This custom 1930 Ford Model Ahot rod, otherwise known as “Rod-Riguez” was built by Junichi Shimodaira, owner of Paradise Road in Nagoya, Japan. Inspired by his idols, George Barris and Ed Roth, Shimodaira went with a proper 303ci Rocket V8 from a 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket V8 hooked to a Hydramatic four-speed automatic.
Finished in a custom blend of Candy Copper with pinstriping by Japanese artist Makoto, this 2002 build features a Z’d and boxed frame front and rear, four-inch wedge chop and hand-crafted fenders that give the illusion that they are floating. “Rod” also includes a custom-made grille (a Shimodaira trademark) flanked by 1959 Cadillac parking light pods used for headlights; out back, 1958 Chevrolet parking lights have been reconfigured to taillights. The fully custom interior features unique bucket seats with 1960s Tijuana-style cloth. In addition to appearing in Hot Rod and other publications, Rod-Riguez landed a role on the TV show, “My Ride Rules,” as well as the movie “Licorice Pizza.”
Rivian, the builder of the world’s first Electric Adventure Vehicles, is in deep doo-doo with Wall Street. No, it’s not that the vehicles are sub-par, but rather due to a defect in its build, with its stock value falling precipitously. In total, almost 13,000 R1T and R1Ss, plus the company’s commercial vehicle, are being recalled due to a poorly tightened fastener that may dangerously affect steering.
That’s pretty much ALL Rivians build to date. And you’re surprised the company has built that many vehicles despite not having seen one, you’re not alone.
Rivian R1T
“If you experience excessive noise, vibration or harshness from the front suspension, or a change in steering performance or feel, you should call immediately,” says Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe in a letter to vehicle owners.
If you’re not familiar with Rivian’s lineup, the R1T is the dual-cab pickup truck that has been covered in all the buff books; the newer R1S is a similar vehicle in SUV form that has been in production starting in 2022. There also is a EDV model that is used for commercial purposes. All R1s feature that nifty glowing light bar with the odd vertical headlights — a signature look that clearly that is not derivative, unlike a certain NorCal EV brand run by the guy who possibly wants to own Twitter.
According to filings with the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration, there have only been two reports of the fastener loosening, though it appears there have been several more reports related to the issue, according to Autoblog. The fastener in question connects the Rivian’s front upper control arm and the steering knuckle.
Rivians start at $73,000, which seem somewhat pricey until you start pricing the more premium offerings from the Big Three. Though the steering knuckle “may not have been sufficiently torqued,” chances are Rivian will push through this and fix what needs fixing at no cost to the consumer, with Wall Street approving accordingly. Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush, suggests the recall is a “speed bump” in Rivian’s growth story, as the brand has been rated as outperforming its position including its $45 price target.
The recall is not estimated to impact future deliveries for the 2022 calendar year.
As a fan of smaller cars there is a special place in my heart for the hot hatch. Undersized with a peppy engine, they can come across as the underdog but are fun to drive. Muscle cars are awesome with low-end torque, but there is a unique form of pride when you can get great road performance with less horsepower. Plus what’s more fun pushing the limit of a hot hatch on a twisty two-lane road?
1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S
If you were a consumer in the mid-80s and prefer American cars you didn’t have a lot of hot hatch options from domestic producers, but Carroll Shelby provided his golden touch to one manufacturer.
“Though many know Carroll Shelby worked much of his career with Ford, there was a time in the 80’s that he was heavily improving the performance of the Dodge stable,” the listing states. “The Omni was an economy-minded car designed to help get from point A to point B as efficient as possible. A special trim GLH (for “goes Like Hell”) was introduced in 1984 with help from Mr. Shelby.”
2.2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine
Shelby’s influence on the Omni was immediate as the horsepower in the 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine was increased from 146 to 175 over the lower model GLH. Mopar fans had a proper hot hatch, but production was limited to 500.
1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S
This example is #53 and received a documented restoration, circa 2002-2003. The 2.2-liter inline-four turbo engine’s boost pressure was increased to 16-17 psi and the five-speed manual transmission features an upgraded limited-slip differential.
1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S
The asking price is $19,000 for this Shelby hot hatch from Dodge and the listing indicates that it has 10,538 miles since the rebuild. The pictures in the listing show a car that’s in solid shape on the inside and outside.
“Whenever I drive this car, it attracts a sizeable crowd. Be prepared. It’s a definite head-turner with its unusual design – floating headlights, rectangular steering wheel, and futuristic cockpit.”
1963 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
The Imperial name dates back almost 100 years when it was first used on a Chrysler model in 1926. In 1955, the Imperial lineup branched off as a standalone brand and it stayed that way for a couple of decades. Formally, it was known as the “Imperial Division of Chrysler Corporation.” Chrysler even went so far as to send notices to state agencies informing them that the Imperial had become its own make.
1963 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
A second generation for the Imperial line launched in 1957 boasting new design language while retaining a rigid perimeter frame all the way through 1966. “This was the most expensive of the luxury Imperial line in 1963, with only 1,537 built,” the listing states. A repaint was applied in 2007, and the car reportedly has an accident-free history. “The car has been in a private collection for the past 30-something years and always garaged in a climate-controlled facility.”
413cid V8
Power for this four-door luxury sedan comes from a 413cid V8 that was rated at 340 horsepower. “It runs great and cruises down the highway at 70 mph effortlessly,” the seller says. While mechanically sound, this LeBaron does have a few outstanding needs. The specifics mentioned in the listing are an inoperative fuel gauge, radio, power seat, and right rear power window.
1963 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
The interior is my favorite part about this car, showing a unique and stylish mid-century dash design, complete with control panels that flank the instrument cluster in a setup that looks sort of like tailfins. The push-button automatic transmission is controlled on the left side, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are controlled on the right. No wonder this car gets people talking.
1963 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
“I am retiring soon, and we have decided to move out of the country,” the seller concludes.
The asking price is $23,000 or best offer for this attention-getting LeBaron.
Anyone driving in Texas should beware. The Texas Highway Patrol now has a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody pumping out 1,080 hp.
The car was awarded to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which encompasses the Highway Patrol, by a judge, according to a Facebook post by the agency. It seems the Hellcat was once the property of a criminal suspect.
Texas Highway Patrol Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
“The 1,080 hp Dodge Hellcat went from evading law enforcement in Harris Co. to now catching criminals wherever it roams in Texas,” the post reads.
The four-digit horsepower output quoted by the cops also indicates the Hellcat has been modified. Recall that the Hellcat’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 initially produced 707 hp (and 650 lb-ft of torque) from the factory. For the 2019 model year, it got a boost to 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque for the standard version, and 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque for the Hellcat Redeye version.
Texas Highway Patrol Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
This isn’t the first time cops have enlisted a Challenger. The Florida Highway Patrol unveiled a Challenger police car in 2019, although that was based on the naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-8 R/T model rated at 372 hp. The Challenger’s four-door Charger sibling has also become a staple of police fleets.
The Challenger and Charger are going away after the 2023 model year. Dodge is sending them off with a series of seven Last Call models, after which it will shift focus to electrified cars. Dodge’s first EV, a performance car previewed by the Charger Daytona SRT concept, is scheduled to arrive in 2024. When it does, maybe it will be pressed into police service as well.
As far as tri-five Chevys go, the two-door hardtop models steal most of the limelight in the collector community. But there is something special and unique to be said about a four-door hardtop, especially when it’s done up professionally with a fully documented restoration and a stack of records.
“Always garage-kept and carefully maintained,” the listing states. “We have a stack of records back to 1974. In 2005 it underwent a restoration with all-new paint in the original Larkspur Blue; new chrome and trim pieces were added.” A display board showing a photographic chronology of the restoration process is stored in the trunk and accompanies the sale.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
The Bel Air name first appeared as a trim level on two-door hardtops in the Chevrolet model lineup in 1950, named after a wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles. The nameplate transitioned to become a standalone model in 1953 and was positioned at the upper end of the Chevrolet hierarchy.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
A second generation launched in 1955 and brought with it significant changes to design and engineering; exterior lines incorporated more shoebox-style characteristics as opposed to rounded fenders. Updates for 1956 and 1957 evolved the new look, and in 1957, Bel Air models received the iconic large tailfins and a “twin rocket” hood design. In all, six different body styles were offered, including variations of two-door and four-door hardtops, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
This Bel Air comes in the four-door hardtop variety and received some additional styling flair courtesy of fender skirts and a continental kit mounted at the rear. Momentum is derived from a 283cid V8 that is fed by a Holley four-barrel carburetor and mated to a rebuilt Powerglide automatic transmission. The seller states that the car runs smoothly.
283cid V8
“The car is show-ready and is a great driver. Ready for cruising the coast this year,” the listing says.
Best of all, this Bel Air comes as a package deal with lots of supporting memorabilia, including a baseball cap, a jacket, a tool kit, the aforementioned restoration documentation, awards, a shop manual, and two wide whitewall spare tires (one in the trunk and one inside the continental kit).
The seller is asking $34,900 or best offer for this unique hardtop and all of the above items.
