Auto Industry News: Buckin’ Bronco, Hot Hatches & Ultimate Off-Road Trailer

Auto industry news begins this week on a humbling note. Sometimes we need a reality check that Mother Nature is the one in charge. Parts of the country were clobbered with record-setting snowfall from Nor’easter Stella. And it appears a few New Yorkers got more than they bargained for whilst awaiting the next train arrival. Moral of this story: Man builds incredibly powerful machines, but Mother Nature is still boss. And if you see both man and nature together, get the hell out of the way!

But hey! Enough lessons. It’s the weekend, right? Rolling along, there’s possibly no better way to celebrate a laid-back Sunday than with a throwback to this stooge. Why this fella thought it was smart to curl inside a monster truck tire and hurl himself off a rocky mountainside into the ocean is beyond us. Is he cheering because he was victorious or the simple fact that he’s still alive? “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt and loses an eye!” said everyone’s mother. Looks like a scene from A Christmas Story just waiting to happen…

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All-Star Performance

From life lessons to the world of speed and performance, Ferrari turned 70 and motorsport schedules are jam packed the next few months. One of our favorite showdowns is the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Steeda Autosports at Atlanta Dragway from April 6-9!

Of course, if you prefer to sit back in your La-Z-Boy recliner and take cold swigs in the comfort of your own living room then check in with Autoblog. They just released an updated calendar of events, so you and that case of Coors, or Bud or Natty can make plans accordingly…right in front of the TV. We’re especially grateful Autoblog included a snip-it of the Busch, Logano pit fight to enhance the reading experience.

But one of this week’s highlights in auto industry news has to be Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg getting a lesson (there we go with that word again) in NASCAR driving from Mr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself. And not because we even find Zuckerberg that interesting, rather a sobering reminder of the experiences fame and fortune can buy you.

Then again, maybe the street scene is of more interest to you. In which case, there are a few sexy five-door options that offer affordable everyday performance, practicality, handling and comfort. Did we mention these hot hatches can burn serious rubber and save drivers some moola at the pump? Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Fiesta ST, Fiat 500 and 500C Abarth, Mini Cooper Hardtop and Mazda3 are atop the list. Expect the Honda Civic Type R to inch near the front of the lineup as it makes its way to North America. And if by chance these don’t bring Sexy Back for ya, then we hear the BMW M2 was named Automobile Magazine’s “2017 Automobile All-Star”.

Off-Road Prowess

1961 GMC Suburban

Truck Trend wet our whistle with a 1961 GMC Suburban, appropriately dubbed “Old Dog New Trick” in the title because of its blend of a stout diesel and modern fabrication.

“This is not just a ’61 GMC Suburban body on an ’05 chassis. It’s also not simply an early ’Burban with a 6.6L Duramax LLY engine swapped into the engine bay. It is in fact one of the most impressive integrations of interesting old sheet metal, modern diesel power and modern chassis technology we’ve seen in a long time. The end result is a unique rig with classic looks blended with modern, tire-shredding power and great ride quality,” said Truck Trend. It’s got fine curves and a cool color to match.

1966 Buckin’ Bronco

We shift from a 1961 diesel-powered Suburban to a 1966 Buckin’ Bronco that now serves triple threat purpose for Jon and Rhonda Barricklow of JB Custom Fabrication in Salem, Oregon. Their goal was to camp, hunt and off road across the northwest US, and the ’66 showed a great deal of promise.

“The ’66 Bronco station wagon body was shortened 42 inches and covered in an exoskeleton cage. Evidently, sheet metal is overrated for off-roading. Rhonda completely reworked the Bronco’s cab, basically rebuilding the body from a rusty shell. When she was done, she covered her exquisite craftsmanship in a coating of RM Diamont single-stage matte black urethane paint to give their Bronco its sinister look,” said  Truck Trend.

And that ol’ 3.9L Cummins four-cylinder came from none other than, you guessed it, an old bread delivery truck. “Actually, the 4BT engine showed up at Jon’s shop still cradled in the front half of the P30 truck chassis that it was originally installed in,” continued Truck Trend. But, believe it or not, the magic is actually behind the Cummins engine.

“Jon swapped in a ZF five-speed manual transmission that’s mated to an aftermarket Stak transfer case made specifically for early Broncos. The ZF transmission has a First gear ratio of 5.72:1 and an Overdrive ratio of 0.67:1. When coupled to the three-speed Stak transfer case with a 4.33:1 low range, 1:1 direct drive, and a 0.79:1 overdrive, Jon has almost infinite gearing options,” said Truck Trend. Why so many gears to choose from? Well, you’ll just have to read for your pretty little self to find out, now won’t ya?

Bruder Expedition EXP-6

Gosh darnit, the Aussies did it again! As if their overlanding wisdom isn’t enough, an Australian group successfully designed the ultimate off- road trailer. The Bruder Expedition EXP-6 measures approximately 6.5′ wide; it can fit in tight spots and travel narrow trails. And weighing in at 1.6 tons, the chassis is built to withstand 11x its own weight.

Additionally, the trailer can be calibrated to accommodate nearly any vehicle and features an adjustable suspension controlling app, solar panels, flotation capability and a roof extension to create more head space inside. Not only is it built to withstand any climate and any outdoor condition, but also sleeps six comfortably and has modern amenities like a bathroom, kitchen and ample storage. So go on, live off the grid. The Bruder Expedition EXP-6 has your next adventure covered.