What I really wonder about all the e-vehicle hype and hysteria is how exactly these things (all manufacturers here) are going to actually appear at dealerships... IS THERE NOT A HUGE CHIP SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW? Do not electric vehicles need even MORE chips than regular fuel autos? (maybe /maybe not but it's still a question I'm not seeing asked by any of the media types drooling over e-vehicles). Two days ago the media reported locally that there isn't a new e-auto on any car lot on our entire island (Vancouver Island). The wait for a new e-auto is anywhere from 6mo to 2 years (this from a dealer speaking on camera). So the revolution may indeed come, but methinks the hype and hysteria is a bit premature. ... View more

I liked the boxter and the miata and the saturn, thought prices were a bit over-the-top for the model years shown. Otherwise, it was truly a very sad lineup of very overpriced autos. I won't even comment on the jeep-like thing. Obviously someones' idea of a joke entry. The spitfire was overpriced when used ones were $7K about 10 years ago. I've never seen one for sale that didn't have a bent wishbone in the front. That was a very weak link on those, and body droop was also a common issue. As well as the transmission. And the engine. Otherwise a nice looking car but not really worth the asking price. Interesting no other British autos like MG's (A, B, GT) or Triumph TR-6. All much better IMO as value for the dollar. ... View more

I think the issue I have with this is the fact that the auto makers have made a decision to rely on cameras instead of good body design. As a result, expect hoods and fenders and truck beds to get larger and more invasive of driver's lines of sight. In other words, they will go full "bulk" while relying on tech to save the day. Poor choice, IMO. (plus the 'full bulk' is ugly as anything, IMO) ... View more

Interesting article, and excellent view into a completely different mindset. As for me/us (wife & I), while many vehicles have passed through our hands since the mid-70s, we never really collected anything. I've still got the 68 MGB I bought used in 1983. I've re-done most everything on the car, but it's still the only sports car I've owned. I had sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons (loved the super-heavy Dodge Volare wagon), sleepers (AMC Hornet wagon with v-8) and others. My first car was a Nash Metropolitan. My second was a post-70s Mini 1000 (loved that one). We've had step vans we (my dad & I) converted into fully-functional campers, and so on. Currently we have an SUV for my wife, because the 2004 Saturn finally had a fault that would cost 4x the value of the car (transaxle), and I have a medium pick-up because we live in the country. We just never had the money or time OR SPACE to invest in multiples of any one vehicle type, or even set (i.e. British sports cars). ... View more

It's interesting that this article kind of equates "worst" with "ugly". That's only one rating scale, and for every person who hates the "ugly" XXX, there are almost an equal (if not greater) number who love them.   No, worst in my books has to do with things that actually matter, like whether or not the thing was safe to drive, whether or not you can actually find parts for it to keep it running; things like that.   Not everyone has Jay Leno's garage and plethora of mechanics on call to keep old stuff running. I dare say even Jay has one or two autos in his collection that simply cannot be made driveable without extreme "custom fab" measures. ... View more

I'd answer yes, SUV's kill brands, but not quite in the way the article states. Since roughly 2018+ you can't tell ANY of the SUV "brands" apart unless you happen to see and recognize the badge on the grill. I bought my wive a new Mazda CX-5 in 2021. Every other recent vintage SUV looks identical, even the expensive ones like Audi or Mercedes. Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan? Can't tell them apart at all. Even some of the grill badges are so similar you can't tell. So when everything looks like it came from the same factory, why pay Mercedes or Audi (or Toyota) prices when you can get the identical SUV from a much less expensive brand? So yes, the rash of identical-looking SUVs could well kill of some brands, in my opinion. ... View more

Ford killed the 'old' Ranger and had no replacement for many years. During that time Ford sales people would ask if I wanted to trade in my 2008 Ranger on a new truck. I'd say, "sure, do you have any Rangers?" (yes, I'm a troublemaker). They would reply "No, but why not buy a full-size truck like the F-150?". My reply was then and still is now: "If I wanted a full-size pick-up, I would have BOUGHT a full-size pickup". They really just don't get it. So recent update: My Ranger got totaled last Christmas in a storm. My replacement truck was a Tacoma, because I always wanted to get a Toyota and also because getting a V-6 was non-negotiable for me. ... View more

When you say A/C adds to the value, I am assuming that you mean FUNCTIONAL A/C. Given the age of many of the featured autos, you'd need a garage like Jay Leno complete with the mechanics he has on staff/standby just to keep an older A/C functional. Then there's the very big possibility that parts for such a unit are unobtanium. If something is rare enough to add significant value to an already rare auto, then even junkyard parts are going to be unobtainium. So basically you are paying 20-100% over value for ... knobs and a grill where the radio used to be. ... View more

Funny, the real nostalgia I get from looking at these photos is not for the cars, it's for the plastic model car kits that used to be found in the hundreds in stores. Every kind of car/truck you could imagine, in a variety of scales. From real replicas to some of the weirdest concept cars and beyond. Monogram, AMT, Revel, several other brands. (My personal favorite was the huge Monogram "Big T" that, to a kid, was just huge) Truly a by-gone era. ... View more

Excellent story, Jack. Also some good stories in the comments. Mine is similar but different (sorry!). I too lost my truck (2008 Ford Ranger FX4) in an accident that was officially categorized as 'collision with road'. (???). A guard rail on a black-ice bridge during a horrific winter storm tore off the front end of the truck, effectively totalling it. On Christmas day. So what to do? Well, it took a while, but I replaced the totalled ranger with a Tacoma. But NOT new. I live off the west coast of Canada, and new trucks of ALL brands are simply unobtainable at any price. It's a 6 month+ waiting game if you order one, and I needed it before summer. In the end I bought the only Tacoma in the area - a 2019 fully loaded TRD Sport dual cab that I just love. I would have gladly bought new, but this truck is nearly new and was obtained at a more reasonable cost (none of the shenanigans you mentioned in your article). So some of us 'had' to buy used as new was simply not an option. But used is not all that bad in this case. ... View more

Seriously, dude. It's BEIGE. 'nuff said. ... View more

All this rhapsodizing for a pretend truck. Even with the 4-banger motor, it's still a pretend truck. ... View more

A couple of additions (one already mentioned in the comments): Heavy leather gloves are OK, but you can't really get to those miserable fasteners in an engine compartment with them on. So of course we ditch them and promptly skin (or bash) our knuckles loosening the bolt/nut! I bought a cheap set of "mechanics gloves". They are mostly thin neoprene, which means they fit snug and do help with vibration. But mostly they have hard plastic protectors on the knuckles that really do prevent skinned knuckles. Just don't have a sniffle and wipe your nose!!! Second, knee pads for when you must kneel (like brake jobs on the driveway). I just the "no cry" brand as they've lasted years now and have saved my knees on home reno projects as well as auto repairs. Trust me, when you get older your knees will love you for wearing these. The best ones (like no cry) can be worn for hours and hours without getting uncomfortable. ... View more

Just from the cars I drove or owned, several:   The Chevy Shove-it (chevette), a.k.a. the Pontiac Acadian. Worst cars ever to teach driving in. Gutless AND not all that stylish. And tiny; far more cramped than they ought to  have been given the design.   The Dodge Neon. It will never become a classic because there won't be any available - at least not with original, oil-seal-blowing + head-gasket-blowing (new, from factory) engines and trunks that shed paint like water off a duck.   All and every K-car I've ever  had the misfortune to own. Just the most uninspired, underwhelming design for an auto that I ever owned. Plus first-gen electronic dashboards that blew out and filled the cabin with smoke on a whim and cost $$$$$ to replace. ... View more

The only thing the Aztek missed was the horn didn't play "la cucaracha". Otherwise a perfect replica of "The Homer". But then Pontiac had a real thing for that plastic siding "cladding" at the time. I specifically did NOT buy one of their minivans of the same era because of the cladding. Great place to trap moisture and rot the sheet metal. Definitely a "Oh, did I forget to mention that on my resume?" moment. ... View more

For me repulsion often happens after an accident. I had a 1991 Honda Si (the little hot-rod one) that I loved until someone rear-ended me at a traffic light. Yea, the insurance repaired it, but it never 'felt right' afterward and I got rid of it within a year. My 2001 Mazda MPV I also loved for many years, until the windshield started leaking from a faulty install. Then a door handle broke off in the winter. I sold it and bought a 2008 Ranger which I still have and love. I had a couple of Chrysler K cars that I absolutely hated from day one. Went through 3 of those fancy electronic dashes (with digital speedo), even one burning up while driving and filling the cabin with smoke. GONE, gone, gone. No regrets dumping a K car, for sure. Just let go a 2004 Saturn this spring because the noise it made turned out to be the transaxle. The car simply was not worth the thousands to get it repaired and I'm too old now to do it myself. (not a transaxle, anyway). I've let cars go because something critical broke and could not be welded to pass safety inspection (Nash Metropolitan front strut connection to body). I've unloaded cars (Dodge Neons) because I got tired of replacing engine oil seals after it dumped all the oil on our driveway (TWICE) or blew head gaskets (TWICE). We had 2 (wife and I) and dumped both. So usually it's ... ONE BIG THING that makes the repulsion happen, not a bunch of small things. It also usually happens SUDDENLY. Like you wake up one morning and think: "I want this thing gone", just like that. ... View more

Couple of comments: 1. This mini has been tricked out far beyond the ability of most backyard car folks. The engine alone is proof of that, but as it's not a stock Mini Cooper S, the reverse rims are also a sign of serious aftermarket 'tricking'. 2. IMO, the Mini panel van was a far superior and much nicer looking 'working Mini'. If you gave me this Mini pickup, I'd trade it in a heartbeat for a Mini panel wagon (van). 🙂 ... View more

Absolutely! I had a similar problem last spring with a fuel hose on my bobcat. No way I could easily fish the thing from back, over engine to gas tank, so I just coupled the old to the new with a piece of plastic, hose clamped them both and gently got the new hose into place. Just be sure not to pull too hard if it seems to get caught. That's a serious "well, now I'm hooped" situation. 🙂 ... View more

The sad thing about doing this (adding and showing the markup) is that they probably lose more 'invisible' customers than anyone who'd actually complain or point it out.   That is, if I'm browsing a car lot and see something like this, I immediately walk off the lot and think something negative about the dealership that would do this. I'll likely never venture near the place again, and WORSE - if someone at a 'backyard do' were to mention the place, I'll tell them why I'd never darken their door.   In other words, they lose customers they never knew they lost, and never will know about it. ... View more

Too funny. I still have my 2008 Ford Ranger FX4, and likely will keep it for some time. It's still in my opinion a better truck that the 4cyl 'new' Ranger that costs 50% more than what I paid. ... View more

Sorry Rob, but your cheap metal plates are way too thin. At a minimum I'd never go less than 1/4 steel for something that heavy, but I totally agree with the writer who suggested 2x12 pressure treated boards. ... View more

Good timing on the article. I've done all three (lease is #3). I have a 2008 Ranger FX4, and I would gladly trade it on on a new Ranger, except all Ford sells now is 'not-a-ranger' things. I'm not losing the V6 for a turbo 4 - ever. Worse, the pricing is just stupid. I can buy a 4x4 F150 for just $1000 more than the FX4 pretend Ranger, and the F150 has a proper engine (V8 eco-boost). So I guess I'm keeping the 2008 for some time to come. But my wife needed a new car. Except they don't sell cars anymore - at least not ones with a proper transmission (auto, not CVT). So we ended up buying her a new Mazda CX-5 SUV. It has a proper engine and transmission (no turbo), and all the features she wanted to replace her 2004 sedan. We both love it. As to buying, I leased a car once back in 1991, and it was one of the stupidest things I ever did. I basically paid full price for the car (Honda Civic Si) on the lease, then when it came time to turn it in they offered it to me at almost full retail price. No way I would pay DOUBLE for a car, so leases are stupid economics for most folks. The other problem with the lease is you have to be VERY CAREFUL how you maintain the leased auto. For most people that means 'dealer service' at $$$ compared to doing it your self. But I was warned - "non authorized service can jeopardize your warranty under lease". Now that my have not been true, but who is going to risk it? ... View more

I seem to be alone for the moment, but for me the problem with flipping is that it has a tendency to attract those who have no intention of putting much work into the flip. "Lipsticking the pig" is a term in real estate flipping, but it happens in autos as well. Worse are the ones who do incorrect, sloppy or just plain BAD work on a vehicle, usually to stuff that is hard to inspect, and then flip for profit. I've seen too many people buy what seems to be a good car and then discover some really badly done 'fix' or restoration work and have to undo the whole thing to even start to make it right. Also funny - at least where I grew up (Alberta), those who bought & sold with minimal work (i.e. polish & wax only) were called "curbers" and the term wasn't any more positive. ... View more

Richard Thompson - MBB-GT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ZI5cPvQus Awesome song for those loving the British sports car scene! -R ... View more

My MGB was originally a pastel yellowish color. It had been repainted red, then body rust, etc... I had the body restored and repainted a turquoise green. But the engine compartment was still that yellow. Fast forward 20 some years when I was applying for classic car status. The requirements are 'all original, pristine look'. They had no problem with the new paint, but the dirty yellow engine bay was a no-go. One can of engine clean and a power wash, followed (when dry) by a can of flat-black high heat paint and the engine compartment looked great. Passed the classic requirements with no issues. ... View more

Oh, one other p.s. to my previous post... I've watched you work on this car, and it's nowhere near as rough as you think. For one thing, the seats, door panels and dash indicate it's been garage stored and is actually in pretty decent shape. The floors are again pretty great. Except for the perforation on the driver's side and maybe a hole on the passenger side, that sheet metal is pretty darned good. Restore the thing. Not 'concourse' finish, but remove the rust, replace only as much of the floor as is gone and badly rusted (i.e cut back to good metal and then cut the pan to fit and weld it in). Then go drive the little car and have fun. As you find problems, fix them and carry on. ... View more

Actually, as an owner of a 68 MGB and someone who had to replace the floor pans myself, I disagree with your first conclusion: the holes in the floor probably were not CAUSED by the metal 'floor' that was added on, they were the REASON the person tacked on that added floor. Rather than remove the original floor and weld in a new floor pan on each side, they chose to hide the issue with an additional metal piece. The actual floor replacement is not that hard if you can buy new floor pans. Just cut out the old (you don't even have to cut it all out, just the worst parts) and then MIG weld in the new floor. Seam seal and paint with a good rust-binding primer and you are done. Even I managed to do the job and I never welded sheet metal before (just 1/8" angle iron frame type stuff). In spite of that I managed to do a decent job once I read the proper welder settings and practiced on some scrap. In other words, FIX IT. It's not hard, and you'll be most pleased with the job complete. ... View more

Couple of things: 1. You still have not evaluated what REALLY happened. There is no way a lower speed 'impact' with a curb did that damage. NO WAY. So the little dude was probably really, really speeding; not surprising given the zippy look of the car. 2. I agree with the other comment. The fellow should be on the hook for the money for the repairs. He did this (being a jackass, IMO) and should be responsible. As it is he's been stringing mom along, but you should have a heart-to-heart with him about responsible driving. 3. There is NO WAY you should give the car back if this lady's son will be driving it again. Otherwise, with the lying and zero consequences to him at present, he'll total the car for real again very soon. And, just to give YOU some pause in all this, he may not walk away from the next high-speed encounter with "a curb". ... View more

Maybe it's just where we live, but those aftermarket HUGE spoilers that look like an aircraft wing mounted on 12in struts. Whenever I get talking to one of those types, I always ask them if they are going to add "speed holes" at some point. 🙂 ... View more

My first truck was a Dodge D10, which was bought very used and was a blast to drive, especially in winter. It finally died when the timing belt went and the interference valves all bent over and took the engine with it. I agree that trucks are too big now.   I still own my 2008 Ford Ranger (FX4) that I love. I would gladly buy another Ranger if it were a real truck instead of the aluminum 4banger toy they now sell at exorbitant prices. Last spring I priced out some 2020 trucks... A ranger fx4 with the turbo 4 banger was just $2000 less than an F150 with V8. I mean, really?   If I do buy another truck to replace this 2008 ranger, it will be the smaller Toyota, as those things do seem to last. I don't like paying an extra 15% just for the brand, but since all the other trucks are monsters, what can you do? ... View more

Well, you totally skipped Revel, which was a huge model kit maker (for model builders). There was also Airfix (British) for those playing with HO model trains (I was a kid, after all).   But the biggest omission, IMO was the Monogram Big T 1/8 kit. I first saw that as a 10 year old and knew it was the kit I wanted. Eventually (12) bought it on a  holiday in the USA and kept it for years.   Again, thanks to mom for throwing it (and all my other built models) out when I went to university. I did keep my Revel space models such as the Saturn V model which I now also have as a Lego kit. ... View more

We've owned two wagons over the years. First was the pre-cursor to the AMC Eagle (or co-cursor?)... the AMC Hornet wagon. Ours had a small block V-8 and auto tranny. The car was so light, and with the V-8 I could out-drag almost any other vehicle off a red light. A true 'sleeper' of a wagon. Very nice looking as well. Eventually the timing belt started slipping. You'd turn off the car and hear a 'gronch', which meant - time to open the hood and shift the spark plug wires on the distributor by one position. Did that for years before finally giving to my dad to play with.   The second station wagon may well have taken the title as the heaviest wagon ever made. It was a 1980 Plymouth Volare wagon. It was brown. It was HEAVY. It rode like a boat but had lots of power (another V-8 with auto). A bed mattress flew off a truck on the 120km highway going to the rockies one day right in front of my wife (truck owner was swerving in the wind) and my wife had to drive over this mattress or take high speed evasive action. She chose to drive over the mattress and the Volare never even flinched.   But trying to turn or stop that thing on Alberta -30C icy roads... not going to happen. We eventually traded it in on something newer, but it was a rock solid wagon. ... View more

Sorry, but am I the only person who finds such a glaring oversight as failing to mark the #1 position on the distributor body (in an expensive part) totally unacceptable? I mean, if they can't even do the simple things correctly, how can you have such faith that it will perform over the longer term? ... View more

Two come to mind. The first is *very* old (like '70s). When the Pontiac "Judge" came out, laugh-in was on TV so of course there were some pretty lame commercials exploiting "here come da judge" type stuff, but the most ludicrous was the rubber front on the grill, where they would hit it with a sledge hammer to show how "indestructible" it was.   Of course some bright light figured what worked on TV would work in the showroom. Where I grew up, that lasted about a week, until one spatially challenged customer managed to sledge-hammer THRU the grill to the tune of several hundred dollars damage. (put an end to the local campaign real quick).   The second disaster was Celine Dion attempting to sell a particularly super-expensive  Chrysler behemouth (the 300???) as a "mom's car". That was during her Vegas years but I can't recall much else about those commercials except they didn't last a month. ... View more

Two comments: First, wet distributor (especially if you just pressure washed the motor)... WD-40. Yea the stuff is terrible, but this is the ONE place where it's a handy quick fix. Good to have a can in the trunk. Second: I was told by a long-time (i.e. English) British auto mechanic that these small engines do NOT like to be cranked and cranked and cranked. That can work with the American V-8, but not the British 4-banger. Better to give it a short crank, then stop and wait a few seconds, then try again. If the car will start (i.e not other serious issue as mentioned in this article), then that is the best way to start them. ... View more