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Old style, new technology Now that the aftermarket has come up with just about everything you need to restore your old ground-pounder, from bumpers and sheetmetal to interior trim and authentic camshaft profiles, isn't it about time you bolted on a cool set of retro redline tires to make your dream a reality? Coker Tire of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been in the retro/classic tire business for decades and now offers the redline look of the musclecar era in a modem line of radial fires: Called the Coker Classic line, the new tires are built around polyester cords and steel belts, just like a modern radial. Coker offers the Classic in variety of sizes in redline as well as wide whitewall designs starting at about US $125 per tire. Coker offers numerous other brands of restoration tires, including original style glass belted, Firestone Wide-Oval, vintage racing tires. . . if you've got an old car that needs tires, Coker probably has it. Visit Coker at http://www.coker.com/ or call their restoration hotline at 1-800-251-6336. 2001 Chrysler Grand Caravan ES Chrysler improves proven minivan formula gate opens or closes in about four seconds. A warning beeper begins sounding two sec onds before the door opens and, like the side doors, the mechanism detects any resistance "Keep it the same, just make it better." Those kind of customer comments must to movement, reversing automatically to have driven Chrysler engineers crazy when avoid damage to the door or anything in the they set out to redesign the 2001 lineup of way. This is one of those rainy day, arms-fullChrysler/Dodge minivans. of-groceries features that should prove as But, in effect, that's just what they did -- big a hit as Chrysler's second-sliding door, they followed their customers' advice. In order to "keep it the same," Chrysler's among other home runs on a long list of designers stuck to the proven formula that Chrysler minivan innovations. they themselves established 17 years and As a start to list some of the other eight million minivans ago. improvements for 2001, we should really That is, build a garageable front wheel- begin inside, because "the secret to building drive van that handles like a car with easy a really good minivan package is to design ingress/egress to all three rows, chair-height from the inside out," according to Harlan seating for up to seven with removable seats Kifer, a design manager who has been and a low flat floor that'll take a 4x8 sheet of involved with minivan construction for the plywood or any other mix of passengers and past 14 years. payload that the user demands. Among the other, "industry first" options To "make it better," they set about to added to the lineup this year is a removable improve this latest generation of "magic powered centre console with two storage wagon," pushing those initial parameters compartments, a cell phone bracket and with new technologies, new features and a inside power outlet. The console can be latched into place, without too much trou long list o f firsts -- the most notable, a new power tailgate -- that will probably keep ble, between either the front or middle row the competition playing catch-up for the seats. An available rear cargo organizer can be raised to form a divided storage, but that next few years. The new optional power tailgate is, once works in conjunction with the handy -- my again, the result of Chrysler listening to its wife swears by them -- grocery bag hooks customers. Ann Heiser, a DaimleiChrysler on the seatback. (There are hooks on the administrative assistant, was at a picnic back of the front seat back too -- for those where several small-statured women were quick bread and milk pickups on the way talking about the difficulties they had reach home.) ing up and closing tailgates. And, in order to improve cargo and pas "Some used umbrella handles," said senger flexibility, designers split the third Heiser. "One woman even tied a cord to the row seat to a 50/50 mode, allowing users to inside handle of the liftgate in order to pull remove either one or both of the seats. it shut." Which should go a long way to prevent Heiser, brought the issue up to Tom much cursing and potential hernias since Moore, a VP with the Technical Affairs divi each individual half seat -- mounted on sion who activated a study and got the ball rollers -- weighs half of what the former rolling. Powered by an internal electric bench weighed. motor, the resulting key fob-activated liftOther ergonomic improvements include SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER By Rob Beiritema handier door switches and flush-faced audio and HVAC components that were originally designed for Chrysler's LHS lineup. All of these new interior features are graphically tied together with a styling touch that incor porates tighter gaps and crisper lines throughout the interior. A styling touch that is also reflected by a new, more aggressively-designed exterior. "It's another step away from the 'jelly bean' shape of the last minivan," Kifer admitted, as he led auto journalists on a walk-around of the new minivan. "The exte rior is more substantial, less smooth and a little chunkier." Ah, design speak. Harlan pointed out a new "A" line that runs from headlight to taillight, as well as crisper lines around the wheel arches. Headlamps are 50% larger and 80% brighter. Wrap-around tail lamps are also larger and situated higher for better visibility. The hood has been raised 25 mm (1") to accommodate a new cooling module and the back end -- the "D" pillar and rear window -- has been raked forward for a faster look. Okay, so much for the pizzazz. How about the punch? Canadian minivans start with a base 3.3L engine. No 4-cylinder versions will be offered and even the 3.0L 6-cylinder has been dropped. The 3.3L has increased from 158 hp to 180 hp while the top end 3.8L engine has been stroked for 180 hp to 215 hp. This spring, Chrysler will introduce a mid-model year 2001 engine -- a 3.5L motor that makes an impressive 230 horses and will eventually replace the 3.8L. We'll be test-driving the Chrysler minivans more extensively in future, but at the vehicle launch of the 2001 lineup, I man aged to drive a few short routes in several versions and trim levels, along with back-to(See `Improved' page C2) Tuff Stuff for dirt and grime Why take your vehicle to have the entire interior steam cleaned (just because you dumped a gallon of coffee on the floor), when you can get rid of those nasty messes on your own (even after it has sat around for a while)? With STP's Tuff Stuff spray cleaner, you just shoot the offending splotch with the foam, let it sit for 30-40 seconds and work the area over with a damp Tuff cloth until the mess is dissolved. Use a clean towel fo Stuff absorb what's left and you're done. That's it. Other ben efits? Tuff Stuff comes in a huge can, the foam clings to vertical surfaces and it can be used on the rest of the interior to restore that fresh vinyl/leather/plastic look. It also preps the interior so you can apply a pro tectant if you so desire. Heck, Tuff Stuff can even be used on chrome, bathroom tile and fixtures, appli ances, painted walls and upholstery, vinyl and fabric around the house, which makes it just about indispensible. Buy two cans and stash one under the kitchen sink. Tuff Stuff can be found just about anywhere STP products are sold. Simply good for your vehicle Wouldn't it be nice if there was a product out there that could help you clean up oily messes from the weekend's backyard repair? Well, there's an alternative to using harmful solvents when it comes time to clean up. In fact, taking care of the environment as well as your vehicle are two objectives of Simple Green's Pro Series Automotive Cleaner. The super-strength degreaser (specially developed for pro fessional automotive do-gooders) comes in a convenient spray bottle and cleans up everything from engines and tools, to shop counters and floor spills. It'll even remove bug remnants, brake dust and road tar. Perhaps the best part is that Simple Green does all this magic while at the same time being non-toxic, non-flam mable and bio-degradable. In fact, Simple Green's Automotive Cleaner has almost limitless applica tion, with a couple of exceptions, such as its use on leather. Simple Green's Pro Series Automotive Cleaner can be found at most automotive stores that sell Simple Green products. ' Do you have an auto-related product the world should know about? Please send your information/press kit via email to: partsdept@wheelbasecom.com. LOCKWOOD CHRYSLER " R e b a t e s .i r e .is s ig n e t l t o d e a le r s h ip 175 Wyecroft Road,Oakville (betw een Kerr & Dorval) f i v e s t a r Oakville's only Five Star Certified Dealership www.lockwoodchrysler.com & O ^4 O 0 _0 0 0 0