Four-Links - Omaha Orange and other High Impact colors, NHRA and Hot Wheels, 504 Loisirs, RTV found
03/13/2021
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Muscle Cars
* Mopar's High Impact Paint colors of the late Sixties and early Seventies are some of the most memorable factory colors, and for good reason: According to Auto Universum's brief history of High Impact paints this week, they originated with the high-visibility colors applied to highway department trucks.
The origin of High Impact Colors goes back to 1968 and a Los Angeles Chrysler-Plymouth Regional Sales Manager by the name of Jock Fearer.
Barely a year after the Monterey Pop Festival and Summer of Love, the spread of psychedelia was bringing brilliant colours to the fore, and by 1968 Jock was likely no stranger to the sight of Tangerine and Signal Green Porsches, Fly Yellow Ferraris and Lotus Yellow Elans. Sensing a trend when he saw one, he began ordering Road Runners for his district in colourful non-standard paint finishes.
His first choice was an easy one, right from the Mopar catalogue; Omaha Orange, a colour used by several states and municipalities on public works vehicles for high visibility. As such, it was available as a standard fleet colour from all U.S. truck manufacturers including Dodge.
* The NHRA announced this week that it inked a deal with Mattel to develop Hot Wheels versions of many iconic drag racing vehicles.
“Hot Wheels has a long history of working with NHRA teams since our early days with Snake and Mongoose, more than 50 years ago,” said Roberto Stanichi, SVP and Global Head of Hot Wheels at Mattel. “We’re honored to once again roll into the staging lanes, watch the Tree light up, and ignite the Hot Wheels challenger spirit in NHRA fans of all ages.”
* Somewhere between a station wagon and an RV was Heuliez's Peugeot 504 Loisirs concept vehicle.
In 1979 Peugeot presented the 505. In the same year, body builder Heuliez presented a clever interpretation of a leisure vehicle based on a 504 at the Paris Motor Show. Inspired by the Simca Matra Rancho. It is a one-piece housing in a combination of steel and polyester. The living area has been increased compared to a regular station wagon and can also be adapted to the wishes and use of the customer at will. The interior is wrapped in brown and orange fabrics in colors typical of these disco years.
* As Maximum Mini noted this week, the Mini-based backup RTV for Peter Wood's British Gas Marathon Blind Drive, has been located, though the Ford-powered main vehicle has yet to be found.
the Mini-based one is actually still owned by Andrew MacLean, who runs the Scamp Motor Company. When he told me that it survives in a field in West-Sussex, I had to see it and so we went over to have a look. The vehicle is in a totally original state, but would benefit from a full restoration.
* And speaking of the British Gas Marathon Blind Drive, here's a good short film from the era showing what made the run special. (via)
Recent
Boosted Powertrain
At the heart of this SVT Lightning is its iron-block 5.4-liter SOHC, 16-valve V8 with a supercharger and an intercooler. The blower helped it deliver 380 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque in 2001, up some 20 horsepower and 10 lb-ft from the ’99 and 2000 models. The Eaton supercharged engine delivered peak boost of 8.0 psi and the engine featured an 8.4:1 static compression ratio, down from the standard 5.4 V8’s 9.0:1, which was rated at 260 horsepower and 350 lb-ft.
Power reached the rear 18-inch cast aluminum-alloy wheels via a four-speed automatic, an aluminum driveshaft and a beefy 9.75-inch, limited-slip rear axle with an acceleration-friendly 3.73:1 final-drive ratio, another upgrade for 2001. Car and Driver magazine reported a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds and a quarter-mile in an E.T. of 13.8 seconds at 104 mph—impressive numbers for a 4,600-pound truck. Top speed was a drag-limited 142 mph.
A Truly Sporting Truck
Trucks generally require a suspension that can handle a full load in its bed while also providing competent driving while empty. But if you fancy one designed to a sports-car standard, then something has to give. In the case of the second-gen Lightning, Ford dropped its payload capacity to a mere 800 pounds. A standard 2001 F-150 Styleside carried a 3,180-pound payload rating, while an F-150 Flareside was rated at 2,005 pounds, some two-and-a-half times the Lightning, which featured the short-bed Flareside body. Towing capacity, likewise, was reduced from 8,800 pounds to 5,000 in the Lightning. But the Lightning’s strengths were never its payload or towing capacities, but it’s ability to perform like a sports car.
As a 21st century performance vehicle, however, the second-gen Lightning was also equipped to handle. A half-inch drop at the front was accompanied by SVT-specific coil springs and Bilstein shocks along with an exclusive 31-mm solid anti-roll bar. SVT’s influence continued at the rear with Lightning-specific five-leaf springs and a 23-mm solid anti-roll bar. The Bilstein setup at the rear included the right-rear shock staggered toward the front of the truck to reduce axle hop under heavy acceleration. The four-wheel antilock disc brakes were cribbed from the three-quarter-ton F-250, with 12.1-inch front rotors at the front and 13.1-inch discs at the rear.
As the years go on, fewer and fewer clean, unmolested low-mileage examples are out there, which is why this 2001 Ford SVT F150 Lightning now on Hemmings Auctions caught our attention. Showing just 5,525.5 miles on its odometer at the time of submission, it is said to be in “mint” condition and have an “immaculate” finish in the seller’s words. No modifications are noted to any part of the vehicle. The 18-inch factory alloys don’t appear to have any curb rash, though the Goodyear performance tires may be original. About the only deviations from stock are the tinted windows.
The latest electric-only F-150 Lightning is certainly a quick vehicle in its own right, but this 2001 edition from the engineers at SVT was built for excitement, not range. It was made with an old-school muscle-car vibe along with modern handling and braking. Which Lightning would you look good behind the wheel of?
Take a look at this second-gen Lightning on Hemmings Auctions before the bidding ends.
Stellantis
Kuniskis was there through Dodge’s Last Call campaign, the brand’s final send off for two of its iconic V8-powered muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger and Charger models, before turning the page to the next generation. Dodge’s Last Call models included the 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shakedown, 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Swinger, 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger, 2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona, 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost, and the 2023 Dodge Challenger Demon 170. He also oversaw the next generation muscle car’s reveal, which confirmed the offering of an all-electric powertrain, plus he played a key role in the reveal of the all-electric 2025 Ram.
“I want to take the opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and in defining the vision of the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands,” said Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares. “I wish him well in his retirement.”
Tim Kuniskis’s retirement comes at a challenging time for the company. Dodge has seen a drop in sales since the phase out of the previous Challenger and Charger models. Sales were down by 16-percent for the Charger coupe and sedan in Q1, while at the same time, Ram sales reportedly dropped by 26-percent. Vehicle shipments worldwide were down 10-percent (to 1.3 million) compared to the same three-month period a year ago. Stellantis revenue declined by a total of 15% to $20.7 billion.
Stepping up to the company’s future challenges in Kuniskis’s place is Matt McAlear, the new CEO of Dodge, who led Dodge's sales operations in the recent past. Christine Feuell, prior Chrysler CEO who had a hand in the reveal of the Halcyon Concept earlier this year, will now be in charge of the Ram brand.
Christine Feuell
Stellantis
Matt McAlear
Stellantis
“I am confident that Chris will continue the work of Tim in leading the iconic Ram brand,” said Tavares. “Matt will bring a fresh perspective, while continuing to draw on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and leading the transition of the brand toward a sustainable future.”
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