The popular Barrett-Jackson Cup custom car competitionreturns in January as part of the 2022 Scottsdale, Arizona, collector car auction festivities at WestWorld, the company has announced.
Presented by eBay Motors, the contest selects 50 of the top custom car and truck creations that vie for multiple prizes culminating in the selection of the Ultimate Best in Show, chosen by two renowned builders, Bobby Alloway and Troy Trepanier, as well as a People’s Choice Award that is picked by auction fans nationwide via social media.
The Barrett-Jackson Cup took place in 2021 in Scottsdale for the first time in five years, after being launched and held for three years during the company’s now-discontinued Reno, Nevada, auction. Last year’s winner was a highly modified 1970 Dodge Challenger coupe with an engine rated at 2,000 horsepower.
“We brought back the Barrett-Jackson Cup in 2021 and it was a huge success,” Craig Jackson, chairman and chief executive of the Scottsdale-based auction company, said in a news release. “Barrett-Jackson helped pioneer the resto-mod culture, and as technology has progressed, so has the quality and workmanship in these beautiful custom vehicles we see cross our auction block throughout the year.”
The 50 Cup entries are selected by Barrett-Jackson from all the custom vehicles submitted for the contest, and they will be introduced to auction participants and spectators with a parade of the chosen vehicles across the auction stage on Saturday, January 22, which is known as Family Day and precedes the days of live bidding.
The 2014 Ultimate Best of Show winner, a 1957 Chevy pickup, being celebrated on the auction stage | Barrett-Jackson photos
Beginning on Monday, January 24, one finalist for the top award will be selected each day until five are chosen. They will be displayed together in the South Showcase Equidome at the WestWorld event center.
The winner of Ultimate Best of Show and of the People’s Choice Award will be announced on the auction block during Barrett-Jackson’s prime-time Saturday sale.
“We’ve seen many incredible custom vehicles cross our auction block over the years,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “We couldn’t be prouder to continue the legacy of the Barrett-Jackson Cup as we also continue to raise the profile of resto-mods and celebrate the remarkable craftsmanship and its evolution in the collector car hobby over recent years and into the future.”
To register for the Barrett-Jackson Cup Presented by eBay Motors, visit BarrettJacksonCup.com. For information about Barrett-Jackson’s 51st Scottsdale auction in January, visit the auction website.
Hey AutoHunter, the 1960s called and it wants its cars back!
Lucky for us, the cars are staying and are up for auction.
The online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com offers a diverse selection of classic and collector cars but its current collection of 1960s vehicles caught my eye and I’ve listed my favorites below.
Decades after the E-Type was released in 1961, it was awarded 1st place on The Telegraph’s list of the most beautiful cars of all time, and I can’t argue with that.
This 1962 example, finished in Carmen Red urethane paint and equipped with a new black retractable cloth top, has recently been put through a 2-year restoration.
According to the seller listing the Jaguar on AutoHunter, the interior is outfitted with a GW Bartlett Co (now known as OSJI) dealer-specific black leather interior and coated with sound and heat insulation.
Under the hood is a correct replacement 3.8-liter inline-6 engine connection to reconstructed triple SU carburetors and a correct replacement 4-speed manual gearbox.
This nicely restored Beetle, finished in an eye-catching Agave Green paint, has been driven just 2,000 miles since an engine rebuild.
The interior features reupholstered black seats, a restored pedal cluster, beige headliner, a body-color dashboard with chrome gauge bezels, and a Bluetooth retro-style audio.
Power comes from a 1641cc flat-4 dual-port engine equipped with a full-flow oil system and filter and linked to a 4-speed manual transmission.
This second-generation Corvette Sting Ray convertible underwent an 8-year frame-off restoration in which the frame was stripped and powder-coated, the body repainted in the original color of Marlboro Maroon, and the interior refreshed.
The body features pop-up headlights and a “stinger” hood with black accents, and it comes with the original black soft top and original vinyl-covered hardtop.
The cabin houses rebuilt seats upholstered with black material from AI Knoch Interiors, a woodgrain 3-spoke steering wheel, a center-mounted clock, and the factory AM/FM radio.
Under the hood sits a replacement big-block 396cid V8 linked to the original 4-speed manual gearbox.
Equipped with a 409cid V8 linked to a 4-speed 700R4 transmission sourced from a 1987 Corvette, this Impala is ready to take off.
It’s finished in Roman Red with a white retractable cloth top that was replaced in 2015. Other exterior features include chrome and stainless-steel bumpers, rocker panel moldings, SS branding, and dual polished exhaust outlets at the rear.
The all-red interior was given an overhaul in 2015 and houses fold-forward bucket seating, padded dash, custom SS-branded floor mats, an internet-based alarm system with GPS location, and an AM/FM/cassette radio.
This Scout 80 2-door Traveltop was imported from Venezuela by the seller in 2018 and has since undergone a mild restoration and been driven just 40 miles.
The body is finished in green with a removable white hardtop and a matching white stripe. It’s equipped with fresh wiring with labels, new door handles, and a new driver’s-side fuel tank.
Under the hood is a 152cid canted-4 cylinder engine paired with a 3-speed manual transmission and optional 4-wheel drive transfer case for a total of 93 horsepower.
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance founder Bill Warner, the Mullin Automotive Museum, and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering were among the winners honored this week at the 2021 Historic Motoring Awards presented in England.
Warner, who also has been a motorsports photograph, author and vintage racer, received the lifetime achievement award.
The Mullin museum, founded by Peter Mullin and based in Oxnard, California, but with cars from its collection taking concours honors at a variety of events around the globe, was honored as the museum/collection of the year.
The Quail Motorsports Gathering, staged annually during Monterey Car Week, was selected by an international panel of judges as the concours event of the year. The gathering is one of three events founded by Gordon McCall, who also stages a motorcycle event at The Quail and the annual Motorsports Revival at the Monterey Jet Center. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is staged by Peninsula Hotels Signature Events.
Among the other winners of the historic awards for 2021 were a barn-found 1934 Aston Martin MkII as car of the year, the Zoute Grand Prix Week as motoring event of the year, the Silverstone Classic as motorsports event of the year. The personal achievement award went to brothers Andrew and David Bagley, founders of the Salon Prive concours.
Beneath the dust and dirt in the photo above is a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 that has been extracted from a barn after 30 years and is now the Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com, where the ready-for-restoration coupe is being advertised by a dealership in Astoria, New York.
The car comes with a story. It seems the previous owner returned from military service in Vietnam in the 1970s and went back to work at a local body shop. The boss asked the returning vet if he’d help repair the boss’s personal car, which meant going to the boss’s house for several weeks.
Afterward, in thanks for the extra effort, the boss gave the vet this Aston Martin, which the vet then had towed to his home with plans to restore the car.
As you likely have guessed, he “just never got around to it,” the dealership reports. “He parked it in a barn where it sat until recently.”
Extracted from storage, the car is being offered for sale for $325,000.
The dealership points out that this is a DB4 with matching-numbers components, in blue over a red leather interior.
“The introduction of the Aston Martin DB4 marked a new era for the British sports car manufacturer that would restore performance and prestige to the fabled marque,” the dealer adds.
“Wrapped in a seductive, lightweight alloy body fashioned by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan and featuring a powerful 3.7-litre engine, the DB4 offered performance to match its pedigree, becoming the world’s first production car to achieve 0-100-0 mph in under 30 seconds.”
Aston Martin unveiled the DB4 at the London Motor Show in 1958. The car featured styling by Touring on a new tube-frame chassis and with a new inline 6-cylinder, double overhead-cam engine by Tadek Marek, the former racing driver from Poland. The engine was rated at 240 horsepower. The car also had 4-wheel disc brakes.
If the $325,000 asking price seems high, consider that the Hagerty Valuation Guide reports that in just “fair” condition, these cars are worth nearly $400,000 and restored to “concours” condition are worth more than three-quarters of a million dollars.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 1968 resto-mod Chevrolet Camaro convertible upgraded with a GM Performance 6.2-liter V8 LS3 crate engine.
Finished in Matador Red with a ceramic coat and 3M clear bra protection, this Camaro features black SS striping on the sides and nose, front and rear chrome bumpers, and chrome hood louvers.
According to the seller, the suspension has been upgraded with front control arms, front and rear Ridetech coil-over suspension, rear four-link setup, and four-wheel power disc brakes.
The all-black interior features front bucket seats and a woodgrain console with floor-mounted manual shifter, a gauge cluster, AM radio, and Vintage Air air conditioning.
Under the hood, the Holley electronic fuel-injected LS3 crate engine is dressed with period Chevy Orange engine paint, with value cover caps and a period air cleaner for a factory look. It’s linked to a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual featuring overdrive with a 3.73 positraction rear.
This Camaro’s auction ends November 29 at 12:00 p.m. MST.
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and gallery of photos.
Only two 1934 Auburn 652X Broughams are known to exist, and one of them will be preserved now that it has been donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in northeast Indiana. The donation was made by car owners Tali and Lynn Petersons of Baltimore, Maryland, the museum announced.
“This is the first 1934 Auburn in our collection and it fills an important slot in our museum’s story,” museum curator Sam Grate is quoted in making the announcement.
“Stylistically, it was a departure from any Auburn before it. Being the rare brougham body style with only one other known to exist, we are honored to be the stewards and representatives of this exceedingly rare automobile.”
The museum notes that the ’34 was the last Auburn done by designer Alan Leamy and “was his smoothest and most streamlined yet. It stood out with its split radiator grills and ‘bear claw’-like hood louvers.”
The museum also notes that the ’34 was the first Auburn since 1930 with a 6-cylinder engine. The ’34 Auburn was available in four versions — 652X and 652Y with 6-cylinder engines and 850X and 850Y with 8-cylinder powerplants.
While Leamy’s most streamlined design, the museum notes that “company officials and the public disliked the design, and production of the 1934 line stopped midyear in July.”
AACA sets Model T driving dates
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, has set Model T Driving Experience dates for 2022. The opportunities to learn how to start and drive the historic vintage vehicles are June 22, July 13 and 23, August 6 and 20, September 10 and 25, and October 15.
British museum sets first youth conference
Looking toward the future, Britain’s National Motor Museum Trust is staging its first Young Person’s Conference to explore the future of mobility on November 23.
“Aiming to spark conversation and debate amongst its participants, the speakers will draw upon their own professional experiences to inform and inspire, with time at the end for the students to ask questions,” the museum said.
Introduced by Lord Montagu, the conference will look at the concern around society’s impact upon the environment, as well as introducing the participants to potential careers within the motor industry.
Speakers at the online event include a pioneer in making road from waste plastics, an official of a GPS provider, a designer of wheelchairs, and a woman automotive engineer.
Special events this weekend
The Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. opens an exhibit featuring 14 post-war sports and grand touring cars from the Nick Begovich Collection.
The Canadian Automobile Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, will feature Canada’s first automobile at its Third Thursday presentation November 18 at 7 p.m. The subject is “Father Belcourt’s Automobile Untangled,” with historian Rudy Croken sharing facts and legends behind the automobile imported to Prince Edward Island in 1866.
Two new exhibits open November 18 at the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania — “Survivors: Unrestored Classic Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles,” antique vehicles that retain most of their original components, typically paint, interior and other major parts, and “Packard Showroom,” featuring, of course, Packards of various models.
Mark your calendar
The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany offers a special tour of its new SL exhibition November 22 on its Instagram channel.
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, opens its “Winter Wonderland” holiday lights show from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 24, featuring classic cars in snow globes, rides in vintage vehicles, a maze of holiday inflatables, a visit to Santa’s Garage, outdoor artwork, a vintage Christmas tree lot with Shasta camper trailer, and more.
The Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, Italy, presents a program on artist and Mille Miglia competitor Caty Torta on November 25 featuring Torta’s son, Cesare Denoye, and Piergiorgio Dragone of the University of Turin.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, hosts Zoom presentation at 2 p.m. on November 27 featuring author and Barn Fine Hunter host Tom Cotter talking about driving a 1926 Model T Ford Speedster across the country.
Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, California, hosts Chris Lennon and his book The Peak of Racing: Pikes Peak through The Racers’ Eyes from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on November 27.
Brian Redman will be presented the 2021 Spirit of Competition award December 1 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. The annual award goes to someone who has made significant contributions to motorsports. Redman is a nine-time sports car racing champion and continues to be an ambassador for the sport and for vintage racing.
“Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance” will be presented by author Mia Bay at 7 p.m. December 2 at the Lars Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts. On December 9, the museum will feature “The Hack Mechanic” with Rob Siegel, columnist for the BMW Car club magazine Roundel.
Former General Motors design director Ed Welburn will present “The Golden Age of American Automotive Design” from noon until 3 p.m. December 4 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.
The new Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, midway between Chattanooga and Atlanta, has announced December 8 as its opening day for visitors. The museum is on a 35-acre site and includes three buildings with 65,000-square-feet of display space and a cafe. It is part of the Georgia Museums Inc., which includes the Booth Western Art Museum, Bartow History Museum and Tellus Science Museum.
Beaulieu, England, home of the National Motor Museum, and Palace House, will host a new outdoor Christmas Fair from December 10-12.
The National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, hosts the “Run, Run Rudolph 5K” at 5 p.m. December 11. The run travels through 3.2-miles of holiday lights and supports Toys for Tots.
The Motor bar and restaurant at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee will host ugly sweater parties from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 11 and 18. It will feature Breakfast with Santa events on December 12 and 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The Canadian Automobile Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, offers its Third Thursday lecture at 7 p.m. December 16 on Zoom with Dumaresq de Pencier featuring “Early Electric Cars of Canada: 1897-1927.” The museum also is working on its next exhibition, “Wires to Wheels: Electric Vehicles in Canada and Beyond,” scheduled to open in July 2022.
The Montagu family Palace House, which shares its grounds with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, England, offers a trip back to 1889 with its Victorian Christmas event from December 18 to January 2.
The grand opening of the Segerstrom Shelby museum and event center has been rescheduled for January 20, 2022, in Irvine, California.
The Canadian Automobile Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, has announced its Third Thursday lecture topics for January and February. “Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights” will be presented January 20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom by Gretchen Sorin of the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and “The Death and Legacy of Sam McLaughlin – Looking Back After 50 Years” will be offered by Samantha George of the Parkwood National Historic Site on February 17.
Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email [email protected] .
GAA Classic Cars wrapped up its 2021 auction calendar with its November sale at Greensboro, North Carolina, where 90 percent of the consignments went to new owners (GAA does not disclose total auction sales).
Notable sales, it did say, included a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 that sold for $195,000, a 1936 Packard Eight 1401 that went for $178,200, and a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk formerly owned by country music star Conway Twitty that brought $52,000 on the block.
A highlight was the sale of a 1956 Ford Victoria to benefit The Road Warrior Foundation and its provision of therapy for military veterans. The sale of the car and additional donations raised $41,000, GAA reported.
The auction was staged in GAA’s newly expanded Automobile Palace and the company already has announced plans for further expansion in 2022 of the space that already spans 5.5 acres.
Cars await their trips across the auction block
1956 Ford Victoria raises $41,000 for Road Warrior Foundation
Military veterans watch bidding on the ’56 Ford
Sold! This 1999 Shelby Series I roadster brought $130,000 on the block
GAA Classic Cars’ next auction is scheduled for February 24-26, 2022.
Suburban boulevards these days are crawling with curvy compact crossovers as the automotive industry evolves with shifting consumer tastes, an emphasis on fuel economy, and powertrain electrification. But there was a time when brute SUVs ruled the land, and “bigger is better” was the name of the game.
The Pick of the Day is a prime example, a low-mileage 2003 Hummer H2 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Bracey, Virginia.
“Original condition with exception of the wheels,” the seller says in the ad. “71,500 actual miles. Originally stored in a private collection. Hasn’t been rained on in five years.”
Finished in a color combination of White over a Wheat interior, this Hummer looks showroom-fresh, and the photo gallery accompanying the listing includes imaging of spotless wheel wells. This is obviously an H2 that didn’t get beat up on any trails.
The Hummer name – dating back to 1992 – got its real start a decade earlier in the form of the military Humvee, which was a nickname derived from High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The original Humvee went into service in 1983 as a four-wheel drive-utility and cargo vehicle that was engineered for combat and military use.
The more driver-friendly Hummer H1 came later as the civilian version of that vehicle, sold by AM General, which was owned at the time by General Motors. The GM relationship continued from there, and the H2 model launched in 2002 using Chevrolet pickup frame elements.
Underpinnings of the Hummer H2 were geared toward heavy-duty use, with a three-piece ladder-type frame, an electric locking rear differential, underbody and rocker panel protection, a brush guard, and a winch receiver.
This Hummer offers some comfort and convenience niceties on top of that hardware, courtesy of heated leather seating, a 6-disc CD changer, and a power sliding sunroof. The original Monroney shows a $55,110 MSRP including 1SC Lux Series option packaging, which was a $2,800 add-on.
Under the Hummer’s hood resides a GM Vortec 6000 V8 engine coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Prior to 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency exempted vehicles such as this with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds from fuel-economy standards, but independent magazine testing showed that the powertrain was good for about 10 miles per gallon and 11-second acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour. Considering it weighs more than three tons, that’s scooting.
At 18 years old, this collector-owned Hummer H2 is perhaps one of the cleanest in the marketplace today.
“Everything works as it should,” the seller proclaims. “Very clean outside, inside and underside. Never been in the mud. Runs and drives like new,”
The asking price is $35,000 or best offer for this Hummer, which is guaranteed to stand out from all of the everyday crossovers taking over America’s roadways – at a fuel-consumption premium, of course.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Up for auction on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss on display at the Automotive Addiction museum in Sandy, Utah.
“Following a major cosmetic revision for the 1969 model year, the 1970 Ford Mustang was restyled for 1970,” AutoHunter notes on the Mustang’s listing. “Instead of four headlights, it came equipped with the 7-inch round headlights set at the outboard side of its grille, faux intake where the additional headlights used to be, and a flat rear fascia.”
This SportsRoof example was repainted in Lime Metallic Green, which is accented with flat black stripes on the hood, front fenders, doors and rear fenders. The body is equipped with chrome bumpers, a black front air dam, black sport slats over the rear window, a black wing and a black rear fascia panel.
The interior features green bucket seats with color-coordinated door panels and steering wheel. Equipment includes a foot-activated parking brake, manual crank windows, and a floor-mounted Hurst manual shifter.
Power comes from a 302cid V8 topped with an air cleaner with a “Ford 302-4V Boss” label and linked to a 4-speed manual transmission.
The odometer shows 62,242 miles, which the seller reports to be accurate.
This Mustang Boss’s auction ends November 24 at 11:40 a.m. MST.
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and gallery of photos.
Own a Bentley but are reluctant to drive it in snow and icy winter weather? Fret not. Bentley has just introduced four new 21-inch wheel-and-tire packages for the Continental GT, GT Continental Convertible and Flying Spur, as well as two for the Bentayga and one for the Continental GT Speed.
Noting that winter tires are more effective than summer tires at temperatures of less than 45 degrees, Bentley adds that its “wheel packages provide the simplest method for swapping between summer and winter tires.”
The Bentley winter wheel packages include Pirelli tires.
Integra returning to Acura lineup
Once an enthusiast favorite, the Integra is returning to Acura’s model lineup for the 2023 selling season, albeit with 4 rather than 2 doors. Honda’s premium division has unveiled the Acura Integra Prototype and says the production version will feature Acura’s first turbocharged engine, a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, linked to a 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, and priced “around $30,000.”
The Integra (later known as the RSX) was a 2-door sports coupe produced for US sales through the 2006 model year.
In addition, for the first time, the Integra will be produced in the US, at the Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant.
Mustang gets Heritage, Coastal versions
Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition
Coastal Limited Edition
Ford has announced that the 2022 Mustang will be available in two new versions, a Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition in Brittany Blue with either painted or vinyl Wimbledon White stripes, and the first Mustang Coastal Limited Edition, which gets stripes down the side and over the hood, a rear-fender side scoop, black grille, pedestal real spoiler, and “tarnished dark-painted” 19-inch aluminum wheels.
The Heritage Edition vinyl stripes adds $2,140 to the car’s price while the hand-painted stripes cost $12,140.
Dodge giving away 25 ‘dream cars’
As part of its new “Never Lift” program, Dodge says it will undertake an 8-week promotion to give away 25 dream cars under its Operation 25/8.
In the program, 25 “ambassadors from automotive, music, sports, fashion, media entities and companies” each will award a new Dodge Hellcat by the end of 2021.
Subaru unveils Solterra, its first EV
Subaru has unveiled Solterra, its first battery-electric vehicle. The design theme is hexagonal, and Subaru notes that the gauge cluster is mounted atop the low dashboard, with gauges visible above the steering wheel, another first for the brand.
Subaru noted that the new SUV, which has separate electric motors for its front and rear axles, is built on a platform jointly developed with Toyota.
Mazda reveals new CX-50 model
Subaru isn’t the only Japanese automaker working with Toyota on joint ventures. Mazda has unveiled its new CX-50 model, which will be built in 2022 at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Subaru says the CX-50 blends “the brand’s striking Kodo design with an outdoor capable presence,” which leads us to wonder what it might look like were it designed to be driven indoors instead of outdoors.
Ford, Purdue speeding EV recharging
Ford and researchers at Purdue University are working to make it possible to recharge electric vehicles as quickly as you can fill your gas tank, Ford has announced. In fact, they have a patent-pending cable they say could speed recharging without the danger of overheating.
“Charging faster requires more current to travel through the charging cable,” Michael Degner, senior technical leader at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, is quoted. “The higher the current, the greater the amount of heat that has to be removed to keep the cable operational.”
The Ford-Purdue system uses an “active cooling agent” that “could one day deliver significantly more power than today’s leading systems to re-charge electric vehicles, making the potential of faster re-charging times possible if vehicle charging and other technology enhancements are made in parallel,” Ford said.
“Ultimately, this could eventually lead to re-charging EVs as quickly as conventional gas station fill-ups.
BMW using dairy tech for EV charging
BMW of North America and California Bioenergy have a program using technology from dairy farming to provide renewable energy for powering electric vehicles. The process capturing methane gas from manure and using a biodigester to converting it through fuel-cell technology to feed electricity into the grid.
When not captured, methane gas is a major contributor to global warming.
No, it’s not a new Batmobile
At first glance, the car above may appear to be the latest Batmobile. But it’s not. It’s the Toyota GR Supra that will compete in NHRA Funny Car drag racing during the 2022 season. Previous Toyota Funny Cars have been Solaras, Celicas or Camrys, which won three championships in 20 seasons of competition.
The new car provides a better vantage and more headroom for driver J.R. Todd, who will drive the car for Kalitta Motorsports.
Suitcase-sized charging unit for apartment dwellers
An issue with electric vehicles is how people living in apartment buildings will recharge their cars and crossovers. ZipCharge, a British company, says it has a solution. The ZipCharge Go is a suitcase-sized charger that can be plugged into a household outlet and, when fully charged, can be wheeled to the car to recharge its batteries. The company says its Go provides a 20- to 40-mile charge in 30 minutes to an hour, enough for most daily commutes.
Being suitcase-sized, the Go can be carried in the car and recharged during the workday.
NHTSA awards $24 million to whistleblower
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced its first whistleblower award, more than $24 million going to someone in connection with information regarding Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America and their violation of the Vehicle Safety Act. The money being paid represents the maximum allowable share of the $210 million the automakers paid to the US government.
“The whistleblower provided NHTSA with information related to Hyundai and Kia’s violations of the Vehicle Safety Act,” according to the news release. “In November 2020, NHTSA issued Consent Orders with Hyundai and Kia reflecting the agency’s assessment that both Hyundai and Kia conducted untimely recalls of over 1.6 million vehicles equipped with Theta II engines and inaccurately reported crucial information to NHTSA about the nature of serious defects in the engines.”
Brembo plants a forest
Automotive brakes producer Brembo is celebrating its 60th anniversary by planting more than 14,000 trees near Lake Victoria in Kenya.
“Among the trees being planted are fruit and non-fruit species appropriate to the local environment and the needs of its population,” Brembo said in its announcement, adding that the project involved 1,300 farmers who will care for the forest.
Brembo said the forest will capture more than 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide over a 10-year period.
London gets double-decker EV bus
The double-decker passenger bus is an icon in London, England, and its largest bus operator, Go-Ahead, is scheduled to begin trials of the Beulas Jewel E double-decker electric-powered version in the first quarter of 2022. The bus is reported to have a 300-mile range.
