New Crp Transmission Mount, 357199402b on 2040-parts.com

No sign of global auto meltdown at Tokyo Auto Salon

With more than 600 cars on display and a record number of exhibitors, nothing at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon tuner show hinted at the global economic downturn. As always, there was a great mix of styles, from hard-core, 1,000-hp, supertuned machinery to weird customized scooter tricycles. Auto manufacturers tried hard to capture the minds--if not the wallets--of the younger-than-30 crowd with customized versions of production cars, while tuners were busy persuading power junkies to choose them for their next engine modification.

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.

Vauxhall Adam: Prices & on sale at Paris 2012

The new Vauxhall Adam (and its European sibling, the Opel Adam) have their debut at the Paris Motor Show when the order book opens. We’re still not entirely convinced that the Vauxhall Adam has enough individuality to be a star in the marketplace, but it looks a decent offering nonetheless. Its styling is distinctly generic – it looks like a mish-mash of ideas from successful competitors – but Vauxhall is promising much for the Adam with extreme levels of customisation and lots of high-end toys, even if many will be cost options.