10 Passenger 140" Stretch Chrysler 300 Limousine on 2040-cars

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America was the unexpected theme at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show thanks to Trump

President-elect Donald Trump was not in attendance at this year's Detroit Auto Show, but it sure seemed like he was the target audience for many of the press conferences and announcements surrounding the event. Several manufacturers chose to play up existing and future commitments to the US in general and American jobs specifically in their presentations to the press, and we're pretty sure that has everything to do with Trump's recent targeting of automakers on Twitter. To us, it seemed automakers were going on the offensive to try and preempt any future tweet-shaming for investing in auto manufacturing anywhere but the US. The pro-America sentiment started the week prior to the auto show, with Ford announcing that it would build several future electrified vehicles at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan and also cancel a $1.6 billion factory planned for Mexico. Ford announced the two items on the same day, but the reality is that they likely have no relation to each other; the Mexican plant is being skipped because the company doesn't need the extra capacity to build the Ford Focus right now. Trump was still happy to share the news on Twitter. Then, on Sunday, FCA announced it would invest $1 billion in manufacturing plants in Ohio and Michigan to produce the new Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Wrangler-based pickup. It's not as though those potential new jobs were on their way out of the US, necessarily, but FCA took the opportunity to mention that plant upgrades at the Warren Truck Plant would allow the company to build Ram heavy duty trucks, which are currently assembled in Mexico, there. CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that Trump and his proposed tariffs had nothing to do with the decision. We certainly believe that, but we also have to believe that the timing of the release, positive outcome for America, and zero gain for Mexico were all orchestrated. Again, Trump sent out a victory tweet as if this had been his doing. Ford then used its press conference at the show on Monday to reiterate the plans for Flat Rock and also confirm that the Ford Bronco and Ranger nameplates will be returning to the US market, and that both will be built at a plant in Michigan. Announcements of manufacturing locations are usually aimed at the UAW, which certainly has a stake in these things, but again this one was broadcast to the auto show crowd in general.

Junkyard Gem: 1965 Plymouth Belvedere Race Car

I've found the occasional retired race car during my junkyard travels, but most of them have been fairly modern machines. Today's Junkyard Gem is a different sort of racing remnant: an ancient dirt-track beast that probably last saw service more than 40 years ago, found in a Denver-area yard last summer. It's really just a gutted shell that sat outdoors for decades after its final competition, but you can still catch glimpses of its past here and there among the rust spots and peeling paint. The rear quarters clearly identify it as a 1965 Plymouth B-Body two-door sedan. The 1965 B-Body Plymouths were sold as three models: the upscale Satellite, the mid-level Belvedere II, and the El Cheapo Belvedere I. The shadow of a Belvedere badge on the fender found inside the car indicates that at least the fender came from a Belvedere I (the way race cars — especially those that compete on dirt — whack into each other, we can assume this is the 19th fender affiliated with this car). Belvedere fenders were easy to find in junkyards until about 40 years ago, and the faded sponsor stickers indicate that this car last raced around that time. You can still buy new "Turbo Action" valve bodies for Chrysler automatic transmissions, by the way. Likewise, CRC 5-56 lubricant still exists. The "OZONE SAFE" label on the can suggests that this sticker is of late-1970s-to-early-1980s origin. The roll cage is old-school for sure, particularly the lack of door bars. The Denver area once had many race tracks, including Overland Park and Englewood Speedway (both very close to this Plymouth's final parking space), but they had closed long before the 1980s. Lakeside Speedway was in business  until 1988 (and still stands today, sort of) but that dirt oval hosted mostly midget races during its final 30 years of operation. Perhaps Colorado Springs International Speedway, which closed in 1985, was this car's final race venue. There's one sponsor that suggests an origin far from the Mountain Time Zone. I can't make out the company name (other than what might be a snippet including "oluce"), but it appears to be an institutional food business in Houma, Lousiana. It's possible this car was bought in Louisiana and brought to Front Range Colorado, where it rusted away in a yard or field. There's not much left, but it's one of the many types of automotive history I like to document in this series.

Chrysler Airflow concept previews the brand's all-electric future

For a couple of years now, Chrysler has been teasing an electric concept with the name of Airflow, and now the company has finally revealed a seemingly close-to-production version. Simply called the Chrysler Airflow Concept, it seems to be a preview of what might be the brand's first all-electric car, due by 2025. Compared to a number of recent electric cars, the Airflow looks rather conservative, but not unattractive. The nose very modest grilles, with the upper one bearing an illuminated Chrysler wing badge. There's hardly a sharp crease on the rounded, organic body. The wheel arches are emphasized with taller, wider metal over the fenders. The roof has a trendy contrasting paint, and the rear has a wide and thin taillight bar. Inside, the Airflow has a similarly soft and rounded aesthetic. Light leather is found on the doors, dash and seats. Most of the dash consists of screens, too. There's a center screen for driver infotainment, with instrument screen and screens for climate control on either side. The rear seats get screens, too. But they all look feasible, especially considering the raft of displays in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Among some of the high-tech features are the ability for each passenger to customize their screens, and information can be sent to other passengers' screens at will. Each passenger position has a camera for video calling, too. Chrysler was light on mechanical details. All the company said was that it features two 201-horsepower electric motors, one at the front, the other at the rear for all-wheel drive. Exact battery capacity wasn't given, but Chrysler says range should be between 350 and 400 miles. Additionally, the car supposedly features SAE Level 3 semi-autonomous driver assist under the name STLA AutoDrive. Chrysler hasn't explicitly said the Airflow is coming to production, but this concept looks like it's almost ready for market. The brand also said that its first EV is coming before 2025, a step towards going fully electric by 2028. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.