By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

Imagine you innocently enter a sanctioned burnout contest and end up totalling your third-gen Camaro without ever moving an inch. That’s what happened to this guy, and his car suffered the most extreme damage we’ve ever seen from a tire explosion during a burnout. Usually a tire pops and maybe the tread slaps the sheet metal a little, but this thing plowed through the back of the car like a Sherman tank.

Really, you need to see this. It might open the eyes of some burnout contest promoters as to the dangers of people standing so close to the action.

Thanks to BangShift.com moderator White Monster for the tip!

crazy tire explosion!

By Dan Strohl

Hemmings

Of course I’m going to highlight any 1979 AMC Spirit that comes through the Hemmings.com classifieds, especially a 1979 Spirit sedan such as this one. The sedan was by far less popular than the hatchback, which makes it more unusual today, but it does serve as a very visual link between the Gremlin and the Spirit hatchback, which are almost exactly the same under the skin. This one in particular looks like the one that sold out of the Steve Green collection last year for $9,000. From the seller’s description:

1979 AMC Spirit two door sedan – Only 10,556 miles on most probably the nicest ‘79 Spirit in existence today!! Equipped with the Inline 6 cylinder motor – RARE 4 Speed Manual Transmission – AM/FM Radio – Rear Air Deflector – Luggage Rack – Styled Steel Wheels – Light Khaki in color with matching cloth interior.

See more pics at Hemmings

By Speedhunters

Car Culture At Large

Joey over at The Chronicles found this great video clip of Super GT cars doing some preseason testing at Suzuka Circuit – shot by Car@Nifty.com. Boy do those Honda HSV’s sound wild….

By Mike Garrett

By Michael Berenis

Tampa Sports Car Examiner

Landon Cassill does more than race NASCAR, he builds and sells performance machinery for everyone to enjoy. This creation generates enough power to make any car junkie salivate. Read more about the Camaro at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

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By Fireball Tim

Movie Car Design Master

Headin’ up the 405 freeway yesterday, I came across this Custom Pontiac in the middle of gettin’ some serious mods. Didn’t stick around long enough to see the final adjustments, but I’m sure it will end up at the 2010 Junkyard Show on Pomona.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Today’s photo of the day is from Jeff’s Porsche 356 ride page. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Riviera Blue on a 356. Looks awesome!

Keep those photo of the day PMs and e-mails coming!

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

F20 swap and RWD make this Civic a hoot. One pic of the little Honda after the jump!

F20 swap RWD Honda Civic drifting

Continue reading "RWD Civic FTW" »

By Mike Musto

RideLust.com

1. Ronin: 1998

1994 BMW M5, Mercedes 6.9, Audi S8

These are probably the best car chases to come out of Hollywood in the last 20 years. They’re fast and raw with some killer camera work. Plus the cars they use are stellar choices. I mean really, an Audi S8, BMW M5 and Mercedes Benz 6.9, these are the big guns of the worlds Super-Sedans.

See the rest of the list at Ridelust.com

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

Ford plans to cut 900 jobs from its Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant soon. The cuts come on the heels of a tough sales year for the Mustang, which saw volume drop 27% amid competition from the Camaro and a poor US economy. There are 2,300 employees at the facility.

Most of the employees will be offered jobs at other Ford plants, but that may be small consolation to workers with families or other issues that would make a move all but impossible. The Chicago plant, which produces the Explorer, will be adding 1,200 workers to its operation near the end of 2010, so there are some possibilities for displaced workers there.

Locally, Ford has announced that 1,000 jobs will be created in Michigan to build batteries for upcoming electric cars.

The Camaro has not outsold the Mustang since 1985, but last year, even after a late arrival (in the calendar year) it only missed the Mustang’s sales total by 5,000 units. 2010 is going to be a very interesting year in the on-going pony car war between Ford and Chevy.

Source — The Associated Press — Ford Lays off 900 workers at Mustang Plant

By Dan Strohl

Hemmings

You know nowadays exactly what kind of condition a Challenger has to be in for the asking price to be in low four-figure territory; it’s just unusual to see an unrestored big-block Challenger around now, as well as to see one for just $2,500, as with this 1970 Challenger for sale now on Hemmings.com. From the seller’s description:

Car is an original big block model, automatic transmission with the factory “slap stick” shifter, power steering and air conditioning. Several body panels have been changed out (see pics). No seriuos rust in the body – quarter panels are good, rear light assembly intact, front fenders are rough. Engine is currently a “B” block 383 c.i.d. Mag. Condition is not so good – but it should be a re-builder. Transmission will at least need seals, probably has a shift kit in it – don’t know if the converter is anything special or not. Car has a Dana 60 rolled under it. It is a positraction unit with 3.56 gears. Differential is dry (no oil) so clutch packs are stiff – doesn’t roll too easily. Include is a trunk and interior full of parts, pieces, gaskets and whatever.

See more pics at Hemmings