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Video: Seinfeld drives David Letterman’s V8 Volvo wagon in latest CiCGC

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Volvo, Celebrities, Humor

David Letterman's V8-powered Volvo wagon drops soccer balls and groceries - video screencap

Paul Newman once talked David Letterman into repowering a then-new Volvo 960 station wagon with a supercharged Ford 5.0-liter V8. No, that’s not the setup to a joke. Letterman recently handed over the keys to his 380-horsepower family hauler to Jerry Seinfeld for the latest episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The two talk about how the machine nearly barbecued Letterman while he was on his way to a cardiologist appointment, then they sit down for a more lengthy discussion on the comedy business of today and yesteryear.

As a bonus, we get plenty of clips of the V8 Volvo doing what it does best: hauling groceries and doing smokey burnouts. If you need a refresher on exactly how this creation came to be, check out George Achorn’s recounting of the car’s birth over at SwedeSpeed.com. It’ll be worth your time. You can also take a peek at the latest Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee below.

Continue reading Seinfeld drives David Letterman’s V8 Volvo wagon in latest CiCGC

Seinfeld drives David Letterman’s V8 Volvo wagon in latest CiCGC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver offers up the best of David E. Davis, Jr.

Filed under: Etc.

David E. Davis, Jr.

David E. Davis, Jr. – Click above for high-res image

Legendary automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr. passed away earlier this week at the age of 80. Davis (known to his countless friends and colleagues simply as “David E.”) was a prolific writer, with published bits of wit and wisdom dating back over fifty years.

David E. spent a lengthy tenure atop the masthead of Car and Driver, and the magazine has put together a collection of his most memorable pieces published in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. Davis had a passion for driving “great cars on great roads,” and stories like his April, 1968 C/D review of the BMW 2002 showcase his influence. In writing about the 2002, Davis brought BMW front and center within the mind of the American automotive enthusiast.

A total of nine stories are offered in C/D‘s collection, available as either text or downloadable magazine-layout PDFs. Head over to Car and Driver‘s website to read the lot.

[Source: Car and Driver | Image: Winding Road]

Car and Driver offers up the best of David E. Davis, Jr. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Filed under: Podcasts, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Electric

Autoblog podcast logo

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Here’s Autoblog Podcast #223. The crew this week is Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth. Topics covered are Ford’s commitment to the 2012 Focus by giving early cars a 30-mile shakedown drives, Japan’s amazing ability to repair roads in days, the Autoblog long-term Hyundai Equus and the sad passing of David E. Davis, Jr. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds it up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Japanese road crew repairs quaked damaged road in six days
Ford giving 2012 Focus 30-mile quality exam prior to sale
Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins the long-term Autoblog Garage
Auto journalism pioneer David E. Davis, Jr., dead at 80

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Kia Sportage
2012 Ford Focus Titanium

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:17:50

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lewis Hamilton and David Hobbscap confirmed for CARS 2

Filed under: Etc., Jaguar, Celebrities

Lewis Hamilton from Pixar's CARS 2

Lewis Hamilton and David Hobbscap from Pixar’s CARS 2 – Click above to see all the new characters

The seemingly endless rollout of new characters appearing in Pixar’s upcoming CARS 2 continues today with two new vehicles, one another Autoblog exclusive. That vehicle is none other than Lewis Hamilton, the only character we can think of so far whose name hasn’t been changed for the film.

The Formula One superstar will appear in the CARS sequel, set to open on June 24th in theaters nationwide, playing a “sleek and seriously fast #2 Grand Touring Sports champion.” Having grown up learning Karate and winning Karting championships, Hamilton’s character steps onto the international stage as Britain’s representative in the World Grand Prix. Follow the jump to see Lewis Hamilton’s CARS 2 character in our exclusive video turntable.

David Hobbscap from Pixar's CARS 2 Next up is David Hobbscap, voiced by British F1 announcer David Hobbs. Hobbscap is a 1963 Coombs Lightweight Jaguar E-type, who Car and Driver reports has 20 Le Mans starts under his beltline and retired from racing to become a broadcaster, just like his human counterpart.

Hobbscap will join Darrell Cartrip and yet-to-be-revealed Brent Mustangberger on the three-car commentary team for the World Grand Prix in the film. Check out a screen capture off all three lifted from the official trailer after the jump.

Gallery: CARS 2 Characters

Grem Acer Shu Todoroki Raoul ÇaRoule Carla Veloso

[Source: Pixar, Car and Driver blog]

Continue reading Lewis Hamilton and David Hobbscap confirmed for CARS 2

Lewis Hamilton and David Hobbscap confirmed for CARS 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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‘Bye Dad: David Evan Davis, Jr., shuts his eyes one last time at 80 years, 140 days

Filed under: Classics, Etc.

David E. Davis, Jr., with wife Jeannie and son Matt

Talking about my dad just after the day of his death, I’m sort of forced to quote him. Right up to the last, he was “one tough summbitch” as he would say in praising anyone worth their salt. He saved that Burnside, Kentucky, inner country boy just for such moments as these.

His amazing wife Jeannie Luce Kuhn Davis (one of the great names in the annals of stepmothering) and I drove up to the hospital yesterday before I had to get to the airport to head to New York City, where I am writing this now. Jeannie was in her Chrysler minivan – her favorite for hauling dogs and people, in that order – me in a nice Saab 9-5 sedan. We’d brought the two big Italian Spinone hunting dogs, Tavi (for “Ottavio”) and Pucci (for “Puccini”), to the hospital the two previous days so they could give some love to their bedridden master. Jeannie was going to bring them again in the afternoon since my dad and everyone else on the floor got such a kick out of them with their silly bearded faces and warm affection.

In the morning my dad was fine and we had a good last bye-bye, saying we’d see each other really soon again anyway. After all, all post-op tests revealed that he was now completely cured of any cancer and he’d be heading home in maybe five or six days to heal up completely. We were all telling as much to the many well-wishers who phoned the room.

Click to continue reading…

Continue reading ‘Bye Dad: David Evan Davis, Jr., shuts his eyes one last time at 80 years, 140 days

‘Bye Dad: David Evan Davis, Jr., shuts his eyes one last time at 80 years, 140 days originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David E. Davis, Jr., Dean of automotive journalism, dead at 80

Filed under: Classics

David E. Davis, Jr. has died at age 80. The longtime Car and Driver editor, Automobile Magazine founder and man with his fingerprints all over this great business of ours passed away unexpectedly after complications from bladder surgery at 5:15pm Eastern on Sunday. A hugely witty man with a talent for honing a magazine’s voice and recognizing and refining talent in those around him, Davis stands among the founding fathers of modern automotive journalism.

In recent years, Davis had returned to C/D as a columnist after helping to get pioneering digital auto magazine, Winding Road, off the ground. He has held sway over nearly every great print title in the American auto journalism world at one point or another, including Road & Track and Motor Trend, and earlier in his professional life, he cultivated a distinguished career in the automotive ad business, where he was instrumental in the creation of General Motors’ seminal “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet” campaign, among others.

As an editor, publisher, ad man, racer, mentor and raconteur extraordinaire, Davis leaves an indelible mark on the industry. As a family man, he leaves behind his beloved wife, Jeannie, a daughter and two sons, including our own European Editor, Matt Davis.

Ever eloquent, where others might simply inquire “How are you?”, Davis was known for asking colleagues and friends “Is your life a rich tapestry?” Davis’ own life was certainly a vibrant and detailed work of art. Everyone in auto world owes this icon a debt of gratitude… and some of us even owe him our careers.

David E. Davis, Jr., Dean of automotive journalism, dead at 80 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Videos, Ford, Celebrities, Humor

david letterman taking delivery of his 2011 ford fusion

David Letterman buys a 2011 Ford Fusion on-air – Click above to watch video after the jump

If you were David Letterman, what type of car would you purchase? Something German? Italian? Perhaps something that quickly propels you to illegal speeds? You’re all wrong, unless your guess was the 2011 Ford Fusion… which would be an amazingly accurate answer.

Letterman posed a challenge to local Nissan and Ford dealers; get to my set first and I will buy a car from you. Nissan was working to bring down the Juke, while Ford sent over a Fusion. It was clear that Letterman wanted the Ford to arrive first because he mocked the Juke and held up a sign reading “we love Ford.”

Luckily for Dave, a salesman from the Manhattan Ford dealership arrived first. He sat down with Dave, and Letterman successfully haggled him down a bit on the price. Click past the jump to see David Letterman take ownership of a 2011 Ford Fusion and to see the Top Ten Reasons Dave Doesn’t Want A Nissan Juke. Okay, fine. We may have embellished that last bit a little…

[Source: YouTube, Ford]

Continue reading Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed

Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Jeremy Clarkson best role model for boys, second only to David Beckham

Don’t get us wrong; we really and truly enjoy ourselves some Jeremy Clarkson every now and again, just so long as it’s in measured doses, of course. But to consider the top bloke at Top Gear as a role model for boys? Now, that there might just be a bridge too far.

All the same, a new poll administered by Disney XD asked 601 male children in the UK between the ages of eight and 14, and the results suggest that the litl’uns chose Clarkson as their second favorite role model, behind only football superstar David Beckham. *Sigh.*

Also placing highly in the minds of young British boys was another footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Sugar (self-made billionaire and host of the UK version of The Apprentice) and Daniel Radcliffe (star of the Harry Potter movies). Bill Gates, Simon Cowell, Barack Obama, Justin Bieber and Roger Federer rounded out the list.

Can we all just agree that one Jeremy Clarkson is all the world is capable of handling? And really… wouldn’t you just rather be The Stig?

[Source: Metro.co.uk | Image: AFP/Getty]

Poll: Jeremy Clarkson best role model for boys, second only to David Beckham originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Subaru, Racing

David Higgins

David Higgins joins Subaru Rally Team USA – Click above to watch video after the jump

The speculation over exactly who will be taking Travis Pastrana’s spot in the driver’s seat with Subaru Rally Team USA can officially be put to rest. David Higgins will be the new man in blue and yellow. Higgins has a résumé that’s chock full of rally wins, from championship titles in SCCA rally here in the states in 2002 and 2003 to a British National Rally Championship title in 2004. The guy also managed to walk away with a championship wins in group N in the British National Rally in 1997, 1999 and 2002.

Needless to say, the guy’s got the chops to keep the pace.

Subaru plans to campaign two cars next season, and while Higgins is the newest member of the team, the leader of the pack will BMX guru and rally beast Dave Mirra. Mirra managed to snag a Rookie of the Year award from Rally America for his efforts last season and took a slot on the podium during the Rally America Olympus event among others. Hit the jump for a look at a video of Higgins doing what he does best as well as the full press blast.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video]

Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Aston Martin, UK

1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII Drophead

David Brown’s 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII Drophead – Click above for high-res images

How much would you pay for a rusty old car? A couple grand, if it had real potential? More? How about $319,000? That’s how much one rusty old Aston Martin recently sold for at auction, and needless to say, it far exceeded pre-auction estimates.

Of course, this 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII drophead is no ordinary old car. It belonged to the legendary David Brown himself, the former Aston boss whose initials still grace the company’s GTs to this day. The car’s been sitting under a tarp, hidden from the world for 30 years. Naturally it’s not exactly in tip-top condition at this point, and it’ll require a significant amount of work to be brought up to spec.

“A rolling restoration project” is how auctioneers Barons British Heritage called it. We’ll call it a labor of love, and a mighty expensive one at that. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII drophead, ex-David Brown

[Source: Barons]

Continue reading David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction

David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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