Month: December 2011

Steve Thomas, 62, a salesman at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas, is a Corvette enthusiast.

Officially, Chevrolet never offered the aluminum-head, fuel-injected 315hp 283-cu.in. V-8 on the Chevrolet Corvette in 1960.

By my estimate, there are at least four basic cars every driving enthusiast should aspire to really drive at least once in their life.

SPEED.com talks with GRAND-AM VP of Competition Dave Spitzer for an update on the performance balancing process between new and old Daytona Prototypes… Older-generation Daytona Prototypes, such as the Starworks Riley-Ford, and new Corvette DPs will be performance balanced aerodynamically to give both an equal chance of victory.

A Although the U.S. economy has remained in a lull, a December kbb.com consumer poll found that 17 percent of site visitors have already bought or are planning to buy a new car as a gift this holiday season.

Edmunds Auto Online published a piece by John Pearley Huffman today, entitled One Hundred Worst Cars of All Time.  There are cars on that list that I imagine any auto aficionado would include on his or her list.  And then there are cars on that list that some would fight to have removed.  It is, after all, one man’s opinion.

Let’s start with the cars we agree should be on the reject list.  I am wholeheartedly in agreement with the following vehicles being on the worst list: 2001 Aztec (although I might not make it the very worst, as did Huffman!), 1988 Eagle Premier (I have personal experience on this one) / Dodge Monaco, 1999 Daewoo Nubira, 1993 Ford Aspire, 1985 Hyundai Excel, 2008 Smart Fortwo, 1976 Chevy Chevette (more personal experience), 1973 Datsun B210, 1976 Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare, 1975 AMC Pacer (the "first wide car"), 1970 AMC Gremlin, 1971 Pinto, 1983 Renault Alliance (Motor Trend‘s "Car of the Year"), 1987 Yugo, and the 1974 Mustang II.

These cars are also on his list, but I would reject their inclusion: 1953 Corvette (pictured above), 1957 Renault Dauphine, 2003 Chevy SSR, 1975 Corvette, and the 2007 Chevy Malibu Maxx.  The "He Said / We Say" follows after the jump.

Of the 1953 Corvette, Huffman says, "A fiberglass body, atop an archaic chassis, powered by a lame 155-hp six. And the transmission was a two-speed. The first Corvette was crap." I told you he was cranky!  We say, Yes, it was underwhelming, but it was the birth of a dream that took just a few years to become America’s sweetheart sports car.  Without the 1953, there may never have been a 1955 to receive the power and the development!

Of the 1957 Dauphine: "The rear-engine, 32-hp Dauphine made VW’s Beetle seem quick."  True, but this was one of the first "cute" imports, and like the Beetle (where, once again, I have experience), although there was no engine under the hood, there was an "extra" in the trunk!

Of the 2003 SSR, he wrote: "Spoiled by its ridiculously heavy retractable hardtop and underwhelming TrailBlazer chassis.  It could have been great; instead it was grating."  I just followed one to work Tuesday morning, enjoying the view all the way.  It was an attractive, customized hot rod – and with full factory warranty!  I still want one.

Concerning the 1975 Corvette: "Base power … was the ZQ3 350-cubic-inch V8 rated at – ACK! – 165-hp.  The optional L82 version of the 350 only wheezed out 205 horses.  An abomination."  I say that this "utter undesirability" must be why only 38,000 were sold!  That was a lot os sports car then!  Sure, it was the low point of Corvette power, but blame Jimmy Carter, not Chevrolet!

The 2007 Chevy Malibu Maxx is accused of being "kind of a station wagon, but with less utility and style.  The worst car ever built to wear Chevy’s "SS" name."  I say: at least it had some oomph.  And, frankly, when I had mine, I loved the utility of it.  I was disappointed they didn’t include this option with the next-generation Malibu!

[ Edmunds Online ]
 

What keeps performance machines like the Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang relevant? Frequent updates and new models that boast more performance, special looks and new technology.

People born between 1946 and 1954, collectively known as Baby Boomers, are trading in their family vehicles for something with a little more power — sports cars.