Davestuff

The Forbes-Aspinwall Mission

2013-03-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

Fun Fact: On March 15, 1863, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles met with my Great- something grandfather William Aspinwall and John Forbes at the Fifth Avenue Hotel to discuss sending the two to England to buy suspected Confederate gunboats, specifically two ironclads under construction by Laird Brothers. For plausible deniability of what would be a

Introducing the Traverado PED

2013-03-06T10:06:00.000-05:00

Introducing the world’s first ever scientifically proven precipitation enhancement device (PED) for small and midsized farms. The Traverado PED© is based on research conducted by the US Army and is the only method of increasing rainfall that works on a small scale—right over your crops. The story of the Traverado PED© is one of coincidence, research and discovery, and for inventor Dr. David

The Litter Box

2012-10-22T07:52:00.001-05:00

"I'd watch an Aaron Sorkin show about people changing cat litter." --Dave The Litter Box INT: Hallway. JIMMY is walking forwards carrying a TRAY OF CAT LITTER in front of him. He is accompanied by LESLIE, a perky Southern blonde; and MICAH, a distinguished middle-aged black man. JIMMY is in the middle of a conversation, which we hear part of as he comes into the frame. JIMMY: So

Is it possible to make money on modified cars?

2012-10-15T14:21:00.002-05:00

This got cut by about two-thirds to make it into print. Also the editor hated it. If you’re thinking about buying and selling modified cars, it’s handy if you’re either a complete genius, or don’t mind losing money. We suppose you could just be super lucky, but if you have that kind of kismet you’ll be too busy getting banned from casinos in Vegas and fending off lingerie models to have

Why not electrics?

2012-10-05T09:46:00.000-05:00

c. 1900 Roberts Electric, one of the oldest known operating electric cars BoingBoing science editor Maggie Koerth-Baker writes in The New York Times, It will come as no surprise to hear that only a tiny fraction — less than 1 percent — of cars driving along American roads are fully electric. What might be more surprising is the fact that this wasn’t always the case. In 1900, 34 percent of

My one (long) sentence review of the Paris Motor Show

2012-09-27T14:26:00.002-05:00

Indistinguishable tall chubby cars from Nissan, VW, Mitsubishi, Vauxhall, Suzuki, Ssangyong, Hyundai, Mercedes, Seat, Renault, Škoda, Toyota, Dacia, Honda, Audi, Ford, Citroën, Kia, Mini, Peugeot and Volvo. Hooray

Twenty Rejected American Le Mans Series Taglines

2012-08-10T20:30:00.000-05:00

Apparently, I didn't grasp the seriousness and weight with which they regarded themselves. Also I wasn't being paid enough for what was essentially a complete rebranding, so I really didn't feel motivated to try that hard. It didn't help that the agency I was freelancing for was owned by an ALMS driver. Not at all. ALMS: [like] a 9,000 RPM, 700 horsepower, 200 MPH Swiss watch. America's

I am the very model of the modern mopedalist

2012-08-02T10:48:00.001-05:00

I have bought a new vehicle, a Persian Ivory 1980 Peugeot 103 LVS U3 moped. Top of the line, baby! It could use new seat padding and I think a reed valve; I'll probably save up for a 15mm carburetor. Although as it took two years for me to buy this, don't expect that any time soon. I am considering hand-porting the engine, which should yield some notable gains. In the meantime: Specs!

SPECS: 1961 OSCA 1600 GT

2012-07-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

I take a strange satisfaction from a well-formed spec page. After poring though FIA homolgation documents, in Italian, I think I've got them for the OSCA. The story won't use them except perhaps in abbreviated form, so I'm releasing them to the world. Fly, little OSCA specs. Fly! 1961 OSCA 1600 GT Specifications ENGINE Displacement 1568cc (95.7-cu.in.) Bore x stroke 80 x 78 mm

That muffled throbbing tone

2012-07-03T18:57:00.000-05:00

Of all the times I dearly love, There’s one I love the best; It’s not a song of turtledove, Nor of a feathered nest; It has a hum that’s all its own, Without a skip or jar, It is that muffled throbbing tone of my big Staver car. The world is striving all the time, To master speed and pow’r, And wise brains full of cog-wheels claim two hundred miles an hour; But what’s the use of flying when

Dave's Laws of Collector Car Values

2012-06-08T12:05:00.001-05:00

This list will grow as I am able to express additional concepts. As any one model becomes expensive, the market finds acceptable alternatives and makes them expensive. The more a collector car is worth, the more it tends to appreciate. More valuable cars are more easily able to settle on new accepted higher values. The more a collector car is worth, the harder it is to assign an absolute

Mercedes War Booty and the Consignor Conundrum

2012-06-05T08:51:00.003-05:00

John Draneas does his usual excellent job looking at the legal complexities of the case of the disputed ownership of a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster. But as a guy who has sidelined in auction catalogue write-ups for a major house from time to time, I have to disagree that "RM, like all major auction companies, puts great effort into researching the cars in their auctions." I'd say it's

Zanardi

2012-05-25T13:34:00.001-05:00

I reported on Alex Zanardi and his comeback back when he was injured; now, I'm just going to quote this story out today about his journey to the 2012 Paralympics. He was and continues to be The Man. By Michel RosePADUA, Italy, May 25 (Reuters) - "The car broke into two pieces, one bit of me stayed with the car and the other bit, which was my legs, went 'arrivederci' in the other

Complete Guide: 2013 Camaro

2012-05-18T09:13:00.000-05:00

Chevrolet Camaro New for 2013: Deletions (GAP) Imperial Blue Metallic exterior color (H45) 45th Anniversary Package (including [GAR] Carbon Flash Metallic exterior color) (RQH) 18" painted aluminum wheels (R3Z) 20" painted aluminum wheels (R40) 20" polished aluminum wheels (DRG) Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with rear camera display (SRJ) Convenience and Connectivity

Complete Guide: 2013 Cadillac XTS

2012-05-17T09:04:00.003-05:00

I know, I didn't do my annual World's First Look at the 2012 GM models last year. So sue me. But 2013? Yeah, I'm all over that. Here's a biggie, maybe the make or break model for Cadillac, the XTS. Highlights Base model and 3 Collections: Luxury, Premium and Platinum (LFX) 3.6L V6 engine in either FWD or AWD configurations All-wheel drive available on Luxury, Premium and Platinum

Chrysler’s Fifties Hits and Misses

2012-05-16T08:27:00.000-05:00

1956 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman A few are famous, many are overlooked and most are affordable Forward Look, Adventurer, Fire Sweep, Firepower, Golden Lion, Letter Car and Hemi: As I wrote those names, a series of images flashed past, each one a pure evocation of a moment in the Fifties. But even with these icons, not to mention NASCAR Grand National titles, world speed records and a

O, the sweet fine beauty of the long-lined car!

2012-04-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPORTATION Roy George, 1922 I Time, and the Wheel, and the Infinite Sphere, What is the problem the gods have set? How shall man master it, now and here? Conquering Time and Space—and yet Holding dominion Over his mind; Riding the wind On steel pinion While keeping his eye fixed hard on the earth, His by promise, and right, and birth? FOR, RISE AS THEY MAY,

The Quantum of Cars

2012-03-27T15:18:00.002-05:00

Interior, '27 Nash roadster I don't get the chance to philosophize much in my line of work. We're far more concerned with paint curing times and combustion chamber shapes than the effect of the car on the psyche, or its place in art. But last week, I shot a 1927 Nash roadster that hasn't run since the fall of 1951; it is, literally, in a hundred pieces. My editor tells me I'm

Detroit is for Losers

2011-11-10T14:59:00.001-05:00

Henry Ford, Henry Leland, Billy Durant and the other winners of the competition to build a successful car company are huge figures, but in their way, they’re freaks. They succeeded where almost no one else did. In HCC #88, we featured a St. Louis automobile, from one of about 100 car companies based there. How many are there today? For several years, I’ve been mapping the locations of America’s

2011 Camaro Convertible! Davestuff gets the goods first.

2010-11-16T14:23:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah. You knew it was coming--and where else would it come from but Davestuff, your source for GM inside information before GM knows about it? But this is a big one. Chevrolet has talked about the Camaro Convertible, and teased you with pictures, but now it's time for the whole schlemazzle. A few details and specifications haven't been nailed down yet, but who cares? If you're interested in

Davestuff beats the world: 2011 Chevrolet Volt complete guide

2010-07-26T09:17:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, it's another world exclusive: 20 pages of detailed ordering information on the one you've been waiting for, the 2011 Chevy Volt! Yowsa! 2011 Volt

Paypal

2010-07-22T14:22:00.003-05:00

I had to EECB Paypal, but their contacts are hard to find. Here's what I dug up, I'll edit the post when I have a response. PayPal Office of Executive Escalations: 1-402-935-2269 (Michelle, Executive Escalations) 1-402-935-2116 (Elizabeth Morey, Supervisor, Executive Escalations) 1-402-935-2172 (Adam Braasch, Senior Agent) 1-402-935-2268 (Beth Beutler, Senior Agent) 1-402-935-2174 (Jackie

ALFA 100

2010-06-21T13:17:00.001-05:00

1910 – 2010: Alfa Romeo celebrates a century of wins and world records Alfa Romeo will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on 24 June. Few automarkers have reached this goal, and the circle of those which have achieved the marketing successes and the racing wins of Alfa Romeo is even smaller. Celebrating Alfa Romeo's centenary means browsing some of the most important pages in automotive

SAAB rolls!

2010-03-22T13:28:00.001-05:00

The production lines at Saab Automobile’s state-of-the-art Trollhättan plant began rolling again today, heralding a new era for the Swedish premium car maker as an independent company. To mark the occasion, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson, Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller and Trollhättan Plant Director Gunnar Brunius took up positions on the line alongside assembly workers as the first batch of

2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon: Complete Guide

2010-03-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Since everyone seems to be so hot on the new 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon (including myself), and is living on dribs and drabs of rumour and innuendo, I thought I'd just go ahead and spill the beans on every little detail. That's OK, isn't it? P61 Wheels, 17" x 8" (43.2 cm x 20.3 cm) painted aluminum P75 Wheels, 18" x 8" (45.7 cm x 20.3 cm) aluminum with premium multi-coat