Archive for April, 2007
Great Auction - RM Vintage Motor Cars

No concours d’elegance is complete without an auction at which incredibly rare, exquisite, or otherwise interesting cars can change hands among the well-to-do. Some concours have multiple auctions, Amelia has RM. And we’ve got highlights.
1913 Pathfinder Model 40 Touring
The Parry brothers had been coachbuilders, and wanted to cash in on the horseless carriage idea. They started out with an electric car that bombed, then bought into the Overland Company, which ran them out of money again, forcing the sale of Overland to Willys. A third strike came in the form of the 1909 Parry Automobile Company which hung on through 1911, when creditors reorganized the company as the Motor Car Manufacturing Company, the first major product of which was this Pathfinder. The model 40 has a 40-hp four-cylinder. This 120-inch wheelbase Touring car was expected to fetch $110-150,000.
1927 Isotta Fraschini 8A Boattail Tourer, with coachwork by Cesare Sala of Milan 
Cesare Isotta and three Fraschini brothers, began importing French cars to be assembled in Italy founding their own company, the Societ Milanese Automobili Isotta, Fraschini & Company in 1904. By 1906 they were Italy’s number-two automaker, with 300 cars to Fiat’s 1800, and they engineered innovations like four-wheel braking and the first production straight-eight engine. But after the First World War, they switched their emphasis to high-end luxury cars, figuring that only rich folks would be able to buy cars post-war. The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A chassis alone cost approximately $8,500 in 1927, while the custom coachwork by the Carrozzeria Italiana Cesare Sala would have elevated the price tag another $6,000 or more.
1950 Chrysler Imperial Newport Town & Country 
Behold the last real-wood Chrysler Town & Country built! Only 700 were built and this one-year only combination of all steel hardtop styling and carefully fitted wood trim signaled the end of the era of “coachwork.” This car was delivered new to Warner Chrysler-Plymouth in Gosin, Indiana, and old-man Warner never sold or titled it. With only 4400 miles on it, it has won AACA Junior, Senior, and Preservation awards, and is expected to sell for $150-200,000.
1952 Buick Roadmaster Harlow Curtice Limousine
Harlow H. Curtice became the head of Buick in 1933, and eventually assumed the position of Executive Vice-President of General Motors in 1948. When he became CEO, he had this limousine built. The roof was removed and replaced with a sloping rear profile, padded limousine-style roof. The rear door window frames were removed and replaced with rounded pattern frames and windows to fit the redesigned blind quarter roof. The car received hydraulic lifts for the all the exterior windows, the center divider window and, a first for GM, it received hydraulic operated vent windows. By 1955, Curtice was named Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year.” Expected price: $50-70,000.
1953 Allard K-3 Roadster 
The K-3 represented an attempt to “civilize” Allard’s J2-X range without losing its hairy-chested V-8 performance. It was launched at the London Motor Show in 1952 on a twin-tube steel chassis with the familiar semi-independent swing axle front end and a proper DeDion rear axle with inboard mounted drum brakes. The majority of K-3s were shipped without engines to American dealers who would then install a Yankee V-8. Most were fitted with Cadillac engines, making this Chrysler Hemi powered example very rare. It’s expected to fetch $75-100,000.
1965 Fiat Jolly 500
Few cars have the “cuteness” appeal of Fiat’s Jolly. Introduced in 1957 with coachwork by Ghia, the Jolly had no real practical use, except for that of pure enjoyment. Many wealthy playboys, like Fiat chief, Gianni Agnelli, would load these cars on their yachts and use them as beach cars when they went on vacation. Weighing just 1050 lbs, the Jolly could reach the heady speed of 59 miles per hour, presumably with the top down, while achieving gas mileage of 52 miles per gallon, thus becoming the ideal shore dinghy. With no seat belts and just a rope to hold you in, 59 mph would be pretty exciting. The price target for this one is $25-35,000.
1969 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Estate Wagon
This very unusual Silver Shadow was converted into a station wagon by its original owner, Millard W. Newman. The cigar magnate from Tampa, FL is well-known in Rolls-Royce circles, as a Silver Ghost aficionado. The car has remained in Florida through the present day and has been maintained in very good, and eminently usable condition. Handsome in classic black over dark gray with rich red leather interior, the details such as the cargo compartment appointments are particularly impressive. Could there be a better vehicle to take to picnics in the country or tailgating events? The no-reserve auction price target is just $30-40,000.
1972 Ferrari 365GTS-4 Michelloti NART Spyder
This car started life as a real Ferrari Daytona Spyder, the 71st of 121 built (there were two Sawzall Daytona Spyders for sale in this auction as well). It was badly damaged in 1975 while starring in the movie “A Star is Born” (Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Streisand). In need of substantial repair, the car was sold to Ferrari’s North American concessionaire Luigi Chinetti who repaired the car at an internal cost of $6,000. But instead of repairing the bodywork in its original style, Chinetti commissioned Giovanni Michelotti to design and fabricate a special one-off body for the car, which explains why the styling looks a bit like some other work of his from the day, like the Reliant Scimitar.
10 Rules for New Drivers
by Jenny Trostel, Owner, Saab of Baltimore
In 19 months and 5 days, my son will begin driving. I know this because he reminds me everyday. Since I own an automotive dealership, he repeatedly asks me what kind of car he will get when he turns 16 years old. As I cringe, I tell him whatever he can afford. But I know that is not the truth. I know that I will break down and give him a very safe car and I will make sure that he has a lot of driving experience before I let him drive alone. As a parent I know that this is a rite of passing that every parent fears. I believe that my son is a good kid but he will make mistakes when he begins driving.
I grew up in the automotive business. My father was a dealer. When I learned to drive, he said that if you are going to drive a car you should know how to fix one. Luckily I was mechanically inclined and had a good teacher. I learned the basics about a car from an early age. Since many schools have such a limited budget, the basics of automotive maintenance are no longer taught when a teenager takes drivers education. Not everyone has the same skills as I do, but you can still understand the basics.
As a parent, I know that I can set a good example by having good driving and car maintenance habits. There are basic rules that every driver should understand, so I have come up with the following 10 rules for new drivers:
As a parent, I know that I can set a good example by having good driving and car maintenance habits. There are basic rules that every driver should understand.
I have come up with 10 rules for new drivers:
Please be courteous to other drivers. If we are to share the road, we need to be polite to other drivers.
Use your turn signals. There is a reason that they are part of the car.
Know your car. Learn from a service professional how to check your fluid levels and tire pressures.
Learn how to change a flat tire. AAA won’t always be there quickly.
Use the appropriate type of gas for your car. Wash your windows when you fill up.
Choose your music before you drive away. Many accidents occur when the CD is being changed.
Go to a professional driving school. You will get more experience in dealing with hazardous or difficult driving conditions. Professional driving schools don’t teach you how to be Speed Racer, they teach you to be a good driver.
DON’T Drink and Drive. No sodas, milkshakes, or other beverages.
If your cell phone rings, pull over before answering the call. It is difficult enough keeping the car on the road without having that distraction.
Thank your parents! Lots of love and understanding gave you the privilege of driving.
When the day comes that my son gets behind the wheel of a car, I want him to enjoy the road not fear it. I know that I will be as nervous as any other parent in 19 months and 5 days. But when that day comes and he drives away by himself, I hope that my son will have learned to be courteous and safe in his driving habits.
Source: http://askpatty.typepad.com/ask_patty_/2007/04/new_driver_tips.html
Police Car Comparison: 2007 Dodge Charger vs 2007 Chevrolet Impala vs 2007 Ford Crown Victoria

Uh oh. Those red-and-blue strobes. Lighting up your rearview mirror like the finale in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” They’re for you. Time for your best Ned Flanders impersonation. Pull over, hands in plain sight on the wheel, pathetic smile. “What’s the trouble, Mr. Officer, sir? Did I leave my checkbook back at the orphanage?” Only a fool would do anything else.
Ah, but this is Your vehicular Fantasyland. The place where four-wheeled dreams-permissible and illicit-come true. Thanks to countless action movies and TV police dramas, the question has become a staple of bar-stool debates: What if, in the presence of those flashing red-and-blue disco balls, you…made a run for it? Quick downshift, stand on the gas, a nip and tuck through traffic, and…Would you leave the police cruiser in the dust? Would the cops hang right on your tail-the way they always seem to do on the silver screen? How well does modern cop iron stack up, anyway?
Only one way to find out. We rounded up today’s three most popular police pursuit sedans-one each from the Big Three-and hit the test track with takedown lights ablaze. To make things really interesting, we also brought along three increasingly formidable “perpetrator” cars-a Mazda MX-5 Miata, a Mitsubishi Evo MR, and a Porsche 911 Carrera 4-and turned them loose on the same course. Did the cops run them down? Did the perps get away? Is it fun to drive a car with a siren? Read on as we reveal all.
The truth in black and white

In 2005, the most recent year for which the stats are available, there were 7934 police chases-in California alone. That’s roughly 22 “COPS” episodes statewide every day. “The majority of pursuits end in under one minute,” says Tom Marshall, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. “Of course, in Los Angeles all the television stations have helicopters with cameras, so any time there’s a long pursuit it gets a lot of attention. That’s what everybody thinks we do all day.”
Not surprisingly, given the seemingly unlimited supply of reprobates attempting to get on “World’s Wildest Police Chases,” the cops take their vehicles seriously. Every 12 months, two agencies-the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-conduct grueling tests on all factory police vehicles for the new model year; the published results are used as buying guides by agencies across North America (and as far away as Australia, Guam, and Malaysia). “We test acceleration, top speed, braking, vehicle dynamics, ergonomics, and fuel economy,” says Lieutenant David “Doc” Halliday, commander of the Michigan State Police’s Precision Driving Team. “We don’t pick favorites [if a vehicle fails a test it can be rejected, however], but we do lay out all the data so agencies can choose the right vehicle to meet specific missions. We also work with the manufacturers to develop their police packages, though ultimately it’s up to them to determine what they want to offer.”

Despite what Hollywood may lead you to believe, the key ingredients for a good police car aren’t “Mad Max” superchargers and “Starsky & Hutch” meatball tires. “The most important thing for law enforcement,” says Halliday, “is you gotta build ‘em tough. I can’t tell you how many times we get a ‘tough’ new piece of equipment, and in 10 minutes the officer is back, saying, ‘Uh, I broke it.’ You want heavy-duty cooling, brakes, electrical. Also important is good room and comfort. In the 1970s, a typical police car had a siren-control head, a radio microphone, and a dome-light switch. Today, you have computers, printers, dual-antenna radars, video cameras, six-cup coffee maker, the whole nine yards. And when an officer is spending an eight-hour shift behind the wheel, repeatedly getting in and out of the vehicle, well, if he isn’t comfortable it’s going to have a pretty dramatic effect on morale.”
No wonder Dirty Harry drove a roomy, four-door 1968 Ford Galaxie.

Police Car Comparison: 2007 Dodge Charger vs 2007 Chevrolet Impala vs 2007 Ford Crown Victoria

Threee Good Cops
For 2007, American police agencies shopping for new sedans will be able to choose from a trio of vehicles whose personalities read like an action-movie cast: the grizzled but much-loved veteran, the rising young lieutenant bringing a fresh perspective to the job, and the brash rookie with big biceps but a few glaring flaws. Starring as Rising Young Lieutenant is Chevrolet’s Impala Police Car, unveiled for the 2000 model year and redesigned (on GM’s versatile W platform) for 2006. The Impala breaks with tradition via a front-drive layout whose added traction has won big fans with police departments in the winter-challenged Northeast (the Impala is the ride of choice of the NYPD). Also unusual is the Impala’s lack of an available V-8. Under the hood lies a version of Chevy’s 3.9-liter Vortec V-6, delivering 240 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque through a four-speed automatic. For 2007, the engine is upgraded with Active Fuel Management technology, which shuts off half the cylinders when they aren’t needed, improving economy.
Stealing scenes wherever it appears is Dodge’s new-for-2006 Charger Police Vehicle.
Though a 250-horse, 3.5-liter V-6 is standard, the Charger that has cops pulling rank for wheel time is the available 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, making 340 horsepower and 390 pound-feet. The rear-drive Dodge is easily the most advanced of the trio: multidisplacement engine technology, five-speed automatic, standard electronic stability control (not even offered by the other two), optional front and rear side-curtain airbags, and a body with some actual design flair. The Hemi also is available in station wagon form-dubbed, yes, the police Magnum.
Cop Versus Cop
As expected, the Hemi-powered Charger ran away from the Ford and the Chevy at the dragstrip, booming to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. Yet the Impala packed more firepower than its V-6 would suggest, gunning to 60 in 7.5 seconds-versus 7.9 for the V-8-powered Ford (the beefy Crown Vic is saddled with a 600-pound weight disadvantage).
The front-drive Chevy also surprised around our figure-eight handling loop, displaying good grip and responsiveness and clocking a time just 0.8 second slower than the far more potent, fat-tired Charger (again the Ford brought up the rear). Braking performance was more, uh, uniform, but once more the finishing order was Dodge, Chevy, Ford.
As always, though, the numbers tell only part of the story. In addition to running our
black and whites at our usual test track, we brought them to the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Emergency Vehicle Operations Center (sbccounty.gov/evoc), a purpose-built training facility about an hour east of Los Angeles that conducts high-performance driving classes for law-enforcement personnel, firefighters, paramedics, and private citizens (roughly 1500 students attend annually). And immediately we began to see our three cruisers differently. Through cop eyes.
“Nice power, and the steering is great,” says Randy Keller, chief instructor at EVOC as he hurls the Charger around a tight course that simulates a grid of city streets. “We also welcome the electronic stability program, but there shouldn’t be a button that allows the driver to turn it off. With ESP deactivated, this car could outdrive the average cop.”

Police Car Comparison: 2007 Dodge Charger vs 2007 Chevrolet Impala vs 2007 Ford Crown Victoria
Keller is having fun tossing the Hemi around, but he’s not convinced it makes the
ultimate cop machine. “Power isn’t usually super important. It can even be a liability. In the early 1980s, we had small Chevy Novas with 350 V-8s in ‘em, and with that high power-to-weight ratio guys were crashing ‘em right and left.” Keller is also less than pleased with the Charger’s visibility. “That big C-pillar really blocks your view to the rear quarter. Also, the trunk is relatively small. Our guys regularly carry 300 to 400 pounds of equipment.”
Keller gives a thumbs-up to the Impala’s V-6, which delivers group-leading fuel economy-”An increasingly important consideration for police departments on a budget,” he says. He’s thumbs-down on the front-drive layout, though. “I do not like front-wheel drive,” he says like a true Southern Californian.
Keller is clearly predisposed to the car currently used by his department, the Crown Vic.
“Strong, stiff suspension for good control, but not so stiff it beats you up over an eight-hour shift. Excellent visibility all around. Huge trunk. Reliable. And loads of room up front, so you can have siren controls, MDTs [laptop-like mobile data terminals], radios, and still have plenty of room for the officer.
So what would happen if, say, a nimble little sports car with a skilled driver at the helm took on these big four-door brutes through a maze of urban streets? To find out, we cut loose our long-term Mazda MX-5 Miata around a simulated city grid at EVOC and…
It was no contest. In just a few turns, even with only 170 horsepower on tap, the tossable, bantamweight Miata had the 340-horse Charger flashing its strobes at thin air. At the end of the lap, the Charger was more than six seconds adrift, the Impala was trailing by about seven seconds, and the Crown Vic was nearly 10 seconds back in the dust. Against our long-term Mitsubishi Evo MR-brandishing 286 turbocharged horsepower and four-wheel drive-the gap was more than two seconds greater still. To try to even the score, we also ran some laps in BMW’s new R 1200 RT-P police motorcycle (see sidebar), but while it proved quicker than the sedans, even it couldn’t catch the Miata. At the end of the day, the performance gap was already so lopsided we didn’t have the heart to run the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 on the course. But now you know: Any movie that shows a cop sedan hanging on the tail of a sports car through downtown L.A. (or a tight mountain road) is strictly science fiction.
Ah, but in the real world, the story is more complex. Out on the open highway, that
asphalt Serengeti Plain where cops hunt speeders like lions stalking gnus, the balance shifts. There, where horsepower closes the gap, a Hemi Charger (with a top speed electronically limited to 145 mph) could easily rein in a screaming Miata.
What’s more, even if you’re driving a Ferrari Enzo, the cops have countermeasures. As in, spike strips, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, night-vision equipment-and other cop cars. As the old police saying goes, “There isn’t a car in the world that can outrun a Motorola.”
So there you have it: The Dodge Charger is mas macho, the Chevy Impala is lean and surprisingly mean, and the Ford Crown Victoria is as honest and dependable as Andy Sipowicz. Not that any of that really matters in a police chase. Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? You’re gonna get caught, boy.

Police Car Comparison: 2007 Dodge Charger vs 2007 Chevrolet Impala vs 2007 Ford Crown Victoria
| 2007 Chevrolet Impala Police Car | 2007 Dodge Charger Police Vehicle | 2007 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor | |
| DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT | Front engine, FWD | Front engine, RWD | Front engine, RWD |
| ENGINE TYPE | 60 V-6, iron block/alum heads | 90 V-8, iron block/alum heads | 90 V-8, iron block/alum heads |
| VALVETRAIN | OHV, 2 valves/cyl | OHV, 2 valves/cyl | SOHC, 2 valves/cyl |
| DISPLACEMENT | 236.7 cu in/3880 cc | 345.1 cu in/5654 cc | 280.4 cu in/4606 cc |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 9.8:1 | 9.6:1 | 9.4:1 |
| POWER (SAE NET) | 240 hp @ 5800 rpm | 340 hp @ 5000 rpm | 250 hp @ 5000 rpm |
| TORQUE (SAE NET) | 245 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm | 390 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm | 297 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
| REDLINE | 6400 rpm | 5800 rpm | 5700 rpm |
| WEIGHT TO POWER | 15.6 lb/hp | 12.5 lb/hp | 17.5 lb/hp |
| TRANSMISSION | 4-speed automatic | 5-speed automatic | 4-speed automatic |
| AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIOS | 3.29:1/2.34:1 | 2.82:1/2.34:1 | 3.55:1/2.49:1 |
| SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR | Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar | Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, self-leveling shocks, anti-roll bar | Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| STEERING RATIO | 13.3:1 | 16.1:1 | 16.4:1 |
| TURNS LCOK-TO-LOCK | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| BRAKES, F;R | 11.9-in vented disc; 10.9-in disc, ABS | 13.6-in vented disc; 12.6-in vented disc, ABS | 12.0-in vented disc; 11.5-in vented disc, ABS |
| WHEELS | 16 x 6.5 in, steel | 18 x 7.5 in, steel | 17 x 7.5, steel |
| TIRES | 225/60R16 97Y M+S Pirelli P6 | 225/60R18 99V M+S Continental ContiProContact | 235/55R17 98W M+S, Goodyear Eagle RS |
| WHEELBASE | 110.5 in | 120.0 in | 114.6 in |
| TRACK, F/R | 62.4/61.5 in | 63.0/63.1 in | 62.8/65.6 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 200.4 x 72.9 x 58.7 in | 200.1 x 74.5 x 58.8 in | 212.0 x 78.3 x 58.3 in |
| TURNING CIRCLE | 38.0 ft | 38.9 ft | 40.3 ft |
| CURB WEIGHT | 3740 lb | 4248 lb | 4385 lb |
| WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, F/R | 62/38% | 54/46% | 53/47% |
| SEATING CAPACITY | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| HEADROOM, F/R | 39.4/37.8 in | 38.7/36.2 in | 39.5 in/37.8 in |
| LEGROOM, F/R | 42.3/37.6 in | 41.8/40.2 in | 41.6/38.0 in |
| SHOULDER ROOM, F/R | 58.7/58.6 in | 59.3/57.6 in | 60.6/60.0 in |
| CARGO VOLUME | 18.6 cu ft | 16.2 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft |
| 0-30 | 2.6 sec | 2.1 sec | 2.6 sec |
| 0-40 | 3.8 | 3 | 3.9 |
| 0-50 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 5.7 |
| 0-60 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 7.8 |
| 0-70 | 9.8 | 7.2 | 10.2 |
| 0-80 | 12.3 | 9.4 | 12.9 |
| 0-90 | 15.5 | 11.8 | 16.7 |
| 0-100 | NA | 14.3 | NA |
| PASSING 45-65 MPH | 4.2 sec | 2.9 sec | 4.3 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 15.6 sec @ 91.2 mph | 14.2 sec @ 99.4 mph | 15.9 sec @ 88.1 mph |
| BRAKING 60-0 MPH | 132 ft | 127 ft | 135 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.84 g | 0.83 g | 0.80 g |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 27.9 sec @ 0.60 g avg | 27.1 sec @ 0.64 g avg | 28.6 sec @ 0.58 g avg |
| TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH | 1900 rpm | 1750 rpm | 1700 rpm |
| BASE PRICE | $24,355 | $23,475 | $26,535 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $25,315 | $30,480 | $35,445 |
| STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL | No/no | Yes/yes | No/no |
| AIRBAGS | Dual front | Dual front | Dual front, front side |
| BASIC WARRANTY | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | 3 yrs/36,000 miles |
| POWERTRAIN WARRANTY | 5 yrs/100,000 miles | 3 yrs/36,000 miles | 5 yrs/60,000 miles |
| ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE | Delivered with flashing lights | Has never looked so good | Care to ride in back? |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 17.5 gal | 18.5 gal | 19.0 gal |
| EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON | 20/29 mpg | 17/25 mpg | 17/25 mpg |
| RECOMMEND FUEL | Unleaded regular | Unleaded midgrade | Unleaded regular |
Anatomy of a cop car
1. Contrary to popular opinion, engine and transmission are usually stock.
2. High-output alternator for strobe lights, siren, computers, radios, etc. (Ford leads with 200 amps max).
3. Severe-duty cooling system.
4. External engine-oil cooler.
5. Steel wheels (sometimes dressed up with plastic wheel covers). Dodge has alloy wheels for show only.
6. All-season tires.
7. Heavy-duty brake pads. Michigan State Police brake tests include two hard stops from 90 mph, followed by six threshold stops from 60 mph, followed by a four-minute heat soak. Then the entire sequence is repeated.
8. Heavy-duty suspension for added control and durability (only Charger offers electronic stability program).
9. Column shifter allows between-seat mounting of radios, computers, siren-control head.
10. Kevlar-lined ballistic front door panels, available on Ford, designed to stop most small-arms fire.
11. “Trunk Packs”-strong, integrated boxes for safety gear, firearms, evidence containers, etc.-are a popular option.
12. Rear seat back and seat cushions in Ford Police Interceptor are built as a single piece, with no gap in which a perp could hide a weapon.
13. “Easy-clean” vinyl flooring usually standard (especially in back, where intoxicated perps often literally spill their guts). Some police agencies order carpeting in the interest of higher resale value.
14. Back-seat window switches, door locks, and inside door handles inoperative.
15. Though vehicles are often prewired for popular accessories, light bars, radios, etc. are supplied and installed by aftermarket vendors.
16. Total cop-car market in U.S. approximately 70,000 vehicles annually.
17. Sticker prices often bear little resemblance to actual vehicle cost; most police vehicles sold at substantial fleet discounts.

Hip CHiP
7 Mary 4 in pursuit
Forget about the Ponch and Jon edition Kawasaki KZ1000P. Don’t waste your time with the porky Harley Road King. The new king of the police fleet is BMW’s sleek R 1200 RT-P. Packing 1170cc worth of fuel-injected horizontally opposed twin cylinders that produce 110 horsepower, the R 1200 RT-P scorches the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 109.6 mph (on the exact same bike we bested the L.A. Sheriff’s best quarter-mile acceleration validation test by 0.9 second). Grab a fistful of brakes, and the BMW’s I-ABS (yes, ABS on a bike!) halts the R 1200 RT-P’s 842 pounds of weight (bike curb weight-without rider-is 682 pounds) in just 126 feet. Mixed city/highway cruising delivers over 40 mpg, and the BMW is the first cruiser to offer a catalytic-converter system for ultra-low emissions. On EVOC’s tight city street “pursuit” course, the R 1200 RT-P proved formidable with a 98.8-second run, beating its fellow four-wheeled cop-car brethren by 3.6 seconds. (Kent Kunitsugu, editor-in-chief of Sport Rider magazine, did the riding.) However, excessive gravel in corners and copious potholes limited the bike’s true handling prowess to “don’t wreck the BMW press bike” speeds. Trick gadgets include heated grips and seat, adjustable-height front windscreen, adjustable ride-height suspension, run-flat tires, and the first-ever use of LED pursuit lights. Maybe if CHiPs producers had ditched the pack-mule KZ1000P’s in favor of BMWs, Jon (aka 7 Mary 3) wouldn’t have left in season six. - John Kiewicz.
To protect and to unnerve
One look at these menacing cop rides, and you’ll plead guilty before the chase even starts.
1. When cruising Italy’s Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway, watch for this 500-hp Gallardo. It’s even equipped with a heart defibrillator-which you’ll need when you see the polizia closing at 190 mph.

2. This wicked 911 Carrera S Police Car concept by German Porsche-tweaker TechArt features a lightbar, 20-inch wheels, a customized suspension, and a 15-horse increase in output.

3. Think you could outrun a twin-turbo, 6.3-liter V-12 making 730 horsepower? Then you’d better be able to top 227 mph. Punk. German tuner Brabus built this custom CLS cop car.

4. Chevrolet’s Camaro Z28 B4C police vehicle stopped production in 2002, but is still on the prowl. Boasting a 310-horse LS1 V-8, the 2002 model clocked a top speed of 162 mph.

5. This 1968 Galaxie is Inspector Callahan’s patrol vehicle in 1971’s “Dirty Harry.” Today, Callahan would be flaunting a Dodge Magnum (”I know what you’re thinking: Does he have eight cylinders or only six…”).

By Arthur St. Antoine
Photography by Evan Klein
Boeing 747 Makes Mincemeat Out of a Couple of Cars
Next time you decide to take a little joyride behind a Boeing 747 with its engines at full throttle cranking out 58,000 lb. of thrust each, think of this video from the Brit car series Top Gear. Forget how small electronics fare in a blender. We want to see how large machinery stands up to a 747!
Those Top Gear guys are always good for a laugh and a thrill, and we especially like Richard Hammond’s mild oaths such as “blimey!” and “crikey!” – Charlie White
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Car Auction Buying Secrets Revealed
Get to the auction early! I know that sounds really simple – but then buying a used car at a used car auction is not rocket science. You just have to bear in mind some simple and basic rules of thumb and you should be fine. So, get there early and have a good look around. Take your time finding the car you want and make sure you have your Kelley Blue Book, NADA guide, or Edmunds book if you’re going to a used car auction to get an idea of the car’s value.
When you find a car you like, open all the doors, trunk and hood and find the VIN stickers and make sure they match. If they don’t the car is either stolen, was a wreck or has been rebuilt from different cars. In any event, check out the VIN number. Call a friend on your cell phone (or use your pocket PC) and get them to check it out online. There are several services that will give you a report online instantly. Remember the auctioneers have a vested interest in any information you get from them – so be prepared to verify your facts independently.
Of course, there are several types of ‘auction’ available to you. These include online auctions like eBay and yahoo, police and government car auctions, public auctions, insurance salvage auctions and wholesale auctions. Though the last two are normally only open to dealers.
Keep in mind that online car auctions are not so different to public car auctions. Once you have won your bid you are committed to buy. So it pays to run the same VIN checks and it may well be worth setting up an inspection period with the seller. So that you can have a certified mechanic inspect the car and determine if there is anything unsatisfactory about the car that was not disclosed at the auction.
Police and government car auctions are not really much different to public car auctions. In other words, you are not likely to get your car ‘dirt cheap’. You won’t be the only one there bidding for a ‘dirt cheap’ and before you know it you can easily end up paying way over the published price. For my money, bearing in mind that these cars may not have been maintained or driven for months, I’d rather not pay more than trade price for a car at one of these auctions. Otherwise, what’s the point of being there?
Finally, once you have purchased your car, and despite the pitfalls, there are genuinely thousands and thousands of happy customers out there – give serious consideration to taking out an extended car warranty.
Rob owns blogs on used Car Auctions usedcarauction1.blogspot.com
Price of a car can jump higher any moment in the market. Before you have arranged finance, the car you intend to buy may even go out of your reach. So getting required finance at the earliest is all the more crucial in buying a car. In case you are opting for an unsecured loan, there may be a delay in the approval of finance. But there is no question of a delay in approval of instant unsecured car loans especially made for the purpose.
Instant unsecured car loans are perfectly designed for an instant approval of the loan. The instant access to the loan enables one in buying car of his choice at the appropriate time which saves the buyer from escalation in car prices. The loan is available instantly mainly thanks to online lenders. Online lenders of the loan have provided an online application on their websites. For a quick filling of details of the loan, the online application format is kept very simple. Details like loan amount, purpose of the loan, car model, credit score, annual income etc are filled in the application. With a click of the mouse, the application is with the lender. If the details are found satisfactory on verifying them, it does not take time for approval of the loan.
One reason for instant approval of instant unsecured car loans is that with no collateral required, the time taken for valuating collateral is well saved. Lenders do not have to employ any expert for evaluating borrower’s property for equity value in it. Instant unsecured car loans are provided on the basis of repayment capacity and credit history of the loan seeker. If your annual income and bank statements match with the amount to be borrowed and also the lender is assured about your intentions of timely pay off of installments, loan availing is much easier than what is thought.
Higher interest rate is what you would be paying for instant unsecured car loans. Lenders have to cover for risks in unsecured loan like this one. This prompts for higher interest rate. The loan amount to be borrowed depends on annual income and financial position of the loan seeker.
In case you have bad credit, just make efforts to assure the lender that the loan will be paid off in time and lenders are more than willing to give you the loan, though you may have to fork out even higher interest rate payment. Take a copy of your credit report from reputed credit rating agency and see the level of your credit score. If it is not very poor credit score, you may be considered for an instant approval of the loan.
Instant unsecured car loans make it possible for an unsecured loan taker to own a car of his choice at better terms. Take every aspect of the loan in consideration before settling for a lender. The loan is a blessing in disguise for bad credit people as on clearing the loan installments the credit score goes higher.
By: RebaccaAdams
Rebecca Adams works as a consultant in Unsecured Car Loans. To find Instant unsecured car loans, business car loans, car loan for tenant, easy car loans, poor credit car loans, instant car loans, new used car loans, no credit check car loans, online unsecured car loans, UK car finance loan visit www.unsecuredcarloans.org.uk/
Extended Car Warranty
An extended car warranty is an agreement that is made between you and a car company. In most cases, people will purchase car warranties to protect themselves in the event that their car breaks down due to mechanical problems. The costs involved with repairing automobiles are high, and the prices have continued to increase in recent years. However, it should be noted that a car warranty must never be confused with car insurance. They are completely separate entities. A car warranty is a type of service agreement. The amount of coverage will vary based on the customer.
If you purchase an extended car warranty, this does not mean that it will replace the standard warranty. However, it will give you a certain level of coverage. While the primary purpose of getting an extended warranty is to lower the cost of vehicle repairs, there are a number of additional features that may be added to the agreement. Before you sign the agreement, it is important for you to read and understand it. You should never sign an agreement with a company you’re not comfortable. Each brand new car that is sold on the market today will come with a special warranty system. The terms and limits of the warranty are different based on the company that manufactures the vehicle.
If you don’t have the warranty information which is related to the vehicle you purchased, the information should be available in the owner’s manual that came with the car. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, you will need to contact the car company to get the warranty information. It is essential for customers to understand the terms of the warranty that is related to their vehicle. If you don’t know the terms of the warranty, it may expire at a time when you need it to be in force. When many people hear about extended car warranties, they often wonder if they are paying for dual coverage.
The assumption is often made that it is not necessary to purchase an extended car warranty while they are still using the guarantee of the car company. However, this assumption is not valid. You should purchase an extended car warranty while you are still using the guarantee of the car company. If you do this, you will get a better rate, because your vehicle will have a higher level of coverage. If you wait, this can make it harder for you to get an extended car warranty. In most cases, the coverage can only be extended up to 100,000 miles. There is not standard coverage that is used by all the car companies on the market. The plan you get will vary from one company to the next.
When you are setting up an extended car warranty, you should ask questions about things you don’t understand. Remember, this is an agreement that is being made between you and the manufacturer. One term that you may hear is called “bumper to bumper.” This is another name for full protection, and it is the highest form of coverage you can get for your vehicle. With this protection, you should be given a list of all the car parts that will be covered.
Michael Colucci is a writer on Car Warranty which is part of the Knowledge Search network
Car Donation Tax Deduction
Next to wanting to contribute to charitable causes, perhaps your biggest motivation to donate your car is the substantial tax break it can give you. Don’t be misled by information about your return, because the tax breaks you can get from a car donation may not be as big as you think.
If your car donation is worth more than $500, then you should read “Revenue Provisions” in Section 884 of Title VIII. This details the new restrictions on car donations value at more than the aforementioned amount.
In a nutshell, the provision caps the allowable amount of tax deductions to the gross proceeds received by the recipient (the charitable organization you donate your car to) from the sale of your donated vehicle. When you donate a vehicle with a claimed value of $500 or more, your tax-deductible amount will depend on how the charity uses the vehicle. For example, if the charity sells the car, then you can only deduct the amount of gross proceeds that the charity received from the sale. On the other hand, if the charity plans to use the car for tax-approved charitable work as approved by the law, you can claim the car’s fair market value.
The same law also requires the charity to provide you with a written acknowledgment of the contribution within 30 days from the day you make the donation. If your recipient gives you a false or fraudulent acknowledgment, they will face a penalty.
In many instances the tax breaks you get from donating your car are enough to cover (or exceed) the amount you could have sold the car for. Remember that you usually do not have to pay for any paperwork or dealer fees when you donate your car. In the end it is still more sensible to donate you car rather than sell it. This way you don’t only make a profit – you also help worthy causes.
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