Pickup trucks are America’s workhorses. Each year Ford, GM, and Dodge move more than a million of them, most of which are destined for a lifetime of heavy duty. But a small percentage of these trucks are special editions, models designed with standout style, performance, or both.

1991 GMC Syclone

The Syclone, a one-year-only monster mini pickup, arrived just as the sport truck scene was gathering steam. GM had some recent experience turbocharging V-6 engines, and this one channeled the soul of the mightiest turbocharged Buick Grand Nationals of the 1980s. The result was a GMC S-15 pickup that trounced a Ferrari in a famous Car and Driver test that pitted the just-under-$30,000 Syclone against a $122,000 Ferrari 348.

The turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 that sent the Syclone to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds put out 280 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, channeled to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic borrowed from the Corvette. The Syclone only came in black and was followed in 1992–1993 by the Typhoon, a GMC Jimmy SUV with the same powertrain.

1989–1991 Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible

Who says you can’t have utility and fun in the same package? Before hitting the showrooms, the American Sunroof Company removed the metal roof and installed a folding fabric top and roll bar. The result was the only convertible pickup truck until the Chevrolet SSR came out in 2003. But unlike the Chevy’s retro styling and limited utility, the Dakota convertible was pretty much exactly like the hard-top Dakota. That didn’t seem to make a difference, however, as both droptop trucks sold poorly and have kept automakers from trying this wacky experiment one more time. The closest thing we have to the Dakota today is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet convertible SUV.

1977 GMC Indy 500

GMC produced some strange special edition pickup trucks in the ’70s. In 1975 the company made a black and gold truck called the Gentleman Jim, though the difference wasn’t much more than a paint job. That same year the Beau James model debuted, packing some more serious equipment. It was a blue and silver heavy-duty 3/4-ton truck with softer springs and a smoother ride.

In 1977 GMC was the official truck of the Indy 500. To commemorate the occasion, the company built special edition GMC pickups in both 2WD and 4WD, with deep front spoilers, a sweet black and white paint scheme, and big wide raised white letter tires (and red pinstriping). These were some of the coolest and rarest of the 1970s GMC pickups. The success of these trucks made room for 1980′s GMC Indy Hauler, when the company joined Pontiac (Turbo Trans Am) to pace the race that year. Indy Haulers were even emblazoned with the Trans Am’s screaming chicken hood sticker, making them one of the most outrageous pickups of the era.

2004–2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10

GMC wasn’t the only brand making wild, hot-rodded trucks in the ’70s; Dodge’s 1978 L’il Red Express Truck, with wood bed accents, giant 18-wheeler-like exhaust pipes, and a Police Interceptor 360-cid V-8 under the hood, was one of the craziest.

In 2004 Dodge reprised that idea with even more radical results. Chrysler’s in-house tuning arm, SRT, took the 500 hp, 8.3-liter V-10 and six-speed manual transmission from the Dodge Viper and slithered it into the chassis of the Ram pickup. The incredible package, combined with hardcore suspension enhancements, produced a pickup that would hit 60 mph in the 5-second range. In 2005 a Quad Cab model with an automatic transmission and the ability to tow made the SRT-10 slightly more practical, but practicality wasn’t why anybody bought this $45,000 monster. This remains one of the most potent pickups in history, and we wouldn’t be surprised if they become highly collectible in years to come.

1976–1983 Jeep Honcho

In the 1970s the more aggressive the vehicle name and the wilder the paint, the better. Jeep had plenty of wild models at the time: Remember the 1975 Golden Eagle, a gold accented package available on the CJ? The Golden Eagle was emblazoned with (of course) a giant eagle sticker on its hood. It was like the Trans Am of Jeeps.

But one of the coolest packages Jeep offered was based on Jeep’s half-ton full-size pickup, the J-10. Jeep’s J-series full-size pickup trucks were launched in 1964 as “Gladiators” but no model was more brazenly over-the-top than the Honcho. Ads proclaimed “Honcho means boss… and Honcho is macho. And that means brawny, powerful and tough.”

The Honcho package used the “wide-track” Dana 44 axles from the Cherokee and included big 31-inch tires and white wagon-type wheels. The stoutest Honchos packed AMC’s 401-cid V-8. Many wore the optional front brush guard as well as a roll bar in the bed. And some even came with a dealer-installed hidden recovery winch. Jeep produced less than 1500 Honcho Sportsides so these rarities are coveted machines.

1990–1993 Chevy 454 SS
Special edition trucks in the 1990s didn’t quite have the visual pop of their ’70s and 80s predecessors. Still, the “454 SS” graphics on this truck’s bedsides left little to the imagination as to what was under the hood.

The 454 SS was a performance model of the Chevy 1500 launched in 1990. Instead of the ubiquitous 350-cubic-inch small-block V-8 that came in most 1500-series models, Chevy dropped in the 230-hp 454-cid V-8 from its heavy-duty trucks, which pumped 385 lb-ft of torque. It was paired to a three-speed automatic and at first came only in black. The 454 SS sat lower in the rear and wore stiffer front springs to handle the weight of that enormous engine.

A small truck with a huge engine should be a dragstrip terror. But even in 1993, when this motor was massaged to 255 hp and 405 lb-ft, it was good only for mid-15-second quarter-mile times. At the time that wasn’t exactly slow, but it couldn’t match the Camaro Z/28 or Ford Mustang GT. Chevy introduced a Sport model of the 1500 that sold alongside the 454 SS and looked identical to its more powerful sibling, except for the “454 SS” stickers. Perhaps that’s why this cool model lasted only four years.

1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition

Baja race trucks in the 1980s and early 1990s enjoyed a staunch fan base and inspired the look of street trucks. In 1987, to capitalize on the prerunner craze, legendary racer Rod Hall developed a custom truck backed by Dodge. The 1987 trucks emulated his race prerunners by having a taller and firmer suspension. The trouble was, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) didn’t care much for this suspension. Dodge made only 14 Rod Hall Signature Editions and NHTSA recalled every one. Few ever returned to owners’ hands, and even fewer still are around today.

However, in 1990 Hall teamed up with Carroll Shelby, who had a relationship with Chrysler at the time, to build a new batch of Signature Series trucks. They made a total of 33, and each one wears cool prerunner bumpers front and rear, a bed-mounted light bar, and Rod Hall driving lights.

All of these trucks came with Dodge’s least powerful eight-cylinder engine, the 318-cid V-8 with a measly 170 hp. So they weren’t nearly as quick as they looked. Nonetheless, the Rod Hall Signature models were some of the most interesting, rare, and unique trucks Dodge ever offered.

1993–1995 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning

After the early ’90s sport-truck performance onslaught by General Motors with the GMC Syclone and 454 SS, it was time for Ford to provide a little competition. But instead of stuffing its biggest V-8 into the Lightning, Ford decided to modify the lighter 5.8-liter V-8 with GT-40 aluminum cylinder heads, plus a unique camshaft, intake manifold, and throttle-body fuel-injection system. The resulting 240 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque was enough to match the 454 SS in a straight line. Ford’s in-house performance tuners, SVT, then reworked the Lightning’s suspension to provide much more grip and speed in the corners than the heavy Chevy.

The Lightning was a true performance vehicle with upgrades to every aspect of its character. Its capability and speed are that much more impressive when you realize the basic truck platform was already 13 years old when the Lightning debuted. It was so successful that Ford built a second-generation supercharged Lightning from 1999 to 2004. These trucks paved the way for the incredible Raptor of today.

1977-1981 Dodge Macho Power Wagon

The Power Wagon nameplate is one of the longest-running in Dodge history, stretching from the original military Power Wagons of the 1940s to today’s Power Wagon, a heavy-duty off-road version of the Ram. In the 1970s Dodge launched a Macho version of the Power Wagon that delivered some visual heat for the 1970s 4X4 fan.

Dodge had some of the craziest pickups on the market, from the gold-trimmed Warlock and Warlock II (’76–’79) to the L’il Red Express Truck (’78–’79), which used tall vertical exhaust stacks combined with the wood-lined bed of the Warlock. The Macho was in production longer than any of them, and came in either short- or long-bed models with a roll bar mounted to the bed, and special flat black and yellow paint accents that included “Power Wagon” in giant letters on the bedside and color matched wagon-type wheels. Although these machines were available with any of Dodge’s small block V-8s, the most desirable Machos packed the top dog 440-cid big block V-8 housed in the sportiest short-bed body style.

Machos saw their popularity soar thanks to a long-bed model that played a starring role on the small screen on the 1981 to 1995 hit TV series “Simon and Simon.”

2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Put an F-150 into a Lincoln Navigator‘s bodywork and you had the Blackwood, a one-year-only pickup from Ford’s luxury brand. The idea was a truck as luxurious as it sounds, and the Blackwood’s engineers went to great lengths to make this vehicle essentially unusable as a pickup. Its bed was designed more for looking pretty than anything else, with plush carpeting, stainless-steel bedsides, LED lighting, Dutch-style doors replacing a traditional tailgate, and even a power cover.

Unsurprisingly, you paid for that luxury. The Blackwood was only available in 2WD and sold for more than $50,000. The truck failed to attract buyers in any number in its day, but today it’s a quirky and rare collector’s item.
REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-rare-and-rowdy-special-edition-trucks-203052993.html

Kanye’s Car

This has just not been a great week for Kanye West. After walking into a sign outside of Beverly Hills Vietnamese restaurant 9021o and getting into a fight with a photographer the other day, his prized possession-a $750,000 black Lamborghini Aventador that baby mama Kim Kardashian bought him for his 35th birthday-was damaged upon entering Kardashian’s swanky Los Angeles mansion.

After being serviced yesterday, a driver was returning the pricey vehicle to the Mediterranean pad and entering the gates. Sadly, they were going just a little too slow, and the gates began to close on it, causing some unfortunate damage. There’s no word on how much the damage cost, but chances are it wasn’t cheap. Considering the car is close to $1 million, every square inch on this bad boy is worth something!

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/oops-kanye-west-8217-750-000-car-crushed-172900944.html

With the release of our Tesla Model S road test, there have been many questions regarding what other models stand out. Here, we present the current class valedictorians, those cars that have faced our more than 50 tests and managed to earn an A.

Sure, the Tesla Model S may be our newly named prom queen, but there are a dozen other current cars that have scored 90 points or above on a 100-point scale. The most significant takeaway here is the diversity, where we’re seeing family sedans, sports coupes, and luxury sedans stand out with impressive overall scores. It is clear, that it isn’t necessary to spend $90,000, like we did on our Tesla, to get a great car. It just takes a few minutes of research and your own test drives.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/consumer-reports-names-its-top-scoring-cars-222313172.html

You know the Tesla Model S, the $70,000 (and-up) electric car that “nobody can afford”? Well, evidently, more than a few people can afford it.

In fact, in the first quarter of this year, more people bought a Tesla Model S than bought any of the similarly priced gasoline-powered cars from the top three German luxury brands, according to data from LMC Automotive. About 4,750 buyers bought a Model S while just over 3,000 people bought Mercedes’ top-level sedan.

This is not a perfect comparison, of course. Actual selling prices for the Mercedes S-class sedan start toward the upper end of the Tesla Model S price range, according the the auto pricing Web site TrueCar.com, while prices for the other cars are at the lower end. And nobody gets a $7,500 federal tax credit for a buying an S-class or an A8. Also, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi each sell a full range of cars and SUVs while Tesla buyers have only one model to choose from.  The blog GreenCarReports.com first noted the comparison.

Still, let’s face it, Tesla (TSLA)’s one model is doing pretty well, especially for a start-up automaker with a limited dealer network.  Last week was a particularly stellar one.  On Wednesday, Tesla announced a profit that exceeded Wall Street estimates. It also raised its Model S sales estimates for this year from 20,000 to 21,000.

Then on Thursday Consumer Reports came out and called the Model S the best car that it had ever tested. (Its overall performance was “off the charts,” according to the magazine’s head of auto testing, but it only earned 99 out of a possible 100 points because it can’t be driven extremely long distances without recharging.)  Despite some early stumbles — such as a squabble with the New York Times over its new“super charger” network and push back from traditional car dealers over its sales strategy – Tesla seems to humming along, at least for now.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/13/autos/tesla-sales-bmw-mercedes-audi/index.html?hpt=hp_t5

In these boom times for carmakers, it’s hard to find one that isn’t pushing the accelerator on its factories, from Kia to Bentley. But Ferrari revealed today that after hitting an all-time record for sales in 2012, it will cut its output this year to fewer than 7,000 cars in a strategy to maintain its aura of exclusivity — which Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo compared to waiting for a beautiful woman.

And if you think that beautiful woman will ever arrive in a Ferrari electric car, you will be waiting a long time.

Between a resurgent U.S. economy, strong oil prices and China’s move toward luxury goods, high-end carmakers have never had it quite so good. In 2012, Ferrari sold 7,318 cars, its best year ever, and the 499 copies of the LaFerrari supercar unveiled in Geneva in March have already been spoken for.

But unlike Porsche, which has bolstered its line with SUVs and sedans and has aggressive plans for growth, Ferrari has steadfastly refused to expand beyond two-door grand tourers, with only the hatchback FF breaking the mold. By all measures, Ferrari remains the world’s most valuable automotive brand — the company makes $100 million a year from licensing its name for luxury goods — in large part because a Ferrari owner can feel like a member of an exclusive club.

In these boom times for carmakers, it’s hard to find one that isn’t pushing the accelerator on its factories, from Kia to Bentley. But Ferrari revealed today that after hitting an all-time record for sales in 2012, it will cut its output this year to fewer than 7,000 cars in a strategy to maintain its aura of exclusivity — which Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo compared to waiting for a beautiful woman.

And if you think that beautiful woman will ever arrive in a Ferrari electric car, you will be waiting a long time.

Between a resurgent U.S. economy, strong oil prices and China’s move toward luxury goods, high-end carmakers have never had it quite so good. In 2012, Ferrari sold 7,318 cars, its best year ever, and the 499 copies of the LaFerrari supercar unveiled in Geneva in March have already been spoken for.

But unlike Porsche, which has bolstered its line with SUVs and sedans and has aggressive plans for growth, Ferrari has steadfastly refused to expand beyond two-door grand tourers, with only the hatchback FF breaking the mold. By all measures, Ferrari remains the world’s most valuable automotive brand — the company makes $100 million a year from licensing its name for luxury goods — in large part because a Ferrari owner can feel like a member of an exclusive club.

Speaking at a gathering of reporters from around the world at Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, Italy, Di Montezemolo said maintaining Ferrari’s image was far more important than trying to push as many sports cars as possible out the gates.

“In order to preserve this exclusivity concept, you must be brave enough to manufacturer the lower number of cars,” he said. “Those who buy a Ferrari buy a dream, and they must be reassured that their dream of exclusivity will be fulfilled.”

Di Montezemolo wouldn’t put a specific number on the cut, saying only that Ferrari would build fewer than 7,000 cars in 2013; it sold 1,798 in the first quarter. He also said the company would match its revenues and profits from 2012 even though it wouldn’t move as many vehicles — counting on the innate desire of Ferrari customers to close the gap.

“Ferrari is like a beautiful woman,” Di Montezemolo said. “You must desire her, you must wait for her.”

As a part of the Fiat-Chrysler conglomerate, Ferrari can also put some of its spare energies toward other brands, namely Maserati, for which it builds six-cylinder engines. And its executives outlined how the company would develop technologies like the Formula 1-based hybrid system in the LaFerrari to meet tougher emission standards.

But Di Montezemolo made clear that Ferrari would never break from the tradition of powerful gasoline engines on his watch, no matter the pressure: “We will never manufacture an electric car as long as I’m chairman.”

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/ferrari-cuts-production-2013-vows-never-build-electric-130344501.html

What do you buy for the car collector who has everything?

Apparently, an RUF CTR-3.

Ralph Lauren, the fashion mogul and vintage-car collector, recently took delivery of a new RUF CTR-3, according to people familiar with the deal. Lauren was snapped by the car-parazzi taking it for a spin recently in the Hamptons.  A spokesman for Lauren declined comment.

For super-rich car collectors, the RUF is one of those cult brands with a storied past and a reputation for high performance. Germany-based RUF Automobile has modified Porsches for 50 years, pimping them out with a super-charged flat-six cylinder engine and bulking up the frames with its own wings, fenders and vents.  The CTR-3 has a base price of $680,000 but most of them top $700,000 with customized specs. This is not merely a souped-up Porsche; the CTR-3 is built more from scratch. Only the front end and part of the engine originate from a Porsche 911.

Its swooping body with a long, Le Mans-style tail is made from carbon fiber. The car has a 777-horsepower engine and, according to the company, can “go faster than anyone can drive.”  RUF has sold three of its CTR-3′s in the U.S., but has only sold 25 CTR-3′s since the product was launched in 2007. RUF has other models, of course, but only makes and sells about 30 to 35 cars a year.  ”Our customers appreciate the performance of these cars, it’s like a true race car,” said Estonia Ruf of Ruf Automobile. “For people who like race history, this car has lines that evoke that past but it also has elements of a new model. It’s not retro. But the lines are very beautiful.”

The perfect new car, in other words, for a man who already has a garage full of vintage Ferraris and Bugattis.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ralph-laurens-700-000-supercar-151933010.html

Consumer Reports is calling the Tesla Model S the best car it has ever tested. The Model S, an all-electric plug-in car, earned a score of 99 out of a possible 100 in the magazine’s tests.

The score would have been higher but for the fact that the all-electric car does need to stop and recharge during extremely long-distance drives.  ”If it could recharge in any gas station in three minutes, this car would score about 110,” said Jake Fisher, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Fisher called the car’s performance in the magazine’s performance tests “off the charts.”  Depending on price, the Model S has driving range of between 208 and 265 miles. A full charge takes about six hours from an ordinary 240 volt outlet, according to Tesla.

The Model S has already won awards from car magazines like Motor Trend and Automobile, but Consumer Reports is widely regarded as being the most influential magazine among car shoppers. Consumer Reports, published by the non-profit group Consumer’s Union, purchases all the cars it tests and does not accept paid ads.

The score of 99 means the Tesla (TSLA) Model S, a sedan that can seat as many as seven people, performed as well or better than any automobile the magazine has ever tested. The score is not unprecedented — most recently, it was earned by the Lexus LS460 in 2009 – but no car at any price has ever scored higher.  Prices for the Model S start at about $70,000, not including federal and state tax incentives for electric cars.

The Model S tied for the quietest vehicle the magazine has ever tested, was among the most energy-efficient and had excellent scores for acceleration, braking and ride quality.  ”We don’t get all excited about many vehicles, and with this car we really did,” Fisher said.  The magazine’s raves for the Model S stand in sharp contrast to the treatment received by the competing Fisker Karma that the magazine pilloried, calling it “plagued with flaws.”Fisker is now in dire financial trouble.

On other hand, Tesla just announced its first profit and raised sales forecasts for the Model S.

Industry analysts have credited the quality of the Model S, in part, with Tesla’s early success in an industry that has not been kind to start-ups. Just recently electric car maker Coda Automotive went under and plug-in car maker Fisker is near its demise. Tesla, meanwhile, is financially healthy thanks to good sales of the Model S plus deals it’s reached to supply components to major automakers like Toyota and Daimler as well as sales of electric car credits, earned under California regulations, to other automakers that sell fewer electric cars.  Tesla had previously stated a goal of selling 20,000 Model S cars this year and has now raised that goal.

The question remains whether the car will continue to sell well in the long term, said Todd Turner, an industry analyst with Car Concepts in California. A lot of that will depend on the longer-term dependability of its battery technology, he said.  ”All kinds of cars have complexities,” he said. “Everything has to work for a very long period of time.”

Consumer Reports isn’t recommending the Model S, though. At least not yet. To be recommended, a car has to have at least average “predicted reliability,” something that’s based on reader surveys. Also, a car has to have good crash test scores from the government and from the privately funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Consumer Reports has not yet collected enough data to rule on the Model S’s reliability.  So far, the magazine itself has had a couple of minor issues with its test car, Fisher said, including a radio problem that was fixed by an overnight over-the-air software download and a cracked windshield.

To maintain its momentum, Tesla will need to move beyond this car, said Ed Kim, an analyst with the auto marketing consulting firm AutoPacific.  ”Ultimately, Tesla’s going to have to transition from building six-figure cars for bleeding-edge early adopters to making a car for a more general audience,” Kim said.

Tesla’s next vehicle is supposed to be the Tesla Model X crossover SUV but, after that, the company’s plans call for a less expensive car and, possibly, other products.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/09/autos/tesla-model-s-consumer-reports/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

The BeDazzling infection running through automakers’ full-size pickups has struck General Motors, which revealed the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country this weekend, a $47,000 version of its new trucks meant to impress an apparently growing market of rhinestone cowboys.

While the herd of such trucks has grown over the past year with models like the Ram Laramie Longhorn and upcoming Toyota Tundra 1794 edition, Detroit has been pushing for years to create a market for high-profit luxury pickups; just ask any of the 14 people who still own a Lincoln Blackwood. Despite that misstep, Ford has made the most of its King Ranch pickup line, which has a more upscale image than most Lincolns. Yet the equation always seemed less effective for GM, which has an entire upscale truck division in GMC and the Cadillac Escalade EXT for those who really wanted to spend $60,000 on a vehicle with a bed.

Chevy says the Silverado High Country will distinguish itself with unique projector headlights, a leather-swaddled interior in the tasteful saddle brown shade and a few fencerows of chrome trim, including 20-inch chrome wheels, powered by either Chevy’s 5.3-liter V-8 or the new 6.3-liter V-8. Most important of all, the truck will sport large “High Country” badges on the flank and tailgate; what good are a few jewels if no one sees them sparkle?

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-chevrolet-silverado-high-country-enters-highfalutin-pickup-120955494.html

The 2012-13 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is by many accounts the best variant ever built during the first 49 years of the original pony car. As good as the Boss might be, though, would you pay close to $200,000 for one? Gene Butman Ford of Ypsilanti, MI sure hopes someone will, because they’re currently asking $189,999 for the last Boss they have in stock.

This particular Boss 302 Laguna Seca is part of Butman’s pre-owned inventory and it has an interesting history that goes beyond the information in the description. The original owner of this pre-production 2013 Boss was Ford’s marketing department, where the car was initially used for product photography before going into the press fleet. The dealer’s listing highlights that the car was the subject of much of the magazine photography seen over the past year.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/05/01/would-buy-used-2013-boss-302-mustang-for-nearly-200000/?intcmp=obnetwork

The 2014 Corvette Stingray will be the pace car at this year’s Indianapolis 500.

It’s the 12th time a Corvette will lead the traditional 33-car field around Indy’s historic 2.5-mile oval.

The car will be painted Laguna Blue Tintcoat and the only modifications from the car sold to the public will be the safety features. The engine will not be altered.

Chevrolet has a long history with the 500. In addition to being a regular on the pace-car list, Oldsmobile was the sole engine producer during the late 1990s and early 2000s and returned to the series in 2011. The Chevrolet brothers — Louis, Arthur and Gaston — all drove in the race and Gaston Chevrolet won in 1920.

This year’s race is scheduled for May 26.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/05/03/2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-to-pace-indy-500/#ixzz2SFSgUQUJ