Leonard Truck Bed Topper on 2040-parts.com

The no-show cars: a reader rant on mad concepts

Instigated by Harley Earl at General Motors in the late 30s with the quaintly named Buick Y-Job, show cars, or concept cars, were presented to an excited public eager for new things. As the world recovered from a depression and then a war, these vehicles pointed to a better future that many people believed in, including the people who produced them. And, although many of the concept cars of the 50s, with their Jetsons plexiglass roofs and notional nuclear powered engines seem ludicrous now, in their time they weren’t that cynical.

Beating the motoring bullies

A NEW INITIATIVE has been launched to help women protect themselves from aggressive drivers and potential dangers if their car breaks down. The Women in Gear scheme includes an evening workshop course to teach basic maintenance and useful get-you-home tips. These are aimed at helping women sort out minor problems with their car rather than having to wait at the roadside for help.

Fernandes confirms Team Lotus-Caterham deal

Tony Fernandes has officially confirmed that Team Lotus Enterprises has taken over tiny British sports-car maker Caterham Cars. Named after the London suburb where it was founded, Caterham bought the rights to the Lotus Seven design in 1973 and has been exploiting it ever since with increasingly sophisticated models that stay true to the original concept. The company is now based in Dartford, close to the Brands Hatch race circuit.