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2009 Dodge Nitro luxury car photo

The 1946 Dodge Power Wagon

Starting all the way back in 1934, Dodge built a truck for the US Army that featured the first ever drive train that could be easily shifted from two wheel drive to four wheel, and back again, from within the cab of the truck. At the end of World War II the company saw the opportunity to take a civilian version of their popular military trucks to market.

The Power Wagon was one of the first two production four wheel drive vehicles available to the general public when it hit showrooms in 1946. While Willy's Jeep offered the other option this famous Dodge is considered the first true four wheel drive truck on the market. Up until this point the only production 4x4's were in the mid and heavy weight segments and used for commercial or military purposes. In the 1930's there was an option for private citizens to have their two wheel drive trucks converted to four wheel through various kits and companies however this was not a widespread practice.

The initial Power Wagon model offered to market by the boys at Dodge sported a 230ci flat head six putting out 94 horses, a two speed transfer case (instead of the one speed military version) and a four speed tranny. This first model was rated as a one ton and had a PTO for running add-on equipment and attachments from the front or rear of the vehicle. The model number on this truck was WDX and used a interior trim package and cab that were almost untouched from 1939.

With all the soldiers returning from World War II, it was a popular and profitable model introduction for the car maker. Rather than go through the expensive process of designing a whole new vehicle the company took what they already had and just tweaked it a bit for civilian use. The name for the new vehicle is actually an old one. As new forms of locomotion besides the horse were introduced a wagon that was powered by a motor was called a "power wagon."

The Power Wagon was advertised and marketed as a working truck above all else. This was a truck made to pull and carry loads and to provide power to out of the way places accessed with it's 4x4 drive system. With its rugged construction, PTO and 4x4 capabilities this machine could be used in place of a tractor on the farm and was advertised as such by Dodge in their marketing material. With the introduction in 1949 of a hydraulic kit that was operable from within the cab there was a flood of attachments and add-ons that hit the market. The options were many including several different types of plows, saws, loader scoops, diggers, augers, graders and even a street sweeper.

While the Jeep brand seems to have cornered the American market on all things four wheel drive it was Dodge who invented a practical four wheel drive system all the way back in the 1930's. The Power Wagon was produced in it's initial form from 1946 through 1968 when new safety requirements finally put this famous truck out of production.

Will gets a kick out of old Dodge models of all kinds. Be sure to check out DodgeRestoration.com to see photos and find more information. Thanks!

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The New Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT

Its look is, as you might imagine with any convertible, sexy. In my opinion, the Spyder GT from Mitsubishi is hotter and more fun to drive than any of the other convertibles on the market. They amped up the look with a distinctive sleek design, even with the roof retracted.

The front bucket seats fit an average size person comfortably and even have room to spare for above average. The seats have adjustable lumbar support and the steering wheel has a touch height adjustable model with audio controls. Being a convertible, the rear bench seat is typically small. Like most convertibles, they have very little leg room and comfort is not easily found. The back bench is best for short drives with smaller people. Take it from me, and my contorted passengers.

The roof, ah what can't I say about the rag top? It's powered by hydraulics that stows or erects in about 20 seconds. You will have to clasp the windshield frame yourself, as well as push a button. Personally I prefer the hands on approach; it's quick and easy, and gives you the sense of a secure connection because of the hands-on touch. A hard panel helps to hide that "bloated" look in the rear, when the roof is stowed. This gives it a clean line, and a great profile. When the roof is in use, it looks stunning. The material is a dyed acrylic cloth which is a big step up from the vinyl on some cars of the same price point. The headliner is cotton, with a natural rubber layer between it and the acrylic. On older convertible cars, the rubber, called 'butyl', was cheap and its rubber led to a ballooning or bubbling look to the convertible roof. The natural rubber, on the Spyder holds its shape and resists stretching or shrinking even during the most extreme weather.

With this great top and quiet motoring (even on concrete freeways), I found the car was relatively draft-free. The door seals are similar to more-expensive cars, adopting a short stroke mechanism. This is great for wind noise reduction, and improves the atmospheric sealing leading to better heater and air-conditioning containment.

Driving is very smooth and tight. With its short wheelbase and low curb weight, you would expect the convertible to be agile, and it was. It was surprising to find that there was a high level of neutral handling and accurate steering too. The suspension was great, smooth with great cornering.

It has a 5 speed manual transmission, which helps it get 0-60 in less than 7 seconds. It's not the fastest sporty convertible, but it is good competition to the other v4 or v6 front wheel drives in its class and price point.

Mitsubishi also retuned the exhaust system for a quieter rumble. It lost 3 horsepower because of this, but I don't personally feel the difference. It still sounds and drives sexy so don't worry.

A warning though, the v-6 is so strong at low to medium revs, it looses some grip. I suggest leaving the traction control on.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT is a great convertible for the cost. Yes it is a high value index; it is a convertible after all. At a base value of $25,942, and a premium model being $2650 more, the Eclipse Spyder GT, is a great purchase.

About the Author

The author would like to thank Tom Harris Auto Group for allowing us to test drive the Mitsubishi Spyder from their Nanaimo BC Car Dealer Harris Mitsubishi. As well as Tom Harris Cellular for the use of a Smart Phone while visiting Vancouver Island BC.

The Ford Kuga

The general opinion amongst the green set is that 4X4s are vast, smelly, CO2 burping monstrosities that are single-handedly destroying our planet and everything we hold dear. Of course that opinion is slightly exaggerated, but it has to be said that SUVs, MPVs and all other permutations of the 4X4 aren't exactly doing Mother Nature many favours. What further confounds those against these vehicles is the manner in which they are used. Most 4X4s, though designed for rough terrain, barely see any action beyond the school run and maybe a trip to the supermarket at the weekends. This seems criminal after all the feats of engineering that have been invested into producing a prime, lean, off-roading machine. That is, until Ford unleashed the Kuga.

The Ford Kuga aims to alter these negative perceptions of the 4X4 by offering the consumer something very special indeed; ecologically sound motoring. Yes, you read that correctly, the Ford Kuga is the class leader in CO2 emissions with an almost sweet-smelling 169g/km. Add to this a combined fuel consumption of 44.1mpg and you've found yourself a large vehicle that has a conscience.

So with all this environmental consideration you would probably expect to sacrifice all the performance you would expect from a car of this size. Yet again the Ford Kuga has surprises up its sleeve. The 2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq engine has all the grunt you'll require when on rough terrain, but displays a kind of elegance when used in towns and cities. So whether you are tearing around in the dirt, or cruising to the shops, you'll find the Ford Kuga a complete joy to drive.

Interiors have always been a vehicle attribute that this manufacturer has done well and the Ford Kuga is no exception. Inside the spacious cabin you will find all the gadgets and gizmos that you would expect from Ford including Sat Nav, Bluetooth, rain sensing wipers, blue tinted glass, partial leather trim, cruise control, automatic headlights, rear view camera, dual electronic air temperature control, USB connectivity and DAB radio. With all these and the comfort of the ride, you will find the Ford Kuga a very pleasant place to be.

Where the Ford Kuga stands head and shoulders above the competition is in the looks department. Anyone with even a cursory aesthetically-charged sense in their body will be bowled over by the Kuga. It looks big, very big, but has been designed with all the grace and sophistication you would expect from a small hatchback. To put it bluntly, the fact it looks so elegant may put off some of the hardcore 4X4 owners, but it will definitely win over a whole new audience with its curvy and sporty body.

The main plus point about the Ford Kuga is that it seems to be ushering in a new age of ecological motoring and proving that to care about the environment doesn't necessarily have to be detrimental to performance. If you combine that with the fact that it is one of the best-looking new cars on the road and you can't help but feel that the Kuga will be a success. It should also open the floodgates for other manufacturers to all start thinking ecologically when designing their vehicles.

About the Author

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses The New Ford Kuga

The Best Rolls Royce

Sir Frederick Henry Royce was born in 1863 to James and Mary Royce. He was the youngest of five children. His parents ran a flour mill however their business failed forcing them to move to London. Then in 1872 his father died. After only a year of formal schooling, young Royce had to drop out and start selling newspapers and delivering telegrams.

However in 1878 an aunt provided some financial support and he was able to start an apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway at Peterborough, England. But in three years, he was out of money so he came to London and went to work for the Electric Light and Power Co. He then moved to Liverpool where he worked on street and theatre lights.

Royce was thrifty and saved his money. In 1884 he had saved twenty pounds and his friend, Ernest Claremont, had fifty pounds. They merged their savings and started the F H Royce Co. producing electrical fittings. The company was successful and in 1894 became Royce Ltd.

However the economic slump of 1902 together with competition from foreign manufacturers brought hard times. Royce purchased a second hand Decauville and began to toy with it, working out various modifications and improvements. By 1904 he was testing his own engines.

Then in mid-1904 a mutual friend introduced him to Charles Rolls. Rolls was impressed with Royce's two cylinder Royce 10. So much so, that he signed an agreement to purchase all the cars that Royce could make. They would be marketed as a Rolls Royce. Royce now had the financial backing to build a successful company. The first Rolls Royce was displayed at the Paris Salon in December 1904

The two partners were vastly different in personality and background. Rolls was formally educated in Britain's most prestigious schools whereas Royce was self-taught. Rolls was an adventurer who lived life in the fast lane while Royce was a perfectionist who believed, "Small things make perfection but perfection is no small thing." Rolls came from a wealthy family. Royce had been poor. In spite of their differences, however, the two men got along well and were close friends.

In 1906, Rolls and Royce created Rolls Royce Ltd. and Rolls was employed as Technical Manager at a salary of 750 pounds annually and four percent of all profits in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Rolls soon became bored and exchanged his position as Technical Manager for a non-executive manager so he could pursue his flying interests.

Royce was a workaholic who didn't always eat properly and became ill in 1902 and 1911. He also had major surgery in London. But he did not allow his health to interfere with his work.

The night before he died, he sat up in bed and designed an adjustable shock absorber. His motto was, "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." He was also the originator of the quotation that "The quality remains long after the price is forgotten."

The automobile he created had a "name that is synonymous with engineering excellence, style and luxury." That reputation continues until this day.

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The 1987 Chevrolet Blazer

In 1991, Alex Hardy, 37, was driving his 1987 Chevrolet Blazer through White Hall, Alabama when the Blazer's rear axle broke, freeing the right wheel assembly and sending the vehicle into a roll. When the door flew open, Hardy was thrown 30 to 40 feet through the air and suffered severe injuries that left him permanently paralyzed.

Attorneys representing Hardy filed suit against General Motors. They alleged that the Blazer's faulty door latches contributed to Hardy's injuries, and that GM knowingly sold Blazers with defective door latches that opened in accidents like the one owned by Hardy.

GM denied the allegations, arguing Hardy was to blame because he had been drinking and fell asleep when his Blazer rolled over. Witnesses for GM testified that Hardy flew through a window because he was not wearing a seat belt. GM insisted that their "Type 3" door latch was safe and met all federal safety standards. They further claimed that the rate of side-door ejections from its vehicles involved in fatal accidents was .77 per 100 occupants. Finally, GM experts testified that Hardy's door latch was only slightly damaged, indicating that it had not come open during the accident as he contended.

"Once again, a giant automaker tried to avoid the facts by clouding the issue," noted nationally recognized auto defects attorney, John Bisnar. "Internal GM documents-including a 1982 study estimating such latches could fail some 18,000 times a year-underscored the faulty nature of GM's Type 3 door latch. This latch was installed on some 40 million GM vehicles beginning in 1978. An updated version featuring a support plate was only installed on some 1987 models. Unfortunately, GM opted not to spend the estimated $916 million needed to replace all of the latches. It chose instead to issue a 'quiet recall' where dealers were instructed to replace the latch without telling their customers. Regrettably, there are still some 30 million vehicles on the road that are equipped with these latches."

An Alabama jury awarded $50 million in compensatory damages for Mr. Hardy and his family and $100 million in punitive damages against the automaker for what the jury determined was GM's "guilty knowledge" of the defective latches. This was one of the largest ever verdicts against GM.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation into what GM knew about the apparent defects in the door latches. A former administrator of the Federal agency said it often took aggressive civil litigation like the Hardy case to unearth evidence and documents that were otherwise hidden from Federal regulators.

"This verdict revealed the reprehensible fact that GM had known for at least 14 years that Americans would be injured and killed as a result of its poorly designed door latch, a part that had failed in accident after accident," observed Brian Chase of the nationally recognized auto defects law firm of Bisnar Chase. "Mr. Hardy's action in taking GM to court is an example of our justice system at work. The jury award is America's message to GM-in this case, quite a substantial message-that their failure to act was not acceptable. Hopefully, this lawsuit will help convince the automaker to respond effectively to known safety defects to prevent further injuries to its customers."

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The 1993 Nissan Pathfinder

In 1997, Andrea Alvarez was driving her 1993 Nissan Pathfinder on a highway in Broward County, Florida. When Alvarez inadvertently veered off the road into the center median, she steered to re-enter the roadway, but lost control and rolled over onto the driver's side. During the accident, Alvarez suffered a life altering injury-her left arm was amputated at the elbow.

The Alvarezes filed suit against Nissan, alleging that a design defect caused the Nissan Pathfinder to be unreasonably dangerous and that Nissan's failed in its duty to use reasonable care in the design, manufacture, assembly, distribution, and/or sale of its vehicle. Nissan, it was alleged, was also negligent in that it failed to give proper warnings to car buyers concerning the vehicle's dangerous susceptibility to "rollovers."

The Alvarezes presented expert testimony, including various tests that supported their contention that the Pathfinder was unreasonably dangerous. Nissan countered, presenting its own expert witnesses and evidence that the vehicle did not have a design defect. The automaker insisted that Alvarez caused the accident by incorrectly steering the Pathfinder, saying that no SUV can be designed so that it does not overturn just from steering.

Alvaraz's attorneys insisted that vehicles should and can be designed not to overturn solely based on a driver's steering while on a flat, level, paved roadway. Nissan claimed that the Pathfinder's wheels were off the road when Alvaraz turned over. The plaintiff maintained that she tipped over while on the road and that all four tires were in contact with the road when she turned over.

"Nissan"s own engineers contradicted the automakers assertion," noted nationally recognized auto defects attorney, John Bisnar. "A paper presented at a conference by Japanese Nissan engineers in the 1970s included an experimental safety project that stated the Nissan vehicle 'has over-turning immunity.' The paper proved that Nissan was aware that a vehicle could be designed so it wouldn't roll over based on how it was driven."

Plaintiffs' experts, including an engineer and a test-driver, proved that the 1993 Pathfinder could roll over based on how it was driven. They presented their own rollover tests. Going a step further, they modified the SUV with a wider track and a lowered center of gravity, which during tests, revealed that the SUV did not roll over.

Although the jury found there was no design defect, it did find that Nissan was negligent in its "failure to warn," which does not require a finding of design defect. The trial court agreed with the Alvarezes. In addition, the jury found that Andrea Alvarez was comparatively negligent and assigned her 49 percent fault and Nissan 51% fault. Alvarez was awarded damages of $3,057,000 and her husband was awarded $415,000. The trial court entered a Final Judgment in accordance with the jury verdict.

"How many serious, life-altering injuries must the motoring public endure before a car maker finally decides to adequately warn its publics about the dangers of its SUVs?" exclaimed Brian Chase of the nationally recognized auto defects law firm of Bisnar Chase. "The Alvarezes' action in taking Nissan to court is an example of our justice system at work. The jury's award is America's message to Nissan that their failure to act was not acceptable. Hopefully, this lawsuit will help convince Nissan to properly warn customers about the potential risks in driving rollover-prone SUVs.

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