1976 Ford Seat Belts on 2040-parts.com

Cuba removes new car purchase restrictions

Granma, the Communist Party’s newspaper of record in Cuba, said Wednesday that the Council of Ministers approved regulations that “eliminate existing mechanisms of approval for the purchase of motor vehicles from the state.” That means the sale of new and used cars will be allowed to the public. Up until now, Cubans could buy and sell vehicles to each other, but they had to request permission from the government to purchase a new vehicle -- the main reason for the island's unique automotive landscape. The new laws will be enacted gradually, according to Granma, with a set minimum price.

Mazda Minagi Concept – Mazda CX-5 – leaks ahead of Geneva

The Mazda Minagi Concept - will become the Mazda CX-5 The Mazda Minagi Concept is a compact SUV concept Mazda are planning on taking to Geneva in March. Fortunately, the name won’t stick when the Minagi goes in to production. Instead, this will be the Mazda CX-5. With a front end that pays homage to the Mazda Shinari Concept (the concept that points the way to the Mazda RX-9) and a back end that seems to find inspiration in the Hyundai ix35, the Minagi is Mazda’s answer to the compact SUVs from Ford, Hyundai, Audi and VW.

Banks and Ryan ready for Pikes Peak

Gale Banks, part-time stunt driver Mike Ryan and the diesel wizards from Gale Banks Engineering will return to Pikes Peak this year with the Freightliner Cascadia that finished ninth in 2012. Competing in the Pikes Peak Open class, the team has been furiously working on the truck at the Banks Performance home base in Azusa, Calif. To get the semi tractor up the 12.4 mile road, Banks is installing its Super-Turbo setup on the 14.7-liter, Detroit Diesel-equipped truck.