Automotive News

The first model that set off a fifteen year run for the C3 “Shark” generation of the Corvette that stands today is the 1968 Corvette. The C3 generation that ran until 1982, would prove to be the most stubborn of all the Corvette generations. The selling record numbers in the late 1960′s, huge numbers in the 1970′s despite the gas crunch and holding until early in the 1980′s. This prolonged existence started with the 1968 Corvette which brought a new design that would inspire Corvettes that are driven today the C6 generation of 2005 to present.

In 1964, Larry Shinoda under the watchful direction of Bill Mitchell, designed the 1968 Corvette. By 1965 the Mako Shark II Concept Car was brought to the public eye by way of car shows and the 1968 Corvette would be an almost identical product by way of looks.

When the auto shows were done the Shinoda/Mitchell design was sent to Chevrolet styling under David Hollis. Using the existing Sting Ray chassis the design began to take place. The mid-engine design of the Mako Shark II was dropped. When the 1968 Corvette began to take shape there was an obvious overtone from the Mako Shark II design and the 1968 Corvette was the same car from the beltline down, just with softer contours.

Some of the new innovations to the 1968 Corvette included:

*Total redesign of the body. *Removable T-Top roof panels and back window on the coupe model. *Redesigned interior. *Optional three-speed Hydra-matic transmission to replace the previous two-speed Powerglide.

The engine stayed the same and was a carryover from the previous year, even though ,the 1968 Corvette had new features. There was no lack of power actually it was quite the contrary. Road & Track conducted several speed tests with the 1968 Corvette and found that the small-block 327 V-8 put out 350-bhp and had a reported top speed of 128 miles per hour. Even better was the big block put out a whopping 400 bhp and could do 0-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds.

New to the 1968 Corvette was actually something that was lacking. For the first time in awhile there was no Sting Ray name attached to the Chevrolet muscle machine, though it was advertised using the Sting Ray name. Just one year later however the ‘Stingray’ nameplate would find its way back onto the Corvette.

As much as General Motors tried to keep the new design of the 1968 Corvette a secret, the unveiling of the new body style actually took place a few weeks before the car was officially unveiled. Just before the 1968 Corvette was to be revealed to the public, toy maker Mattel released its new line of Hot Wheels and much to the surprise of General Motors Executives there was an unauthorized version of a car called the ‘Custom Corvette.’

Corvette fans loved the new 1968 Corvette, however, the critics gave it a poor review. This did not bother consumers and at the end of the year Chevrolet’s new Corvette had the last laugh with a record sale of 28, 566 cars sold which was an increase from the 5,000 from the last year of the Sting Ray.

For additional information and queries about The The 1968 Corvette please visit the Smokinvette Team at www.smokinvette.com

It is easy to get a list of auto insurance companies by browsing through the Internet, so you don’t have to waste time in visiting their offices anymore. Simply researching on the Internet will throw up a number of options as far as auto insurance companies are concerned.

To start with you should make a list of each of the different auto insurance companies available to you

It would be a good idea if one were thinking about renewing an auto insurance policy, or even thinking about taking out a fresh policy, to first list the different auto insurance companies before selecting one particular company.

Each auto insurance company will have its own insurance packages that will meet the different requirements of different car owners.

This is why it is necessary to carefully look into each and every detail of the policies you are presented with by each auto insurance provider so that you make sure you choose the best policy for your current situation.

Also you need to consider just what type of auto insurance you need, do you need a lot of coverage for your vehicle or just the minimum? And how much are you willing to pay for your coverage?

All too often people do not take the time to properly compare auto insurance from one company to the next, but unless you’re willing to either waste money on coverage you don’t need or indeed have less coverage than would ideally suit your situation, you really should take the time to do a little bit more research.

It may also be necessary to talk to the clients both present and past of the insurance company and thus learn about how the company will process the claims that are filed against it.

One thing you need to look into closely is whether or not the policy you are looking at will cover you for medical and other bills relating to an injured passenger, regardless of who eventually is blamed for the accident.

This is just one thing that you need to look out for, this is why it is crucial that you carefully read line by line any policy you’re considering as just one thing like this could leave you uncovered in an accident further down the road.

Remember that price alone should not be what you make your decision on, there’s no point in getting the cheapest deal possible if it leaves you with not enough coverage for your situation further down the road.

If you liked this see our newest posts about Cheap Auto Insurance In Michigan State plus a Washington Auto Insurance Quote.

Old is the new “new” when it comes to used cars. It’s not something you hear many people saying, but a used car is a thing of beauty. I love used cars. While my tastes tend to the slightly rusted and primer-grayed, I know most people would prefer something a tad more contemporary and well kept. That’s fine. In the used car world, everything is everything — and new is something to be avoided.

The problem with new cars isn’t the fact they’re so appealing, it’s the fact they tend to be completely overvalued. I know we’re not dealing with wholesale, but does a new car really cost $40,000? If so, why does last year’s model only cost $20,000? Did 365 days take $20,000 worth of value of the so-called used car? Rain exposure? Sun pollution?

I’m concerned about value — who isn’t? It bothers me when people pay too much — and for too long — on something that is worth half, and in some cases a third, of the sticker price. I know no one pays the sticker price, anymore, but if you’re paying more than $20,000 for a car, new or used, something is definitely rotten in Denmark.

I’ve found that people get themselves leveraged behind way too much debt when they finance their vehicles. By the time they’ve paid the vehicle off, it’s ten or fifteen years down the road and the accumulated interest had jacked the value of the no-longer-new vehicle to three or four times it’s initial new car value! That means some people paid $50,000 or $60,000 for the privilege of driving a new $40,000 car! Madness!

Spur of the moment is not going to cut it when it comes to used cars. You just can’t buy on a whim. You have to vet the dealership and the car itself. You have to kick the tires, check under the hood, and get a mechanic’s opinion. You have to do all the work a new car doesn’t require. But think of the work you’re doing now as a down payment on a huge amount of savings.

Looking for used car specials online is relatively simple. You just navigate to a search engine and away you go.

There are so many things to think about when you travel. First you lay out all the reservations and then travel days can be very long and tiring. By the time you finally reach your destination, you will most definitely be frazzled and probably near exhaustion, but don’t use that as an excuse for complacency.

When you arrive to pick up your vehicle at the rental agency, you must check three things before hitting the road. Doing so in advance can save you a lot of headaches later.

Read Your Rental Agreement- Whenever renting a vehicle you will be required to sign a legal agreement contract. This contract is binding, therefore you will want to look it over very careful before marking it with pen. This is something that many renters do not do since they are tired from traveling or anxious to get their vacation started. In order to avoid any misunderstanding in what you are signing one thing that you can do is ask for a copy of the agreement before you even leave on your travels. By reviewing the rental agreement in your own home, you are able to do so at your own pace and at a time that is convenient for you. You will want to carefully review every line of the contract, and go over the areas that require a signature or initials twice before signing.

Emergency Road Service- You want to have a complete understanding on what your road service assistance will be should a problem arise. Although many rental companies offer emergency roadside assist, the procedure for contacting the service may vary. Some companies will provide you with a phone number to call, others will expect you to take certain steps for getting the service covered. You will want to be fully knowledge on the procedure for the company you are renting from, otherwise it could cost you a large amount of money when you return your rental to the company.

Know The Vehicle You Are Driving- Preceding to driving away from the lot, be sure to give the vehicle a fine look-over. Check into the fluid levels, the bodily appearance of the rental and discover where everything is. Areas to give special attention to include where the switch over for the headlamps is placed, how to turn your wiper blades on and off, and the placements of the emergency brake and the hazard lights. In addition to all this, if the vehicle uses a GPS navigation system, then have the leasing broker exhibit you how to work it.

If you are shopping a car rental Surfers Paradise the best place to go to is www.budget.com.au. Whether it is a Surfers Paradise rental or a cheap car hire brisbane you will be sure to find just what you require.