If just a click of your mouse could put money into the charity of your choice, would you do it?  Of course you would...who wouldn't?  Here at www.HotRodsNow.com we are launching a charity campaign that will last until January 31, 2012.  I will give a nickle for every new 'like'  recieved on our Facebook Fan Page between now and then (a maximum payment of 2000 likes).  So go to our Facebook Fan Page, click the 'like'  button and then vote for your favorite charity from the list below.  Pass it on to all your friends...remember...the more 'likes', the bigger the donation.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  An individual has stepped up and agreed to match every dollar raised...so now the value of every click has doubled!!!  Pass this on and lets see how much we can raise!!

As I promised, here is the video, featuring a '39 Ford with a turbo in the trunk.  And the very interesting and very cool stuff about this car don't stop there.  I was told this car drives like a new one.  With all the suspension work done to this, I don't doubt it.  For starters, it has electric fans to cool the turbo charged modern power plant, gauges where gauges don't usually go and an unusually long trip for the air to take from breather to combustion chamber.   I ask you....is it ingenious or is it insanity?  It could be a healthy dose of both...you be the judge.

Until this past week I had not had the chance to test drive a 5th Gen Camaro.  I flew from my home in Texas to North Carolina for the holidays and was going to rent a car to drive from North Carolina to South Carolina as my wife and I visited both sides of our family.  So I figured, 'what better time to take that test drive'.  We rented a bright yellow Camaro and a GPS and began our holiday adventure.  Right out of the parking lot, it was clear that, although this was only the 6 cylinder, it was not lacking in get-up-and-go.  The steering was tight, responsive and very crisp.  It was a breeze to drive.  The visibilty out of all four corners of the car was not to bad and about what I expected.  My wife, Tiffany, was a little less impressed with the visibility, but agreed that it would just take a little getting use to.  The interior was fairly basic, but this was a base level rental.  No suprises there.  All the gauges and indicators were easy to see and read once I set the tilt wheel to the right position.  At first I couldn't see the turn signal indicators, but a simple tilt-adjustment fixed that.  The seats were comfortable for the long six hour drive from one family to the other.  The rear seat leg room left a little to be desired, but who needs rear seats?  I like the sun-roof, but like all sun-roofs they are a bit noisy at highway speed.

Okay, enough with the looks and styling...what about the performance?  As I said earlier, I immediately did a fairly hard acceleration right out of the rental car parking lot and was pleased with the response I got from the long skinny pedal.  In no time flat I was nearly double the 45 mph speed limit on the long straight road out of the airport.  It was the look I was recieving from the passenger seat that kept me out of triple digits, not the car.  In both highway traffic and in-town traffic this sporty little ride had no trouble or hesitation when it came to getting around slower traffic or being the first to leave the light.  One afternoon I took my future son-in-law for a quick ride under the ruse of needing to go to the store for a cigar.  This was when I gave this car the 'Burn-Out Test'.  As I pulled out of my parent neighborhood onto the highway, I turned off the traction control, pulled the gear selector all the way back and mashed the gas to the floor where I held it.  It gave us a respectable amount of wheel spin, a little smoke and a suprisingly nice exhaust note at higher rpms.  But in all honesty it was unimpressive during this portion of the test...but hey, it is the 6 banger and not the high horsepower V8, so I will cut it a bit of slack here.  Later, the following day, as my brother and I headed to the store for yet another cigar (are you seeing a pattern here?) we decided to give the 'manual '  transmission mode a test drive.  I had given it a whirl on a previous test drive, but my brother who has a background in SCCA racing put this car through it's paces on a little winding road down by the lake.  We both came to same conclusion.  The paddle shifters are fun and could be useful if you got some track time.  During the high revving turns and during acceleration the exhaust made a nice sound and the car handled fairly well for what it is, but the V6 was just not where it's at.  For the real power and the true hot-rod exhaust tone, you gotta get the V8.  But as a daily driver for those less inclined to push a car to it's limits, this is perfect.  Plenty of power, more than a ton of good looks, and even paddle shifters for a little play time now and then.  I would be happy if this was in my driveway........

I found this picture of a motorcycle racing piston and just had to share it.  I couldn't even find a website for these guys....only a few other pictures they have posted on a blog on another website.  Here is an excerpt from the blog that was posted with this picture....see what you think.

'We have been manipulating metal, lately, just for something new. Dmitry carved on this one with nothing but a knife and a few rotory bits, on his Foredom flex shaft machine. No metal added and the only heat is what was created by the buffer. Come on by and check this out and the new wheel shift knobs we are making. They are totally cool. Thanks.'

Even their location (according to their own info) is a bit obscure...it says they are 'A Shop Just North Of Koolsville'.  I've provided a link here to the only info I can find on them.  They are worth checking out.
http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/GEARHEDZ

As some of you may know I am a member is a couple different car clubs.  One of those is a club for first gen Camaros.  So when I wrote the piece about the new ZL1 Camaro and followed it with a piece about the SLP upgrade to that already great car, I made sure to forward it to the guys in that club.  The blue '69 Camaro you see here, actually competed in the Texas Mile.  On race gas it is pushing 750hp at the rear wheels.  That means it's pushing about 1000 at the crank.  It reached a speed of 195mph.  That's faster than a stock Lambo and a Ferrari was able to do in the mile (they were 170 mph range) and just to put things in perspective, keep in mind that this is a stock bodied '69.  As the owner told me, "It's like pushing a barn door down the mile".  Aero-dynamics are not this cars strong suit.

But when I compared the performance and top speed of the SLP ZL1 to this car, I got a response from another guy in the club.  Here is that response:

Bill
No offense, but you need to do some more research.  First, Keiths 69' ran 195 in a standing mile.  With the claimed top speed for the SLP ZL1 of 205mph, it won't happen in a standing mile. Keiths 69' would probably top out at 215-220mph. If you want to throw some money away go with the SLP 427....the ZL1 motor with a now claimed 580hp could easily top 750hp with a pully & some methanol injection for less than $1,000 plus $500 for a tune. So you go drop $80k plus $30k+ for a new 1SS. I'll buy the factory ZL1 & have a total of maybe $60-65 in it blow your doors off & have enough left over to buy a nice 2SS Convertible..........LOL
SLP is going to use a TVS 2300 magnasun supercharger...they need to come out of the dark ages. Kenny Bell for the same money puts that 2300 to shame. SLP is done....there is a new Sheriff in town & it ain't SLP!!

I first saw this car a few months back at the Dallas Auto Show.  It made me want to sell everything I owned, if that's what it would take to buy one.  But it appears that the numbers are going be reasonable, if you are lucky enough to get one.  So lets start with the performance numbers, first.  We all knew that the powerplant for this beast was going to coming in the form of a supercharged 6.2L LSA V8.  That is basically the exact same motor in the CTS-V.  But as is GM's style, they have breathed on it a little before putting it into the ZL1.  It is going to punch out a tire smoking 580 hp and 556 ft/lb of torque.  Somewhere in the back ground I hear Tim Allen doing his best 'man-grunt'.  But this car is going to be much more than just raw power.  It is also going to be equipped with a new Magnetic Ride Control and Performance Traction Management system. (more on that sytem in an upcoming article)

Camaro chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser, has been quoted as saying, "The ZL1 Camaro delivers supercar performance and technology in the sports car segment."  I am hear to say, that if the numbers given out by GM are accurate, that is an understatement.  The ZL1 is delivering more horsepower than the Ferrari 458 and more torque than the Aston Martin DB9.  Let's not forget that the DB9 is boasting a V12, so that is no small feat.  And just to add some icing on the cake, GM is offering this car with a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty.  Can you get that on a Ferrari ?

This car is going to have two transmission options.  Either a Tremec TR6060 or the 6L90.  With the 6L90, there are a plethera of drive-style option to choose from....depending on how you want to treat the car that day.  The 'Drive' mode is for daily driving with a shift pattern that will maximize fuel economy and give you smooth shifts that won't make you spill your morning coffee.  The 'Sport' mode is set up for more aggressive driving and holds the tranny in lower gears longer for better performance.  Finally, you can choose 'Manual' for true manual control that boasts incredibly fast upshifts to leave the competiion in the rear view mirror.

The ZL1 also has several other 'Track-Ready' features, such as an oil cooler that is identical to the system found on the ZR1.  The tranny cooler works so well on both the manual and automatic versions that GM has deemed them both track-capable right from the factory.  This car even has a rear-diff cooler.  And for those high g turns you will be making on the track (or that winding, deserted road only you know about), the high performance fuel delivery system has additional fuel pick-ups on both the primary and secondary sides.  There will always be plenty of juice going to the motor if you've got the guts to keep your foot pressed down.

The only place I could find any info on a possible MSRP says it will be in the range of $47K to $48.5K.  But that doesn't include a Gas-Guzzler tax or any dealer mark-up.  I am gonna guess...and this is only my guess, that they will be closer to the 60K mark.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  They are slated to hit dealerships in February of 2012.  You can believe I'll be there.....If only to get a closer look.

I know and have met some truly great hot-rodders and gear-heads over the last few years.  These guys and gals possess some of the most iconic and desirable cars I've ever seen.  Some are completly stock, some are new, some have been modified and 'hopped-up'  beyond belief.  The one thing that these cars all have in common is that the owners have agreed to let me test drive them, and show it to you right here on www.HotRodsNow.com.  Just some of the cars I have lined up for you are a 1970 Pro-Touring Barracuda, a 2012 Challenger SRT8/392, a 1969 Camaro, a Z/06 Corvette, an Audi R8 (yes I know it's not an American car), a perfect clone of a 1970 AAR 'Cuda, and even a 1973 AMC Gremlin with less than 25,000 original miles.  The plan is to start releasing these videos in the coming weeks.  If you haven't already been to our 'Facebook'  fan page and clicked the LIKE button, be sure to do that.  I plan to release a few snippets of these test drives there before we release the full video's here. 

Thanks for making www.HotRodsNow.com one of the
places you get your Hot-Rod fix...
Wild Bill (founder/creator)

It has always been a dream of mine to make it to Bonneville one year.  This is another year that I just couldn't make it.  But luckily there are lots of folks who take lots of pictures so I can live vicariously through them.  Chris Seifert is just such a person.  He not only took some great pictures, but has kindly allowed us here at www.HotRodsNow.com to use those pictures.  I have posted a few of them below and I've also created a video that you can see at www.HotRodsNow.com/Fun_Videos.  Seeing all the pictures and hearing so many different people about their own experience on the salt, just intensifies my desire to actually be there.....well, maybe next year.

Happy Hot-Roddin' Y'all

Wild Bill
(founder/creator of www.HotRodsNow.com)

CLICK ANY IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE IT

This funky-faced old Ford was one of my favorites at this years Ft Worth Rod & Custom show, held this month.  I had never seen this car before and was very impressed with the way they incorporated parts from several different eras and different manufacturers and models to create this beauty (Corvette grille and Camaro headlight bezels).  Fit and finish on this car was impeccable.  The paint was well laid with no major flaws that could be detected (at not with my amatuer eyes).  The stripes looked smooth and contoured the body where they should.  It was obvious that the interior was done with comfort and form in mind.  The engine bay was just as clean and well designed as the rest of the car.  No detail was left unattended.  Lots and lots of sweat and energy went into the completion of this car.  To the owners I can only say "job well done". 
This annual show was moved from the first week of march to the July 4th week end this year and the smaller turn out of entries and visitors was very appearant...but this car and a few others I saw for the first time, just about made up for it.  Be sure to check out the short video I made with a few pictures I took of this car.  Just scroll down to view it.

I had the pleasure of attending the Dallas Auto Show recently.  It is considered by many to be one of the biggest and best auto shows in the U.S. after the 'Big Three'.  The 'Big Three', being Detroit, New York and L.A.  I must say that it was one very well put on show.  All the major players in the auto market were there.  GM, Ford, Dodge/Chrysler, Mercedes, Volvo, Maserati, Lexus, Audi...the list just goes on and on.  There were even some Bently's and a few Rolls Royce vehicles there.  Subaru and VW were there too and few other of that ilk, but in all honesty I didn't even slow down by those cars....after all I am reporting for www.HotRodsNow.com .....not a website for weenie-mobiles.  If you are offended by that comment you can register a complaint at the phone number at the top of this page.

Now, on to the real reporting of what I saw.  They had three different versions of the Mustang there.  They had a mild V6 version...BORING...they had a GT version...better, but still BORING...and they had a Boss 302...now we're talking.  This car was one very sporty looking ride.  It had the performance numbers to make anyone in the passenger seat want to buckle up and the guys driving the Hemi Challengers smell exhaust fumes.  Overall I'd call this car a really fine performance hot rod.  When it comes to appearance though, it was just another Mustang.  Nothing special.  It has that same boxy look that mustang has had for over forty years.  They couldn't even come up with a new or different color for it.  It was painted that tired old burnt orange color that you see on just about every third mustang out there.  The interior was very modern and actually pretty comfortable.  Visibility was okay and everything in the cockpit was located about where you'd expect.  Very utilitarian.  I again would use the term 'nothing special' when describing this part of the Boss 302.  Over all I'd score the Boss 302 a 7 out of ten...but only because of the performance capabilities of this car.  Without the big horsepower numbers and torque, this car would be lucky to get a 5...and that would be a kindness to give it that.  It's a car I'd buy for my daughter...she loves Mustangs.

One car that I saw that was impressive was the Cadillac CTS-V.  With it's supercharged monster motor pushing 556 hp and three versions of the car to choose from, it was a huge hit at the show.  There was always a crowd of folks trying to check this car out.  But I was patient and eventually got to get a close up look at all three versions of this Caddy.  By far I liked the coupe version best, but hey...I am a Hot-Rod guy...what did you expect.  The sedan version (4 door) had all the same amenities and performance numbers as the coupe with an extra set of doors.  The cock pit was essentially the same and was also very user friendly.  Visibility was good out of all four corners from the drivers seat.  The wagon version was a little 'hokey' to me, though.  The engine was the same as the coupe and sedan version along with the special grill only available on the 'v' series, but the car looked to much like a Dodge Magnum for my taste.  And from the drivers seat, it offered very poor visibility out the back.  I'm sure the wagon afficionado's will love it...but for me, I'll just stick to the coupe.  I would give the coupe an 8.5 out of ten and the sedan an 8 (I took off half a point for the extra doors...sorry grampa) and the wagon version gets a 7.

The third and final car I'm gonna review here is a Camaro (is anyone really suprised by that?)  They had the new 2011 convertible there and it was a VERY sharp car.  You can get them in several different levels of performance all the way up to the 2SS which will snap the head of any passenger back hard enough to give them whiplash...but that isn't the Camaro we're gonna talk about today.  They had a 2012 ZL1 Camaro there that made me melt when I saw it.  It had a restyled dash that gives you the feel of being in a...well, being in a .... I guess it gives you the feel of being in a 2012 ZL1 Camaro...there is no other way to describe it.  There were styling cues and little tweaks to the trim and interior panels that set it apart from the other Camaro's.  Stitched head rests instantly made you realize this Camaro was different from the others if you happened to miss the louvered hood and special badges.  This car had the same supercharged 556 hp power plant as the CTS-V....every thing about this Hot-Rod oozed power and muscle.  The MSRP is not yet out on this version of the Camaro, but rumor has it that it will be about $20K above the top of the line 2SS Camaro, which will put it at around the 60K mark or just over it.  That is kinda high for the Camaro market.  As one very wise hot-rodder I know said 'That is getting into Corvette territory and GM is gonna protect those folks.'  Well I believe that to be very true.  He also said, 'That is a car that will be a good buy for a collector.'  I also believe that to be very true.  I'm sure there won't be very many ZL1's made.  I'm gonna give this car a 9 out of ten.  It loses one point only because there is probably no production car in the world that deserves a 10...at least not one I've seen yet.

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