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Continue reading Junkyard Gem: 1974 Ford F-250 Custom
Junkyard Gem: 1974 Ford F-250 Custom originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 3 Mar 2024 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading 1,000 articles in, here are Murilee's 5 favorite Junkyard Gems
1,000 articles in, here are Murilee's 5 favorite Junkyard Gems originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jan 2024 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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By Ryan Lee Price
Turn of the century cross-country travel by automobile meant traversing poor roads. The trip took weeks, inspiring the US Army to try a journey of its own.
Soon after the turn of the century, some automobile companies were using their products to help promote sales in the shipping industry. In 1908, Packard sent one of its trucks from New York to San Francisco with a three-ton load. The trip took 48 days and helped inspire the US government to try a journey of its own.
The Lincoln Highway
One answer to the need for better roads was a continuous highway from coast to coast. The Lincoln Highway was perhaps the first main road to connect the two coasts, stretching from New York to San Francisco, and its direct impact southwest United States was limited. Most travelers didn’t turn left. In many sections the route made use of old roads, including a 17th-century road in New Jersey laid out by Dutch colonists; the Chambersburg turnpike used by Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to reach Gettysburg; portions of the Mormon Trail; routes used by the Pony Express; and the Donner Pass crossing of the Sierras.
The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway. It was named for the nation’s most honored president, Abraham Lincoln.
According to the 1919 edition of the Encyclopedia Americana, “The route is marked with a distinctive red, white and blue marker, bearing a blue ‘L’ on the central white field. For every mile of improvement secured on the Lincoln Highway, 10 miles have followed as a direct result upon other routes connecting important centers north and south with the main line. Along its entire length the highest type of highway construction is represented in this modern American Appian Way.”
In 1916, Woodrow Wilson announced as part of his election platform: “The happiness, comfort and prosperity of rural life, and the development of the city, are alike conserved by the construction of public highways.” He signed the Federal Aid Road Act, the first federal highway funding law, providing $75 million to build and improve roads.
The US Army Joins the Convoy
When moving people and materiel by railroad alone during World War I proved inadequate, the US Army experimented with truck convoys to supplement the railroad. The two-month ordeal of the US Army Transcontinental Motor Convoy in 1919 convinced the Army of the need for better roads.
US Army Transcontinental Motor Convoy of 1919
Despite this “Appian Way,” the US Army was determined to discover the true conditions of roads to the Pacific and set out on July 7 from Washington DC with 81 vehicles and trailers, including: 34 heavy cargo trucks, 4 light delivery trucks, two mobile machine shops, one blacksmith shop, one wrecking truck, an artillery wheeled tractor that towed nine trucks at once and was equipped with a power winch. There were two spare parts stores, two water tanks, one gasoline tank, one searchlight with an electrical power plant truck, four kitchen trailers, eight touring cars, one reconnaissance car, two staff observation cars, five sidecar motorcycles, and four solo motorcycles. As well as five GMC ambulances with two ambulance trailers, a four-ton pontoon trailer (left in Omaha) and a Renault Whippet FT-17 tank lashed to a flatbed trailer. Dealers en route supplied gasoline and tires to the convoy and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company provided two trucks that carried spare standard tires.
Most all of the 3,250 miles of roadways were unpaved and undeveloped, creating untold problems, both mechanical and logistical. Most of the men were not trained to use the equipment and literally only one man of the 24 officers (including a young Dwight D. Eisenhower), 15 staff members from the War Department and 258 enlisted men — Henry Ostermann — knew the way across what was then still a patchwork of roads that ranged from concrete to mud (he had driven across the country 19 times).
Passing through 350 towns and communities and being witnessed by nearly three million people, the convoy completed the trip in 63 days, arriving in Oakland, California on September 7, proving that the infrastructure of the country was woefully inadequate to transport much of anything, especially during a time of war.
In his novel Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck called Route 66, “The “Mother Road,” because it was used during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression in the 1930s by hundreds of thousands of people to flee great hardship.
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Route 66 was a highway spawned by the demands of a rapidly changing America. Contrasted with the Lincoln, the Dixie, and other highways of its day, Route 66 did not follow the traditionally linear course as did the other highways. Its unusual diagonal course linked hundreds of rural communities in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas to Chicago; thus enabling farmers to transport grain and produce for redistribution. The diagonal configuration of Route 66 was particularly significant to the trucking industry, which by 1930 had come to rival the railroad for preeminence in the American shipping industry. The “Mother Road,” christened so by John Steinbeck in his novel Grapes of Wrath, between Chicago and the Pacific Coast, traversed essentially flat prairie lands and enjoyed a more temperate climate than northern highways, which made it especially appealing to truckers.
From Chicago, Route 66 began as nothing more than a series of intertwining trails headed west, mostly a cobbling of farm-to-market roads, driveways, paths, old wagon trails, small rudely improved thoroughfares and downtown streets … as long as it pointed westward and got you out of town and toward the next, it was part of what would be called Route 66. More importantly, it ferried people to California, especially during the Great Depression when thousands of tenant farmers searched for a new life and better opportunities.
Until roughly 1926 (though official U.S. Route 66 signs didn’t appear until the following year), travelers would have to brave unmarked roads and meandering byways with trepidation that the next town would be just over the horizon. The road was rough and unforgiving, but the promise of California was a tempting motive, and as more cars became a prevalent part of American culture, more people took to the road.
Interstate Highway System
In an effort not only to connect the country’s population, but also to connect the country’s military installations and to ease the travel of the military, the Interstate Highway System was planned and implemented in earnest after the signing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921.
In 1922, the Bureau of Public Roads commissioned General John “Black Jack” Pershing to provide a proposal for a national highway system (based on importance in the event of war). His proposal, referred to as “The Pershing Map,” was 32-feet long and suggested the building of 78,000 miles of road, most of which were completed and formed a substantial portion of the Interstate Highway System.
Throughout the 1920s, road construction boomed with the increased enthusiasm behind traveling and visiting the nation’s newest National Parks. From a 1922 report for the Department of Interior from the National Parks Service, it is clear that the automobile had really mobilized a nation [punctuation is original]: “Undoubtedly the principal factor in the travel movement in this country to-day is the enlarged use of the automobile. It is true the automobile affords a wide freedom in movement of parties limited only by the capacity of the cars, and permits stops at or excursions from any points en route to a particular destination that appeal to the members of the party. It meets the opportunities for out-of-door recreation that we Americans as a sightseeing nation seem to crave, and has come to be considered by many to be the ideal means of vacation travel.”
Having spent two months with the 1919 Army Convoy and seeing the mobilization of Germany with the Reichsautobahn system during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower was a strong proponent of the highway system. In 1955 the General Location of National System of Interstate Highways mapped out what became the Interstate System, and Charles Erwin Wilson, who was head of General Motors when President Eisenhower selected him as Secretary of Defense in January 1953, planned out the implementation of the highway system. This was in the midst of the Cold War, and Eisenhower debated for the highways for the purpose of national defense. In the event of an invasion, the US Army would need good highways to be able to transport troops across the country efficiently.
Missouri road was the first project of the 1956 Federal Aid Highway Act.
The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 (known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956), authorized $25 billion dollars to be spent over 12 years of construction (with the states paying 10 percent of the cost through taxes on fuel, cars and tires). However, it ended up costing $114 billion and took 35 years. The last portion of the original plans — a section of the I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado — was completed on October 14, 1992.
The nation was connected.
Up next: Coast to Coast. The History of Transcontinental Travel, Part 4: The New Record Setters
Previous: Coast to Coast. The History of Transcontinental Travel, Part 2: Wheels and Wings
Check out ChiltonDIY and ChiltonPRO to keep your vehicle in top shape for your next adventure, whether it’s coast to coast or just around town. Whether you need procedures and specifications for one vehicle, (www.ChiltonDIY.com), or for many vehicles (www.ChiltonPRO.com), a subscription will give you full access to TSBs and Recalls, maintenance schedules, and service and repair information.
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BMW has always made superior automobiles, but with the 2015 X3 SUV they’ve taken it to another level. It’s not simply the 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, the superior handling, the boatload of safety features, or all the technology. It’s how BMW has put it all together in the 2015 X3 SUV.
Not only does it come with a 4-year 50,000 mile basic warranty, seats 5 comfortably, and gets a respectable 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg out on the open road. The vehicle comes in a rainbow of colors including Mineral Silver or white, Alpine White, Carbon Black, Black Sapphire, Deep Sea Blue, Glacier Silver, Jet Black, Melbourne Red, Space Gray, and Sparkling Brown all with metallic finishes. BMW deserves extra credit for expanding people’s color palette.
The 2015 X3 comes with premium leather or leatherette interiors in color combinations like Beige, Black Nevada w/Gray Contrast Stitching, Black, Ivory White Nevada w/Red Contrast Stitching, Mocha Nevada w/Orange Contrast Stitching, Oyster Nevada, Saddle Brown Nevada, and Sand Beige Nevada. This allows buyers to add a certain je no se qua to their SUV and display their unique style and taste.
The 2015 BMW X3 is a spacious 15 feet, 3.4 inches long, 6 feet 2.1 inches wide, and 5 feet 6.1 inches tall with a 9 foot 2.6 inch wheel base. That creates over 40.7 inches in front headroom, 39.9 inches of front leg room, and 58.4 inches of front shoulder room. The back offers a comfortable 39.1 inches of headroom, 36.8 inches of leg room, and 57.4 inches of shoulder room. With all the seats in place it has 27.6 cubic feet of storage space. It’s available in gas and diesel models with a fuel tank capacity of 17.7 gallons. That allows for 371.7/495.6 mi. between stops for fuel.
The 2015 BMW X3 is powered by a 2.0 liter, 16 valve, double-overhead cam, inline 4-cylinder, 240 horsepower engine with 260 feet-pounds of torque. It’s paired with an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission. This enables the SUV to tow up to 3,000 pounds. Add All-Wheel drive, a 39 foot turning circle, MacPherson strut front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, four-wheel independent suspension, and front and rear stabilizer bars and you have a nimble, go-anywhere beast that is both good-looking and powerful enough the haul just about anything the average family can hitch to it. Plus it comes with a 4 years or 50,000 mile drivetrain warranty and free maintenance for 4 years and up to 50,000 miles.
On the inside, there are 8-way power, height adjustable driver and passenger bucket seats, split-folding rear seatback, a folding center armrest with storage, and rear ventilation ducts. It also comes equipped with remote keyless power door locks, power, heated mirrors, and 4 one-touch power windows. The instrument panel lets drivers monitor all of the vehicle’s systems. There’s even a tachometer, trip computer, external temperature display, and low fuel-level warning.
For the driver’s convenience, there is electric power steering, a leather tilt and telescopic steering wheel, audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, hands-free calling, universal remote transmitter for the garage door, security system, and more. If you’re not sure where you’re going, there’s destination guidance and turn-by-turn navigation. Getting where you’re going has never been easier. And if anything happens on the way, there’s roadside assistance and concierge service.
The vehicle also comes with loads of creature comforts like interior air filtration,
dual zone climate controls for the driver and passengers, cargo area light, front and rear reading lights, rear cargo floor mats, electrochromatic inside rearview mirror, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, and memorized audio system and climate control settings for up to 2 drivers.
When it comes to in-car entertainment there is a diversity antenna, 12 speakers, 205 watts stereo output, AM/FM stereo, auxiliary audio input and USB connections, external media control and a radio data system. The 2015 BMW X3 is also pre-wired for phones and has BMW Assist telecommunications service, and Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free calling all available with a subscription to BMW Assist.
Even on the outside this SUV is a high-tech machine. It has variable intermittent rain sensing wipers, privacy glass, rear defogger, rear window wiper, roof rack, and rear spoiler. It also features a fixed liftgate window, and a rear power liftgate door. These are carried along on 18 x 8.0 in. alloy wheels with 245/50R18 run flat tires.
When it comes to safety this BMW takes good care of its occupants. There are front and rear head airbags, dual front side-mounted airbags, child seat anchors,
passenger airbag with occupant sensing deactivation, rear center 3-point seatbelt, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, a post-collision safety system, passenger head restraint with whiplash protection system, airbag deployment notification, and rear door child safety locks.
BMW also makes sure the vehicle can stop safely. The 2015 X3 has 4-wheel ABS, emergency braking assist, front and rear ventilated disc brakes, stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency braking preparation, brake drying, side and top view cameras, and parking assistant.
The vehicle also comes with loads of option packages including driver assistance plus, cold weather, lighting, dynamic handling, driver assistance, premium, and technology packages, along with M Sport and XLine. The exterior options include roof rails in satin aluminum, panoramic moon-roof, adaptive full LED lights, and 19″ or 20″ M Double Spoke Wheels, or 19″ Light Alloy Double-Spoke Wheels.
The 2015 BMW X3 is the ideal family vehicle for the new millennium.
When you say Honda, most people think about the dependability, and this auto maker’s reputation that has stood the test of time. The Honda CR-V is an economically priced, smaller SUV that is one of Honda’s best utility automobiles. Introduced in 1995, the manufacture is still rolling these cars off the line as fast as they can sell them. With a starting price of $22,945 and gas mileage of 23 in the city and 31 on the highway, it’s a bargain. This car is perfect for a family of four or under, and has a nice cargo area and plenty of upgrade options. Ranked #1 in inexpensive compact SUV’s, Honda did a spectacular job with this beauty.
When Ford first introduced the Explorer back in 1990, it started the SUV revolution. However, Explorer is known to be a gas hog and it is quite pricey for some families. The answer to this problem is the Escape. Ford began making this compact crossover in 2000. The new models have Flex-Fuel, which offers vast gas mileage savings. This vehicle ranks #7 in the most economical SUV’s and has nice add ons, like the hands-free lift gate. Starting price at $23,100 with gas mileage of 23 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, the Escape is a great option for the spend-thrifty family.
Jeep is another name that people equate with quality and dependability. The Cherokee rolled off the lines in 1984. There are many trim packages available on this sports utility vehicle, so this does affect the price quite a bit. Once called the Jeep Waggoner, this car has had major transformations over the past three decades. First created for government and police use, their unique nature caught on and sales skyrocketed. With models like the Laredo, Grand, Briarwood and Classic, there is a great selection. The new 2014 models are priced at $22,995. With an excellent 4×4 package, this vehicle is made to tow boats and campers and for off-road fun. Gas mileage is 22 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. Jeep is a part of the Chrysler Corporation, and they are known to be a quality SUV for the family.
They are compact and cute, but still considered an SUV. The Rav-4 was introduced in 1994 to rave reviews. This car was the answer to the prayers of those who couldn’t afford the larger ones, and really didn’t need the extra gas mileage. The Rav-4 is a smaller, more compact SUV, but it still has enough room to comfortably seat four. This car offered consumers what they wanted, four wheel drive, more cargo space and the fuel economy of a smaller vehicle. Some say that this small wonder paved the way for other compact SUV’s, like the Ford Escape and the Subaru Forester. The base price on this vehicle is $23,550. The average gas mileage is 24 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. The Rav handles more like a car than most SUV’s, thus making it a great contender in the affordable category.
When Kia first started marketing vehicles in the US, some people were more than skeptical. Much has improved since the first cars rolled onto the lots. In 2002, Kia introduced the Sorento. While sales were a bit stagnate at first, new and improved body styles increased options and eventually sales. The third generation rolled out this year with a 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine. A bold choice of colors, and the Nappa leather trimmed seats, gave customers many luxurious choices. With standard front wheel drive and four wheel drive options, this mid-size crossover can compete with more expensive vehicles with ease. Price at $24,100, this auto gets 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
The first Subaru Foresters were cars that had eerie similarities to a station wagon. However, that was back in 1997 and the new 2014 models have expanded to quite an impressive crossover. These cars were always popular in areas where there was plenty of snow, like West Virginia. Part of the attraction was the all-wheel drive. They pretty much had the market on the all-wheel drive category for a car. Japanese made, these crossovers have a unique look and an excellent starting price at only $21,995. Subaru has some pretty expensive vehicles, but this one is surprisingly affordable. With gas mileage of 24 mpg in the city and 32 on the freeway, it gets good marks for affordability all the way around. There are eight trim packages available in all, and this car seems to still have a strong following in rural communities.
Introduced in 2007, the Nissan Rogue is not a crossover that got a great deal of attention until now. However, it has some pretty great features and a great price point starting at $23,650. Average fuel costs are 25 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. It was a top pick for safety in crash test ratings, which makes it a great option for families. An amazing 70.0 cu. ft. of cargo space is not too bad either. The 2014 model was voted the fifth most popular SUV in the country. With four trim levels, and a sporty look that is unique to other vehicles in this class, this one stands out from the rest.
There are some fantastic crossover SUVs on the market right now that are not only affordable, but dependable and safe as well. When any type of SUV is considered, it is due to a desire for a vehicle that can handle various road and weather conditions, as well as haul various passengers and cargo. The Hyundai Santa Fe stands out for larger families. There are several trim packages. The Sport is probably the more popular and comes with a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine. This smaller engine still offers 190 horsepower without sending its owner to the gas station everyday. The Sport’s estimated miles per gallon is 29city/29hwy. Even the Sport 2.0T that has a turbo charged 2.0 liter engine and pulls 264 horsepower, has an estimated miles per gallon of 20city/27hwy. Not bad at all. The starting MSRP for the Sport is about 24,700 and the Sport 2.0T is 27,950.
All of the Santa Fe models come with some basic features such as Bluetooth and iPod capabilities, spacious interiors, satellite radio, and an optional navigation system. However, as stated earlier, families tend to look at some essential things like safety and room, before the other perks. Although the Sport trims are nice they do only seat a maximum of five. If your family is looking to only haul people, and if you are a family of five, and are never planning on having a guest within your vehicle, then the sport is ideal. We all know that scenario is not likely, but for a family of 3-4, the Sport would work nicely. Luckily Hyundai offers a GLS and Limited version for their 2013 Santa Fe. The only true difference is the seating. The GLS can seat up to seven, but the Limited only seats up to six. The reason for this is due to the second seat row in the Limited, now has two captain chairs. Basic perks and options are basically the same across the board for all trim models of the Santa Fe, however, the panoramic sunroof that is offered on the other models is not on the GLS. The GLS has a starting MSRP of 28,350 and the Limited is 33,100. Both have a 3.3 liter V6 engine and a miles per gallon of 18city/25hwy can be expected. This is a decent miles per gallon, and you can still enjoy the subtle yet thrilling feel of 390 horsepower.
The big thing now is safety. All models come with anti lock brakes, and traction and stability control. That will guarantee a safer ride on wet or icy roads. The government front and side crash rating for the Santa Fe earned an impressive five stars. The side, curtain, and front airbags are large contributors to that rating, as well as the descent control and what is called “hill hold”.
Standard on all models is Blue Link which is Hyundai’s emergency system. It includes numerous services that include remote access and theft recovery.
Overall the Santa Fe, regardless of model, is the ideal SUV for larger families. There are other comparable SUVs, but none with all of the things in one that families tend to look at. The Hyundai Santa Fe offers affordability, roominess, and safety.
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