The CarGurus Blog

With the imminent arrival of two movies based on iconic TV shows of the 1960s, it seemed like a good time to compare their equally iconic cars. Both Get Smart and  Speed Racer appeal to our inner child, feature cool retro looks, and star actors with good pedigrees (Steve Carell and Alan Arkin in Smart, Emile Hirsch and Susan Sarandon in Racer). But more importantly, how cool are their cars, and will I be able to get one?

The Get Smart car is a convertible Sunbeam Tiger, developed by the Rootes Sunbeam group in England in conjunction with Carroll Shelby, he of Shelby Cobra fame.  Based on the 4-cylinder Sunbeam Alpine, the Tiger took cues from the Cobra by putting a large Ford V8 engine into the Alpine’s lightweight European frame, transforming the touring convertible into a sports coupe. The 4.2 V8 achieved 164-hp in its heydey, which unfortunately only lasted four years, from 1964 to 1967, when Chrysler bought out Rootes and soured on the idea of producing a car with the rival Ford engine.

Can you still get one today? Sure, but they’re hard to find. Since only around 7000 were produced in its short lifetime, the Tiger is a highly sought-after collectible. In fact, they are so hard to find that the upcoming film actually uses the identical-looking Alpine as a stand-in, because they could not find an actual Tiger in Canada, where they were shooting. Even harder to locate are the Tigers that come fully equipped with ejector seat, dual hood machine guns, exhaust pipe oil slick, cigarette lighter grenade launcher, and the Cone of Silence, so naturally the production Alpine had to be slightly modified.

Let’s face it, Get Smart is more about gadgets and gags than the actual car, whereas Speed Racer is all about the car. The Mach 5 drove Speed and Chim Chim to many a victory, so there was a lot of pressure on the filmmakers to get the look just right. And apparently they did. Yes, fans, the actual Mach 5 racer exists, and it was revealed by producers in Potsdam, Germany, where most of the shooting took place.

Unfortunately, this particular Mach 5 is more of a mockup than an actual production vehicle, so don’t start dipping into your savings account in anticipation of this car showing up at your local dealer. In fact, most of the Mach 5 that you’ll see in the movie will come straight from CGI computer effects.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be built. Compare the above picture with the film’s CGI-enhanced model. Pretty close, down to the M logo and red number 5 on the side. Back in 1999, a prototype Mach 5, based on the Corvette roadster chassis, was built in conjunction with a child safety car campaign that toured around the country. These Corvettes featured a 5.7-liter, 385-hp V8. The original now sits in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, but it drew so many adoring male fans that 100 production vehicles were built and signed by the original creator and voice of Speed Racer.

So if you look hard enough, both theSunbeam Tiger and Mach 5 are out there somewhere, plying the roads (or more likely resting comfortably in collectors’ garages) waiting to challenge the next Racer X or evil KAOS agent. 

So if you were a presidential candidate, which vehicle would you drive? (Limousines don’t count, and your political party doesn’t matter.) If you’re running for the country’s highest office in 2008, the consensus seems to be the Ford Escape Hybrid. According to a graphic posted recently on the ABC News website, five current presidential candiates, including Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), John Edwards (D-N.C.), Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), all say they drive the Escape Hybrid. Another (former) candidate, Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), says he drives a Honda Civic Hybrid, while Barak Obama likes to get behind the wheel of an unnamed flex-fuel E85 vehicle.

Obviously, hybrid or flex-fuel vehicles are politically correct this election season. But the automotive preferences for some of the other candidates are a little more revealing. John McCain (R-Ariz.), for instance, notes that he’s partial to the Cadillac CTS. Joe Biden (D-Del.) drives a ‘67 Corvette that was given to him as a wedding present by his father. Rudy Guiliani (R-N.Y.) has been seen behind the wheel of the Cadillac Escalade, while Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) drives a 2005 Ford Mustang convertible. And Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) tools around town in a Ford Focus. Who says the car doesn’t fit the driver’s image?

Which got us to thinking — what would some of our former presidents have driven if they had had a choice? What would George Washington have driven, for instance, or Abraham Lincoln, if they had had cars in their days? We did a little brainstorming and came up with the following guesses.

For George Washington, we wanted something that was classic and continental. Earlier in his career, before he became the father of our country, Washington sought a commission in the British army. Believing that he would prefer the refinement of a British set of wheels, we selected for him the Bentley Continental GT Speed (above), which Bentley calls “a revolution of power.” (And no, we did not make that up). The Continental GT Speed combines performance and styling in a refined, truly unforgettable car — perfect for an unforgettable gentleman president.

For Abraham Lincoln, we chose — what else? — a Lincoln. The 2008 Lincoln MKZ (below), with the optional all-wheel-drive package, 263-horsepower V6 engine, and THX audio system, seems like a good fit for the 16th president. In black, of course.
From there, our recommendations become fairly diverse. JFK? Has to be a Porsche. Teddy Roosevelt? Something with plenty of ponies and off-road capabilities, like a Hummer. LBJ? A vintage Cadillac, something with fins, like a ‘59 Fleetwood Sixty Special (below). But it has to be in canary yellow, not black (for Lady Bird). And finally, what about Richard Nixon? This one required some thought, but we finally settled on the Dodge Stealth. Somehow, it seems fitting.

So it’s about that time when you notice that the mileage on your odometer has just exceeded the figure written on the sticker from your last oil change. Which makes you wonder: should you change your oil as often as the sticker says, or can you wait a little longer?

Like many people, I get a little skeptical when someone who has a vested business interest in working on my car tells me I should come by as often as possible. Many shops will tell you to come in every 3,000 miles. That number may seem like a lot, but what if you reside outside the urban sprawl? Maybe you commute 10-15 miles to work and take a road trip every month. That means you could end up driving nearly 1,000 miles per month. So if you go by the recommended 3,000 miles/change, you’ll need to change your oil every 3 months. At $30 a pop, you pay $120 per year based on potentially biased advice.

Read literature on the subject and you’ll find that you can hold out beyond 3,000 miles per change. For example, Consumer Reports says that you can typically go around 7,500 miles between changes without negatively impacting your engine. Many cars also have an oil monitoring system to tell you when to change your oil.

Regardless of the numbers, conventional wisdom says you should change your oil based on the kind of car you have. Fivecentnickel.com recommends dispensing with the “one-size-fits-all” mentality and simply reading your owner’s manual to learn about your car’s unique needs.

In any event, you can save money by going above and beyond your local lube shop’s recommendations. Knowledge is power, so stay well-read and proactive.

- posted by Taeho Lim

Every August, many of the world’s most expensive and coveted cars (along with their wealthy owners) make their way to the hallowed ground at the Pebble Beach Golf Links on California’s Monterey Peninsula for the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This high-brow event has evolved into a long weekend of exclusive auto-related activities, including historic car races, automotive auctions, art shows, and the main event, the concours itself (a sort of automotive competition for rare, ultra-expensive pre-war and post-war cars).

In recent years, automakers have taken advantage of the event to unveil some of their latest vehicles. At the 2007 event, which took place Aug. 17 to 19, three car makers unveiled new models. Infiniti showed off its all-new 2008 EX35 crossover SUV (above), Lexus revealed its limited-edition SC Pebble Beach Edition hardtop convertible. And Aston Martin debuted its new V12-powered DBS coupe, which it dubs “the ultimate sports car” (below).

Few would disagree with Aston Martin on that description. The hand-built two-seater DBS sports a sleek, aerodynamic design, luxury sports car amenities, and a racing pedigree. As you’d expect, the DBS comes with a long list of luxury-oriented features, including a leather interior, heated sports seats with 10-way power adjustment, a polished alloy shift knob, a satellite navigation system, and a 700-watt sound system, as well as weight-saving features like carbon fiber panels for the hood, front wings, and trunk. And then, of course, there’s that big 6.0-liter, V12 engine that pumps out more than 500 horsepower. The DBS is expected to be in showrooms in early 2008.

The front-engined, rear-wheel drive Infiniti EX35 rides on an advanced FM platform, which was designed to provide precise handling and balance, and includes a number of advanced technologies. Among those are an Advanced View Monitor system, which uses four small cameras to give drivers a “top-down view” of the vehicle’s exterior when parking. The EX35 also comes with a Lane Departure Prevention system and Scratch Shield clearcoat exterior paint, which Infiniti notes is “self-healing.” A 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine powers the EX35, which is also available with all-wheel-drive. It’s expected in showrooms later this year.

Finally, the Lexus SC Pebble Beach Edition convertible will be available in a limited edition of just 360 vehicles. Special features for the SC Pebble Beach Edition include dual-tone Camel and Ecru leather seating, a new Smoky Granite Mica exterior color, exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels with Liquid Graphite finish, and special badging throughout. It’s powered by a 288-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 engine. It should be on sale this month, at a price just north of $67,000. Get yours now before they’re gone.

Sometimes I like to put the student loans to work (by borrowing titles from classic literature, for instance). But, as the coffee ads used to say, “it’s to prove a point.” This spring and summer have seen lots of green-car headlines, which makes me happy; however, if you look at the big picture, you see a lot of different directions.

For instance, I’ve been meaning to write about the Mercedes E320 Bluetec being selected as the 2007 World Green Car of the Year since the award was announced in April. The Bluetec is a fuel-efficient clean diesel; it gets 36 miles per gallon, and thanks to high-tech catalytic converters, its emissions are significantly lower than a gasoline engine’s. And it’s available in the US! (But good luck finding a gas station with diesel in most major cities.) Another finalist for the year’s Green Car honors was the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion, a 60-mile-per-gallon clean-diesel family hatchback. Yes, you read that right. Sadly, the Polo BlueMotion isn’t scheduled to come to the US anytime soon.

Although clean diesel is all the rage in Europe, here in the US it seems that most of the emphasis when it comes to green driving is on hybrids. We’ve talked about New York City’s hybrid taxi initiative, led by the Ford Escape Hybrid; the Escape’s twin, the Mercury Mariner hybrid is generating buzz as well. GM’s jumped into the hybrid market with the Saturn Aura Green Line and its twin, the funky Chevy Malibu hybrid, which launched at baseball’s All-Star Game this week:

And Chrysler is getting into the act, too, with a 2008 launch of hybrid Aspen and Durango models. Meanwhile, Toyota continues to rule the US hybrid market with its Prius, as stateside sales of the distinctive gas-electric snubnose top 400,000.

But wait…what about the plug-in car? The Chevrolet Volt concept car is exciting us here at CarGurus and in the media at large. Ford’s plug-in HySeries drivetrain grabbed fewer headlines, but may beat Chevrolet’s E-Flex plug-in to the market; a test fleet of plug-in Escapes is being tried out by a California utility company. Right now, the plug-in field is dominated by Ford and GM, which may make a difference when it comes to US government incentives going forward.

And let’s not forget some of the other technologies out there, from biodiesel and flex-fuel to hydrogen-powered cars. It’s enough to make your head spin…wait! Maybe I could power a flywheel with that!

Seriously, though, the automotive industry is in a time of incredible transition. I don’t think anyone knows what fuel(s) are going to be powering us down the highway in 20 years. Is the fuel of the future hydrogen? Biomass? Clean diesel (whether biodiesel or petroleum)? Battery power, either hybrid or plug-in? Some combination of the above?

Only time will tell. And speaking of “time”, this reminds me of a similar moment in automotive history: the very beginning.

Yep, when cars first started being manufactured commercially, there was a similar wealth of choices when it came to powertrains. Who remembers the Stanley Steamer, a gorgeous automobile whose engine was an adaptation of the plants that drove trains down tracks, and powered ships along the rivers and across the seas?

And while we’re looking backward, let’s not forget the early electric cars, either. These beautiful machines were thought by many to have more staying power than the “coarse” and “unreliable” gasoline-powered competition. A hundred years later, electric cars are the New New Thing. Who says history doesn’t repeat itself?

This seems to be Dream Car Week here at the CarGurus blog (quite a change from last week’s hybrid and flex-fuel focus). My own wish-button was pushed by a press release I received about a Rolls-Royce gathering that marked the centenary of the luxury automaker’s Silver Ghost model.

According to DueMotori.com, sixty classic Silver Ghosts (and, of course, their owners) assembled at the Rolls plant in Goodwood for a 17-day tour of the United Kingdom in honor of the classic car’s 100th anniversary. The event was organized by the 20-Ghost Club, a group devoted to restoring and celebrating pre-war Rolls Royce cars.

You can see how a car this beautiful could become your passion, let alone your hobby. But the amazing thing (to me) about Rolls-Royce is that they still do make them like that. One of the advantages of the Rolls market niche is that their reputation and cachet allows them to charge premium prices, which in turn enables them to hand-craft their cars to an enduring standard of elegance.

The heir to the Silver Ghost legacy, the Phantom Drophead Coupe, has the same meticulous craftsmanship that made the Rolls Royce brand a synonym for luxury; when the 2008 Phantom Drophead Coupe was unveiled at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, gawkers and collectors alike were mesmerized. According to our friends at Autoblog.com, the first 2008 Phantom Drophead Coupe to be shipped to the US belongs to a Florida gentleman who paid $2 million for the privilege in a high-end charity auction (quite a premium over the 300,000-pound list price, but it’s for a good cause!

So one might ask: what does this have to do with the rest of us, who don’t have a couple of million to drop on a handmade Rolls? One lesson I think that the enduring success of Rolls Royce (now, of course, owned by BMW) can teach the auto industry as a whole is to build on strengths, and to incorporate history in a company’s future.

The British and European auto industries had to learn this tough lesson before the US auto industry, but the wake-up call is long overdue on this side of the Atlantic. The US isn’t going to be able to keep competing with Asian manufacturers (especially now that China has launched its automotive sector in a big way) on cost, volume, or efficiency.

What US carmakers can offer is a heritage of excellence, of powerful muscle cars and innovative, rugged trucks, of a century of redefining family transportation for the world. Ford’s revitalized collaboration with Carroll Shelby, the designer behind its classic Mustangs of the 1960s, is one positive step in this direction; I’d like to see more of this energy from GM, and perhaps the new management at Chrysler will be inspired by that brand’s past glories in creating its future. Let’s see what the next few years bring!

I’m going to admit right now that I am old. Yes, I am old enough to remember the original Volkswagen rear-engine Bugs, with the rattle-clangy suspension and the doors you sometimes had to rope shut and the floors that were allergic to Massachusetts road salt and broke out in rust. (Note: I am not old enough to have driven one of these, but one of my coolest baby-sitters had a blue one. With daisy decals and a peace sign hanging from the rear-view. The 1970s were a scary, scary time.)

But if there’s one thing that leggings, The Producers, and Flavor Flav have taught us, it’s that there’s nothing too offbeat for a comeback. Not even rear-engine drive. And so, in the endless cycle of reincarnation that is automotive design today, Volkswagen is coyly letting it be leaked that they have a rear-engine car in the works. Automobile magazine has the inside English-language scoop on this new spin on an old idea.

According to the German magazine Auto Bild, Volkswagen’s joining other European manufacturers in trying to compete with the Smart Car and the Mini Cooper. However, in the race to get smaller and smaller, Volkswagen has one advantage on its side–years of engineering lightweight, affordable cars with rear-engine drive. And that boost in the rear means more power with a smaller engine. Which translates to fuel efficiency, and that’s an idea looking better and better as gas vaults over the $3/gallon barrier with no end in sight (make that $4 for all of you CarGurus in California).

The leaked stories suggest that the sexy new rear-engine nanocar is the brainchild of Ferdinand Piech, nephew of Ferry Porsche and grand-nephew of Ferdinand Porsche, designer of the original Volkswagen. If so, it’s an interesting switch for Piech, whose tenure as VW’s chairman (from 1993 to 2002) was marked by a move to heftier and more upscale models. On the other hand, that’s where the whole industry was going in those days!

According to Automobile, only two models are slated for release in the US market: a 130-inch two-door sedan and a four-door notchback. Sticker prices are projected between $10,000 and $15,000. No power steering with these little econoboxes; however, the inside sources want to make it clear that an improved stability system will make these cars easier to maneuver and safer than the original Beetles.

I wish I had a great photo of the new/old Volkswagen to show you, but that’s only been released to Auto Bild so far (you can see it here; it’s the very very green one). Instead, this beautiful blue old-school Beetle will have to do; I’ll leave the daisy decals to your imagination!

Back in the days when people talked about horsepower and meant it, General Robert E. Lee rode a trusty steed named Traveller into battle.  If the famed Civil War commander could’ve lived to witness the popularity of the Dukes of Hazzard television show, he’d probably beam with pride at the merchandising franchise spawned by his automotive namesake.  The 1969 Dodge Charger often stole the show from the human cast members and the latest testament to the show’s legacy came when actor John Schneider, who played Bo Duke on the TV program and Clark Kent’s dad on Smallville, sold off the car last week on eBay for $9.9 million.

For tuners wondering what could warrant such a high price tag besides the sentimental value, they need only look at the General Lee’s key specs.  While Traveller could only muster 1 hp on his best day, the customized orange whirling dervish with the politically incorrect Confederate flag painted on the roof has an 8.3 L, 725 hp V8 powertrain and only 16000 miles on the odometer.  It looks just as good as I’d always thought it would when I used to carry my diecast toy version to kindergarten for Show and Tell.

In any event, keep in mind that Warner Brothers sacrificed hundreds of other General Lees in various stunts in order to build the current version’s vaunted reputation.  The recent big screen adaptation of the show and high-profile sale of the car confirm that the effort paid off.  As pop culture goes through its extended retro phase, rest assured that the General Lee will remain in the hearts and minds of Generation X for years to come.

Update: Looks like I spoke too soon.  The man who placed the winning bid on eBay now claims his account got hacked and he refuses to pay.  As a result, the General Lee is once again up for sale as of 5/13/07.  Good luck to those with a little extra cash on hand. 

- posted by Taeho Lim 

The Duesenberg marque is synonymous with old-school automotive glamour. Daddy Warbucks rode around in a chauffeur-driven Duesenberg; you’ll see them in black-and-white movies, with Myrna Loy or Jean Harlow relaxing into their leather seats. Have you ever heard someone say “It’s a doozy”? Now you know–the origin of the expression is, indeed, the astonishing Duesenberg luxury car.

So I was a bit surprised to get an email about the Duesenberg Torpedo, a new custom car slated for production this fall. The last Duesie (which was quite a doozy) shipped in 1937. What’s the story?

It turns out that a company called Duesenberg Custom Coach, Inc., is reviving the Duesenberg brand. They’re working with designers to produce retro-glam versions of the original motorcyle and estate car; the Torpedo, though, is a new design that combines the look of a sleek ’30s speedster with some twenty-first-century green engineering.

Designer Jeff Teague was inspired by the Duesies of the 1930s; you can see that in the curve of the front end, and in the grille styling. But the fabrication of this car is all 2007; carbon fiber makes it light and sleek.

The car’s built on the Mercedes CL500 platform, and its first incarnations will be powered by a Mercedes V12 engine. Which makes one wonder, “Why does it need to be so light?”

The answer is that Duesenberg Custom Coach plans to equip future models with high-tech, flexi-fuel engines. Apparently, they’ve been in discussion with Eddie Paul and his E.P. Industries wizards: the idea of something as tasty as this Duesenberg Torpedo coupled with Eddie Paul’s CEM, which is projected to deliver 300 horsepower at 70 miles per gallon, is pretty dazzling.

Not that one would need this level of design excellence and luxury fabrication to make a car popular if it had a CEM under the hood. This new power-plant technology has the potential to transform the marketplace (and the roadways!) if it can be harnessed successfully for automotive production.

Eddie Paul, the visionary behind the CEM, has been a fixture on the Hollywood scene for years, building stunt vehicles for films including The Fast and the Furious.  He’s not publicity-shy: in fact, he webcasts his shop at DeadlineTV.net, and you’ll see him as a guest expert on the Learning Channel.

His CEM, though, could make him a household name.  He’s been working on the air pump/engine for 20 years; first patented in 1993, the engine’s now used to power firefighting equipment and in the aeronautics industry.  Paul’s dream is to create a CEM (Cylindrical Energy Module) designed for mass automotive production.  When (or if) he succeeds, the impact can only be imagined.  With a projected yield of 2 horsepower per pound, the air-cooled, self-lubricating CEM would deliver the same power as a conventional engine, but at one-sixth the weight and half the cost.

In times like these, when the American automotive industry is in crisis and the Big Three are seemingly flailing for ideas, it’s reassuring to see smaller businesses looking to the past and future for distinctive, innovative ideas.  I don’t know what’s going to happen with the Duesenberg or the CEM, but it’s awfully good to see people thinking outside the box for a change!

For more about Eddie Paul and the CEM, see this Gizmag.com  article.  AutoBlogGreen.com looks at the Duesenberg Torpedo here.

I was going to blog, as usual, about some Albanian hatchback that runs on reconstituted soybeans–because that’s how I roll, green and nerdy. But then I was going through the Popular Mechanics website (you see, I wasn’t kidding about the “nerdy”), and I fell in love. In love, I tell you.

So I’ve got a crush on the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR, and I don’t care who knows it. Not that this does me much good, you understand–Ford’s only making 1,000 of these special-edition babies, and I couldn’t afford one even if I could beat Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld to the dealer.

But you can’t stop a car junkie from dreaming, and there’s a lot to dream about with the Shelby GT500KR. First of all, the “KR” stands for “King of the Road,” and I’m not going to argue with them about that. This limited edition superperformance car was created to honor the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Mustang, the all-star pony car that first bore the KR moniker.

If you can find a ‘68 Mustang today, you can expect to pay a couple of hundred thousand dollars for it. The 2008 Shelby GT500KR’s price hasn’t been announced, but it’s definitely going to be a lot cheaper than that; the Mustang GT500 lists at a little over $40,000.

Of course, the Shelby KR has more to offer than the plain vanilla GT500 (which is already an awesome muscle car). Its supercharged 5.4 liter engine clocks at 550 horsepower, and the Ford SVT team has come up with a “Performance Racing Package” that includes a state-of-the art exhaust system, 14-inch Brembo brakes, and a scooped, aerodynamically designed carbon-composite roof.

There’s something refreshing about a dream machine car like this, a marvel of engineering that reminds you that cars can be fun as well as serious business. In today’s complicated market, it’s good to see Ford turning out this beautiful labor of love. Even if I can’t drive it. (But if one of you gets to, please write a review! And send us pictures!)

But wait! Here’s some good news for the average driver: last year, Ford and Hertz reintroduced the “Rent A Racer” program, a Carroll Shelby brainchild from 40 years ago. Yes, there’s a limited-run series of Mustang GT convertibles produced especially for Hertz and available for rental around the US.

The limited-run Shelby Mustang GT-H Hertz Racer sports a 325-horsepower V8 engine. Body modifications (including rollbars and a stiffer suspension) and engine tuning were done by the Shelby folks in Las Vegas, and every GT-H is badged and plaqued with the Shelby signature.

Even in the odd Hertz colorway, it’s a gorgeous car. And you can rent one! That is, unless I’ve already booked it.

For more about the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR, check out PopularMechanics.com. CarAndDriver.com has all the inside information on the Ford Mustang GT-H Hertz Racer.