6550133 Frigidaire A6 Axial Ac Compressor Core W/large Diameter Pulley on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes shows the future of crash protection

By Mark Nichol Motor Industry 09 June 2009 10:00 It might look familiar, but the Mercedes ESF 2009 concept is about as futuristic as they come. Ostensibly an S400 Hybrid, the car showcases the very latest Mercedes safety technology, some of which will be in mainstream models soon, and some of which is, frankly, pure fantasy mollycoddling. The concept will be officially unveiled next week, but CAR has already been to the company’s Stuttgart base for a sneak preview.

Project Car Hell, Rock-and-Stick-Simple Off-Road Trucks Edition: Land Rover or Scout?

Last week, the Hell Garage Demons went back 100 years for a couple of challenging centenarian projects, and the temperature of the Automotive Lake of Fire—conveniently located between the junkyard that always closes five minutes before you show up and the parts store whose counter guys have never heard of your make of car—accordingly rose another few hundred degrees. This week, we've decided to go with the kind of vehicles you'll want when society collapses and "rugged individualists" will need to drive many miles down a road of skulls and broken whiskey bottles to barter rat pelts for handy Clovis points. That's right, simple off-road trucks with few moving parts and a heritage of simplicity—none of this complicated computerized crap, modern alloys and independent suspension (at either end) here, just a steel box with enough running gear to make it move.

John Pope Special: the Vauxhall with an Aston Martin engine for sale

The eBay description says it all: "Vauxhall Magnum with an Aston Martin DBS V8 twin turbo engine fitted. DBS running gear, raced between 1973 and 1981." If that doesn't get the high octane petrol running through your veins, nothing will. It's called the John Pope Special and it started life as two cars - an accident damaged Aston Martin DBS V8 and a Vauxhall Magnum donated by Vauxhall.