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
General Motors has filed a patent application for an augmented reality (AR) auto-dimming windshield to protect drivers from the glare of oncoming headlights.
First spotted by Motor1, the application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and published Jan. 17, 2023. It describes a lot of added hardware, including an AR head-up display, sensors to detect the amount of light shining on the windshield, and smart glass that allows the amount of light transmitted through the windshield to be electrically tuned.
General Motors Augmented head-up display patent
If the sensors detect that light shining in the direction of the driver is above a certain threshold, a specific section of the windshield will dim to keep the driver from being blinded. The system detects the position of the driver’s eyes, the position of the vehicle creating the glare, and dims a portion of the windshield to protect the driver. It also creates an image of the offending vehicle on the windshield in the proper position.
This type of system could be a good defense against other drivers who forget to turn their high beams off, although the proliferation of automatic high beams in new cars will make that less of an issue as time goes on.
Auto-dimming mirrors are also a common feature in new cars today, but the idea laid out in this patent application takes the idea a step further. Current auto-dimming mirrors dim across their entire surface, rather than targeting a specific area of glare.
General Motors Augmented head-up display patent
AR tech means the auto-dimming function could also be integrated with other features, like the AR navigation systems available in some Mercedes-Benz luxury cars. These systems project arrows onto the head-up displays (as well as the center touchscreen) to direct the driver toward their turn. Cadillac also has AR, but it shows up on digital instrument cluster instead of the head-up display.
Like other recent GM patents, including ones for anti-motion sickness technology for autonomous vehicles and dual charge ports for EVs, the AR auto-dimming windshield isn’t guaranteed to see production. Automakers frequently patent ideas without firm plans to commercialize them, so time will tell if this feature appears on future GM vehicles.
Barrett-Jackson kicked off the event season in Arizona with its 2023 Scottsdale Auction over the weekend with its highest attendance for an opening weekend in the auction company’s history. Families and young enthusiasts flocked to Barrett-Jackson to take in the excitement of Family Day on Saturday and the Future Collector Car Show on Sunday. The Scottsdale Auction continues today through Sunday, January 29, with both automobilia and collector cars auctioning from the world-famous auction block.
Image courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
“After the incredible year we experienced in 2022, breaking hundreds of world auction records and shattering our own previous sales records, it’s incredible to see this level of enthusiasm from the hobby as we kicked off our 2023 Scottsdale Auction this weekend,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Our opening weekend saw the highest attendance we’ve ever welcomed at WestWorld over the first two days of our event, and I can’t wait to see what this week’s action brings.”
Barrett-Jackson’s opening weekend began on Saturday with Family Day, which featured several family-friendly activations such as STEM Fest. Barrett-Jackson also partnered with the Driven Project once again to provide supercar therapy to 12 children battling serious illnesses and heavy life challenges.
STEM Fest (Image courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)
A highlight of Saturday afternoon was a parade across the auction block of the nearly 50 contenders competing for the coveted Barrett-Jackson Cup. Rick DeBruhl, part of Barrett-Jackson’s on-air talent team, announced these incredible builds, which showcase the talent and craftsmanship of custom car and truck builders across the country. The esteemed judges, custom builders Bobby Alloway and Troy Trepanier, will have the difficult challenge of narrowing the group of ultimate vehicles down to the Top 5, from which one winner will be chosen on Saturday, January 28.
2023 Future Collector Car Show (Image courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)
Sunday’s activities put the 2023 Future Collector Car Show in the spotlight. Held on the Polo Field, the show welcomed a young, diverse crowd of enthusiasts and featured over 100 future collectibles. Ultimately, it was a 2002 Honda S2000 that earned the Best of Show title. Among the judges at the event was renowned automotive photographer Larry Chen, TV personality Bogi Lateiner and YouTuber TJ Hunt. Craig Jackson and City of Scottsdale Mayor David D. Ortega were on hand to welcome participants and congratulate the winners.
Sunday concluded with Barrett-Jackson’s Opening Night Gala. The renowned automotive lifestyle event featured 56 airmen and women in salute to Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base and presenting of colors, as well as acclaimed live entertainment from Emerald City Band and DJ Munition, gourmet food and signature cocktails.
The automotive lifestyle event of the year continues all week with more than 1,100 pieces of automobilia and more than 1,900 collectible vehicles all selling with No Reserve. The auction will also be broadcast live for a record 41 hours on FYI and The HISTORY Channel.
“The burgundy exterior finish was applied under previous ownership and is accented with chrome brightwork for the bumpers, grille surround, headlight rings, window trim, and rocker moldings,” the listing states. “Additionally, the car was customized with a Rockwell Golde sliding sunroof. Other features include an egg-crate-style grille and a driver-side mirror. The selling dealer has provided close-ups in the gallery to the right that show blemishes such as paint cracks, chips, lower panel corrosion, and brightwork patina.”
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
It rides on 15-inch steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and 165/80 Vredestein T-Trac tires.
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
This Alfa Romeo’s interior is reupholstered with gray vinyl and ivory cloth front bucket seats with newer upholstery for the headliner and door panels. It features manual windows, lap belts, and a truck-mounted spare tire.
It’s powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder DOHC engine with a 38-millimeter Weber two-barrel carburetor. The engine was sourced from a later-model 101-series Alfa Romeo and is paired with a replacement five-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.
The five-digit mechanical odometer reads 57,000 kilometers, but the selling dealer states the true mileage on the chassis is unknown. A re-core of the radiator, and a re-lining of the fuel tank using a Gas Tank Renu system was performed.
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
The sale includes a clear Maryland title in the consignor’s name, service records, and parts receipts.
Modern cars are all about providing optimized visibility through cameras at the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle. Some can even depict a bird’s-eye view of a vehicle’s surroundings using a combination of all the above. But in the 1950s, all it took to enhance line of sight was more glass around the cabin.
“This beautiful 1956 Ford F-100 big-window pickup is in remarkable and unmolested condition,” the listing begins. “The truck is all Henry Ford steel and is a pleasure to drive anywhere.”
Ford’s popular F-Series of pickups first came into existence in 1948, encompassing a wide range of utility vehicles from light-duty to heavy-duty. This example comes from the second generation, which started in 1953. The final year for the generation was 1956, and trucks from that model year (such as this one) had a one-year-only body style. Unique design cues included a wrap-around windshield, vertical pillars, and an optional a curved wrap-around rear glass window that gives optimal visibility.
The seller states that this pickup underwent restoration and received not only a cosmetic refurbishment, but also some upgrades like new oak planks in the cargo area, chrome brightwork, a color-matched front windshield visor, and a dual exhaust system. Beyond all that cosmetic rework, it received restomod treatment to bring it into the modern era. Added conveniences include power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, a newer heater, and a Kenwood audio system.
Under the hood of this truck is a crate-sourced small-block Chevrolet 350cid V8 mated to a three-speed Turbo 400 automatic transmission. Based on the two-minute video in the listing with a narrated driving sequence, the drivetrain performs well, and this truck moves down the road confidently.
The photo gallery shows a color-matched diecast scale model sitting on the dash, which could be a nice bonus if the seller is willing to include it.
“This truck has won several shows in the past and is an extraordinary value at this price point,” the seller concludes. The seller is asking $54,895 for this F-100.
