Big

Big Automotive Chip Shortage Is No Surprise

By Michael J. Moody 3 months ago

“Car Makers Collide With Global Chip Shortage” (Page One, Feb. 13) correctly identifies the auto industry’s current supply-chain woes as a self-inflicted wound. From the electronics-manufacturing industry’s point of view, automotive is mostly a low-volume, high-mix customer segment, and it requires buffering through component distributors. Instead, the auto makers’ extreme focus on cost optimization and lean manufacturing meant eliminating these valuable supply-chain partners. The focus on lean should have been balanced with a pragmatic view on the extreme cost of idled automotive production lines. To shut down production lines for $80,000 vehicles because of a missing $2 microcontroller is catastrophic.

Products like semiconductors that have longer lead times and large production lot sizes need distribution for efficient buffering between the manufacturers and end customers. Semiconductors have extremely long and complex production cycles that can range from 10 to 26 weeks. Once a production cycle

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Basic Rebuilt Dodge 440 makes big power and torque

By Michael J. Moody 3 months ago

We all know the 440 big-block is the largest-displacement V-8 engine built by Chrysler, and when it comes to a combination of torque, power, and drivability, the 440 ranks as one of the best engines ever built. Instead of utilizing a high compression ratio or aggressive cam grind for its muscle, the 440 relies on sheer size, making great power from an idle with enough torque to get even the heaviest trucks and motorhomes moving quickly. And while the Mopar 440 does several things very well, we’ve always felt that with a few tweaks the engine was capable of well over the 375 horsepower rating it got from the factory. Even the highest-performing factory 440, the 390-horsepower Six-Pack (or Six-Barrel) version, had a relatively mild hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft and non-adjustable rocker arms, ensuring years of smooth, maintenance-free operation. Even better, 440s are still available in scrap yards, from core suppliers,

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Watch Every Car Commercial From Super Bowl LV, 2021’s Big Game

By Michael J. Moody 3 months ago

Let’s put our differences aside for a minute because whether you’re rooting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, we can all come together to appreciate a quality Super Bowl commercial. Especially if it includes cars. That’s why we’ve gathered every automotive ad from 2021’s Big Game for your viewing pleasure and put them right here in one place—we’ll continually update this post with the latest as they’re released, too. Enjoy!

Ford | “Finish Strong: Extended Version”

Ford is using its airtime to continue its #FinishStrong campaign, pushing for unity as “we’re so close” to emerging from the global coronavirus pandemic. There’s nary an F-150 or Mustang Mach-E—or any other Ford vehicle, for that matter—featured prominently anywhere.

General Motors | “No Way Norway” With Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson, Awkwafina

Will Ferrell refuses to let Norway take the crown in electric vehicle sales (per

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Mecum Auctions Survived 2020 Thanks to Big Changes and a Little Luck

By Jaime E. Love 5 months ago

Car shows, product launches, and automotive auctions nearly came to a halt this year for the sake of public health. That’s a whole lot of jobs and lives on the line, and companies like Mecum run 12 auctions and sell around 15,000 cars per year. In 2020, they lost four events and postponed three of them, and their 200+ workforce scrabbled to adapt. Fortunately, the company made a big investment in its online auction platform in January, which turned out to be a saving grace.



a person standing next to a car: Car shows, product launches, and automotive auctions nearly came to a halt this year for the sake of public health. That’s a whole lot of jobs and lives on the line, and companies like Mecum run 12 auctions and sell around 15,000 cars per year. In 2020, they lost four events and postponed three of […]

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Car shows, product launches, and automotive auctions nearly came to a halt this year for the sake of public health. That’s a whole lot of jobs and lives on the line, and companies like Mecum run 12 auctions and sell around 15,000 cars per year. In 2020, they lost four events and postponed three of […]

“When the initial shutdown

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