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Collectible Automobile magazine runs articles periodically showcasing a certain model year, with gorgeous photo spreads of each brand's offerings for the year, a really good idea for comparison's sake. It's amazing how different and modern the '49 Ford was in comparison to GM and Chrysler's '49s. The '49-'51 Ford is still a goodlooking car. To me, the competition caught up with Ford styling by the time the '52 came out, and Ford fell back into wallflower status.

I've stated here that I believe GM and Ford followed the wrong horse when they dropped V6 engines from the option list on Malibu and Fusion. I've read that Toyota is more than doubling production capacity of their V6 from 146k to 362k units at their Alabama plant. Toyota continues to believe in the simplicity, power and smoothness of a naturally-aspirated V6 v. a force-fed turbocharged 4-cylinder. Indications are the next Accord will continue with a V6 option as well. Simplicity wins the reliability war over complication every single time. And real-world fuel mileage will likely continue to at least match a turbo 4, if mileage is a primary concern. It will be interesting to see how this plays out when Ecotec turbo and Ecoboost engines rack up high mileage over the next few years, not to mention the Hyundai/Kia turbo 4.

Excellent post. The "SS" name doesn't bother me for the V8 model. But if we are to have more than one version as the reports indicate, Chevelle is more than apt. Maybe the Chevelle name will appear on the 6 cylinder versions. I'd be more than happy to drive a 6 cylinder El Camino with a stick shift and nice rims. The spy shots seem to indicate a style rework, at least in the front end, v. the current Commodore. As before we got the hallowed G8, I do hope for a good measure of divisional DNA in this new car. Hope springs eternal.

True story, bruh.

pardon

Anything hybrid is the "wrong idea".

Damn soon, I hope.

This is gonna be fantastic. When's the El Camino debut?

Why does it have to be so secksi

Are those gun barrels pointed at tailgaters?

Which Toyota model would look best up on blocks in his parents' yard?/snark

A sweet little runner.

Thanks again, all. The search is on.

The mild winter was not helpful. The bodyshop business has been slow, at least in our area, for the last 18 months or so. Some people have been "cashing out", that is, taking the insurance check and not getting the car fixed. Some people don't have their deductible money. Our schedule has been picking up lately and we have been scheduling people 2 weeks out, which is something we haven't done in many months. But the owners have decided to pull the plug on the bodyshop at the same time that they acquire a new car franchise after losing their Lincoln-Mercury franchise a few years back and selling just used cars since then. Mitsubishi is coming, which is supposed to be good for the dealership's financial situation. So we were shocked when he told us he was closing the bodyshop down. Thanks for the well wishes, all.

Thanks, balthy. I hope you're right.

I like it. It's no show car, it's something to drive on the weekends without paranoia.

The shop I work at will close on May 30th permanently after many decades in business and an excellent reputation earned well before I was born, due to lack of business. I was just promoted to co-manager in February. We were all caught off-guard. Not sure what to do next, I've called several people I know in the business to put out feelers. Hopefully something will come my way soon. When I first started there in 2006, there were 14 bodyshop employees. We're ending up with 9.

Oh man I forgot the EXP, and the later Escort ZX2, thanks fer the reminder, reg. I wish Ford would give us a 3-door Fiesta or Focus.

Francis Theodore Wildebeest would be appalled!

A small diesel pickup truck, what's not to like? It cleaned up well, based on the "engine out" photo. Dude sounds like a straight talker in the ad, too. Funny guy.

It's gettin' hot in herr, like 98 degrees hot! It's so nice to see a senior car survive, heart intact. CHEERS.

Yaris? I'm runnin' out of choices.

Am I speaking to the ever-elusive Sheridan Bucket? Are you finally home from University?

Regler old steel. And I do have a tuneup kit I got 2 years ago. I should prolly, you know, USE IT.