1976 AMC Matador - Tim's Work in Progress

Tim got the Matador (Maddy) a little over a year ago and has been patiently bringing her back to life. He's been scouring Internet forums for advice, asking old-guy mechanics what they think he should do for this and that part and Maddy has been into a garage or two for more than a little TLC. To watch Tim nurture the Matador is to see the ultimate example of; a labor of love.

I drove him down to KCK when he had a new exhaust put on her last Spring. Cornetto was on blocker duty, playing Smoky to Tim's Bandit, when he was trying to taker her up the road without the old Po-Po catching up with him. People see the 70s relic and smile, instantly seduced and just can't help offering to help. Maddy's like a Siren singing us to our death upon the automotive-rocks in a sea of thick motor-oil.

Maddy has become a permanent fixture now and we love seeing that sun-burnt orange boat at the side of their house when we pull up for some good BBQ at chez Klein-Roy. I catch myself staring at her, looking at those lines and they amaze me every time. In comparison to their 70s ancestors, modern cars have become numb and desynthesized. Apart from Bangle when he was at BMW, who is going to put their design career on the line and produce a body with such lines and textures? There is something we car people love about impracticability and the 1976 AMC Matador hits a lot of those points. 

When helping Tim's lady friend clean up some crud for the estate sale this week, I actually found the original set of keys for the Matador and gave them to Tim. He looked like a kid who got exactly what he wanted for Christmas when I gave him that old set of keys.

The Matador has been in the family since new and with the care and attention Tim lashed upon her, I'd say it will be in the family for years to come. We can't wait to see Maddy when she's all finished and on the road and I know I'll want to go for a ride, sitting up front, three abreast in the giant bench seat.

In the meantime here's a quick video and some pic's of the old girl.

 

Jeep Gets a Hummer

I was down in the City Market last week and I parked behind this cool looking Jeep Wrangler. Then I nearly shit my pants laughing when I read what was on the side of it.

I know most H2s are bought more for the bling and rappersque attributes, but you just know this Wrangler owner loves driving around town, with his trail rated machine, giving the middle finger to their owners.

NSX - Japanese Supercar

The Honda NSX (Acura in the US) seemingly came out of nowhere and shook-up the establishment in 1990. Ayrton Senna, honed it to perfection and being Japanese, it brought reliability to the Supercar world. 

The NSX is still a sexy looking car after 20 years, sure its name even sounds like SEX...NSX. Honda have a new one released, but currently only for GT racing. Rumors about a production ready model are beginning to surface and with the world wide fan base of the NSX, it should be a no-brainer.

I suppose there are a ton of arguments for and against the NSX being a Supercar, but as far as I'm concerned, anything that looks like this, sure is. Never mind being mid-engined, rear wheel drive, light weight, built by a world champion F1 team...etc...

I saw this NSX the other day when I was having lunch at Happy Gillis. I walked over to it and was a little surprised to see how dirty it was. Usually when you see a car of this caliber it practically blinds you from fresh-wax-shinyness. The wife's friends has a NSX and his looks like it should be in an auto concourse every time I see it, but not this NSX, it might as well have been a Honda Civic daily driver.

Then, the second surprising thing happened when we saw the owner get in and drive away. We supposed it belonged to some young fella with more money than sense and I looked around the restaurant and saw some likely suspects. But when two old guys about my grandfather's age got in and took off, I was blown away. You know what they say about books and their covers. I hope I'm driving a car like an NSX when I'm their age.

As Bono would say "It's a beautiful day"

Finally a beautiful day in KC, after the sudden snow storm at the weekend trailing on the end of the longest winter in living memory. Brought the M3 in for a quick wash and drove around all day with the top down. I love topless weather.

On the way home along SW BLVD I cam across this beauty of an old Mercedes. I love the color, especially since turquoise is the official color of 2010 (I learned that from the genius wife graphic designer). 

I didn't want to get too personal and take photos of the interior, but I can tell you that it was immaculate.

And here's the perfect song for driving on a day like this.

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss

Remember that song by PM Dawn sometime about 1991? Well, it's got nothing to do with the motorsport that is Drifting. I'm not going to bore you with a repeat of the history of the sport, you can go to wikipedia for that yourself.

I'm just gonna say it looks like fun, everyone's doing it and I haven't a clue how they score the winners. Oh, and if you haven't seen the Japanese movie Initial D, you need to, especially if you like drifting and tofu.

Here's a little 101 on drifting if you want to give it a go yourself.

The Fiesta is Back

Most people will think the Fiesta is a new car to the US market when they see the new Ford on the road later this year. It was sold here from 1978-1980 as a 1.6L with several trim levels. It was then replaced by the Escort, which sucked balls. Ford have had a few demo models driving about the country for the last year and it's certainly creating interest.

Here's some photographic evidence that the original Fiestas are still here and still on the road. After living in the US for 10 years this is the only Fiesta I've ever seen.

The new Fiesta is a pretty sexy looking car and to meet US market needs there will be a sedan offered too. This option I'm not too excited about, all I'm gonna say is Yaris sedan...gross. All right, while I'm on my sedan rant, who the hell made the decision to NOT launch the new Focus hatchback in the US? Who? I want to know.

 

Photos sourced from 1 2 3

A Fiesta like this will have Ken Block behind the wheel in WRC action this year. Now if we can only get one that looked like this on the road.

Ford are heading in the right direction in offering a small car of this quality to a market that right now have the option of a Mini Cooper or a Mini Cooper S or wait for it a Mini Cooper Clubman (S)!

This 600BHP version will not be available at your local Ford Dearlership

Life after the Autobahn

 

The dream every BMW has coming off the line in Bavaria is one where the engines are always well oiled, they will sip only premium fuel, and their owner is something of a car enthusiast. They will cruise down the Autobahn at an electronically controlled 155mph, and enjoy weekend jaunts in the country side where they will blare their naturally aspirated straight six all the way to the red line. A very respectable life for a very respectable car. 

However, as the above photos show this is not always the case. From lord of the Autobahn to pizza delivery boy and then this poor 733i being used as an actual trash receptacle.

Like an old nag put out to pasture, rather than face this cruel fate they should have been sent to the glue factory.

Watch this video to see how old BMWs should end their lives, pretty cool video