We'll start off with an octet from Discontinuuity, who has a knack for finding some great machinery down on the streets of the home of Coors: Golden, Colorado. Discontinuuity brought us these eight Golden vehicles plus this dignified Golden Mercedes-Benz Ponton a while back, and now we've got another round for you:

Nova Station Wagon: I've got a couple of good DOTS cars here for you. First up is a 1962 (or maybe '63) Chevrolet Nova station wagon gasser. I talked to the owner, Mike, who also owns a 1946 Austin hot rod and takes both cars out to the local Bandimere Speedway for Wednesday night drag races. The Chevy sports a 327 small block, not the stock I6, and has a killer stance in my opinion. More photos of an IH Scout coming soon.
International Harvester Scout: About a block away from the Chevy was this International Harvester Scout in fairly good condition. All I know is that it's driven by a School of Mines student and that it was probably built between 1965 and 1970.
Subaru Leone: I finally got around to photographing this Subaru today. From what I can tell, it was made between 1975 and 1978 and has every Malaise-tastic tape stripe and chrome option checked off (along with "5 speeds" and "Front Wheel Drive"). It looks like a pretty competent little daily driver though. Now I just need pictures of the much rustier BRAT last spotted at Taco Bell.
Volkwsagen Beetle: I saw the Beetle you posted for DOTS a few days ago with the engine cover propped open, and it reminded me that I needed to photograph this flat-black Beetle. I'm not sure of the year; it's probably from the mid 70s. Whatever the vintage, I think it captures the spirit of a college car pretty well: the Libertarian party bumper stickers, subtle yet somewhat half-assed mods, and the pile of crap where the back seat used to be. You also might note that it's parked on Illinois St, right in front of the MG from the original DOTS Golden post.
Toyota Starlet: I saw this Starlet parked on the street while on my way to a friend's house, and knowing the love that many Jalops have for the little Toyota I had to snap a few pictures. From what Wikipedia tells me this is an 81-84 model, and from what the bumper sticker and rust can tell me this little car has been driven hard through Alaska and Colorado since the Reagan years.
Ford Model A: I hope I'm not sending you too many photos from Golden, but I couldn't pass up this great vintage-styled hot rod I saw in a parking lot today. It's a 1931 Ford Model A (although the owner wasn't sure exactly what year it is, the title is for '31) with a chopped top, a 302 Ford V8, and some sweet pinstriping, all sitting on a '32 Ford frame and bias plys. I love all of the little details like the structural wood and fabric in the roof, flat green paint, dropped axle with hairpins, and the lakes-style pipes. Probably one of the oldest cars I've seen around Golden this year, and definitely one of the coolest.
Ford Thunderbird: I've got a couple more DOTSBE cars here for ya. The first is a beat to hell old Thunderbird I caught being transported on a flatbed, parked in front of this creepy industrial building. Whether its destiny is a full restoration or The Crusher, we can only guess.
Volkswagen Transporter: The second car is a newer VW Bus with a wikkid flame paint job, photographed near where I found the MG previously. The paint and aftermarket exhaust give it cool points in my book; however it also looses a few points because of the PRNDL between the seats. From the stickers on the back window, I infer that the owner (or previous owner) is a Christian, works on power lines, and has been a student at the Colorado School of Mines for the last three years or so.

The Vehicle Identification Number program was initiated in 1980 as a way to standardize the serial numbers on cars. Cars built before 1981 don't prescribe to a universal standard and therefore require manufacturer-specific information to decode. The entire VIN process was created to assure people don't pretend one car is another.

Knowing how to decode a VIN is an easy way to make sure you're not ripped off by either buying a vehicle pretending to be something it isn't, like a stock Mustang dressed up to be a special edition Cobra, or purchasing a car with a salvage or rebuilt title. But how to do it? The folks at DriverSide.com helped out by giving us some details which we've now expounded upon below:

Step One: Find The VIN

The vast majority of new cars have the VIN located under the front of the windshield, typically made visible through a small, clear square within the tinted area. Depending on the year and price of the car you're looking at, what's there will vary from a nicely stamped piece of metal to a cheap plastic piece bolted onto the dash. For special models or expensive sports cars there may be a special VIN plate located in the door sill or on the dash.

Once you find the VIN the fun begins!

Step Two: Breaking Down The VIN

As you can see in the graphic above, the VIN is broken down into six parts:

Make/Model: (Digits 1-3) This breaks out the make, model and manufacturer of the vehicle.

Vehicle Features: (Digits 4-8) These digits identify the various features of the specific model.

Verifying #: (Digit 9) Using a complex mathematical formula this number determines whether or not the information has been faked.

Model Year: (Digit 10) This number or letter describes the year the MY for the car.

Assembly Plant: (Digit 11) This single digit identifies the assembly plant.

Sequence Of Model Production: (Digit 12-17) These digits indicate the order in which the vehicle left the assembly line.

NOTE: A VIN will never include the letters I, O or Q because of their similarity to the numbers "1" and "0" though, seriously, who confuses a Q with a 0?

Step 3: Decoding The Make

We're going to use the VIN: 1ZVHT82H485113456 from the photo above as the sample VIN we work from. By the end, we'll know a lot about this "mystery" vehicle.

Our first decoding challenge is to figure out who made this vehicle, found in the digits: 1ZV

The first digit in the make code will always be the country of manufacture. There are numerous country codes, but the general ones are:

• USA: 1, 4 or 5
• Canada: 2
• Mexico: 3
• Japan: J
• Korea: K
• England: S
• Germany: W
• Italy: Z
• Sweden: Y
• Australia: 6
• France: V
• Brazil: 9

• Looking at our code it's clear we're dealing with an American car or a foreign car built in America.

  When we add the next two digits to the equation we figure out who the company is that makes it. The full three digit code is called the "World Manufacturer Identifier" and will tell us the company behind the car. Rather than just handing an "F" to Ford or a "G" to GM, the layout gets more detailed. For instance, "1GC" is Chevy trucks and "1G1" is Chevy passenger cars. You can cross reference the WMI with this list of common WMIs

  It turns out "1ZV" is the code for AutoAlliance International, which is a company building cars for both Mazda and Ford. This means are car is either a Ford or Mazda product.

  
  

  Step 4: Decoding The Vehicle Features

  More than just telling you what the model of a car is, this section often describes the type of engine and platform the car is using. How this is used is based on the country and company, though most companies selling cars in North America have similar formats. Since we know it's a Ford or Mazda it's fairly easy to decode what HT82H means.

  The first digit, H, is a safety code and indicates the car has front and side airbags. Other digits include "B" for the use of active belts but no airbags. The letters "L" and "F" or "K" indicate different generations of airbags.

  Digits 5-7, in this case T82, tell us what kind of vehicle this is. Using this handy guide to Ford VINs we know Ford uses "T8_" to indicate a Mustang coupe. Even more exciting, it's a either a Mustang Bullitt, Coupe GT or Coupe Shelby GT. If someone is trying to sell you a Mustang and claims it's a "GT" hardtop but it has "T80" they're lying to you.

  

  The most important digit, if you're trying to determine what engine the car has, is this eighth one. In this case, the digit H indicates we have a car with Ford's 4.6-Liter modular V8. If the digit was an "N" it would indicate a V6 and we'd know something was fishy. If the code was an "S" we'd know we had a Coupe Shelby GT on our hands.

  
  

  Step 5: Using The Check Digit

  
  Most companies use the ninth digit, always a number, as a check digit. Using a complex mathmatical equation, they can decide if the value of multiplying all of the numbers and letters in the VIN besides the 9th digit, when divided by 11, has a remainder equal to the check digit.

  If you're a total math nerd you can follow these instructions. If you're a little lazier, you can use this calculator to determine if your check digit is correct. Ours is correct, so we know either the VIN plate is legit or, at least, the creator is really good at math.

  
  

  Step 6: Determining The Model Year

  
  Since 1980, different countries have used slight variations of model years, but there's a generally accepted format most companies use for the 10th digit. If the car was built between 2001 and 2009 the digits "0-8" which means our vehicle's 8 is telling us it's a 2008 MY vehicle.

  If the car was built between 1980 and 2000 the code is goign to be "A-Y" sequentially excluding the three letters not found in any VIN. For example, a car built in 1994 would have the code "R" and a car from 2000 has the digit "Y" on its VIN plate. Starting in 2010, cars reset with the letter "A" for most companies.

  
  

  Step 7: Decoding Where It Was Built

  
  The 11th digit is for identifying where the vehicle was made. There's no set standard for this, so you need to consult a list of the company's manufacturing facilities and VIN codes. These are almost all up on Wikipedia. For instance, here's a page with a list of Ford factories. This tells us the 5 in our VIN matches up to the AutoAlliance plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, which makes sense given the first three digits.

  
  

  Step 8: The Sequence Of Model Production

  
  The final six digits indicate how far along into production the vehicle was built but, because some companies make a lot of a certain model, this isn't necessarily a number. In the case of our Mustang, the digit is a number: 113456.

  For most car owners, this number isn't very significant. For special models, such as limited edition Corvettes or end-of-production vehicles, this can be the best way to determine if the vehicle is what it purports to be. Most Mustangs are produced on the same assembly line so, in this case, we can't determine anything special about the car.

  
  

  Step 9: Compare What The Number Shows To Your Vehicle

  
  
  When we zoom out it's clear the car is a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt. Compare this to what is shown in the VIN number it appears our car checks out.

  For more information about the VIN number check out DriverSide.com

  [Supporting Info: Mustang Attitude, CarSpace, Wikipedia, MotiveMag]

  Photo Credit: Serious Wheels, dwaycar]

[Noob]

TOYOTA STAGES WORLD DEBUT OF ALL-NEW VENZA AT
2008 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

DETROIT, January 14, 2008 - - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc.,
unveiled the all-new 2009 Venza crossover sedan at a press conference here
today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Venza will
raise the crossover vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan
refinement and sport utility vehicle (SUV) functionality.

"The all-new Venza was developed as a vehicle that combines the styling,
comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with
the surprising utility of an SUV," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice
president and general manager. "This winning combination will be ideal for
active 'boomers' and young couples with small families."

All aspects of Venza's engineering and design were targeted specifically
for the North American market where it will be sold exclusively. Venza was
engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and designed at
Toyota's Calty design studios in Newport Beach, Calif. and Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venza will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), in
Georgetown, Ky.

The development focus of the Venza design team was to create a new
crossover vehicle that shifted away from the more traditional SUV styling themes
that tend to dominate the segment. Calty designers leaned more heavily on a
sleek sedan concept with a wide stance that featured a sporty exterior and
premium comfort interior but would also be equipped with important SUV
attributes such as cargo space, towing capability and all-wheel-drive
performance.

The exterior design of the four-door Venza begins with an imposing front
end featuring a distinctive grille, headlights and fog lamps for an aggressive, yet
classy appearance. The front conforms to a sleek and aerodynamic shape with
short overhangs, crisp character lines and a roofline and ground clearance that
are lower than a typical crossover. From behind, Venza's refined appearance is
complete with an angled rear hatch, rear spoiler and wide wraparound tail lights
that interconnect with the hatch door.

On the inside, Calty designers and TTC engineers made comfort,
refinement and utility a priority for the five-passenger Venza. A lower rocker
design will allow occupants to more easily step in and out of the vehicle than a
typical sedan. Venza will also feature a higher ride height and hip points that will
provide significantly better driver visibility than most sedans and easier ingress
and egress than most SUVs.

Venza will feature a spacious interior providing ample room for all five
passengers and abundant SUV-like cargo space behind the second row of seats.
The rear hatch provides a low cargo height that allows for easy loading and
unloading of luggage and outdoor gear. Easy-to-use levers, one on each side of
the rear cargo area, allow the 60/40 split rear seats to fold flat, providing
additional storage space for extra long items such as surf boards, skis, camping
gear and gardening equipment. For added passenger comfort, the rear seats
recline up to 14 degrees.

A creative interior design complemented with an array of comfort and
convenience features provides Venza with a refined look and feel that is
commonly reserved for a luxury sedan. The flow of the instrumentation panel
(IP) creates a unique 60/60 design that gives both driver and front passenger the
look and feeling that 60 percent of the IP is accessible from their seating position.

An extra long center console extends from the IP and slopes down to a
center compartment with a unique sliding console cover. Sliding open the
compartment lid reveals a large storage well deep enough to hold a large purse.
The compartment is also illuminated and equipped with an auxiliary audio jack
and 12-volt power point. The upper portion of the center console houses the
gear-shift lever for easy and comfortable driver access. Climate control functions
are centrally located on the upper center console, providing easy accessibility for
both driver and passenger. The center console also contains an iPod/MP3
storage compartment with wire management and illuminated dual cupholders.
All Venza models will be equipped with an array of standard features
including auto dual zone air conditioning, AM/FM six-disc CD, tilt/telescopic
steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, electrochromic rearview
mirror with compass, a multi-information display, cruise control, optitron gauges,
rear wiper, privacy glass, and much more. On V6 models Venza will come
standard with dual exhaust tips and will be the first Toyota model to ride on
standard 20-inch alloy wheels. Four-cylinder models will come standard with 19-
inch alloy wheels.

Chrome accents throughout give Venza a refined look and feel. Models
equipped with an optional leather-trimmed interior will feature wood-grain-type
trim and seats stitched with dark piping that is tastefully coordinated with Venza's
standard linear grain dashboard and steering wheel. An array of storage space
will be available throughout the vehicle to accommodate passenger belongings.
A large storage compartment with an additional 12-volt power point located on
the passenger side of the front center console will be sizeable enough to contain
maps and magazines.

A panoramic roof will be offered as an option and will be a first for the
Toyota vehicle lineup. The roof will feature separate glass panels over the front
and rear seats. The front glass panel will have a power tilt/slide function.

Venza will also offer an Automatic High Beam headlight system, another
Toyota first. When high beam headlights are in use sensors in the Automatic
High Beam system will detect oncoming traffic and automatically switch the
headlights to low-beam. When the Automatic High Beam sensors no longer
detect oncoming traffic the system will switch the headlights back to high-beam
mode.

Additional optional equipment will include a navigation system equipped
with a JBL audio system, integrated satellite radio capability and BluetoothTM
technology; a premium JBL audio system with AM/FM six-disc CD changer,
satellite radio capability and BluetoothTM, rear seat entertainment system, a Smart
Key System, back-up camera and a power rear door.

The sleek and sporty styling, refined interior and outstanding utility
features are complemented with fun-to-drive performance attributes expected by
owners with active lifestyles. Aggressive handling typically found in a
performance coupe is well-balanced by the on-road comfort of an upscale sedan.
Venza will be available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. It will
provide drivers and passengers the best of both worlds by delivering the quiet
comfortable ride expected from a full-size sedan along with the peace-of-mind
that comes with all-wheel-drive.

Power will be generated by an available 3.5-liter V6 that will produce 268
horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm with a towing
capability of 3,500 pounds. Standard power will come from an all-new 2.7-liter
four-cylinder engine that will deliver capable performance and provide excellent
fuel efficiency and low emissions. Both engines will be mated with a six-speed
sequential-shift electronically-controlled automatic transmission.

Venza will be equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety
features. It will provide a total of seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag
and side and curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Venza will also be the first
sedan with Toyota's STAR safety system, featuring anti-lock brakes, traction
control, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and vehicle stability
control. Venza will also feature active head restraints as standard equipment.

"Venza will establish an exciting new crossover niche that will combine the
finest attributes of Toyota's diverse vehicle lineup," said Carter. "It will cater to
buyers who are looking for the value and reliability of a Camry, the comfort and
upscale refinement of an Avalon, and the utility and functionality of a Highlander
SUV in one very stylish and sporty package."
"When it goes on sale in late 2008, the Venza crossover sedan will
represent Toyota's latest commitment to driving change in the marketplace."