By Troy Eaves   Thu, Jun 16, 2011

HID headlights are so commonplace nowadays that most people expect to see them beaming down highways and back roads alike.  Pushed into the mainstream thanks to their quick adoption by car enthusiasts and popularity among luxury vehicle and sports car owners, HIDs have attained widespread use despite being only just two decades old.  Though they remain a performance and aesthetic upgrade on most vehicles (let’s face it,  you won’t be getting HIDs standard on the Civic or Corolla anytime soon), they’ve certainly come a long way from their more modest origins.

The first continent to experience that blinding luminosity on the roadways was Europe.  The BMW 7-Series featured Xenon HID headlights as an upgrade option starting in 1991.  Noted for their large HID ballasts and the initial uneasiness many other drivers had driving toward the lights, these early HID models would eventually slim down and be modified to be less jarring to oncoming traffic.  The United States would see xenons for the first time only a couple of years later, in 1993.

It wouldn’t be until the release of the 1996 model-year Lincoln Mark VIII that U.S.-made HIDs would appear on vehicle releases stateside, on the LSC edition.    This is notable for more than just being the origin of U.S. HIDs, however.  The Lincoln Mark VIII would utilize direct current-based HIDs, the only time DC HID systems would be used, as they’re considered less reliable than AC-based HIDs.  These DC-based HIDs were built by Sylvania, a lighting equipment developer.

As car enthusiasts began to become familiar with HIDs, they began seeing more widespread use by tuners looking to make their cars’ headlight displays stand out.  Still too expensive for most vehicle manufacturers to include standard, or even as an upgrade option, most HIDs in use outside of luxury vehicles were equipped by those impressed with the headlight’s brightness, efficiency, and unique custom colorization.  Generally, filters and other modifications were used to alter the appearance of headlights before HIDs.  Once it became known that xenon lights could emit a variety of colors without sacrificing brightness or lighting intensity, they only grew more popular.  Those desiring to set their cars apart from others could now choose from yellow, white, blue, and even purples headlights.

While HIDs became more popular with car enthusiasts, they became decidedly less so among many other drivers, frustrated with the glare produced by HID headlights during nighttime driving.  Eventually, proposals from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration would target HID users, placing limits on the glare produced by these headlights.  To avoid being outlawed entirely, new beam leveling and lens cleaning equipment came to the market, reducing many of the negative effects associated with HIDs.

Currently, many dozens of vehicle models come with HID headlights standard, compared to under two-dozen popular models containing them by 1999.  Many Audi, BMW, and Lexus vehicles come with HIDs standard or as optional upgrades, while even Toyota, Volkswagen, and Land Rover models often come with them available as well.  As HIDs become standard on more and more vehicles, we may yet see them overtake halogens as the most popular headlight source.  But as of today, most of HID’s history is still yet unwritten.

By Colin Graham   Mon, Sep 13, 2010

Keeping your paint looking fresh is an important part of being a classic car owner. Not only does the paint make your ride look appealing, it is also an important part of protecting the metal parts of your car from rust and damage. Your Ford electronic auto repair manual will give you input on creating that beautiful finish so let's go over how to keep that paint looking beautiful.

Before beginning, make sure your car is not in direct sunlight and that the paint is cool to the touch. You don't want to bake in any polish or wax that you might use on your car. That would be counterproductive. The first step you should perform is to wash your car. To do this, you need some important tools:

* A cotton or micro-fiber mitt * A 5 gallon bucket * Cleaning supplies that are both pH balanced and non-detergent

Make sure that you pre-rinse your car with plenty of water before you wash your car. Water is a universal solvent and will loosen up and remove articles on the vehicle that may scratch your paint when rubbed with a cloth. If you do scratch your paint, consult your Ford download automotive repair manual on how to repair your paint. When washing, you should wash and rinse your car in sections, to ensure that any soap that you use doesn't dry onto the paint.

Once you have washed your car, it is important to dry the car. You should never skip this step. Drying your car will prevent water spots and mineral deposits that will break down your car's paint over time. You should use a detailing cloth made of cotton or sheepskin to dry your car as polyester may scratch the paint.

Washing may not get rid of all the road grime, tar, sap, and bug guts that your car may have encountered while out on the road. For road grime, you might try a detailing clay bar as these bars can pull off the road grime without damaging the paint. For tougher substances, like tar, sap, and bug guts, denatured alcohol can do the trick. First, pre-soak the area you would like to clean by pouring a small amount of the denatured alcohol on a soft cloth and holding it over the affected area. Once you have loosened up the material you wish to remove, you will need to use different methods to remove it. For bug guts, use a circular motion to remove them. For tar and sap, rub gently towards the center, without making circular motions as this action will rub the substance in further. Once you have completed this step, you will need to rinse the car again to remove any trace of the alcohol. Then you will have to repeat the drying process.

The most important step comes next: waxing. Use a carnauba wax or paint sealant to wax your car. Carnauba wax, while more affordable, only lasts 8 - 12 weeks and will need to be reapplied. A paint sealant, however, will last up to six months.

While these activities could take up a full day of your time, they are well worth the effort as, when done correctly, these things will keep your car looking shiny and new.

By Barbara Dearing   Thu, Sep 09, 2010

Are you ready to shop for classic car insurance? Maybe, maybe not. Before you pick up the phone, let's take a minute to review the six questions you need to consider before you talk with an agent. Essentially, your agent is going to want to know how much the car is used and how you plan to maintain it. Knowing the answers to these questions will save you time on the phone -- and put you in a much better position to negotiate the best coverage for your classic honey. So let's get started:

1. Do you plan to insure the car for what you feel it's really worth? Your agent will undoubtedly ask how much insurance coverage you are seeking -- if your personal opinion of value is higher than the vehicle's appraised value, you may want to consider a higher level of coverage.
 
2. Do you plan to participate in car club events? If so, you need to consider the amount of liability you can incur in such events. A classic car that is stored 365 days a year has much less potential for liability claims than a car that is driven regularly in parades and other events.
 
3. Are you planning an extended period of renovation for the car? If so, do you need to insure the car while it's off the road?
 
4. Do you plan to ship the car any time soon? If so, additional coverage may be warranted since the car will be outside of your control.
 
5. How many miles a year do you expect to drive the car? If these miles are limited, you may be able to negotiate a lower premium. Be sure to ask about any maximum mileage limitations. An annual restriction of 2,500 miles may be imposed by your car insurance company.
 
6. Who will be repairing or maintaining the car? Again, if the car is outside of your control, you may want to consider higher theft and damage coverage. On the flip side, if you personally maintain the car within secure confines on your property, you may want to pay for minimal coverage.
 
The answer to all of these questions need to be considered before you decide how much coverage is warranted for your classic car. Classic car owners should be aware that some insurance companies specialize in classic car insurance. But as with any car insurance policy, it's best to get quotes from several insurance providers before making a decision. Hopefully, by carefully considering the answers to the six questions we've discussed, you'll be prepared to shop for the best coverage for your classic car.
 

By Ross Bassette   Wed, Sep 08, 2010

You have just spent thousands of hours and countless nights and weekends creating your labor of love, a classic car. One of the most important things you do once you acquire or finish restoring a classic car is to get an appraisal. Let me offer you the most important reasons for getting a classic car appraisal:

Insurance

If you have a house fire, or fire in your garage, your insurance company will not pay replacement value. Also in the event of an accident, the insurance company will not pay replacement value. Having an appraisal will establish a recognized value for your car. With such an appraisal, it is much easier to obtain insurance or settle a claim.

Your Estate

In the unlucky event of your demise, your children or heirs will have a statement as to your cars worth. This will assist them in settling and liquidating your estate.

Selling Your Classic Car

An appraisal by a qualified individual is always a good thing to have when selling your classic car. Your potential seller can contact your appraiser to verify your claims. An appraisal will help set your buyers mind at ease and expedite the sales process.

Obtaining A Loan

There may be times when you will need to use collateral for another purchase, maybe another car. You can use your written car appraisal to help you get a loan.

Buying A Classic Car

There is nothing worse than the realization you just got ripped off by a dishonest seller. Before you purchase a vehicle, an appraisal can help keep you from paying too much, and, uncover any unseen or undisclosed defects present in the car or truck.

An appraisal will normally consist of an evaluation of the cars exterior, interior, mechanics and accessories. The appraiser will factor in data from various classic car guides, auction results and retail and wholesale sales of similar model cars. By taking this extra step in getting an appraisal for your classic car, you are saving yourself from a lot of headaches in the future and keeping the fun in classic car ownership.

By Peter Cennamo   Tue, Sep 07, 2010

The Fiero was designed by Hulki Aldikacti as a Pontiac sports car. Because of a "cool" reception by GM management and accountants, it was finally sold to GM as a fuel-efficient commuter car. The public, however, had other ideas for the only mid-engine car ever mass produced in North America. Peter Cennamo knows that the Fiero was also the first and only two seater Pontiac ever made, until the 2006 introduction of the Pontiac Solstice. The Fiero was modified slightly, borrowing many parts, into a performance vehicle. The sports car potential of this car was greatly reduced due to cost-cutting however, and came under fire from critics-its publicity did not match its initial performance. By the end of production, the Fiero had received updated suspension and body styling, but kept a limited offering of engines-the use of turbochargers or the newer DOHC straight-4 engines never made it to production. Officially, production ended because of insufficient profits.

What Peter Cennamo found interesting was that budget constraints on Pontiac forced them to borrow parts from other product lines. For example, some of the front suspension was taken from the Chevrolet Chevette[1] (the rear being partially from the GM X-body cars) like the Chevrolet Citation and Pontiac Phoenix. GM technicians blamed these borrowed parts for the engine fires (which was not entirely true) that resulted from a number of mechanical design flaws.

The fires in the 2.5 L engine were due mostly to poorly made connecting rods. They were purchased by GM by the ton, not by quality. However, the vehicles left today have most certainly been serviced by GM during the recall.

The Fiero has a strong following of owners and customizers today, including Peter Cennamo. Because of an abundance of replacement parts available from other General Motors vehicles, there are many upgrades that can be done to improve performance and reliability of the cars. Additionally, a multitude of different General Motors engines have been installed by enthusiasts, from the Quad-4 engine to the Chevrolet small-block V8.

The Fiero 2M4 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1984. The 1984 Fiero was the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 for 1984, beating out the new 1984 Corvette for the honor.

1984 was the first production year for the Pontiac Fiero, which began production in August 1983 for the 1984 model year. The year was also critically condemned for producing underpowered commuter cars. In an effort to sell the car as being economically sensible, GM equipped and sold the Fiero as a commuter car but the marketing build up leading to initial release indicated anything but a regular commuter car. The car also proved uncomfortable for some drivers because of the lack of power steering.

The 1984 was the only year in which the Limited "Indy 500" edition, consisting of an Indianapolis 500-themed option package on SE-model vehicles, was offered. Approximately 2,000 of these vehicles were sold.

Further on, the exterior design of the Indy Fiero would be incorporated into the production line as the new 1985 GT.

In 1985, the problem with insufficient power was first addressed, much to the satisfaction of the general public. A Chevrolet 2.8 L 140 hp (104 kW) V6 engine was put into the car, satisfying most critics of the base power plant. The High Output V6 was paired with a modified Muncie 4-speed transmission. The 4-cylinder engine (known as the "Iron Duke") was now paired with the Japanese designed Isuzu 5-speed (also produced at the Muncie, Indiana plant).

1986 Pontiac Fiero 1986 was the first year the fastback was offered. Also offered late in the production year, was a 5-speed Getrag transmission (coupled only to the V6 engines). Models equipped with the 4-cylinder engine remained largely unchanged. The clutch hydraulic systems were redesigned with new master and slave cylinders.

By A. Schult   Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Saying four seater and Corvette in the same sentence is like saying super model and ugly in the same sentence; it just doesn't fit. Yet in 1963 the Corvette was extremely close to becoming a four seater. How close? So close that they developed a working prototype and began to work on the advertisements for it.

Now Corvette enthusiasts can deny this claim all they like and even though GM wisely destroyed the prototype a couple of years later, there are still photos that exist and photos don't often lie. So what lead to this decision to even entertain the idea of the Corvette becoming a grocery getter and how was it stopped?

The idea was actually born in the mind of Corvette legend Ed Cole who is the man who had the foresight to know what the Corvette could represent to Chevy when he first glanced at the prototype. Now before the urge to boo and hiss sets in listen to the reason why. Cole wondered if a four seater Corvette would be able to compete with and eventually beat the four seater Ford Thunderbird that was enjoying so much success at the time.

The project was handed over to Larry Shinoda who had to just gag at the prospect, but he nevertheless did his job. Shinoda took a midyear coupe and stretched it out an extra 104 inches to accommodate the two rear seats and the leg room that would be needed in order to pull off the project. This made the C2's wheelbase increase by six inches.

So why did this four seater never make it to production? Why it obviously was scrapped somewhere along the line, how it was scrapped remains a mystery. Some say that Bill Mitchell himself fought tooth and nail to allow this travesty to happen and stood firm without backing down. Others claim it was at the ordering of then design director Chuck Jordon.

The best story though is the one that says a big wig from GM came to the production line to check out the prototype and initially liked what he saw. He promptly sat in the back seat and when he went to get out the front seat would not unlock to allow him passage. The story ends with GM workers having to completely take out the front seat to allow the trapped GM executive out and once he was out, the four seater Corvette was dead.

However it came not to be, lucky it didn't. Imagine the difference a four seater Corvette would have made in the car's legacy. The perfect example is the Ford Thunderbird for which they were trying to copy. It became less of an obsession among speed enthusiasts and more of a family oriented sedan.

Happily the powers that be at GM saw the error of their way with this thinking. The Corvette has always been and should forever remain a two seater sports car. If you want to get the groceries then hop in your other "family vehicle" and have at it. Just leave the Corvette alone though so its integrity will always remain in place.

By Ryan Safady   Thu, Sep 02, 2010

In 1954 only six Ferrari 375s were built, and among them, only four are thought to remain. One of the four is currently creating an exotic car custody battle of sorts, generating enough attention that I heard about it on NPR over coffee this morning! Yes, National Public Radio is even chatting about this Ferrari flare-up.

An Ohio judge is set to decide the fate of the beautiful 1954 Ferrari 375 any minute-whether she will remain in Italy with 84-year-old Belgian race car driver and collector Jacques Swaters, or go to a Cincinnati woman whose father purchased it in the 1950s.

Why does the woman feel entitled to this sports car, it is after all, among the rarest race cars in existence. Is she batty?

The woman is Kristi Kleve Lawson, of Ohio, the car was reportedly stolen from her father in 1988. Mr. Kleve purchased the Ferrari 375 Plus in 1958 for $25,000. The legal fees of this battle have surely surpassed the original investment of this exotic Ferrari!

Swaters is in possession of the 54 Ferrari 375 in Italy, and the Kleeve family in Ohio is in possession of the title and spare parts. Swaters says he bought the car in 1990 and completely restored it.

Things get complicated here, as Kleve claims her father tracked the car down to Belgium, after two Ohio men were convicted of the auto theft. Interpol became involved, convincing Belgium authorities that the rare Ferrari was stolen, and it was eventually released to Swaters. Swaters says a trader sold it to him for $100,000, and that he paid Kleeve more than $600,000 for the car, and that Kleeve cashed the check.

Kristi Kleeve Lawson is now claiming that her father never received any money for the stolen Ferrari, and that any signature on a check signed by her father must have been forged.

Note that this Ferrari 375 is valued at around $15 million dollars now, which would be quite a sum for a broke Ohio family. It will be interesting to see how this case wraps up, seems like the Hatfields and McCoys.

By Colin Graham   Wed, Sep 01, 2010

It's sad but true that if you want to know the real value of classic cars, the best place to turn is to criminals. After all, these crooks know exactly what to steal to get the most money to line their pockets and are always looking to make more money.

So you could say that the most stolen cars are also the most popular cars in some weird way. After all, if they weren't popular, criminals wouldn't want to steal them. So what are the most popular classic cars for criminals to steal? I'm glad you asked. The good folks at Hagerty Insurance put together a list of the top 10 most stolen classic cars. These guys make their money insuring classic cars so when they publish a list like this, they know what they're talking about.

Here's what they found from their own records:

1. 1966 to 1982 Chevrolet Corvette
2. 1964 to 1969 Ford Mustang
3. 1958 to 1967 Chevrolet Impala
4. 1968 to 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
5. 1963 to 1972 Chevrolet Nova
6. 1966 to 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle
7. 1970 to 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
8. 1955 to 1965 Cadillac DeVille
9. 1950 to 1971 Chevrolet Pickups
10. 1975 to 1979 Mercedes Benz 450

Looking at the list, the first thing you'll notice is that criminals sure seem to love their Chevrolets. I just hope they're not stealing their Chevy automotive repair manual or Chevrolet auto repair manual to go with it. This is a pretty clear sign that you need to make sure that you keep your Chevy safe with extra security features and good insurance.

While some purists may argue that some of those cars are far too new to be considered true classics, it's still a pretty good representation of what criminals feel are the most valuable cars. Depending on who you talk to, a classic car can be anything older than 25 years old or it can be something far more detailed and specific then that. However, after having seen this list, the smart consumer might be inclined to get anything but a Chevy.

It's also interesting to note that the majority of these cars appear to be on the newer side. The oldest vehicle on this list was the 1950 Chevrolet pickup trucks but for the most part these vehicles appear to be from the 1960s and the 1970s. This may indicate that these newer cars are more popular, but it may just be a sign that there are more new classic cars on the road then really old ones so criminals are just able to find and steal them easier.

Whatever the case may be, I'm sure I speak for most classic car hobbyists when I say that nothing can be worse than having someone steal your vehicle. Hopefully this list gets you thinking on the security for your own classic car and how you can prevent it from being the next vehicle model to make it to the top of the list.

By Stefan Abrutat   Thu, Jul 01, 2010

It’s not easy to flip a 65 ton dump truck, but somehow these guys managed it! They seem fairly happy about it, too!

The Caterpillar 777 is used mainly in mining operations, where its huge capacity makes short work of hauling earth. It can carry up to 100 tons of material, which is when its 1,000hp engine will burn up to 22 gallons of diesel every hour. Each tire weighs 2,500lbs and costs $10,000. These monsters are manufactured on Caterpillar’s 350 acre plant in Peoria, Illinois. Over half of the earth moved in the world is moved by Caterpillar trucks like these.