Morley Safer dies at 84

From Jalopnik.com: Morley Safer Recorded The Greatest Lamborghini Documentary Ever Shot

Morley Safer, 60 Minutes longest serving correspondent, passed away today at 84.  I remember listening to Car Talk in the late 90's, when he called in to bug Tom and Ray about their jokes about French cars, which consisted of things such as French cars being fine if they stay in France, and to their credit were probably right, but Morely wasn't having it.  Morley had a beloved Peugeot, but was looking to replace it, and since he couldn't get another Peugeot, asked Tom and Ray to give him their next best recommendation.  They suggested the Volvo 850, but he wasn't very impressed.      

Operation Vagabond Falcon: Part 17

"Suddenly it felt like a car, and I wanted to drive it."



It's getting close, the Megashifter goes in, along with the driveshaft, battery, and more engine parts.

Regular Car Reviews: 1991 Subaru Loyale

"Au Contraire Mon Capitan, he's back!"

Regular Car Reviews is back with a review, and back in form.  The Loyale was the back bone of Subaru North America in the 90's, before the WRX rally craze, before Crocodile Dundee endorsed Outbacks, and even before the Legacy.  I'll be reeling in the years too.

1987 Nissan Maxima

From Jalopnik: For $1,850, This 1987 Nissan Maxima Could Take You To The Max…er, ima

Source: http://jalopnik.com/

This Maxima is definitely nice price, no crack pipe here, as anything in nice shape that's all there and runs well for under $2K is a deal.  The amount of stuff out there for the same or even more, in poor shape, with parts broken or missing, and run poor are abundant and the real crack pipes.    

I used to have a 1992 Maxima SE 5 speed as a daily driver, which was the first 4DSC or "4 Door Sports Car," and while it wasn't a true sports car, it was pretty close for the era.  The VE30DE engine was the same bottom end as the VG but with 4 valve per cylinder heads, variable intake cam, and variable valve timing, putting 190 hp through a limited slip differential to give a fighting chance at traction and torque steer management.  It was in similar condition to the 1987, but higher trim, better options, a stick, less miles, and it sold for similar money back in late 2011.   

 

Electric and Hybrids Pollute!

From Jalopnik: Electric And Hybrid Cars Might Produce As Many Toxins As Diesels

Source: http://jalopnik.com/

Something I've been a proponent of for some time, that hybrid and electric cars aren't necessarily better for the environment, they're just different. Unfortunately these days that's not a popular opinion, so nice to see some actual numbers on it, and thanks to Jalopnik for covering it. This study doesn't even account for where your electricity comes from, or the increased energy and material use for producing hybrids.

We're so quick as a society to jump on the perception of things, while missing the important details. Until we have energy storage with reasonable charge time, reasonable energy density, and comparable weight, further battery advances will only be part of an engineering exercise, not a solution. 

Operation Vagabond Falcon: Part 16

The 4OD goes in behind the 302 Redeemer!  4 more weeks until Ford Nationals, will they make it?



Much like the engine install, everything seem to go pretty smooth, especially considering they had to cut a hole in the floor and firewall to fit the trans.  

Porsche Front Engine GT

From Autoblog: Porsche Front Engine GT

Source: http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/

GT cars are practical and comfortable for either the daily commute or cross-country road trips, but have enough performance and handling for most drivers on the street. I'll always like the 928, it was the flagship Porsche when I was a kid in the 80s, I even had a Hot Wheels toy, so for me that was just as much Porsche as the 911, maybe even more because it was "the new."

The mistake then was probably throwing out the history, without factoring in the Porsche purists. Now in the era of the mid engine Boxter/Cayman, the Panamara, and VW based Cayenne and Macan for the soccer mom set, the brand may have been watered down in some respects, but the 911 is better than ever, and Porsche is the most profitable car maker, so keep doing the 911 thing, and keep doing the sedan and SUV thing too if it keeps the profits up, then reinvest some of those profits into a GT car. Ferrari manages nicely with front engine GT cars and mid engine sports/supercars, and the Ferrari purists don't seem to be complaining. After all, Enzo thought all his cars should be front engine.

2000 Honda Prelude - One Take

This takes me back, I learned to drive stick on a 1988 Honda Prelude, and while this is a different car in almost every measurable sense, the sound and feel are similar.  Actually, I really learned to drive stick on an old Ford Fiesta and then a Kubota tractor, but that wasn't on public roads.  

Operation Vagabond Falcon: Part 15

The 302 Redeemer goes in!



Didn't seem to go too bad, just need a different electric fan.  They could have had that thing in and out three times and still be stuck.  Really makes me wonder how they fit that block into 63's.

Operation Vagabond Falcon: Part 14

The operation continues with finishing the steering and GGGHGGG!

So many things aren't quite drop in or bolt on, as mileage really does vary, and this is the stuff that nickle and dimes you, both time and financially.  It makes me wonder if knowing what they know now, would they still continue with a drive line and suspension upgrade, or would they have rebuilt the old 144 inline 6 and Ford-O-Matic.  The suspension was tired though, and the point from the get go wasn't to restore a "regular" car, but to use it for their film shoots and other events.  It should be a nice driver when done and well worth the work!