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The five best movie car chases of all time
2007-05-07 14:23:04
OK, settle in. This is gonna be a long post, especially if you watch all the movie s. After running across a YouTube clip from The Driver, I decided that my first actual post on this blog should be a subject that touches the heart of almost every car guy or girl: car chases. I have no idea why movies today don’t have good car chase scenes. I think a lot of the problem is that modern CGI technology gives moviemakers an easy way to fake the incredible stunts that helped make older movies with car chases so great. Call it The Matrix Effect. Anyway, here are Autoblogger.net’s top five best car chases of all time, in reverse order: 5.) The Seven-Ups Summary: This is one of the coolest car chases in a movie that not a lot of folks have seen. The ending was especially good on this one, and car chase endings are a sticky point for me. Memories: Does anyone else my age (mid 30s) have memories of riding around in those giant land yachts from the early 70s with gobs of torque and big


The New Guy
2007-05-04 21:21:27
Hey, everybody! My name is Will Thompson, and I’m going to be taking over for Bill on this site. Ironically, I just found this site about a week ago. When I saw Bill’s post earlier this week, I decided to apply to step in and make this a very entertaining and informative blog - one like I would want to read. As part of my acceptance into the 451 Press family, I had to create a quick blurb about myself that I think might do well posted here… Will Thompson is a large mammal (warm blooded and hairy) indigenous to the North American continent, specifically to the United States, and more specifically to a Nashville, Tennessee suburb. With the combination of a redneck pedigree, Generation-X affinity for cheesy pop culture, and an understanding of the modern automotive landscape, Will strives to bring readers the most informed and most entertaining automotive blog on the planet. From there, Will plans to take over the world, since that’s the plan of every decent evi


Writer Needed
2007-05-04 16:55:08
This site is currently in need of a writer. If you have any interest in writing on the topic this site covers, feel free to submit an application at 451 Press. Thank you. 451 Press, Cars, Writer s Needed


Signing Off
2007-04-30 15:00:35
Today will be my last post as the full time writer for automotiveblogger.net. I have had a lot of fun writing this blog, have learned a lot and hopefully have entertained and educated a few readers. I want to thank everyone who helped to get this blog off the ground and help it to become a very successful site for 451 Press. I would also like to thank the staff at 451 for giving me the opportunity to write for them, and I wish them great success in the future. Maybe one day down the road I will be able to write a guest blog or two. Until then… -Bill Mertz GT40, racing, Ford, LeMans
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For Sale: Knight Rider’s 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, K.I.T.T.
2007-04-27 15:00:18
I recently discovered that a local consignment car company has in their show room a genuine K.I.T.T. from the Knight Rider television series. I loved Knight Rider as a kid. It was a border line obsession. But what is funny to me now is that I realize David Hasselhoff is a terrible actor and a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am is a pretty terrible car. None the less Knight Rider amazed and entertained me with a talking car that was jam-packed with gadgets it was really hard not to like the show. And now I have my chance to own the genuine artifact of my childhood affection. So what does a black 1982 Pontiac Trans Am in full K.I.T.T. regalia go for? According to Kassabian Motors it should fetch in the neighborhood of $150,000. I have to believe that if it sells for that price it might be the most expensive ‘82 Pontiac ever sold. For that matter it might be the most expensive ‘82 anything ever sold. Here is Kassabian’s description of the car: **Own a piece of Television history!**


Race Track to Ban Drifting
2007-04-26 15:00:40
I just read an email from a fellow 24 Hours of LeMons racer that spoke of a local race track, Altamont Raceway, which is under fire to ban drifting amongst other things. The sport of drifting which is hugely popular here in the Bay Area, and all over the country for that matter, is all about controlled slides and getting your car as sideways as possible. It only makes sense to me that drifting be kept off of public streets and on the race tracks where it is regulated and safe. The excellent automotive blog site, Jalopnik, wrote a great piece on the entire controversy. Here is an excerpt from their article: Before we launch into the coming rant about how completely and utterly inane this potential decision to uphold a proposed ban on drifting at a race track is, we must state that the few times we ever went to Altamont Speedway in Altamont, California was for the Pumpkin Smash 400. The track was watered and soaped down, pumpkins were strewn onto all four corners, and a collection of
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Ice Roads
2007-04-25 15:00:20
Along time ago I read something about big rig trucks hauling heavy loads across thick frozen over water in the dead of winter. As I recall they could only do it for a narrow window of time, but the advantage was it cut a massive distance off the trip when compared to the routes that had to be used in warmer months, and in some cases there was no overland access during warmer months. This memory prompted me to do a little bit of research on the subject and I was happy to stumble across a few great websites as well as a very informative article in popular mechanics on the subject of ice roads. As it turns out my recollections weren’t that far off. As William (Diesel Gypsy) Weatherstone describes on his website, The Northern Territories & Provinces of Canada have a unique winter trucking program that is unparalleled in the world. In the harsh environment of -30 to -70 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, (not counting any wind chill factor) men build highways of ice into the Arctic
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Best of Three Worlds
2007-04-24 15:00:00
When I checked my mail box today I was greeted by a new vehicle from Kanter Concepts called the 789. The 789 is named so because it blends key styling cues from the ‘57 Chevy Bel Air and both a ‘58 and ‘59 Chevy Impala. With C6 Corvette underpinnings the 789 is marketed as a unique and retro ride that can perform like a modern super car on the street. Performance isn’t the only thing that is of super car proportions; with a price tag of $135,000 the Kanter 789 ain’t cheap. However if you really want a blend of American nostalgia, with modern performance, and looks that will have overweight men in tank tops and mesh hats drooling then the 789 might be the perfect car for you. Here is the press release on the 789: Named for the three years represented in the overall design, the 789 has the “hooded eyes” and chrome grille bar of a ‘57 Bel Air, a mid-section and tri-toned interior that is reminiscent of a ‘58 Impala and the “bird in
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12.9-litre V8 Cobra: Fastest Production Car?
2007-04-23 15:00:27
I have to thank a fellow writer, Meg from http://angelinajoliewatch.com, for sending me the link to a story about an amazing Cobra . While this news is slightly old, it is the first I had heard of the car, and I must say it is quite impressive. When the AC Cobra burst onto the scene in the mid-1960s it was considered a rocket ship. Even by today’s standards the small lightweight V8 powered AC Cobra was an outstanding performer. But going fast is an addiction and it didn’t take long before the Cobra was sporting a new big block motor with even more performance. Shelby even went so far as to build two twin-supercharged Supersnake Cobras that reported 800 horsepower with 0-60 times coming in under 4 seconds. With no practical way to use this much speed and power on public roads you would think that urge to build a faster street legal Cobra would be non-existent, but a German car company specializing in reproduction Cobras decided they wanted to build the king of all Cobras. 12.9
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Senna Through Time
2007-04-20 15:00:29
I normally despise computer animated video, especially when it’s trying to duplicate live action racing. But I have to say, this Youtube find is an exception to the rule. This video depicts Ayrton Senna racing all the open wheel cars he’s ever set foot in starting with go karts and ending with a Williams F1 car. Good sound, imagery and action give this video a somewhat realistic feel. And even though it is quite obvious that this video was a total computer project it doesn’t take away from how cool it is to see all of Senna’s cars out on the track with his signature striped yellow helmet in the cockpit. This video also serves as a history lesson of Senna’s career and an interesting peak into the rise of one of Formula One’s greatest talents. Enjoy: -Bill Mertz F1, Formula One, Ayrton Senna, Senna, racing, motorsports, history, open wheel


Test post
2007-05-09 18:05:19
Technorati Profile


150 HP 50 MPG two cylinder engine
2007-05-09 14:27:40
The late Smokey Yunick (1923-2001) was one of the greatest automotive engineering minds the world has known. Smokey was also notorious for cheating and being so full of BS in NASCAR that stories about him are legendary. One of Smokey’s most legendary engineering feats (and rule violations) was building a 7/8 scale Chevelle and racing it in a NASCAR race. It’s no surprise then, that one of his most significant accomplishments has people who doubt it’s very existence. The adiabatic engine project by Smokey was an engine design that promised unreal feats from a carbureted gasoline engine. The claims of a 150 horsepower, 50 miles-per-gallon, two cylinder engine are enough to set the tin-foil hat brigade chattering about a possible government-big oil conspiracy to keep Smokey’s invention out of the hands of Joe Consumer. After a few Google searches and a few days looking around to see what I could find, I didn’t come up with much beyond theory and anecdotal evi


Creating Cars
2007-05-08 14:16:37
I got a very interesting email from a lady named Jenna Bowles at The Futures Channel, a company that makes “micro-documentaries” geared toward students. The films all provide answers to the biggest question I had as a young gearhead sitting in algebra/geometry/physics class: “When will I ever use this?” Their latest micro-documentary titled Creating Cars (click to watch the video) takes them to meet members of the design team at Ford’s Advanced Design Center in Irvine, California. Hmm, does that design shop sound familiar? They’ve produced some of the more exciting concepts in recent history, including the Forty Nine concept, the Cobra concept (that was on the TV show Rides), and the now-in-production GT. Let’s take a quick break to salivate: What’s say we read an excerpt of their press release: Their work is confidential. The technology is cutting edge. The competition is fierce. The secret? Ford Motor Company’s concept cars.


Edmunds.com names Most Wanted vehicles
2007-05-07 20:35:07
Edmunds.com recently announced its Consumers’ Most Wanted Vehicle Awards for 2007. Taking top honors on the list was the GMC Acadia (the Most Significant Vehicle of the Year). The next highest finisher was the Saturn Aura, followed in third by the Honda Fit. Among manufacturers, Chevrolet had the most awards with a total of 5. The site listed the Cobalt for sedans costing below $15,000; the Corvette for coupes costing less than $60,000 and for convertibles costing below $60,000; the Suburban for SUVs costing less than $45,000; and the Silverado for large pickups. Edmunds.com also highlighted another GM brand, Cadillac, which finished right behind Chevrolet with 4 units on the awards list. Honda also had 4 units win awards, according to officials. Edmunds.com Consumers’ Most Wanted Vehicle Awards for 2007 Most Significant Vehicle of the Year 2007 GMC Acadia Sedans Under $15,000 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt Under $20,000 2007 Honda Civic and 2007 Mazda 3 (tie) Under $25,


Weekly links May 6th-12th 2007
2007-05-11 14:18:26
So I’ve officially been at this for a week now. It’s been a fun week, although a lot tougher and more time consuming than I expected. I think I’m going to start a post with a recurring theme every week. It occurred to me that there are a lot of links out there that I visit very often, so I think I’ll start posting those up. In addition, I’m gonna post up a link to a cool car (or truck) that I’ve found trawling the internet. I’ll even give it a cheesy name. How about “AutomotiveBlogger.net’s Car Star of the Week” Let’s get a few of the basics links every car person should know about out of the way in my first weekly links and Car Stars vehicle: Car Domain If you’re thinking of modifying your car and want to see how cool your car could look as well as how stupid it could possibly look, Car Domain is your destination. Users can join for free and post pictures of their cars and list modifications for everyone to see.
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Did Chinese automakers buy automotive secrets from Kia spies?
2007-05-10 15:16:10
Forbes reports via AFX that five current and former employees of Kia Motors have been arrested for allegedly selling automotive technology to China, causing potential losses of billions of dollars to a key industry, prosecutors said. The prosecutors’ office in Suwon city south of Seoul said the five are accused of stealing key technical secrets regarding car assembly. On nine occasions since last November, the accused allegedly diverted a total of 57 secrets to an unidentified Chinese auto company through a technology consulting company in South Korea. The secrets were supposedly technologies for assembly of Kia’s Sorento SUV. The incident has been called South Korea’s biggest case of industrial espionage, and could cause damage of ‘a few billion dollars’. –Will Thompson Kia, Sorento, Chinese, automakers, China, industrial, espionage, spies , spy, secret, sell


Dude, you bought a girl car?
2007-05-15 14:34:55
Disclaimer: Please note that we here at AutomotiveBlogger.net are not recommending cars for girls, nor are we recommending men don’t buy the following cars. This blog is written in the United States of America, and for the time being we are all free to buy whichever car we wish. If I happen to name the car that’s in your driveway and you suddenly feel insulted, well, lighten up, Francis. My aim with this post not to insult, but rather it is to point out that at some point after buying one of the cars on this list that you will most likely hear a comment about your car being a “girl car”. If you’re a “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” kind of person then not only do you have my admiration and respect, but you are also free to read on, Admiral Farragut. If you are not and you buy one of the cars on this list, then don’t say I didn’t warn you. 5.) Mazda Miata When the Mazda Miata was introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model, it was mean


DaimlerChrysler sells Chrysler
2007-05-14 15:58:45
As of about 7 AM EST, Chrysler .htm">DaimlerChrysler has agreed to sell it’s struggling Chrysler arm (or at least 80.1% of it) to Cerberus for $7.4 billion. This is obviously no secret, since DaimlerChrysler has been shopping Chrysler to folks for a few months now. What is interesting is that the deal went to Cerberus, and not Magna (which has a Russian financial interest) and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. The New York Times article bring up a few interesting points: Of the $7.4 billion, Cerberus agreed to invest $5 billion in the new Chrysler and $1.05 billion in Chrysler’s financial arm. The remaining $1.35 billion will go to DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler’s share of the capital represents a remarkable comedown for a company that paid $36 billion to acquire Chrysler in 1998, in a landmark deal that was initially hailed as a blueprint for the future of the global auto industry. You read that right. DaimlerChrysler paid $36 billion and sold it for $7.4 billion. Nice investment there, Dr.


2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara review
2007-05-14 15:25:46
Last year, I traded in my 2000 Dodge Stratus on a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Since I’ve found myself the writer of an automotive blog, I thought I’d give a long term review of the only newer car I own. We outgrew our Stratus soon after our baby girl was born. Since it was paid for, we kept it and dealt with the growing inconvenience of having to bend over double to put the kid in the middle (wife and I are both pretty tall - she’s 5′10″ and I’m 6′5″) to be able to go anywhere as a family. Since we we swore off getting a minivan a decade before having the kid, we didn’t look at any of those. The wife parks in a tight parking garage at work, a large SUV was out the window as well. We settled on small car-based SUVs. The roundup of what to look at were as follows: Toyota RAV4 Hyundai Santa Fe Kia Sportage Honda CR-V Suzuki Grand Vitara Here’s what we wanted: leather interior, a V6 (or extremely gutsy 4 cylinder), small size Wha


AutomotiveBlogger.net’s Car Star Award for May 13th-19th 2007
2007-05-18 14:34:03
I’m skipping the weekly links this week because I found a Car Star for this week that is so awesome that it deserves a post all its own. (click to go to the full gallery of pics) I found this vehicle last year when I joined the 67-72ChevyTrucks.com message board. Since they have a great 73-87 Chevy truck section, I generally hang around in there. When I saw the truck of the guy called N2TRUX, I thought it was one of the coolest rides I’d ever seen. Last week I asked N2TRUX (also known as Ken McAvoy) if I could feature his truck as this week’s Car Star, and he agreed. Matter of fact, he had a story prepared for when he was featured in Classic Trucks magazine last year. Here’s Ken’s story: Internet Classic Ken McAvoy N2TRUX Every custom truck has a story, and this 77 Chevy Cheyenne is no different. Unlike the daily driver drone trucks that get you back and forth to work or school, custom trucks have a personality. Most trucks are bought from a new auto de
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Cars.com reports an increase in fuel-efficient vehicle searches
2007-05-17 14:51:04
If Cars.com is any indicator, Americans are looking more closely at fuel-efficient vehicles. This really isn’t an incredible surprise, but it seems to the casual observer that the tipping point for Americans to consider fuel efficiency in vehicle choice may have been reached. Does this spell the end to the American love affair with behemoth SUVs pumped out by Detroit’s Big 3 automakers? Only time will tell, but such would appear to be the case. New Cars With Largest Increase in Searches for April 2007 Rank Vehicle Percentage 1. Honda Civic Hybrid 15% 2. Volkswagen Jetta 9% 3. Toyota Yaris 9% 4. Jeep Patriot 8% 5. Mercedes C-Class 7% 6. Toyota Prius 7% 7. BMW 335 7% 8. Ford Mustang 7% 9. Toyota Corolla 5% 10. Chevrolet Cobalt 4% –Will Thompson cars.com, fuel, efficiency, best miles per gallon, hybrid, Honda, Toyota, SUV, Detroit, Volkswa


Department of the obvious reports hybrid vehicle sales increasing
2007-05-16 14:45:10
According to recently released sales data from The R.L. Polk Co., 1.5M alternative fuel autos were sold throughout the country last year, or 50% more than forecast in the period. In Colorado, alternative-fuel-auto sales in the state climbed 17% in 2006 from 2005, according to the data. The survey showed that “Sales exceeded our expectations,” said Monica Sakala of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in Washington, D.C. Some of the appeal clearly stems from the miles per gallon a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle can deliver. “Certainly, some of it is because of gas prices. But the government is also playing a role,” Sakala said of the incentives offered by state and federal government. Other motivating factors include being able to drive in high-occupancy-vehicle or HOV lanes. Increased sales of hybrids can also be attributed to some companies leasing hybrids for their sales force. I wonder if these numbers will continue to increase once the new 2008 EPA
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800 HP, 25 MPG and zero fossil fuels in a 65 Impala SS
2007-05-21 14:26:11
I just saw a re-run of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Let me tell you, I’m pretty impressed. I used to love this show, but then I got a little tired of these guys seeing how many monitors they could fit in a car. This episode, however, was a bit different. Instead of just dubs and 20 million video monitors, there was dubs, 20 million video monitors, and an 800 horsepower engine with 1400 lb-ft of torque that gets 25 MPG in a 1965 Impala SS. This engine pushed the heavy Impala to a 0-60 time of around 3.5 seconds. That’s gol-darned fast, son. The kicker? All this was done using zero fossil fuels. These amazing numbers were reached by using a turbocharged Chevy Duramax diesel engine with a few standard diesel go-fast goodies backed by an Allison tranny and a Currie rear end. All this was done specifically for the Impala to use 100% biodiesel (B100) as it’s fuel. All of this was done by MTV as part of their Break the Addiction campaign for Earth Day. In addition to Xzibit, M


Ford giving away a Taurus and Taurus X on Extreme Makeover
2007-05-19 17:11:11
Ford is giving away a 2008 Taurus and a 2008 Taurus X on ABC’s Extreme Makeover tomorrow night. If those cars look familiar, you’ve been paying attention to Ford for the past couple years. The Taurus is a rebadged version of the Five Hundred, and the Taurus X is a rebadged version of the Freestyle. This is interesting to folks following the downtrodden automaker that is Ford these days. Just last year, Ford announced that they had decided to kill the Taurus, which went into production over twenty years ago. Since the Taurus had only been gone for about two months before Ford announced it’s return, this might be the strangest case of decision remorse ever seen in an automakers. While I certainly applaud Ford’s generosity, it’s not like they don’t get a pretty decent amount of exposure for the launch (relaunch?) of these two vehicles. I’m sure the $40K or so coming out of Ford’s pocket for these two vehicles is cheaper than a comparable
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A funny
2007-05-24 07:31:15
Found on NASCAR.com last year sometime… Where To Live After Retirement Guide: You can live in Phoenix where … 1. You are willing to park three blocks away because you found shade. 2. You’ve experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl. 3. You can drive for four hours in one direction and never leave town. 4. You have more than 100 recipes for Mexican food. 5. You know that “dry heat” is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door. 6. The four seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! You can Live in California where … 1. You make more than $250,000 and you still can’t afford to buy a house. 2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway. 3. You know how to eat an artichoke. 4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party. 5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather th


VW hyping up diesel sales
2007-05-23 07:21:48
Volkswagen of America is running a contest to find the oldest and highest-mileage diesel -powered VWs still running on their original engines. The competition is more than a publicity stunt. It has kicked off one of the most ambitious campaigns to persuade American motorists that their cars will last longer and use far less fuel if they switch to diesel. The German carmaker needs to generate interest ahead of next February’s planned launch of its diesel-powered Jetta TDI, which VW hopes will not only revive the group’s flagging US sales but put it in pole position to capture growing demand for diesels in the world’s biggest car market. The Jetta is expected to be the first diesel to comply with increasingly stringent emission standards in all 50 states. In spite of its headstart over rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Nissan, Volkswagen faces a Herculean task. It is not only promoting a vehicle but trying to change a mindset. “The US image of diesel to


Best car commercials of the past few years
2007-05-22 07:22:39
As a car guy, car commercials tend to catch my eye. Well, sometimes they do. Sometimes a commercial is made and released into the wild that makes everyone notice, not just car guys. The following commercials are a few of my favorites, in no particular order. After the Dude, you bought a girl car? post last week, I got a few comments from people who were surprised that the Chevy HHR didn’t make the list. Do you think automakers design a car and instantly know what kind of person is most likely going to buy it? Makes you wonder when you see this commercial, which always makes me laugh. When you see the tagline at the end, are they saying that girls should get one because guys can’t keep their hands off it? That’s like saying the HHR is like the roofies of current production automobiles. Anyway, here’s the commercial: A few years back, BMW created a site called BMW Films and had a few very well known movie directors (Guy Ritchie, Ang Lee, John Woo, etc) make eig


Followup to the Smokey Yunick Fiero
2007-05-25 07:41:47
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the existence, or lack thereof, of Smokey Yunick’s famed adiabatic-engined Fiero. As it turns out, I got an email last night from a man named Tony Allers, who owns the Fiero now. Interestingly enough, Tony’s a few miles up the freeway in Hendersonville, TN. He pointed me to the most recent article about it in The Tennessean, which is Nashville’s major newspaper. Here’s the article. Mr. Allers also mentioned that the Fiero had been mentioned on Spike TV’s Horsepower TV a while back, as was mentioned in the comments of the last article. Mr. Allers also mentioned that the Fiero was shown to the public for the first time a few weeks ago at The Fiero Factory in Toney, Alabama. Toney is where my sister lives, interestingly enough. Small world. Here’s a couple pics from the Tennessean article: –Will Smokey Yunick, adiabatic, Fiero, engine, fuel, efficient, Tony Aller, hot vapor


Ben Stein gives his opinion of the American auto industry
2007-05-30 07:16:02
I never would have figured Ben Stein to be a car guy, but apparently that’s the case. Mr. Stein, known for being brainy, slightly nerdy, and often very dryly humorous, wrote an article for the New York Times about the American auto industry . Here’s an excerpt from his article, titled The Dream That Once Was Detroit: I AM an American, and therefore I love cars. I am an American and, in America, you are what you drive, and here are some memories. This is the only dream I remember from all of high school: Instead of my light blue, miserable 1955 Chevrolet, I had a white 1962 Corvette like the one my pal Calvin Kline (not the designer) had, and Gay Patlen, my high school dream girl, kissed me on the lips (in the dream). You are what you drive. Even in your dreams. I like this guy. Click here to read the rest of the article. –Will Ben Stein, American cars, automobile, industry, Detroit, Big 3
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Paint your car for fifty dollars
2007-05-29 07:12:54
Everyone who’s had a project car and is a little strapped for cash has been at the point where the car/truck’s ready for paint. This is usually the point in the project that people really dread. Not only do you have the prospect of your car being in “paint jail” for six months or longer, but you also have to swallow a big pill when it comes to the cost of decent looking paint. The lowest quality professional paint jobs out there are from places like Maaco and Earl Scheib, and the lowest you can generally go is about $300. Personally, I’ve never heard of anyone being quoted less than $500. Mind you, that’s for single stage paint that’s generally just shiny enough to get the customer out the door in a fairly good mood. Most of the jobs at that price are going on cars that are about to be sold, so the current owner doesn’t really much care how the paint will look in a year. What would you say if I told you the Corvair above has a $50 paint
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