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Anti-purist 1963 Ferrari GTE sports hot rod Chevy V8

I remember reading a story around the time Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift came out. It focused on one of the star cars of that film, a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback that started the film as a shell, and in a pinch, was transformed into a modified masterpiece, complete with the RB26DETT engine from a Nissan Skyline GT-R (which started the film under the hood of an S15 Silvia). There was a genuine (and in our minds, absurd) fear in the article that taking a piece of classic American iron and fitting a twin-turbocharged JDM engine would result in some awful trend in the classic car community. If you thought a GT-R-powered classic Mustang was sacrilege, though, this car will probably make you vomit. For the rest of us, it's a neat piece of engineering. Shown above is a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE, and yes, that's a 302-cubic-inch, small-block Chevrolet V8 under the hood. On top of that, it uses the six-speed manual transmission from a Viper, a nine-inch Ford rear end, and Mitsubishi-sourced paint. So yeah, it's a FrankenFerrari. Check out Road Heads' interview with this custom GTE's owner, which is followed by a brief test drive. And of course, head into Comments afterwards, and let us know what you think. Is this Yankee-powered 250 GTE blasphemous or badass?

GM finds steering flaw, decides it doesn't warrant a recall

Guess what? General Motors is back in the spotlight for not recalling something. This time, though, not only does the company have an argument against a recall campaign, but its position is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to The New York Times, over 50 owners of GM vehicles have reported instances of stuck or seized steering after driving long distances without moving the wheel. One owner complained to NHTSA that the "locked" steering of their 2013 Buick Verano caused a collision with a concrete barrier in a construction zone. Along with the 2013 to 2014 model year Verano sedans, Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu sedans are also affected. Considering the popularity of those models, GM needs to have a reason for not issuing a recall, right? "Based on a very low rate of occurrence – ranging from less than one half to less than two incidents per thousand vehicles – and the fact that the condition is remedied when the wheel is turned, GM determined this was not a safety issue," spokesman Alan Adler told The Times. The company has, however, issued a technical service bulletin for owners that complain of the problem. The fix is nothing more than a software update that is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles from new. NHTSA cited GM's actions, along with descriptions of the problems from customers, in its decision not to issue a recall, with spokeswoman Catherine Howden saying, "the symptoms described would be a brief, perceptible change in steering feel that has little to no effect on the driver's ability to safely steer the vehicle." "When terms like 'notchy,' 'stick,' 'slip' or 'feel' are used, it does not indicate a meaningful increase in steering effort," Howden told The Times via email. What do you think? Is GM in the wrong here? Should there be a recall, or is the issue so limited as to not warrant one? Have your say in Comments. Featured Gallery 2013 Buick Verano Turbo: Review View 20 Photos Related Gallery 2014 Chevrolet Malibu: First Drive View 36 Photos Related Gallery 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel: Quick Spin View 14 Photos News Source: The New York TimesImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Steven J. Ewing, Seyth Miersma / AOL Government/Legal Recalls Buick Chevrolet GM Safety Sedan buick verano

Chevy bringing Spark RS Concept to SEMA

Well, the SEMA mess has well and truly begun. Every year, an increasing number of automakers flock to the Las Vegas auto show, bringing accessories and concept vehicles that are both awesome as well as occasionally questionable. Chevy will bring an RS concept of the new Spark to SEMA, signaling that its styling package will be applied to the brand's smallest vehicle in the near future. We can expect the usual stuff in a production Spark RS – larger wheels, a slightly sportier cabin, a more aggressive body kit, and a small drop in ride height – but for the concept, Chevy wasn't restrained by things like budget. The front splitter, and sill extensions, foglight surrounds, and rear bumper insert are all finished in carbon fiber. The 17-inch alloys are apparently inspired by the Corvette Z06's Z07 package, while the Dark Liquid Switchblade Silver paint is broken up only by a driver's-side stripe. The company is also using SEMA to show its new Red Line accessories, features both concept and production parts for the Trax, Camaro, Malibu, Colorado, and Sierra. Every vehicle gets Enhanced Silver Metallic paint, a charcoal finish on the roof, satin graphite/red graphics, black/red badge kits, and aside from the Colorado, tinted lamps. Individual mods for the Trax include relatively simple tweaks, including new 18-inch wheels, blacked-out bowtie badges, a lowered ride height, and custom badging. It's a similar story on the Malibu, except that its 19-inch wheels are a smidge larger, and its lowered ride height is the result of a concept kit. The first concept based on the new Camaro opts for 20-inch wheels, while adding a few more performance items. The ride height has been lowered, there's a new air intake system, and an upgraded brake package. Chevy has also replaced the front upper and lower grilles inserts with red accents. On the pickup side of the coin, the Colorado gets 18-inch wheels, new intake and exhaust systems, Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude tires, and flared wheelarches. The Silverado gets similar intake and exhaust upgrades, as well as the largest wheels of them all, with 22s at all four corners. The full-size truck also gets a Brembo brake package, while every vehicle, aside from the Camaro, gets Thule roof-mounted accessories. You can check out all six concepts in the gallery above, and then be sure to keep an eye open for live images from the floor of the 2015 SEMA show, slated to open next month.