Author Archive for ADL Guest
Automobiles De Luxe features and welcomes thoughtful insight on cars. If you'd like to contribute to Automobiles De Luxe, send an email to: gunnar [at] automobilesdeluxe [dot] tv.
Roofs? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Roofs! Christopher’s Wish
No top? No problem.
By Christopher P. Davis
UNDER the tree this Christmas Eve, we all have a certain present in mind that would really bring the holiday together. For the younger among us- perhaps a chess set or some model race cars.
For me?
Just one SLR Stirling Moss Speedster, please. Oh, and the prerequisite SLR McLaren that goes along with it too. Silver is fine. And I do want those heated seats.
Sadly, come Christmas morn’ I have a feeling that I’ll be rooting around under the tree for quite sometime.
But, I digress.
The SLR Stirling Moss Speedster, the car every gear head would love, and incidentally have absolutely no practical use for is a gorgeous, gorgeous auto.
Paying homage to the Silver Arrow of yester, the Speedster’s design remains every bit as modern as the SLR. Under the long and sculpted bonnet, lies a 650 horsepower V8. The power plant rockets the open air speedster (there’s no hard top!) to 62mph in a brisk 3.5 seconds. If you were to mash down that ‘celerator, the speedometer would peak at around 217 mph – certainly faster than you’d dare commute through the Holland Tunnel.
And as for the lack of a roof…
Let’s paraphrase from the immortal line from The Treasure of the Sierra Madres. Roofs? We don’t need no stinkin’ roofs! Or windshields for that matter.
The SLR Speedster surely would be nice on sunny day for a Sunday drive, however it’s true home is the track…
Throw on a pair of vintage driving goggles, a white silk scarf & your driving gloves and slide up to starting line. You’ll definitely be the talk at Montecello. Surely, that’s what the SLR Stirling Moss Speedster is designed for – the trackside conversation after the Porsches have been blow into the weed.
The MB-McLaren Team sure got it right.
Your ticket to this all-star track performer?
Not just any Joe-the-weekend-racecar-driver can own an SLR Stirling Moss Speedster. Production is limited to 75 cars. These 75 will only be available only to those who have purchased an SLR McLaren previously. From this pool of about 3000 individuals only those willing to plunk down the €750,000 ($1,050,000) will be the proud owners.
I’m sure they all will be swiftly sold and hold fast their value. Who knows, maybe this will start a run on the remaining SLRs…
But please Santa, I’ve been good all year…
Tap the link to see the video of the beast.
[Linked: Benz Insider]
The Other American Automakers
By Christopher Paul Davis
FOR better or for worse, General Motors and Chrysler have received a series of government loans. For now, Ford seems to be in better shape.
But considering how each of these embattled carmakers have casted themselves as all-American in their bid for bailout bucks, it’s worth noting that the Detroit 3 are not the only players in the US of A these days.
Here’s a list of some of the other companies that have set up shop Stateside:
Mercedes-Benz. The ML, GL, and the R Class are all produced in Mercedes’ Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. Originally opened in 1997, the plant has contributed over $8.6 Billion (€6.2 Billion) to Alabama’s economy and employs 4,000 workers.
Toyota. The Toyota Motor Company has five plants in the United States. They’re located in Huntsville, Alabama; Georgetown, Kentucky; Princeton, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; and Buffalo, West Virginia. The construction of two more facilities is underway.
Honda. The Honda Motor Company has three American assemblies. They’re located in East Liberty, Ohio; Lincoln, Alabama; and Marysville, Ohio. Together, these three plants produce almost every Honda and Acura model sold in the North American marketplace.
Nissan. Nissan Motors also has three plants Stateside. They’re in Smyrna and Decherd Tennessee; and Canton, Mississippi.
BMW. The Bavarians have had a plant in Greer, South Carolina since 1994. In this plant, BMW produces the X3, X5, and X6 for global distribution.
VW. Volkwagen has announced plans to set up shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee opening in 2011. VW plans to invest $1 Billion in the facility and has said that Audis and Porsches may also be produced there.
Hyundai. Hyundai builds the Sonata and the Santa Fe at it’s new $1.4 Billion facility in Montgomery, Alabama.
Subaru. Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc. manufactures some of its cars for sale in the States from its plant in Lafayette, Indiana.
It seems to me that considering each of these foreign operators industrial presence and economic investment in the American job market, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, VW, Hyundai, and Subaru are just as “American” as GM, Chrysler, or Ford.
[Readers: If I've forgotten any manufacturers or plants in the U.S., leave a comment and I'll update the Google Map and the article]
