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Many believe that future technologies in the Carwash Industry will take the place or Full Service Carwashes and the older Brush or Rollover Carwashes. In fact we are seeing some trends emerge and some are attempting to create a self-fulfilling prophesy for the future of the Industry.

Please understand the Carwash Association in our country is large and powerful. Indeed, they are trying to re-invent themselves and are doing so against customer preference, by taking something that works extremely well in Midwest and Northern climates and bringing it to where customers have greater choice, nicer automobiles and more personal recreational spending. In that regard it would seem that such new technologies will not gain the lion share of the carwash market.

So with that said, you might wish to take what you are hearing about trends with a grain of salt. A plan to revolutionize the carwash industry could work with the use of technology, however you might want to come take a look at the reality of such and interview customers not simply those in the industry who are attempting to hijack customer buying behavior reality for the next new thing in car washing. There is a war brewing with business styles of carwashes. The clear loser is the roll over, high touch robotic. The winners are hand washing in larger markets with full serve and automatic, 2-3 man crews total touch-less robotic.

To better understand the dynamics of such competing theories, one should read up on Machiavellian Tactics “The Prince,” the Art of War by Sun Tzu, Carl von Clauswitz “On War” and Colonel Boyd on “Guerilla Warfare,” as well as understand the “unfit to lead” principles to primate political human groupings, to really see what is going on. One will not get this from reading the Industry Rags or those writings of those who are trying to re-invent themselves and profit from it. It is really a whole lot of humans being humans and trying to get around the horrible labor issues and work ethic problems in the United States. I think many would just rather loot, than work as we may have seen. Perhaps we should send them all to France. We have some socialist tendencies here in the US and some other changes afoot. Sometimes those watching the trends will buy into the invisible Santa Claus scenario, because they want so much to be right and while being righteous about their endeavors and believing it themselves, they end up with many a piper following. It appears this is what is going on in the carwash equipment markets as well as the start-up chains, which grew from multi-unit operations in specific encapsulated regional markets. One would hope you understand better the reality VS. the purported trends.

Being a pure capitalist by nature, I believe you give the customer what they want, take their money and run as efficiently as you can. If you try to trick or fool the customer into believing they want something else, that costs lots of money in training those customers how to think, when everyone else is telling them they “Deserve More,” teaching them to say “I am wonderful” and “It is my right to be pampered and respected irregardless of my efforts.” The customer wants it all now and personal service. So can you set up a carwash to treat them this way, wash their car in 45 - 90 seconds and 3 minutes to dry it; just how they expect it and keep them happy? Well, sure you can, Starbucks does it with Lattes. But the carwash industry is kidding them selves if they think the customers love them. The customers tolerate them and you cannot build a cult following like that. Remember it is better to loved and respected, rather than feared that they might scratch your car, waste your time and over charge you; because no one respects that. If you want to tap into or control the 100-Billion carwash market then you need to be honest with the market reality, unless you have billions to create a new reality. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Many new car dealers advertise unusually low interest rates and other special promotions. Ads promising high trade-in allowances and free or low-cost options may help you shop, but finding the best deal requires careful comparisons.

Many factors determine whether a special offer provides genuine savings. The interest rate, for example, is only part of the car dealer’s financing package. Terms like the size of the down payment also affect the total financing cost.

Questions About Low Interest Loans

A call or visit to a dealer should help clarify details about low interest loans. Consider asking these questions:

Will you be charged a higher price for the car to qualify for the low-rate financing? Would the price be lower if you paid cash, or supplied your own financing from your bank or credit union?

Does the financing require a larger-than-usual down payment? Perhaps 25 or 30 percent?

Are there limits on the length of the loan? Are you required to repay the loan in a condensed period of time, say 24 or 36 months?

Is there a significant balloon payment -possibly several thousand dollars - due at the end of the loan?

Do you have to buy special or extra merchandise or services such as rust proofing, an extended warranty, or a service contract to qualify for a low-interest loan?

Is the financing available for a limited time only? Some merchants limit special deals to a few days or require that you take delivery by a certain date.

Does the low rate apply to all cars in stock or only to certain models?

Are you required to give the dealer the manufacturer’s rebate to qualify for financing?

Questions About Other Promotions

Other special promotions include high trade-in allowances and free or low-cost options. Some dealers promise to sell the car for a stated amount over the dealer’s invoice. Asking questions like these can help you determine whether special promotions offer genuine value.

Does the advertised trade-in allowance apply to all cars, regardless of their condition? Are there any deductions for high mileage, dents, or rust?

Does the larger trade-in allowance make the cost of the new car higher than it would be without the trade-in? You might be giving back the big trade-in allowance by paying more for the new car.

Is the dealer who offers a high trade-in allowance and free or low-cost options giving you a better price on the car than another dealer who doesn’t offer promotions?

Does the “dealer’s invoice” reflect the actual amount that the dealer pays the manufacturer? You can consult consumer or automotive publications for information about what the dealer pays.

Does the “dealer’s invoice” include the cost of options, such as rust proofing or waterproofing, that already have been added to the car? Is one dealer charging more for these options than others?

Does the dealer have cars in stock that have no expensive options? If not, will the dealer order one for you?

Are the special offers available if you order a car instead of buying one off the lot?

Can you take advantage of all special offers simultaneously?

You’re not limited to the financing options offered by a particular dealer. Before you commit to a deal, check to see what type of loan you can arrange with your bank or credit union.

Once you decide which dealer offers the car and financing you want, read the invoice and the installment contract carefully. Check to see that all the terms of the contract reflect the agreement you made with the dealer. If they don’t, get a written explanation before you sign. Careful shopping will help you decide what car, options, and financing are best for you.

Manik Thapar (MBA)

http://www.careerpath.cc

Lease-end residual values are very important in the calculation of monthly lease payments since leases are based on the difference between residual value and negotiated selling price. The higher the residual value, the lower the lease cost.

Residual values are usually expressed as a percentage of MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) — not negotiated price as many people often believe — based on length of lease and average mileage. For example, if a vehicle’s MSRP is $30,000 and its 36-month residual is 50%, assuming 15,000 miles per year, the dollar value of that residual is $15,000.

Residual values reflect anticipated depreciation of vehicle values over time. These values are estimated, based on a number of factors including annual mileage, number of months in the lease, vehicle make/model, past resale history, and expected future economic conditions. In short, setting residuals is an educated guessing process based on the best data available.

Residual values can be different depending on who is doing the estimating. One dealer who uses a particular lease company may offer a significantly different residual value than another dealer who uses a different company, for exactly the same vehicle and same lease. It is often misunderstood by consumers that residuals are constant and fixed for a particular vehicle make and model.

Lease companies often choose to use industry sources of residual data (ALG, Blackbook) rather than do their own research. However, they may adjust those values up or down as they see fit. It is very common for example to temporarily boost residuals for limited-time promotions.

Over the last few years, residuals have been abnormally high due to the extremely competitive nature of the automobile sales industry. This has been a great benefit to leasing consumers, but a financial disaster to leasing companies and banks. Many banks have now stopped offering leases, unable to keep up with the artificially high residuals still being offered by deep-pocket car manufacturers.

Many potential car lease consumers are often frustrated by not being able to predict exactly what residual value they might expect from a dealer. In this sense, residuals are much like interest rates on car loans.

The only sure way to know what residual value you’ll get from a particular dealer who uses a particular lease company for a particular vehicle on a particular day is to ask.

Al Hearn is owner and operator of LeaseGuide.com, a popular web site for automotive consumers interested in leasing. The site provides information, advice, and calculators that have helped thousands of visitors since 1995.

All industries have their dark side and the car wash industry is no different. On first glance one might consider the car wash industry a bright star and a shining example of a “clean” industry and for the most part they would be correct. There are over 30,000 carwashes in the United States and most operators are in fact ethical practitioners. The car wash industry is over 10 billion dollars a year in this nation and growing along with America’s love for their automobiles and SUVs. It stands to reason that with 16 million or more cars being sold each year in the United States alone that car washes is nothing a good business in a growth industry. And if you think about out it; God made dirt on the first day, when he created the heavens and the Earth. Carwash owners will find this significant and thank God for making the entire surface of the planet out of dirt.

In 2004 the Car Wash Industry has changed the focus of the Industry. We had chastised the Industry and the ICA in their move to attack the home car owner washing in their drive way. Also trying to ban car wash fundraisers. We had criticized these things:

http://www.carwashguys.com/080902_3.shtml .

http://www.carwashguys.com/073102_2.shtml .

Yet, we now see in 2005 that there is a trend again afoot to use environmental laws to stop car wash fundraisers. Luckily this faction of the car wash industry is now butting heads with other owners who have a real soft spot for their communities. Although it took the industry an extra couple of years to change their direction, we still have to applaud this new tact. Originally they had proposed this:

http://www.parthe.net/_cwg900/0000006d.htm .

Now the Car Wash Association has done a complete 180-degree turn. Now they believe they have achieved the new direction. Here are some comments from Mike Black the ICA-International Car Wash Association in his message to the industry.

http://www.carcarecentral.com/pgRenderPageForNews.asp?Pruuid=%7B0057428A%2D3582%2D4ADE%2D8001%2D13A9CC999C16%7D .

The President of the association needs to address the lack of integrity of some of the rogue car wash owners as well, as they have drawn fire to good car washes and caused actions against good car washes. There are many who consider the car wash industry a black plague; police officers are quick to point out that crime happens at car washes and often unethical employees will sell drugs out the back of a car wash. Sixty minutes did a special of missing personal items out of cars and another focusing on the hot wax deals, which were not wax at all. The IRS profiled car wash owners as corrupt and often tax cheats:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-mssp/carwash.pdf

while the State of CA attacked car washes also over cheating car washes on payroll and workmen’s comp fees also illegal aliens. Today the car wash industry claims they are changing, but we had already seen the changes this year in an effort to bring the Industry back inline with the proper ethics:

http://www.carwashguys.com/00070303_1.shtml .

Yes, the car wash industry has a dark side, like any other business. We all need clean cars but at what price? Should car washes be allowed to hurt non-profits, bring crime to the community, cheat on taxes, exploit the labor, trick consumers on add-ons and hire illegal aliens? Many think not, some in fact wish to clean up the car wash industry. What do you think?

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

It is hard to imagine all the cars in the United States, it seems everywhere you go there are cars. These cars get dirty and then look bad, so they must be washed and perhaps it is for that reason that there is a never ending supply of people wishing to enter the carwash business. There are many who find the carwash business to be a worthy place to invest. And indeed it is a repeat business and a simple one at that. Cannot get any simpler than removing the weekly dirt from someone’s car when it is just going to get dirty again. It seems to be a business made in heaven and indeed half of it was.

Indeed there is a lot to know about the US Car Wash Market. Perhaps this might give you initial insight;

www.CarWashGuys.com/carwashbbs

www.DetailGuys.com/detailbbs

Additionally there are articles here of value to your research:

http://ezinearticles.com/search/search.pl?p=1&mode=all&q=carwash&submit=Search

www.OilChangeGuys.com/oilbbs

The car wash market in the United States is broken into several different types and most of them only minutely impede or compete with the other carwash business models. There are several categories, Full Service, Roll Over, Flex Service, Quick Service, Mobile and Coin-operated; and the total number of carwashes appears to be about 66,000 Fixed Sites (largest being coin and roll over such as Gas Station/Combo) and about 12,000 mobile operators/units. New market entrants are Wal-mart and quick service like Rapido Rabbit.

http://www.rapidorabbit.com

Many of the rollover type car washes are owned by oil companies such as Exxon Mobile, which at one time owned the majority of carwashes in the United States. Today they own about 6% of the carwashes and that total appears to be somewhat similar although with the consolidation, there are fewer units in many states do to the ChevronTexeco Merger. FTC made them close stores. Shell has probably more than ChevronTexeco. Many stations are finding more money per square foot from C-Stores and Drought-water shortages in Midwest and NM, AZ, UT, MT are problematic. Underground environmental issues in CA, WA, OR problematic, Real Estate costs are a problem due to latest bubbles, although some good prime real estate in commercial areas okay, should be a slight business cycle downturn= interest rates, jobs and energy issues, retail sales and Christmas spending issues.

There are many changes happening in the United States’ carwash industry and it pays to be well informed if you are considering a carwash investment. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

In any category of car there’s always those obvious top-name picks that everybody seems to gravitate toward. Maybe it’s me-too-ism, or maybe it’s just people’s faith in certain apparently “sure-thing” brands. Whatever the underlying reasons for this phenomenon, in the world of luxury cars, the big names are evergreens BMW and Mercedes, along with more recent fave Lexus.

And then there’s Infiniti. Introduced at approximately the same time as Lexus, the nameplate hasn’t made nearly the impression that its biggest rival Japanese luxury brand has. And that’s a shame. This upscale Nissan division has offered its share of sophisticated machinery to rival Lexus and other luxury marques. And, in many cases, Infinitis have a livelier, sportier feel than those more-popular competitors.

But while the brand’s relative obscurity might be a bad thing for Infiniti, it’s certainly not a bad thing for Infiniti owners. Not those willing to forgo image projection in favor of real, satisfying automotive substance anyway. For such folks looking to get a top-notch midsize luxury car that won’t get lost in a sea of BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Classes, and Lexus GSs, the all-new Infiniti M45 fits the bill beautifully.

And even if you don’t care about being a nonconformist, the new Infiniti M is a terrific car. It’s worth considering strictly on its merits alone.

This all-new M was introduced in Spring 2005 as a 2006 model. It’s offered as the M35 with a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 and as the M45 with a 335-hp 4.5-liter V8. The M45 can also be had in a Sport version, which has 19- instead of 18-inch wheels, upgraded suspension, and a unique automatic rear-wheel steering system. It’s this hottest version of the M that we were lucky enough to get for our test session.

Easing into the M45’s roomy interior, you’re surrounded by high-grade furnishings that speak of expensive quality. Sport versions of the M45 eschew luxury-car-cliche wood trim in favor of attractive stainless steel panels dressed with a fine crosshatch pattern. The cabin’s overall look is a confidently understated luxury, with a clean, modern flavor. Very nice.

The instruments are traditional dials, neatly arranged in front of the driver. Somewhat less “neat,” however, is the integrated navigation/climate/audio control system, which sprawls across a somewhat odd, almost horizontal panel jutting out of the middle of the dashboard. Although not as frustrating to use as some similar systems found in the M’s rivals, the layout is nonetheless more distracting than it should be.

That said, the busy array of buttons is really the only major negative to be found in the M45’s cabin. The seats are long-haul comfortable and supportive, with good leg- and head-room even for tall occupants. Trunk space, while not massively copious, is more than adequate for a foursome’s weekend luggage.

Getting ready to embark in the M45 requires just the push of the starter button — no key required as long as someone in the car has it in their pocket. Holding the button down, first the seats and steering wheel motor to their memory position, then the engine fires with a low, muted V8 rumble.

Now get ready to really wow your friends: Grab the leather-wrapped shift knob and slide the lever into Reverse. You’ll see not just the standard gee-whiz deal of the outside mirrors motoring down, but a reverse-view camera appearing on the dashboard LCD screen as well.

Wow — real James Bond stuff!

Pause a minute while the oohs and ahhs die down, shift into Drive, and punch the gas. Your right-foot prompting is rewarded with a satisfying, refined growl and the muscular pull of the M45’s impressive 340 lb- ft. of torque. Although the car weighs a substantial 3995 pounds, it nonetheless moves with an effortless, rather addicting urgency when asked to.

And believe me, we asked it to a lot. No matter what speed you’re traveling, the M45 has speed-hungry drivers covered. Nail it off the line and you’re hauling along readily. Plunge into the throttle at highway speeds and the 5-speed automatic transmission promptly and appropriately drops a gear or two as needed, pushing the speedometer needle vigorously upward. Leave the pedal down to the floor and the magic 100-mph mark approaches and passes by with pleasing effortlessness.

Indeed, if you’re not watching closely, you can find yourself thinking you’re cruising a cop-friendly 65 mph, and actually be doing more like 85 or 90. Aside from a little too much wind noise around the A-pillars, the M45’s speedometer is the only substantial indication that you’re approaching triple-digit velocities.

Part of that sensation of effortless speed is a result of the M45s ride. It’s a fine mix of competent body control and impressive bump absorption, despite stiff 40-profile performance tires. The car is admittedly a tad on the firm side for a luxury sedan. But it’s nevertheless comfortable and, more importantly, composed. Our test M45 remained surefooted and stable even when traversing wavy country roads at close to 100 mph.

In fact, it seemed no matter how fast we were going the M45 felt planted and ready for more. At 130 mph on smooth roads, the car’s confidence-inspiring composure remained intact and the engine was still pulling strong. Satisfied with this as proof of the M45’s high-speed prowess, we eased off the gas to more sane velocities.

Using the car’s powerful brakes to haul us quickly back down into the double-digit realm, we were able to sample the M45’s fine road manners. Although this is a sizeable machine and it’s obviously aimed at luxury and comfort more than athleticism, it’s nonetheless quite satisfying to put through its paces. Grip is very good, helped by performance rubber, along with electronic handling aids that are effective and generally unobtrusive. Body lean is minimal, and the car treats drivers to a nimbleness that’s impressive for a large sedan.

No doubt some of that agility is due to the Sport version’s rear-wheel steering. The system’s operation is entirely transparent to the user, except when you consider that this big two-ton sedan is whipping through corners as if it were a size or two smaller.

Complementing the rear-wheel steering is the sensation drivers get from the front wheels. The M45’s steering feel is perhaps one of the car’s most satisfying elements. It’s a pleasing blend of good feedback, reasonably quick ratio, and light but appropriate weighting. It isn’t likely to disappoint luxury buyers who seek a more rewarding driving feel than many of the M’s rivals can offer.

And in a broader sense, that notion is the real core of the M45’s appeal. This is a car that’s rich, luxurious, and comfortable, yet sporty, modern, and a little unique. It’s an excellent blend. Perhaps the best evidence of that is how much we hated to give this car back when our week-long test session was over.

Anyone who experiences the M45 will most likely feel that strongly about it too.

For more drive-test articles on today’s hottest luxury cars, sports cars, sport compacts, and muscle cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/

David Bellm is a seasoned test driver and automotive writer. His work has been featured in a wide variety of online and print publications.

Are you sure you need a new car? I’m sure you want the newest safety features and modern styling that a new car offers. Perhaps you need a larger vehicle to fit your growing family. You probably feel that your old car no longer fits your life. But how about cost?

From an economic perspective, you’re better off keeping your old car. It could save you thousands of dollars. Taking better care of your current car may make much more sense in the long run.

You’re probably thinking - those repair bills are really adding up. But the cost of repairs will never exceed the cost of a new car. Changing your oil, replacing brakes, belts, and hoses are nothing compared to monthly payments on a new car. Even costly repairs like rebuilding an engine makes good financial sense.

If you’ve paid off your car, it is still in great shape and needs only a few modest repairs, there’s no need to throw it away. Enjoy your freedom from car payments. Enjoy lower annual taxes, insurance rates and license fees on your old car. Buying a new vehicle would mean several years more of monthly principle and interest payments on a loan.

You can feel secure knowing that modern vehicles last longer. Not too many years ago, a vehicle’s useful life did not exceed 100,000 miles. Today, many vehicles can breeze right past that 100,000 mile mark with no more than a tune-up, or maybe a new timing chain or fuel pump.

Older cars generally cost more to maintain and are more likely to break down. Repairs can be frustrating and expensive. But on the other hand they’re cheaper to own and operate. They lose most of its value in the first five years of their life. Your used vehicle won’t depreciate as much, saving you thousands.

Unless you’re rolling in cash, I’d say keep your old clunker. Comfort yourself knowing that one day you’ll be able to easily afford that costly new ride.

Roger Charles is a successful author and publisher of http://toyota-parts-guide.com. A resource for information and tips on buying toyota parts and accessories online.

If you are considering whether to buy or perhaps lease your next car and which would afford you the best deal, most consumer experts agree that from a purely financial aspect you will be better off in buying your next car.

Of course paying cash in full is the best possible scenario since with this option you would avoid any type of finance charge. But for the vast majority of us and for the scope of this article we’ll take a look those purchases or leases that involve financing.

In the short term leasing may look attractive to you because monthly lease payments will more than likely be less than the monthly payments of a purchase agreement. Why? Because with a lease you are essentially only paying for the part of the car you are going to use. It’s kind of like splitting the cost of a pizza with someone. You are only paying for the pieces that you are going to eat. In car terminology the part that is left over in a lease is called the residual value of the car. The higher the residual value of the car the less of the car you will use during the lease so you payments for the part that you do use (the lease) will be lower.

Typically lease durations are 24, 36, or 48 months. Do not sign up for a lease beyond 48 months. Actually anything beyond 36 months is pushing the value of the lease. Don’t let the car salesman get you into a longer lease just because they make your monthly payments look more attractive. Remember time costs you money and the car’s residual value will plummet and you loose all the advantages of leasing and still be left with nothing in the end.

For some drivers the car buying decision isn’t based purely on bottom line numbers. And this is fine. It’s strictly personal. Leasing does afford you the ability to always be driving a new car. A car that is within a few years of the latest body style and technology. A car that is always under the factory warranty. For the person that has accepted the fact that they enjoy being in a newer car and that car payments is just another monthly expense, then why not get the most car for the money? Then leasing could be a good alternative.

If this is your personal preference the other two questions you must answer are how many miles a year do I drive and how hard on cars am I? The mileage question can really come back to haunt you if you are not careful. People who are in new cars and thus enjoy driving them and showing them off more will have a tendency to drive them more. Be very careful with you mileage. Going over your allotted mileage on your lease could end up costing anywhere from 15 to 30 cents per mile beyond the lease mileage allowance and this can get painful in a hurry. In most leases you can purchase additional mileage up front at the time of the lease but keep in mind if at the end of your lease you haven’t used all of your miles, you don’t get that money refunded back to you.

I mentioned a bit earlier you need to consider how well you treat your cars. Only you will know this and you need to be honest with this one. Don’t think that you can turn your lease car in at the end of the lease with the car in sub par condition. If you do, you may be assessed reconditioning fees that could become rather hefty.

In summary, from a purely financial perspective buying your next new car is the best over the long haul. But, with car ownership, so much personal preference, and personal priorities come into play. If you think leases look attractive, be absolutely certain about your mileage you will drive. Take good care of the car. And finally check with your insurance agent first to make sure that you don’t give back the money you save in monthly payments to your insurance company.

Jeff Neilan worked for many years in the automotive industry as a salesman, finance manager, new and used car manager, and general sales manager. With Jeff’s working knowledge of car dealerships, car sales, and financing you’ll find his articles on getting your best car deal insightful and rewarding when purchasing your next car.
Please visit (http://www.acarbuyersguide.com) for more of Jeff’s articles.

Nissan parts are a very important part of Nissan cars. Since the company’s inception in 1933, many sleek, powerful and affordable automobiles have come off of the production line. Just as there have been quality Nissan cars, there have been Nissan parts manufactured to fit them.

Every auto part that is purchased for Nissan cars will ultimately play a large role in the way that the automobile looks and operates. Nissan cars should always be repaired using authentic Nissan parts. From hoods to hubcaps, mirrors to spoilers and even wheels, Nissan cars feature a sleek design combined with affordable pricing.

Without quality Nissan parts, the performance of Nissan cars would not be the same. Quality, workmanship and dependability are all a part of what Nissan puts into their manufacturing. If you own a Nissan car that needs repair, it is recommended that you take it to an auto parts garage that offers Nissan parts. A specialized Nissan dealer would be ideal but, if there isn’t one in your area, any garage or body shop should be able to place a special order for the Nissan parts that are needed.

Before having any work done, ask the repair specialist about pricing on Nissan parts. Get an estimate, for both parts and labor, in writing before making a final decision on who will repair your car. If necessary, stop by more than one garage and inquire about repairing or replacing auto parts for Nissan cars. It’s very important to get a qualified repair specialist to perform any type of work on your automobile. Ask any questions that you feel are important when considering the purchase of Nissan parts and/or repair.

As is the case with most quality products, Nissan parts often carry a warranty on their operation. It’s a good idea to inquire about these warranties before purchasing. Once the purchase is made and the Nissan parts are installed, it’s a good idea to keep all warranty paperwork tucked away in a safe place for later retrieval. In addition, the garage that installed the Nissan parts may offer a warranty on their work. Be sure to inquire about this, as well, and keep any additional paperwork relating to the purchase or installation of your new Nissan parts.

Nissan cars are extremely popular among auto enthusiasts. Some are known for their classic family design while others are manufactured with a sports car theme. No matter the design on Nissan cars, one thing is for certain. A company that has been in business for this many years is here to stay and, if Nissan cars are any reflection on the company that manufactures them, they are here to stay as well.

Vincent Abrugar is the webmaster of http://www.nissaninfo.com a website about nissan parts.

It was a classic story of a promising car that didn’t have a chance to really prove itself. And from it was born one of the more significant legends of Corvette history.

The Corvette SS began in 1956 as a pet project of General Motors’ styling director Harley Earl, who wanted Chevrolet to take on the big names in international endurance racing. Earl’s initial idea was to design a racy body, drop it onto a Jaguar D-Type chassis, and swap the Jag’s six for a Chevy V8.

But that notion wouldn’t do for Corvette engineering guru, diehard racing fan Zora Arkus-Duntov. When he heard of the plan, he pushed for an all-new chassis design that would incorporate ambitious engineering concepts. Duntov’s arguments won out, if for no other reason than the fact that the D-Type’s main structure was a monocoque configuration and therefore had no separate frame to drop any sort of body onto.

To save time, Duntov purchased a Mercedes-Benz 300SL frame and from that drew much of the inspiration — if not verbatim design elements — for the Corvette SS’s structure. To this platform, he added a race-prepared 283-cid Chevy V8, a de Dion rear axle, and an experimental braking system.

The car’s hasty debut was the 12 Hours of Sebring, in early 1957. Juan Fangio and Stirling Moss had initially agreed to pilot the car in the race, but development delays plagued the car, giving the superstar drivers second thoughts. These misgivings proved well founded — replacements John Fitch and Piero Taruffi battled a number of gremlins from the very beginning of the event, and were forced out after just 23 laps.

The SS nonetheless showed considerable promise when it was running well, and the team looked forward to trying the car at Le Mans that year. Unfortunately, the Automobile Manufacturers Association enacted its infamous racing ban before the June event, relegating the Corvette SS to being a testbed and show car.

But the story doesn’t end there. In 1958, Earl’s successor, Bill Mitchell, bought the spare Corvette SS chassis. He then collaborated with his staff to design a new body for it and he campaigned the car himself — “privately,” so as to dodge the AMA ban. Mitchell’s racer was significant for introducing one of the most beloved of all Corvettes shapes, the 1963-67 Stingray design.

For more articles on historic race cars and vintage sports cars, along with drive-test articles on today’s hottest performance cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/.

David Bellm is a seasoned test driver and automotive historian. His work has been featured in a wide variety of online and print publications.