Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

The popular little hatchback was recalled on March 29 for a possible fuel leak from an incorrectly installed fuel filler pipe hose clamp which could cause a fire "in rare cases". It has now been recalled again over the same issue, but for vehicles made more recently.The first recall affected about 11,000 Swifts sold from February 1, 2011, to March 29 this year in Australia -- and was part of a global recall of 109,000. The second recall affects vehicles sold since then. According to VFacts industry figures, Suzuki Australia sold 715 Swifts in April and has sold 3713 since the start of the year.Four cases of leaking fuel filler hoses have been reported in Japan, but Suzuki says the incidents did not lead to any accidents. There have been no reports of leaks in cars sold in the Australian market.Suzuki Australia spokesman Andrew Ellis says the second recall is for an inspection of the re-work that was carried out in the plant to rectify the situation. ``Essentially a visual inspection and confirmation of location of the fuel filler hose that should only take a few minutes,'' he says.The voluntary recall by Suzuki Australia Pty Limited claims insufficient sealing between the rubber filler hose and the metal filler pipe leading to possible fuel escaping from the fuel tank filler port.The defect is a result of a production error during installation. Owners have been advised to contact an authorised Suzuki dealer for the fault to be fixed. 

Australia's most successful international rally driver claims that at 32 he can still force his way back into the top level of racing in the World Rally Championship. The quietly-spoken Gold Coaster is the hot favourite for this weekend's International Rally of Queensland where he is competing in round three of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship that he is currently leading."I've still got a lot of years left in me," he said yesterday at the shakedown for this weekend's event through the slippery forest roads of the Sunshine Coast hinterland."Just look at (Petter) Solberg who got a factory drive with Ford at 38 and is still running at the front, so I reckon I've got at least another eight to 10 years in me."Atkinson won the Queensland event in 2004 before heading to the WRC with the Subaru factory team until 2008. He has since competed in the past two APRC seasons, coming a frustratingly close second last year."The break from WRC has really refereshed me and now I'm keen to get back to the top," he said.In an effort to revive his WRC career, Atkinson will compete in a Ford Fiesta in the Finnish and German events later this year for "drift king" Ken Block's team."I need to be doing WRC events. That is the only way to show your true speed up against the best in the world," he said."I've been in discussion with teams, but they want to see what we can do in the WRC."There are still only a handful of drivers who can run in the top three and we used to be one of those. But that was three years ago and people want to see I can still do it."Atkinson doesn't mind the pressure of being "hot favourite" for the third year in a row at the Queensland rally, despite mechanical issues in the past two years preventing him from converting that favouritism into victory."I guess that's expected at a home event," he said."I put the same pressure on myself and you have to work harder than the others. It's a rally I have to win."But rallying is a team sport and our team is better prepared this year."Atkinson has switched from a Proton to a faster Skoda Fabia S2000 this year and is leading the series with team-mate Gaurav Gill second."That's the first thing you have to do; beat your teamnmate, but Gill will be quick."His other main rival is his replacement at Proton, Per-Gunnar Andersson, a two-time Junior World Rally Champion. Atkinson said the wet clay surfaces in the forestry stages will make this event "tricky"."Usually it's a hard surface with plenty of grip here, but there are some new surfaces with clay on top and when it gets wet it's more like ice than dirt," he said."There will be a lot of changing from wide roads with good grip to narrow roads with no grip, so you will have to drive precise and choose the right tyres and car set-up."The 44th International Rally of Queensland also features other series running concurrently such as the Australian Rally Championship and, for the first time, the Side-by-Side Rally Challenge with former Australia including three-time ARC winner Cody Crocker driving with V8 Supercar racer Tim Slade.PROFILEChris AtkinsonBorn: November 30, 1979, BegaWRC career: Subaru 2004-2008, Citroen Junior team 2009. 68 rallies, 6 podiums, 41 stage wins, fifth in 2008 season.Career highlights: 2003-04 Super 1600cc Asia Pacific champion; second in 2004 ARC, winner 2002 Australian Privateers Cup 

Tesla Motors' Australian boss Jay McCormack says the Model S and a performance version will begin deliveries in Australia next year starting at about $85,000 through to $130,000 depending on battery pack option and model.The five-seater Model S begins deliveries in the US from June 22 at just under $60,000, but McCormack says import costs such as duty, GST and luxury car tax will add to the price. "But it will still be comparable with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class," he says."The biggest holdback is the lack of Australian government incentives for EV. "With a significant focus by the government like in California, there would be a far greater take-up of EV."This is the only Tesla market in the world where there is no element of incentive. I'm not just talking about monetary incentives but also use of bus and transit lanes and extra parking benefits." Tesla Motors says worldwide reservations for the electric sedan exceed 10,000 and they plan to deliver about half by the end of the year.McCormack said last October they had 50 Australian customers who had paid deposits of $6000 for the Model S or $40,000 for the limited-edition Model S Signature, but he would not confirm current order numbers."We've taken a considerable amount more since then but I must admit there is a decree from California to not specifically not talk about market numbers which is a disappointment for me as I'd like to talk about our success," he says."However, I can tell you we've been able to increase our volume by about another 25 per cent from our previous number." So that's about 60-odd Australian orders. McCormack says they have customer reservations from every state of Australia as well as New Zealand.The Model S four-door liftback is powered by an AC electric motor with an 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack made of more than 8000 lithium-ion cells. It has a reported 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds which is quick for a family car but slow compared with the 3.7 seconds for the now-defunct two-door Tesla Roadster, which was the world's fastest production electric vehicle.The performance version of the Model S which will also be available in Australia "from day one" is capable of reaching 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, which is faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. The model range includes Model S with four battery packs from 40kWh to 85kWh performance and Model S Signature with 85kWh and 85kWh performance battery packs.Battery range will vary from 260km to 485km which is more than any other mass-produced EV available. It will charge from any conventional 240V outlet while an optional three-phase 480V charger will top up the battery in 45 minutes.The powertrain sits under the floor, creating a low centre of gravity and, with no transmission tunnel, a generous amount of cabin space and two cargo areas. It also features an aluminium body, air suspension and two optional rear-facing children's seats.McCormack says one of the biggest selling points will be the large 43cm central touch screen. "It's like the size of an iPad and three-quarters," he says. "The centre display commands the whole vehicle from lighting to climate control to Google maps and even live streaming of the internet."Tesla Motors currently only has a corporate office in Sydney but is "on track" to open a shopfront in a shopping centre. McCormack says the store will resemble an Apple store. Customers can also book test drives and pay deposits over the internet.McCormack says they have sold 23 Roadsters and have four left. "We should sell out of Roadsters about six months earlier than we thought," he says. "We do about five to 10 test drives in Sydney weekly and we bounce around the other states with about 20 to 30 test drives at a time."Tesla is based in Palo Alto, California, and makes EVs and EV powertrain components for partners such as Toyota and Daimler.Tesla Model S and SignaturePrices: about $85,000-$130,000Motor: AC electric, 270kW/415NmBattery: 40kWh-85kWh, 5000 lithium-ion cells Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000kmBody: 4.9m (l), 2.2m (w), 1.4m (h)Weight: 1735kg 

Global marketing research firm Millward Brown has ranked the top 100 international brands according to how much money they have made and are likely to make as well as how much they are liked

A BMW TS Safari is a totally different animal – motorcycle riders stalking great roads in the hunt for the ultimate corner. BMW has been organising safaris for its bike owners for 15 years now. Several years ago the off-road riders demanded a separate safari and so the TS (road) and GS (off-road) safaris were born, some riders participating in both. Last week, the 2012 TS Safari took 135 BMW owners, including about 20 pillions, from Bathurst to the Sunshine Coast, back and forth across the Great Dividing Range over 2300km of some of the best riding roads in the country. Participants pay $550 to ride and $500 to pillion. For their money they get a well-organised ride where all they really need to do is show up and follow the route at their own pace. Numbers were down slightly this year, probably owing to the bad publicity from the tragic GS Safari last year in which a rider died on the first day and several were injured. However, the organisation is improving all the time and this year's TS event included two doctors from Gawler in South Australia - John Smith and Simon Hall - who volunteered their time and rode with the pack on special "medic'' bikes. Thankfully they weren't needed. For their entry fee, participants received a well-sorted route with daily paper maps as well as comprehensive GPS files, welcome and farewell meals and another dinner along the way, dealer pre-safari bike check, souvenir t-shirt, event sticker, luggage tags, plus tech support by Craig Bennett from Valley Prestige BMW, Melbourne, and tyre support by Rob Turton of Tyres for Bikes, Brisbane. Organisers Nick and Trudi Selleck of event management company, Maschine (CORRECT!), not only organise the route and logistics, but also handle bike transport for those who want to fly in and/or out, and all the accommodation bookings. "We are trying to do the whole shooting match for them,'' says Trudi. "They can get on the net and pick what type of accommodation they want from the options. They don't have to book anything. "Some people can't or don't want to use computers, so they can ring us and we can do it over the phone for them.'' Many BMW owners are professionals or business people who are far too busy to organise a week-long ride, says participant Sally Berry, owner of Trakka recreational vehicle company in Sydney. That's why she has been a regular on TS and GS safaris for several years. "I don't have the time to organise a route and accommodation,'' she says. "It's also hard to pin other busy people down to a time for a ride. But with the safari, you have set dates and that's when you go.'' Safari participants from Townsville to South Australia rolled into Bathurst for the opening night where Nick provided a rider briefing of the route and what's expected of the riders. Among the riders were BMW Australia managing director Phil Horton, BMW Motorrad boss Tony Sesto and marketing manager Miles Davis who acts as rider briefing MC. BMW also invited motoring journalists to join the fun. This was my sixth safari and third TS event. I join the ride at the end of the second day after the riders have arrived in Port Macquarie having escaped the 3-degree chill of Bathurst and grinned all the way along such famous biking routes as the Bells Line of Road, Wiseman's Ferry Rd, Thunderbolts Way and the Oxley Highway. One rider has crashed out of the event in an unlucky slip on a wet bridge. He is ok, but his carbonfibre-laden K 1200 R looks sad sitting in the back of Turton's truck for the rest of the trip. Dawn rises with a chill over beautiful Port Macquarie as we head up to the headland vista before fuelling up.  None of the riders is upset at back-tracking up the Oxley Highway after coming down the wickedly wiggly tar the previous afternoon. I give the slipper clutch and quick shifter on the K 1300 S HP provided by BMW a workout on the esses up to Gingers Creek Cafe where the owner has specially opened for the BMW riders. Threatening skies clear but temperatures stay low as we head into Walcha and another tank-and-tummy stop. Bright sunshine now paints luminous landscapes of rolling hills of crops set against pale-blue skies as we move on through Uralla and Armidale. There are several scenic waterfall photo-stops throughout the day, but the best is the dramatic Wollomombi Falls. Some 35km further on Ebor's Fusspots Cafe beckons with a toasted corned beef and pickles sandwich, but we leave some room for the homemade sweet pies at Juan del fuego Cafe a little way down the road in Dorrigo. Cafe owner and BMW F650 GS rider Juan Godoy immigrated from Patagonia, Argentina, in 2004 and turned his main street cafe into a semi-bike-museum after watching bikes roll through town without stopping. His cafe (www.cafedelfuego.com.au) now features an ever-changing display of classic bikes - currently a 1923 Douglas, 1975 Yamaha TY175 and 1920s Evans - as well as biking posters, mementos, paraphernalia and magazines. There are more spectacular waterfalls right by the side of the road as we wind down the range along the aptly named Waterfall Way into the charming and folksy Bellingen then on to Coffs Harbour. Riders briefing that night at the Novotel Resort causes riders some confusion as it includes an optional loop of the Lions Rd. Day four starts off well with a trot through the rainforest behind Coffs, through farmland to Grafton, then follows the Clarence River along a narrow farm road before a boring run up the Summerland Way to Casino and Kyogle. It's here where riders can split and head for Kingscliff or do the Lions Rd loop. Tired riders head for the coast, while other tackle the extra 160km. The Kygole Rd to Murwillumbah is a national disgrace and fells one 80-year-old Yamaha 150 rider who is bounced out of his seat by the lumps and bumps. He is lucky there are BMW Safari riders around and he is assisted until the ambulance arrives shortly after. A word of caution spreads throughout the BMW riders and no one else comes to grief on the shameful stretch of tarmac track. The route diverts through Nimbin where four riders buy rainbow t-shirts to wear over their riding gear. Unfortunately few stop a little further along in charming Uki - pronounce yewk-eye - for their famous homemade pies. Pie shop proprietor Louise Adele, who rides a '74 BMW R90/6 with partner Michael Daly, says their bakery behind the Old Buttery building has plenty of off-street parking for bikes. It's not open on Sunday as they go riding, but they will open for groups if you phone ahead (02-66795838). The route then dips and weaves over Stokers Siding and through Mooball to the coast. Many of those who've chosen the long way round arrive ringing wet after a late storm washes across Casuarina Beach. One female rider is lucky to arrive at all after narrowly avoiding a coffee table that falls off the back of a ute on the Burringbar Range and shatters right in front of her. The final morning arrives crystal clear with a promised maximum of 23 degrees - perfect riding conditions to head into the Sunshine State. Our route loops around the back of the Gold Coast, through Canungra, Beaudesert and through the sullen suburbs of Ipswich before winding up the picturesque Brisbane Valley to Fernvale were the bulk of the toruing party stop to sample one of the biggest ranges of homemade pies in Australia. Try the goat pie! The lunch stop is followed by some gob-smacking views of the near-capacity Lake Wivenhoe and Somerset Dam. Another shortcut takes riders down through the ultra-smooth corkscrew at Peachester while the charted course rides the ridges into Maleny and the tourist towns along the Blackall Range before plunging down to Twin Waters resort. A little local knowledge has me and a couple of deviating down the back of the range into Conondale to the Kenilworth "squiggles'' and up the one-way Obi Obi Rd for a climax of twisties. The farewell dinner in Maroochydore's Ebb Restaurant is a rousing affair with wine and beer flowing freely as awards are given out for longest distance, most safaris etc. It's been a well-organised affair with only a few minor hiccups that are quickly forgotten in the heady evening's celebrations. Many are already putting their hands up for the GS Safari from September 16 - 21 from Ballina to Bathurst. At the time of writing Trudi says 115 have signed up and the cut-off is 180. Her team is also organising off-road rider training courses for participants. Visit: bmwsafari.com    

Fatality Free Friday founder and road safety author Russell White says girlfriends can have a big influence on young males' driving behaviour. His remarks come in the lead-up to Fatality Free Friday on May 25 -- and also as American research has found teen drivers double their risk of dying in a road crash if there are two or more teenagers in the car with them and quadruples with three or more. White says the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study vindicates peer passenger restrictions for Australian P-platers. It found the likelihood of a teen driver dying in a crash - already about four times the average - increases another 44 per cent when carrying even one passenger aged under 21. However, White says there is also evidence that female passengers, particularly a girlfriend, could help save a young male driver's life. "I suppose it's a balancing effect. A guy is more likely to listen to his girlfriend or another female than the guys who might be egging him on to do something dangerous and antisocial," he says. "We talk about this in our school safe-driving projects and tell young women the positive influence they can have on a male driver's behaviour." However, he says young males can also be prompted to show off if there are females in the car. "There's the old thing that blokes will try to impress young girls with fast driving, but what they don't realise is that most females are not be impressed at all," he says. "Young girls shouldn't be afraid to speak up if they feel uncomfortable with a driver's behaviour." Erin Scott, 18, isn't afraid to tell her boyfriend, Ben Rummins, also 18, to slow down. "He could be just 5km/h over the speed limit and I'll tell him to slow down," she says. "He's pretty good. He listens to me because he values what I have to say and he cares about me in the car." Rummins says he doesn't want to drive badly with his girlfriend in the car or scare her. "Usually I'm pretty good when she's with me," he says. "If I don't indicate or something she points it out and keeps me on my toes." The American study also found that the teen driver's fatality risk dropped by 62 per cent when at least one adult aged 35 or older was in the car and the risk of involvement in any police-reported crash was cut by 46 per cent. White suggests that parents should occasionally be a passenger with their children to monitor their behaviour. "They should keep an eye on them, sitting in with them from time to time in an ongoing basis," he says. "Have a look at their driving style, keeping them smooth and gentle on the controls." He also suggested parents take the Fatality Free Friday pledge to drive safely. So far more than 34,000 people have signed the pledge for the sixth annual event to be held on Friday. (MAY 25) Visit: fatalityfreefriday.com  

Those two are among those believed to be among those appointed to sell their GM stabelmate, Opel, when it hits Australia in September.Instead, the German brand will be stocked by multi-brand dealers, some of which sell other European luxury brands. Carsguide believes 16 dealers have so far been appointed and that only two are Holden. However, Opel Australia spokeswoman Michelle Lang says they are "still in the process" of appointing dealers."You'll have to wait another three or four weeks for the full list," she says. "We currently have contracts coming back and the legal processes are under way. "All I can say is we are really pleased with the calibre of dealers." Lang says their target number of dealers is "only 16 or 17 in the first year". "We may be looking at that as time goes on, but they will be metropolitan dealers to begin with. "I can't comment on that (Holden dealers) yet. It's a bit premature at the moment. "Some dealers are multi-dealers that have other German brands." Even though it is part of the American GM stable, Opel is considered a German brand with German engineering and design and manufacture in European countries such as Belgium, Britain, Poland, Russia and, of course, Germany. The brand will launch in Australia with three model ranges - Corsa, Astra and Insignia. Carsguide believes the Corsa may start at under $20,000 to gain a foothold on the showroom floor, but Lang says she cannot confirm. "Your informants are telling you more than I can tell you," she says. The initial launch model line-up will consist of Corsa three- and five-door small hatch, the Astra five-door, Tourer (wagon) and GTC coupe, and the Insignia Sedan and Tourer.Astra was last sold in Australia by Holden in March 2010 when it was built in Belgium and replaced by the Korean-built Cruze. The Astra models coming to Australia will be built at GM's Vauxhall plant in England after workers at the Liverpool plant recently voted on cost savings that included operating 24 hours a day. Opel's hero car, the Astra GTC, recently won the design category of the 2012 Plus X Awards in Germany. It was one of eight awards for the German brand. 

Motorcycle boss Tony Sesto believes that 11 of their 24 dealers who are also car dealers will scatter the BMW C600 Sport and C650 GT maxi-scooters throughout their car showrooms when they are released in October."Car dealers will see it as extra selling opportunities," he says. "Car people may like these maxi-scooters. They are a two-wheel vehicle that will appeal to car people more than a sportsbike. A handful of our car customers already have bike licenses but don't own a bike. I think this will be attractive enough to them to own one."It will be the first time BMW has made scooters available in Australia. BMW produced the enclosed C1 scooter from 2000-2003 for the European market and is rumored to be reintroducing it as an electric scooter. Sesto says he expects to sell about 40 of the maxi-scooters this year after the launch in October and up to 120 in a full year."I think the GT will sell better because the K1600 GTL (touring bike like the Honda Goldwing) sells better than the GT. The people who buy it will want luxury not sport," he says. "They will be returning riders and older people who find it harder to throw a leg over a bike. It may also be a second bike in the garage. It won't be a huge market and will be an older rider."Sesto doesn't believe the scooters will dilute the brand despite the older demographic. "It won't spoil the brand but give us another dimension," he says. However, the former "grey cardigan" bike marque has undergone a transformation in the past few years with new products such as the S1000RR Superbike."Three or four years ago the average age of BMW owners was 54, but since the S1000 it's brought the average age down to 49," he says. "People in their late 20s and early 30s are buying it. For most of them it's their first BMW." Sesto expects sales of the Superbike to boom after their first win recently in the World Superbikes."Win on Sunday and sell on Monday definitely is an impact," he says. "We saw that last year when Glenn Allerton won the Australian Superbike championship." Despite the success of BMW's swing to performance bikes, Sesto will not rule out a return to cruisers. "Cruiser is definitely a segment of interest," he says. "One in every two over-500cc bikes sold in Australia is a cruiser."If BMW does go ahead with a cruiser, it is likely to again use the boxer engine as it did in the short-lived and now highly collectible R1200C. Regardless of which new products BMW brings to the market, they are bound to be ridden and not stored away in the garage. Sesto says BMW riders clock an average of 10,000km a year which would make them one of the most travelled of all bike brands.BMW C650 GT and C600 SportPrice: about $12,000-$17,000Engine: 647cc parallel twin, 44kW/66NmTransmission: auto, chain driveThirst: 5-5.8L/100km, 16L tankBody: 2218mm (l), 822mm (w), 1411mm (h), 795 (seat)Dry weight: 241kgTyres: 120/70ZR 15; 160/60ZR 15

A global survey of 5000 mums by satnav company TomTom shows kids take an average of just 27 minutes to lose their enthusiasm for a holiday car trip — and mum and dad then need to be increasingly tolerant, or creative.Australian mothers have even less time to appreciate the peace, with the 500 mums surveyed saying their two-to-eight-year-olds "crack it" around the 23-minute mark.And the resulting mayhem can be so bad that 37 per cent of women say being in the car with the kids is more stressful than visiting the in-laws. New Zealand children are the most patient passengers and don't get bored for almost 40 minutes.With the study reporting the average holiday drive is for around five hours, in-car games are the most popular way to pass the time in the abensce of iPods and DVDs.Around three quarters of parents will play games and 64 per cent admit to bribing behaviour with treats and rewards, while one in four parents admit to lying about the estimated time of arrival.Not knowing where the next toilet stop is rates among the worst dramas for parents, with the study showing more than 40 per cent of mums consider the "wait" to be tough on the nerves. TomTom commissioned the survey to show minimising travel time — as drivers can do with its products — benefits parents and kids alike."From avoiding endless hours spent in traffic jams to finding the best places to stop en-route for an ice-cream, TomTom and its HD Traffic technology make for the ideal travel companion for a family road trip," TomTom Asia Pacific marketing manager Valerie Cross says.Are we bored yet?Average time before kids get bored in the car                                                                                      

Over there they became known as Super-Rhino Fairmont GTs. Now they are a highly sought after car among Aussie collectors, pushing prices up as high as $80,000. This white 1972 XY Fairmont GT is one of about 1800 that was exported to South Africa by Ford Australia after production ended in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, in 1971. Proud owner Pat Richter, 52, stumbled on the rare Fairmont GTs through a website devoted to the car.  "When I started there were only about half a dozen people on the website,'' Richter says. "Now there are more than 300. It's got huge in the past few years. "The interest is inflating their value because they are starting to get more known and highly sought after. "I did a bit of research and got in touch with Ford Australia and they verified they were genuine.'' He explains that South Africa had imported Falcons from the US which had a poor reputation, so when Ford Australia exported these models, they rebadged them as Fairmont GTs, but with Futura trim. Richter's search for a South African GT led him to Queensland and an ex-pat who imported four. He bought the GT in 2006 for $18,000.  "It was in poor condition. It was mainly the panel work there was no rust but there wasn't a panel that wasn't damaged and the paint had been touched up here, there and everywhere,'' he says. Mechanically, the car was pretty sound and intact. It is powered by a 5.7-litre 351 D block Cleveland V8 with four-valve heads and all the genuine GT running gear such as a nine-inch differential. However, the four-speed manual had been replaced with a four-speed C4 auto. Together with his friend, Grant Brown, the machine operator stripped the car to its bare shell over two years, costing $30,000.  "It would have cost a lot more without Grant's help,'' he says. He kept the auto but swapped the original red trim for an Aussie black GT trim, replaced the gauges with metric models and added a modern stereo and Bathurst five-spoke Glove wheels. The finishing touch was the Super-Rhino sticker replacing the famous Super-Roo. "The sticker was made by members of the (www.fairmontgt.com) forum website because of the nickname the car had in South Africa,'' he explains. Richter has since shown the car and won  "a couple of trophies''.  "It drives absolutely beautiful,'' he says. "It's pretty powerful. I had it at a Western Sydney drag club day and it runs 13s. Not bad for a cruiser.'' Richter doesn't consider himself a strictly Ford man, but he also bought a 1969 Mustang Coupe Grande with a 351 Windsor two years ago for $23,000 and his 25-year-old daughter, Jessie, owns a '74 XB Fairmont GS. "We're keeping it in the family,'' he says. "When I migrated from Ireland in 1978 I fell in love with the big cars here. "I used to frequent Bathurst every year and camped on the hill waving the blue oval flag. But I haven't been for a few years as the cars today are too far removed from what we have on the streets. "Back in those days you could walk into a showroom and buy pretty much the same cars that were racing around Bathurst.'' At a glance XY FAIRMONT GT Year: 1972 Price when new: about $750 Price now: $80,000 (insured) Engine: 351 Cleveland 5.7-litre V8 Body: four-door sedan Transmission: 4-speed auto