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Truck Hunt 2016: 2001 GMC Yukon XL (aka Suburban 2500)
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At my day job, I lead early-stage technology development projects. I earn my pay by wrangling a crew of innovator-type engineers to take something from a pile of cool ideas to a mature, workable product that will go into people’s brains. My job is to strike the balance of risk: are the small sample sets…
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LeMons Ranchero Update: One Week to Go, All Fired Up and Surprisingly Few Things Left
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Next weekend we’ll return to Sonoma Raceway with a somewhat improved (but still genuinely terrible) Ranchero in search of two full days or racing. I don’t remember what we did/didn’t have done the weekend before our last race, but two weeks out we’d started it for the first time in months. As of this past weekend:…
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Truck Hunt 2016: Time for a New(er) Tow Rig
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The Wagoneer’s gone, which means my backup commuting vehicle is either my bike or my wife’s patience. Secondarily, we’re down to the miniscule towing capacity of the Mazda5. It’s time to start shopping for a new truck or SUV to do Truck Stuff. The plan was never to reduce the number of cars in the…
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I'll take obscure Italo-American hybrids for $2,087, Alex: The OSI 20M TS
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Hybrids that combined Detroit motors with European chassis and coachwork were arguably the best cars of the 60s and 70s: Cobra, GT40, Pantera, ISO, Tiger, Intermeccanica, IKA Torino, etc. If only for its unintelligible alphanumeric name, the most obscure might be the OSI 20M TS: a rebodied Ford Taunus made by Italian sheet metal design…
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Adios Wagoneer!
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I sold my 1969 Wagoneer last weekend. In contrast to my ’67 Country Sedan or ’00 Wrangler, the heavy sigh I let out as it drove away wasn’t one of regret or resignation but relief. Maybe even celebration or victory. I’d been out of love with it since about 2013, but like a failed marriage stuck…
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Is a "Just Add Drivetrain" Jeep a Good Idea?
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You know what sucks? Bodywork. Dents, rust, paint? BAH. You now what’s not too bad? Nuts-and-bolts drivetrain and suspension work. Then again, as I advised you all long ago, starting with a non-runner really hurts the probability your project car will ever amount to anything. With all that in mind, let’s take a minute to…
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LeMons Starter Kit, Rotary Edition
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Following on from the Volvo 122 from a couple weeks ago, today we’re highlighting this ’80 RX7. It’s prepped, but in no way ready to race. For one, the engine and transmission are out. For two, presumably they’re out for a reason. Following the lack of motivation (the cited reason for the sale, as well),…
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"Affordable" Espada Project Hell? Don't Mind if I Do!
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Few vehicles of the 1970s managed to both embrace the ethos of the ’70s and carry legitimate, unironic coolness like the Espada. It took a while for the world to catch up to that realization, so more than almost any other Lambo they suffered heinous neglect or were robbed of their V12s so that “better” Lambos…
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Brown 1973 AMC Hornet Sportabout Wagon Resurfaces
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Hooniverse is the automotive equivalent of the friends chanting “do it! do it!” when you’re considering jumping into the pool from the second story roof. We’re elated when people actually buy some of the rides we dredge up. (Side note: if you actually buy something we link to on ebay, we make a few bucks).…
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Funwagon!
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This is a Sunbeam Funwagon. You’re probably never heard of it. Per the seller and like one other online reference, Funwagons were based on the Sunbeam Commer FC Van, a small British van from the Rootes Group. The Wikipedia article for the Commer FC confirms my assumption that all old British vans make like 50…
