Toyota has been around since your parents or even your grandparents were once cool. Given their rich history, it’s nice to see that even up until this day, the company is still making an impact. That’s why even though it doesn’t talk about classic cars, we couldn’t pass on posting Toyota’s brand new ad. Just picture yourself driving its new 2010 Toyota Tundra through the structure shown in the commercial (yes, including through the blazing tunnel). Not an easy feat, but we’re guessing that it will be with this new pickup. So be sure to check the ad today.

Source: YouTube

If having a ’67 Ford Mustang GT500 is a dream of yours, then this is something that’s going to interest you. Students taking automotive restoration at a Washtenaw Community College in southeastern Michigan, have collaborated with Chip Foose, Dynacorn and Roush Performance to build a tribute GT500. Dubbed “Eleanor,” (based on the car from Gone In 60 Seconds), this muscle car will be finished by October and will benefit the Salvation Army of Washtenaw County and the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Eleanor is set to be on display at Washtenaw annual car show in October. The lucky winner will be picked during that day. Along with the car, the winner also gets to go to the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show or SEMA to be held in Las Vegas. So if you’d like to be the lucky winner, start bringing out your rabbit’s foot or four leaf clover. You’re going to need all the lock you can get to nab this four-wheeled baby.

Source: Ride Lust

If you’re familiar with the movie Mad Max (yep, the flick that made Mel Gibson a bona fide movie star in Hollywood), then you’d probably recognize this car that’s parked at the Silverton Hotel in New South Wales, Australia. If you don’t, then let us enlighten you for a bit.

This vehicle – which for all we know could be the actual one used– was similar to the Pursuit Special V8 Interceptor used by Mad Max in the movie. So what is it doing parked in a hotel in the middle of nowhere under? Well, we’re still trying to figure that one out.

Anyway, if you guys are wondering whether the V8 Interceptor is based on an existing vehicle line or it was just built for the movie, well, it’s actually based on Ford’s XB Falcon line. Produced between 1973 and 1976, this vehicle line was built exclusively for Australia. Adapting the look of a muscle car, the Ford XB Falcon sported four engine options during its three-year run. This ranged from a 200ci 6-cylinder,
250ci 6-cylinder, 302ci V8, and 351ci V8 engine. Aside from having a number of engine options, it also came with an array of transmissions and body styles. For the transmission, the car carried a mix of a 3-speed manual, a 4-speed manual, and a 3-speed automatic transmission. Body styles on the other hand included a sedan, a station wagon, a 2-Door, a hardtop, a Ute, and a van.

Now aside from being used in Mad Max, the Ford XB Falcon is also known for its success in Motor Sport. The car notched a number of victories, including victories at the 1974 Sandown 250 and the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship. Not bad for a vehicle that comes exclusively from the Land Down Under.

Sources: Jalopnik, Wikipedia

We’re all familiar with the “lite” version of Coke and Pepsi. But are you aware that muscle cars had their own versions? The only difference is that while the sodas that carried the “lite” tag were sugar free, muscle cars that were labeled as “light” carried the same muscle car features but with less horsepower. So if you’re wondering what type of car falls into this category, look no further than the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350.

Unveiled at the February Chicago Auto Show, the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 was part of the Detroit Big 3’s (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) “muscle car light” movement. The cars under this category sported a muscle car exterior minus the powerful engine. In its place, these car companies equipped it with a less powerful engine. Although it doesn’t emit that much horsepower as your standard muscle car engine, it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t capable of performing well.

For the 1970 Rallye 350, Oldsmobile equipped it with an Oldsmobile 455 CI V-8 engine. The engine could be paired up with the following transmissions: a floor-mounted 3-speed manual, a Muncie close-ratio 4-speed, or a Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 automatic transmission. Thanks to this combination, the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 was able to produce 370 horsepower and 500 lb/ft of torque. The engine also gave the car the ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 7 seconds. Now compared to its other muscle car light siblings, the engine of the Rallye 350 came pretty close to matching the output of the standard muscle cars produced at that time.

However, despite sporting a slick exterior and a near muscle car engine, the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 failed to meet the expectations set by Oldsmobile. As a result, the car was only produced in 1970. But even if it failed to generate success, one thing’s for sure, this vehicle will always remain a classic to car aficionados everywhere.

Sources: Car Domain, American Dream Cars

Okay, if you’re a fan of vintage cars, then Guy Overfelt should now be considered one of your favorite artists. Now who is Guy Overfelt you ask? No, he doesn’t overhaul or design vintage cars, although his new piece of work could help him go into that direction. He’s the “guy” who’s responsible for that inflated Pontiac Trans Am pictured above.

An installation artist, Guy Overfelt worked on this inflated Pontiac Trans Am as part of his exhibition which will be held at Emeryville, California. The inflated car will be part of the exhibit entitled Warhol Live and will be sponsored by the de Young Museum. Opening night will be this Friday, March 6 and carries a 1960 dress code. The exhibit will start from 6pm and will last until 11pm. That gives you most of the evening to admire the blow-up Pontiac Trans Am.

So, what make the inflated Pontiac Trans Am great? Well for one, the installation art does actually resemble the real thing in terms of size. Aside from that, the mix of colors used by Guy made the inflated car look as sleek as the real Pontiac Trans Am. We in particular like the details of the Trans Am’s rear and wheels. If only this thing happened to be real.

So if the inflated Pontiac Trans Am got your attention and you’d like to see more of it, make sure that you pay a visit to the Warhol Live exhibition held at the de Young Museum. This installation art is definitely something worth seeing.

Oh, and if you’d like to get to know more about Guy Overfelt and his past works, make sure to drop by his web site at http://www.thinkcontext.com. It contains a catalog of images showcasing his various works as well as a list of his past and upcoming shows.

Sources: Jalopnik, Boing Boing, thinkcontext.com

With the fourth installment of Fast and the Furious coming up soon, people are starting to find ways to capitalize on the fanfare of its release. One prime example is this ad found in the Las Vegas Craiglist classified selling off one of the vehicles used in the first movie.

The vehicle is none other than the black 1970 Dodge Charger used by Vin Diesel. Remember the one that supposedly killed his dad, leading him to be initially afraid of driving it? Then when things got messy, he ended up driving it anyway and subsequently wrecking it by colliding with a semi-truck as he tried to avoid the train? Yup, that’s the one. And just to prove that it’s actually the real deal, the person selling this took shot of its side which shows significant damage to its passenger door and fender. Just in case you had any doubts to its legitimacy.

Although it’s just a film stunt car that was made by a Hollywood car builder instead of Dodge, it doesn’t mean that the Fast and the Furious 1970 Dodge Charger doesn’t work. The vehicle actually comes with a prop blower on the hood and a functioning 440 Mopar engine. The seller also made sure to indicate that the car is in original movie condition (whatever that means) but that its right suspension needs to be fixed. The muscle car also comes with a certificate of authenticity to back up its claim and prove that it actually is the real deal.

Aside from the 1970 Dodge Charger, the seller also has other props and items from the movie which is currently being sold as well (including Vin Diesel’s and Paul Walker’s bloody wardrobe. Imagine that.). So if you’re interested in looking into getting this customized vintage ride or other mementos from the movie, just check out the Las Vegas Craiglist web site and start placing an offer.

Source Las Vegas Craiglist, Boxwish

Before Jessica Simpson told you that her boots were made for walking (in a very, very, enticing manner), these trio were the ones responsible for making The Dukes of Hazzard a household name. Aside from making the show very popular back then, they were also able to help put one of Chrysler’s muscle cars on the map. That muscle car is none other than the Dodge Charger.

Christened the General Lee for this series, this muscle car was able to have a total of four incarnations over the past years. Three of them were used on the popular TV show while the last (and most recent) was used on the motion picture. The first three Dodge Chargers used were given labels to distinguish them from one another: LEE1, LEE2, and LEE3. The motion picture version though didn’t have any label. So for this post, we’ll simply follow the format of the original labels and call it LEE4. Given the number of versions produced, aren’t you just a bit curious as to what each version brought to the table?

Well, LEE1 carried a 383 CID V-8 powered used in the 1969 Charger and was given an air conditioning system. Initially, the model sported a tan interior, a 3-speaker dash and a chrome rocker trim. However, after a scene wherein the car jumped over a police cruiser, its front seats, grille, and taillight panel were removed. LEE2 carried a 318 CID engine and was packed with a full roll cage. And just like LEE1, the second version again sported a tan interior. LEE3 sports a 440 CID Magnum V-8 engine and is considered the first General Lee created by Warner Bros. after the company shifted from relying on Andre and Renaud Veluzat to build them. LEE3 was also equipped with an air conditioning unit, power windows, and a wood grain dashboard.

For the movie version, LEE4 was equipped with a 426 Hemi engine and carried a Corvette Flame red paintjob instead of its standard Big Bad Orange paint. It also carried a black interior (a shift from its Tan one), a roll cage, a 3-spoke Grant wood-trimmed steering wheel, and an AM/FM radio with CD player.

Now if you want to catch more of the various incarnation of the General Lee, be sure to rent a DVD of the old Dukes of Hazzard TV series. If you want to see more of Jessica Simpson, well…we’ll leave it at that.

Sources: 0-60 Mag, Wikipedia: General Lee, Wikipedia: Dodge Charger

1968 was a year to remember for one of Oldsmobile’s muscle car, the 442 (pronounced four-four-two). That’s because after starting off as an option for the Oldsmobile F-85 and Cutlass, the 442 was finally established as a separate model during this year, lasting until 1971.

Sporting a 400-inch engine, the Oldsmobile 442 enjoyed a number of upgrades compared to its predecessors. Its stroke was increased while its bore was reduced to help in improving both its torque and emissions. However, despite these changes, the 442 was still considered to be a slower version to its 1967 predecessor. When using its 400-inch V-8 engine, the 442 was able to produce 350 horsepower. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds, hit the top speed of 115 mph, and complete a quarter-mile run in 15.13 seconds while running at 92 mph. While its speed could be considered decent, it still wasn’t fast enough.

This prompted Oldsmobile to equip it with an upgraded 445-inch V-8 engine after forming a partnership with Hurst Performance. This resulted in an upgrade in horsepower from 350 to 390. It also sported a camshaft based on the W-31 engines and cylinder heads from the W-30 engines produced during that time. This resulted in the 442 achieving better rpms. While it carried the standard disc brakes, heavy duty cooling, and FE2 suspension options of the 442, the Hurst Performance version also had bucket seats and a Hurst Dual-Gate shifter.

Although the trend of being a separate model didn’t last very long, the 1968 Oldsmobile 442 will forever be remembered for this distinction. And despite its short run, it was able to become a minor success, having around 33,000 units sold. Not bad for a model that was once considered just an option.

Sources: Wikipedia, Kerbeck

If Looney Tune’s Road Runner had its own car, it had to be super fast. After all, the Road Runner is one of the fastest birds in ‘biz. If you don’t want to believe us, just ask Wily Coyote. Going back, if the Road Runner had a car, it would be this one: the Plymouth Road Runner.

Named after the popular cartoon character, the Plymouth Road Runner had three generations of models tucked under its belt. Produced from 1968 to 1980, it was considered (just like its namesake) one of the fastest muscle cars around. How fast was it? Well, the first generation was able to hit the top speed of 105 mph in just 13 seconds covering ¼ miles, with the last generation being the slowest, achieving 88 mph in 16 seconds covering the same quarter-mile distance.

But what made the Plymouth Road Runner memorable was that Plymouth was able to incorporate the image and sounds of Looney Tune’s Road Runner into the car. To do this, Plymouth had to pay Warner Brother $50,000 (a hefty sum back then) to get the rights to use the character. This resulted in the Road Runner character appearing in various apparel released along with the muscle car.

The best though was how Plymouth incorporated the sound that the Road Runner made into the vehicle’s horns. Remember the “beep, beep” sound the character used? Well, Plymouth managed to develop a horn that sounded just like that for the car. So whenever owners blew their horns, it sounded like the Road Runner was telling the other driver to “get the (put your choice expletive here for that added effect) out of the way.” Again, Plymouth had to shell out a big sum of $10,000 just to have the sound produced. But overall, it was an amount worth paying.

Thanks to these characteristics, the Plymouth Road Runner managed to rise in popularity which has transcended even to this day. It has since appeared in an episode of The Simpsons, the movie The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift, and was even used by the character Shaft in some of his movies.

Source: Wikipedia

Just by their looks alone, you can understand why people often find muscle cars to be cool. These vehicles have an attitude that could probably make even James Dean (our famous rebel without a cause) blush. So among the many muscles cars produced over the years, we’d like you to look at the one Plymouth produced in 1971. This is the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6.

The 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6, just like every muscle car, had a powerful engine to back up its rugged looks. Under its hood, it carried a V-8 440 four-barrel engine that enabled it to produce unbelievable power and speed. When in action, the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6 was able to unleash 385 horsepower at 4,700 rpm and 490 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. It’s also able to jump from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and hit the 102 mph barrier in just 13.7 seconds.

Although it sported a high performance engine, the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6 had one major drawback: its suspension. The muscle car was said to have one of the stiffest suspensions around. As a result, drivers end up experiencing a very rocky ride whenever they sped down the road.

However, despite its cool looks and powerful engine, the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6 wasn’t able to generate the sales that Plymouth was hoping for. Reports indicated that only less than 3,000 units were sold. The low sales plus the increase in insurance rates on muscle cars spelled the end for the GTX, which ended up lasting for only one year.

But even if it never made that much of an impact in terms of sales, the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6 is still considered a classic. And if you end up seeing one on the road, it will still most likely end up kicking your rear end should you decide to go against it.

Sources: How Stuff Works, Wikipedia