Well, you’re probably all too drunk to be reading this, but maybe you’ll catch it in the morning.

As you and your liver know, it’s St. Patrick’s Day today! St. Partick’s Day started when…huh? Yeah, pass over another Guinness!

Enough talking – check out the gallery below and let us know what green supercar is your favorite. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

The race to the post office has become a different matter as of late. The elimination of Saturday mail delivery in the United States signifies a change in culture where messages, we were years ago content to arrive in several days, can be shared in minutes. Though some people will be their best not to accept unwanted progress, it is reasonable to eventually accept and even celebrate what we have gained from that past. During the same time the United States Postal Service adjusts to the new norm, a time many American automobile fans had cherished is honoured as part of a commemorative stamp series in 2013. In five stamps depicting different vehicles, an era of uncompromised performance and carefree motoring is brought back to life.

A five-image set issued by the USPS (United States Postal Service), the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever draws inspiration from an era that began nearly 50 years ago and lasted for roughly 10 years. Introduced to the public at Daytona International Speedway on February 22nd, the Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe was joined by the two members of NASCAR’s famous Petty family. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Richard Petty and son Kyle Petty unveiled the look of the special edition stamps.

A snapshot of the muscle car era, the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps represent iconic vehicles when excess horsepower from V8 engines was king. The America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever set consists of a 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1967 Ford Shelby GT-500, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda and a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS convertible. Overall an excellent choice of American muscle, the non-inclusion of the Chevrolet Camaro could be the most glaring omission but the Chevelle SS is a highly suitable choice. The AMC Javelin could have also made for an interesting addition. Tom Fritz of Newbury Park, CA created the images for this latest USPS stamp set with direction from Carl T. Herman.

The timing for the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamp set also corresponds closely with the symbolic start of the muscle car era. Though many could argue the Hemi-equipped Chrysler 300 was said to have climbed plateaus of muscle performance first, many traditionalists credit the first true muscle car came with the 1964 model year Pontiac GTO. Starting as a performance equipment package to the Pontiac Tempest, the GTO and its 389 cubic-inch V8 engine producing 325 horsepower ushered in the last great era of unhindered power from gasoline. A 1966 model of the first generation Pontiac GTO is one of the five vehicles featured in the Muscle Car stamp issue.

Significantly less expensive than the price and upkeep of an actual muscle car, the five-stamp set is available as a $2.30 block, sheet or in several collector presentations including first day covers. At a higher price for more serious enjoyers of car art, framed images of each of the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamp images can be purchased for $49.95. For $92.00, an uncut press sheet of 200 stamps can be ordered from the USPS.

The Muscle Car set of postal stamps is the third compilation of automotive images to be issued by the USPS under the American on the Move series. The ‘50s Sport Cars series was issued in 2005 was the first followed by the 2008 issuance of the ‘50s Fins and Chrome. In 2011, the USPS also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 with a stamp depicting the 1911 race winning Marmon Wasp.

First circulated for sale on February 22nd, the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamp edition will run for a limited time in the United States.

Information and photo source: United States Postal Service

Attention all youths driving civic hatchbacks with loud exhaust!  Your days of front wheel drive burnouts and general ricing about may soon be over.  The Police are slowly waving goodbye to Crown Victoria Interceptors, which compared to these new tuned models was rather boat-like.  Not to strike too much fear into the hearts of the backwards hat wearing neon hooligans, but the car with the least horsepower has 355 intercepting ponies.  Most of you probably know that Police cruisers are tuned for more power and upgraded to corner fast and level, however there is a little more than just tuning on some of the new fleet.  Two of the cars are custom built models not even available for purchase by the public.  Lets take a look at the stats for each current gen cop car, just to give an idea of the kind of performance that will be seen around your local Dunkin’ Donuts.

2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV

When you first look at this car, you may think, “Oh, well it’s just a new FWD Malibu to patrol shopping centers.” Well you would be a little far off, because this car has muscle pedigree.  You may have thought that the G8 (GTO) died along with the Pontiac name, but it hasn’t!  It lives on underneath the understated Chevy skin, and will now be spending most of its time pulling over Integras for aggressive starts.  With the face lift it has the same 6.0 liter V8 engine and 355 hp as the G8 GT sedan. It’s RWD, and can do 0-60 in a quick 5.7 seconds.  The suspension is supposed to ride very smooth, especially on rough roads, but tends to roll over its own ankles under heavy cornering.  However when compared to the next couple it looses some of its intimidation.

2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit

The Dodge Charger is the most common cruiser I see around town now, only just recently noticing a couple of the Caprice cruisers.  It is basically a Charger R/T with a big 5.7L 370 hp Hemi V8.  This car has been upgraded with reinforced doors and roof, as well as bigger brakes, and tougher suspension that also allows the Charger to corner flat while speeding down an off-ramp.  The party piece of this car is its “stealth mode”, where it turns off all interior lights and has a small red ambiance light that is just bright enough to allow the officers inside to see what they are doing, while they are unseen by the target.  That makes me almost want to go to the Police Academy, just so I could say “Activate the stealth mode…” and I would go unseen in the Starbucks parking lot, not that I’m implying officers enjoy doughnuts and coffee more than the average citizen, because that would just be cliche.

2013 Ford Police Interceptor

Finally, to my favorite of all the Police Interceptors, (never thought I would say that), and this defuses a major argument I’ve heard from STi and GT-R owners for a while now.  Every kid that has taken out a ridiculous loan for an AWD street monster and poured every paycheck into modifying it goes on about how the heavy RWD police cars couldn’t keep up with their cars, especially on back roads, as if they would ever try it.  Now that argument is over, to the dismay of the Evo owners club!  The Ford Police Interceptor is available in a package of AWD with a twin turbo, *ahem*…twin turbo DOHC V6, that produces 365 hp!  They have also reinforce the back of the car to take on a 75 mph hit.  Now Ford says it is for highway impacts while parked on the shoulder, but perhaps they have j-turns and battering ram situations in mind, so watch out.

Now pardon me while I climb onto my soap box here, but let me ask something.  Is this really necessary?  I am all for improving the safety of the officers, and that should be top priority!  However, developing these new cars with all the performance and technology is expensive, and the cars themselves are expensive!  If they are actually in a chase where they need 350+hp, chances are they will take some damage.  On average these new cars are about $4,000 more than the old cars, which are also already in circulation.  This leads me to two points.  One, maybe they have been watching too many Fast and Furious movies, but most people do not make a run for it when being pulled over for speeding and if they do, it isn’t usually in a GT-R or Lexus LFA.  Secondly, I’m guessing you have all seen an episode of COPS or those dangerous pursuit shows, and when a felon does decide to run it usually starts in a 90′s Buick, goes to a foot race, then ends with them in the back of a Crown Vic.  In the end, there isn’t much trouble with cars outrunning the police, considering how much is made from traffic tickets a year.  While the figures are fuzzy and hard to find, it’s estimated $3.7 Billion dollars at the absolute least is made from tickets per year.  While these new cars are cool to talk about, they’re a genius solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist.  Maybe bullet proof glass is a better idea.

Much like postage stamps and cable television, the cost of automobile ownership always appears to grow more expensive with each passing year. According to the AAA (American Automobile Association), there is proof that increased costs are indeed the reality for car owners inside the United States. In study released early last year, vehicle operating costs were on average 1.9 percent compared to the year prior. For motorists considering the 2013 Dodge Dart, a new remedy could bring some alleviation to the upfront costs of new car buying.

Adapting a principle that has been commonly deployed for wedding couples, imaginative marketing performed by Chrysler Group is presenting prospective Dodge Dart owners with an on-line registry for buying a 2013 model year car. First advertised on television this weekend during the NFL’s NFC Championship game broadcast, the Dodge Dart Registry allows individuals to seek to have a car wholly or partially funded through the generosity of others.

Users go to the Dodge Dart Registry website and create a user account to start their own account. The first step in creating a personal registry is to build up a virtual 2013 Dodge Dart complete with standard and optional equipment. A user will next add information including the reason they want to receive funds for a new Dart. In seeking money for the registry, the user can specify length of their campaign and the amount they would like to have contributed to their potential vehicle purchase up to a maximum of $30,000. Once a registry profile is created, it is viewable through the on-line site and is sharable through social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Perhaps best suited for family and friends to contribute to your new vehicle, the Dodge Dart Registry presents the ability for practically any willing party to send a cash gift. When a person funds a registry, their gift is recorded as a component on the 2013 Dodge Dart. Organized in tiers, Tier 1 gifts would involve items such as park brake lever that could be bought for as little as one dollar. The registry’s items transition up to Tier 4 items such as the Dodge Dart’s engine or high-end optional equipment. This experience provides both the registrar user and the contributor with a greater understanding of the Dart sedan.

Even though the Dodge Dart Registry is designed so owners can raise funding for a vehicle, there is no actual promise that the money gifted will go to a purchase. Whether or not the goal is met, the money raised in the registry is issued in the form of a secured check (less a five percent commission fee and an additional four percent processing fee). In honesty (or maybe dishonesty), the money can be spent in whatever way the recipient chooses. However, similar to the case of a wedding registry, it would be highly inappropriate to keep the gifts.

An interesting method for Dodge to draw the 2013 Dart more freely into the social media fray, auto companies have been actively working to integrate more sale elements on-line. Kia Motors and General Motors have used major Internet marketplace eBay as a new car retail channel. The Dodge Dart Registry is an amusing way to incorporate a community aspect in the new car purchasing experience to what could be American drivers worthy of a hand. It would be interesting if this registry experiment would ever be expanded to the SRT Viper. Soliciting gift money to buy a six-figure supercar might be the catalyst to breaking up families and friendships.

Information, photo and video source: AAA, Chrysler Group

With the 2014 C7 Corvette having just been released, there is a showdown on the horizon. One legend is returning, the other has been bulking up and is coming back with a new look for the next generation. I’m sure by now most of you have seen the 2013 SRT Viper, and it looks fantastic!  In the other corner sits the Corvette, which I will be honest, I have never been a huge fan of.  In my opinion, if you could only call one a super car, it would be the Viper, and always has been.  There is a certain pantomime a car needs surrounding it to be a super car, a sense that you are by something great and unusual when standing next to it.  Now before you guys form an angry mob and ambush my house, let’s take a look at the history of the two, and also the next generation of both and I’ll explain why.

History

Not to bore you with facts, but here are some anyway.  The Corvette has been around since 1953, was named after quick American naval ships, and is built in Kentucky.  That is as American as Dirty Harry and apple pie.  However, sacrilegious as this may be, I think the last good looking Corvette was made in 1982.  It was downhill after that, as it began to look more like Star Wars space junk than a sports car.  The body looked plastic, the interior followed suit, and it took on a dated, digital, square look.  It looked closer to a stretched Fiero than anything else.

You can’t blame Chevy, after all, it was the 80’s and every car got cheap looking and was styled with the lines of a walkman.  Not true, as you can look back on Ferraris and Porsche 911s of the 80’s.  Then when the C5 came out in 1997 someone forgot to tell them that pop-up headlights had not been cool for a long while, and while it was more curvaceous, it got a fat rear end.  The looks got a little better with the C6 in 2005 becoming the basic design we all know today.  They finally got rid of the pop up headlamps, but it still has a gigantic ugly rear.

While the Vette was busy being cheap and ugly in 1992, the Dodge Viper burst onto the scene in a flurry of tire smoke and the thunder of a V10 engine.  If you look at the 92’ corvette you would think they were from different decades, or maybe the Viper was straight from the future!  This was something special, not brand marketing, this was a poster car.  Growing up in the 90’s, the Viper was all that, and that is what being a super car is all about!  This car was plastered on my friends’ walls, we all had Viper Hot Wheels, and magazine cut outs of the car.  Just look at it, the sleek back, the long hood, and those side exhausts!

It’s a whole bunch of showing off, but it looks sexy and fun.  In 1996 they released the coupe version, which was a bit more serious, but just as good looking, probably one of the best looking cars ever.  In 2003 they released a new version which got a bigger 8.3L V10 engine and 500hp.  2006 saw the hard top coupe version with 510hp, and that really completed the looks for the 2^nd generation body style, it looked so original, American, and mean while still having some fun.  How could you not with the extra 10hp under the hood?  By the end of the 2^nd generation, the SRT-10 ACR edition had broken the production car lap record at the Nurburgring.  After 2010 the Viper went out of production…until now!

Current Models and Concepts

The Corvette needed to get out of the Viper’s shadow with the performance crowd after it had put on such a show for the previous 18 years.  While the Viper was on its way out in 2008, Chevrolet let their ZR1 Vette out of the cage, all pent up with rage.  To date this is the fastest Corvette around the Nurburgring after its run in 2012, however it is several seconds off of the Viper.  But that isn’t the end all on deciding a car, I just bring that up because of how big of a deal Chevy made of the ZR1’s time.  The 2013 base Corvette starts pricing at under $50k, not bad considering you get 430hp and 0-60 in 4.2 seconds.  The Z06 has 505hp, can do 0-60 in less than 4 seconds, and is a light weight respectable sports car, but is $77k.  Then we come to the ZR1.

It has a 638hp supercharged V8 engine, which instead of producing exhaust gases, sends howling demon monkeys screaming out of the back.  Honestly, it emits a stupendous sound while pushing the limits.  Unfortunately it’s gaudy. So much in fact they decided to put a clear plastic cover on the hood, under which the fake plastic engine cover can be seen. This is not going to impress anyone that is worth talking to.  Also it’s $115k…so if you are really in the market, and performance is what you care about, save yourself some green and go out and buy a lightly used SRT-10 ACR, there are many on the market right now in the $80-90k range.

But, oh look!  After tackling the Nurburgring and embarrassing the Germans and Italians, the Corvette is back to fight for its home turf summoning its Stingray super powers, and boy does it look good.  Send the children to bed before going through the pictures, because this car is pure sex.  If you have not read up on the car yet, check out Chris Nagy’s First Impressions for some more in depth detail.  I’ll touch on some points that stood out here.  It has been lightened with carbon fiber panels as standard for a lower center of gravity.  The small block 6.2 liter V8 allows the block to be placed further back to help give the car almost 50/50 weight distribution, a down side of that is the car could be unstable under braking.  The car also has a wider stance to improve grip, which Chevrolet claims can reach a whole G in cornering.  In addition the C7 has a diffuser like a Formula 1 car, only in this case it is in the front of the car.  In the case of the F1 car hot exhaust gasses are released onto the rear wing to improve down force, while in the Corvette the hot air that has passed through the front grill is released through the vents on the hood, which then flows over the car improving down force, also reducing drag by venting the air.   The update that stood out the most was a 7 speed manual gearbox!

Don’t get all excited yet though, there are some issues to address here.  The styling seems blatantly copied off of a Ferrari, a 599 is just one that comes to mind.  As I said it does look fantastic…until you get around to the back.  The ass end of the car is hideous!  It looks like the old C6 has just clinched up, or perhaps been crashed into, and does not follow the contour of the car whatsoever.  Also it now as something called “Active Rev Match”, and this simulates heel-toe braking by “blipping” the throttle automatically on downshifts  and also revs up automatically while up shifting.  There isn’t left much to skill after that, in addition to all of the torque reduction and traction management settings.  After taking it all in, it seems like a desperate attempt to keep stride with the new Viper.

We already know the Viper specs however.  It has the infamous V10 engine has 640hp roaring away at the front, and 600 lb-ft of torque propelling you from the back, and SRT so proudly points out, “…the most of any naturally aspirated sports car in the world.”  Just like the new Stingray it has a lighter frame, and near 50/50 weight distribution.  However when you get down to the business of driving, you get the sense that they only put traction control in because it is required by U.S. law.  Both the stability and traction control have 2 settings, “on” or “off”…unlike the Corvette that advertises 12 variables that can be tinkered with and 5 torque and brake settings.  Are you serious Chevrolet?  It’s a super muscle car, it is supposed to scare the pants off of you when driven improperly.  You can change the color of the seats and stitching to your liking, so you can escape from a dull interior as well.  Prices start at about $97k, and end just over $120k for the GTS model.

Verdict

This is it, which one is the American super car?  I’ve been asking the readers this for about a week now, and so far it has been unanimous.  Most have pointed out that, sure, the Corvette has more history, and they have produced and sold more, but that just doesn’t do it.  When you drive down U.S. 31 you see as many Corvettes as you do Nissan Zs.  Thus, you don’t see anyone rolling their windows down to take a picture of one, because they are too ordinary!  A super car needs to have an epic presence, like Shaq or a Mission Impossible trailer; it needs to be outlandish, ridiculous, fun and unnecessary!

The Corvette is a place you go when you start using Cialis, and overcompensate for it.  However the Viper is a place you go when you start using Cialis, and can have a laugh about it!  Most of the people I asked didn’t even talk about the Corvette.  They just went on about how the Viper is “ridiculous” and talked about the Viper following, or called it a “monster” and a “kissing death kind of car”.

You can talk about stats, cornering g’s, and other performance figures until you have bored everyone in the room, the fact is a super car is really about the pantomime and “shock & awe” factors.  That is what the Corvette is missing, and I doubt it will ever attain it.  Not to mention the looks are so much better on the new SRT, the curves are fierce, the V10 idle sound is that of a lion before it takes its prey, and the sleek tail lights remind me of an Aston Martin.  The Viper is America’s super car, simply because you need to either go big, or go home.

When Chrysler inspired the modern minivan segment almost 30 years ago, the expectations from the vehicle were quite modest. With an audio cassette player serving as the most high-tech equipment, the minivan’s first appearance in late 1983 was dependent on offering superior space and ergonomics few other vehicles replicated at the time. As the automotive sector reaches the end of 2012, the one-time novelties of the first Dodge and Plymouth minivans are now properties of so many crossover vehicles as well as a few other minivans. Chrysler Group survived while Detroit Three rivals General Motors and Ford Motor Company had pulled the plug on the segment (though Ford will re-enter the family van marketplace with the Transit Connect Wagon for the 2014 model year).

Facing expensive foreign auto company choices from Toyota, Nissan and Honda, Chrysler products had remained appreciated in terms of a family’s pocketbook. The only under-$20,000 minivan sold in 2013, a top-model Dodge Grand Caravan costs $10,000 less than a Toyota Sienna. The Chrysler Town & Country has competed in the premium family hauler market but shares the Grand Caravan’s low operating cost. Chrysler innovative path in the minivan segment is attributed to 78 firsts for the vehicle class. Persevering as an innovative family-mover, Chrysler’s minivans for 2013 will have a high-tech edge far advanced from the cassette deck on the original vehicle.

Debuting on 2013 model year Dodge Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country, the segment’s first entertainment system to utilize Blu-Ray DVD technology will be provide passengers with near-cinematic delight. A very rare factory-installed Blu-Ray player, second and third row occupants inside the Chrysler minivans can now watch HD (high-definition) video discs as well as regular DVDs. The addition of Blu-Ray compatibility is coupled with nine-inch overhead-mounted screens broadcasting in a picture quality four times greater than previous technology. With two video screens, Chrysler’s new Blu-Ray entertainment system can play two separate movies.

Adding Blu-Ray capability, the new-for-2013 entertainment ensemble for the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans also includes other features favouring the tech-savvy family. With high-definition monitors in place, an HDMI port can allow popular video gaming systems to be played by backseat passengers in all visual glory. RCA input and a 12-volt outlet can be readily found for connecting devices. In regards to laptop computers, digital cameras, tablets and other electronic items using USB connections, two slots on the Blu-Ray enabled 2013 Chrysler minivans allow multimedia connectivity as well as charging. A 115-volt power inverter insures that the rear compartment has the capacity to operate as a moving family room.

While the package will definitely be on the Christmas list of children who ride for hours in the backseat while parents are searching for an 80s rock or news radio station, all that HD multimedia excitement could certainly cause a noisy situation as Nemo or the action from The Avengers movie pulsates the vehicle. Thanks to two wireless headphones, the sound is minimized.

The Blu-Ray capable rear seat HD entertainment system will be optional on SXT, Crew and R/T versions of the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. While extra on the Chrysler Town & Country Touring L model, the new entertainment array will be standard on the S and Limited trim levels in 2013.

Blu-Ray’s inclusion in automotive entertainment is coming on the advent of a home theater revolution. Online services such as Netflix and Apple iTunes has allowed many of us to evolve beyond the physical disc or storage device in order to consume popular media. In a year or two, the next major step will obviously be the first vehicle to incorporate a video on-demand system.

Information and photo source: Chrysler Group

From the first time the first Barracudas and Mustangs roared off the assembly lines in 1964, Americans have had a love affair with pony cars. Smaller than the muscle cars but larger than sports cars, the ponies have carved out a niche all their own on the American highway.

The late ’60s and ’70s are the undisputed heyday of the pony car. Tighter government regulations on fuel economy led to lean times during the ’80s. Despite a few bright spots (the IROC Camaro comes to mind), it looked like pony cars might not make it to the new millennium.

Fortunately for those of us who love our ponies, the Big 3 have rediscovered the market for pony cars in recent years. Each of the major American automakers are now producing pony cars that show promise.

Picking the best pony cars of all time is a lot like picking the best President of all time. There will be a few most of us agree on, a few we argue over, and a few that make some people shake their heads. That said, here are our picks for the top ten pony cars of all time:

1. 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS

For four long years, GM pony car fans were left with the choice of going with a muscle car or looking for a different automaker. Fortunately, the Camaro raced back onto America’s roads in 2010. The new Fifth-Gen Camaros pack plenty of punch, with the 2012 SS “45th Anniversary” model boasting a supercharged 6.2L V8 that puts out a whopping 580 horses. Even purists will love the retro look, and this Camaro is the fastest to ever roll off the Chevrolet assembly lines.

2. 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8

After committing what some muscle and pony car enthusiasts considered the unpardonable sin by putting rear doors on the new Charger, Dodge got it right in 2008 with the new Challenger. The car looks like the grown up version of the Challengers that tore up the roads in the early ’70s. Don’t let it fool you, though, Challenger can still hang tough with the best of them. 2009 gave us an SRT-8 model with a 6-speed automatic transmission and 2011 gave us a bigger 6.4L Hemi that’ll do a quarter mile in 12.4 at 110.

3. 1994 Ford Mustang GT

The ’80s weren’t great years for pony cars, and the pony flagship, the Ford Mustang, was no exception. The ’90s started to show improvement, with Ford finally designing a Mustang that looked and acted like a Mustang. The ’94 and ’95 models were the last Mustangs you could get with the iconic 302 small block.

4. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am

For some enthusiasts, Second Gen Trans Ams are the only TAs that matter. The black ’77 model, with the big chicken in gold, was forever etched on our consciousness in the Smokey and the Bandit movies. While the 400 under the hood was a downgrade from the earlier 455s, there was plenty left for leaving just about anything on the road in the dust.

5. 1970 Dodge Challenger

With a ’70 Challenger with a 440 6-Pack, you flat out owned the roads in the ’70s. Equally at home cruising the strip or burning up the quarter mile, many MOPAR fans will tell you that the Challenger should have been called “The Champion.”

6. 1970 HEMI Cuda

It’s almost unfair to include the ’70 ‘Cuda and Challenger next to each other on the same list, but the rarity of ’70 ‘Cudas, with their 340 small blocks, merits their inclusion. Plymouth’s offering in the pony car class was a little shorter and lighter than Dodge and packs a bit more punch with collectors.

7. 1968 Shelby Cobra GT 500

What happens when a racing legend gets to tweak the original pony? You get the Shelby Cobra. Shelby American put out their own versions of the Mustang from 1965 through 1970. The ’68 Cobra GT 500s, equipped with 428 Cobra Jet engines under the hood, were arguably the best of the bunch, earning them the nickname “King of the Road.”

8. 1969 ½ Pontiac Trans Am

The Trans Am was an upgrade on the Pontiac Firebird, which was itself considered by many to be an upgrade on the Camaro. TAs debuted with a half-year model in ’69. Because Pontiac changed the body style of the Firebirds for the 1970 model, ’69 ½ is the only first-gen Trans Am available. They came in any color you like, as long as you like white with blue racing stripes. The convertibles are among the rarest of all pony cars, with only eight produced in total.

9. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Chevy got it right, right out of the gate with the Camaro. The first models came out in ’67, but ’68 Camaros gave us the Z-series. They featured the iconic 302 Muncie and offered an option of one or two 4-barrels. These cars paved the way for Camaros (and Firebirds, arguably) for years to come.

10. 1964 ½ Ford Mustang

Can there be any other choice for the number one pony car of all time? The ’64 ½ is the one that started it all, and the one to which all still bow. While the first Mustangs can’t quite match the performance of later pony cars (including Mustangs), it’s doubtful the American roads will ever see a more legendary car.

Honorable Mentions:

1985 IROC-Z Camaro, if for no other reason than it was one of the few pony cars produced during the ’80s and ’90s that could hold its own with the ponies of the ’70s.

2002 Pontiac Trans Am. The last of one of the all-time greats. With the elimination of the Pontiac brand, we’ll probably never see another true Firebird Trans Am. At least they went out in style.

All 5th Gen (2005-present) Ford Mustang GTs, which only missed the cut because we had filled our quota of Mustangs.

What are your favorite all-time pony cars?

About the Author
Nick Simpson is Social Media Coordinator at Fred Loya Insurance. Fred Loya provides affordable auto insurance rates in California.

All images from Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons

Hello modern classic – the 2013 SRT Viper is a sure fire hit. After a hiatus that began on July 1st, 2010 the Dodge – ahem – SRT Viper is returning this November. The Viper was kept under wraps up until its launch in April at the New York International Auto Show. Since then we’ve heard a lot about process – such as the stringent approval necessary to become an SRT dealer.

The Chrysler Group is serious about making sure the new Viper has a premium buying experience. Ahead of its launch, the company has released pricing information for the entire lineup, including the upmarket GTS. As the best Viper ever, the 2013 is fittingly also more expensive than ever before. The standard Viper starts at $97,395, not including a $1,995 (ouch, it is only from Michigan!) destination fee.

Moving up to the $120,395 GTS will set you back $23,000 The GTS includes a dual-mode active suspension system that can quickly adapt to road surfaces. Bilstein DampTronic Select shocks are used, and they offer settings for the street and track. The standard Viper will actually be the choice for hard-core purists, because the GTS adds on creature comforts.

It is aimed at attracting some buyers from Lamborghini and Porsche. The interior is a lot more luxurious and includes two-tone leather covered surfaces, power seats sourced from Ferrari, a Harmon/Kardon audi system, carbon timer tim elements and black graphite trim on the brake ducts and headlights. There is also a set of unique wheels. As far as we’re concerned, the GTS is the one to get. Along with the pricing information, Dodge has released a whole new set of images. They’re a lot better then the studio shots we’ve got before, and they’re in real life track situations. Check them out in the gallery below. The 2013 SRT Viper goes on sale this November.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

As summer is reduced to a matter of a few weeks, we are confronted with the realization that, for many, pleasure goes the way of serious work. The 26th race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 season, the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway is a situation where an entire season of efforts can prove very rewarding or very costly. A 0.75-mile, so-called “drivers race track”, Richmond International Raceway’s placement is seen as perfect to align the 12 drivers who will participate in the 2012 stock car racing playoff. While many drivers in the top-10 were locked into the Chase, the presence of Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards relied on their results in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

In qualifying for the Richmond International Raceway‘s Saturday night affair, Chevrolet Impalas soared to supremacy taking four of the top five spots on the 43-car grid. The #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr earned the privilege of his first pole of the year. A race scheduled for 7:44pm, the 300-lap Federated Auto Parts 400 was delayed by rain for over an hour. When the rain stopped falling and the track dried, Earnhardt Jr led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field to green for the night. For the first 58 laps of the Federated Auto Parts 400, Dale Earnhardt Jr delighted his sizable fan base by leading often giving up the lead only to allow Jeff Gordon to lead two laps and later Michael McDowell led for a lap under caution when leaders pitted during the race’s competition caution on lap 48.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The first challenger to Dale Earnhardt Jr came from Denny Hamlin and the #11 Fed-Ex Toyota. A two-time race winner of the late summer Richmond International Raceway event, Hamlin was hunting for a third-straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory as he passed the #88 car on 59 laps. The lead changed hands between Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin several times over the course of the next 100 laps.

Rain once again interfered with the pivotal NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on lap 155 forcing competitors back to pit lane and the race to be red flagged. While no work was allowed on the stock cars as they sit idle under the rain delay, it would be obvious some drivers and teams were able to plan strategy to better their performances. After over 51 minutes under the red flag, the race resumed and there would immediately be some changes on track compared to the race fans were used to seeing prior to the latest bout of rain showers.

While Dale Earnhardt Jr grabbed the lead of the Federated Auto Parts 400 on lap 156, the #88 Chevrolet piloted by NASCAR’s most popular driver would be passed once again by Denny Hamlin a few laps later. After the short-lived leading stint was over for Earnhardt Jr, he began to backslide from the top of the field at Richmond. Earnhardt Jr and the #88 Hendrick Motorsports team would be fighting to reclaim handling for the rest of Saturday night NASCAR race. Ultimately, the race’s pole-sitter would only muster a 14th place finish.

As the race crossed halfway distance, Denny Hamlin would continue to lead often at Richmond International Speedway foregoing the lead for only a handful of laps between lap 159 to lap 284. Leading a total of 202 of the race’s 400 laps, Hamlin would not be the winner of the Federated Auto Parts 400. Due to a necessary pit stop in the late laps of the event, the #11 Toyota fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing came across the line an unceremonious 18th after a night’s hard work.

Surging from 28th place on the starting grid, the #14 Chevrolet piloted by driver/owner Tony Stewart took the lead on lap 285 away from Denny Hamlin. Stewart was only to hold to the race lead for 15 laps before teammate Ryan Newman took possession of the race’s top spot at lap 300. Without a single yellow flag in after lap 282, the Federated Auto Parts 400 turned into a strategy affair with only 100 laps remaining.

On lap 313, the Michael Waltrip Racing-owned #15 Toyota of Clint Bowyer emerged to take the lead at Richmond International Raceway. With fuel economy called into question through the late stage of the event, Bowyer had just the right amount of Sunoco race fuel in his car to motor to a second NASCAR Sprint Cup win in the 2012 season. Clint Bowyer overcame a spinout earlier in the race to comfortably align himself as well with the 2012 NASCAR Chase thanks to his victory at Richmond.

Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

With the top-10 in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers championship locked in the 10-race Chase, the two wild card spots went to drivers who have won races and/or highest in points. Hendrick Motorsport cars of Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon secured both wild card spots. By three points, Gordon bested Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch for the final Chase spot.

After three straight weekends of night races, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts the Chase with a Sunday afternoon 400-mile event at the Chicagoland Speedway on September 16th.

NASCAR Sprint Cup

Federated Auto Parts 400

Richmond International Raceway

Race Results

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Contenders

Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for NASCAR

Racing on Sunday night for only the second time in the 2012 season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visited the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Advocare 500. A fast 1.54-mile race track, the Atlanta Motor Speedway has earned a reputation in recent years for challenging drivers and crew chiefs in the search for ideal handling.

Clinching pole with a 186.121-mile per hour speed in qualifying, the #14 Chevrolet of Tony Stewart was granted lane choice for the start of the Advocare 500. Based on the tricky nature of the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Stewart elected for the outside position on the double-file start of the scheduled 325-lap race. While it at the green flag the move appeared to have been a misjudgement as Greg Biffle’s #16 Ford sailed by to lead the first lap, Tony Stewart flew by on the second lap to take the early race lead. Leading 8 laps, the #14 Chevrolet of Stewart would be outpaced during the first stint of the Advocare 500 and fall from contention. Tony Stewart would cross the Atlanta Motor Speedway start/finish line 22nd at the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

After Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick would exchange the lead of the race up to the 281st lap of the Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Three cautions in the first 247 laps of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race resulted in relatively minimal retirements or damage to race vehicles.

Photo Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for NASCAR

For drivers Carl Edwards Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman, the Advocare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway represented desperate times for securing a spot in the 2012 Chase. For many of them, the Sunday night event has contributed to the uneasiness for some and would effectively end the Chase contention for at least one driver.

With 71 laps remaining, #99 Ford Fusion driven by Carl Edwards began backsliding as what was believed to be a battery issue began to cause the Roush-Fenway Racing car to backslide. Shortly after the #99 Ford began slowing, smoke erupted from the right corner of Edwards’ car. As NASCAR threw a yellow flag out of concern for Carl Edwards’ vehicle, the Roush-Fenway Racing car was brought to the #99 team pit crew that determined the mechanical problems were terminal for the event. Now 49 points behind 10th place in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, Carl Edwards slimmest chance of entering the 2012 Chase will be to dominate and win the next Richmond race. Even then, the complexity of the Chase qualifications could more than likely cancel out the runner-up in last year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Photo by: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

On the restart lap 271 in the Advocare 500, a tangle between a three-wide fight of Jimmie Johnson, Sam Hornish Jr and Ryan Newman out of turn 2 resulted in the #48 Chevrolet being turned sideways. All three competitors would receive noticeable damage with the #39 and #48 cars ending the race in the garage. The #22 Dodge Charger of Sam Hornish Jr was more fortunate continuing to finish 11th despite the front-end damage suffered in the lap-271 crash.

In the late stages of the Sunday night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a new contender emerged in the form of Martin Truex Jr. Having just received a contract renewal to continue driving his #56 NAPA-sponsored Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, Truex Jr was in prime position to commemorate the recent deal with a victory. Leading comfortably with only a handful of law from victory, Martin Truex Jr’s almost certain win was thwarted by a caution where the #1 Chevrolet of Jamie McMurray suffered problems through the frontstretch.

With 2 laps resulting from a green-white-checkered restart to settle the Advocare 500 at Atlanta (ultimately extending the race by 2 laps past its advertised distance), Martin Truex Jr took the high line with the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing-owned Toyota of Denny Hamlin positioned low. Truex Jr spun his rear tires on the crucial restart allowing Denny Hamlin and later Jeff Gordon to snake by. Holding off a late charge from the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon, the #11 Sport Clips-sponsored Toyota took the checkered flag. Winning his 4th race of the year, Denny Hamlin currently holds the most victories of any driver during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Photo Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for NASCAR

While Denny Hamlin has secured his spot in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup, 2nd place Jeff Gordon was in need for a second victory in this season in order to grant himself a better chance of gaining his place in the NASCAR’s 10-race championship playoff. Gordon was visibly dejected in losing the Atlanta race as he climbed out of his #24 Chevrolet. In third place, Brad Keselowski’s #2 Dodge owned by Penske Racing is continuing to prep himself for his guaranteed place as the only Dodge to be involved in the 2012 Chase playoff. After almost winning the Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr had to settle for 4th ahead of #29 Chevrolet piloted by Kevin Harvick. Behind 6th place Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr and his #88 Hendrick Motorsports team were able to emerge from a starting spot of 35th to cross the finish line 7th.

Only six days separate the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams from the next race at Richmond International Raceway. The Wonderful Pistachios 400 on the 0.75-mile short track is set for past 7:30 pm eastern time on Saturday, September 8th.

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Advocare 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race Results

Information Source: NASCAR

An important time leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup’s 10-race championship Chase, a Saturday night event at the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway was the third-to-last chance for potential contenders to mount a charge for the 2012 stock car championship.

At one time the hottest ticket in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour, the past several years of racing on the concrete-paved short track has contributed to a noticeable decrease in spectator numbers. It was argued the Bristol Motor Speedway’s reworking performed several years ago made the track too uneventful for class short track battles with 800-horsepower machines. Following the earlier held 500-lap event at the Bristol Motor Speedway, the track was resurfaced in effort to improve the type of racing expected at the 0.533-mile oval ahead of the Irwin Tools Night Race.

Receiving one Friday practice session prior to qualifying, rain washed out the time trial that traditionally settles the NASCAR Sprint Cup race grid. In accordance to NASCAR rules, the times in the practice session would formulate the Irwin Tools Night Race 43-race field. This led to Casey Mears driving the #13 GEICO Ford serving as a surprise starter at the front for Saturday night. Leading valiantly fighting off the challenge from Brad Keselowski’s #2 Penske Racing Dodge early, Mears would be bettered by the #20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing.

From the start, the Irwin Tools Night Race took shape as an old-style Bristol Motor Speedway battle where fenders and sheetmetal was bent significantly over the 500 laps. While rough and tough racing on the short track contributed to 13 cautions total for the night, the excitement of the Bristol Motor Speedway race was also driven by the fact no one driver would dominate the event. Early in the event, Joey Logano had fashioned himself as a potential winner leading 139 of the race’s first 348 laps. Logano would ultimately settle for an 8th place finish losing ground during pit stops late in the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr and Matt Kenseth were part of the 22-driver collective that led the Saturday night short track race.

Producing some thrilling racing to watch, the Bristol, Tennessee track also brewed some bad tempers among the race participants. With no shortage of coming togethers a reason for 13 yellow flags flying over the course of 500 laps, the race was the scene to some of the most public outbursts from NASCAR Sprint Cup’s finest drivers. The most high-profile incident involved a bout between the #14 Chevrolet of Tony Stewart and the #17 Valvoline-sponsored Ford Fusion driven by Matt Kenseth fighting for the lead of the Irwin Tools Night Race at lap 333. Demonstrating the complexity of close quarter competition at Bristol, Kenseth and Stewart would also show the disastrous results when both race hard for the coveted lead. On the frontstretch, they’re battle ends with the #14 and #17 cars turning each other into the inside wall. With Tony Stewart sustaining the worse damage, the reigning 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion would climb from his racing machine and chuck his helmet at Kenseth’s Roush-Fenway Racing owned Ford.

In the late stage of the Irwin Tools Night Race, a fuel strategy call made under a lap-415 caution allowed the #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford of Carl Edwards to hold the lead. Fighting to make the 2012 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, last year’s championship runner-up Edwards was attempting to use a win (or at least a strong finish) at Bristol as a springboard to enter the important top-10 in the driving standings. With Tony Stewart circulating many laps down at the end of the Saturday night race, Carl Edwards had a real opportunity to capitalize.

The 13th, final caution for a collision between Regan Smith‘s #78 Chevrolet and the #10 Chevrolet piloted by Danica Patrick gave the #99 Ford better odds for saving fuel to steal the win at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, on the field retook the green flag at lap-443, Carl Edwards found himself under the challenge of two different Toyota Camrys. First, the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing owed racecar driven by Brian Vickers mounted an aggressive effort to pass Carl Edwards only to almost lose control of his Toyota. Vickers was able to hold on brilliantly for a 4th place run in a part-time appearance at Bristol. On lap 462, Denny Hamlin’s #11 Toyota would ultimately defeat the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards. Taking a gamble on fuel, Edwards and his team would fall victim to a lack of fuel at the end of the 500-lap race practically crawling across the line in 22nd place.

Despite reports of a cooling system issue earlier in the race, Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx-sponsored Toyota Camry was calculated but determined to save themselves under the final 100-lap run. Hamlin’s pass on Edwards was in true stock car, short track style with minor contact between the two competitors. in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol to win his 3rd event of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Holding in 8th spot in the overall driver points standings, Hamlin has been more determined than ever to win races and ultimately the Sprint Cup trophy in 2012.

Coming from 37th to finish in the runner-up spot behind the Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson finished ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for some strong momentum heading into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. Fifth place behind Brian Vickers, Marcos Ambrose driving the #9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports stretches a top-5 streak to 3 races. Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne and Paul Menard rounded out the top-10 results for the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Information source: NASCAR

Photo source: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR, John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR, Nigel Kinrade/Autostock, Tyler Barrick/Getty Images

For the past several weeks, automobiles have been associated with the word “recall” in an unflattering manner as almost every major carmaker appears to have been bitten by gremlins. However, one Hollywood remake places Chrysler within a different state known as Total Recall.

Part of a futuristic chase scene in the newly released 2012 Total Recall film, hover vehicles wear Chrysler and Dodge badges. Wildly unrecognizable to anything currently on the streets today, Chrysler and Dodge branded hover cars operating in the world of 2084 reveals a high-speed, high-tech form of personal transportation. Swappable steering column and the ability to travel along highways running 100s of feet above the ground are a few features found on the hover vehicles presented with Chrysler badging. Perhaps a far-reaching piece of imagination, it is questionable if the Chrysler hovercrafts will become the future of transportation our children and grandchildren could grow accustomed to.

The Total Recall movie is yet another where the huge Hollywood side business of product placement bequests items such as soft drinks, restaurants and electronics onto the film screen. Auto companies have also been heavily involved in this common practice of on-movie advertising.

For futuristic movies such as the new Total Recall film, the forward look into tomorrow can be quite off target. Not only for the progression of technology, when product placement is involved in a movie it can turn embarrassing. The Sci-Fi classic 1982 Blade Runner was famously regarded as a cursed movie for several companies featured with sale, bankruptcy or a disastrous product (such as Coca-Cola when they changed their formula in 1985). Pan-American World Airways was a corporate shadow that did not make it to the time of 2001: A Space Odyssey or extraterrestrial travel. In Back to the Future II, Hill Valley of 2015 was depicted as a futuristic environment where a Pontiac dealership resided in the town’s square. Much like the flying cars, hover boards, and hydrating pizza, we’re on a path to enter our year 2015 without the arrowhead badge adorning new automotive products.

Though 2084 is a long way forward in time with no absolute predictions to the state of this planet, Chrysler Group’s involvement the new Total Recall movie released in 2012 is a celebration to the real-world restructuring of a company. Three years ago, so many people would have considered the during existence of Chrysler into the latter half of this century to a situation in a comedy. In fact, the business health of the Pentastar brand corporation up to the release date of the Total Recall remake would have been a great, Hollywood success story. Along with the Total Recall movie, Chrysler had also engaged in cross-promotion with the latest Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. In a television commercial, a Chrysler 300 Sedan was produced under an “Imported from Gotham City” spot.

In a Chrysler advertisement shown on television recently, the 2084 Chrysler hovercars is joined by the 2012 Chrysler 200 convertible.

Information, photo and video source: Chrysler Group

Blue and white stripes on a Viper – hey this is a throwback. If you’re a Dodge Viper aficionado you’ll recognize these as the launch colors used for the past two generations of Viper coupes. With the 2013 SRT Viper being a continuation of what began back in 1996, SRT is keeping with tradition.

The result is the top-line Viper GTS Launch Edition being launched at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. “Designed with Viper loyalists in mind, the 2013 SRT Viper GTS Launch Edition model brings back the classic paint schemes that have adorned all previous Viper coupe launches to help us celebrate the return of our brand’s flagship performance machine to the supercar market,” says Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology Brand.

The exact color combination is dubbed GTS Blue and Blue White, and the car features the “Stryker” hood badge with a blue background. That badged was named by Viper fans at a 2010 Viper Owners Invitational Event in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Stryker” is dthe third variant of the Viper snake logo, following “Sneaky Pete” and “Fang.”. Inside, the GTS Launch Edition gets the prerequisite numbered dash plaque featuring its build number, along with a unique steering wheel. Seats will be covered in Black Laguna leather.

The car’s five-spoke aluminum wheels even are patterned after the Launch Editions that came before it. The Viper’s 8.4-liter V-10 remains unchanged, pumping out 640 horsepower and 600 foot pounds of naturally-aspirated torque. You can bet the Launch Edition will cost a good bit more than the standard model, along with selling out quickly. Chrysler hasn’t revealed how many will be produced. As for us, we’d probably take our Viper in a different color combination than this one. However, all we have right now are computer generated press shots, which don’t tend to flatter.

In Tuesday, the hearts of many Mopar fans could be heard breaking. The President and CEO of the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) as well as Chrysler Group’s motorsport program Ralph Gilles delivered a sad announcement that will effectively park the 12-season old NASCAR Sprint Cup program as well as the Nationwide Series after 2012. In a pop announcement, Gilles officially declared that Chrysler would not be supplying any support to Dodge Chargers or Challengers racing in the premier stock car racing ranks.

While a shocking story, the announcement does not come as a surprise. Back in 2009 when Chrysler Group requested bailout funding to help with their structural bankruptcy, the involvement in NASCAR was criticized as being an expensive sponsorship venue. While Dodge did not have to leave motorsports, there was consolidation of their NASCAR program. In 2011 and 2012, the Dodge efforts circulated almost exclusively around Penske Racing for NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide competition with a driver line-up including Brad Keselowski. Just days after the this year‘s Daytona 500, the Roger Penske-owned racing organization had broadcasted a commitment to Ford for the upcoming 2013 stock car racing season. Attempts were made to find a suitor for the Dodge brand inside the Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR insiders had indicated Furniture Row Racing team (currently campaigning a Chevrolet Impala) as a potential Dodge Charger backer in 2013 with a possible two-car team forming. At the end, the no deals materialized to save the Chrysler-backed involvement. “A number of opportunities emerged, and our team worked diligently to put a structure together to fit our overall business and competitive objectives. While we have been pleased and enthused with the amount of interest from teams and sponsors over that time, in the end, we simply couldn’t develop the right structure.,” said Ralph Gilles.

Possessing a storied history for stock car racing that involves a total of 215 race wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Dodge‘s modern return to competition was eager to rekindle past greatness. Following Lee Petty winning the first NASCAR race in 1953 in what is known as the Sprint Cup Series, the major feat for the auto brand would be David Pearson clinching the 1966 driver’s championship in a Charger. For the Dodge make itself, two manufacturer’s championship in 1970 and 1975 were highlights for their participation in major league stock car racing. Withdrawing from NASCAR after the 1977 season ended with Richard Petty claiming a championship with the Dodge Charger, other Dodge products made a few appearances in NASCAR competition for several years afterwards. Racing a #43 Dodge Magnum to limited success during the 1978 season, Richard Petty and his team were even considering the use of a Dodge Mirada in 1981 for the Daytona 500 but were unable to achieve competitive speeds in testing. The decision to abandon the Chrysler product in favour of a Buick won Petty his seventh Daytona 500. A few other attempts in campaigning the Dodge Mirada would ultimately end in disappointment.

Dodge’s first claw-back into NASCAR occurred when they fielded several teams of Ram pickups in the new-founded Truck Series in 1995. As many predicted, the Truck Series effort ultimately led to the return of the brand to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2001. Collecting 55 wins since its comeback (a number that could rise with 15 races left this 2012 season in Sprint Cup), Dodge drivers would fall short of a Sprint Cup championship. Remarking to the departure of the Dodge brand from the top stock car racing series, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France stated, “Dodge has been a great partner to NASCAR for many years, and they have been part of numerous memorable moments throughout our history,”. France understands that the Chrysler Group was making a business decision.

Earlier this year, Dodge (in an presentation that awkwardly involved their departing NASCAR partner Penske Racing) presented a 2013 Charger that was designed to correspond with styling perimeters offering more visual identity for next season‘s Sprint Cup schedule. With Chrysler’s support withdrawn, that stock car will not be present on the racetracks in 2013 based on the complexity of factory support in the Sprint Cup Series. There could be a different story in the Nationwide Series as no major rule changes could technically allow the Dodge Challenger the appear next season but it is highly unlikely based on the lack of manufacturer support.

Ending what will become 18 seasons of support in NASCAR dating back to the brand’s participation in the Truck Series, there will only be three vehicle makes represented in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Without knowing what competition awaits in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the remaining car makes Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota could be the new focus for disenchanted Mopar fans at the racetrack.

Information source: Chrysler Group, NASCAR
Photo source: Chrysler Group

Chrysler is in the midst of an effort to launch Street Racing and Technology as its own division. Car guy Ralph Gilles was given charge of the brand and he has instituted separate marketing campaigns and a future product roadmap. In the future we could see models developed for the SRT brand exclusively.

Where this leaves Dodge is anyone’s guess. Currently SRT is something of an anomaly, as nearly the entire lineup has standard counterparts at Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. Notice we said nearly – the SRT Viper leads the way for distinct vehicles under the SRT moniker. The company only wants the best, most well-equipped dealers to sell its most expensive product. Makes sense.

Recently a report circulated that detailed some “guidelines,” such as approval based on the amount of dreadful Calibers the dealer sold. This wasn’t official though; Gilles himself now shed a bit more light on the process, and the amount of dealers that qualify. Via Automotive News: “We’re going to open it up to any dealer who can put the money forward and the training, but it’s going to be pretty difficult to hit all of those things….you’ve got to have the training, the facilities, and some history of selling Vipers and SRTs in general.”

A high bar to reach – as it should be. Apparently all dealers who sold the Viper previously have the right to sell them again – but there is nothing stopping Chrysler from making it difficult. Gilles says only 15 to 20 percent of dealers so far meet. Approved dealers will be briefed on the costs involved with the program, as well as their allocation of the sports car. With a hiatus over the past few years, the Viper is expected to experience a lot of demand when it goes on sale.