Looking for a new Chevy Camaro in the Atlanta area? Try Terry Cullen Chevrolet. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If you’re looking for a Chevy in Atlanta, especially in the Jonesboro area, you might want to look at Terry Cullen Chevrolet. The dealership has a great array of current Chevy cars, including some of the most popular models. There are discounts available for those qualify, and there is a great selection of used cars as well. So if you’re looking for a new Chevrolet, Terry Cullen is the place to go for new cars. Financing is available on site, so there is new car credit available as well.

Terry Cullen Chevrolet

Terry Cullen Chevrolet is a great place to go for a new Chevy. For those who live in the Jonesboro area near Atlanta, the dealership is located across the way from Sam’s Club, at 1250 Battlecreek Road, Jonesboro, GA, 30236. If you’re looking to buy a new car, whether you’re interested in new cars, or used cars, it’s the place to go. There is also new car credit if you need help financing a car, if its new or used car financing. Just about everything you need for getting a new or used Chevrolet is available at Terry Cullen Chevrolet.

New or used cars available

There is a lot of inventory at Terry Cullen Chevrolet, including new and used vehicles. It has just about every model Chevy offers, including a large Chevy truck selection. There are also plenty of units of the Chevy Camaro, Chevy Equinox, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Impala and Chevy Tahoe. There are plenty of used cars to look at as well, including pre-owned Chevy cars and trucks, as well as other General Motors vehicles. Terry Cullen Chevrolet also has a complete service station on site, in case you need Chevy parts or a tune-up. The dealership is the total package.

Now is the time to buy

GM, and especially Chevy, is looking to move as many cars as possible. Right now is the time to jump on the opportunity, and there are military discounts, GM Credit Union discounts and discounts available for recent college graduates. If you’re looking for a new or used Chevy in the Atlanta area, you should look up Terry Cullen Chevrolet.

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Terry Cullen Chevrolet

"Wait! I forgot to put a chute on the MGB!" (Photo Credit: CC BY/Unknown/NASAimages.org)

If you love collector cars, you’ve come to the right place. These bizarre collector car stories seem hard to believe, but remember – the truth is often stranger than fiction. CLICK HERE if you missed the beginning of this article.

Close encounter with a telephone pole

Swedish national Bo Stefan Eriksson currently sits in prison for, among other things, illegally importing a Ferrari Enzo into America, stashing a loaded gun under the seat of the vehicle and being a drunken passenger in a 150-plus-mph crash that literally sawed the Ferrari in half. Apparently back in 2006, the car, which had been tearing down the California’s Highway 1 at breakneck speed, hit a bump, flew through the air and was split in two by a telephone pole. Amazingly, Eriksson survived. The driver allegedly fled the scene and escaped the U.S. on a yacht that same evening.

Do pack a parachute for the MGB, Jeeves

British auto manufacturer MG Cars was having trouble selling its MGB sports car as newer, better models were hitting the market. So in the early 1970s, the company staged a publicity stunt in the form of an advertisement. A man pushes his MGB out the back of a freighter plane, then jumps after it. Parachutes pop, and the jumper drives away in the MGB after both are safe on the ground. However, it didn’t work in the first take; the car’s chute didn’t open. The resulting “thud and puff of smoke” went off like something out of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, writes autoLanka.

The case of the buried Belvedere

The 1957 Tulsarama Festival in Tulsa, Okla., featured a promotion in which a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was buried under the town courthouse lawn. The person (or closest heir of the person) who came closest to guessing what Tulsa’s population would be in 2007 would be given the perfectly preserved Belvedere. Unfortunately, the concrete casing used to house the car developed cracks over the decades. This enabled water from the sprinkler system to seep inside. What the winner got was, of course, a waterlogged surprise.

Sources:

autoLanka.com

And heeeere’s… your 1957 Belvedere!

A much newer model of the Mustang Shelby Super Snake that Bill Cosby was afraid to drive at 200 mph. (Photo Credit: CC BY/George Rigato/Flickr)

Like fishing stories or tales of when Uncle Zed fought during the zombie invasion, there are plenty of bizarre collector car stories around and in that series of tubes that is the Interwebs. For your automotive pleasure, here are some of the m0st bizarre collector car stories, as suggested by the autoLanka.com forums.

The $250,000 Bugatti blunder

In 1964, fishing equipment tycoon John Shakespeare decided he needed some new hobbies. His collection of 30 Bugattis and rare parts just weren’t doing it for him anymore. Skiing and skin diving suddenly sounded more appealing, so the chum dinger of a businessman sold his collection for $250,000. That collection included a Royale very much like one that would end up selling 18 years later at auction for $8.7 million.

Down on the farm

Ferruccio Lamborghini (of Lamborghini sports car fame) started out as a farm equipment manufacturer. He happened to own a Ferrari 250GT with clutch trouble. He told Enzo Ferrari about the problem, but Ferrari rebuffed him, saying he should “go back to driving tractors.” Striking back at Ferrari, Lamborghini put a tractor clutch in his Ferrari, and the move inspired him to eventually produce his own gran turismo-class cars that give Ferrari a run for its money.

‘Jailhouse Brockett’ nabbed for insurance scam

In the late 1980s, English nobleman Lord Brockett faced grim financial tidings. So he cut up his rare, highly-insured Ferraris and buried them. Then he reported them stolen and walked away with the insurance money. Eventually, however, Brockett’s car fraud escapades caught up to him – he attempted to sell a fake Ferrari 250 GT SWB to someone who knew better. Soon the good lord became “Jailhouse Brockett.”

‘I’m Not There,’ says James Dean’s death car

When a movie icon dies in a Porsche 550 Spyder, that car becomes legend. That’s what happened to James Dean as he was driving to a race near Salinas, Calif., on Sept. 30, 1955. The legendary wreckage went on to appear in such roles as “Flaming Car Number 5″ in driver’s training/teen horror films like “Blood on the Highway” and “Signal 30.” One time when the remains went on tour, they disappeared. If James Dean knows where they are, he isn’t talking.

Bill Cosby feared the Super Snake with all the horses

Comedian Bill Cosby loved Euro sports cars, so American sports car maker Carroll Shelby took it upon himself to build an American beast that could top 200 mph. What Shelby came up with – the Shelby Cobra Super Snake — had 900 horsepower. As Cosby described it in his standup: “The car was idling, I was in neutral, I hadn’t put my foot and the gas pedal, and already, the car was killing people.” Sadly, that’s exactly what happened to Tony Maxey, who eventually came to own Cosby’s car. Maxey lost control and plunged into the Pacific Ocean.

CLICK HERE for the conclusion of this article. And DON’T sink your hard-earned dollars into auto loans with sky-high rates!

Sources:

autoLanka.com

Bill Cosby’s Super Snake

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is being petitioned to not rent out recalled vehicles. Image: Flickr/The Consumerist

The Federal Trade Commission today received a petition from several auto-safety groups that asks for a ban on renting out recalled vehicles that haven’t been serviced. The companies targeted by this FTC complaint are Enterprise, National and Alamo. The petition to the FTC follows a $15 million jury award from earlier this year.

No official policy against renting recalls

The official policy of Enterprise Holdings, which owns Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, allows some recalls to be rented out. The official policy is that all recalls are reviewed, and any recalls that “involve the risk of sudden loss of control, safety restraint failures, or fire hazards” are reviewed for removal until fixed. Enterprise assures customers that the safety is its first concern. This policy, however, allows for some recalled vehicles to be rented out without repair or notification.

FTC petition includes advertising claims

The petition filed with the FTC by the Center for Auto Safety and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety included Enterprise’s advertising claims as well. If the FTC grants the petition, Enterprise could no longer use “misleading words like ‘well maintained’ and ‘safety and reliability’” in advertising. A similar agreement was reached with Budget Rent-a-Car in 1990. Budget had been accused of similar actions, renting out defective vehicles that had not yet been repaired.

Lawsuit over recalled rental

In May, Enterprise Rent-A-Car was sued by Carol Houck. Houck was the mother of two young women who were killed in a 2004 accident. The women were driving a rented PT cruiser that had been recalled for power steering issues. Enterprise admitted full liability in that accident, and a jury awarded the family a $15 million judgment. Representatives of Enterprise said that “Given all we have learned, today we would not rent the vehicle the Houck sisters were driving until it was repaired.”

Hooking your vehicle up to a towing hitch could require a tow bar. Image: Wikimedia Commons

There are hundreds of reasons you might find yourself needing to tow a vehicle. If you have two cars that need to get to one place, then using a tow bar could save you time, money, stress, and fuel. Picking the proper tow bar, installing it correctly, and using it correctly can seem intimidating, but it is actually relatively simple.

The basics of a tow bar

A tow bar is an attachment that turns any vehicle into a trailer. Rather than loading a car on a trailer or using a two-wheel system, a tow bar turns your car itself into a trailer. There are two types of tow bars — rigid and collapsible. Rigid tow bars are less expensive, but they take more setup time. Collapsible tow bars are easier to handle, but more expensive. Either way, a tow bar attaches to the front of a vehicle and is intended to attach to a towing hitch on the back of the towing vehicle.

Rigid tow bars

Rigid tow bars are usually an A-frame design made of steel or strong aluminum. Some rigid tow bars require a specialty base installed on the vehicle. The rigid design means that the hitch has to be carefully positioned in the center of the vehicle. The simple design, though, means it is much less expensive. The rigid tow bar is also easier to hook up the electronics necessary for legal towing.

Collapsible tow bars

A collapsible tow bar is a better option if you plan on doing a lot of towing. A collapsible bar will self-center, and will engage once you start driving. A collapsible tow bar can also be removed much more easily. The cost of collapsible tow bars also tend to be a little bit higher. If you’re not sure how often you will use a tow bar, start with a rigid tow bar and upgrade to a collapsible later.

Appearances aside, the King Midget is a real car. (Photo: Flickr)

Congested highways filled with gas-guzzling vehicles have helped create dirty air and countless budget sinkholes for consumers. Improved methods of public transportation and more fuel-efficient green vehicles have helped this problem to a great extent, but there is still room for improvement. Present options for change are frequently quite expensive. But when it comes to vehicles, one answer could come straight from the past. The King Midget, an American car made from 1946 to 1970, is as small as its name but boasts big mpg numbers.

King Midgets ‘will be the future kings of the road’

AutoWeek interviewed Dick Messer, director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, and found that the once forgotten King Midget vehicles still have quite a following, at least in the eastern United States. And it’s no wonder – the King Midget is small and inexpensive. The two-door convertible micro cars (70-plus-inch wheelbase) were initially sold as kits for $49, and these kits included the frame, axles, springs, steering and patterns to cut sheet metal for the body. They were also sold assembled. One-cylinder, two-speed automatic transmission engines varied from 6 hp all the way up to a “huge” 12 hp big block. Up to 50 mph is possible in a King Midget, as are 50 to 70 mpg figures. According to Wikipedia, prices varied in the 1950s from $500 to nearly $1,000.

What killed the King Midget?

As you might imagine, safety was a concern. Production of the King Midget ended in 1970s as federal crash requirements became more stringent. About 5,000 of the cars were made. The bodies of modern cars absorb much of the shock of a collision; the King Midget would pass much of that on to the driver’s body, resulting in more frequent injuries and death. But they look fun and get great mileage, don’t they?

Need used car loans for a King Midget?

Click the button below. Just be sure to check with your lender first to see if they’ll fund private party purchases, as you won’t find a King Midget at your standard used car dealer. Click the International King Midget Car Club link below to do some online window shopping if you’re serious about the King Midget. Prices appear to vary from around $1,000 to several thousand dollars.

Sources:

AutoWeek

Wikipedia

International King Midget Car Club Classifieds

Vintage Vehicle Show interview with car collector Barry Hilbert:

So many cars, so little driving etiquette… (Photo: Through the Magnifying Glass)

Driving etiquette may sound like something one would learn in finishing school, but the reality is that showing consideration for others who occupy the highway is not only polite, but necessary for safety’s sake. As a Thinkquest entry on driving etiquette rightly puts it, “Everyone appreciates the good manners of a driver who: Signals his turns, makes his stops smoothly and gradually pulls into the proper lane well before making a turn.” This maintains decorum and helps keep the lives of the driver and others out of harm’s way.

Let driving etiquette drive how you interact with drivers

Not only should drivers observe proper speed limits as part of their driving etiquette regimen, they should not attempt to “shoot the fruit” and barrel through a traffic signal just before it turns red. If drivers are alert to road conditions, they will typically notice a changing traffic light in plenty of time to make a smooth, safe stop utilizing relaxed braking. Too many accidents occur at intersections where one driver was attempting to beat a red light. Proper driving etiquette can help cut down the number of accidents. That includes signaling properly to alert other drivers and pedestrians to your merging and turning intentions. In bad weather, when high-beam headlights are necessary, dim those when another driving passes in the opposite direction. High beams can cause temporary road blindness that may lead to an accident. If an accident does occur and the drivers are unharmed, be prepared to share insurance info and refrain from name-calling or admission of fault.

Don’t drive while distracted or intoxicated

We all know that driving while intoxicated is irresponsible, dangerous and criminal. A driver’s judgment, reaction times and even motor skills are easily impaired by alcohol and drug use. About.com notes that, while somewhat controversial, marijuana should also be considered a drug that temporarily damages driving ability. Numerous research projects like the recent Hartford Hospital study in Connecticut cited by Click On Detroit indicate that “the results do not imply that it is safe to drive under the influence of marijuana.”

Distracted driving can be equally dangerous, if not moreso. A recent Associated Content article regarding road rage suggests that multitasking while driving simply isn’t a good idea for most people, if not all. Cell phones, food, makeup, video games, television and a host of other distractions can make good driving etiquette impossible. How can you maintain proper spacing and control at all times on the road if your attention is buried in texting while driving?

Practice proper driving etiquette – Be careful out there

Need auto loans for the trip?

Sources:

Thinkquest.org

Associated Content

About.com

Click On Detroit

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We all live life on the run, but is eating in a car worth getting a staph infection? (Photo: ThinkStock)

Unless you’re the type of person who obsessively cleans the steering wheel, gear shift, door handles and other surfaces inside your vehicle with antibacterial wipes, eating in a car can place your health at risk. London’s Daily Mail reports that numerous germs associated with food poisoning, skin infection and even vomiting were found in a study by Halfords, a British car accessories retailer. Staphylococcus, bacillus and other harmful bacteria can contribute to a variety of internal and external (skin) infections.

Staph infection: Why eating in a car isn’t a good idea

Staphylococcal infections are transmitted easily between people and can lead to the skin infection known as impetigo and intestinal food poisoning, writes the Mail. Bacillus cereus can sit in a vehicle’s heating ducts until the system is turned on and the warmth causes the spores to grow. Similarly, leaving the car parked in the hot sun can do the same. And such bacteria tend to thrive on food particles left behind after drivers have been eating in a car.

Cleaning all surfaces drivers and passengers touch is necessary

If surfaces that drivers and passengers touch are not cleaned, food poisoning that causes severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can result. Staphylococcus tends to congregate on surfaces that come in contact with a driver’s hands (wheel, shifter, handles, knobs), while bacillus is generally found in soil and dust, so it is most often found in vehicle seats, floor mats and carpets. Of the infected cars in the Halfords study, 70 percent admitted to eating or drinking in a car, and leaving containers in the vehicle overnight. Of all cars surveyed, half said they cleaned the inside of their car less than once a month, says the Daily Mail. Halfords recommends car owners clear out their vehicles at least once per week.

Eating in a car is bad, but cooking on an engine is A-OK

If you want to cook something like a hot dog on your engine block, you can make it happen, says How to Do Things. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil – maybe even double- or triple-wrap – as this protects both the food and the engine parts. Pop the hood and place the wrapped hot dog on the part of your engine that generates the most warmth, but is safely away from any wires and lines. This will vary from car to car, so do a hand test sometime and see if you can feel where the most heat is escaping. Obviously, don’t touch the engine with your hand, as doing so will cause a nasty burn.

Once you’ve found the place, secure the food using something that won’t melt or burn up. You want the food to fit snug, but not cover the engine so much that the engine overheats. Close the hood and drive. Times will vary depending upon what you’re cooking, the specifics of your engine and the type of driving you’re doing. A book like “Manifold Destiny” should give you more info on times for cooking hot dogs or many other foods on your engine block.

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Sources:

Daily Mail

How to Do Things

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Having a car emergency kit can be helpful in situations like this. Image from Flickr.

We rely on our cars to get us back and forth, either to and from work or on longer trips. Like every complicated piece of machinery, though, a car can break down. When that does happen, it is best to be prepared with a car emergency kit.

Why you need a car emergency kit

You may have OnStar or AAA, but you never know when or where your car might break down. Your cell phone may not always have a signal, or you may have to wait for assistance. By having a car emergency kit, you will be prepared for almost anything that may happen, whether in the city or on a rural back road.

What to include in your car emergency kit — part 1

The first things you should include in your car emergency kit are mechanical tools. This is the gear you can use to fix the car — or just about anything else mechanical — in a pinch. These tools should include:

• Jumper cables
• Oil – at least three quarts
• Antifreeze (make sure it’s the right type for your car)
• A set of fuses
• A set of screwdrivers or a multiple-bit screwdriver
• A multi-tool that has pliers, a pocketknife and wire-cutters
• Adjustable wrench or a set of wrenches
• At least one roll of duct tape
• Emergency tire inflator, such as Fix-A-Flat, and a pressure gauge
• Heavy-duty tow rope
• Jack and spare tire

What to include in your car emergency kit – part 2

Mechanical problems are not the only type that emerge when you are on the road. Your car emergency kit should also include a variety of items to help keep you and your passengers safe and comfortable. These items should include:

• A first-aid kit
• At least one blanket or sleeping bag
• Flashlight with additional batteries
• Roll of toilet paper, paper towels or both
• Pen and a notepad
• Energy bars or granola bars
• At least 1 gallon of water
• Roadside flares
• A large tarp

While it may seem like a lot of gear to have on-hand, a car emergency kit, well-packed, takes up very little space. Store it in the trunk of your car or under one of the seats. A time will come when you will appreciate the time and effort you took to put the kit together.

A roof rack may be easy to handle, but it kills your gas mileage. Image from Flickr.

A roof rack may seem like a great idea for hauling bikes, snowboards or luggage on your vehicle. Roof racks, though, increase drag and reduce your vehicle mileage very significantly. So is it worth it to use a roof rack, or are there better options for hauling big stuff with your car?

The effect of a roof rack

Sure, a roof rack on your car can haul lots of stuff. Merely having an empty roof rack on your car will reduce your mileage by as much as 10 to 12 percent. With a mountain bike, skis, snowboards, rooftop box or kayak on the roof rack, you will be reducing your mileage by 20 to 30 percent. That could turn your Prius into a gas-guzzler or your minivan into an oil hog.

Other places to haul your stuff

Hauling a lot of stuff on your roof rack reduces your gas mileage. If you are like most people, though, that doesn’t mean you can give up hauling your gear. So what is the best way to make the best of this bad mpg situation? You have a few options.

A rear-mounted rack

For bicycles and smaller items, mounting a rack on the back of your vehicle may be your best option. This can improve your gas mileage by 10 percent over a roof rack, and it still provides plenty of hauling space. Rear-mounted racks can work on hatchbacks, sedans or station wagons.

An aerodynamic trailer

Replacing your roof rack with a well-designed trailer can actually improve your miles per gallon. You will still take a hit, but in the end it will be much smaller.

Rent a different vehicle

The best gas mileage comes from hauling your gear on the interior of a vehicle. If your car isn’t big enough, and you are planning a long trip, it may be financially easier for you to rent a vehicle that can haul everything. At between $10 and $20 a day, you could easily spend less to rent a vehicle than you would in extra fuel.