75 1975 Pontiac Astre/astre Sj Owners Manual on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes signs joint venture to build carbonfibre parts

Not to be outdone by BMW’s joint venture with the SGL Group to manufacturer commercially viable carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the electric Megacity Vehicle, Mercedes has announced a joint venture with Japanese company Toray Industries to manufacturer and market its on CFRP automotive parts. The deal was signed in Germany today, with Toray taking a 50.1% stake, Daimler holding 44.9% and the remaining 5% being taken by other shareholders. The two companies started working together in March 2010, and while Toray has been working on the materials and moulding processes, Merc has designed the automotive parts and the technologies to join the parts together.

Happy birthday, Alfa: Party planned for June and you're invited

After launching a new Giulietta to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Alfa Romeo will continue the party June 26-27 with a huge rally for owners of its vehicles. The global gathering will be held in Alfa's hometown, Milan, Italy. More than 3,000 participants are expected to show up, and the festivities will include a rally through downtown Milan (filmed by helicopter), concerts and the presentation of a sculpture.

Cars, Culture and the City

When you think of American cities associated with the car it is Los Angeles of course that leaps first to mind, thanks mostly to Hollywood, and Detroit second. But New York turns out to have been vital in the history of car design, as I found researching an exhibition Cars, Culture and the City at the Museum of the City of New York as guest curator over the last few months, working with the museums curator architecture and design, Donald Albrecht. The show has just opened, on March 25.