RideLust

Officially killed off in 1981, the DeLorean is an automobile that just won’t go away. First it was resurrected in 1985 by director Robert Zemeckis in “Back to the Future”, and then again in 1995 when former DeLorean mechanic Stephen Wynne bought the rights to the name, all the tooling and then reopened the company. Since that time the DeLorean has found a new market, new fans and get this, even an upcoming electric version. Recently Bradly Hasemeyer of Aol’s Translogic took the electric DeLorean out for a spin and came away pretty impressed. Click through for the video.

Source: Autoblog.com

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For all-wheel drive cars with high-horsepower engines launch control is a thing of beauty. Simply put one foot on the brake, rev the engine to about 5,000 rpm, let go of the brake and let the computers and traction-control do the rest. It actually works quite flawlessly and for streetcars like the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Turbo, launch control is what enables them to shoot out of the hole like shot through a gun. Street cars aren’t the only vehicles to employ this technology. Race and rally cars use it as well, however when they engage the system it’s far more exciting then your everyday driver. Click through to see what I’m talking about.

Source: Youtube.com

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Ever been standing around a car show and heard one guy ask another… “Hey, what gears you got in that thing?” Ever wonder the reason for the question? Well, gearing has as much to do with how a car performs as the engine. The gears you’re running determine everything from your acceleration and top speed, to fuel economy. Here is a quick online visual calculator that is pretty basic, but incorporates everything you need to know. Simply input your rear axle ratio (you can add a custom ratio if you choose), your tire size, transmission gear ratio and then hit the gas… it’s actually quite a bit of fun to experiment. It may also answer some questions you may have about how to set-up your ride.

For some of us creating something from nothing is easier then it looks. I mean lets face it, if you’ve got imagination, know how and the will to succeed, then there’s really nothing that can’t be accomplished. In the automotive and motorcycle world creation comes through the hands of the customizer. Existing designs are torn down and re-imagined, mechanics are gone through and re-engineered and design, well, that comes from the passion that lies within. Modern Motorcycles does just this but they follow one rule: Keep It Simple.

Click through for the video and enjoy.

Source: RalfBecker.com

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*Photo Credit: Summit Racing

If I could write myself an automotive Christmas list it would read something like this… A new set of aluminum heads for my 1968 Charger, new suspension for my 1969 Daytona, and finally a big old blower to throw on top of my SRT8 Magnums already stout 6.1-liter HEMI. Yeah I know that most of these things are wishful thinking, but it’s Christmas, so I figured I’d throw this out to anyone who feels like buying me stuff. You see automotive enthusiasts, hot rodders especially, are amongst the easiest group of people to buy for. Simply head on over to either Jegs, or Summit Racing and buy us a big fat gift certificate. Ok, so it’s not romantic, nor does it have any real special meaning to it. What it does do however is keep us very happy, out of our significant others way, and occupied until the next holiday season comes around. So, if you’re a woman and looking for the perfect gift for your car guy, simply follow my instructions, and I guarantee you’ll make your guy very, very happy.

It has the look of a stealth fighter, hyper-car performance and an aura that has the ability to create fantasies. It is the Lamborghini Reventón and it is, without a doubt, one of the greatest cars produced in the last two decades. Recently The Media Merchants, a technology driven production agency out of Canada, got their hands on one of the 20 Lamborghini Reventón’s produced between 2009-2010 and created a projection based visual experience the likes of which we’ve never seen before. The use of sound and projection combined with the angular shape of the Reventón not only peaks our imagination but helps us see things in a very different light.

Source: Vimeo.com

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You’ve got to wonder if Dodge is doing the right thing by bringing back the “Dart” nameplate. I mean back in the day the Dart was nothing more then a cheap everyday driver that was completely devoid of all bells and whistles. Granted there were a few that slipped under the radar like the Swinger and Demon, but for the most part these were simple compact rides that were beloved by Grandmas everywhere. The new 2013 Dodge Dart promises to be something different, and by the looks of these newly released interior photos, they’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at this thing. A double stitched dash, in-dash turn-by-turn navigation and an integrated touch-screen media stack that includes hands-free phone, satellite radio and climate controls give the Dart a very upscale look and feel. This is obviously going to be a far cry from what the old Dart represented. One has to ask the question though, why would you label it with a name that will simply get people thinking “cheap” right from the get-go… it just doesn’t make sense.

Click through for more photos.

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Say what you will, but from 1975-1985 just about every car built by an American auto manufacturer was a major pile-O-crap. They were underpowered thanks to smog regulations, employed awful materials and at days end, simply didn’t have the quality of our overseas competitors. That didn’t stop the big-3 from trying to sell them to us though. Take this ad for the 1978 Ford Granada ESS for example, a car that back then, was one of the worst offenders. Manufacturers knew that their products were substandard compared to the rest of the world and in an effort to get us interested they tried to take the easy way out by copying the big boys. The Granada for example came with a slick-as-snot vinyl interior, cheap plastic knobs and an engine that was as far from reliable as you could get. I suppose in reality trying to get the public to view them as something that they weren’t was their only hope. Unfortunately though, it didn’t work out to well for them. Click through to see what I’m talking about.

Source: Hemmings.com

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If you own a car that is over 10 years old with black plastic bumper inserts or black bumpers, then odds are they’re faded and dull looking, thus cheapening the look of your ride. Sure there are plastic restoration kits that you can purchase, but those can be expensive and sometimes they’ll do more harm then good if not used correctly. Not long ago I came across this little video of someone using a heat gun to brighten up their black-work. Now, granted I’ve never personally tried this, however it does seem to work well. Plus, it seems like a cheap and easy alternative to a full repaint or dye. This is a pretty cool backyard trick if you ask me.

Source: Youtube.com

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The old adage of “do what you love and you’ll never work another day again”, is actually quite true. I mean think about that for a moment. If you’re able to take whatever it is that makes you happy and turn it into a full-on job, then in essence you’re really getting paid to enjoy yourself on a daily basis. In reality few people get to do this, however there are those who have found a way. This is Richard Pollock, owner of Mule Motorcycles in Poway, CA. He’s not only one of the most talented builders out there, but he’s living the dream by way of envisioning, creating and selling his two-wheeled visions. His bikes have an old school feel to them as Pollack grew up in Southern California around dirt tracks and scramble style motorbikes. Each one is unique and is built around the individual owners tastes. They’re beautiful, functional and at days end, all works of two-wheeled art. Click through for the video and enjoy.

Source: RalfBecker.com

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