Auto almanac
BMW i8 Spyder: Expected shortly after the 2014 launch of the i8 coupe is this nifty-looking convertible. Both models will feature carbon fiber-reinforced plastic bodywork, scissor-style doors and various crash-avoidance electro-nannies. The plug-in hybrid power train consists of a 129-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels (exclusively for as many as 20 miles) that functions with a 220-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine turning the rear wheels, for a net total of 349 horses and 406 pound-feet of torque. The starting price? Upward of $150,000.
Auto Trivia
n By early January of 1914, workers at Henry Ford's Detroit factory had their shift reduced to eight hours from nine, while their pay was doubled to $5 per hour.
n The first person to achieve a speed greater than 60 mph in an automobile was Camille Jenatzy of France, who officially reached 65.79 mph in an electric car in 1899.
Who am I?
To guess his secret identity, read the following clues!
1. He was a British air force flyer, race car driver, then a car designer. His company was established in 1945.
2. Once of his most famous works was a stunning two-seater with 100 horsepower that could do 100 mph.
3. Changing crash standards in the 1960s spelled doom for the little car, which sold 72,000 units.
4. Before his death in 1988, he was honored by the Queen of England and inducted into numerous halls of fame.
Still stumped?
The Healey Hundred, which became the Austin-Healey 100, was created by Donald Healey. The car had 100 horsepower and had a top speed of 100 mph.
What's up, auto doc?
The good ol' Auto Doc is tired of his eight-track stereo, so it's time to upgrade. But where to begin? With a budget, of course. Instead of beginning with the "head" unit (CD/cassette/MP3 player), begin with the speakers as they will mostly dictate the sound quality. Generally, you'll want to hear the options for what will fit in the factory speaker locations. Take your own music to the stereo shop and keep in mind that there's a big sound difference between the showroom and the confined space of your vehicle.
Once you're happy with your selection, you'll need enough power to run them. If the head unit doesn't have enough (most offer just 25 watts per speaker), you'll need external amplifiers, which usually mount in the trunk or under the seats. Spend what's left of your budget on a head unit, unless you also have to pay for installation. Coming up short? Cutting back the equipment in the reverse order, try to stick with your original speaker choice and only buy components that you can add to later.
eBay watch
1964 Plymouth Fury two-door hardtop, sold, $7,600: NASCAR champ Richard Petty won the first of his seven Daytona 500 races driving a "stock car" based on this model. But what makes this Fury unusual is that, other than a 230-horsepower 318 cubic-inch V-8, it was built without air conditioning, power steering and brakes - or even a radio. The transmission is a column-mounted three-speed manual instead of the usual automatic. The high bidder won an extra-clean classic for not much cash.
Top Gear
Bugatti Type 57 1:18 scale model; about $385; www.cmc-modelcars.de: Just three of the four original Type 57 Atlantic Coupes originally produced by Italian automaker Ettore Bugatti are still around. Now you can purchase a 1:18 scale replica Type 57 from Classical Model Cars. Designed by Ettore Bugatti's son Jean back in the mid-1930s, it's widely acknowledged to be one of the world's most beautiful cars. The model is hand assembled from more than 1,700 pieces and is correct right down to its opening doors, leather interior and correct-to-scale supercharged inline eight-cylinder engine.
