A video of a Chevrolet pickup truck that appears to be traveling backwards down a road in Massachusetts has been, for obvious reasons, gathering attention. Because it’s not actually driving backwards. And you’re not crazy. But the truck’s owner might be a little — the best kind of crazy, that is. In the video, a man apparently named Ron is seen driving down the Massachusetts roadways in his backward-mounted Chevrolet pickup truck. The video shooter seems to know him and his build, laughing and saying Theres Ron in his backward-facing pickup truck.ViralHog posted the short video clip to YouTube, and according to their description, Ron took four years to complete the build, which involved installing the body onto the truck’s chassis backwards to give the truck the appearance of moving in reverse when driving forward. From the outside when it’s parked, it looks like a normal model of the brand’s former full-size pickup, the C/K 1500. But a peek through the windows informs you that this is not your standard Chevy. The steering wheel and pedals, seats, dash and instrumentation have all been switched around to allow the driver to look out over the box as they drive. And when it turns, which it does toward the end of the video, it does so with its front wheels turning from the middle of the box and the former signal indicators acting as brake lights.Perhaps most impressively, Ron has managed to get the local authorities and insurers onboard. His truck is insured and totally legal. Why did the man build this backwards machine? No idea. Hopefully we hear more from Ron and get to see some other angles of his fascinating
Origin: This man’s backward-facing Chevy truck is actually street-legal
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This Hollywood dog-walker photographs his ‘clients’ with the nicest cars he can find
Brian Bell is just your ordinary, friendly neighbourhood dog-walker. Only in the friendly neighbourhood where he lives, in the hills of Hollywood, California, the cars that populate the roads and parking lots are not-so-average. They’re above-average, actually — often way, way so. That fact – that the areas he regularly steps out into with his four-legged clients are lined with luxury, classic and exotic vehicles – plus his innate car nerd-ery makes his Instagram account, @dogsandcars85, also rather above-average. View this post on Instagram Olivia and Olga with a 69 Coupe DeVille #pug #pugsofinstagram #pugsnotdrugs #dog #dogs #doggo #doge #ladogwalker #dogsofinstagram #dogsofla #losangeles #lalife #1969 #cadillac #coupedeville #deville #cadillaccoupedeville #cadillacdeville #69cadillac #car #cars #carsofinstagram #americancars #classiccadillac #chien #perro #sobaka #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on May 11, 2019 at 11:35am PDT“I just keep my eyes out for cars I think are interesting and shoot it with whatever dog I happen to be walking,” says Brian. “I’ve always been a huge car nerd going back to a being a little kid and just sitting on the side of the street watching the cars drive by. If I ever see a car I can’t immediately identify, I will obsess over it until I figure out what it is.”Brian says his clients include everything from “nurses to porn stars to big-time Hollywood managers to business men and women.” View this post on Instagram Bubba @bubbubbs with a 1936 Ford Tudor Deluxe 5-Window Coupe #pug #pugsofinstagram #pugsnotdrugs #dog #dogs #doggo #doge #ladogwalker #dogsofinstagram #dogsofla #losangeles #lalife #westhollywood #weho #1936 #ford #forddeluxe #fordtudor #1936ford #car #cars #carsofinstagram #americancars #carspotting #classicford #antiquecars #instagood #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on Aug 24, 2019 at 7:48pm PDTAnd when it comes to his clients pets, well, theres the black pug, Bubba, who posed in front of this 1936 Ford.Or, for example, there’s Papi, who is a regular customer and appears to have a thing for the classics. View this post on Instagram Papi with a W123 Mercedes-Benz 300D #argentiniandogo #dogoargentino #dogoargentinosofinstagram #dog #doggo #doge #ladogwalker #dogsofla #dogsofinstagram #losangeles #lalife #laurelcanyon #mercedes #300d #w123 #mercedesbenz300d #car #cars #carsofinstagram #germancars #carspotting #classicmercedes #instagood #picoftheday #nofilter #photooftheday #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on Aug 7, 2019 at 12:52pm PDTSometimes the dogs don’t seem as excited about the experience as Brian is. Like Riley, who was caught mid-yawn in front of a Nissan GT-R. View this post on Instagram Rylie with a Nissan GT-R #yellowlab #labrador #yellowlabsofinstagram #labradorsofinstagram #dog #dogs #doggo #doge #ladogwalker #dogsofla #dogsofinstagram #ladogwalker #losangeles #lalife #weho #westhollywood #nissan #gtr #nissangtr #r35gtr #car #cars #carsofinstagram #japanesecars #carspotting #supercarpups #chien #perro #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on Aug 1, 2019 at 6:29pm PDTAnd other times they look even more stoked on the find. View this post on Instagram Lacey with a VW Beetle cabriolet #mutt #mixedbreed #muttsofinstagram #mixedbreedsofinstagram #dog #dogs #doggo #doge #ladogwalker #dogsofla #dogsofinstagram #losangeles #lalife #westhollywood #weho #vw #volkswagen #vwbeetle #volkswagenbeetle #car #beetle #cars #carsofinstagram #germancars #carspotting #classicvw #classicbeetle #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on Jun 29, 2019 at 4:14pm PDTAnyway, if you live in the Hollywood area, have a dog and like cars (or have a dog that likes cars), you should probably hire Brian. At the very least you’ll get photo evidence that your dog is actually getting ample exercise. View this post on Instagram Caesar inside a Volkswagen Jetta #mastiff #englishmastiff #mastiffsofinstagram #englishmastiffsofinstagram #dog #doggo #doge #dogs #ladogwalker #volkswagen #vw #jetta #vwjetta #volkswagenjetta #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #nofilter #shotoniphone #carsanddogs #dogsandcars A post shared by Brian Bell (@dogsandcars85) on Aug 16, 2019 at 2:23pm
Origin: This Hollywood dog-walker photographs his ‘clients’ with the nicest cars he can find
Trump rejects new tariffs on Japan auto imports ‘at this moment’
US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he departs the White House, in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2019. (Jim Watson / Getty Images President Donald Trump says he is not at this moment considering fresh tariffs on imported autos and parts from Japan that he has threatened, citing an agreement in principle with Japan on trade announced over the weekend.Its one of the reasons we made the deal, Trump said in a press conference at the conclusion of the G-7 summit in France.Its something I could do at a later date if I wanted to but were not looking at that. We just want to be treated fairly.The threat of steep new U.S tariffs on imported automobiles and components has loomed over the auto industry and major U.S. trading partners since the the U.S. Commerce Department in February found those imports could impair national security.Trump backed that finding in May, but delayed imposing new levies on the sector through at least mid-November to allow U.S. negotiators to pursue trade deals with Japan and the European Union.Trump had earlier said there would be no change to U.S. tariffs on Japanese autos after he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced an agreement-in-principle over the weekend. During the press conference Monday, Trump also said the U.S. is very close to reaching a trade pact with the European Union, citing the specter of additional levies of up to 25 per cent on imported autos as a reason why.We made a great deal with Japan and were very close to maybe making a deal with the EU, because they dont want tariffs, its very simple. They dont want to tax cars, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Trump said. I think were going to make a deal with the EU without having to go that route. I may have to go that route but maybe
Origin: Trump rejects new tariffs on Japan auto imports ‘at this moment’
Big city and small town shows across B.C. this weekend
Two of the spectacular classics that will be at the Crescent Beach Concours dElegance on Aug. 31st: Ethan and Troy Coopers Riley, left, and Gerry Sungs Intermeccanica Italia. Sung is joined by Dave Sanderson.Cam Hutchins Im going to miss some great events this weekend, but that doesnt mean you have to. There are great downtown shows in Ladner and Port Coquitlam, the Early Ford V8 Club sets up at Hougen Park in Abbotsford and the annual BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show Shine takes place tomorrow at the Twilight Drive-In in Aldergrove.Of course, its not like Im going to be car-starved as Im in covering Car Week in Carmel, California for the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada. That includes attending the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, the Concorso Italiano, and the historic racing at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The annual BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show Shine takes place tomorrow at theTwilight Drive Inn in Aldergrove. PNG Files I got a little preview of that kind of racing last weekend during the British Columbia Historic Motor Races at Mission Raceway Park, and it brought back memories of my Westwood days shooting in the rain. Saturday midmorning the skies opened up, and considering the downpour I was impressed that not many cars spun out. Clearly a testament to the mad skills of the drivers in their precious old tin.. One of the older Camaros got into wet part of the drying track coming out of turn one and certainly showed us what racing in the rain is all about. Rain or shine, historic racing is great.My weekend actually started at 7 a.m. on Friday morning with a photo shoot of two cars for the cover of the Crescent Beach Concours dElegance program. This annual fundraising showB.C. Childrens Hospital Foundationtakes place on the Saturday of the Labour Day weekend at Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach.One of the two cars was a Riley, and really the only thing I knew about Rileys is that my dad had a framed print of which I now have. Turns out Riley started as a bicycle manufacturer in the 1890s before building cars and merging with larger companies. In 1952 it became part of British Motor Corporation and was shuttered in the late-Sixties after being reduced to making rebadged Austins.The other car looked familiar and when I asked if it was an Apollo GT convertible, I was told it was an Italia. Both made by Vancouver-based Intermeccanica. The company was the brainchild of Frank Reisner, a Hungarian-born engineer who was living in Canada and moved to Europe to build sports cars in the late-Fifties. After some success and some struggles he eventually moved to Vancouver and produced very high quality Porsche speedsters for decades. Franks son Henry is still making those, along with Solo electric vehicles under the Meccanica banner.Henry has been involved in cars since he was a kid and now he runs the car company, so remember to take a kid with you to a show this weekend.SH0WSAUG. 16Date: Aug 16What: Friday Night Rod RunWhere: Starts at AW Restaurant at Ivy Green Husky, proceeds through downtown Ladysmith and returns to AWWhen: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Info: 250-246-0637, 250-245-2263 or duckwon@shaw.caWebsite: ladysmithshowandshine.comAUG. 17What: BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show ShineWhere: Twilight Drive Inn, 3360 260th St., AldergroveWhen: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Admission: $5; Children under 11 freeRegistration: 8 a.m. $20 and open to all vehicles, including motorcyclesInfo: 604-360-7455 or burnoutsinthesky@gmail.comWebsite: burnoutsinthesky.comWhat: Ladysmith Show ShineWhere: Downtown LadysmithWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Registration: 8 a.m. $15 and open to all vehiclesInfo: 250-246-0637, 250-245 2263 or duckwon@shaw.caWebsite: ladysmithshowandshine.comWhat: Rods Rails Car ShowWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Where: Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Downtown ArmstrongAdmission: FreeRegistration: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Open to all vehiclesInfo: cmelanson@shuswapins.com or 250 838 7707What: Beverly Corners Show ShineWhere: Cobble Hill Country Grocer, 5847 Chesterfield Ave., DuncanWhen: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.Admission: Free (donations accepted)Info: 250-748-1314 or info@beverlycornersshownshine.comAUG. 17-18What: Downtown PoCo Cruise Car ShowWhere: Downtown Port CoquitlamWhen: Saturday cruise starts at 6 p.m. at Leigh Square; Sunday show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Admission: FreeInfo: 604-674-2899 or info@pococarshow.caWebsite: pococarshow.caAUG. 18What: Hougen Park Show ShineWhere: Hougen Park, AbbotsfordWhen: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Admission: FreeRegistration: 9 a.m. $15 and open to all vehiclesInfo: 604-942-5651, questions@earlyfordv8bc.com, oldcars@telus.netWebsite: earlyfordv8bc.comWhat: Vintage in The Valley Vintage Motorcycle ShowWhere: Chilliwack Heritage Park, 44140 Luckakuck Way, ChilliwackWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Admission: Adults $10; Children under 16 freeRegistration: By donationInfo: 778 242 7104 or wallylevy@hotmail.caWebsite: vintagemotorcycleshows.comWhat:
Origin: Big city and small town shows across B.C. this weekend
This speed shop will fit your new Toyota Supra with a manual
2020 Toyota SupraHandout / Toyota Disciples at the Church of Supra cried out in collective anguish when they learned the 2020 version of the Toyota sports car would not be available with a manual transmission.Never mind that most modern boxes can shift gears faster than most humans, it was the loss of driver interaction that was mourned.Toyota knows this and, back at the North American Inernational Auto Show last January, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada told assembled media he was open to the idea of adding a stick (though he’s since gone back against that prospect).One performance outlet in Texas apparently couldnt wait anyway, and decided to engineer its own solution. First reported on at CarBuzz, a Texan outfit called European Auto Group is now taking customer deposits for a 2020 Toyota Supra manual swap.This is the same crew that stuck a gated six-speed manual in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia, so chances are good they know what theyre doing. Theyre also working on a stickshift 458 Italia, by the way.In a Canadian connection, the crew at EAG have tag-teamed with the Canucks at ProTuning Freaks in Ontario for help in offering a power boost in addition to the manual swap. Yes, that ProTuning, the one that works on BMWs. After all, at heart, a Supra shares much with a Z4. According to the report, EAG will source all its parts from BMW, meaning the greasy bits will likely come from Munich. But the madman behind it all says he would enjoy deploying a shift lever like the one found in Toyotas own GR HV Sports Concept, the one shown back in 2017. That would keep its interior appearance all in the family, at least.Cost? Figure on a bill somewhere in the $12,000 range, and to be without your Supra for about a
Origin: This speed shop will fit your new Toyota Supra with a manual
This remote-controlled ‘BTTF’ DeLorean is street-legal in the Netherlands
The classic sci-fi series Back to the Future and its DeLorean time machine have inspired many a replica, including this functional hovercraft funded by Kickstarter. But none are quite like this one built by a Dutch fan and featured in this video by Barcroft Cars. Bjorn Harms is a computer technician who decided his DeLorean replica should operate the same way it did for Doc Brown way back when by remote control.A lot of people tell my Im crazy to build these kind of things, says Harms, who has experience converting cars to remote control, including a Corvette he has since sold.Crazy or not, he was able to make it work. Remarkably so. The massive ’80s-looking remote can control the ignition, steering, apply the cars gas or brake, operate the lights and even shift gears. The latter trick makes for an especially interesting visual effect as the lever moves back and forth seemingly on its own. In order to get the steering to function with the remote, Harms had to swap out the ‘armstrong’ system in the DeLorean for the power steering unit of a Opel Corsa. Harms say the build took him about six months to complete and another three months to make it “more safe and reliable.” How safe is “more safe?” Safe enough for the Dutch authorities, apparently, because the DeLorean is fully licensed to drive on
Origin: This remote-controlled ‘BTTF’ DeLorean is street-legal in the Netherlands
Buy It! Snatch this 1956 Lotus 11 Le Mans and add lightness
In the 1950s, the name of the game was lightness, and there was no company that could do lightness better than Lotus. The 11 in particular was the brands super-light attempt to win Le Mans. Find it here, on Bring a Trailer.Under the exceptionally featherweight hood of the 11 is a 1,460-cc Coventry Climax four-cylinder.It doesnt make a lot of horsepower or torque, but it only weighs 450 kg, which contributed to it reaching 230 km/h at Monza when driven by Stirling Moss.Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Sprite close-ratio four-speed transmission, and a Quaife limited-slip differential. The wheels are 15-inch painted Dayton wire wheels, wrapped in new Dunlop L-series rubber.The body was designed by aerodynamicist Frank Costin; that shell is constructed of 20-gauge aluminum stretched over a tubular space frame.This particular car has already had some success in racing (no surprises there), originally competing at Silverstone in 1956 and 1957 by Club Lotus Team member Tony Ellis. The car was brought to the U.S. in 1986, and it was given a full restoration before the current owner bought it in 2000.Since the millenium, its been raced in 24 events, including the Lotus Eleven 50th Anniversary races at the Monterey Historics and Sebring in 2006, as well as at Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Pittsburgh Vintage GP.The frame has been replaced with a brand-new one, but the original is included with the sale, along with a box of spare
Origin: Buy It! Snatch this 1956 Lotus 11 Le Mans and add lightness
Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
Audi Sport will significantly broaden its line-up in the next year, with a new preview image showing the number of new RS models due to launch before 2019 is out. The darkened shot shows six models set to wear the performance flagship badge. The first two from the left are Audi’s prominent Frankfurt motor show debutants: the new generation RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. We will also see RS versions of the new Q3 and Q3 Sportback, alongside a facelifted version of the RS4 to round out the 2019 A4 range, and a range-topping RS Q8. Stirred into action by the success of performance SUV ranges from rivals BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, newly appointed managing director Oliver Hoffmann previously confirmed that Audi Sport will begin offering range-topping RS versions of nearly every SUV model in the Audi line-up, starting with the heavily anticipated RS Q8. He said: “We have to stretch our portfolio and the SUV segment is the segment with the most growth. There is high demand from our customers for high-performance SUVs. The RS Q8 we will launch this year. There is really, really high demand for this type of car.” The Q3 Sportback, a coupe-styled version of the Q3, will also join the RS6 and RS7 as an RS variant at September’s Frankfurt motor show. Expectations are that it will retain the inline five-cylinder unit of Audi’s smaller RS models, putting out around 400bhp and making the SUV capable of 0-62mph in around four seconds. Hoffmann, who was recently promoted to the position of managing director after a stint as engineering boss following the departure of CEO Michael-Julius Renz, indicates driveline electrification will play a key role in enhancing the performance of Audi Sport’s RS SUV models. “If you have the SUV segment with the higher weight, it’s easier to implement a hybrid drivetrain. It’s easier because of the packaging and the higher weight,” he said in an interview at the recent Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. He added: “For sure, we will increase electric for our RS models in the
Origin: Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
Buy It! This wide-body 1991 Acura NSX packs a hidden surprise
The NSX is Hondas idea of a supercar, but for some, it isnt quite super enough. Lots of NSXes are modified under the hood, but few take liberties with the frankly perfect styling. This wide-body example challenges the norm.The kit youre looking at is one of only two made, with the car wearing the other one remaining in Toyko.The changes wrapped up in it include a roof scoop; vented side skirt extensions; exposed headlights; a rear wing; and four round taillights.If youre worried about hitting the rare kit on speed bumps, the car is also equipped with an air lift system; Zeal coilovers keep it planted when youre far away from traffic-calming devices.The 3.0-litre VTEC V6 has been upgraded with a CT Engineering supercharger, ECU tune, and a new exhaust, as well as a Comptech intake system, all which add up to 351.8 horsepower according to the included dyno sheet. The dyno sheet also shows the engine spins up to almost 8,000 rpm.A five-speed transmission connects the power to the rear wheels, which are Enkei RPF1s. The wheels are a nice fit here, with just the right width, and the car is lowered nicely to fill up the wheel well.While the wide-body kit might be divisive for some, we think it gives off great Midnight Club vibes. Our only complaint may be the colour; a dark shade of red or blue would give this thing more street cred.In 28 years, this NSX has managed to amass only 39,900 miles, with 4,000 of those being the current owners, who has had the car since 2005. Find it on Bring a
Origin: Buy It! This wide-body 1991 Acura NSX packs a hidden surprise
This new tire concept captures electricity as it rolls
Tire company Sumitomo hasn’t reinvented the wheel, quite, but it has come up with a pretty brilliant way for your car’s tires to recuperate a bit of energy as they roll along. Developers at Sumitomo Rubber Industries got a hand from researchers at Kansai University in Osaka, Japan to develop a tire concept that uses a device called an “Energy Harvester” to gather small bits of static electricity (a.k.a. “frictional charging”) generated within the tires. Inside the tire are two layers of rubber with an electrode for each, and a negatively and positively charged film that interfaces the two and rubs together when the tire rolls down the road and repeatedly deforms. Now, these tires aren’t going to add range to the next-gen Tesla or anything, but Sumitomo suggests the Energy Harvester could eventually replace batteries as a power source for small things like tire pressure monitors or “other automotive devices.” The Japan Science and Technology Agency, a national research and development agency, has recently signed on to help support the project, so it may not be too long before they roll out some sort of
Origin: This new tire concept captures electricity as it rolls
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