Walking back in the thick of cars, right in front of me is a 68 Chrysler 300 2-door. It was a beautiful car at one time. Blue with a black top I believe. That would have been one heck of a cruiser back then. I don’t know what kind of engine was in there, but could have been a 440.

Tons more after the jump!

Next to the 300 was a car that I couldn’t identify. The front end was covered in foliage and missing the grille. I could make out the silhouette of a late 60’s B-Body and that is about it. I found out though that it was/is a 69 Dodge Superbee, 383 4-speed car in B5 or B7 blue. I believe the dual scoop hood in the back of the grain truck probably came from this car. The car was in very sad shape, to bad. It was at one time a very beautiful Dodge.

href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/hemipwr70/4088862022/” title=”DSC00937 by trekie83, on Flickr”>

The back row of this field started with some innocent A-bodies. There started a nice petty blue Duster. I don’t know engine or such, but the car was originally a Petty white car, white stripe, and white vinyl top and interior. So it was a sharp car back when. It was sad to see her in such disrepair. (Another Roots Blower)

Next to the Petty Blue Duster was a 72 Duster, how do I know that it was a 72 Duster… Shad’s 73 Duster now has the tail lights and everything out of it! He cut the whole back of the car off. Along side the 72 Duster was a 65 Coronet that was in really nice shape… on the one side. The other side wasn’t as nice. But it looked like it could have wheels put on the old girl and driven out of there.

Along comes a unique Charger. It is a 66/67, which is a cool car, but on the side of the car there was some lettering on the side that says “Can I Get Down” or something like that. I don’t know if that was just some vintage flash nor was some sort of saying on the side of a drag car. The car didn’t look like a drag car, so I’ll just chock it up to someone having some fun!

The nicest/worst car to be back there was next. A real 70 Charger R/T, a 440 with an auto on the column, bench seat car! The car was Burnt Orange exterior with a black interior and a GATOR GRAIN TOP, along with A/C and a host of other accessories. It was an incredible car originally. Our host even said he wishes he hadn’t put the car down there. If someone really wanted to pull the car out and restore it, I’m sure they could.

A 69 Road Runner had taken up another spot next to the 70 Charger. A 383 car, I didn’t take a good look at the old girl. I was still in shock over the 70 Charger R/T. The Road Runner was in very rough shape, well beyond a normal restoration. The car looked to have been a sharp one at one time, a Bronze car with a black interior.

The last two cars in the row was a 65 Belvedere that was put together from two cars from the looks of it. And a 75 Road Runner ended the row. That was the one hell of a grouping of Mopars. From A-body to B-body with a C-body thrown in it was almost all there. Some of the coolest Mopars around, and they were sitting in a nice little row next to a stream bed.

Moving forward again, there was a really sharp 72 Monaco 4-door C-body Cruiser. I love those hideaway headlights on that model. One the one side of the Monaco was a 69 Dart GTS 340. A good friend of mine used to tell me about his brother’s 340 69 Dart GTS and how it was almost unbeatable. This one was dark green, with a black vinyl top and a black interior. I believe the hood was the one that was seen in Barn Three. There were too many leaves around to see if the engine was the original 340, but I hoped not, it had been uncovered to the elements for a very long time! On the other side of the Monaco was a 65 Satellite and the 70 Superbee along with the 68 300 completing the row.

Across from the GTS was a nice 70 Fury II 4-door. A nice cruiser for the day, it still looks like it could rumble to life and drive out of there! Behind the Fury were the remains of another B-body we all discovered. One that had been cut up long ago to save other cars.

That was the vast majority of cars that our host had sitting out there. On our way back to the truck there was just two move cars I hadn’t inspected very well on my first tour through. A 40’s I believe Dodge Business Coupe and an E-body Cuda. We actually found a seat with “original” wool seat covers that Shad needed for his Duster, but it was fitting that it would end the day with an E-body, since it was the vehicle we had seen the fewest of on the trip.

The E-body showed that it was in fact a ‘Cuda. The VIN was gone so I couldn’t read what it had originally, could have been a 340 car or 360 car I guess. But it was long past being saved. Here is another example of a car that gives its life to save others.

The group all chatted for a while about the car, people we know and what we are going to do next. So we hopped into the truck and headed back to the main house. We all talked there for quite a while, about the past and the future. I was the youngest in the group, and most bright eyed I think. I didn’t know where to start or stop talking. I was just talking and talking, trying to absorb so much information from such and incredible gentleman.

Sadly time did catch up with us and the expedition had to part company with our host, but not before we all gave Scott’s incredible Superbird a once over. Ironically his Bird has the wrong air cleaner, and our host said he probably had the right one and to look for it the next time we all came over!

We said our goodbyes and jumped (carefully) into the Superbird. As we pulled out of the driveway I went to the guys “Frak! Did that really just happen?!?!” Shad laughed and thought it was funny not telling us about what the guy had, and Scott just had this funny smile on his face the rest of the day.

As we headed back to town, we weren’t quite done with finding Cars in Barns….

THE LAST INSTALLMENT…. Daytona in the Barn: After the Barns… oh yeah there’s more.

Ryan’s Cars in Barns Adventure Pictures

Back in the 1960s, magazine writers thought the turbine was on the verge of replacing the piston engine entirely, and nowadays, it’s hardly brought up at all in the auto industry’s alt-fuel fantasies. For SIA #57, Leon Dixon took a look at Chrysler’s turbine program, which came the closest to an actual, offered-to-the-masses production turbine car, and which dates back to the early 1950s. Continue reading over at Hemmings.

One of the big concerns for those of us observing the automotive market and community is the fate of Chrysler. Rob and I as well as many others have written on the subject of their potential impending doom, merge with Fiat, and resulting product line.

Sergio Marchionne finally revealed the product lines we can expect in the coming years, and in doing so confirmed some rumors, clarified others, and dispelled others. For those of you that didn’t catch the news, I will provide the highlights, from a smattering of news sources that I caught.

Marchionne has a lot to wrestle into submission at Chrysler, including ailing sales, debt to the government and others, a poor reputation for quality and fuel mileage, and an uninspiring product line. Since few of you have business degrees, and even fewer give a lug nut about the entire financial climate, I am going to provide a car guy’s lens on the new product overview.

Continue reading after the jump!

First, I am elated to report that my favorite rumor—that Alfa Romeo may make its way back over to the United States in the near future—is confirmed. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Alfa Romeo is an Italian sports car brand that Fiat owns and operates that has never benefited from a lot of sales traction stateside. Although the name may not ring a bell, you may know them from the opening scene in Quantum of Solace. Alfa Romeo 159s were the villains’ rides with the shockingly impressive exhaust tone that were tearing after Mr. Bond’s handsome Aston Martin.

Alfa Romeo also offers a host of dynamic small cars like the 147 which would be competitive with the tuner-popular VW GTI. Additionally, Alfa Romeo has a high-end, long-nosed performance car called the 8C that may eventually find its way here also. The 8C reminds me of a C6 Corvette and a Ferrari California and is priced more similarly to the Ferrari.

Fiat itself has some excellent assets to offer the American market as well. Quite likely the star of the Fiat portfolio, the Fiat 500 is a trendy small car built to compete with the likes of Mini. Even the earliest reports of Fiat and Chrysler’s merge spoke of the famed Fiat 500 here in the states, and it was confirmed that we will see them here in the States as early as next year at this time.

Although the Fiat 500 will arrive here unmolested, Marchionne made clear that the majority of the upcoming Chrysler fleet will be the product of a blending of Chrysler and Fiat designs and will feature several models on a few shared platforms, and most excitingly, Fiat’s fuel efficient engines. This shift to cost effective platform sharing and many Fiat drivelines will produce a fuel efficiency increase of 25 percent by 2014 per Marchionne. On a personal note, I won’t shed a single tear to see the Dodge Caliber replaced by something that bears more mechanical and possibly physical resemblance to a Fiat Punto Evo. According to Popular Mechanics, engine size should shrink across nearly the entire product line, with V8s only powering 11 percent of the fleet, a forthcoming v6 powering another 37 percent and as much as 50 percent receiving power from an advanced four cylinder or diesel.

Fiat Punto Evo Courtesy of Fiat.com

Diesel is a hot and growing market here in the United States for passenger cars as models offering a diesel option have been selling higher portions in diesel than ever before. An excellent example of this is the TDI Diesel Jetta. The diesel Jetta can command a higher sticker price and still fly out of showrooms, boasting crisp handling and performance with the 40+ mpg fuel economy of a turbo diesel. I ventured early on that Fiat’s merge with Chrysler would bring diesel engines into the Chrysler fleet and Marchionne confirmed my guess. Diesel is much more prevalent in Europe and other markets. With Fiat’s knowledge of the technology, and a consumer becoming more in tune with fuel economy and longevity, I feel that this could be a razor sharp competitive edge if executed wisely. I have always taken a particular interest in diesels because of their comparatively enormous compression ratios, their favorable disposition towards turbos and of course, their outstanding fuel economy. If Chrysler is wise enough to mate a stick shift to a turbo-diesel in a hatchback, I’ll be as gleeful as a fat kid at a buffet.

Marchionne confirmed that Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Liberty will all be updated in the short term, before we see the small cars that will result of the Chrysler/Fiat collaborative engineering push.

I am sure most of you have heard now that Chrysler has split Ram off into its own independent brand within the larger conglomerate. Ram will be a truck brand which is meant to cater to the commercial and industrial truck markets. I was unable to find any indication if the Ram brand will include smaller trucks and SUVS the way that GMC does at Government Motors.

All information seems to indicate that Jeep will undertake a revitalization to re-energize some of the owner loyalty and brand equity it has traditionally enjoyed over the years. Reportedly, Wrangler will be the cornerstone of the marketing campaign, which calls back to Jeep’s rugged off-road heritage and high consumer perception.

Photo Courtesy of Jeep.com

In summary, it is clear that Sergio Marchionne landed purposefully at Chrysler and took a decisively more rational approach to steering the ship that has been dangerously close to the jagged rocks. Chrysler needs better fuel economy, higher quality, and more exciting products, which is exactly the direction he is steering it towards. Ever since Lee Iacocca put his stamp of approval on Marchionne, I’ve seen and heard only good things. My hope is that he hasn’t taken the wheel after Chrysler’s direction and fate were set in motion by the poor decisions of his predecessors. I look forward to all of the forthcoming changes. If the ship doesn’t sink before then, the American consumer will see a lot of exciting products from Chrysler.

There were some great comments in my blog about Fiat’s plan for Chrysler. Apparently, the Sebring is getting the axe. Well, what about the 200C concept that was shown at NAIAS? Remember that? This is truly what the Sebring could/should be. I sure hope it doesn’t end up in the dustbin.

There was a fair amount of noise generated by yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article on Fiat’s plans for Chrysler. Ray Wert at Jalopnik has the Cliff notes. Ok, here’s my take:

Chrysler

Yes, redesign the 300C, yes keep the Town and Country, sure go ahead and kill the PT Cruiser. But keep the Sebring. Only, it needs to be a mid-sized RWD sedan (see my notes on the Dodge Avenger below).

Dodge

Go ahead and kill the Caliber and the Nitro. Not sure about the Grand Caravan, and I have no opinion on the Journey. But let’s keep the Avenger. Like I said the with Sebring above, this car needs to be a mid-size RWD sedan. Think of it as a modern day Dodge Dart. Heck, maybe just call it a Dart. It should be available as a two and four door, maybe as wagon and convertible as well. Power should come from efficient four and six bangers. AWD should be an option. Now, I think the next generation Challenger should be based on this new mid-sized RWD platform as well. The Challenger needs to shrink a bit if it’s gonna stay competitive. Redesign the Charger as a big TWO DOOR muscle car. Call the four door version of the Charger a Magnum or Coronet.

Ram Trucks

Seriously? Is this for real? Just keep ‘em Dodges.

Jeep

Go ahead and kill the Commander and the Compass. Of course keep the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee. But I think they should keep the Patriot. Jeep needs a car-based Subaru Outback fighter and the Patriot is a half-decent offering, though it needs some love. They also need an affordable Cherokee-type vehicle. The Liberty never really did it for me. So why not just bring back the Cherokee? Oh yeah, Jeep needs a small pickup, too. Bring back the Comanche.

Fiat and Alfa Romeo

I’m very happy to see Fiat and Alfa come back to the US. The Fiat 500 is very cool and should do well. And I’m stoked about the Mito and Milano. But where the heck is the Alfa Spider?

So what do you think of my plan? Totally unrealistic? Not possible with the new CAFE standards? Probably. But it’s nice to dream…

In the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, the main character has a car that always gives him trouble when he tries to steal it. Its name is Eleanor. My Eleanor is the 1974 Dodge Dart. While I don’t make a habit of stealing cars, the 1974 Dart has given me plenty of trouble.

My first experience with a 1974 Dodge Dart was ten years ago. She came to me with knife stab holes in the hood where a ritual sacrifice had taken place. The previous owner had left some pictures of head wounds in the trunk. The car would die randomly and start randomly. This should have been a sign to me.

When my friend Art called me and said, “Hey I found a 1974 Dart for $100! Wanna help fix it up?” I should have warned him. I should have known better. After helping him, I now know without a doubt that all 1974 Darts are possessed.

Continue reading after the jump!

The car didn’t run–the previous owner told us the fuel line was plugged. We got it home and tried to get it to run. First, we hooked up a separate fuel line to the carb to bypass the “plugged” line. The car fired off and ran just fine. Then it started spraying fuel out of the “plugged” line. We hooked up the fuel line and drove the car around the block. I looked at Art and said, “You want to buy a lottery ticket? You just bought a Dart for $100 that’s just fine.” It seemed really suspicious that the previous owner would sell the car so cheap. Even with the flesh-eating bacteria that inhabited the interior (that’s another story). We threw in some bucket seats out of an Intrepid and thought we were home free.

That’s when we found the black ski mask in the trunk. We theorized that the car was used in a robbery–but with only 63.2 raging horsepower, it was much too slow for that. It could have been used for abductions. “It’s got a two body trunk,” Art said as he climbed in. “More bodies if they’re children.” He gestured at the ample room in the trunk. A cold shiver ran up my spine.  “Do you think the police are looking for this car?”

“We’d better get it to your place and throw a paint job on it,” I said.

We waited until after dark to drive it. I wore the ski mask so that no one could identify me if the police were looking for the car. We stopped to get gas and I hopped out of the car to check the lug nuts. I grabbed the tire iron out of the trunk and walked towards the left rear tire where the station attendant was pumping the gas. He screamed like a girl when he saw me. I raised the tire iron above my head as a joke. “If you scream like that again, I’ll give you a whack, bro!” He ran away, still screaming like a girl. “I guess the gas is free tonight!” I said to Art, who was sitting in the car, sweating. I felt hungry, so I went into the mini-mart and grabbed a bag of candy. The person behind the counter looked at me in terror. “How much for the candy?” I asked.

“Take it, take anything you want!” she said.

“Alright, sweet!” I said. I went back out to the car and tossed the tire iron and the candy in the trunk. I slammed it shut before realizing that I’d put the candy in there accidentally. I decided to leave it since Art had the keys to the trunk.

We pulled out of the gas station with a full tank. A few miles down the road the car died. I heard deep, dark laughter coming from under the hood. That’s when reality struck. This car wasn’t cheap because it was used in a felony…it was cheap because it was possessed. I jumped out and started pushing. After a bit, I got tired and saw some kids on the sidewalk.

“Hey kids! Help me push!” They just stared at me. I decided to sweeten the deal, “I’ve got candy in the trunk!” I watched a woman come out of the house there and usher the kids inside. She was giving me dirty looks. I shook my head and kept pushing.

In the coming week, we went through the entire fuel system. The reason being that the fuel filter would not fill up as the car ran. We bent up new steel line from the fuel pump back to the tank. We cleaned out the tank and replaced the fuel pump, but the car still wasn’t getting enough fuel.

At this point, I picked up the phone book to find a priest to exorcise this car. I was dialing when Art said, “Let’s just start eliminating sections of the system until we find the problem.”

The next day, Art worked on the car while I was at my day job. He sent me an email that said he thought he found the problem. He had eliminated the fuel tank from the equation and drove the car around with no problems. I was wondering how he had done this when I came home and found this:

If you can’t tell, he hooked a rubber line to the rear of the hardline and ran it inside the car into a gas can in the back seat. Whiskey Tango for sure, but the car ran fine. Basically, this pointed to a hole in the pickup tube in the tank that was allowing air to enter the line. This was the only part of the fuel system that we did not replace. We dropped the tank again and pulled the old pickup tube out. This must have been where the evil spirits were since it produced a Nazis opening the ark moment. We kept our eyes tightly shut so they wouldn’t affect our own fuel systems. After installing a new pickup tube and a quick tune, the car purred like a newly exorcised kitten.

It was frustrating for sure, but in the end I think Art got a good car for the money. So what’s next for Art’s Dart? Would you believe junkyard EFI? Art is an electronics wizard by night and is pretty serious about the swap. You’ll read about it here first.

So last week at Hershey, we got an earful on the issue of Chrysler Town and Country cars in the Classic Car Club of America. Whatever your position on the issue, there’s no denying that T&Cs are some of the most sought-after and prestigious postwar American cars, especially the convertible versions. So it’s not unusual to find one, beautifully restored with a few personal touches, on Hemmings.com. What is unusual is to find one on Hemmings.com, but physically located in Paris, France. We’re pointed to the seller’s website to find out how it found its way in the land of Simcas and Renaults. Continue reading at Hemmings

Well the journey is finally over, it’s been over one month since I started my hunt for a new car and it finally came to an end this weekend. It’s been a long harsh road filled with a host of automotive ups and downs. If you recall I started my search during the “Cash for Clunkers” program, but alas, it yielded nothing but annoying dealer confrontations. Then I tried the “certified used” route but this too was met with more aggravation due to inept dealers. I finally settled on a low mileage, privately owned vehicle that fit my needs and wants and honestly feel that it was the best way to go.

Continue reading after the jump!

First I identified my vehicle of choice – in this case I wanted a previously owned Dodge Magnum SRT-8. Then I began my search through all the obvious sales vessels, ebay, Craigslist and Autotrader. Then began the phone calls and questions, emails and photo’s. Now keep in mind that sometimes, private individuals can be no better than dealers, but for the most part private sellers seem to be a bit more forthcoming with information, plus you have more room to negotiate when price talk comes around. After checking out some 15 or so SRTs online and at private residences I finally found what I was looking for some 900 miles away in Atlanta, GA. A one owner, 24,000 mile car that is truly in showroom shape.

The deal was struck and I flew down to Atlanta last Saturday to pick up my new ride. While down south we figured why not use the time to put the new Magnum through its paces and see how it really performs as a daily driver. The Magnum, like the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 is based on an old Mercedes E-class platform and shares common components like the transmission, stability control and front & rear suspension. Immediately upon taking the wheel the Magnum you feel as though you are driving something solid. Road feel is good, but the steering is a bit on the light side for a performance based machine. Interior components are good, but not great and you can see where Chrysler saved a bit of money. The seats in the SRT Magnum however are FANTASTIC and as a big guy this is something I look for in a vehicle. Leg and head room are top notch as well.

The obvious reasons for getting any of the SRT models are the engine, brakes and suspension. Now, there are those of you who will argue that this is not a “real” HEMI, but quite honestly, who cares? At 425hp / 420lbs.tq. the 6.1L is a mill that churns out some pretty competent power, enough so that it moves the 4,200lb. Magnum to 60 mph in a scant 5.2 seconds and propels it to a top speed of over 165 mph, not bad for a big ole’ station wagon. The brakes are 4 pot Brembo’s that float on 14.2″ rotors up front and 13.8″ rotors in the rear – to put it mildly, this thing stops. I drove the Magnum about 1,600 miles last week and all the while thinking that I had made the right decision. Oh yea, I also got around 21 mpg cruising at 75 mph – not too bad considering what it is.

The ride and road handling manners are top notch. Pitch the big Magnum into a corner and it complies without resistance. Keep in mind though that this is a big machine, so if you get it loose you’ll need to work to get it back. Traction control is the ever present techo-nanny that keeps you from having too much fun, but if you are so inclined you can disable it enough so that you can do those big smokey burn outs to impress the neighbors. Granted the Magnum is no longer the latest and greatest, but it’s big, comfortable, goes like hell and still has a big fat warranty on it, which is a huge plus on any performance based machine. Now, is it a car that I will keep forever? Not sure yet and quite honestly that will depend on how it holds up under NYC driving. I would like to think so, but only time will tell. As for right now though, I think I’ll just sit back in those big comfy seats, put my foot down and enjoy one of the worlds fastest grocery getters.

The American auto manufacturing companies have continued to stand under the scrutinizing spotlight of media attention since the government issued the bailout “loans.” Government Motors is scrambling to shave some weight from their oppressive cost structure and prove their sustainability. All the while, the media all but deifies Ford for their pass on free taxpayer money. Despite all this attention on Ford and GM, Chrysler just drifts in and out of the headlines. As many of you are aware, Fiat bargained for a portion of Chrysler, rescuing them from bankruptcy and hopefully breathing some new life into both companies.

With all this impending change, I thought it appropriate to expose some of the background on this Italian auto manufacturer and venture to guess what we might expect to see coming from both Chrysler and the family of Fiat brands.

Continue reading after the jump!

Thanks to Fiat.Com and Alfa Romeo.Com for the Photos!

Founded in 1899, Fiat tried its hand at several industries over its long history. Those businesses include military vehicles, construction equipment, aircraft and motorcycles. Also, like other long-time car companies, Fiat is a conglomerate that has accumulated several brands sold under its ownership. Fiat brands include Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia. Fiat also has a performance division called Abarth that functions much like SVT to Ford or NISMO to Nissan.

Inheriting a falling company like Chrysler right now seems to be a long shot gamble. The payout could be incredible but it is going to take some sharp strategy. Chrysler’s sales are down 40 percent from last years numbers, which was also an unprofitable year. Leveraging Chrysler and Fiat assets together could be a recipe for success. However, many said that about Mercedes Benz’s involvement with Chrysler as well, and that was short-lived and largely unsuccessful.

Comparing the resumes of American Chrysler Corporation and Italian Fiat in regards to strong product offerings, the match has the potential to be perfect. Chrysler has significant offerings in the larger vehicle segment with Ram, Dakota, Caravan and the Jeep brand. Fiat has the balancing end of the product line with small fuel efficient cars such as the Fiat 500 or Punto Evo.

Fiat Punto Evo

Although Charger, Challenger and Viper are morale and brand-equity building monsters, none of them are sales heroes. Despite Avenger and Sebring’s reasonable mileage in base trim levels, the Caliber was disappointingly unimpressive in the fuel mileage category and seems much bulkier than the agile Neon it replaced. Chryslers current portfolio of offerings in the car segment certainly warrants aid.

Although CEO Sergio Marchionne won’t release official joint product strategy outlines until November, it seems as though a lot is rests on Fiat, as the Chrysler brand hesitates to move ahead on new vehicle rollouts with the exception of Jeep. It is still unclear if new Chrysler vehicles will be joint engineering project creations, rebadged Fiats, or unchanged Fiats. The only existing vehicle I know confirmed to come to the States is the Fiat 500, a small fuel efficient car to compete in the segment with the Mini Cooper and the VW New Beetle. Despite the Mini’s seemingly impractical two door trim and small (for American standards) size, its fuel efficiency and uncompromised performance produced strong sales through the economic recession. It is on this playing field that the Fiat 500 would compete, and likely gain market share from Mini, if marketed successfully.

Fiat 500

Alfa Romeo, Fiat’s more sports car-minded brand, may also make its way to the states. With the popularity among enthusiasts of the VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, and Subaru WRX hatchback, all driver-oriented hatchbacks, the American consumer may also be in a very receiving position for another European hatch-rocket like a 147. By my estimation, should Alfa Romeo become successful in the States, we might see a few of the hotter high-end sports car offerings like the 8C in addition to the performance-minded commuters.

Alfa Rome 147

Alfa Romeo 8C

Another growing segment in the U.S. auto market is the turbo-diesel’s role in the alternative fuel trend. Diesels are 30-40 percent more efficient than a gas engine of the same proportions, and have been gaining significant traction in sales in North America. Diesel has long been very common in Europe and other markets where Fiats are sold, and Fiat has become proficient with diesel technology. With performance oriented configuration and turbo diesel fuel economy, Alfa Romeo or Fiat might be in a position to gain some significant market share, if executed wisely. That would mean also that TDI Jetta, and gas Mini Cooper would see some competition in segments largely unanswered at this time.
  In summary, Sergio Marchionne has a long road ahead to solve the sales issues and stagnant product lines of sinking USS Chrysler, but Fiat and its family of brands have a lot to offer to the consumer, car enthusiast or not. Despite the pessimism I once felt about Chrysler’s fate, my hope is that the mixed joint product offering will bring strength across the board and Chrysler/Fiat will both be better for it, as we the American consumer benefit as well. I can’t wait to personally slide behind the wheel of a turbo diesel Alfa Romeo and I hope that many share my enthusiasm.

Allpar is reporting that Chrysler is considering launching Ram as a fourth brand to be used for trucks only. Dodge would then be reserved for cars, which would be more closely associated with Fiat-based vehicles. This makes absolutely no sense to me, but whatever. I just hope they don’t kill off the Challenger.