It won;t be long before electronic vehicles will go mainstream in response to save the environment and quest for alternative fuel. This is evident through the launch of EVs like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. And what better way to capitalize this move than to put up recharging stations just like what the Tennessee Valley Authority has done with their solar-power recharging hubs.

And according to Kicking Tires, “The TVA and the Electric Power Research Institute, where the first stations will be built, have come up with an innovative design that will deliver power from solar cells on top of a carport to three “refrigerator-sized” battery packs stored indoors. When drivers plug in, they will draw from the solar cells but also from the grid. The idea is to have the cells partially charging vehicles when they’re plugged in but also sending electricity back to the grid when no one is charging. The storage capabilities of the batteries allow cars to recharge first with stored energy before drawing from the grid.”

They hope that they will have 125 of these stations operational by the end of the year. Not only that, they hope they would influence other motorists in practicing the EV-way, like what the best types of batteries to use, what suitable temperatures are during extreme heat or cold, and how often will drivers use the recharging stations.

One dilemma that a station costs around $50K-$100k to build and they will give away free electricity. How will the TVA retrieve that investment is another matter.

For half-a-million dollars, you could probably buy yourself a nice and cozy home for you and your family. But if you’re the type that’s after having a cool set of wheels instead of having a roof over your head, then this 1970 Pontiac Firebird Road Racer might just interest you.

Aside from having one stylish exterior, this ’70 Firebird carries with it a lot of history. First, it competed in the 1972 Daytona, Sebring, and Trans Am races. Second, it’s considered the first production car to use radial tires in an SCAA race and succeeded in winning the competition. Third, since the car and the team using it were based in Canada, the Firebird was allowed to carry a Chevy engine thanks to the fact that Canadian Pontiacs were allowed to carry Chevy engines.

Now if you’re keen on owning a piece of history, be ready to part with your hard-earned $550,000. We can’t say that buying this car will be a worthy investment. But we can say that you’ll end up being “The Man” once people see you driving in it.

Source: Car Domain Blog

If your car was stolen 38 years ago and failed to find it, you’re bound to call it quits and move on. Well, Harold Voelker did that after he lost his 1956 Ford F-100 in 1972. Although he frequented car shows and carried this firm belief that he’ll know it’s his truck if he saw it, he was also realistic about his chances of actually finding it. But in a funny twist, it was his precious F-100 that came back to him.

According to Voelker, he got a call from the California Highway Patrol who discovered the vehicle due to a discrepancy in the vehicle identification number while it was being registered by its current owners, a couple from Modesto. The officer in charge, CHP Officer Greg Bennett was the one who discovered the anomaly and contacted Voelker. After a series of questions, he promptly informed Voelker that they had found his truck.

Of course, since 38 years passed, the truck ended up being customized to suit the taste of the previous owners. Instead of its yellow finish and stainless steel hubcaps, the truck now sported a white paintjob and alloy wheels. But nonetheless, Voelker is ecstatic to finally have his baby returned to him. To keep him from losing his truck, he now plans on equipping it with an alarm and park it in his garage. He even plans on getting a new plate that says “Back Home” or “It’s Back.”

Our word of advice to Voelker? You can do whatever you want to your truck, man. Just make sure you don’t lose it again. Trust us, lightning doesn’t strike twice. So you’ll find it hard to get it back the next time you lose it.

Source: Jalopnik, Chron

Car grilles are often overlooked by most car owners. No matter what they look like, as long as they bring in air, they’re good. But since this component is one of the things you get to see at when staring at the vehicle’s front, they should at least look stylish to help enhance your vehicle’s overall appearance.

That’s the reason why we can’t help but appreciate the gallery of different grilles posted by the folks at Jalopnik. While not all cars posted here are vintage, most of them pretty much are. So without any further delay, here some sleek grilles for your viewing pleasure.

Source: Jalopnik

What do you get when you mix a ’44 Troop Carrier, a ’35 Dodge body, and a ’66 Chevelle driveline? Well, you get an innovative but well-crafted machine called the Six Pack Rat. Built by Sean Hartman, this vehicle, by the looks of things, takes its inspiration from the military. Of course, they will probably have a hard time using it in combat but we don’t think that’s what Hartman had in mind when he built this baby. Plus the ground clearance is just three-inches so imagine how much damage this vehicle is going to take if it ends up going through rough terrain. But what makes it a unique creation though is the fact that it actually runs on six wheels. For a concept car, that’s something you don’t see every day. We’re guessing that’s where it derived the name Six Pack. Nice.

Source: Ride Lust

Crossbreeding is something commonly done with animals. You don’t, however, see this done that much with cars. And when you do, it sometimes turns out to be weirder than it should be. Just take a look at this mish-mash of a car that has earned the nickname “Hondabaru.”

The Hondabaru carries a body of a Honda Civic and a frame of a Subaru WRX. Thanks to this combination, this hatchback gets to have an AWD feature. While that’s pretty common for those big SUVs, that’s practically a rarity for this vehicle type.

So if you’re the type that fancies something quirky, this could be the vehicle for you. Of course, you’ll have to fork up $6,200 just to get it. But at least, you can brag that you’re the only one that’s got this baby.

Source: Jalopnik

Customization may sometimes require a little body work. But this dude took it to the extreme when he decided to convert a 1992 VW Golf and cut it down to size. Literally. George, who happens to work for VWVortex cut out the rear portion of the car and then put the remaining portions together. To get a set of doors that would fit seamless into the vehicle, he got half of the front door and half of the rear door and put them together.

While it is a pretty nifty idea, we still prefer the sturdiness of the original VW Golf. Let’s face it - you wouldn’t want to be caught between two trucks while you’re driving this toy. Trust us, just like a bully would pick on a geeky kid, those trucks will end up owning you. And that’s something that can scar you for life.

Source: Jalopnik

If you’re looking for a haven where old Mercedes –Benz vehicles are restored to their former glory, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. This establishment showcases a variety of classic Mercedes-Benz as far back as 1936. It’s amassed a collection over the years which are made viewable to the public. But what makes the center stand out is the fact that it has its own workshops which help in restoring old vehicles. They also offer a variety of spare parts to help customers in revitalizing the look of their classic Benz vehicles. With the services it offers, no wonder people flock the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. So if you’ve got a Benz that needs restoring or you just happen to have an appreciation for the brand’s rich history, this place is for you.

Source: Jalopnik, Mercedes-Benz Classic

Read the title? That’s the first thing that popped into our heads after seeing this image of a vintage ford Mustang spewing out a trail of fire from its rear. We know that there’s a little showboating involved in this, but who can blame the driver? After all, cameras were around for the filming of the SPEED show Pink: All Out. Well, just in case you don’t make the cut when the film comes out, here’s your fifteen minutes of fame for you.

Source: Jalopnik

]]> http://www.rearviewed.com/flame-on/feed/ http://www.rearviewed.com/the-hangover-%e2%80%9969-benz-280se-convertible-goes-for-auction/ http://www.rearviewed.com/the-hangover-%e2%80%9969-benz-280se-convertible-goes-for-auction/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 08:54:02 +0000 admin http://www.rearviewed.com/?p=1976

Cars used in a movie more often than not get offered through an auction. And the 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE convertible used in the hit movie The Hangover is no exception. The vehicle will be part of the Mecum’s Spring Classic Auction. Along with this luxury car, other vehicles that will be part of the auction include the El Camino used in the TV series, My Name Is Earl, two Cobras used in Iron Man, the F1 cars used in Charlie’s Angels, and two KITT cars from Knight Rider. Given the current list of vehicles, this auction is going to be a sure-fire hit once the doors for bidding open.

Source: Jalopnik