Jalopnik
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Ten Car Platforms That Just Won't Die
Ten Car Platforms That Just Won't Die
News that GM would continue to extend its GMT-900 truck platform for a few additional years to save money seemed to send shock waves through the auto industry — despite the fact that the design just went into production in 2007. When did platforms get such a short shelf-life? We were able to come up with ten basic car platforms still in production that were originally developed more than a decade ago, including three more than half-a-century old, just to prove that new doesn't necessarily mean better — but it usually does. Behold: Ten car platforms that just won't die. More » -
novelties
Save The Princess In A Lada Zhiguli
Found over yonder in Russia-land is this variant of the Fiat 124, presumably the Lada Zhiguli. What makes this Lada stand out among the millions of them is the matte black rims—not really, it's the amazingly accurate and detailed Mario paint job. The mural contains Goombas, pipes, coins, blocks, red-shelled Koopas and of course, Mario-himself. More »
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Comment by Mazda Eric: the downside to this car having to hum the original mario theme over and over while driving "do-do do, do-do do...do...." more » | Other threads
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down on the street
1977 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Once I found the Fiat Strada, I knew I'd have to be able to find a 124 somewhere on the island. Sure enough, on the same block as the aquamarine '65 Impala, here was this fine example of Italian Malaise. These things used to be quite common on the island (as were MGBs), but... well, you know the rest of that story. More »
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Comment by superasiaone: I vote Fiat, mainly because I have an '81 Spider. LOVE IT! I've only done 3 things in the year... more » | Other threads
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down on the street bonus edition
Fiat 124 To Unreliable-Italian-Car Stereotypes: Drop Dead!
When I was a kid, my mom bought a Fiat 128... which died of old age about two years later (it sure sounded cool to my 7-year-old ears as it ran through the gears, though). But I'm not going to let my personal experience color my opinion of Fiats, nor will I let the fact that I've never even heard of a North American Fiat that could go for more than a month without suffering some sort of catastrophic breakdown prejudice me against the marque. Not after seeing evidence of a daily-driven 124 living in New York City! I'm guessing it's a '66 or '67, judging from the lack of side marker lights. We can thank Harumph for sending these shots our way. More »
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Comment by monsterajr: my Dad had a fiat 600 from new, in NYC until it met a elevated subway column and was replaced... more » | Other threads
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retro
In Russia, Fiat Ladas YOU!
The Fiat juggernaut of the 1960s rolled into the USSR mid-decade, in the form of a new factory built along the Volga river. An industrial city that sprang up around the plant was named Togliatti, in honor of an Italian communist exiled by the fascists. From there, Fiat's joint venture knocked out Lada 2101s by the score. They appeared to be clones of the Fiat 124 — a disposable crapbox produced in astounding number, sporting flawlessly modernist styling and a perky engine. Its construction wasn't quite fit for the harsh Russian landscape, however, and so the Lada version was reworked to include aluminum brake drums, an overhead-cam engine, higher ground clearance and more robust steel body. It also had a starting handle, which assumed the battery situation would be iffy at best in the Siberian cold. Owing to those reinforcements and a brisk market for spare parts, Lada 2101s have survived decades to become a cult classic — a kind of Datsun 510 for the vodka-slugging set. Exactly how they've survived has often been a matter for the sometimes, let's say, overzealous aftermarket suppliers, for better or worse. Enjoy. [Comedy.ru via Photofile.ru]
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