Chevy 350 Spark Plug Wires on 2040-parts.com

Orphan Car Show highlights long-gone classics

Marvelous as it is a setting for car shows, Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, Mich., does present a risk: The park is built in the floodplain of the Huron River. When organizers showed up to stage this year's Orphan Car Show--the nation's largest to feature cars built by companies that no longer do business in America--on June 6, they found the judging stand underwater. An impromptu “show” throughout nearby Depot Town and at the host Miller Motors Hudson/Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum wasn't quite the same thing.

Happy 80th Birthday, Syd Mead!

Take a poll among car designers to name their greatest influence, and one name is sure to appear at the top of the list: Syd Mead. The car designer, illustrator and futurist has inspired generations of the men and women who shape the cars we drive or admire. Syd has created the designs for the movies Blade Runner and Tron, while the illustrations published in his books such as Oblagon and Sentury (sought-after collector items today) depict the vision of a future dominated by superior technology and aesthetics.

New Ford Mustang for Europe gets 500 orders in first 30 seconds

The new Ford Mustang (pictured) was much in demand. The new Ford Mustang effectively went on sale in Europe at the UEFA Champions League final at the weekend, and it was an overwhelming success for Ford. Not only did Ford get the first 500 registrations – enough for the entire initial European offering – in the first 30 seconds,  it ended up with a total of 9,300 registrations during the match, and Ford say the lucky 500 ‘winners’ – 130 of them in the UK – will be notified in the next few weeks if they’re getting a new Mustang.