Archive for May, 2010

Hemmings Classic Car Magazine

The “Big Three”, Chrysler, General Motors and Ford Motor Company, have been on capital hill begging for some of the bailout money that was set aside about three months ago now. How ironic is it that everyone is so eager or willing to bail out banks that have horrible business models, have made terrible mistakes, refuse to make wholesale changes, and yet people seem so reluctant to help the manufacturing backbone of this country and perhaps the world? Oh but I digress… So regardless of how we got here, or what is being done to fix things, this is actually a phenomenal time for an individual that may be in the market to purchase a new or pre-owned vehicle.

Obviously, manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, have large surpluses that they are trying to reduce. So rebates and incentives are quite large right now. Additionally but unfortunately, because of the economy, more and more individuals are forced to have their car repossessed. This creates a surplus of vehicles at wholesale auctions. This is where you get to take advantage of surpluses that drive prices down and give you a tremendous value on that next vehicle you are looking for.

Increasingly, sites similar to Seize Cars.com are becoming popular places for car shoppers who are doing more and more of their car shopping online. Sites like these are giving you a fabulous opportunity to purchase a previously owned vehicle at a tremendous price. But buyers beware, not all sites are created equal. Obviously there are bound to be more and more of these types of sites popping up everywhere, so do your homework. Reputable sites like Seize Cars.com are definitely changing the ways people buy cars. If not permanently, that at least in the near term.

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Restoring a classic car back into its elegant shape is just the beginning of your hard work. In order to retain the value of the car and to keep it in proper shape, you need to engage in maintenance work.

Maintenance is the part that’s most often overlooked by classic car owners. Some may think that cleaning and detailing a car is as simple as washing it and waxing away. The truth is, improper practices might lead to a degradation of your car. In order to avoid that, just read and keep in mind this very simple guide to maintaining your classic.

1. Do keep a schedule for maintenance work. You don’t need to do it everyday, since it might take up a lot of time. Once a week will be fine for light maintenance like surface-cleaning the exterior, and twice or once a month for vacuuming, applying wax, polishing, and cleaning your engine.

2. Do wash your car first. If you apply polishers or wax on a dusted car, there’s a good chance that you’ll ruin the paint. Use great cleaning products that wash and catch dirt and dust, while still being pH-balanced.

3. Don’t air-dry the classic car. If you air-dry the car, you will find yourself in a bigger mess than what you possibly have started with. Water-spots will form. Use cotton detailing cloths and wipe off the excess water. These cloths are non-abrasive, and could soak up water real good.

4. Don’t use silicone-based protectants when cleaning the rubber and vinyl of the interior. Silicone-based protectants leave oily residues which serves as a magnet to dust. Use water-based protectants instead.

5. Do clean every inch of your interior, even the vents. Use a small brush specialized for cleaning the small parts of the car. Any other brush will just leave hairs behind, and could probably clog up a vent. And don’t forget the floor mats–shake them off and vacuum-clean them.

6. Don’t use polishers unless the paint won’t shine even with all the cleaning. Polishers work by ‘scraping’ off the surface paint, thus revealing a new layer. If you use it too often, the paint will thin down too much.

7. Do wax the car, especially after polishing. Wax protects your classic car’s paint. What would be better is if you apply a paint sealant first, and apply car wax after. This will protect your car for a good two months at the least, and if your sealant is a good one, maybe even up to six months. (But of course, you still need to clean your car.)

8. Do clean your engine. Degrease the engine first with a good engine degreaser, and wash it using a specialized engine brush and cleaning formulations. Dry your engine afterwards, and apply wax and protectants.

9. Do clean the glass last. This is to avoid re-contaminating it when cleaning the other parts of the classic car. Look for cleaners which are free from ammonia. Household glass cleaners are a big no-no. They contain ammonia, which dries out leather, plastic, and vinyl. Not too good for the other parts of your car, or the glass itself especially if it’s tinted.

10. Don’t clean your car while it’s still hot. Make sure that the engine is cool, and the paint has not been exposed in the sun for too long. Cleaning a hot car will only be more damaging.

11. And finally, do use a properly fitted car cover to protect it from weather effects and dust. An enclosed garage is not enough. Car covers will make your paint last longer, as well as keep dust and bugs away. It will save you much time, as you won’t need to clean your car as frequently.

Maintenance is a lot of hard work, but it really pays off. Follow these simple maintenance tips for your classic car, and you will surely have a dazzlin’ and shinin’ ride.

The Cars – Dangerous Type

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Classic Trucks in the movies and starring in TV Commercials!

Owners of old trucks would never deny permission for somebody to take a picture of their vehicle. Do you want to take a picture of my truck? Go ahead. Next time don’t even ask!

Let’s suppose somebody came up to you and asked for permission to take a picture of your classic truck to publish in a magazine or a website. Would you refuse? Of course not. You’re proud of your truck and you want the whole world to see it.

But there are people who don’t want to have their classic trucks photographed or filmed. They spend a lot of time fixing their trucks, they go to car shows to show off what they have and yet they refuse to have their trucks filmed or photographed. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not very smart either. Maybe they don’t need the money…

Now let’s suppose you had a chance of having your truck filmed for a TV commercial or, better yet, for a movie! How great would that be? Let’s also suppose that some TV producer decided to create a new series based on the 1940′s, 1950′s or 1960′s. Wouldn’t he(she) need a lot of cars from those eras? And if the series became a hit the vehicles would be used again and again.

Yeah. It it possible and it’s not even too hard. You just have to promote your vehicle in the right places. There are companies out there looking for vehicles exactly like yours. Many companies in fact. They look for classic trucks for sale and they buy them. They look for classic cars of all types and they pay rent to the car owners in order to film the cars. There are companies that go after owners of classic cars, old trucks and hot rods in order to list these vehicles in large databases. Advertising agencies put ads in the papers when they need an old car or pickup truck for a TV commercial. Keep your eyes open because your big chance may come from that direction.

If you have a good set of pictures of your little jewel you’re one step closer to fame and fortune. Well, may be not fortune but fame is possible…

A movie production company may need classic trucks just like yours. They might need your truck to spend, say, three days in Hollywood and a week on location in New York. They would make the arrangements to have the vehicle transported to both places and might even be willing to pay for your expenses to go along. You would see how a movie is made and you could even end up meeting a couple of famous movie stars just because you own an antique truck.

The producer of a movie or a TV commercial may be looking for a beautifully restored old car, one that looks like it came out of the showroom a couple of days ago. But directors want their films to look real. Therefore they may need a regular classic vehicle, one that shows it’s been used. And they might even need a real wreck, a rust bucket so to speak. Your chances are real, no matter what condition your truck is in. Don’t be ashamed of it. Go ahead and try.

And how does this thing work? First you have to find an agent, a company that has the contacts and knows where to go with your truck pictures. Get listed on their databases and be patient. You might get a call the following morning but it could also take a couple of years.

Here are a few suggestions of sites you can visit to learn more about this:

MovieVehicles.com

OldCarLocator.com

Cornwell & Sheridan Motor Cars

TVParty.com

Classic-Chassis.com

If you’re really committed to the idea of having your vehicle on a movie or a TV commercial you may do what actors do. Have a professional photographer take a series of shots of the vehicle and send them to advertising agencies or talent agencies. Or have a nice video produced, send it to talent agencies and upload it to YouTube, Google Video, Yahoo Video and so on. Even wedding planners may be interested in your old truck or classic car. Promote it well and one day you’ll get your big break.

And here’s another very important thing to keep in mind: don’t hide your prized possession in your garage. Take it to shows, go to swap meets and take your chances at show prizes. You may win a simple trophy and you may also get some prize money. But you’ll have to make sure your truck is in show condition before you do that. Nobody will allow you enter your classic car or old truck in a car show if the car or truck is not worth showing. Movies and TV commercials might look for regular old trucks or classic cars, but car shows don’t. Car shows want the cream of the crop, so to speak.

All of this is true all over the world. Movies are made everywhere these days and so are TV commercials. Classic car and old truck shows are common in almost every country and you can take advantage of that to make money with your truck or classic car.

Money? With old trucks and classic cars? Yep. It’s possible mainly because nobody is making trucks like yours anymore.

Q. What does “car type” or similar mean?
A.  Car rental companies can never guarantee a specific model or car. When renting a car, companies will give you an idea of what you can expect – you may get the car type that was advertised or you may get one similar in size or model.

Q. How old are rental cars?
A. Depends on the car rental company. Larger suppliers like Hertz and Avis carry cars on their fleet that are about 3-4 months old. Smaller companies can carry cars up to 4 years old.

Q. Can baby seats be requested?
A. Yes, the majority of car rental companies do carry baby or booster seats and can be requested before collection.

Q. What happens if my rental car breaks down?
A. Most car rental companies should include 24 hour roadside assistance in the rental rate. If you do break down, help is only a phone call away.

Q. Can I pick up a rental car in one city and drop it off in another?
A. This is known as a one way rental. It depends on the supplier and the country – sometimes a fee will apply. Ask when booking!

Q. Can cars be driven into countries other than the country the vehicle is collected in?
A. In most cases, yes but conditions and restrictions do apply. In Europe, there are restrictions about travelling into Eastern Europe and some vehicles cannot be driven in Italy. In the USA, cars cannot be driven into Mexico. Always check at the time of booking.

Q. Are there age restrictions on drivers?
A. Yes. Maximum and minimum ages vary depending on suppliers and car type. Additional fees may also apply for younger or older drivers.

Q. Can anyone drive the rental car?
A. Additional drivers must be added to the rental contract before collection. There may be a fee for additional drivers.

Q. Can my prepaid rental be extended after the vehicle is collected?
A. Yes. In most cases, the renter pays the supplier directly for any extensions. However, this is at the local rate which is often higher than the pre-paid rate.

Q. What do I do if I return the vehicle early?

A. This is possible, however no refund of unused rental days is allowed by the car rental companies.

Check out ‘Toyota Landcruiser’ in this edition of ‘Times Drive’.

You know that you need automobile insurance, but what do you do when your teen has just started driving? How do you know if your car is protected from accidental damage? What if you want other insurance options from the company that you already trust? Here are a few things that you’ll want to look for when you want the best automobile insurance.

Additional features other than basic insurance may seem like a way to spend more money on a policy every month, but this can actually save you money in the long run. Many insurance companies, such as All State and State Farm, offer different types of insurance for families across the country, and this is definitely a plus if you don’t receive insurance from your job.

You can take advantage of limited health insurance and life insurance when you purchase automobile insurance from these companies, so you can take care of more than car insurance with just one payment. This will also help you to cut down on the premium cost that you will have to pay with your insurance, so you won’t have to pay two or three premiums from different companies.

Vehicle insurance for teens and new drivers is also a feature you’ll want to look into if you’re looking for a car insurance quote for the whole family. Insurance for teens usually includes liability features, so that your teen is covered if he or she is in an automobile accident where the fault lies with the other driver.

Even if your son or daughter is at fault for the accident, there are insurance that will cover the cost of damages. Driving classes, safety features, and low premiums are also things you’ll be looking at when it comes to teaching your child to drive, so automobile insurance from Progressive may be the best choice for new drivers.

If you’re a homeowner, you’ll want to look at companies like AIG or GMAC for your motor vehicle insurance. You’ll receive discounts on all the types of insurance that you’ll need, and you may even be able to take advantage of payment plans that are designed just for you.

Travel insurance is also available through these companies, so you can enjoy your vacation, even if you don’t take your automobile with you. Defensive driving courses are also covered by insurance through these companies, so be sure to talk to an agent about these features before deciding on your policy.

Auto insurance offers something for everyone, and you can check out these companies online before making a final decision on your policy purchase.

Malta is full of Classic Cars, here is just a handful…

When you are looking to buy a car with bad or poor credit it doesn’t leave buyers with lots of options. Occasionally their only choice for finding a lender for their new car purchase is through a car dealer loan.

Car dealership loan deals are not as bad as a lot of people may think. However, it is certainly true that they may hide a lot of surprises so if you are in fact planning to use a Car Credit Loan you should be extra vigilant.

The first thing that you need to watch out for is if the interest rate happens to be fixed. By fixed I mean that it’s clearly stated in your contract and that all of it is written in a way that it wouldn’t allow the car dealership to change it at a later date. What lots of car dealerships tend to do is approve your car loan application, have you sign the documents, and hand you over the car. After that later on they just give you a phone call and state that in fact you do not qualify for the loan because you have poor credit (which is something you already knew to begin with) and that you must pay higher interest rates in order to keep the car. If you fall into this situation you should try to either find a loan from another lender or report the scam and fight back.

Another extremely popular scam done by car dealers is to make you look for a cosigner for your loan convincing you that this is the absolutely only way that you can get financing since you have a terrible credit history. It won’t be difficult to convince you at all. First of all it sounds pretty reasonable and second of all the car dealer will cause you to believe that this will in fact repair your poor credit profile. Later on you will discover that your name isn’t including in the loan documents and that the loan is in the name of the cosigner only even though you are paying it . Not only is this illegal but it also may lead to serious penalties but it’s not helping your poor credit at all. If a dealerhship offers such a thing you absolutely must refuse.

If you’re a poor credit consumer and have difficulties in finding a good loan, it’s pretty obvious that you shouldn’t overstretch yourself. What this mean is to buy a reasonably priced vehicle and not to buy into all of the extras like the extended warranties for example. However, many different Bad Credit Auto Loan will end up trying to trick you by making you believe that you must buy a warranty that will increase your loan just to qualify. Since you are in a desperate situation you would end up saying Ok. However, if you for one second think about it, you can plain as day see this is simply a trick to increase your loan costs.

Times Drive’s Kailash Menon gives tips on what all one needs to check before buying a used Maruti Suzuki Wagon R.

To know who invented the first car you must first define what car is. Some said steam-powered coaches are cars and people like Daimler-Benz (who started Mercedes Benz) say that cars are light carriages for personal transport with three or four wheels, powered by a liquid-fueled internal combustion engine. As you see the definition of a car can be different, and therefore the automobile could have been invented by any number of people at different times in history.

The first written record of a self-propelled vehicle was Leonardo da Vincis. He toyed with the idea in the 15th century. He even designed and drew several different so called car models in his notes. for more detials:-www.buy-a-car-with-no-credit.com.Sadly Leonardo did never came to building anything. The steam engine was considered to be invented by James Watt in 1765 and was perfected by both English and French scientists over the next century.

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, William Murdoch and Richard Trevithick all came up with steam-powered beasts that were so huge and heavy that they need a fully flat surface to move on. In fact, iron rails were installed on roads in Paris and London for the next 120 years so these cars could move on them. They were basically a smaller versions of trains.

During the Steam Era you could find all sorts of funny car inventions. In the United States, Oliver Evans invented an amphibious vehicle that can travel on wheels and on water with the help of a paddle wheel. Ivan Kulibin of Russia designed a car with modern day features such as flywheels, brakes and a gear box. Oddly enough, it was it was human-pedalled. Etience Lenoir invented something he called a hippomobile that proved to the masses that automobiles can handle long trips. He drove all the way from Paris to Jonville Le-Pont.

One of the first to mass-produce cars was Karl Benz. His cars appealed to many due to being able to move at 45 km/h (28.2 mph). In France, Panhard et Levassan was the first ever company to be formed exclusively for the sole purpose of making cars. The Duryea brothers (Frank and Charles) were the first automobile manufacturers in the United States, and they were swiftly followed by Ford and Winton.

A special mention goes of course to Henry Ford. Contrary to popular belief, he didn\’t actually built cars. Well, his company did, but what he personally invented and perfected was the manufacturing line in car building. He used one worker for one task and had an ingenious system of dropping the car\’s body on its wheels. He also added modern features such as the car radio after getting the idea from private jets.

There were different eras to the automobile\’s history. And each brought different improvements to the car. In the Vintage Era, internal combustion engines and the overhead cam engines were modified. for visit detials:-www.divorce-rebuild-your-life.com.
A prime example of this is the Austin 7. During the Pre-War Era, fully-closed models were produced for the first time and trunks were added. The Post War Era gave birth to cars which have more resemblance to modern automobiles. Arty and sleek cars, like the Mini Cooper, have left a memorable imprint on automobile history.

Whether you\’re driving a luxury car, a sedan or a piece of junk that can hardly be called a car, it\’s a nice feeling to know how far the car has evolved from being steam-powered coaches to modern practical vehicles.

Owning a classic car is a dream for many people.  It can however be a costly and time consuming hobby.  Classic car ownership has many subtle differences to owning a regular vehicle and so potential buyers should take their time before making their purchase.

Where to Buy

Just as with buying an everyday vehicle buyers of classics have many options in where to look for their new car.  Places to look include classic car magazines, newspapers and the internet.  There is certainly no shortage of classic cars for sale.  A popular place to purchase a classic car is at a specialist auction.  By taking their time and attending a number of auctions it is possible for classic car enthusiasts to uncover an absolute bargain.

Wherever the vehicle is being bought there are a number of things the buyer can do to ensure that they are getting a good deal.  Before making the purchase a close inspection of the vehicle should be carried out.  The outward appearance of the car should reflect its mileage.  A common check is to compare the mileage shown on the odometer with the condition of the rubber cover of the brake pedal and see if they tally.  

Insurance

To be eligible for classic car insurance the car must be at least 15 years old.  Insuring a classic car differs from insuring a regular vehicle.  In normal vehicle insurance the amount to be paid out in the event of a total loss will be equal to the value of the car at the time that the claim is made.  In other words the payout is equal to the depreciated value of the car.

For classic car insurance the process is different.  The amount paid in the event of a claim is pre-arranged at the time the insurance policy is taken out.  When taking out the insurance policy the owner first needs to get the car appraised.  This appraisal will set the value of the vehicle and this amount will not change no matter when the claim is made.  

Transporting

Many classic cars are simply too valuable to be driven, certainly not over a long distance, and so if the car needs to be moved an alternative method must be found.  There are several companies in the UK who specialise in the transportation of classic cars.  Transporting classic vehicles is usually done using covered transporter trailers. 

The use of a covered trailer is a sensible choice for classic vehicle owners.  By keeping the car covered it is protected against the weather and accidental damage.  It is also kept away from the eyes of thieves.  Drivers of these types of trailers have specialist experience in transporting prestige vehicles and so owners can be sure that there car is in safe hands.

Take it from me, and automotive industry insider, you don’t have to pay those high dollar retail prices anymore. I will unveil industry secrets that will save you a ton of money on your next car purchase.

Here are some sure fire ways to save you money on your next car purchase:

Before shopping for a car, think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget Learn about car models, options, and prices by reading newspaper ads, both display and classified If you finance the cost of the car, consider how much you can put down, your monthly payment, the length of the loan, and the annual percentage rate. Make sure you understand all aspects of the loan agreement before you sign any documents, including the exact price; the amount you’re financing; the finance charge; and the total sales price The Federal Trade Commission requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale. Private sellers don’t have to use the Buyers Guide. The Guide tells you: whether the vehicle is sold “as is” or with a warranty; percentage of the repair costs a dealer will pay under the warranty; that spoken promises are difficult to enforce; to get all promises in writing; to keep the Buyers Guide for reference after the sale; the major mechanical and electrical systems on the car, including some of the major problems you should look out for; and to ask to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before you buy Examine the car using an inspection checklist. You can find these on Internet sites that deal with used cars Test drive the car under varied road conditions-on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic Ask for the car ‘s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop Hire a mechanic to inspect the car for mechanical soundness as well as safety Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car’s history

Times Drive team test-drives Honda’s first hatchback version, the ‘Jazz’ in this edition of ‘Times Drive’.

How Its Made – Automobile Oil Filters