Hit the California Jackpot!

You know what I’ve always wondered? Why we don’t see more contest cars. That is, cars won by entering some kind of contest back in the day. Flipping through old magazines, it seemed there was at least one car you could win in every issue, so if those contests were on the up and up, there’d be plenty of cars won in such a manner showing up at car shows and in car magazines.

Such as the 1951 Crosley Super Sports above, the October Crosley of the Month on the Crosley Automobile Club’s website. Owner Steve Gillie of Springboro, Ohio, didn’t win the car in a contest, but the Stewart family of Hamilton, Ohio, did, after entering a jingle contest sponsored by Mission Orange, a soft drink maker.

How Mission Orange chose a Crosley Super Sports as a prize, I dunno. Whether the Stewart family took possession of their five-acre California orange grove, I dunno (though it’d certainly be worth way more than the Crosley nowadays).

Know of any other contest-prize cars still out there?

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VIDEO: 2010 Ford Mustang FR500CJ catches air

Posted by Autoblog

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Videos

2010 Ford Mustang FR500CJ testing – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Testing is well underway on the 2010 version of the Cobra Jet Mustang, and from the looks of this new…

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Mitsubishi Concept PX MiEV

Mitsubishi announced that it will premiere the Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV at Tokyo Auto Show late this October. The concept is motivated by a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and Mitsubishi's all-new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), that utilizes E-AYC (Electric-powered Active Yaw Control) to transfers torque to the rear left and right wheels, with a pair of electric motors (one at each axle) and a battery.

The battery can be replenished either through regenerative breaking, the gasoline engine or via a regular household plug or a high-power quick-charging station.

The Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV is powered by a hybrid system which includes a 1.6-liter DOHC MIVEC gasoline engine for the front wheels and also works as a generator, and two permanent magnet synchronous motors, one for each axle.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

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Production BMW 5 Series GT Unveiled via BMW TV

BMW unveiled the 5 Series Gran Turismo concept at the Geneva Motor Show now we have our first unofficial look at the production version.

As expected the production version remains mostly true to the concept, but with a much more toned down interior. Expect the production version to have its official world debut sometime later this year.

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2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon caught uncovered

Posted by Autoblog

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Dodge, Off-Road

2010 Dodge Power Wagon – Click above to be redirected to Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off-Road for more images

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Snow plow drags CO senior's Chrysler half a mile

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Colorado Springs senior John Archuleta, age 70, was driving his Chrysler Cirrus in a snowstorm when his vision was clouded, causing a collision with snowplow. The impact wasn't bad, in fact, plow driver Frederick Parrent, Jr, evidently didn't even know he'd been hit. The orange truck went on its merry way, pushing snow and pulling the 1999 Chrysler. The unintended sleigh ride only lasted about a half-mile, at which point fellow drivers flagged Parrent down and alerted him to the vehicle stuck in the truck's sander. There were no injuries, though both vehicles were bruised, and Archuleta was awarded a careless driving citation.

[Source: TheDenverChannel]

Snow plow drags CO senior's Chrysler half a mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donk On 28s Rolls Over In Florida, Dies [Custom Cars]

The owner of a Floridian donk won't be "ghost ridin' tha whip" any time soon. Below, our obit and video of the aftermath.

A Chevy on 28-inch rims flipped over and died in Florida over the weekend. Authorities found a note next to the body leading them to believe suicide was the likely cause. Family members refused to go on the record, but did say the donk had been depressed ever since it received its new 28-inchers. A short service will be held at the Palm Beach County impound yard next Thursday with RIDES magazine hosting a light lunch after.

[YouTube via WPBNews]

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The Best Cars for Your Money

What's the better buy: Charger or Camry?

If car buying was strictly a numbers game, deciding which car to buy would be much easier. Factors like purchase price, maintenance costs, resale value, performance numbers, and fuel economy would determine our car choices.

Most of us have a little thing called emotion fueling our car purchases, though, and the smartest choice might be eclipsed by our obsession with a certain model’s curvy exterior.

For those looking for the smartest car buys financially, the good folks at U.S. News and World Report Automotive have assembled a list of cars that are best buys over the long haul. The full list, along with their methodology, is here (Toyota/Lexus dominate, with eight of the 14 winners).

The best buys aren’t always best sellers or popular, though, so I’m comparing some of U.S. News’ choices with the Owner Favorites in the same categories on CarGurus.com and with the overall best sellers in each category.

Midsize sedan

Crossover

Hatchback/subcompact

Convertible/sports car

• U.S. News & World Report Best Buy: Mazda Miata
• CarGurus.com Owner Favorite: Ford Mustang
• Best seller: Pontiac G6 (I didn’t believe it either, but you can double-check yourself here.)

Minivan

Full-size pickup

This is proof that sometimes the best buy is just plain boring. Putting the tag of “best buy” on a car is a pretty objective thing, because the guy looking for performance and fun is going to think a Dodge Charger is a heck of a better buy than a Toyota Camry!

What cars do you think were left off the “best buys” list?

-tgriffith

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