About American Cars

Think of the names Messerschmitt and Heinkel, and most people over the age of fifty will think of German plane makers. Think of BMW and most of us conjure up ideas of quite expensive luxury cars.

But, many might not realise that one thing they all have in common is they all were involved in some way or other in building small, economic cars, often referred to as ‘bubble cars’ back in the 1950′s and 60′s.

Bubble cars were, in the main, 3-wheeler cars, with the 3rd wheel at the rear. Some models had four wheels, the two at the rear very close together. The advantage of only having three wheels was that in some countries, the UK for instance, the law at the time required that someone with only a motorcycle licence could legally drive a 3-wheeler (as long as it didn’t have a reverse gear with it). Why that was the law has never really been fathomed out, since the principles involved in driving a 3-wheel car are very similar to those of driving a 4-wheel car, rather than a motorcycle.

The steering wheels were attached to the opening front doors. As the door was opened the steering wheel moved with it, enabling the driver and any passengers to get in.

Also, road tax was much cheaper for a 3-wheeler than a conventional car, which again appealed to the more thrifty drivers.

People wanted cars which were cheap to buy, and economical to run, and the ‘bubble car’ fitted the bill perfectly, though there were limitations due to their small size.

Although the microcars were built at various times in a number of countries around the world, many were manufactured in Germany. One type which was made in the UK was the Isetta. The Isetta started life in Italy back in the early 1950`s. By today`s standards the engine was tiny, just 236 cc, and was in fact a two cylinder two-stroke motorcycle engine.

In Germany BMW manufactured the Isetta using a BMW one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247 cc motorcycle engine. It boasted the BMW Badge, and went into production in the mid-1950`s.

In Britain the Isetta was eventually made using just one wheel at the back, and without reverse gear, so that it would have a wider appeal for drivers with just motorcycle licences.

Although most bubble cars were popular up until the early 1960`s the time came when they lost their appeal.

Transport laws changed which made it so that drivers needed a full motorcar licence, and the road tax for 3-wheelers increased to make them more in line with 4-wheel cars.

Small cars such as the Mini became very popular. They had more room, carried more passengers, and were better designed from a safety angle.

The only surviving 3-wheel car to make it in to the 1990′s was the Reliant Robyn, built in the Midlands of England. The Reliants had their single wheel at the front of the car, unlike bubble cars. Another popular car with a similar design-though using a motorcycle engine-was the Bond car, which was built into the 1960`s when production ceased.

With lower demand combined with increasing costs even the Reliant, which was luxurious compared to the bubble car, could no longer compete with the more conventional 4-wheel cars.

American portal Money CNN presented top 10 best and at the same time get-at-able cars.

The prices for these cars in a base complete set do not exceed 18 thousand dollars…

Ford Focus which is on sale for $15,2 thousand in the USA is on the first position. For superfluous $400 the car can be transformed into “miracle” in techno style. Multipurpose Sync system, where you can load musical compositions directly from USB cards, is operated through a driver’s voice. It is also possible making phone calls through it – just inform aloud a name of the subscriber from contact-list to a system.

Honda Fit buyers get not only a spacious and fast car, but also – a navigator, DVD-receiver, monitor, TV-tuner and even chamber of the back review. Seats in salon can be transformed for all tastes. All this will cost you $14,5 thousand.

Jeep Patriot, sold for $16 thousand, entered the top 3 coolest and get-at-able cars not only thanks to a surprising cost for jeeps…

Mazda3 has been recognizing one of the best cars in its price category during five years already. It also entered this year’s list. For $17,2 thousand a driver receives an economic and rather practical car.

Combinations of excellent design and reasonable price allowed Mitsubishi Lancer ($14,6 thousand) entering top ten. It is a starting price, and for additional money automobile owners can improve the model. For example, they can establish a musical system with a hard disk.

Toyota Matrix double – Pontiac Vibe has undergone to redesign for 2009 lineup. Now it has sports appearance. And besides – more powerful engine and a full drive. The price – from $15,8 thousand.

Scion xB 2008 is longer and wider than its predecessor. It has Pioneer audiosystem with capacity of 160 Vt, iPod interface, cruise-control, electric drives of glasses and external mirrors, system of access to the car without a key, conditioner. The price – $16,7 thousand.

Subaru Impreza’s drivers and passengers can drive especially pleasantly and easy – the car received Top Safety Pick award for increased security. The car is on sale for $17,6 thousand in a base complete set.

Suzuki SX4 sold for $15,3 thousand – is the cheapest all-wheel drive car which only can be got in USA. A stylish salon and appearance are applied.

Volkswagen Rabbit sold for $16,2 thousand closes the list. It has almost luxury ergonomic salon, original appearance. The car is comfortable for a driver and passengers.

Tesla Roadster is an electric sports car that was first seen in an invitation-only event held in Santa Monica, California in July 2006. After a series of prototyping and testing, the general production of the 2008 model finally began last month. Several units of the car are now available only in the United States priced at around $89,600.

This fully electric production car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just under five seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph. Tailored after the Lotus Elise, the car is said to combine the speed of a Lamborghini Murcielago with the fuel efficiency of a Toyota Prius.

For American car lovers out there who want a sporty yet eco-friendly car, the Tesla Roadster is worth a serious look.

Image Source: http://www.autoblog.com

Before you attend impounded cars for sale event, make sure that you know what type of cars you are looking for. Know what you want , whether you need a family or personal car for yourself or if you need to have one that will fit twelve people inside it; or you might even be eying out for a Lexus or Jaguar. Even luxury cars are sold at these car auctions.

Why do impounded cars for sale attract lots of people? This is because it is mandated by law to do so and this just taking up space in the impound lot. You will find that when you get to your first police impound car auctions there will be a lot of competition for most of the vehicles that are there.

When you think of a police impounded cars for sale auctions you think criminal dealer’s cars and murder’s cars but that are not the case. Some of the impounded cars for auctions are a result of defaulting on loan payments and companies that have been involved in fraud and will result in the cars been new or near new and in very good condition. The prices are always very cheap as they re just trying to recover as much money as they can and really don’t care how much it is and have no use for the its self so they will take what ever they can get for it.

Even if the impounded cars for sale are very cheap, you won’t like to waste your money on something that doesn’t worth it in the first place. It will be wise to bring an expert with you, like an auto mechanic, if you’re not really familiar on the components.

The Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975 is one of my favorite classic car books. I actually have two copies, one at home and at work! If you are interested in classic cars, especially American muscle cars, this is one reference manual that you need to have on your bookshelf. I work for a company that supplies specialty parts for the muscle car industry, so I have a number of muscle car books, and rarely a week goes by that I don’t get this one out to look up some minuscule detail about a car from the 1960s or early 1970s.

The Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975 is part of a series of automotive reference books published by Krause Books, and I own eight different books from this series. This one is my personal favorite of the series because of the time period it covers. The book separates the cars by make in alphabetical order, and then by year, making it very easy to find information on the particular car you are wanting to learn about. For instance, if you are looking for information on a 1952 Pontiac, you will find the “Pontiac” section of the book, and then you will flip to 1952, where it will list all of the models that Pontiac produced that year, with a summary of what was new and what stayed the same, plus detailed specs split out by body style on the MSRP, shipping weight, and production numbers for each style.

Looking further, you can find out what engines and transmissions were offered in each model, along with horsepower and torque ratings, carburetion type, wheelbase, height, width, tire size, available options (and their cost), etc. The book gives you ID numbers that help you to decode the VIN information, too. Towards the back of the book, it has a section on Alternative Cars, where it covers the lesser-known, smaller marques. In the very back, it has a classic car price guide that lists the prices that collectors were paying at the time of publication for six different condition levels of each model car.

The book has lots of photos of the cars, and discusses the year-to-year changes that were made, as well as the history of each car make and model. I really cannot recommend this classic car book highly enough. If you are interested in classic post-war cars or muscle cars, the Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975 really is a worthwhile purchase.

Car theft is a reality of life. Taking precautionary measures are sometimes not enough to safeguard your car or keep it away from the sight of car thieves. One way of ensuring that your car doesn’t get stolen easily is to invest in vehicle protection.

When we say vehicle protection, we mean those additional devices and security systems installed in a car to help maximize security and prevent car theft. They include ignition kill switch, gearshift locks, armored collar around steering column, electronic security systems and vehicle monitoring device, among others.

Car safety is every car owner’s concern. You know you don’t want your car to get stolen that easy especially if you are one of those who work your butt off just to afford one.

Image Source: http://www.houlster.com

After years and years of hearing how muscle cars are out of here never to be seen again, I’m beginning to think that all these people that hate muscle cars are losing the battle. Back in the mid to late 1970′s I heard that gas prices would kill American muscle cars.

Then again in the 1980′s when the government got tough on emissions, and began to kill power that all cars had, yet still the muscle car had made it through the storm, maybe you just can’t kill American automotive history.

We had Ralph Nader telling us that cars were the cause of all of the pollution problems on our planet, when in actuality cars only encompass about 1% of the problem, and you can get less emissions and still have power. This entire thing is just people that don’t like cars.

American muscle cars are a part of our countries history, and you don’t just wipe out history. I see different agencies and companies that are restoring all kinds of houses that are considered historic landmarks, and people are stopping them from being torn down all the time.

What is the difference between this history, and our country’s automotive history, just explain that to me. You can’t because automotive history is just as important, and car lovers will always love classic cars and muscle cars and they will always restore them.

I love classic American cars and I have from the first time I ever seen one, and I will until the day I die. Of all the classic cars and the American muscle cars are my favourite of all times, if you want to know why, I’ll try to explain it to you.

Have you ever felt pure raw horsepower and torque, if not it feels kind of like getting pushed really hard, but at the same time your pinned to a seat, and you can’t move the car is so powerful that your immobilized in your seat, until you feel this you can’t know what I mean.

It’s a feeling of being the only one in a car just like yours. It’s respect for American ingenuity and know how, it’s the body lines of a classic American muscle car, it’s the feeling you get when your behind the wheel, it feels just like pure satisfaction that can’t be belittled by anybody.

It feels like you’re the king of your domain, it feels like driving a work of art, and it feels like your god, it the ultimate high that you can achieve driving a car, there is nothing else like it on the earth, muscle cars will always be here, and men will always love them.

Nothing else is quite the same as driving an American muscle car, and I’ll be here to stand up for them for a long time, every time I hear people blaming muscle cars for yet another atrocity, and telling people how much better the import companies build cars.

I’ll always come running to the defense of American cars, and yes that will always include muscle cars. Nobody builds a better car them we do, and nobody ever will, rather it’s a classic car, or a brand new car America will always build the best car period.

I’m American to the core, I believe in all things American, and that makes it my duty to defend American muscle cars. It’s not that hard when you love the thing that you defend, I love America and it’s cars, so if I have anything to say about it.

Nobody will ever belittle the American muscle car, nobody will destroy it’s legacy, and the Detroit motor companies will always be god in my eyes. They have always built cars that America loves, cars that are like no other car, they build American cars.

With the down turn in a global recession and the American economy going down the tank, prices for used cars in the United States have never been cheaper. Importing American Cars to Canada can be a little daunting with all the importation Customs paper work and shipping logistics involved. But this can be all worth your while when you see how much money you save.

Even with the Canadian dollar at 85 cents U.S. you can save about 20% of what you would’ve paid for a used automobile in Canada even after you calculate the dollar exchange and shipping cost into the total cost of vehicle. The biggest savings are on mid range to high end cars; it’s really unbelievable the difference in prices. American Used Cars are thousands of dollars cheaper, it just show you how Canadians have been getting ripped off by Canadian car dealerships.

Americans are losing their jobs at a record pace. With the credit crisis and the mortgage melt down disaster still evolving, the last thing Americans are thinking of doing is buying a car. American car dealerships are dropping their prices drastically each and every month to try and entice Americans to start buying cars. U.S. car dealerships are throwing everything but the Kitchen sink to make something work.

Also you have to take into the equation the car industry in America, it’s in a very bleak situation, and American car Dealerships are closing up and going out of business at a record pace. This makes it even better for a Canadian to get a better deal done with an American used car dealership than you would in Canada. If you’re thinking of buying a vehicle in the United States just remember when browsing different auto websites the price that is listed with the vehicle on the internet can be in most cases negotiated down as much as $3500u.s..

If you’re really contemplating buying a used car from the States you’re going to have go to the “Register of imported vehicles” you use this to find out what modifications the vehicle will need when its landed in Canada. Also you’re going to want to find out the history of the vehicle, this can be done by using carchex.com and they will tell you the complete history of the vehicle. You will also need a customs broker to handle your shipping needs. But if you’re like me there are some reputable companies in Canada that you can find online and I suggest you shop around first to see what there fee’s are and if it fits your budget, let them handle the shipping, title clearance (ownership), U.S. custom paper work, Canadian customs paper, Car history check, emissions test and the negotiating with the U.S car dealership on your behalf to get you the best deal done.

Are used cars for under 2000 any good? American cars tend to get a bad rap for quality and over-all useful life as people think that vehicles built in American are built with low quality parts because of lethargic workers. However, this is simply not the case and there are some companies that stand out above the rest when it comes to American quality cars. Many citizens are searching for ways to find used autos for $2000 or less because this is the only amount that they can afford for a vehicle. Also, there are so many people that are becoming sick of making expensive car payments and are tired of not actually “owning” the vehicle.

Many people believe that they cannot purchase a used automobile for $2000 or less and think that the vehicles associated in this category are all junked cars. However, this is not the case because there are thousands of cars for sale around this price range. For example, if you were to search the classifieds, you may notice that there are many used Hondas and Toyota for sale for around 2000. Typically, these vehicles have a lot of mileage and are older in age. This should not deter you from buying these cars because these cars have many years of life to them, and for 2000 dollars, these types of cars are quite a steal. Another determining factor before purchasing is to determine how much repair work needs to be performed on the vehicle. If the costs of the repairs are worth more than the car, then don’t buy the car. Repairs can also be a negotiating factor and can considerably reduce the amount of the car’s sale value.

A recent article from the St. Petersburg (FL) Times newspaper asked readers for their ideas on “How Would You Fix the Economy?” Here is one response.

“Dear Mr. President,

“Patriotic Retirement: There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million dollars each Severance Pay with these stipulations:

“1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings – Unemployment fixed.

“2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered – Auto Industry fixed.

“3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis fixed.”

Sometimes the common folk cut through all of red tape, regulations, control freaks and simply give a clear, concise answer to a situation others want to make complicated so they can expand their own power base, influence and micro-managed control over the people they supposedly represent.

Having said that, the cost of this proposal would be $40 trillion. Even President Obama might think twice about that level of handout money at the taxpayers’ expense. However, the basic idea has merit.

If the buyout was cut to $250,000, I bet there would be takers because they could open their own small business after quitting their job. In essence, many retirees with $250,000 could quit their job, buy a new car, pay off their mortgage or buy a new house. Everyone does not live in a million dollar home, or has an underlying principal balance in excess of $150,000.

At $250,000, the cost would drop to $10 trillion, about what will be spent to fix the economy Obama style. The chief difference would be that the recipients of the legislative-approved money would not have it to line their own pockets at our expense.

If you think the money President Obama is asking for is outrageous, just wait a few years until the evidence comes out about how much of the money was mis-appropriated illegally for ill-gotten gains by politicians and government officials operating under the guise of taxpayer interests. Greed and materialism drive our economy. Billions, not millions, of this handout money will come up unaccounted for and mis-appropriated. You read it here first. Remember what I said because it will happen.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley