Category Archives: Cars & Trucks

Land Rover: Looking Back

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When Mr. Wolf finds a transport vehicle the Land Rover will be heading West for a little spruce-up and a new home. I’m feeling good about the decision to sell but get the occasional bout of nostalgia when I come across something like this timeline.

Turns out we still had miles to go. Mr. Wolf discovered a problem with the little 4-cylinder engine which necessitated finding a source for a rebuilt engine which was shipped to SF where Philippe spent a few months shoe-horning it into the Rover. All of which took another 8 months! So about a year-and-a-half from beginning to end.

1984 Land Rover 90 resurrection

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From Land Rover guru John Middleton: Picked up a 1984 Land Rover 90 that was an insurance write off after apparently being in a building fire. It runs and drives. We are resurrecting as a 90 pickup.After cutting out some rot and welding in some new frame sections we installed the replacement rear bed.  It hauled its first load of hay.

The next ‘new’ Bronco at your Ford dealer could be an old one

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(From CARBUZZ.COM) Soon, classic SUV fans might be able to go to their local Ford dealer and drive away in a first-generation Bronco restomod. The buyer would even have the choice between having a modern V8 or a dual-motor electric powertrain. The upgraded Bronco builder, Kindred Motorworks, met with potential partner showrooms at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, to expand the availability of its products.

Kindred Motorworks sells its combustion-powered Bronco restomod starting at $199,000. They come with a Ford Coyote 5.0-liter V8 making 460 horsepower. The engine hooks up to a 10-speed automatic transmission with an Atlas II transfer case, a Dana 44 front differential, and a Ford 9.0-inch rear differential with 35-spline axles. It also has power steering and four-wheel disc brakes.

Inside, there’s hand-stitched leather upholstery, heated front seats, a rearview camera, and a touchscreen infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. In short, the old off-roader comes equipped with just about everything you’d find in a new one, save for driver assists.

The body looks just like a classic Bronco but with some modern updates. The upgrades include LED headlights and retractable side steps. The doors are still removable, too. The options include a $15,000 hardtop and $1,200 for ceramic window tint. There’s also a $15,000 Trail Package that includes a Warn winch, different front and rear bumpers, a tow hitch, and a tire carrier.

Ford Bronco

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Six weeks ago I ready to buy a 2003 Honda Element. I was pretty jazzed up about this 23 year old car. On the day I was supposed write the check, the seller called to say he couldn’t find the title and it might take months to get a duplicate (?!) Hmm. 

I dropped by the local Honda dealership to see if they could find one. Nothing int he dealer network for Honda Elements (they stopped making them in 2011) but the salesman found one on Facebook Marketplace. I don’t do FB but friends messaged the seller asking him to get in touch. Nothing.

This was my Fuck It moment. The Universe was clearly telling me it was time to turn the page on old, used vehicles. I decided to do the unthinkable. Buy a new car.

To make a long post a little shorter I decided to buy a Ford Bronco and my buddy Paul Bandelier offered to introduce me to Judy, his favorite sales person at the local Ford dealership.

They didn’t have any two-door Broncos (my only must-have) but a nearby dealer had one in a color that Paul loved so we did the deal. It has some off-road features I didn’t think I needed (huge tires) but Paul and Mr. Wolf insisted on.

As I write this, I’ve had the Bronco for less than 48 hours. Can only describe this as a “life changing” experience. As I’ve done with my other vehicles, I’ll share this adventure here in coming months. But this is clearly a turning of the page in my automotive life. I’m selling the Land Rover but keeping the pickup and the Jeep. But the Bronco will be my daily driver, leaving the pickup for hauling big stuff and the Jeep for warm weather fun. 

My last new vehicle was the Mini Cooper in 2011. Twenty-five years ago. So I’ll be in ATS (automotive technology shock) for a while. Picture a New Guinea native who has never seen a white man taking his first ride on a Boeing 777. I am (delightfully) overwhelmed. Watch this space.

The History of the Honda Element

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I’ve watched a lot of videos about the Honda Element in the last six weeks but this is the best so far. (16 min)

One of those vehicles that never sold well but developed a cult following. A few descriptions:

  • “Honda’s version of the Swiss Army knife.”
  • “Cars Nobody Asked For: The Honda Element “
  • “The Honda Element: The Coolest Honda”
  • “The love child of a Mini Cooper and a Hummer”

Still don’t have mine and don’t know what I’ll wind up paying for it. But I’m hooked.

Don’t buy a Honda Element

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Watch on YouTube

I’ve been watching a lot of videos about the Honda Element in anticipation of getting one of my own in a couple of weeks. This is not a “how to” video, rather a semi-gushy tribute to the vehicle. Don’t miss the lyrics to the soundtrack.

UPDATE: Fans of the Honda Element have produced songs about the vehicle. I’ve found three so far (Objective Garage)

Box On Wheels

Everything It Has Got

In My Element

2003 Honda Element

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UPDATE: 12/31/25 Closer look at the Honda. Couple of boogers on the front but not bad for a 23-year-old car. From the outside the interior looked good to me. Dan hopes to have the car ready by the end of January.

Here’s a review of the 2003…and the 2005 (a more entertaining video). Can’t tell you much about the 2003 except that Dan put a newer engine in. Didn’t ask him about the mileage because at 78, probably not a factor. More info and video once I get behind the wheel.

Riggs Motor Company (1920)

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From that same 1920 Kennett High School album. My favorite part: TELEPHONE No. 62. John liked: “We repair anything from a Motorcycle to an Airplane.”

Dodge Brothers Motor Cars was the name under which Horace and John Dodge began producing their own automobiles in 1914, after years of supplying parts to other Detroit automakers like Ford and Oldsmobile.

Founding and Rise – The Dodge brothers opened their first machine shop in Detroit in 1900, quickly gaining a reputation for precision-engineered components. They supplied Ford’s Model A with complete chassis assemblies and even held a 10% ownership stake in Ford Motor Company. In July 1914, they incorporated the Dodge Brothers Motor Company with $5 million in stock and introduced their first automobile—the Dodge Model 30–35 touring car—built in Hamtramck, Michigan.

Innovations – The 1914 Dodge car was marketed as a more advanced and durable alternative to the Ford Model T, featuring an all-steel body, 12‑volt electric system, and a 35‑horsepower four‑cylinder engine. These innovations helped the brand quickly achieve second place in U.S. sales by 1916.

Wartime and Growth – During World War I, the Dodge Brothers supplied commercial and military trucks as well as artillery recoil systems for the Allied forces. By 1919, production surpassed 400,000 vehicles annually, and the company introduced its first four‑door sedan.

Legacy and Ownership Changes – Both brothers died in 1920 due to complications from influenza, and without their leadership, the company struggled to maintain its early momentum. In 1925, their widows sold the firm to Dillon, Read & Co. for $146 million, and in 1928, Dodge was acquired by Walter P. Chrysler to become part of Chrysler Corporation.

Today, the Dodge brand remains part of Stellantis, continuing a legacy that began with the pioneering Dodge Brothers Motor Cars more than a century ago. (Perplexity)