Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Early Mercedes sells for £720,000

ONE OF the oldest surviving Mercedes cars has sold at auction for an astronomical fee. The Mercedes Simplex 28/32 HPs Phaeton eventually sold for £720,000 at the Coys auction house True Greats sale in London. Still in complete and roadworthy condition, the car was reported to be in superb, drivable condition before its sale, which was the first time it had been auctioned in its near-109-year life.

U.S. sales, aided by General Motors, show some real spark in October

U.S. light-vehicle sales--bolstered by General Motor Co.'s first gain in 21 months--declined less than 1 percent in October as the industry showed signs of a recovery without the aid of government incentives. The drop was the smallest this year and made October the year's strongest month aside from August, which received a lift from the federal cash-for-clunkers program.

Classified Catch: 1979 Dodge frog dystopia shag carpet molester van

From the bowels of the earth--California via Texas, in this case--comes one of the most wonderfully appalling automotive creations we've seen in quite some time. Feast your eyes on the Van. Originally birthed as a 1979 Dodge B200, this claimed 31,000-mile example boasts a two-barrel carb 318 bolted to the requisite Torqueflite automatic, Cragar mags and a CB for callin' out the smokeys.