LA Auto Show 2011

[LongRanger]

. . . Raptor.

This chassis looks pretty impressive . . . beefy, boxed, gusseted, braced-up --- super double extra heavy-duty everything. Big a$$ motor, too.

'Course, it would be even more impressive if Ford could take some weight out of all this. I'd start by taking 4 feet out of the frame rails, then stick a GRP body on --- ditch the radio, A/C . . . hell --- pass seat, side-glass . . . bed. (How 'bout a platform w/tie-downs and a spare? You really gonna stick something in back, Kee-Mo-Sahbee? C'mon.)

Knock off, say, 1500 lbs? . . . at'll get some air. I'd call it a Kangaroo.

Super-charger, anyone?

Boing

[LongRanger]

Heard a Voice on the Mike trying to spin-up the audience, followed by some roaring motor noise . . . thought it was some movie/video or driving simulator or something.

Nope.

Somebody actually fired this thing up --- right there in the hall. And not delicately.

OK --- on a good day, a Mustang is a pig-boat, an over-sized/over-fed caricature of itself with styling cues that basically pick-up where Ford left-off 4 decades ago. (!) I'm not sure what Shelby brings to the party any more, but . . . .

. . . . this was the only live/running rig there at The Show . . . and it was shreading rubber --- right there, fresh . . . and in front of the audience.

So hat's off to you, you crazy Ford Guys, you . . . . bravo!

Rick

[LongRanger]

Love the mixed themes.

Wood . . .

. . . applique.

Circuitry pattern?

On a sh!tty little car.

Wow . . . I'm . . . . . depressed . . .

Maybe I'll just trundle back over to the Ford stand . . . . sniff some fresh-roasted radials.

[LongRanger]

~$18k for this Abarth.

'Course . . . . if Chumlee here is typical of their demographic . . . then I'd be worried if I was Fiat.

'More Car Show Girls, please . . . .'

[Bill Simmeth]

More Car Show Girls, please . . . .

Thank you! You made my lunch break.

Did she actually have a speaking role?

[LongRanger]

. . . Did she actually have a speaking role? . . .

Bill --- she was just the nicest person . . . smiling, talking easily with people, answering questions, posing for pictures . . . perfect company.

I'm not intimidated by women in general, but seeing some one attractive like this --- set up in front of a bunch o' Car Show Dogs --- always makes me . . . . shy. Can you imagine sending-off your Wife/Girlfriend/Daughter to do a day of this? I can't. And where do you find people like this? . . . she was just as sweet and gracious and good-humored as can be.

And I think she was even having fun, too. I was. You just can't pay people enough to do this stuff.

Don't usually take Girlie pics, either, but this Lady just brightened my mood . . . kinda made the show for me.

Rick

[LongRanger]

. . . with what looks like new trim around some of the vent/nostrils, butt-flaps . . . in a shy shade of Cage-fighter Blue

I see very few of these running around --- even out here in Car-stupid California.

Recession, maybe?

Price?

Or is there a New Flavor already? (It's not hybrids or SMART cars, is it? . . .)

[Macroni]

Chumlee...... that is rich........

[LongRanger]

Shows you where the excitement at Honda can be found --- NOT in the street cars.

Need to ask that nice Fiat Car Show Girl to come over . . . sit on this bike . . . get in that racer . . .



I know, I know . . . but this place was D-E-A-D . . . may as well go to a d@mn car lot.

Where are those Crazy Ford Guys? . . . .

[Reza]

apparently the new model honda civics have lost the story. maybe the made in bangkok, made in china cars and cheaper designs and materials are taking over the world. So something mass market and high volume like the civic, have been pushed down to the lowerestest common denominators. hard plastics in the interior and so on.