$5000 Expedition Vehicle Showdown: Land Rover vs. Land Cruiser

While some people’s idea of an off-road vehicle is cage with a 600hp engine, suspended on long soft springs and 40” tires. I tend to be more reserved. I always wanted an expedition-type vehicle; ability to comfortably travel on- and off-road with family, over great distances. The off-roading would be limited to sand dunes, muddy roads, small streams, and occasional snow. There is a number of great choices for an entry level expedition vehicle but if we’re on a fixed budget (and who isn’t), we need to start low, and for around $5000 here is a clean first generation Discovery and an 80-series Land Cruiser.

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – A Real Hoon Challenge; Four Completely Different Rides to Choose From

Here is a real challenge for the fans of the Verse that is Hoon. I decided to throw a wrench into your thinking and to challenge your Hoon mindset by making you choose between four very desirable cars and trucks. Each has the qualities that make any true enthusiast lust for; They can be rare, they can be diamonds in the rough, they can be relatively affordable, and any one of them can become the Hooniverse Staff Vahicle. So, without any further interruption, you will have to choose between the following; A 1984 Toyota FJ60 Land Cruiser with 81,000 Miles, A 1979 Maserati Merak SS with 23,000 Miles, a 1978 Mercury Zephyr Box Top with a Stick and 86,000 Miles, and a 1992 GMC Typhoon with 45,000 Miles. Get ready to have your mind blown…

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Which Disco Era Personal Coupe Would You Drive to Studio 54?

This will be my last posting for Hooniverse Showdown Weekend, and I thought I would throw in a little Tastelessness into the mix. Picture this: It’s 1978, and you’re in NYC, and you and your lady want to go to the hottest nightclub in town. That my friend was Studio 54, where the elite went to party down and have a great time. Some of the guests who partied at Studio 54 included Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Rick James, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Hall, Margaux Hemingway, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Salvador Dali, Brooke Shields, Francesco Scavullo, Janice Dickinson, Cher, Joan Collins, Martha Graham, Deborah Harry, Robin Leach, Donald and Ivana Trump, Rick Hilton, Diana Ross, Ryan O’Neal, Mariel Hemingway, Richard Gere, Jack Nicholson, Reggie Jackson, and Sylvester Stallone. Your’re dressed in your best polyester shirt and two-tone platform shoes, while your lady sports the Farah Fawcett do, and her latest flared slacks and halter top, topped with a linx fur you bought her. You had your choice in luxurious rides back then that the valet would park for you, and they were dressed to the hilt as well, with 1/2 padded vinyl roof treatments, chrome trim everywhere, rear false spare tire trunk indentations, fake wire-wheel covers, stand-up hood ornaments, and either fake leather interiors, or plush velour. Here are five choices that would have been seen at the scene that was Studio 54. So which one would make you Fly?

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Which Fullsized Convertible would make you Flip Your Lid?

I hope you are enjoying the Hooniverse Showdown Weekend, and we continue with an American Icon, the classic Full Sized Convertible. There is just something glamorous about an American Full Sized Droptop, whether its how large the car is, or the styling of the body, or the fact that six adults can ride comfortably in one. So let’s explore which of these five Convertibles you would like to enjoy for yourself; The 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, the 1964 Buick Wildcat, the 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, the 1965 Chrysler 300, or the 1966 Cadillac DeVille.

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Which 60′s Fullsized 2-Door will make you feel like your livin’ large?

Welcome to the Sunday Edition of the Hooniverse Showdown Weekend, and I am stepping it up just a bit. I have been highlighting cars from Kevco Classic Car Sales in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This time we are exploring six different and totally lustworthy two-door full sized cars. So, lets take a look at a 1962 Impala SS, a 1966 Caprice, a 1964 Monterrey Breezway, a 1964 Olds Dynamic 88, and two Pontiac Grand Prix. So, why can’t today’s cars have this much style?

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Corvette, Corvette, Corvette, and Jaguar?

This is the third installment of the Hooniverse Showdown Weekend with cars from Kevco Classic Car Sales of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I have already covered some cute compacts, and some big personal luxury cars, so how about a few sports cars? The dealer has three Corvettes currently for sale, and one lone, but incredible Jaguar. Which Sports Car would get your heart revved-up?

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Which Distinctive Personal Luxury Coupe Would You Want?

The Personal Luxury Car was born in 1958 with the introduction of the larger Ford Thunderbird. It was distinctive, sat lower than any other domestic produced coupe at that time, and it actually sold better (much better I might add) that the distinctive two-seat T-Bird the year before. And this was in a down year for the industry as a whole. It took a little longer for the other competitors to answer the call of the Personal Luxury Coupe but Buick was the first to answer with the breathtaking 1963 Buick Riviera. Three years later, Oldsmobile introduced their radically new Toronado with a twist: Front Wheel Drive. And of course Cadillac had to have their own Personal Car in 1967, and the trend continued through the 70s. So let’s take a look at four Distinctive Personal Luxury Coupes of the 60s and see if they’re distinctive enough for you to enjoy.

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Three Relatively Inexpensive Special Interest Cars

Welcome to another Hooniverse Weekend. Throughout the week, I have been highlighting vehicles that are currently for sale at Kevco Classic Car Sales in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. So this weekend will be a series of showdowns featuring their entire inventory, and I thought I would start with these three relatively inexpensive Special Interest Cars, a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook, a 1959 Studebaker Lark, and a 1963 Corvair 700.

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Showdown: LeMons Oddballs Edition

It’s been so long since our last Showdown, but I finally finished installing my damn floor and I’ve got LeMons on the brain (it’s as painful as it sounds). While firmly convinced that the next LeMon I build will be a Pinto (or Mustang II), I’ve gotta pass along these gems to the Hooniscenti.

Oddly enough, one has twice the cylinders as the other, the other twice the gears and drive wheels. In one corner, we’ve got a rusty, long-parked ’66 Mercury Comet with a three speed stick and 289; the other, a Honda Wagovan, rocking four wheel drive and a “5+1″ transmission.

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Three Handsome British Sportscars; Truimph, Jensen Healey, and Lotus

To close out this Hooniverse Interesting Project Car Weekend, I thought I would have a three-way shootout. All three of these cars are running, and in above average condition. So why am I putting these cars in the “Project Car” category? Because they are British, and will need constant attention to keep them running. I also selected these three knights of the round table from different eras, so without any further interruptions I bring you a 1974 Jensen Healey Roadster, a 1980 Truimph TR-7 Roadster, and a 1991 Lotus Elan (which is also a roadster). Who are you going to vote for?

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