Welcome to the one if by land, two if by sea 50-in-1 electronic playground edition of the Tool of the Week. This time around we're peering into computerized technology. The 1987 Mitsubishi Starion is a fuel injected car, but by no means modern. The transitional period between carburated and electronically injected engines produced some interesting if not cantankerous systems. … [Read more...]
Dodge Fire Wagon
Anyone who has biked or hoofed up and down California's fire roads has probably asked themselves what sort of vehicle is capable of negotiating the narrow motorways. One answer to that question is this 1952 Dodge M37 3/4 ton 4X4. The Dodge M37 was the fifties postwar descendant of Dodge WC-series of World War II-era military vehicles. This restored M37 evidently found its way … [Read more...]
Air Pollution Patrol
Dateline 1973. The Bay Area Air Pollution Control District announces the formation of their Vehicle Patrol section in San Francisco. Fourteen agents would patrol California roads, and issue citations to smoke-spewing scofflaws. The agents completed California Highway Patrol defensive driving courses and were trained in patrol driving techniques. Their fleet? Fourteen … [Read more...]
Enduro Dirt Mayhem
The rules spelled out to the drivers and crew before the running of the Crash Nationals were simple. No drinking of any alcohol, and don't leave any junk in the pits. This junk included destroyed cars. The race? 200 laps. No breaks. No yellow flags. Fire - was the only thing that would get you and your car towed off the dirt oval. Breaking down in the middle of turn three meant … [Read more...]
Shrunken Fury
From the Clunkbucket northern California car shortening division comes this shrunken 1964 Plymouth Fury. This former b-body belongs to one Alan Rutter of Al's Rapid Transit, and packs roughly 450 horsepower of big block Mopar for motivation. Alan picked the car up as a project, and got busy cutting and welding everything back together eight inches less long. The 440 engine sits … [Read more...]