The Chrysler Shakeup continues

Chrysler cuts four models, five shiftsUp to 10,000 hourly jobs and 1,000 salaried jobs being cut; overtime eliminated
Bradford Wernle Automotive News
Chrysler LLC, ending days of speculation, said today it will slash 8,500 to 10,000 hourly jobs before the end of 2008 and cut four vehicles from its lineup as it restructures under the ownership of Cerberus Capital Management LP.
Another 1,000 salaried jobs also are being cut, along with about 37 percent of its contract workers, the company said. Chrysler also will eliminate hourly and salaried overtime.
The cuts in the hourly workforce would equal about 17.5 percent of the company's 57,000 union employees in the U.S. and Canada.
Chrysler will drop shifts at Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly, Jefferson North in Detroit, Toledo (Ohio) North, Brampton (Ontario) Assembly, Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly and Mack Avenue Engine Plant II in Detroit. Three of the five plants will eliminate a third shift: Belvidere, Toledo and Brampton.
Chrysler will cut the Dodge Magnum, the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, the Chrysler Pacifica crossover and the Chrysler Crossfire convertible.
In the same time frame, Chrysler said it will add two products: the Dodge Journey crossover and Dodge Challenger coupe. It also will add two hybrid SUVs, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.Read more at http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/ANA02/71101002/-1

Beware the Chinese #2

The Great Wall Motor Co. (GWMC) expects to launch several new models in Europe in the second half of 2008, company executives say. On Oct. 24, SUV producer Great Wall received government approval to manufacture cars (Since 2007?), says Wei Jianjun, chairman of Great Wall."The Gwperi will be put into the overseas market soon," Wei says. "The Gwperi (how do you pronounce that?) and the Cowry (named after a local snail?) are in the process of EU certification, which will be completed in December. Then American is next? GM, Ford & Chrysler look out?!

The Studebaker Golden Hawk 1956-'58

KL Nichols

One of the sexist cars ever built and in my estimation much better than the 57 Chevy was the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk. It is powered by a 289 cubic inch engine with a Paxton-McCoulough super charger, which produced 275 horsepower. It had either an automatic transmission or standard 3 speed with overdrive, and a Studebaker twin-traction rear end (posi-traction). Other accessories include power steering, power brakes, seats and windows, "very rare" front seat belts, padded visors, and twin antennas. There were 4,356 made and it is believed less than 400 exist today (Remember my 10% factor?).The Golden Hawk's top speed was anywhere between 125 and 130 miles per hour. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in eight seconds. It also had the highest horsepower to weight ratio of any stock automobile in 1957. They were only made for only three years, 1957, 1958 and 1959.
I dare you to set it side by side with the 57 Chevy and then tell me it isn't better looking! I have never understood the 57 Chevy craze! When the 57 Chevy came out it looked cheap, as a matter of fact, the 1958 Chevy looked a whole lot better! I even dated and ugly girl to drive her Red 58 Impala!
Back to the Golden Hawk, NADA says that the average price for a 57 Golden Hawk is $20,300 and the average price for a 57 Chevy Bel Air Sports Coupe is $28,600 and just because I mentioned it the 58 Bel Air Impala 2 Dr Sports Coupe is $24,000.
The 56-58 Golden Hawks are "one of a kind", the company no longer exists and the car is no longer made, but by exercising my imagination I can visualize the absolutely beautiful 2006 Golden Hawk and it doesn't look like the Easter Eggs that the car manufacturers are trying to force down our throats now! You know the ones all made of plastic and when they need fixing you need an MD to work on them, no sirree, not my 2006 Golden Hawk, when it needs fixing, I would just borrow a bobby pin from my date and fix it. What do you mean, "What's a bobby pin?". Sheesh…

All contents copyrighted 2006 by KL Nichols

Production Dodge Challenger Pics

These are camera phone shots from the Chrysler dealer announcement show in Vegas this past week. Notice the wheels, the B-pillar and thank god the lack of a cross hair truck grille.

Other than that the spys were right, it DOES look better than the concept!

Car was rocking a T-56 6-speed too...The ass end couldn't have been done better IMO, although the reg's have added an inch to the rear bumper, I love the tail light..

THANKS MOPAR!!!!-Comes out in March as 08 model-5500 to be built, all SRT8's with AUTOMATICS for 38K-July 08 production begins for the 09 model year where they will offer 3.5L V6, and both 5.7L and 6.1L HEMIS will be available with 6-spd T-56's...To my calculations, if a late F-body GM could run the 1/4 in 13:20 seconds w/ 320HP and a 6-spd...why wouldn't the "Normal" Challenger R/T 5.7L be able to eclipse the 12's w/ 350HP (as the 354" 5.7 sits right now;..rumor is the next gen 09 5.7L HEMI will rock 3..possibly 4 valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and roughly 405 (it'll be more..trust me) multi cylinder deactivating Horsepower. PLUS they have the dual mode hybrid HEMI in the attic..can you say 400+HP and 33MPG? I can....(don't worry folks..it'll be optional)
See more pics here; http://www.ontariostreetcar.com/showthread.php?p=4029#post4029

At Auction on eBay Right Now! 1968 Chrysler 300 sport convertible coupe with an automatic transmission and odometer showing 61,307 miles. The exterior has a white paint finish with a black finish vinyl top, rear fender skirts with some small spots of rust on the edge shown in the picture below, chrome trim, a complete front grill & bumper, a very small dent on the hood, white vinyl boot cover with silver finish button fasteners, a scratch on the front driver side fender shown in the picture below, driver side engine cut off switch that is not operable, and dual exhaust system. The interior has white leather seats with a folding middle arm rest, a very tiny rip on the rear leather bench seat visible in the picture below, silver finish 300 bench seat emblem, and clean black carpeting. This 300 is equipped with a power windows, power locks, power steering, intermittent wipers, manual climate control with air conditioning, power convertible top, an AM/FM Panasonic CD player, Cragar chrome wheels on 225/60R14 tires, gauges indicating ALT-Fuel-MPH, a non working driver side window, front tilt glass, and leather seats. This 300 starts right up and sounds great.
To see more pictures and details, click on the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/2k9rv8