If you haven’t been to the site, the guys at Speedhunters make some pretty kick ass videos. The FIA GT shorts selected and placed below are particularly fantastic. I love the lower tier GT3 series because every car has to be street legal and they race on road type courses. I’m not a huge NASCAR  fan because the races — with a few exceptions — are a four hour history of the left turn. I do like to watch (and did like to attend; RIP USGP) Formula 1 races, but the seemingly limitless money  / technology arms race is a little too America’s Cup for my liking; plus you are lucky if you see one pass all season. Speaking of America’s Cup, have you seen the BMW Oracle trimaran monstrosity? Good God man.

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That is a fine looking piece of machinery, a 1976 two-tone Ford Bronco Ranger in very nice condition. The best part is this slice of pure American pride is for sale. I spotted her over the weekend and it was love at first sight — I mean look at those wipers! From the looks of it this model seems to be the precursor to another favorite of mine, the Ford Bronco II. If I remember correctly this is pretty much the same car that the football coach drives in Dazed and Confused. So if you want to be like a 1970’s Texas football coach then scoop this baby up. If an ACL reader does buy it, I’ll take you out for a steak dinner and give you some Lone Star beers from my private reserve, because you are one bad ass individual and you deserve a pat on the back.

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In 1937 General Motors hired the Jam Handy Organization (maker of corporate sales films) to produce a “documentary” about the U.S. auto industry in response to the decisive  victory by the UAW in the Flint Sit-Down Strike. The result titled From Dawn to Sunset, attempts to establish the American worker as an individual from a purely consumerist and material view. The film presents a propaganda like view of Capitalism and American consumption in the days leading up to WWII.

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As far as American muscle cars go the reincarnated Challengers and Chargers are pretty slick, but I’m not a Mopar guy I’m a Ford man. The redesigned Mustangs have largely disappointed me, with the Shelby GT500 (which sells for about 46K) being a whole entire story altogether. The Shelby GT500 is one tasty automobile and I’d be happy to play the part of McQueen and take on the Charger any day.

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It’s a fake. A replica, an impostor and I don’t care, it’s fucking cool. So is Nick.

Mr. Maggio aka Mr. A Time to Get stopped by my office in Beverly Hills (it’s actually my business partner Ali’s office) while I was working out that way last week. Eventually the conversation turned to cars and Nick told me about his Speedster. Growing up in Ohio there was a guy down the street from me that had a white Porsche 356 replica built on a Volkswagen chassis that I always loved. Nick’s car was custom built on an original 1956 VW frame by the guys at Automotive Legends in California, who also make reproduction versions of the Porsche 550 Spyder and a 550 Coupe. Speaking of the 550 Mr. Maggio says, “[I] test drove the 550 Spyder and it was crazy FAST.”

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Some very gratuitous videos of Land Rover Defenders in action. The company has been advertising the fact that 75% of its vehicles ever sold are still on the road. Now that is something I can get behind, the concept of design with no obsolescence. (I think I might have just coined a new ACL strapline.) If you think about it, the concept also applies to clothing made on Savile Row. The suits are passed down to sons and coveted by vintage buyers. I can see the adverts now, 78% of our suits are still in closets today.

Anyway enjoy the Defender out in the wild, in all of her glory.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.2460013&w=500&h=383&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

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First the Bronco II, then the IH Scout and now…the Dodge A100 van-truck! I’m getting more obscure by the minute, but check out the flat face on this Mopar mother. How could you not love a machine that looks like that, big-old spit screen windshield and everything. Its a van with 30% of its sheet metal whittled off — like someone just took a sawzall and chopped it up into a truck. American engineering at its finest. I suppose it does makes sense when you consider the fact that the A-100 was offered as a straight-up van as well. I much prefer the truck version though — especially in that robin’s egg two-tone.

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As mentioned in the Men.Style.com SXSW photo diary, the Austin Speed Shop was an amazing place to visit on my trip to the Texas capitol. Mr. Cory Moore — who is part owner — was kind enough to give me a tour and let me take a bunch of photographs. The Speed Shop is a partnership between a group of hot rod fabricators and craftsmen, with Mr. Jesse James being the most well known. The shop specializes in hot rods and all sorts of other pre-1963 rides. While I was checking things out there were some great looking cars being worked on. Plus, behind the garage there is a cool graveyard of rusting old rides awaiting a rebirth. If you are visiting Austin anytime in the near future make sure to stop by the Speed Shop and take a look around.

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My obsession with boxy SUVs first touched on the Bronco II and now shifts to International Harvester’s Scout. Often considered one of the first sport utility vehicles, the Scout is an American classic with a cult following. A few months back there was an excellent article in the Oregonian about 90 year-old Scout dealer Ernie Bisio. Take a few minutes and read the article on Ernie and watch the video below. They don’t make ‘em like the Scout anymore, but they really don’t make ‘em like Ernie.

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Seeing how The Big Three have been in Washington — hat in hand begging for a bailout — what could be a better time to highlight the golden era of American automobile manufacturing, the 1980s. I imagine my affection for the Ford Bronco II is not something I share with many of you readers. I see the truck as a quintessential piece of my Midwestern upbringing, a purely nostalgic exercise. A fetish of sorts. Eventually when I have a massive garage and a collection of cars, the Bronco II will be right there next to my Land Rover Defender, BMW 2002, a 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and my 1995 Chevrolet Impala. Its an odd bunch that is for sure.

The Bronco II was a smaller version of the Bronco based on the Ranger truck line. The small SUVs were produced from 1984 to 1990. More photos after the jump.

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