David E. Davis, Jr.:
AMERICAN DRIVER
Confronted by two bright green fuel nozzles beneath a large sign that said “DIESEL,” I grabbed the nozzle on the left and pumped fifteen gallons of high-test gasoline into the tank of the brand new Grand Cherokee CRD that I was driving.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
CIRCUIT LOGIC
In this monthly section, we detail one of our nation's finest race tracks.
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SECONDHAND GEMS
Some of our favorite pre-loved cars.
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POWERTRAIN PLANS
Detroit execs talk about powertrain initiatives.
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A PROFILE OF DON WILLIAMS
In today’s world of collector cars, $42,500 won’t get you a good paint job. The prices paid for select historic automobiles continue to rise to the point where cars that in the ’60s could have been bought by the pound now command $100,000 if they are in concours condition. Duesenbergs were available in the ’50s for less than $1000. Today they are over $1 million. At the upper end of the scale, a Ferrari pieced together from parts that had allegedly gotten away brought $9.3 million (including buyer’s premium) at an auction in Italy last year.
Will we ever see $20 million? Williams, who runs the Blackhawk Collection in California’s East Bay-area Danville, says, “We’ve already been there.” And he would know.
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chris paukert: pace notes
This diminutive carryall has been on sale in Europe for years now, where it has competed against a host of oddly styled but lovable small utilities like the Renault Kangoo and Fiat Doblò. And now Ford is taking a gamble and bringing it to the States next summer, where it will compete in a class of one as a 2010 model.
As we understand it, the Turkish-built, front-engined, front-drive Transit Connect will initially only be offered in one configuration: a long-wheelbase five-passenger model paired with a 2.0-liter Duratec four-cylinder gasoline engine and automatic transmission. Officials suggest this drivetrain is good for around 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, and it carries a gross vehicle weight rating of 4950 pounds, or about the same as a 4.0-liter V-6 Ranger. That’s a far cry from the pack-mule prowess of a full-size E-series van or Dodge Sprinter, but the TC is much smaller in every dimension—picture a pent-roof Kia Rondo with less glass area and you’ve got it. In any case, it ought to provide plenty of muscle and cargo space for many small businesses, particularly those keen to combat rising fuel prices. Naturally, we at WINDING ROAD would love to see an even smaller diesel with a manual shifter option, and hope that a healthy reception will result in Ford expanding the model’s lineup.
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