Camino LS6

Thanks. Maybe it will be painted by then too.

OK, I have a question. What is the legal status of a pre-seatbelt car in a seatbelt required state? Do they have to be added to every classic? Or are you exempt from the law in such cars?

Amen!

Thanks, Knightfan.

I have to hand it to you Partsgirl, you have style! Welcome back!

Well, it's listed now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...E:IT&ih=014

http://www.autoextremist.com/current/ November 26, 2008 Washington to Detroit: Drop Dead. By Peter M. De Lorenzo Detroit. The glee with which the Washington establishment - and every two-bit instant car “expert” who decided it was high time to weigh-in with his or her opinions - attacked Detroit and what’s left of the U.S. car industry last week was a sight to behold. Everyone from chief knucklehead Michael Moore to Neil Young (Neil Young?) got on the “Detroit Deserves to Die” bandwagon, adding to the chaos with their naively-crafted pop logic musings and “finger-snap” solutions. It was truly pathetic. Starting with the stunningly ill-informed members of the Senate and the House lead by that raging embarrassment Dick Shelby from Alabama, who heaped derision on Detroit and its CEOs for having the temerity to ask for a bridge loan to help them through the worst financial calamity to face America in seven decades - while he conveniently forgot to mention that he helped arrange for over $650 million in tax incentives and other prizes for Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota to build facilities in his home state - to the gang of idiots who followed him while falling all over themselves trying to demonstrate how little they knew about the car business or about the Detroit that exists today as opposed to the Detroit they once read about in the 1990s, it was a beat down of epic proportions. That actual facts about the U.S. automobile business and its role as an essential part of the manufacturing fabric of the country were in short supply in the rote speeches made by the representatives and senators - and except for exactly one, Representative Thaddeus McCotter (R - MI), they were totally predictable. And so was the piling on that ensued. By the end of last week it was as if the domestic automakers were not only the scourge of the Western hemisphere but responsible for all known troubles afflicting this country at this very moment, its CEOs were idiots, we’d all be better off as a country if its founding city was just wiped off the American landscape along with the rest of the midwest, and gangs of citizens were assembling with pitchforks demanding bankruptcy for the Detroit Three. I was actually surprised that the mob mentality stopped short of demanding the heads of the CEOs from Chrysler, Ford and GM or anyone else representing Detroit on sticks - the loathing was so far off the charts and unwarranted. It would have been difficult to comprehend all of this if had originated in any other city besides Washington, D.C., After all, this is a town whose very existence is based on cronyism, perks, earmarks, lobbyists and professional self absorption. But even that pales in comparison to the real pro sport in Washington, which is The Blame Game. The fact that these politicians made hay on the whole corporate jet angle was laughable, especially since one of their esteemed colleagues – Nancy Pelosi – caused a royal stink when she became Speaker of the House by demanding a bigger government plane so that she was able to fly non-stop back to California. That many of these politicians eagerly accept rides on corporate jets from various contributors and lobbyists was a story that was missing in the gathering chaos of the lynch mob mentality aimed at the Detroit Three CEOs, as if they were the only heads of corporations on earth who use corporate planes. And the establishment media, ever in search of a fifteen-second sound bite, found what they were looking for and dutifully reported that angle as the meat of the story. Lost in all of this, of course, was the fact that the backbone of the U.S. manufacturing sector was on the ropes because of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. But nonetheless, the real issues at hand were instead drowned out by the verbal jabs and cackles about corporate jets, and the Detroit Three CEOs were sent packing, but not before they were admonished like little school boys and told to bring back a real business plan for their $25 billion, and to come back “better prepared” as President-elect Barack Obama chimed-in on Monday. Oh really? This after Citigroup, which only a month ago received $25 billion, was blessed with another $20 billion this past Sunday evening, and, as part of the plan, Treasury and the FDIC will guarantee against the "possibility of unusually large losses" on up to $306 billion of risky loans and securities backed by commercial and residential mortgages. What, no hat-in-hand journey to Washington for Citigroup CEO Vikram S. Pandit so he could receive a good old-fashioned ass-whipping for bad management decisions, marketing risky financial instruments, failing to anticipate dramatic shifts in the market and piss-poor planning in general on live television? No stumblebum senators and congressman tripping all over themselves to demonstrate their complete lack of understanding of the nation’s financial system or to criticize the fact that Pandit used the corporate jet to fly down to Washington? No recriminations for Robert Rubin - the most prominent member of the Citigroup's board of directors and a former treasury secretary - who was one of the chief architects of the bank’s risky investment strategy, and who pulled down $62.2 million between 2004 and 2007? And what about the go-along-to-get-along dimwits on the Citigroup board? The gang that J. Richard Findlay, head of the Centre for Corporate & Public Governance, described for the New York Post thusly: "Citigroup's board of directors increasingly resembles a first-class sleeping car on a train wreck that just keeps happening. Almost whatever it does, it is too slow and too late. It can take months for Citigroup's directors to clue into what others in the real world have known for some time." And why does Citigroup merit bailing out again with no explanation whatsoever to the American taxpayers other than President Bush saying, "We have made these kind of decisions in the past. We made one last night. And if need be we will make these kind of decisions to safeguard our financial system in the future." Oh really? What’s going on is the activation of a New American Double Standard, one that goes something like this: Washington to Detroit: Drop Dead. Washington to Wall Street: Who do we make the check out to again? Thanks to our representatives in Washington, an industry that powered this great nation into the future, which basically created a viable American middle class, and which created the Arsenal of Democracy so that the nation could be properly equipped to win WWII, has all of a sudden become a national punchline and a burden to the rest of the country. An industry that’s responsible either directly or indirectly for one out of every ten jobs in the nation, an industry that’s inexorably linked with the manufacturing base of this nation and whose failure would send this nation’s economy reeling, was basically sent packing in search of a “plan” while Wall Street and the banking system was given carte blanche just for showing up. How do we know that Citigroup won’t crash in a few more months and need even more money? And how will they handle their “emergency” need by then in the new “enlightened” Obama Presidency? By email? What’s wrong with this picture? Why is it politically more expedient to trash Detroit and the entire domestic automobile industry than it is to shine a harsh light on the glorified pyramid scheme that propelled Wall Street and the banking system to new heights – and now to horrific lows – while screwing over millions of Americans in the process? The fact that President-elect Obama added to the criticism of the Detroit Three CEOs by echoing the same misinformation spewed by the senators and congressmen last week in Washington was not exactly an uplifting development either. "We can't just write a blank check to the auto industry. Taxpayers can't be expected to pony up more money for an auto industry that has been resistant to change. I was surprised that they did not have a better thought-out proposal when they arrived in Congress," Obama said on Monday. "Congress did the right thing which is to say, 'You guys need to come up with a plan and come back before you're getting any taxpayer money.'" Oh really? But we – as American taxpayers - can expect to keep writing blank checks to mismanaged banks and failed Wall Street conglomerates, and be expected to “pony up” more money to an industry that’s resistant to change, with no thought-out proposals of any kind and no real “plan” in sight? How does that work, exactly, Mr. President-elect? As if to back-pedal a bit, Obama added that, "We can't allow the auto industry simply to vanish. We've got to make sure that it is there and that the workers and suppliers and businesses that rely on the auto industry stay in business." Oh really? Then why is it - Mr. President-elect - that you’re endorsing the miserable performance put on by our so-called leaders in Washington last week? Why is it that you’re regurgitating the same tired inaccuracies about Detroit that we were subjected to for two days last week? Do your homework, Mr. Obama. Stop listening to the media or the sycophants you’ve already assembled and dig deeper into this Detroit “thing” before you start sounding like all the rest of the less than gifted in Washington. Memo to the old and new Washington establishment: A large number of American citizens are painfully aware of the hypocritical double-speak that’s currently festering in the halls of Congress and on the Senate floor. A large number of Americans are tired of the now-tedious stereotypes and flat-out untruths being bandied about in Washington about an industry that’s vital to the long-term health and well being of the nation, an industry that actually creates and builds tangible hard goods, an industry that devotes $12 billion a year in advanced technical research that benefits the entire nation, an industry that is a fundamental part of the American industrial fabric, and an industry that employs millions of Americans all across this nation. A large number of American citizens are tired of this New American Double Standard, where the financial well being of millions is being held hostage and being put at risk for the benefit of a few – with no explanation, no “plan” and no accountability whatsoever. Detroit may be Washington’s whipping boy du jour, and our esteemed representatives may want to continue on with their witch hunt – what’s next, will they demand that the Detroit CEOs bring their college transcripts with them next time? – but they won’t be fooling anyone. It’s not about what’s good for the rest of the country in Washington. It’s not about nurturing the American fabric, or protecting the foundation of our manufacturing base, or taking care of a productive national industry that creates real American jobs, or keeping the nation as a vital player in the global economy. No, not even close as a matter of fact. In Washington it’s about whoever is greasing the skids or blowing in a Senator’s or congress person’s ear just right. And the Motor City finds itself on the outside looking in. Detroit might as well start writing its own obituary right now, because even if some sort of financial bridge loan package is grudgingly bequeathed, the strings and built-in entanglements are likely to choke the life out of the U.S. auto industry once and for all. Thanks for listening.

That pic is from the 2002 Firehawk brochure.

Nice sig choice, HE ! :AH-HA_wink:

I'm a bit behind in updating this as the wagon has been driveable for a few weeks now. For the moment it is "finished". The paint, A/C, and so on will have to wait for funds to become available. But , the car is on the road, inspected, registered, and insured. The time between now and when it gets painted will serve as my "shakedown" of everything I have already done. I'm pretty happy with the results. The weather is pretty nice today (for a change) so I put it outside for some decent pics, and will be driving it to Thanksgiving dinner. Pics:

The Mothertruck sees the light of day! For the first time in ages, the truck left the barn - under its own power! I drove it around "the ranch" a bit to give all of the systems a little workout. While it was out, I snapped a few pics. I also removed what was left of the rear window. That stupid thing survived all of the moving around I did with the truck in the barn, removing the bed, and me wrenching on the switching unit, only to fall out when I shut the driver's door while getting it started! Figures. So, I taped-up the remains and have now removed them (no pics). The mess wasn't too bad. Pics:

Happy Thanksgiving all. I'll be leaving for dinner at my Mom's with my brother, sister-in-law and my nephews in about an hour and a half or so. We have to eat early because the kids will be cranky by the original time of 5:00P.M. Ah well, I guess I should just deal with it. Thanksgiving is always a tough one for my mom - her mother died on Thanksgiving after working on the meal all morning. She became ill and went to the hospital in the early afternoon, but she insisted that we all go home for dinner which we did. After dinner, we went back to see her, and I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. She had simply willed herself not to die until all of the family had gathered around her, when we had all said our goodbyes - she just slipped away. To this day, it remains the most "mystical" thing I have ever witnessed. Sad, but amazing all at once. We'll be thinking of her today.

As Z has just pointed out, there are really two issues here. The first being the principle of the thing, on which I agree with PCS and Carbiz. "Sobriety checkpoints" are a gross misuse of authority in a free society. No such enforcement techniques should be tolerated. I too, will always speak-up for individual freedom above all else. That said, being a smartass to a state cop isn't the wisest course of action. And, it really isn't directing the complaint in the right direction.

Putin could feel right at home.

You need to stop confusing what you don't like and what constitutes a bad car - they are not the same thing. On BMW: I am fortunate to have spent a great deal of time behind the wheel of several last gen M5s, it is flat out the best all-around car I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. With that said, my 2004 GTO was a very close second. And you wonder why I like the G8 so much. All three cars hit exactly the same sweet spot in diving enjoyment for me. But the Pontiacs are attainable and worth every penny. BMW enjoys the ability to charge more than their cars are worth. But they had to earn that privilege over time. The GTO and the G8 are part of that earning process for Pontiac - and constitute a bargain for those that "get it".

Bull$h!, all of it. The G8 is a great car introduced into an awful time - end of report. The fact that you "don't like BMWs" speak volumes about you. BMWs are amazing cars - just priced beyond reason (and bangled for a while). An Impala? Which one? FWD? RWD? : either way, the G8 had nothing to do with the fate of a new Impala. Get a clue.

*sigh* Me too.

Upset? Not a chance! Brilliant post. You are one who understands.

You don't get it, do you? An Infiniti? no thanks ,never A Caddy? Not my style A BMW? a lesser one maybe, and I'll pass on that A G8? Yes, the fit is just right, thank you. In ST form, it is everything I want.

I beat Hyper to the punch by a few hours, but that doesn't matter. What amazes me is that both Hyper and I came up with the idea independent of each other 3 days before Detroit figured out it might be a good one. They should hire us both. :AH-HA_wink:

Mothertruck Lives! I replaced the tank switching unit and fired the monster up today. Purrs like a kitten, err... roars like a lion? Anyway, it runs great. So tomorrow it should hit ebay. But I still want to finish it.

This really is Pontiac's best ever. Can't wait for my 2-door version (with a bed that is). Will it be the first Nurburgring tuned truck? I think it just might be.

Very interesting.

Actually Hyper, I was thinking of the Solstice, and the GTO before it. The Zok package for the Solstice is one of the coolest options in the entire market.

Well done!