1969 Orig. Chevrolet /corvette/ Camaro/chevelle Protection Plan/manual on 2040-parts.com

Top Gear 'regrets' Clarkson remark

TOP GEAR'S producer has apologised after broadcasting a "light-hearted" joke by Jeremy Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism. The episode, which was filmed in Burma and Thailand and shown in March, featured a scene where the motoring show's stars built a bridge over the River Kwai and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: "That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it." Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the phrase was an example of "casual racism" and "gross misconduct". The BBC2 show's executive producer, Andy Wilman, said: "When we used the word slope in the recent Top Gear Burma Special it was a light-hearted word play joke referencing both the build quality of the bridge and the local Asian man who was crossing it.

Meet the new Goodyear blimp -- er, airship

A new blimp comes around only once in a while, and Goodyear slowly replacing its fleet is cause for fanfare. These new airships, as yet unnamed, will fly farther, go faster and carry more people than ever before -- and none of it would be possible without help from the Germans. This newest airship is a collaboration between Goodyear and ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik -- yes, of that Zeppelin fame -- and the partnership has historical precedent.

Fiat's U.S. sales increasing with new ads, 500 Abarth interest

After a slow start, Fiat 500s are starting to move off of dealer lots, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press. Fiat executives claim that the public debut of the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth at the Los Angeles auto show and some provocative advertising have led to increased interest in the Fiat brand. February was the best sales month yet for the model that Fiat chose to reintroduce Americans to sub-$100,000 Italian cars.