Dean Paxton

Category: Automobiles

  • In The Rumor Mill

    The New York Times is reporting on a rumor that GM and Chrysler are considering a merger.   In fact, several new orgs are reporting on the same rumor.

    First, I can say that here on the ground we have heard rumors about this for years.  Including rumors about a GM – Ford merger.   Before the three-headed-hound-of-hell purchased the mess that Dailmer made of Chrysler, there was specualtion about GM being a buyer.

    Though I would like to see GM acquire Jeep, I can’t say that I see any value in Chrysler for GM except to gain more market share.  That has value.  Otherwise,  Whether you wish to believe it or, not… GM has strong market share, strong competitive models, and can survive on its own.  Despite rumors.

  • People Do The Darndest Things

    Found at Mordred’s workplace:

    MicroTruck

    He remarked, “When gas economy is crucial, cargo is not an issue, and you have to have a truck…” For the full experience, here’s a full sized set of pictures.

  • Random Commuter Musings

    mullet_icon.jpg Driving today, I saw an older man who had pulled to the side of the road. He was bent over one of those car window flags you see so often these days. It was lying in the dirt on the side of the road. The license plate on the back of his 2002-3 Buick Park Ave. indicated he was a WWII veteran. I caught a glimpse of him just as he was bending over, with more than a bit of effort, to retrieve the flag from the dirt. As I passed him, I was thinking that small act was really quite poignant. I won’t bore you with just exactly how poignant I thought it was, lest you think I may also wish to prattle away about patriotism lost. I won’t. However, I will ask you, would you have done it? Or, even thought to do it?

    Next, I saw a mid-eighties Monte Carlo SS. The rear leaf springs were fatigued and sagging from years of hard acceleration. There was a large dogs head poking from the partially rolled down passenger-side window. Since I drove near the car for several miles, I saw him stomp the gas at each light change and slam that poor dogs head into the rear pillar of that car. Over and over. The guy never noticed that he was beating the dog half to death. What’s more, the dog never figured out that it might happen again. Again, I’ll spare you the trite analogies and metaphors. But, are guys in aged Monte Carlos, with mullets and wooden speakers in the back required to own a Rottweiler in this part of the country?

    Finally, after a long day of rain, it let up and cleared up slightly. The roads were slightly damp and the wannabe hot-rodders were taking advantage of the semi-slick road surface to help them squeal their tires. First a large van, like mine, did it. Then a mini-van did it (!?). Finally, as if the coup de gras for a fine evening of wishful testosterone induced thinking, a Ford Focus did it. All in the small window that I pumped gas. Since gas prices are rather low here at $1.39 a gallon, I guess there’s gas, tires and oil to spare.

    Ah, the things you see while motoring in Flint.

  • Ultra-Conspicuous Consumption

    This is the largest passenger truck that you’ve never seen, I can assure you. It’s a paxtonland exclusive:

    This truck is a GMC based on the medium duty 4500
    series     cab and frame. My wife’s uncle pulled up this afternoon with it.
    Designed by himself, his company, and GM. It is meant to offer an even larger,
    more capable, and more powerful alternative to the largest trucks available
    today. Very impressive, especially since they created this vehicle outside the
    traditional channels of GM’s design and engineering teams. Look for it… it’ll
    make news very soon. This is the only one on the road currently. When we drove around in it, the looks of disblief were nothing short of amazing. Someone even followed my uncle into the driveway to ask him about it.

    The van next to it, in the first few pictures, is my full-sized Chevy conversion van. Itself, one of the largest passenger vehicles on the road. We parked it next to my sister’s fullsized Chevy Silverado extended cab, so that you can get an idea of it’s size. It is truely massive, even these pictures don’t come close to depicting it’s sheer magnitude.

    All of the thumbnails open into images that are much larger. Take a look… e-mail me if you want to know more about this behemoth, they are for sale but, they are not for everyone.

  • Buick Brings Back Portholes

    buick_portholes.jpg

    When I was young, my great-grandmother drove a 1955 Buick Special. Everyday, for nearly 7 years, she picked me up from school with it. It was the last car that her husband bought, around the time of his retirement from Buick Motor Division, here in Flint. That was also 1955. I have pictures of him in his Spartan and utilitarian working environment from the 40’s and 50’s. They all have that otherworldly ancient quality of an age gone by. I used to stare at those pictures and look at the objects in the background. Curious signs, old telephones, blurry images of machinery and clear pictures of dead people.

    I never gave the car much thought at the time. The other kids either teased me about it or, were fascinated by it, one or the other. She made me sit in the back seat, for safety as she piloted the formidable tank gingerly through those 70’s era pseudo-compacts and over-sized, underpowered G.M. monstrosities. Regardless of all of that, the car really was quite a work of art. Chrome interior trim-work, matched painted metal accents and comfortable appointments throughout. Needless to say, I love Buicks today.

    The 2003 Park Avenue Ultra has the old portholes. Interesting. I don’t think that it quite holds a candle to an old LeSabre, Roadmaster, Century, Wildcat, or Invicta but, at least stealing from their own past turned out to be a good thing. Now, if I can only afford one, say in… 2006? 2007? Okay, 2008. Regardless, the newest Buick advertising campaign adding some brigtwork and invoking the names of dead beloved auto designers does not even come close to the glory of the old days. Nice try though.

  • Motor City Online is the

    Motor City Online is the newest racing game from EA Sports (Electronic Arts). Check out the 55 Buick Century in the “showroom” page. This game looks great.