and graphics.
The eight-lug 16″ wheels wear chrome covers and are wrapped 225/60 Cooper tires. Braking is handled by power-assisted front discs and rear drums, and the truck is equipped with power steering. The suspension utilizes leaf springs in the rear along with twin I-beams and coil springs up front.
The interior of the cab features bucket seats clad in gray cloth and vinyl upholstery along with color-coordinated carpeting and body-color surfaces. A touchscreen media unit is mounted at the center of the dash, and the truck is equipped with provisions for air conditioning, although the seller notes the compressor is disconnected and the system is inoperative.
A three-spoke steering wheel frames aftermarket instrumentation including an 80-mph speedometer and readings for voltage, temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer displays 153k miles, and actual mileage is unknown.
The 460ci V8 features polished Ford Racing-branded valve covers and a matching treatment for the air cleaner housing. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a C6 three-speed automatic transmission. An oil change was completed in preparation for the sale.
Additional photos showing the suspension, chassis, and underside of the bed, as well as spots of corrosion on the underside are presented in the gallery below.
The VIN listed on the Oregon title corresponds with the sequence 119XHS6782 stamped on the frame.
If I’m correct, the average American male is 5’9”, the average woman being 5’4”. If you’re taller than the former or simply overweight, it’s possible you may not fit in a Lotus Elise. The company has had its ups and downs but, during those moments, no one could ever accuse Lotus of following the herd. While the Millennium found Lotus working with other manufacturers in order to survive, its incarnation would have founder Colin Chapman saluting the Elise if he were alive. For that reason, the Pick of the Day is 2005 Lotus Elise listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Tempe, Arizona.
The Elise made its debut at the end of 1996. Weighing in at just over 1,600 pounds, the Elise carried on the Lotus tradition after a host of supercar-esque models from the 1970s. With a vehicle so light, it didn’t take much horsepower to give it strong performance; in this case, a 118-horsepower 1.8-liter Rover inline-four was good for sub-6-second sprints to 0-60. Higher states of tune were available — up to 192. Considering Lotus’ MO is all about lightness and handling, the Elise was fulfilling the Lotus promise that had fallen by the wayside for years.
The Series 2 debuted at the end of 2000, mainly due to changing European safety standards. The little company that could, so to speak, acquired a partner in General Motors to help financially with the upgrades (and resulting in the Lotus-based Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220). The base engine was the same Rover 1.8, though now with 120 horsepower, with options up to 192 horsepower. But then, in 2004, Lotus began to use a DOHC 1.8-liter Toyota engine, though tuned by Lotus. For 2005, Americans got their first chance at an Elise, with the 189-horsepower four was good for sub-5-second 0-60 sprints, and even better with the Sport package. A facelifted Series 3 version was introduced in 2010, but Americans would only get one more year to buy one as Elise would disappear for 2012 due to a safety standard upgrade that Lotus decided to forego. For the rest of the world, it would continue just until a few months ago, some with a supercharger.
This Scottsdale, Arizona-based 2005 Lotus Elise has had one owner in its entire existence on this Earth. The original female owner has driven this bunch of British energy just 32,000 miles, and she kept every piece of documentation to show that the Elise was properly maintained. The Formula Red sportster is powered by a 190-horse Toyota 1.8-liter 2ZZ engine that is harnessed by a six-speed manual. Other features include 16-inch alloys wrapped in Yokohamas, sport seats, removable soft targa top, upgraded stereo including CD, and such niceties like air conditioning, power windows and keyless entry. “The beautiful sport interior is very clean and looks amazing!” claims the seller. “The [leather] seats have really held up well with no scuffs or ware lines.” No “Prince of Darkness” funny stuff from the days of old — “everything works in the car: lights, gauges, radio, seats, windows, locks, a/c blows ice cold, etc.” The Elise also comes with its original manuals and keys.
For $39,900, this 2005 Lotus Elise can be yours. With clean CARFAX and AutoCheck, you can have peace of mind. There haven’t been many pure sports cars in the American market in recent memory that haven’t weighed two tons, so if you wish for something pristine in the manner that Colin Chapman intended, look no further.
If one needs any further proof that the rat rod and gasser movements are just two peas in a pod, take a look at this 1951 Chevrolet gasser listed for sale on Hemmings.com, a car that blends elements of both into a drivable conglomeration of assorted parts. Underneath, it’s standard gasser with the straight front axle, parallel leaf springs, and square-tube ladder bars in the back. Stone simple. While gassers of yore tended to run something far larger than a small-block Chevrolet, the 350 between the fenders at least has an excessive amount of carburetion atop a Weiand tunnel ram, open headers, and a laundry list of internal modifications.
With new floors, the body’s rust free, according to the seller, but that’s not to say it’s perfect, what with the pieces of other Chevrolets patched into the quarters, the dents throughout, and the heavy patina underneath the retro lettering and decals. It wouldn’t be a rat rod without a bottle opener bolted somewhere to the body, but the inside is where it goes full-on piecemeal. The seats came out of an airport shuttle bus, the door panels and carpet and headliner have been dispensed with, there’s some remnants of a sparkle vinyl custom interior, and no seats or rear bulkhead separate the driver from the fuel cell in the trunk.
All that said, the car reportedly runs and drives well and recently benefited from a new brake master cylinder. According to the seller, it’ll probably need new rear tires as well as a steering stabilizer and rear glass. In addition, while the gleeful thumbing of the nose at safety is the raison d’être of any rat rod, we’d argue that at least the front suspension should be re-engineered to remove those lift blocks.
Car fans both new and experienced know that the American car industry has produced more than a few amazing machines. Of course, many drivers will immediately think of the Mustang or Corvette. But the truth is that US manufacturers have produced many more pure sports cars. Some of them never achieved mainstream success and some did, and many more were controversial.
All of these cars featured powerful engines, streamlined bodies, and exciting performance. Some of these inspired their own kind of controversy as well. So today we’ll concentrate on controversial models that sparked discussion amongst the fans. These cars erupted on the scene and offered more questions than answers. Check out the American sports cars that divided the auto world right here.
Photo Credit: Motor1
Callaway Aerowagen
Rives Callaway established Callaway Cars in 1977, long after the muscle car craze wound down. At the time, high-horsepower performance machines were a thing of the past. He specialized in producing turbocharger kits for European cars. His knowledge, expertise and the start of the turbo era perfectly lined up. As a result, the company took off (via Callaway Cars). During the 1980s, Callaway became known for its series of fast, obscenely powerful Corvettes.
Photo Credit: Motor1
Today, almost 30 years later, Callaway is back with the Aerowagen conversion model. Based on a brand-new C7 Corvette available on all trim levels, the Aerowagen is a conversion kit directly from Callaway or authorized dealers. The kit includes a special rear hatch assembly that transforms the C7 Corvette into a fully functional shooting brake. Small companies produced several shooting brake/wagon conversions on various Corvette models. Still, Callaway’s design is the most advanced, well-designed, and tested. Overall, it improved the design by making it more practical.
Recent reports claim that Renault, via its Alpine sub-brand, may return to the U.S. market sometime before the end of the decade. Those same reports note that Renault last sold cars here in the States in 1987, but that’s a) not for lack of trying, and b) not really the case, considering U.S. car buyers have been buying Renaults almost the entire time since.
As Automotive News reported last week, Laurent Rossi, the CEO of Alpine, plans to increase the sub-brand’s sales volume and product portfolio from the 3,500 Alpine 110s that it sold last year to more than 150,000 examples of at least three models by 2030. “We want to go to the U.S., which will create the bulk of the extra volume,” he said. While Rossi has plans to introduce a small EV resurrecting the Renault 5 model name in Europe, his U.S. plans center around a midsize electric crossover and a larger electric crossover to be introduced sometime in 2027 or 2028.
Eagle Medallion 1989 Advert USA “Expect The Best”
When did Renault leave the U.S. market?
The Automotive News article makes note of Renault’s partial ownership of AMC that ended when Chrysler bought the latter in 1987 but also claims Renault models were last sold in the U.S. in the early 1990s. Both are true.
Renault started exporting cars to the United States before World War I but sales of its luxury cars had slacked even before the onset of the Depression, and Renault didn’t re-establish itself in the States until the introduction of the Caravelle and Dauphine, the latter of which often came close to eclipsing the Volkswagen Beetle’s U.S. sales figures in the late Fifties and early Sixties. The French carmaker took third run at the U.S. market in 1979 when it entered an agreement with AMC to sell its cars through the latter’s dealership network. That agreement led Renault to take a 22.5 percent interest in AMC the following year, which Renault expanded to 46.4 percent in 1982.
The partnership ended up benefiting both parties. Renault got to sell Jeeps in Europe. AMC netted a massive infusion of cash from Renault and was able to invest in its Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada. The two automakers even began to collaborate on design, engineering, and product development, resulting in the Renix fuel injection system for Jeeps and the Renault Alliance compact front-wheel-drive sedan. Under Georges Besse’s leadership, the French government-owned Renault began to turn a profit, with AMC right on its heels.
While some sources point to Besse’s assassination in November 1986 in Paris as the main reason why Renault decided to sell AMC and Jeep to Chrysler, Besse and Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca had already started talking about cooperative ventures (resulting in AMC building some Chrysler cars in Brampton) and the potential for more as early as the spring of 1986. Besse and Iacocca’s discussion about selling AMC to Chrysler even took on a codename, Project Titan, according to Pat Foster’s “American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker.”
The sale proceeded in March 1987 with the stipulation that Chrysler would sell the Renault 21-based Medallion – which went on sale as a Renault just eight days before the sale – for five years. Chrysler essentially left it alone for the 1988 model year, rebadged it as an Eagle for the 1989 model year, then discontinued it altogether. The Alliance, despite early reports that Chrysler would continue to market it and despite the existence of press kits for a 1988 model year Alliance, came to an end in June 1987. The Encore, Le Car, and other Renault models sold via AMC dealerships, had all been discontinued well before the Chrysler purchase.
Renault’s Chrysler LH legacy
That’s not to say Renault vanished entirely from the American market in the late Eighties. AMC and Renault had for several years been working on the Giugiaro-designed, Renault 25-based Premier full-size sedan, and pre-production prototypes were spotted with Renault badging. As with the Medallion, Chrysler’s purchase agreement also stipulated that the company would continue to sell the Premier at least through 1992, with a minimum sales figure of 300,000 over that five-year period, so Chrysler put an Eagle badge on it and sold 117,000 Premieres – plus another 21,000 badge-engineered Dodge Monacos – through 1992. (According to some reports, parts bearing the Renault logo could be found on Premieres through the 1989 model year.)
Even then, that wasn’t the last of Renault. The Premiere’s chassis, complete with its longitudinal front-wheel-drive layout, had been designed under Francois Castaing when he served as AMC’s head of product engineering and development, and he was loathe to let it expire so soon, so when he transitioned to Chrysler’s vice presidency of engineering, Castaing made sure the Premier lived on as the basis for Chrysler’s lineup of LH “cab-forward” cars. The chassis packaging, the suspension, and all of the hard points became the basis for the LH platform, which underpinned a number of Chrysler products, among them the Eagle Vision, the Chrysler Concorde/New Yorker/LHS, the Dodge Intrepid, and later, the Chrysler 300M. The LH cars rolled off the same Brampton platform, and Chrysler’s prototypes even ran around disguised as Premieres.
(We’ll note here that Castaing and Renault engineers also had a hand in the development of not just the Jeep XJ Cherokee but also the Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee, two SUVs widely heralded for their European influences on their introductions. Credit for the former, however, goes to Roy Lunn and Bob Nixon while the latter is often attributed to Castaing and Larry Shinoda, and neither was based on a Renault platform.)
Certainly, none of the Premiere’s or LH cars’ parts carried Renault logos anymore, but strong Renault influence on cars sold on American soil remained unbroken through the end of LH production in the 2004 model year.
Re-introduced as Nissans
Renault certainly wasn’t making money on the LH cars, so it started to eye a return to the U.S. market as early as 1999, this time through another alliance: the one it entered into with Nissan that year. As reported not long after the alliance was announced in March 1999, Renault executives had planned to sell its cars in the United Stated badged as Nissans. Louis Schweitzer, chairman and chief executive of Renault, told reporters that Renault had no plans to use Nissan’s assembly plants in Tennessee, but “you may find a product (in the United States) that looks like a Renault, but they would be called Nissans.”
That report predicted the alliance would pay off as early as 2003 with jointly developed cars rolling off the same assembly line. That wouldn’t actually happen until 2006, when Nissan introduced the Versa and the Sentra, with the latter built on the Nissan/Renault C platform (the same platform that underpinned the Renault Megane II) and the former riding a stretched version of the Nissan/Renault C platform (the same that underpinned the Renault Clio III). A number of other Nissan products sold in the United States since then – including the Cube, the Juke, the Rogue, and the Murano – have used one of multiple common chassis designed by Renault and Nissan.
Of course, none of those vehicles have carried the Renault diamond logo on their grilles, and it remains to be seen whether the Alpines planned for later this decade actually arrive for a fourth run of Renaults in the States. Or is that fifth? Sixth? We’re about to lose count here.
For a $75 ticket price, visitors to the Sedona, Arizona area can sign up for a Jeep tour to get up-close and personal with the picturesque countryside. Most outfitters provide passengers with an open-air, bumpy jump-seat introduction to the wilderness – with dust, mud, and weather conditions included at no extra charge!
While Sedona’s 3.3-mile round-trip drive on Broken Arrow Trail to the “Chicken Point” Lookout is relatively short in length, it is one of the more technical stretches of road in Sedona for off-road enthusiasts. In fact, the trail’s entry point has a rock obstacle that locals called the “Gatekeeper.” It serves as a deterrent for people who do not have the driving skill level – or the automotive equipment – to continue and traverse the pass safely.
2023 Honda Pilot
Recently, Honda hosted a handful of journalists in Sedona for the press launch of the all-new fourth-generation Honda Pilot three-row crossover, and I was among the lucky attendees to be part of it. I saddled up in the driver seat of a Pilot TrailSport with Honda development team member Jed Aston at my side in the passenger seat. He coached me on the ins and outs of not only my off-roading strategy, but also the merits of the vehicle that he and his team have been invested in for the last five years.
Based on my experience conquering Broken Arrow: Jed and his teammates nailed it.
Pilot Model History
The Pilot is now 20 years old which oddly enough means the oldest generation is approaching classic status. First launched in 2003, this three-row, midsize crossover has been a hit for the Honda brand, selling over 100,000 units per year consistently for over the past decade. As Honda’s largest sport-utility vehicle, the Pilot developed a reputation for its versatile cargo-carrying capacity, smooth ride, and multi-terrain qualifications.
Each generation has evolved in size, equipment, and capability in the two decades that followed, with the second generation launching in 2009 and the third generation 2016. Exterior lines became sleeker as the years went on, with the third-generation achieving a ten percent reduction in drag compared to the prior version. Along with the design revisions, technology and powertrains received similar attention: In 2017, all trims except for LX received Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And in 2021, a new nine-speed transmission became standard across the board.
To some folks, the Pilot drifted away from its go-anywhere objective, since design aesthetic used softer lines and the underpinnings were primarily street-focused. Engineers set out to change that direction for 2023.
What’s New for 2023
The fourth-generation Pilot was first revealed in November 2022 and went into production the following month at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama manufacturing facility. Designers set out to create a more capable Pilot no matter the terrain. With that in mind, the length, wheelbase, and track width were increased. The hood was lengthened, and the side profile received a strong horizontal beltline. Following are some specifics on the features Honda updated.
Interior
Honda resurrected some fan favorites to the equipment list, including a shallow parcel shelf on the passenger side of the dashboard for smaller items. The lower tray in the center console can accommodate two smartphones side by side, too. Design team representatives joked, “We all know what that feels like to lose a cell phone between the seat and the center console, so why not build a place to put it?”
I did not get the chance to put the second or third rows to the test, but that is one area where the new Pilot shines. In a class-exclusive feature, on most Pilot trim levels, the center seat in the second row is removable and can be stowed in a cargo tray at the rear of the vehicle. This reminded me of the first-generation CR-V which offered a folding picnic table in the same area – a typical display Honda innovation and space-efficiency.
Adding to that list of interior enhancements are 14 cupholders, a configurable 10.2-inch digital display on Elite models, illuminated USB charging ports, and an available Bose 12-speaker audio system.
Powertrain
Under the hood resides a 3.5-liter J-Series V6 with output of 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque — a five-horsepower bump from the previous model. Torque is transferred to all four corners through a 10-speed automatic transmission (incidentally, that is double the number of gears that propelled the first-generation Pilot). Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system (a first for the Pilot) detects and corrects wheel spin. Honda did not make mention of any upcoming hybrid or EV Pilot variants, and fuel economy is rated at 20 miles per gallon combined city/highway.
Packaging
In typical Honda fashion, there are a variety of trim levels available on the new Pilot: LX, Sport, TrailSport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Pricing points range from $35,950 to $52,030.
In the prior generation Pilot, Honda started pushing the Pilot more into the off-road realm by adding the TrailSport trim in 2022. This offering grows even more comprehensive in the newest Pilot, offering equipment such as a one-inch suspension lift, distinct 18-inch wheels, a standard hitch, three skid plates, recovery points, a tuned suspension, stabilizer bars, hill descent control, all-terrain tires, a full-size spare tire, and unique trim.
Piloting the Pilot
Now the important part: How’s the drive? The terrain around Sedona was the perfect proving ground for our evaluation, as we set out to explore the region on pre-determined routes.
The first half of my day took place in on-road driving environments, where I had the opportunity to sample TrailSport and Elite models in a roughly 50-mile loop near the Prescott National Forest and Highway 89A. The Pilot is as predictable and confidence-inspiring as an everyday passenger car, even with its higher clearance and cargo versatility. The 3.5-liter V6 provided good punch without being intrusive in noise or harshness. I enjoyed opening the panoramic roof, which Honda pointed out is a class-exclusive feature for an eight-passenger vehicle.
The Sedona area had seen rain and snow in the days leading up to the event, so the back roads were slick. In fact, Broken Arrow Trail was closed in the early morning hours to allow the frost to melt, but I got to experience it later in the day in a TrailSport model.
My takeaway of the experience was just how easy the Pilot made things. The “point and shoot” confidence made for an impressive feeling, especially since I had heard from Jeep-owning friends how technical the trail could be. Some sections of the road were narrow, so Jed and I used the sideview and bird’s eye camera angles on the “TrailWatch” system to get a better look at our surroundings on the nine-inch touchscreen monitor.
We were also able to put the new Hill Descent Control feature to a test. It holds a constant low speed and manipulates the brake and accelerator to minimize slip. There were times when particularly rugged terrain brushed the underside. “It’s designed for that,” Jed said. The skid plates are engineered to take the entire weight of the vehicle upon impact – that’s how durable they are. I found the turning radius, ride, and traction-control systems to be well optimized for the climb. The stunning view at the summit was a crowning reward for the engineering team who worked hard to refine this vehicle for precisely these types of adventures.
Takeaways
If history holds true, Honda will have a hit on its hands with this latest version of the popular Pilot. It’s a gateway to adventure in the outdoors – not to mention it offers a lot more creature comforts than a foam jump-seat in a Jeep tour convoy. As we passed each Jeep group on the trail from the comfort of our smooth ride, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and modern conveniences, I tried to keep my sly grin to myself. The Pilot is just that good.
Stay tuned to more on the ClassicCars.com Journal about the upcoming Pilot and other models.
Numerous classic cars crossed the stage on Monday at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction and the Top 10 sales showed the diversity of vehicles available on the docket.
Top 10 sales from Monday
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz1959 Chevrolet Impala custom coupe1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS re-creation1969 Ford Mustang custom coupe1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS
