Minneapolis Street Sightings: Ford Torino sedan

Usually, when one thinks of a Ford Torino, images of that blasphemy from Starsky and Hutch comes to mind. Now, I have nothing against Starsky and Hutch as a show, but I rank the Torino up there with the thousands of General Lee clones made from Chargers. Cool, but at the same time cliche to the point where Hutch clones almost suck as much as Dukes of Hazzard clones. Almost.
This particular Torino I've seen before but never gotten the chance to get up close and personal until a few months ago. I was riding in a new part of Minneapolis, searching for more bloggable cars, when low and behold, this guy popped up. I'd seen this car at a gas station the previous week, and I knew it was worthy feature should I see it again.
The paint on this Torino is almost spotless, considering its age. It does have a few dents and rough spots, but considering it's a 30+ year old car in rustville, it's expected. Not only is the paint clean, all the chrome and trim is intact, including the dealer plaques. How's that for neat? Not very often you see an older car with the dealer plaques still affixed to the trunklid. Even the hubcaps were present, and in good condition.
The interior wasn't in all that terrible condition either. The driver's side had a few rips and tears in the upholstery, but being a 30+ year old driver, wear and tear is expected. Certainly, the owner (or owners) have babied this car, and treated it like they would a family member. Kudos to them for keeping this old fellow on the road for so long, and letting it survive our harsh winters.
Like many cars I've blogged, I hope I don't get to watch this Torino deteriorate because the owners can't take care of it. If the Torino does go the way of the junkyard in the sky, I claim the badges and hubcaps. But, I hope that doesn't happen anytime soon.

Happy Thanksgiving: Five Modern Cars I am Thankful For

With the holidays, it's only appropriate that thanks are given. As an extremely passionate enthusiast, I look at the ever-changing automotive landscape with different eyes than most. While I am a HUGE car enthusiast, there is a corresponding HUGE list of modern cars I am thankful for, I will focus on cars made in the last 21 years (or since I have been born, mind you).

Earning the fifth spot on my list is the first-generation DSMs. Introduced in 1989, the Plymouth Laser, Eagle Talon, and Mitsubishi Eclipse, which were jointly developed between Mitsubishi and Chrysler helped bring all wheel drive performance to the masses. Equipped with different trimlines with different powerplants, the trio had a vehicle/powertrain combination to suit a wide range of buyers, not unlike the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird twins. I don't like the base models, so I wont delve into them. The ones that get my attention, are the 4G63 powered AWD models. With a stout 195 horses stock, this powertrain gave birth the rise of "import tuning", with several examples pushing over 500 horses without serious internal engine modifications.

Earning fourth in my rankings is the Ford Explorer and its various offshoots. Introduced in 1999 to 1991, the original Ford Explorer combined the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle with the compactness of a station wagon, to produce a vehicle that many an automaker would copy. While certainly not the first SUV, the Explorer gave way to what we now know as the SUV phenomenon. The legendary Jeep Cherokee came out in 1984, but the Ford Explorer popularized the formula. With two and four door models, stickshifts and automatics, two and four-wheel-drive models, and virtually everything in between, Ford created a hit. Not long after its introduction, the Explorer earned a place on the top-selling cars list. A first for an SUV, but certainly not a first for Ford. The Taurus would go onto that list, too, as would their F-150 line of pickup trucks. Even though a good chunk of Ford Explorers were cash for clunked, they honestly didn't get that bad of gas mileage, nor were they unreliable. A good number of first gens can still be found roaming the roads in search of new owners.

Coming in at number three would have to be the Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick/Vitara. Again, despite Jeep offering the Wrangler, these GMSuzuki twins were a tad more civilized, came in more trim levels, and offered more doors. Even though they were flimsy, and highway speeds gave them the feel of a lawnmower, the reliability was, and is top notch. My dad owned a 1993 example for 12 or 13 years straight without a fault, mechanical or otherwise. I think we logged about 140,000 miles on ours, too. Certainly a testament to the reliability, as it never put up a fight, it never left us stranded, and never got us stuck in the winter, even though ours was only a 2WD convertible model. Rust is the main downfall, but should you find a rust-free example, be prepared to enjoy miles and miles of fun driving experience.

Number two on my list would have to be the MK V Golf GTI. Normally, I shudder at most new cars, and with this car, I honestly don't care for the styling one bit. What I do care for is the driving experience. No, I haven't driven one, but I have ridden in many, one of which has been driven hard. And what a treat it is. From the 200 HP Turbo 4, to the DSG transimission, this car is about driving fun. From the reviews I've read, and the Top Gears I've watched, it seems as though the MK V brought back the magic of the GTI legacy that was missing from the MK IV. One can only hope the MK VI will do the same. (BTW sorry for the shit modified version above)




Finally, number one on my list has arrived. I present to you the 2002-2007 Subaru Impreza WRX and STI. I love these cars, especially the first iteration "bug eye" version, so named for their headlights. With 227 horses, AWD, and gobs of tuning potential, the WRX is essentially a streetable rally car. Famous in Japan since 1992, the first generation Impreza was brought to America in 1994 to do battle with Mitsubishis smaller offering, which I forget the name of at the time of this writing. The 2.5 RS sparked a following that convinced Subaru to bring the real deal over to us. No stranger to motorsport and passion behind cars, Subaru followed suit, and brought over the WRX in the fall of 2001, it quickly became a hot seller for Subaru enthusiasts and tuner folk alike. However, in 2008, when it was redesigned into a hatchback, that world got pissed. Enthusiasts bitched, car magazines cringed, the press hated it. So far, Subaru has done nothing to bring us back the Impreza and WRX we all knew and loved. A damn shame, really, because in an attempt to win over more buyers, they lost a lot of their loyal following. Including me.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Mercury Capri RS

Normally, I don't shoot cars this ratty, but I made an exception here. I realize Fox body Mustangs are not all that rare, even though they are beginning to die out. But, take a closer look. This isn't a Mustang. What we have here in a Mercury Capri RS. Like the GT trimline of the Mustang, the RS was the sporty version of the ill-fated Mercury Capri.
The exterior is in pretty poor shape, as the photos prove, and the paint looks horrible; at least there aren't any big chunk of metal that have fallen off due to rust. Yet. What once was a vibrant red with factory orange RS badging and striping has become faded, dry-rot almost a faded orangeish color all around.
The interior seemed to fare the same, though I didn't get to peek inside for fear of being watched by other members of the passing-by public.
When this sporting ponycar was new, back 1980-1985, these crappy Wal*Mart/Autozone/cheapie hubcaps shod on cheapie tires would have been non-existent; the rolling stock when new was a set of oft-replaced Michelin TRX-4 tires with 14" wheels. Unlike later Mustangs, this era of Mustang and Capri had metric measured tires in odd widths which made getting replacement tires a hassle, so finding a set of good Michelin TRX-4 and even the wheels alone is quite a feat in itself.
Overall I'm pleased with this sighting, however I do wish it was in better condition. But, being a rust-heavy state, I'm just glad I saw a Capri of this vintage that isn't in the junkyard by now. (Who knows, maybe this one is in the junkyard, or has been crushed already. I shot this in April of 2009, so there is a good chance this poor thing is dead by now.)

Diecast of the Day: Sunstar 1982 Chevy Camaro Z/28

The third generation Chevy Camaro (and the Pontiac Firebird to an extent) has been one of my favorite cars for the longest time, so naturally, I have a 1:18 scale version of one. This particular car is a replica of the 1982 Chevy Camaro Z/28 from Sunstar. Finished in the oh-so-common but oh-so-perfect red over gray color combo, this car features aluminum wheels, which it shares with the pace car variant as well.
I am very pleased with the attention to detail Sunstar paid with this model. First off, the paint is applied at a constant thickness, with some fading under the hood (normal in a real car?), and the rocker trim is tampoed on pretty well, though it's beginning to flake off (much like it would on the real thing!). I'd say Sunstar got GM paint quality down pretty good. *runs*
The interior is also really nicely done. The seats are correctly patterned, and the dash detail is very good, too. Bonus points for having a decently detailed steering wheel that isn't overly huge, nor looks completely generic. I only wish the hatch could open, so I can store the T Tops in the cargo space. Oh well.
The opening features are what really make this third-gen Camaro stand out as a model. As you can see. the hatch is the only main thing that doesn't open. But, the rest of the features more than make up for that measly fact. One of my favorite features, which is heavily exploited in the pictures above, is the fact that both panes of the T Tops come off as separate pieces. Having both T Top panes off allows the interior to be heavily examined, even without having both doors open. It really is that cool of a feature.
My advice is, if you're a Camaro fan, or just a Chevy fan in general. or maybe you just want a decently priced model car, you can't go wrong picking up a Sunstar Camaro. Or you can check out my previous posts for reviews on their European Ford Escort pieces. Really, for $30 give or take, this is one of the better budget models you can buy.

Diecast Of The Day: Maisto Citroen 2CV (Deux Chevaux)

As you know by now, I love quirkycool cars, both in real life, and in scale form as well. So, this Citroen 2CV was a must. I first had one of these when I was MUCH younger; it was a brown/gray one, which due to being a destructive kid, I tore up. Being much older, and a bit more mature (I think so, anyway), I began the hunt for one again. Low and behold, I found one at my local hobby stop. So, without hesitation, I snapped it up. I knew I wanted it to have a space in my collection again.
As I arrived home, my anticipation of holding my new toy grew even bigger when I got inside. I almost felt 10 again. Almost. Except this time, I wasn't intent on playing with it, so it remains in as-new shape.
The exterior is pretty well detailed for a budget model, with no obvious scaling flaws. The paint is applied well, and the transition from metal to plastic is done smoothly. The interior is casted pretty well too. I've seen some pictures where the top piece is off, but I don't want to risk breaking it trying to mimick the "top off" shots. Granted, it would be cool to show off the interior of this little guy but I don't want to break it trying to do so.
If you can't afford the Norevs (honestly I can't), my advice would be to snap up the Maisto while it's still affordable. Like the rest of the older Maistos, these lil Citroens are getting harder to find, and someday I hope to add another to my collection.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Mercedes B200 Turbo

Living in Minnesota, I see a lot of Canadian cars, but these one leaves me confused. I know the US didn't get the Mercedes B-class, and being a 2004-2006, it seems too new to import into the States. Coming a scant 2 or 3 weeks after I shot that awesome Mercedes Vaneo (which I will post soon), the B had me stopping in my tracks. I knew what it was, since this car shares styling cues with the C class sedan, and that horrid R-Class MPV/SUV/Whatever-the-hell you call it.
My first impressions were good. While not being overly big, the B-Class doesn't appear overly small, either; in fact, it seems like it could easily be Mercedes' starter in the US lineup, save for that dreadful A-Class. The design is pleasing, with no obvious design flaws. The exterior flows nicely, and the side crease is welcomed, although a cliche design element. The rear end is typical Mercedes, with the taillights looking like a cross between being German and Korean, and the same can be said for the front as well.
Being a newer car, I can't really comment on how interesting the interior is because, well, it's too modern for me to care too much. However, I do like that this particular car isnt loaded up with needless electronic gadgets as I didn't see a navigation system nor did I see any COMAND controls (Mercedes' iDrive), so that's a relief. If there's one thing I hate most about newer cars, it's the lack of driver involvement, and every time I see a newer non-economy car that isn't shrouded with electronic nannies, it makes me have that much more faith in car buyers.
Sadly, Mercedes has no plans to offer the B-Class here, and that's quite a shame. With the BMW Mini becoming a big POS, and getting fatter, America needs a true "small car" besides the upcoming Fiat 500.

Diecast Of The Day: Ricko 1:18 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA

A few months ago, I went into my local hobby shop (Hub Hobby for all you Minnesota folks, if I'm not the only one, that is.) in search of a few cars. The Ricko Alfas have been on my list for awhile, partially since I love interesting looking sedans, and I figured the Italians are the only ones who make whole lines of cars beautifully (sans Fiat *cough*). I've been an Alfa fan for quite some time, so I figured an addition to my 8C was necessary. As I was shuffling my way through the high priced AutoArts, this little guy garnered my attention. Priced at $29.99, I figured it was a decent deal, so home with me it came.
Once I got the car off its base, inspection began. Overall, I was (and am) pleased. The paint finish is pretty good, with minimal flaws, the wheels appear to be correct size in ratio with the body, and the headlights and taillights are correctly cast/replicated. A neat feature, aside from all opening features, is that Ricko went the extra mile in putting all the right trim on the car, and they even painted the engine correctly.
Overall, a pretty nice replica of an oft overlooked Italian Stallion. (Yes, I know it's a sedan, but it's a performance-oriented one.)