1946-48 Chevy Car Ds Rear Inner Fender on 2040-parts.com

One Lap of the Web: Remembering the dearly departed

-- With news that Toyota is leaving the great state of California for the greater (by landmass, anyway; your own opinion may vary) state of Texas, it's worth reminding ourselves that Toyota in America started as one lonely building on 6000 Hollywood Blvd., having taken over a former Rambler dealership. (The site is still a successful Toyota dealership.) That first year of sales in 1958 saw 287 Toyopet Crowns and one Land Cruiser sold -- more as curiosities than as practical transportation, we'd wager. -- At any rate, Toyota's move from California to Texas is moving from "one of the most eco-friendly states in the union," according to Ward's Auto, "to the U.S.’s equivalent of China." -- Ten years ago today, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the line at Lansing Car Assembly.

Who killed Pontiac? Ask Bob Lutz

Bob Lutz is not a man who can be contained within 140 characters. This past weekend he spoke at the Petersen as part of the Inside the MotoMan Studio series, hosted by friend of Autoweek George Notaras (past events have been with Ralph Gilles and Derek Jenkins). Lutz talked at length about his childhood in Switzerland, early memories working for Ford and Chrysler, the time he swayed BMW management away from building Mercedes-like luxoboats, and what Lee Iacocca was really like behind closed doors.

Rolls Royce Ghost Series II – the Ghost facelift: Geneva Motor Show

The Rolls Royce Ghost Series II (pictured) debuted at Geneva When Rolls Royce gives one of their cars a rare facelift it becomes the ‘Series II’, and that’s exactly what we get at Geneva today with the reveal of the facelift for the Ghost – the Rolls Royce Ghost Series II. Perhaps the most noticeable cosmetic change is the new headlights which make the front look less square and get daytime running lights round the edge,a revised RR grill with slightly more curved uprights, revised bumpers, extra chrome highlights and a new channel running up the bonnet from the Spirit of Ecstacy. Inside, Rolls Royce has added new electric seats in the back which can be angled towards one another, new voice control,  and a new touch-sensitive controller for the 102″ Infotainment screen. Extra choices of veneer are now on offer as is even more extended leather.