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Chrysler

accidents

Starbucks Coffee Shop Takes A Chrysler 300 Break

Patrons at a Bellingham, Washington Starbucks got quite the surprise yesterday when a 2008 Chrysler 300 driven by an elderly man crashed through the floor to ceiling window and across the shop. Five people were injured in the incident, though none seriously, and the driver is facing a charge of second degree negligent driving. Fortunately for us, a table was embedded in the grille and it makes it look like the 300 is sticking it's tongue out. We're assuming the injured will be suing for millions to cover the cost of spilled coffee. (Hat tip to R_Evolution)

[Source And More Photos: Bellingham Herald]

i feel gassy

Chrysler's $2.99 Gas A Good Deal... For Chrysler

As with other auto media outlets, we've been closely following Chrysler's "Let's Refuel America" program, which is offering three years of $2.99 gas for anyone who buys a Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler vehicle (that isn't a Challenger, Viper, Wrangler, Sprinter Van or other popular vehicles). After a few back-of-the-envelope calculations we're starting to see this is a good deal for Chrysler and, at best, a mediocre rebate for consumers. For one thing, in lieu of other rebates, Chrysler doesn't necessarily have to put all of these expenses on their books right away when it records the sale, which could be a PR boon for the automaker while it tries to buy time for the "New Day" that's coming. But most importantly, the amount of money that a consumer can save is maybe less than most expected. More »

accessories

Wheelchair Uses Lasers To Automatically Dock In Van

Researchers at Lehigh University are developing a way to make it easier for wheelchair-bound individuals to dock a wheelchair in the back of a minivan. The system utilizes lasers and radio frequency technology to automatically guide a wheelchair onto the forklift-style platform that is in the rear of the van. This is similar to how the spacecraft Jules Verne docked with the International Space Station or how my Roomba robotic vacuum will automatically dock with its charging cradle. More »

2008 dodge challenger srt8

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, Reviewed

While Dodge won't even return our phone calls (something to do with this as well as insinuating Bob "The Builder" Nardelli tried to change the name of Home Depot to Home Despot), our friends at the magazine that finds being Popular just as important as being Mechanics did get a chance to drive the Ram-headed brand's new muscular pony car — the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. The gist of what they had to say, below the jump:

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offbeat news

Canadian Man Blames Lost Chrysler Data Tape For Irrational Identity Theft Fears

A man from the Canadian city-to-the-south-of-Detroit, Windsor, Ontario, is miffed at Chrysler (or more likely Chrysler Financial Canada) for losing a data tape and potentially making the possibility of identity theft happen sooner rather than later. Seems a tape containing the names, addresses and Social Insurance Numbers of some Canuckian Chrysler lessees was lost in transport by UPS. The carrier informed Chrysler of the loss by March 12th, and in turn, letters to folks with compromised identities were sent by March 27th. This chap from Windsor didn't get his note till April 21st and it's rubbing him the wrong way. More »

new cars

DUB Edition Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, Please Make It Stop

Sweet quarts of Pennzoil, why must every automaker jump on bandwagons they have no business being on? Chrysler, the reason people put DUB wheels and parts on their cars is to be unique and stand out from the crowd. By partnering with DUB for the 2008 DUB Edition Chrysler 300 Touring and 2008 DUB Edition Dodge Charger SXT, you're missing the point. Now you have two underpowered cars, with largely unremarkable styling, and overblown Kicker sound systems that will be replaced anyway. Has everyone at Chryslerberus taken crazy pills?

[Inside Line]

down on the street

1962 Dodge D100 Pickup Truck

With all the vintage GMC and Chevy trucks on the streets of Alameda, I need to be sure I don't neglect the Fords and Dodges when DOTS Truck Monday rolls around. We had a '64 Ford F-100 recently, but it's been several months since our last Dodge pickup. This '62 seems to be a work in progress, since it seems to alternate between being up on jackstands in the driveway and parked on the street with a drain pan under the engine. I'm not sure whether it moves under its own power or gets pushed between the two locations, but these trucks are so simple that it shouldn't take much longer before it's driving regularly.
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industry news

More On The Chrysler And Nissan Platform Swap

Nissan was kind enough to provide us with some time to answer questions about their new Nissan-Chrysler Platform Swap. For those who haven't been following the news, Dodge is going to build the next generation full-size truck for Nissan based on the upcoming Dodge Ram platform. In return, Nissan is going to build a small car for Dodge based on one of their, currently unnamed, platforms. Both companies claim that the cars will have unique designs and interiors so they're not to be mistaken for mere badge-reengineered vehicles. Both vehicles will be sold in North America but, because neither will go on sale this decade, details remain limited. Information on possible hybrids, names and powertrains below the jump. More »

engine of the day

Engine of the Day: Chrysler LA Series

How about an engine family that included V6, V8, and V10 variants and is still being manufactured today after more than 40 years? Starting with the 273-cube V8 in 1964 (itself a descendant of the mid-50s-vintage A series engine) and proceeding through vast numbers of 318s and 360s (and let us not forget the screamin' 340 Six-Pack pictured above), the LA design ended up as the basis of the 488 and 505 V10s used in Vipers and SRT-10s. While the Slant Six has pretty well established itself as the top contender for the All-Time Most Bulletproof Detroit Engine Award, its 318 stablemate makes a strong bid for second place. [Allpar]

found on craigslist

World's Meanest Cordoba Makes Corinthian Leather From Your Flesh!

It's got a 360. It's got glasspacks. It's got dogdish hubcaps. It's got a huge skull painted on the hood. In other words, it's fully optioned! This is the car designed for Ricardo Montalban's evil twin brother, Raul, who was serving 10-to-20 for manslaughter in a Madrid jail cell while Ricardo pitched the nice Cordobas. Those of you still shopping for a car for the Toledo 24 Hours of LeMons race, take note: this '78 Cordoba is for sale for an asking price of 500 bucks and it's just a few hours' drive from the track! Thanks to 1300CCsofFury for the tip. [Craigslist Chicago, go here if the ad disappears]

industry news

Chrysler To Produce Full Size Trucks For Nissan, What The Truck?

The good folks over at PickupTruck.com picked up on this interesting press release from Chrysler. It looks as though Chrysler LLC will be building on its relationship with Nissan Motors by building a full-sized trucks for the Japanese-European automaker. Dodge, as you all know, just came out with the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Nissan's largest truck is the half ton Titan, which is seriously aging. Should we therefore assume that the truck is going to be a half ton replacement for the Titan? Possibly, but according to PickupTruck.com the Salitllo plant, which is slated for this future production, currently makes the three-quarter and one-ton Dodge Rams. Is Nissan moving up? Details are scarce, but it looks as though Cerberus has found a way to build more cars without having to worry about selling them. Press release below the jump.(UPDATE#1, it looks as though the truck will be a full size light duty replacement for the Nissan Titan. UPDATE#2 We just got off of a conference call with Chrysler's Tom LaSorda regarding the new Chrysler-Nissan deal, which involves a small and fuel-efficient vehicle for Chrysler built by Nissan and likely a Ram-based full-sized light duty replacement for the Nissan Titan in 2011. The small vehicle will be sold in North American and Europe for 2010. In both cases, the styling and design comes from the other company. The Dodge vehicle is apparently already designed and was built in the Japanese Oppama plan, which also makes the Nissan Cube. Is the Chrysler-based car Cube-based?) More »

down on the street bonus edition

The Forgotten Charger Thrives In The Mile High City

You hear a lot about the late-60s Chargers, the Malaise Era Chargers, and the current crop, but what about the forgotten '66 and '67 models? Some think they're homely (and suspiciously similar in design to the AMC Marlin), but 40+ years sit pretty well on this '66 that the unstoppable Kitt found in her Denver neighborhood. In this case, the car's proud owner was present and happy to open hood and doors to facilitate photography of his Dodge (which, sadly, lacks the optional 426 Hemi).


down on the street

1967 Plymouth Barracuda, With Bonus Plymouth Poll

We love our Chrysler A-bodies around here, no doubt about that. For that reason, I'm overjoyed to have finally found one of the later A-body-based Barracudas in Alameda. Cool as the 'fastback Valiant' early Barracudas were, the 1966-69 cars were the ones that really looked like their sleek carnivorous namesake (the E-body Chryslers- those that avoided being hooned to death back in the day, that is- are probably worth too much to the nostalgio-freak crowd to be seen parked on the streets of Alameda, but I'm still hoping to find one).
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junkyard find

Dodge Coronet's Window Blinds Prove Ineffective At Warding Off Crusher

When you hear about a Malaise Era Dodge, most of the time it's a 1974 example, because that was the year of the Bluesmobile. That means that 1974 Chrysler C-body stands a much better chance of being cared for than a '73 B-body (thanks to those of you who pointed out my B/C-body screwup). Here's an example I spotted at a local junkyard, near the Country Squire wagon; as a 1973 Coronet with a much different grille totally different platform than Jake and Elwood's car, there was no chance that the healing rays of an internationally successful megafranchise such as the Blues Brothers would ever convince its owner to pay for the $381 repair (or maybe it was an accumulation of parking tickets) that ultimately doomed it to the wrecking yard. But hey, check out the CB antenna and rear window blinds!


industry news

Toyota Claims Jim Press Is A Liar, Pants Are On Fire: Prius Development Didn't Use Government Dollars

Today the super number-one best automaker from the land of the rising sun provided us the automotive industry equivalent of yelling "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" at their former President of Toyota USA, Jim Press. Press, now President of Chrysler, claimed last week in an article in BusinessWeek that 100% of development of the battery and hybrid engine for the automaker's happy little hybrid, the Prius, occurred via a fat injection of government dollars. This claim had been widely speculated at in the past, but much like the existence of the Yeti, "Nessie" and the affordable lightweight mid-size performance coupe, proof was in short supply. However, Press's comments to Newsweek last week were akin to pulling out the tail of a giant Icyosauropodasaurthing from the depths of a Scottish Loch. Now, Toyota's fightin' back. Here's what spokesman Paul Nolasco now claims: More »

commenter of the day

Commenter Of The Day: Burns And Allen Edition

There are those marriages where it's hard to wonder how one partner operates without the other because both partners make the other one better. Perhaps one of the greatest comedic married couples in the last century was George Burns & Gracie Allen. One would setup the joke and the other would knock it out of the park, with George usually doing the setting and Gracie doing the knocking. Burns had a long career afterwards, but as he said himself "First you have to have a talent. You have to develop this talent. Then you have to marry her like I did!" Well, not all marriages are that successful. More »

industry news

Chrysler's Press Claims Japan Paid 100% Of Toyota Prius Hybrid, Battery Development; Lutz Says Volt Could Cost $48,000

BusinessWeek's David Kiley had a fun idea to spend some time talking with some industry heavy-hitters about CAFE and fuel economy. He spent a few minutes talking to both former Toyota USA President and current #2 at Chrysler, Jim Press, as well as GM Vice-Chairman "Maximum" Bob Lutz. The topic was the fuel efficient topic of choice among greenies, hybrids. In the article, Lutz claimed the upcoming Chevy Vaporware Volt might end up with a sticker price at around $48K. Normally that would make a pretty spectacular lead for us, especially given it's a price tag that's betwen 33% and 60% higher than originally stated by the brand all about the 'merican revolution and the GM exec born from jets. Fortunately for him, his comments were eclipsed by Press on the Prius. More »

down on the street

1970 Dodge Dart, With Bonus A-Body Poll

Is it really possible that it's been two months since our last Mopar A-body in this series? Like air-cooled VWs, Chrysler A-bodies are so plentiful in Alameda that I tend to lose track of when the last time I DOTS-ized one (also like air-cooled VWs, I've owned a few Slant Six A-bodies and feel much affection for them). So here comes a nice solid 4-door Dart, which lives on the same block as the Mercedes-Benz 280SEL that came in second in yesterdays DOTS Benz poll.
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