The Barrett-Jackson Auction has risen from modesty in Scottsdale, Arizona to become the ideal setting to purchase the best classic and sought-after automobiles on the planet. A showcase of wealth, it’s interesting to note the beginnings of the Barrett-Jackson Auction’s foundation is credited to a charity car show Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson pieced together as a benefit for local Scottsdale charities in 1967. In recent years, the Barrett-Jackson Auction has become renowned as high-profile fund-raising event as every year more and more charity vehicles play a part in the bidding excitement.

For 2011, a total of 20 charity items will be presented for bids over the 6-days of the 20th annual Barrett-Jackson Auction benefiting some deserving groups. One example includes a special one-off 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca being auctioned in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Another Ford Mustang, a customized 2011 GT model, will be sold to provide funds to Childhelp and the Victory Junction Gang Camp charities.

On Friday, a completed engine provided by General Motors will be brought onto the auction block to raise funds for the American Heart Association. The first production model of the LSX454R crate engine to be sold through GM Performance Parts, this big block been bred to become the hustler of any high-performance application. Incorporating a tour-de-force of American performance equipment, GM Performance Parts marries 6-bolt aluminum LSX DR cylinder heads and a maximum capacity Holley 1,150-cfm carburetor on top of a high-rise open-plenum intake manifold. Combining into a high-compression, racing fuel-burning beast, the LSX454R delivers over 750 horsepower and 680 pounds-feet of torque. Particularly suited to those wishing to go fast down a fast lane at a drag strip, it will be eager to see the LSX454R crate engine deliver some equally eye-catching numbers to the American Heart Association.

Demonstrated through previous editions of the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, car lovers are also well capable of showing affection beyond the sheetmetal and chrome. Drawing prices well above sticker, the 2007 auction featured a former battle-tested Hummer H1 which sold for $1,100,000 as the former journalist transporter converted to a rolling sound theater. Called CNN’s Warrior One, the proceeds of that Hummer were donated to the Fisher House Foundation benefiting United States military families.

Information source: Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, General Motors
Photo source: General Motors

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This is turning into a rough week for American automobile manufacturers as two of three major companies placed vehicles on the recall list. While the Chrysler Group started this work week with three separate recalls affecting just under 600,000 vehicles collectively, General Motors has most recently eclipsed Chrysler’s vehicle total. Announcing a recall of 1.5 million cars, General Motors is addressing an issue which resulted in at least 5 vehicle fires.

Early Tuesday, GM sent out a notice informing owners that the electronics within the windshield washer fluid heater was prone to short circuit causing an overheat. Surprising enough, this GM recall is not the first one for the washer fluid heating system. In September of 2008, the exact same 2007 and 2008 model year vehicles were addressed then by the installation of an electrical fuse. This time, GM dealerships will remove or disable the washer fluid heater unit altogether. This election to remove the system rather than repair the heater is mainly because GM’s supplier of the technology, Microheat, declared chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2008 and is unable to furnish a remedy.

GM products affected by this recall includes the following vehicles:

Buick

2006-2009 Lucerne
2008-2009 Enclave

Cadillac

2008-2009 CTS
2006-2009 DTS
2007-2009 Escalade (All models)

Chevrolet

2007-2009 Avalanche
2007-2009 Silverado
2007-2009 Suburban/Tahoe
2009 Tranverse

GMC

2008-2009 Acadia
2007-2009 Sierra
2007-2009 Yukon

Hummer

2006-2009 H2

Saturn

2007-2009 Outlook

Removing the system, which was once an award-winning automotive innovation, GM will also compensate each owner for the amount of $100 in exchange for the windshield washer fluid heater. This price is more than fair compared to the fact that the heated washer fluid system was only an $85 option on the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban.

With GM’s news today joining the news yesterday that Chrysler Group is recalling Jeep Wranglers for potential brake fluid leaks and Chrysler minivans for concerns of possible sliding door electrical fires, some might be under the impression that the American auto industry is returning to their low quality aspirations. That notion is as much a mistake as the dogma that Japanese vehicles are indisputably reliable. Recent overall quality reports have been proving this fact. When buying an American car, at least the saying ‘they don’t built them like they used to’ can be a source of solace.

Information Source: GM, NHTSA, Automotive News

Photo Source: GM, Chris Nagy

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GM just announced that the deal to sell the failing Hummer brand to Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co., Ltd. fell through. No specifics were given, only that they were “unable to complete the acquisition of HUMMER.” Way to be specific there, boys.

As a result, GM is shutting down Hummer completely, Pontiac-style. Still honoring warranties, yadda yadda, but you can’t go buy one anymore (not that anyone was.) GM said they will “begin the orderly wind-down of the HUMMER operations.” Looks like affluent tough guys around the country will have to look elsewhere for the ridiculously large, mostly pointless SUVs.

If you like them, you’re likely to pick one up for cheap. You never know, they might be worth something down the road.

image: FreakingNews.com

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Hot on the heals of GM filing for bankruptcy (gulp!!) comes some the welcome good news that The General has finally found a buyer for Hummer. Hummer sales have been in a free fall for months and month, and the last time I looked, they were down over SIXTY percent. So the sale of Hummer must come as welcome news to GM shareholders … hey, that’s us!

So who bought Hummer? No, it is not Ahnuld, der Governator (a noted big fan of the mil-spec trucks) actually it’s … a mystery at this time. All General Motors will say is that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (AKA an MoU to you MBA FYC out there, OK?) with a buyer for HUMMER (looks like it’s another one of those all-caps brands). The sale “is the result of GM’s strategic review of the HUMMER brand and the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts.”

Or in other words, ‘we’re drowning in read ink and we had to sell it to save our skins.’ The upcoming sale is expected to be done and done by the end of third quarter of 2009 assuming it jumps through all the regulatory hoops out there.

The real good news is that the deal is expected to secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs in manufacturing, engineering and at HUMMER dealerships around the country. The transaction also includes plans by the investor to aggressively fund future HUMMER product programs.

The deal means that HUMMER will continue to contract vehicle manufacturing and business services from GM. Meaning that GM’s Shreveport Assembly plant would continue to contract assemble the H3 and H3T through at least 2010 for example. (I’ve been to Shreveport, had family there. Great people, amazing food, terrible weather. Never visit in August, that’s all I can say.)

“HUMMER is a strong brand. I’m confident that HUMMER will thrive globally under its new ownership. And for GM, this sale continues to accelerate the reinvention of GM into a leaner, more focused, and more cost-competitive automaker,” said Troy Clarke, President of GM North America. ”

Time will tell.

Here’s The General’s press release:

General Motors Announces Preliminary Agreement To Sell HUMMER

Deal could secure more than 3,000 jobs in the United States; preserves HUMMER as global off-road brand

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a buyer for HUMMER, its premium off-road brand. This transaction is the result of GM’s strategic review of the HUMMER brand and the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts.

The sale is expected to close by the end of third quarter of this year and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

The deal is expected to secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs in manufacturing, engineering and at HUMMER dealerships around the country. The transaction also includes plans by the investor to aggressively fund future HUMMER product programs. Under terms of the MoU, the identity of the purchaser and proposed financial terms of the agreement are not being released at this time.

“HUMMER is a strong brand,” said Troy Clarke, President of GM North America. “I’m confident that HUMMER will thrive globally under its new ownership. And for GM, this sale continues to accelerate the reinvention of GM into a leaner, more focused, and more cost-competitive automaker .”

As part of the proposed transaction, HUMMER will continue to contract vehicle manufacturing and business services from GM during a defined transitional time period. For example, under the proposed agreement, GM’s Shreveport Assembly plant would continue to contract assemble the H3 and H3T through at least 2010.

“GM has developed HUMMER into a globally recognized off-road brand,” said James Taylor, HUMMER chief executive officer. “The proposed agreement will enable us to continue that growth and maximize the brand’s potential through new, innovative off-road vehicles with improved efficiency and alternative fuel powertrains. Today’s announcement is great news for HUMMER’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe.”

Other terms and conditions specific to the sale are not being disclosed at this time. Citi acted as financial advisor to General Motors Corporation.

About GM – General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 235,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Photo from Flickr user Michi1308

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No, it’s no joke, and no, I’m not kidding, someone is really making a Hummer Hybrid. And seriously, my first thought was, “I bet Schwarzenegger just LOVES this.” See, the Governator has a penchant for big SUVs, but he’s also more than a little bit green. For example, he has FOUR Mercedes G-wagens, but he’s converted them to run on bio-D. So when a hybrid Hummer started popping up on the web, my first thought was that Ahnuld would buy one. My second thought was a bit more bloody-minded. More along the lines of, “Great, tell the American public we can have our cake and eat it too, and we’re well on the road to ending up like the people on Wall-E.”

So what gives? Are they serious about this, or is it just some shade tree project.

No, they’re serious. This is no BS EV conversion of a clapped out 914 that some dude did in the back shed. Check out the video:

See? They’re serious.

Anyway, the Hummer hybrid has been called a “Chevy Volt on Steroids”, and I’m not really going to argue with that moniker. It’s not one of the big Hummers, it’s a retrofit into an H3, which I think is a Hummer-esque body on a GM Envoy platform, so this isn’t totally over the top. The H3 hybrid runs on a Raser electrical engine that gets the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon, which is about twice the efficiency of a Toyota Prius in the city. The all up range is around 400 miles, and the green Hummer will run for about 40 miles on electricity alone. The electric Hummer (which sounds like something you’d pay extra for in Vegas, doesn’t it?) is also quicker than you’d expect, accelerating from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds.

Look, I’ve got nothing against a car like this overall. The whole point, or at least the thing car manufacturers and gearheads should be focusing on, is making cars as eco-friendly as we can make them, and STILL have them be fun to drive. No, a Hummer is not a car that I’d ever see needing. And no, I think that 9 out of 10 SUVs out there are bought and used by people for all the wrong reasons. But that said, if (and that’s a big if) you need something like a Hummer H3, then why not use one that’s as mellow on the planet as we can make it?

Source: GeeksAreSexy.net

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That means Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and HUMMER face an uncertain future at best, or the chopping block for sure. HUMMER will most likely be sold off or cut entirely (a 60+% drop in sales can do that for a division). Saab probably faces the same fate. GM said it would sell or close Saturn. Since no one has yet stepped forward with cash, or even interest in Saturn, their future is not at all certain. So the rumors that Saturn would be folded in with Chevy or possibly Pontiac seem to be untrue.

Speaking of Pontiac, Bob Lutz said to Automotive News that Pontiac will shrink to offering only four models: the G8, G5, Vibe and Solstice. This news jives with what GM said to congress about making Pontiac a niche brand.

So, it looks like severe times are indeed ahead for what was once the largest, greatest car company on the planet. But let’s get serious for a second … after the jump.

For starters, GM never should have acquired Saab in the first place. They should have left HUMMER to AM General (the military contractor) and never tried to sell a truck like that to the general car buying public. Saturn? GM was doing with Saturn what they should have been doing in their own factories to begin with, manufacturing and process-wise. And if they were smart, Saturn would have started as a test factory, and then pulled into GM whole.

And Pontiac? Sadly, Pontiac is making less & less sense as time goes along. I’m surprised that GM didn’t fuse Buick and Pontiac into one brand, but maybe that would make too much sense.

Source: AutoBlog

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Well there’s an ugly picture.

60%

Dear God, what must it be like in the boardrooms of the Hummer division these days? It must look like something from the villas in the Palatine Hills when the Goths came knocking at the door.

60%

Imagine if your salary had dropped 60% since Christmas.

Then again, you can also say that this is not all that surprising. I bet if you were to graph Hummer sales and gas prices, they’d pretty much match up.

I look at Hummers as being a really limited use vehicle. Who needs something like this? Ranchers, search & rescue teams, people like that. If you’re a soccer mom and bought one because it made you feel “safe”, then I have little sympathy for the hundreds of dollars you have to pour into the tank every other day.

I only know one person who owns a Hummer, and, they also need it.

A good friend of mine from college is from Anchorage Alaska. Her dad runs an outdoor outfitters store, sort of like a local REI-type deal for people that hike into The Denali and such like. After his brother unexpectedly passed, he decided to offset his sorrows by purchasing a Hummer – an H-1, military grade model in “Desert Storm Beige.”

I asked my friend Mel (who weighs 112 pounds soaking wet and could barely bench press an iPod) what the Hummer is like.

“It’s GREAT! No one messes with me when I drive that thing, let me tell ya. All those yuppies that move up here looking for that Final Frontier crap just scatter in their puny little SUVs just scatter when you pull out onto the street. Kinda hard to stop in the snow though … ”

Maybe if Hummer can refocus their efforts to more Northern climes, their sale figure could improve. But I doubt it … the brand is Doomed.

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3. GeigerCars Hummer GT – The Ultimate Attention Whore

A dumb looking paint job isn’t the only thing you get for your $168,000. GeigerCars also adds huge “bling-bling” 30-inch wheels, and by the way, you can also configure the doors to open normally or vertically like a guillotine. You get a Pimp My Ride-esque interior, including Carbondesign applications, color-coded instruments and a multimedia system including a navigation system, DVD player, TV receiver and two LCD-screens which are integrated in the dashboard and a specially designed roof console.

Now for the important stuff. GeigerCars also increased horsepower to 556 by the use of a supercharger, high-performance exhaust and tuned CPU. The Hummer GT has a surprisingly excellent 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds.

GeigerCars.de also modified the H2 suspension to be able to safely control these high speeds. The most obvious conversion is the fitting of chromed and forged GeigerCars.de wheels in 10Jx30 dimension all around. Pirelli contributed the matching high performance street tire with the Scorpion Zero in 315/30 R 30 size. This set of wheels with tires is offered for a retail price of 28,000 Euros. Of course GeigerCars.de also offers many other wheel/tire combinations in 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 inches diameter.

GeigerCars.de also lowers the HUMMER H2 by about 100 millimeters and installs sport anti-sway bars for reduced silt tilt at fast cornering.

The GeigerCars.de high performance brake system with 380 millimeter perforated and vented discs and 8-pot fixed calipers on the front axle provides enormous deceleration performance and resistance. The sport brake system costs 10,268 Euros.

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