Clymer Honda Rebel 250 & Twin Star 1978-1987 on 2040-parts.com

Nissan Celebrates 80 Years

Nissan held a little gathering at its Yokohama headquarters two nights before the Tokyo Motor Show opened to celebrate 80 years of building cars. It has been making them longer than any other Japanese manufacturer. CEO Carlos Ghosn, who can do everything except maybe juggle, addressed a crowd of several hundred executives, suppliers, car club members and even some media, giving his remarks in what sounded like pretty good Japanese.

Fiat future products: Look for more 500s

Next year two Fiat 500 models are scheduled to join the 500 and 500C convertible, which already are on sale as 2012 models. Cars arriving next year will be a sporty Abarth version and an electric. A fifth car will join the lineup in 2013: a four-door, five-seat, high-roof subcompact.

Hearing the call of the auto-show siren

Margery Krevsky walks over to a display case containing several hood-ornament reproductions. “This is probably the most famous hood ornament in the world,” she says, pointing to Rolls-Royce's “The Spirit of Ecstasy.” The story behind it “could be made into a movie,” as she put it. And it would be worth watching for car enthusiasts.