Classic Cars Chevrolet

Ever since I was a small boy, I can remember dreaming of buying my own Chevrolet. You see, I grew up in Michigan, not too far from one of the Chevrolet plants near Flint. For us, in those days before Toyotas and Hondas could be found on the streets in droves, owning your own Chevrolet was something of a status symbol. It meant you were an adult, that you had arrived.

Of course, I also remember struggling to figure out how I was going to pay for that first Chevrolet. Back then, only companies leased vehicles, so I didn’t really have that option. I’d just landed my first copywriting job, and I had a little bit of an advance to work with. So, I drove my old rusted out pickup to the Chevrolet dealer, plopped down the advance, and managed to convince the auto finance manager to let me have a loan for a 1992 Chevrolet Camaro.

Things may be different today. Auto financing is much harder to come by, and the Camaro is only just now returning to the Chevrolet lineup. Still, I’m proud to say that my kids talk about how, one day when they grow up and get a job, they’ll go down to one of our local NJ car dealers and buy their own Chevrolet.

Quite frankly, it makes me proud.

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We’ve spent a lot of time at this blog discussing the problems of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The Detroit Three have certainly faced more than their fair share of difficulties because of the economic troubles gripping the global markets. One of the things we have not done, however, is give the future consideration when it comes to these companies. What should the Detroit Three do and what could the Detroit Three do to regain their composure and reliability on the world stage?

Without a shadow of a doubt, the word “bankruptcy” rings some bells. This would allow automakers to slash costs, reduce unnecessary dealers, and scrap union contracts until there’s no tomorrow. Naturally, the downside is that consumers will experience even less confidence on the automakers and sales may slump even further. A bankruptcy may allow some companies to cut their losses, though.

On the other hand, the “bailout” process is enticing for some. The bailouts, which will likely come with a host of preconditions, could offer the car companies a much-needed injection of cash. The conditions will likely be related to quality control and the creation of new green technology, something that will sell well in the eyes of the consumer. If car companies accept the bailout cash and do what they’re supposed to do, they could recover nicely.

Naturally, one wonders where the bailout money will come from (the consumer) and what will happen if bankrupcty is the option (jobs lost, contracts torn up). In the end, are we seeing a new era of Chevy cars and Ford trucks? Is the idea of conventional dealerships a myth to be remembered in the past only? Only time will tell.

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General Motors is looking to behave itself this holiday season in hopes that the U.S. Government will see fit to reward it with $12 billion on loans. In order to win the loans and be considered for the bailout, the company needs to streamline its operations and prove that it can provide a solid operating foundation and compete in the world of automaking again.

Currently, General Motors is studying whether or not to drop a few of its associated brands. Under examination is Saturn, Saab, Pontiac, and Hummer. GM also owns Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick.

The idea to drop some of the brands would be to save money and to reduce overlap, as GM’s market saturation may in fact be hampering overall top profits. By limiting the company and streamlining some of the associated brands, or at the very least the brands that aren’t particularly popular, GM can limit its market presence in tough times and can release vehicles under its more established product lines.

GM Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner is under a deadline set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Congress has scheduled a December 5 hearing on a $25 billion auto industry rescue and may vote the week of December 8.

For more information on the bailout, Chevy cars, or what General Motors will try to do next to earn the Senate-led rescue, stay tuned.

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Last night I popped by my parents’ house for dinner. The discussion, as usual, drew itself over to current events and how the economic struggles are impacting everything, especially the automotive industry. Car companies are struggling to keep factories open and to keep dealerships in business, so it’s tough times for everyone. My dad commented on some things that he had heard from a friend of his and how the industry is gripped in a sort of mass panic.

It certainly doesn’t seem like a good time to be in the automotive industry.

Yet some companies are handling the struggles better than others, I guess. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai all seem to be able to open up new factories despite the turmoil. And GM, Ford, and Chrysler are struggling to roll out new plans that may have customers thinking twice about domestic American cars. But is that really what is needed from the Detroit Three? They’re banking on a bailout, it seems, and may face collapse if something doesn’t happen soon.

GM, especially, seems locked in a fight to survive the times. With another factory facing cuts in Canada in Oshawa, Ontario, it seems like there’s no end in sight. GM is banking a lot on the Chevy Volt, which is coming in a couple of years, and will need every ounce of its resources to survive these tough times. How that will impact sales of Chevy cars and trucks in the long-term remains to be seen, as does any news about this bailout.

One thing’s for sure, though. GM is going to keep fighting.

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General Motors, like the other two members of the Detroit Three, finds itself in some serious trouble in these times. With the economy in turmoil and the major American automakers looking for a bailout and some respite, General Motors is banking an awful lot of its hopes and dreams on the Chevrolet Volt.

With the international automobile market heading rapidly towards smaller, more reliable vehicles, it was about time that GM came up with a model it could call its own. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai were all expanding into the United States with new factories and new opportunities, but the local automakers all seemed to lag behind and came across as lazy or uncaring.

GM is hoping that its Chevy Volt changes all of that and is hoping for an image overhaul to go with it. General Motors wants the Volt to say “we care.” The idea here is to show the world that American automakers can be on the cutting edge as well, even if it took an economic recession and some serious fiscal tumult to bring out the spirit of invention that once rolled through Detroit with such vigour.

In the end, it may be the Volt or it may be one of the other Chevy cars planned for the future that saves General Motors. For the time being, however, the Detroit Three will have to cling to hope and will simply have to wait and see.

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General Motors is hoping that they can keep China as a vital market and is banking on the release of three new models for the country to help hold down their position there.

The Buick Enclave SUV, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan, and the Cadillac CTS-V are all arriving in China with high hopes. The idea is for the vehicles to cover the wide range of customers in China and offer each customer base something new. From wealthy sporting types to individuals looking to purchase their first vehicles, General Motors is banking on this line-up to appeal to the masses.

The idea is, roughly, to remove the focus from the United States with the struggling economy. By focusing on China, General Motors is focusing on a region with proven growth.

“We have to recognize that the U.S. is where the problem is now. We’re growing in these other areas,” said Robert Socia, vice president of Shanghai General Motors. “The problems in the U.S. are finite and are attributable only to the U.S., and a little bit, to Europe.”

With that sense of growth in areas like China, it’s safe to say that General Motors is aiming at moving in a positive direction regardless of the economy or perhaps even in spite of it. For information on growth in China or on other Chevy cars, keep your browser locked here for frequent updates.

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It may not seem even human to envision NASCAR without some storming Chevrolet or Ford vehicle careening down the track at top speeds. Or audiences of NASCAR without a beat-up Ford of Chevy truck in the front yard while the television screams out race-by-race results on Sunday afternoons. That’s why it’s good news that Chevrolet and Ford have told NASCAR that they are still interested in the partnership.

With tough economic times, there’s nothing better than watching high-octane vehicles speeding around a track in circles doing things we could only dream of. The very fact that they can afford the gas prices alone is impressive, even for me. While I’m not a huge fan of NASCAR or most motorsports in general, I can appreciate why this is good news.

NASCAR boss Brian France, talking to reporters over the weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, acknowledged that the auto manufacturers “play a very important role in lots of ways with supporting teams, the branding and heritage.”

On Friday, GM and Ford revealed multibillion dollar losses for the third quarter of 2008. GM warned it could run out of cash in 2009 and, as such, also suspended acquisition talks with Chrysler. How this will impact the future remains to be seen, but it’s probably a good idea to take GM’s warnings seriously.

In the meantime, GM and Chevy cars continue to move off the lots at a relatively slow pace. Company execs are hoping for big-time turnarounds soon, as positive signs begin to come into focus about the economy, gas prices, and the general state of affairs in the country. With the goodwill still extended towards NASCAR, one can hope things start looking up real soon.

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With all of the talk of global expansion, General Motors is celebrating the opening of its first plant in Russia. The plant, which is located in St. Petersburg, opened November 11, 2008, with the St. Petersburg governor and Carl Peter Forster, the president of General Motors Europe, there for the occasion.

The Russian-made Chevrolet/General Motors plant has been in the works for quite some time and will represent a big boost in the European markets for the company. The plant is worth $300 million U.S. and is known as a “flexible assembly plant” in many circles because of its ability to construct a wide variety of vehicles with efficiency and speed.

The plant has 70,000 units of capacity, which is an impressive sum for the region and will help boost European production from Chevrolet/General Motors considerably. Other joint ventures and partnerships are said to be expected in the region, with the possibility of more Russian plants right around the corner.

While the American political world may not be friendly with Russia at this point and time, there is certainly nothing stopping Chevrolet/General Motors from opening the doors of commerce and exposing themselves to new markets ripe with potential. Business is business and these companies know how to play by the rules in order to benefit from economic situations.

Production of Chevy cars and trucks at plants like these help boost the international profile and, in turn, help local economies and dealers. Everybody wins.

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The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is a wonderful choice of vehicle for you to take your family on a road trip.

Maybe you want to take a trip to a theme park in another state. Maybe you want to drive through the desert. Maybe you just want to have a day at the beach. No matter where you’re going, though, there are some preparations you should make ahead of time to insure that you get to your destination safely and happily.

Basic Maintenance

Some of the most basic things you can do to prepare your 2008 Chevrolet Malibu for your road trip are the basic sorts of maintenance tasks you normally do anyway. Making sure that your oil is changed, that your tires are inflated properly, and that your coolant system is working as it should are all part of preparing your Malibu for that road trip.

Your Route Matters

In addition, your choice of destination and route also determine the kinds of preparations you should make. For example, if you’re going to go to the beach, you’ll want to wash your Malibu and wax it with a protective wax. Clean your car’s inside with a UV protector to help keep your vinyl and your plastic surfaces safe from the rays of the sun. These measures help protect your car from the salty air of the sea, as well as the sun itself.

Desert driving has its own unique preparations, as well. When getting ready to drive through the desert, check your coolant system. Make sure your serpentine belt isn’t cracked. Test your Air Conditioning, or even have it professionally tested. Check your tire treads, and replace them if necessary.

When you drive your Chevy Malibu through the mountains, there are some different things you should do to prepare. You can check your brakes, and make sure you replace worn pads. Have your drive train checked, to make sure that it is functioning correctly. Inspect your wiper blades, and check your battery for corrosion.

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For many, the C3R Chevrolet Stingray Corvette project was just that, a project. It was the stuff of legends, the type of “project car” that would only exist in the realm of concept cars and other fantasy vehicles that many would only drive through their clouded dreams.

But all of that is about to change, as Chevrolet is really, truly getting ready to release the C3R Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

For the most part, renderings of the C3R Chevrolet Corvette Stingray were all that existed. It looked somewhat like the 1969 Corvette Stingray and functioned like an homage to the vehicle. Computer generated mock-ups certainly turned heads, but few believed that a Corvette was going to be based on one. But now such a mock-up IS going to be used for a Stingray and that Stingray IS going to face a public release.

Enthusiasts of Chevy cars from around the world are excited beyond words at the idea of a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray built on the foundation of the 69 version. The sleekness of the design, the sex appeal, the power, and the grit is almost too much for today’s modern drivers to handle. And yet Chevrolet is actually doing it, proving that they have the willingness to still be a gutsy, tough car company after all these years.

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