Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

The world goes to Nebraska car auction for 500 barn finds

The nearly 500 classic cars set for auction in September in Pierce, Nebraska, have achieved international acclaim from The New York Times to network television news. Some of the vehicles from the Lambrecht Chevrolet Company have been outside and left to the elements for 50 years. And there are some cars nearly new and stored indoors for a half-century and with odometers readings of less than five miles. The sale, scheduled Sept. 28-29 with a preview day Sept. 27, is ultimate description of barn finds, without the element of surprise. Everyone knows the cars are there and will be auctioned. But like any auctions, who knows how much 500 vintage cars, some untouched for 50 years, will fetch? The auction

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2014 Toyota 4Runner: Trail tough with comfort, connectivity

By Bruce Aldrich The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner is worth a look if you need a capable off-road and snow-going vehicle. The 2014 4Runner has a wicked-looking front-end with added comfort and convenience features. The 4Runner is the last mid-size SUV with Body-on-Frame construction. The 4Runner comes in three grades, SR5, Trail, and Limited. Each model has a 4-liter V6 with 270 horsepower and a five-speed automatic transmission. I recently drove the three models and I like them all. The SR5 is the “value” model, offered in a two-wheel drive version or 4X4. My favorite is the Trail grade model, designed to maximize off-road performance. Toyota’s Crawl Control (CRAWL) is a selectable low-speed function that electronically regulates speed to keep

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500 rare Chevrolets in Nebraska redefine barn finds for auction

About 500 Chevrolet cars and trucks, untouched for decades and some with fewer than 20 miles on their odometers, will go on sale via auction in September and will bring international attention for a few days to a small city in Nebraska. The auction will feature the vehicles owned by Ray Lambrecht who 17 years ago closed his Chevrolet dealership in Pierce, Nebraska, population 1,800. Lambrecht kept the vehicles that didn’t sell when new in warehouses at his farm and in other locations near where he worked for 50 years. He opened the downtown Chevrolet dealership with his uncle in 1946. Car enthusiasts from at least a dozen countries and throughout the U.S. are expected to visit the auction or

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Tesla Model S electrifies NHTSA, gets best safety rating ever

The Tesla Model S and the carmaker’s owner Elon Musk haven’t needed much publicity lately. The electric sports car and its innovative inventor are at the forefront of the auto industry. But the performance-oriented, expensive car is now getting another accolade. It’s been awarded an extraordinary, five-star overall rating — the highest rating ever determined  — by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Tesla Model S was given an overall 5-star safety rating and the same rating in every subcategory. The independent NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured in the overall Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) provided to manufacturers. The Model S achieved a new combined record of 5.4

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2014 Toyota Tundra: Spacious new workhorse

Redesigned for the first time in seven years, the 2014 Toyota Tundra features an integrated hood, tightened surfaces and new overall lines to further enhance the full-size pick-up’s pulling power and wide stance. The 2014 Tundra will be offered in a new five-grade strategy: the hard-working SR, volume-leading SR5, the well-appointed Limited, and two premium grades: Platinum and “1794 Edition.” Three cab styles, two-door Regular Cab, four-door Double Cab and four-door CrewMax, all available in 4×2 and 4×4. Each grade is well-equipped with key standard features. Showcased at a recent regional media gathering at Cle Elum, Wa., the 2014 Toyota Tundra lineup will range from $25,920 for the SR grade 4×2 Regular Cab, 4.0-liter V6 to $47,320 for the Platinum

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Honda Civic proves small is huge in IIHS safety tests

Honda has long been known for its efficiency, reliability and resale values. And its stellar safety reputation isn’t too bad, either considering the Honda Civic just received  auto industry top honors among compact and sub-compact cars. Many of its competitors didn’t fare so well. The two-door and four-door Honda Civic have received “good ratings” front-end crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Half of the 12 compact and subcompact cars IIHS tested fared poorly and six performed well. Safety is critical in the fast-growing small-car market, with many buyers downsizing from larger vehicles. In addition to the two Civics, the Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and the 2014 Scion tC were “acceptable.” The Chevrolet Cruze

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Electric car wars heat up, Chevrolet Volt $5,000 less in 2014

The electric and green car wars between Chevrolet and Nissan continue to heat up in the carmakers’ pursuit of a bigger market share in their competition against the dominating Toyota Prius family. The latest move involves Chevrolet reducing the starting price of the 2014 Volt by around $5,000 for its fourth year on the market. The Volt will now have a starting price of $34,995 (*including $810 for destination), but when the 2014 model will be available is unknown. Nissan previously announced it had lowered the starting price of the Leaf by $6,400. The Chevrolet Volt can now potentially cost as little as $27,495 after $7,500 federal tax credit. Two  new colors of the Volt will be offered in 2014,

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Adam Carolla, vintage Nissan 300 set for Laguna Seca

Adam Carolla, the comedian and car enthusiast, will return to Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and compete in his 1988 Nissan 300ZX during the Aug. 16-18 event. This year, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will feature 550 historic race cars selected for their historical significance, authenticity and period-correctness. The cars are divided into 16 classes, based on type of car, displacement and era of origin. The Chevrolet Corvette, celebrating its 60th anniversary, will be this year’s marque, is the three-day event that offers vintage racing to auto-related exhibits. Carolla will also display his more humorous, off-track talents as he and Dr. Drew Pinsky team-up at the Sunset Center in Carmel on August 16 at 8 p.m. for a live performance of

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Toyota Tundra, 2014: New look, more editions

The redesigned 2014 Toyota Tundra, available to the public in September, represents the first major change since the 2007 model for the half-ton, full-sized pick-up truck. The 2014 Tundra has a grade strategy consisting of the hard-working SR, volume-leading SR5, the well-appointed Limited, and two premium grades: Platinum and the new 1794 Edition. The 1794 Edition is a tribute to the ranch, founded in 1794, on which the Tundra plant is located in San Antonio. Tundra is offered in three cab styles, two-door Regular Cab, four-door Double Cab and four-door CrewMax, all available in 4×2 and 4×4. The new front design integrates the hood and grille for a chiseled and modern industrial image. Designers increased the size of the front

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Rare Corvettes set for Monterey Auto Week

A rare assembly of Chevrolet Corvettes with remarkable pedigrees will be exhibited Aug. 16-18 during a tribute to the iconic brand at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The annual event, part of Monterey Auto Week will highlight Corvette in the celebration of the brand’s 60-year history. Located in the race paddock (near Turn 3), Chevrolet will share the story of Corvette’s technology. The highlight: the transition between the track and street by pairing six of the most significant Corvette race cars with their street car counterpart. Race cars from nearly every era, dating to a 1911 National 40 to a more modern-day 1992 Mazda RX-7 92P, will also be on display. Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, McLaren,

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LA Auto Show, 2013: dozens of global debuts await

Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, MINI, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen have all confirmed representation among more than 50 global debuts at the 2013 LA Auto Show, the first major car of the year for automakers’ new models and concepts. Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show is the first major North American show of the season and it will be held Nov. 22-Dec. 1. Press Days will be Nov. 20-21. The debut line-up this year promises a mix of cutting-edge trends and innovations in today’s competitive automotive market. BMW has confirmed seven to eight debuts,including a yet-to-be-named global premiere. MINI will also present a strong showingwith the long-awaited global introduction of its brand-new MINI automobile. The LA Auto Show is

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Ford F-150, 2014: Soon it’ll be a natural gas

The Ford F-150, the best-selling vehicle in the United States, will join several of its siblings and will be offered with a natural gas option beginning with iconic truck’s 2014 edition. The option, however, won’t be cheap. The automaker noted the 2014 F-150 will make it the only company with a full-size pickup that can come configured from the factory for natural gas. Ford’s natural-gas lineup has included the small Transit Connect, E Series vans and the Super Duty pickup and chassis cabs. Honda is the only manufacturer currently producing a standard production gas car with its Civic CNG. The current equivalent of natural gas, according to industry groups, is $2.11 a gallon — nearly half the current pump prices

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Mercedes-Benz dubious honor: most stolen luxury car

The Mercedes-Benz brand has an enduring appeal among high-end car buyers. But the German automaker’s status also now has a dubious component. It’s the most stolen luxury car in the United States. According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Mercedes-Benz had three of the top 10 most-stolen luxury models. The C-Class is the most-often stolen with 485 thefts from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2012. The NICB divided the luxury-vehicle segment into three subclasses — compact, midsize and premium. There were 4,384 thefts total in the three segments. By state, California has the most thefts (1,063), while South Dakota and Wyoming had the fewest with one each. According to the NICB report, luxury vehicles “.

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2014 Chevrolet Impala (video): Sedan icon honored

What a difference a model year makes. Chastised as not worthy of a rental agency upgrade in 2013, the 10th generation 2014 Chevrolet Impala has been universally praised. In late July, the new Impala made national headlines when it was named Sedan of the Year by Consumer Reports. It was the first time in 20 years an American car received the honor from the national magazine. Dominated by models from Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and the German cars, editors of the publication rated the Impala at 95 out of 100. The magazine called the iconic Chevy “excellent.” With its 10th edition, the Chevy Impala, introduced in 1958, has a starting MSRP of  $26,725, nearly exactly 10 times more than its original

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BMW debuts all-electric vehicle with 100-mile range

The BMW i3, the BMW Group’s initial model running on electric power alone, has debuted as the first premium car with an all-electric drive system. The BMW i3 is the result of an integrated development approach aimed at cutting fuel consumption and emissions in urban traffic. The substructure of the passenger compartment is made from carbon fiber and the chassis is aluminum. The carmaker says it will offer fast charging capability as an option, allowing i3 owners to regain up to 80 percent of charge in as little as 20 minutes, delivering 80 to 100 miles of driving between charges. Charging can be accomplished from a conventional domestic power socket, BMW i Wallbox or public charging station. The vehicle concept

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Chevrolet Impala gets rare best sedan Consumer Reports honor

The newly designed 2014 Chevrolet Impala has received an automotive honor no other American-made car has achieved in at least 20 years. It’s been named best sedan by Consumer Reports. Dominated by models from Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and the German cars, editors of the publication rated the Impala at 95 out of 100. The magazine called the iconic Chevy “excellent,” the reverse of the magazine’s assessment of the car’s 2013 model. Last year, Consumer Reports said the 2013 Chevy model was “woefully uncompetitive and not worthy of driving even as a free upgrade at a rental company.” The Chevy Impala, introduced in 1958, debuted its 10th generation with 2014 models. The starting MSRP is $26,725, and the Impala TLZ model

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