SFGN Cars

CAR EDITION

2019

from buying to restoration, everything you need to keep your engine running

YOUR GUIDE TO

FINDING THE BEST RIDE LOCAL LEGENDS TALK VINTAGE CARS FORD CO-PILOT HERE FOR YOU CLASSIC CUBAN CARS and much more

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0% APR for 72 months at $13.89 per month per $1,000 financed. 0% APR for 60 months at $16.67 per month per $1,000 financed. Regardless of down payment. 36 mo leases. Due at signing: Ecosport $2,533, Mustang $3,136. $0 security deposit required.

All offers with approved credit, not all will qualify. Tax, tag, title and $999 dealer fee extra. All incentives to dealer, cannot be combined with other offers. Artwork for illustration purposes only. See dealer for details. Expires 11/30/19.

218 • SFGN’s Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 1Car 0.30.2019

My Mini CARS  feature

The perfect car Pier Angelo

At the height of their popularity, all four Beatles owned Minis.

Even Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari automobile marquee owned one.

It has been featured in countless action movies, one of the last being the remake of The Italian Job where they treated the MINI like another member of the cast. The spacesaving transverse engine front-wheel drive layout, which allows 80 percent of the area of the car’s floor-plan to be used for passengers and luggage, influenced a generation of car makers.

The MINI was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999, behind the Ford Model T, and ahead of the

In May, a world record parade of 1,450 Minis congregated at Crystal Palace as part of a London to Brighton run.

Volkswagen Beetle, the original is considered an icon of the ‘60s British popular culture.

The last original MINI, a red Cooper Sport, was built in 2000 and presented to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust that year. A total of 5,387,862 cars had been manufactured, nearly 1.6 million of which were sold in Britain. The last MINI to leave the Longbridge plant did so in 2012.

Several events marked the 50th anniversary of the MINI in 2009. In January 2009, The Royal Mail released a limited edition of stamps titled ‘British Design Classics,’ featuring an original, Egg-Shell Blue, MK1 MINI, registration XAA 274.

In May, a world record parade of 1,450 MINIs congregated at Crystal Palace as part of a London to Brighton run. The following week, 10,000 MINIs and 25,000 people attended an anniversary party at Silverstone Circuit on the border of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

In August of 2009, ‘smallcarBIGCITY’ launched in London to provide sightseeing tours of the capital in a fleet of restored MINI Coopers.

In recent years, MINI has been known for its catchy slogans: “Of Course it’s Smart. It is from Oxford,” “A Dirty MINI is a Sign of a True Motorer,” “Motorers Are Ageless,” and “Let’s Motor.” These slogans have helped brand car company as a type of lifestyle for those who want to be on the go, speeding off to the next adventure.

It’s an effective marketing campaign, and it’s something that films and celebrities seem

MINI Cooper S Convertible.

to pick up on. The MINI isn’t just a car: it’s a fun car that takes its owners on an epic journey full of twists and turns, and ups and downs. In a MINI the open road is your oyster.

There is nothing in the current market comparable to a MINI. It’s a luxury economy car that’s a blast to drive! Why bother with an underpowered hybrid when one can get 40 mpg with appointments like full leather interior and on board Internet connection via bluetooth from a smartphone?

Personally, my top desired qualities in a car (in order) are:

• Fun to drive • Reasonably practical • Good fuel economy Now normally, you would think that for most cars you get 1 or 2 of the above three, but I found that with the MINI I gives me all three.

I have owned 4 MINIs, to this day I still enjoy driving it and never grow tired of it.

• There’s no question the MINI is the most fun to drive car I’ve owned. The low weight makes it quick on its feet, and MINI has done a great job tuning the suspension to make you feel very connected with the road.

• For day to day commuting and the occasional grocery store run, I find that the trunk is about right. It’s also great for squeezing into tight city parking spots and really, any parking spot.

• Even in its highest performance John Cooper Works trim version, I still average 37 MPG on highway stints, and an even 30–31 MPG on daily commute of 50% highway 50% city. In addition to these things, MINI gives you lots of customization options to make it unique, I highly recommend test driving one just to see what it’s like. The ride may not be for everyone but it’s certainly designed for me.

10.30.2019 • 1 SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 •93

CARS  feature

Two Guys and their cars Pier Angelo Mark Hess grew up in Kingsley, Iowa, population 1,000. Gary Wentzel grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A move to Tampa with his parents gave Mark the desire to relocate to Florida.

Family vacations in Hollywood gave Gary the same conviction. Mark met a man in Iowa and wanted a fresh location— Florida—to start a fresh life with him. Gary told his Pennsylvania boyfriend “I’m moving to Florida. If you want to come, okay. If not, fine.”

Mark, who had been doing restaurant work since he was 16, found a job at Fort Lauderdale’s Cathode Ray club. When its owner bought Chardee’s, Mark became that legendary restaurant’s bartender. Gary was a server at the Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Il Mulino.

They met one evening while leaving Cathode Ray. Discovering a mutual love for vintage cars, they headed together to the Copa where they prolonged the conversation about 50’s and 60’s cars.” Wentzel says, “You just don’t run into too many people who can share your enthusiasm about a 62’ Chrysler Imperial.”

The more time they spent together, the more they found they had a lot in common, and that’s how it all began. When Mark’s roommate left for Ogunquit, and Gary’s boyfriend left town Gary moved into Mark’s home.

Their love for Classic Cars has gown in step with their love for each other . When the

In their 27 years together Mark and Gary have bought, refurbished, restored and sold over a dozen vintage cars.

subject of cars comes up you can’t stop them.

“There is a cruel irony abut today’s choices of automobiles” says Mark, “cars are more alike than they’ve ever been, parking lots are melting pots of badge-engineered, generically styled sedans/SUV/sportscars.

What happened to the characterful cars our dads were always swearing at in the garage?”

“A lot of things” he continues “ but mostly safety and reliability, features that have made cars better but also far, far less interesting.

Safety also means bigger, dumpier bodies.

Reliability severed the bonds that tied men to their mechanics.” According to Gary “Classic cars are appreciating assets that recapture the visceral motoring experience while looking fabulous cruising with the top down, and the thumbs up people give you at traffic lights is better than any likes on Facebook.”

In their 27 years together Mark and Gary have bought, refurbished, restored and sold over a dozen vintage cars. If you are sick of driving automobiles that feel and sound like video games, sick of cars you can turn off and walk away from unaffected by the experience take a look at what Mark and Gary have been driving and drool: x

1. 1964 Cadillac Limousine (Mark’s first car) 2. 1971 Triumph TR6 3. 1972 Buick Centurian convertible 4. 1978 Cadillac Seville 5. 1977 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 6. 1970 Cadillac DeVille convertible 7. 1978 Lincoln Town Coupe’ convertible 8. 1976 Buick Limited Landau Custom 9. 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon 10. 1986 Buick Electra Estate Wagon 11. 1959 Ford Skyliner retractable hardtop 12. 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham 13. 1965 Pontiac Bonneville convertible 14. 1975 Pontiac Grandville convertible

4 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

Gary Wentzel and Mark Hess.

Photo credit: Carina Mask.

Here are their suggestions if you are interested: When to buy at an auction?

Almost never When to buy from a private seller?

Almost Always - but do your homework first When to buy on EBAY? More often than you think but don’t spend more than $20,000.

START YOUR ENGINE!

CARS  spare parts

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up to 5 quarts of oil. Most cars. Includes FREE Tire Rotation & Balance Check.

A/C RECHARGE

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Photo credit: Jacob Kamholz.

There are dozens of replicas

throughout the world made out of a variety of materials of the famous Stonehenge, the giant ring of mysterious standing stones dating back to prehistoric Wiltshire, England in the Salisbury Plains, erected sometime between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. Some have been meticulously constructed as astronomically aligned

+ tax

models, some as socioeconomic statements, while others are examples of artistic expression at its best. One of the most original and creative ones is created from Vintage American spray-painted cars.

Rising like monoliths from ancient times, 39 automobiles, all arranged in a circle, rest as a formation of vehicles from days gone by on the western outskirts of the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Evacuate and recharge system.

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SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 5

CARS  feature

Rides That Offer the

Best Bang for Your Buck Larry Printz

For most of us, buying a new car or SUV is a nerve-racking decision given that most of us don’t make such large purchases on a daily basis. And while you may be jonesing for a new car or SUV, your finances are telling you that you might have to bike to work.

Don’t despair. There is an answer.

Any buyer can get the essence of a high-priced ride without the price tag if you know which vehicles to consider. Some spendier rides are little more than mundane vehicles with an attitude, while some everyday vehicles have many of the same attributes as pricier rides.

With that in mind, here are some tempting budget-stretching suggestions:

Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida.

He can be reached at TheDrivingPrintz@gmail.com.

 Ford Mustang EcoBoost. Photo via Ford.

6 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

CARS  feature

Nissan Kicks. Photo via Nissan USA.

SUBCOMPACT SUVS SUBCOMPACT SUVS Nissan Kicks ($19,585)

Don’t expect driving kicks from the Kicks; this SUV’s kicks come from its fashionably sporty style, a comfortable ride, optimal cabin space, and loads of standard equipment at prices mere mortals can afford. Consider its tech package with a responsive touchscreen, Bluetooth, three USB ports, and a rearview monitor, along with such niceties as keyless entry, roof rails and automatic headlights. Pricier models get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert. And there’s an impressive list of driver safety systems. Inside, there’s a high seating position and 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s a hard package to beat.

Runner up: Kia Soul ($17,490): Consider it fast fashion;

Honda Civic sedan. Photo via Honda.

H&M with tires. Offered with a manual transmission and boasting a distinctive personality, its interior accent lighting can be set to pulse with the audio system’s music. Easy to drive smoothly, the Kia Soul is one cute ute that’s sure to satisfy yours.

SMALL SEDANS SEDANS SMALL Honda Civic sedan ($20,480)

Mazda CX-5. Photo via Mazda.

the price, with impressive materials and plenty of soft touch points. It’s a transcendent compact crossover utility vehicle, one that’s superior than many of its pricier rivals.

Runner up:

VW Golf SportWagen ($22,790): This contrarian antidote to SUVs has compact dimensions that aren’t much different from many small SUVs and, like them, carries 30.4-to-66.5 cubic feet of cargo and up to 5 people (if they’re friends). Unlike most, it offers superb driving dynamics and a manual transmission.

SPORTS CARS SPORTS CARS Ford Mustang EcoBoost ($26,395/$31,895)

This pony’s classic style returns at a very affordable price. But while other Mustangs receive doubleoverhead-cam V8s, the EcoBoost makes do with a fuelefficient double-overhead-cam 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. If the idea of a four-cylinder Mustang makes you feel like Steve McQueen’s unloved gay relative, keep in mind its 310 horsepower is more than the Mustang’s V8 developed a decade ago. A six-speed manual is standard, a 10-speed automatic is optional. And there’s enough space for friends to come along, or carry a large amount of lifestyle debris, starting at $26,395 for the EcoBoost coupe, or $31,895 for the EcoBoost convertible.

Once again setting the standard for compact sedans, energetic styling cloaks an impressively large cabin that it could easily be thought of as a small midsize car. Even the trunk is huge, measuring a commodious 15.1 cubic feet. While the Civic sedan’s interior gives up 7.9 cubic feet and its trunk 1.7 cubic feet to the Accord, the extra space isn’t worth the extra scratch.

All Civics do an excellent job of insulating passengers from road shocks. In fact, it’s nearly luxury level. At the same time, sporty handling gives the Civic the athletic, responsive feel drivers have come to expect.

And it’s available with some high-end features, like rain-sensing windshield wipers. Nice.

Runner up:

Runner up: Toyota Corolla Hybrid ($23,100): It’s not

We all know that designer knock-offs is how stores like H&M thrive. Now, Mercedes-Benz is getting into knock-offs. Having copied the CLS in the smaller CLA, Mercedes has now plagiarized the pricier E-Class sedan with the new entry-level A-Class. No, the front-drive 188-horsepower/seven-speed automatic A-Class will never match the effortless performance of the rear-wheel-drive 255-horsepower/nine-speed automatic E-Class. But you’ll get styling that’s nearly as gorgeous and an interior that features a dazzling, large digital dashboard with refined, high-end graphics. Yes, you’ll find some hard-plastic bits and experience a bit of road noise, but at this price, who cares?

the driving thrills that make this Corolla notable; it’s exceptional gas mileage: 53 mpg city, 52 mpg highway.

This Corolla has the Prius’s driveline, but not the Prius’s hideous look.

COMPACT HAULERS COMPACT HAULERS Mazda CX-5 ($24,350)

While the CX-5 is no sports car – it has too many doors and too many seats – its ability to vanquish switchbacks and effortlessly carve through corners and twisting roads makes for a truly fulfilling experience. It’s light, tossable, and surprisingly fun to drive. Body roll is largely lacking because the CX-5 slightly reduces engine power in corners to tighten suspension response and improve handling. The impressively large cabin is exquisitely fashioned for

Ford Mustang EcoBoost. Photo via Ford.

Fiat 124 Spider ($25,390) Based on the Mazda Miata, and built by them, the 124 Spider uses a turbocharged Fiat engine, and more relaxed suspension tuning and a richer interior than its Japanese identical cousin. Cheaper to buy than a Miata, it’s every bit the grand tourer, making it easier to live with.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan.

Photo via Mercedes-Benz.

COMPACT LUXURY LUXURYSEDANS SEDANS Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan ($32,500)

Runner up: Genesis G70 ($35,380): This new entry into the world of compact luxury sedans doesn’t have a fashionable name – yet. But it has the goods to beat the best, with a stout, rear-wheel-drive chassis, classis proportions and a ride/handling compromise that’s among the best-in-class.

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 7

CLASSIC CUBAN CARS CARS  feature

Pier Angelo

If you love vintage cars, Cuba it’s the place. The greatest on earth. One big car show, where autos from the 1940s and 1950s zip along the streets and byways.

Take your pick: Pontiacs, Buicks Chevrolets, Fords, Dodges, Plymouths, even Studebakers. They run the gamut from mint condition to battered. Well-preserved cars have exteriors that shine with chrome and “ shocking” pink, purple, red, aquamarine paint jobs, while the worse-off autos are kept together with odd parts, scrap metal and sometime duct tape. American cars were imported for about 50 years until 1959. After the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. imposed the embargo and Castro banned the importation of American cars and spare parts. That’s why Cuba is the way it is today—essentially a living museum for classic cars. They are considered part of the Cuban Heritage, Cuban laws ban the cars from being removed from the island. There are about 60,000 vintage American cars still running in Cuba, half of them from the 50s, 25 percent from the 40s, and the rest from the 30s. The cars are often family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation.

Since the country lacks replacement parts and often the necessary tools for fixing the

They are considered part of the Cuban Heritage, Cuban laws ban the cars from being removed from the island.

Photo credit: Edgardo W. Olivera, via Flickr.

vehicles the locals have become extremely creative in their repairs; a great deal of reverse engineering has kept these old American autos on the road. Mechanics find ways to use imperfect parts and they are well paid for their ingenuity .Russian cars –Ladas and Volgas – are stripped of useful components, hood ornaments are often made from scrap metal. The old American cars keep running with parts and pieces that were never intended for them. It’s not uncommon to find a 1950s Buick with a Russian engine and most have been converted to diesel. Ask

8 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

any owner to tell you about his car and he will gladly show you and tell you how he has managed to keep it on the road.

The majority of the owners have joined regulated Co-ops and have become taxis and tours’ providers. The rest of the population drive small Citroens, Nissans, Peugeot, Volkswagen. Luxury cars are very rare but for those who can afford the steep prices Audis, BMWs and Mercedes are available.

Tourists can take tours in classic cars in Havana and Veradero . In these places, there are usually rows of spotless beautiful looking

9 5 19

cars lined up for visitors to choose from.

Most of them are convertibles, which are perfect for cruising the city streets and taking pictures. That’s exactly what my husband and I did during our recent stay in Havana.

If the embargo were lifted, the Cuban auto market would be flooded with replacement parts and repair manuals, the old cars could be fixed properly and be kept on the roads for decades to come. It would also boost sales for American automakers, sadly, under the current administration nothing is going to change for the better.

CARS  spare parts

Most Expensive

It took Rolls-Royce four years to build the Sweptail.

Photo via RollsRoyce.

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MODEL ROLLS-ROYCE SWEPTAIL MERCEDES BENZ MAYBACK EXELERO LAMBORGHINI VENENO FERRARI PININFARINA SERGIO BUGATTI CHIRON

LA FERRARI FXXK ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE

FERRARI F60 AMERICA

ASTON MARTIN VULCAN MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL

Cost $13 MILLION $8 MILLION $4.5 MILLION $3 MILLION $2.9 MILLION $2.7 MILLION $2.6 MILLION $2.6 MILLION $2.3 MILLION $2.2 MILLION

I don’t just see a customer.

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While other insurance companies just see a customer, I see a neighbor in my community. I’m here to get to know who you really are so I can help life go right.

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Marjee Nathaniel, Agent 1881 NE 26th Street, Suite 20 Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Bus: 954-566-2216 Fax: 954-564-1274 marjee.nathaniel.mj9y@statefarm.com

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State Farm Bloomington, IL

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 9

FAST LANE CARS  feature

Photo credit: Ildar Sagdejev.

cars, trucks, and those who drive them pier angelo Nearly all boomer high-school students had their driver’s license by the spring of their senior year. Today one in four teens still lack one at the end of high school. They describe getting their license as something to be nagged into by their parents.

This would have been unthinkable to previous generations.

The U.S. burns 145 billion gallons of gasoline a year. That’s about 1.3 gallons for each American – all 325 million of us – every day.

When is this stuff going to run out?

BTW: a car uses 1.6 oz of gas idling for one minute. Half an ounce is used to start the average automobile.

VOLVO has made a shocking pledge: by 2020, no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car or SUV. Here is their pledge: VISION 2020 – Aiming for zero. “Vision 2020 is one of the most ambitious safety visions in the automotive industry. It is rooted in our leadership in safety and the fact that everything we do starts with protecting the people inside and around our cars. Our aim is that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020. While we are proud of what we have achieved so far, we are not satisfied yet.”

FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR HAS A RECALL: Car Recall Tracker keeps you up-to-date on vehicles recalls at cr.org/ carrecalltracker

Germany is the birthplace of KARL BENZ, the inventor of the automobile, and gave rise to the Volkswagen or the “people’s car” as its name implies.

It is also home to Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche. These five brand account for 80% of global sales of luxury vehicles.

With 835,000 workers the auto industry is Germany’s biggest employer and for a fifth of the country’s export.

The well-wheeled in China are embracing American luxury brands with CADILLAC crossovers and LINCOLN SUVs flying off the lots. The country has become GM’s largest market for Cadillac and FORD says it will soon be the top market for its Lincoln brand.

Looming over this boom is Trump’s tariffs war and because of this danger Lincoln plans to eventually build its models in China.

The original MUSTANG GT from the 1968 thriller “ Bullit” will be put on the block at the Kissimmee Mecum Auction in January 2020.

“Bullit” featured one the most well-known chase scenes in Cinema with Steve McQueen driving the Mustang in a dangerous pursuit through the hilly streets of San Francisco.

Afterall speeding is the source of America’s contribution to global culture – the car chase.

MONTANA – The Autobahn of America.

In 2015 Montana increased its speed limit to 80 mph on the interstate for both day and night.

10 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

The YUGO is considered the worst car in history. The Yugo was a small car made in the former nation of Yugoslavia starting in 1985 that survives in the American consciousness as the ultimate automotive failure. Poorly engineered, ugly, and cheap, it survived much longer as a punch line for comedians than it did as a vehicle on the roads. It cost $2,000 with a top speed of 86 mph.

Fifty-years after the moon landing and Woodstock mankind has a new destination.

VOLKSWAGEN is planning to go carbon neutral by 2050, all electric, zero direct emission. Volkswagen has also announced that it will finally bring the iconic Microbus back to showrooms — but it won’t get here before 2022 […] and that it will be a full electric vehicle when it arrives. The company plans to release the new van, based on the I.D. Buzz concept vehicle and on the upcoming new Modular Electric Drive platform that will form the basis of all of VW’s new electric vehicles.

THE ELIMINATOR COUPE. In 1976, Billy Gibbons of ZZTOP met with Don Thelen of Buffalo Motor Cars in Paramount, California and Ronnie Jones of Hand Crafted Metal with some help from Sid Blackard, to build a customized 1933 Ford Coupe. The car was built with a Corvette style engine fabricated

by Handcrafted Metal . It was finished in 1983 and called the Eliminator. The car has become recognizable for its red finish and graphics, which can be seen in several of the band’s music videos. The Eliminator has also made worldwide appearances in television, movies, auto shows and charity events.

GOOGLE STREET VIEW uses speciallyequipped cars to travel the globe and photograph streets, landmarks, and natural wonders in 87 countries.

LAMBDA CAR CLUB INTERNATIONAL (LCCI) is the largest collector car club for LGBT and LGBT-friendly automobile enthusiasts in North America. The purpose of the Lambda Car Club International is the enjoyment and exchange of information on old and special interest motor vehicles, combined with social fellowship by LGBTQ community members interested in such vehicles. www.lccimembers.com

If you own and old ACCORD look out. Thieves prefer the 1997 model 15 to 1 over the 2006.

Perhaps coincidentally,1997 is the last year Accord keys didn’t have some sort of chips in them.

In cities like Houston, London and Salt Lake City Google has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to give these vehicles the task of Mapping street-level air quality with the goal of reducing pollution.

Research has found that when drivers moves to the passenger seat they become much less optimistic about their chances of not being in a crash.

Tired of driving? French inventor Franky Zapata successfully flew across the English Channel on a hoverboard, making the 22mile journey in about 20 minutes. In several years, when self-driving technologies become widespread you’ll have a choice : either to sit in the backseat and the robot will drive, or sit behind the wheel yourself.

CARS  feature

CARS  spare parts

I AM IN LOVE WITH MY CAR Roger Taylor in 1978 with his Mercedes 450SL (R 107) roadster. Photo via Roger Taylor.

The DeLorean DMC-12.

Photo credit: Kevin Abato.

I’m in Love with My Car” is a song by the British rock band Queen, released on their fourth album A Night at the Opera in 1975. It is the album’s only song written entirely by drummer Roger Taylor.

The revving sounds at the conclusion of the song were a recording of Taylor’s then current car, an Alfa Romeo. The lyrics were inspired by one of the band’s roadies, Johnathan Harris, whose Triumph TR4 was evidently the

CAR BRANDS THAT HAVE CALLED IT QUITS

“love of his life.” The song is dedicated to him, with the liner notes mentioning, “Dedicated to Johnathan Harris, boy racer to the end.”

The song was used in a 2004 advertisement for Jaguar.

PLYMOUTH

MERCURY

SATURN

DESOTO

RAMBLER

( 1928-2001)

(1938-2010)

(1985-2010)

(1928-1960)

(1901-1969)

PONTIAC

OLDSMOBILE

CHECKER

EDSEL

MOSLER

( 1926-2010)

(1897-2004)

(1922-2009)

(1958-1960)

(1993-2013)

SAAB

HUMMER

AMC

DELOREAN

STUDEBACKER

(1945-2010)

(1992-2009)

(1950-1987)

(1970-1982)

(1852-1966)

Oh The machine of a dream, such a clean machine With the pistons a pumpin’, and the hubcaps all gleam When I’m holding your wheel All I hear is your gear With my hand on your grease gun Mmm, it’s like a disease, son I’m in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile Get a grip on my boy racer roll bar Such a thrill when your radials squeal Told my girl I’ll have to forget her Rather buy me a new carburetor So she made tracks saying this is the end, now Cars don’t talk back they’re just four wheeled friends now When I’m holding your wheel All I hear is your gear When I’m cruisin’ in overdrive Don’t have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive I’m in love with my car (love with my car), gotta feel for my automobile I’m in love with my car (love with my car), string back gloves in my automolove I am in Love with My Car

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 11

1957 Chrysler Windsor 74 Capri

Billero & Billero Properties

Portrait of Success 77 Honda Accord 

From the time Gene Billero was 2 years old he had a passion for automobiles. While walking with his father in their small N.J. town, the two spotted a new ’59 Cadillac and the young Gene pointed to the car. Gene’s dad told him what it was and being only 2 years old he said “Cad-dill-e-ac.”

Yes, Gene Billero has always had a passion for cars, but he also has a passion for his family, good friends, and Real Estate. He has had an interest in Real Estate since he was 8 years old and rode in his Uncle’s ’65 Lincoln learning about land his uncle was subdividing for Levitt Construction. Gene’s Uncle Bud, an attorney hired by Levitt Construction, would transform farmland into beautiful subdivisions. At age 14, Gene convinced his parents to purchase a home, doubling their investment in just 3 years.

After living in South Florida for the last 28 years he sees the area not what it is, but for what it will become. Gene Billlero feels blessed to be working in a field in which he has passion, and helping his clients with their needs. If Gene is not out with a client, you will see him around town cruising in one of his collectibles.

2014 BMW 740Li

1965 Lincoln Continental 4 Door Convertible 2

1969 Buick Wildcat Convertible

12 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

1995 Lincoln Town Car 

MLS 221954

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Billero & Billero Properties Gene Billero, Broker

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SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 13

Ford Co-Pilot360 CARS  feature

A Car for the Future

PIER ANGELO

Ford Co-Pilot360, the most advanced suite of standard driver-assist technologies among full-line brands, aims to help people around the world more safely and confidently face congested roads – today and tomorrow.

• Ford Co-Pilot360 roll out in key global markets started last fall to help customers drive more safely and confidently amid rising congestion and distractions; automatic emergency braking to be standard on new passenger cars, SUVs and trucks up to F-150 in North America going forward.

• In North America, Ford Co-Pilot360 is the most advanced suite of standard driver-assist technologies among full-line brands and includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information system, lane keeping system, rear backup camera and auto high beam lighting.

• In addition, Ford offering even more premium driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centering, evasive steering assist and post-collision braking in North America.

• Ford is also introducing reverse brake assist with AEB to help prevent drivers from hitting an object while backing up. Ford will continue adding new technologies to Ford Co-Pilot360 packages in the future.

Most advanced standard driver assist package Ford Co-Pilot360 is the most advanced suite of standard driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information system, lane keeping system, rear backup camera and auto high beam lighting – a combination other non-luxury competitors don’t offer standard in North America.

Images via Ford.

Standard driver-assist technologies Ford Co-Pilot360

TOYOTA

HONDA

Chevrolet

Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

YES

YES

NO

NO

Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert

YES

NO

NO

NO

Lane Keeping System

YES

YES

YES

NO

Auto High Beam

YES

YES

NO

NO

Reverse Camera

YES

YES

YES

YES

14 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

Commercial customers can also benefit from Ford’s expansion of driver-assist technologies. By 2020, E-Series, F-650 and F-750 and even our F59 chassis will come with available automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, driver alert system and more.

A National Transportation Safety Board study shows having technologies such as AEB can help prevent and mitigate rear-end crashes, which can help customers lower their cost of ownership.

“Our commercial customers trust our trucks to get the job done,” Ford CEO Farley said. “And soon, we’ll be giving them another reason to trust us even more.”

CARS  feature

An Ode To A Beater Brendon Lies

Most car fanatics would know better

than to honor their ‘99 Honda Civic, ‘92 Chevrolet Impala, or ‘95 Ford Explorer.

But today, I’m pouring one out to my little red 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T coupe.

Originally made to be a sports car for people who couldn’t afford a sports car, I’m proud to say it goes from 0 to 60 in about 11.9 seconds. With 200 horsepower hiding somewhere in its V-6 engine, a driver’s side window that no longer rolls down, and an air conditioner that leaks when it manages to run, its most impressive feature is probably the hood ornament – wherever it is.

The real story, though, isn’t what’s beneath the hood.

This car used to belong to my ex boyfriend, the same one who I first moved to South Florida with. He used to show up in that car to pick me up, back when it was in much better shape, and I’d feel like royalty as I climbed into the passenger seat.

I remember us hooking up this little red car behind the U-Haul, both of us checking the rear view mirror constantly to make sure it didn’t drift away as we headed to the Sunshine State. To my great joy, he bought a new car after we moved – and I was given the keys to the Stratus so I could drive myself to class every day.

It was also the car I began to pack my things into when my boyfriend realized “this trans thing” wasn’t going to go away.

Back then I was in a straight relationship.

Once I realized I was trans, things got strange. The Stratus became my refuge, where I would change into men’s clothing before class and change back out before I drove home.

It was also the car I began to pack my things into when my boyfriend realized “this trans thing” wasn’t going to go away.

Hey, I got a great deal. As a last way of showing he cared, he sold me the title for only $300. If he hadn’t, I’m not entirely sure what I would have done.

After moving out, it took awhile to get back onto my feet. I ended up moving around a lot, and my little red Stratus became the only consistent in my life (when it wasn’t broken down on the side of the road). It became my quiet space, my shuttle to every new sofa, my chariot on the long road towards stability.

It was the car I got pulled over in for doing 78 mph in a 45 zone, feeling a little too confident after getting my second ever shot of testosterone. It’s also the car I still drive every day to my job in Wilton Manors, a place where so many other cars have ended up after a road that was much too long.

I would never recommend this car to anyone, and yet I don’t know what I would have done without it.

At the end of the day, isn’t that what makes the best car, though?

It’s not the McLaren GT where the real memories are. Lamborghinis and Ferraris make great toys, but the rust buckets (with an oil leak and seat adjusters that stopped working in 2017) that carry us to a brighter future are the cars we never forget.

So here’s to you, 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T. You’re a piece of shit, but thank you for carrying me into the next chapter of life.

Brendon Lies (pronounced “Lease”) is a 29-year-old trans man originally from Fargo, North Dakota, and the current Art Director of South Florida Gay News.

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 15

CARS  spare parts

Durability

With the right maintenance and care, today’s vehicles have

the potential to reach 200,000 miles,” said iSeeCars CEO Phong Ly. “While large SUVs and pickup trucks appear most often on the list, those looking for sedans and minivans can also find a vehicle that is proven to be a high-mileage hauler.”

Longest-Lasting Cars to Reach that 200k Mile mark Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MODEL

Percent of this model that reach 200k+ miles

Toyota Sequoia Chevrolet Suburban Ford Expedition GMC Yukon XL Toyota 4Runner Chevrolet Tahoe Toyota Highlander Hybrid Honda Ridgeline GMC Yukon Toyota Tacoma

7.4% 5.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.9% 3.8% 3.1% 3.0% 2.8% 2.6%

16 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

CARS  spare parts

HENRY FORD’S BREAKTHROUGH In 1906 Henry Ford, a two time automobile-industry failure, wrote: “the greatest need today is a light, low priced car.”

It just happened that Ford’s engineers read about vanadium steel in trade magazines.

Mixing vanadium into steel alloy doubled its strength. Ford placed an order for $750,000 (a little over $17 million in today’s dollars) worth of vanadium steel and in 1908 the first Model T rolled off the line.

It was the lightest, strongest and cheapest car ever produced, half of its parts where made using vanadium steel and it sold for $850.

The Model T went on to sell 15 million units in two decades. Mass production became standard. The mobility and independence that these cars gave to the people saw the dawn of a revolution: drive ins, drive-

Photo credit: ModelTMitch.

throughs, the road trip, the Interstate, the car culture.

And of course gridlock, smog, and greenhouse effects followed.

All of it came courtesy of, until then, a little known metal discovered around 1801 by a Spanish mineralogist, Andres Del Rio. And it is still essential today for automakers. A century ago, a lighter car meant an affordable car. Today it also means a more fuel efficient one.

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Carrleasing.com | Danny@carrleasing.com | 305-906-2910 SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 17

CARS  feature

The Cars of Our Lives Norm Kent

SFGN’s Car Issue Should Have You Roaring to Go

Norm’s 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Car.

There was a time when you picked up a weekend newspaper and every other page was an advertisement for new car dealerships. cars are america’s favorite toy.

Cars taught boys how to become men, and girls, women. That’s because there is a good chance that some old car we once owned was the very first place any of us ever had sex in.

I still like old cars. New cars are too damn silent. The riveting sound of a powerful engine gives you a visceral and electrical charge. I don’t want a living room couch to drive in. I need the roar of a wide body Hellcat to get me excited.

The world is different today. If you tried to get laid in the back of your car now, some hidden camera would probably notify Homeland Security. Your neighborhood watch alert would send a text to everyone within a three block radius.

Today, print publications like SFGN have to compete with digital advertising and virtual rides. But there is nothing like holding a newspaper in your hand. You can get the same thrill shifting gears in your Shelby Mustang burning rubber on i-95 on a

My body might go to ashes and dust, but this car must not rust.

Sunday afternoon.

I hope you like this special edition of SFGN. Special thanks to Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale for helping us launch. Even more kudos to our CEO, Pier Angelo, for being the creative director and thoughtful writer of some eclectic pieces in this issue.

Last week, I penned a column asking you to let us know when you die. I want to make sure our newspaper illuminates your life when you pass. So you know, I don’t want to make my final ride to that last ball field in a mournful black hearse. I want a celebration.

I have picked out my ride. It is a gold 1978 Lincoln Continental. Right now, it is at Carlos Auto Body on NW 8 Avenue in Fort Lauderdale getting a new roof. He is a detail queen. The car will be perfect. My body might go to ashes and dust, but this car must not rust.

I love my vehicles, particularly the older ones I can work on myself. There is something special about dropping the wrench you have in your hand onto the radiator of your 1965 Mustang, cracking the frame, and have steaming hot antifreeze burst out and stream onto your chest.

18 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

If you love antique cars, you live with the cardinal rule that if a power steering belt snaps or a radiator hose bursts, it will be at 5:30 pm on a Friday night, after every good auto shop in town has closed. Well, there is one exception. There is a good chance you might be able to catch Linda at Dale’s Tires on West Sunrise Blvd. until 7 p.m.

When you own old cars, you develop a personal relationship with places like Dale’s, Howard’s Interiors and A Touch of Class Towing. You keep them on speed dial. I see that my old friends at Impact Auto are still in business on Powerline. It’s always good to know, because you never know.

When you are an antique and own some others, you make sure you have an app on your iPhone to access your membership with the American Automobile Association, the AAA. In fact, own enough old cars and it will make you a member of AA. Older cars are fun — but I can’t lie — they can be nightmares too. Every set of keys you have to an antique car opens the door to headaches. But if you have a big enough garage and a good wrench, you can be the man, the fixer; a respirator for your boy toy.

Or girl toy. We all are kids at heart.

Here is one piece of advice if you love older cars. Good work is not cheap, and cheap work ain’t good. Keep your car like your body, greased, running and tuned.

At 70 years old, it’s easier to change spark plugs in my driveway on a Saturday afternoon than dive for footballs. Less chance of breaking my ribs. When that engine powers up, you just become Dale Ernhardt at the Indianapolis 500.

I feel sorry for the Joe Pallants and George Castrataros of this world with their fancy Teslas. If their engines go down, they will need an electrophysiologist to diagnose it and an epidemiologist to repair it. You poor guys.

All I need is a little coolant and anti freeze from O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.. In the meantime, I will cool down with an icy Stella at Hunter’s.

Mark Hunter can tell me all about his two 1982 Buicks.

So enjoy this week’s paper. If the oil pan leaks on your 74 Camaro, just get a stack of SFGN’s and lay them out under the hood.

Drain the pan, get a match, stand back ten feet.

CARS  spare parts

CAR CITY sfgn staff Old Car City in White, Georgia contains the worlds largest known classic car junkyard.

It started as a small general store in 1931 and is still family owned and operated.

With over 34 acres and over 4,000 American-made cars from the early 20th Century, these cars, trucks, vans, and even a couple school buses are placed in such a way as to be ideally suited for photos, videos and custom camera shoots.

Over the 8 decades since first started, thousands of photographers, videographers, ad agencies and media companies have visited Old Car City USA. Popular news magazine and newspaper companies, like CBS Sunday Morning, the New York Times, the BBC and Georgia Public Television, have made press releases

Photo via Old Car City, Facebook.

and/or video segments and transmitted it worldwide. Mayor of Old Car City USA, Dean Lewis, welcomes all who come out to visit his varied collection of automobile art with a little help from Mother Nature. You can just stroll along with winding paths for a nominal fee or, for a few dollars more, bring a camera and take pictures and/or videos and share them with friends.

Among the many cars at Old Car City USA, there is the last car Elvis Presley ever bought back in 1977 just a couple months before he died. Also, a movie starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash used one of the cars that now call this place “home.”

The honorary mayor of the “City,” Dean Lewis, is also an artist in his own rite with some of the most unique canvas...the styrofoam cup. In his upstairs loft, Lewis has hundreds of styrofoam canvases featuring his artistic talents on display along with some paintings he will proudly show off.

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 19

Call me Joanie.

Originally a Jersey Girl, I have thoroughly enjoyed living and working in the real estate arena in Palm Beach County for 29 years.

Working with homebuyers and sellers is an absolute passion. I love assisting people with one of the largest transactions of their lives by taking care of all the details that come with a closing. Honestly, there is nothing more gratifying than when clients breathe easy.

My real estate experience began on the business management side, specifically in law offices whose practice includes real estate law. Having worked with hundreds of buyers and sellers on the closing side, there became more and more of a pull to move to the beginning of the buying and selling process.

Today, I am excited to now be part of the Posh Real Estate team as a Real Estate Salesperson.

Talk about a perfect fit – I immediately felt like part of a team from day one where my work ethic, attention to detail, and enthusiasm to help people, were all well matched!

If you are expecting top-notch service in buying or selling a property, simply call me.

- Joanie

992 1 w o ll e y y m g Drivin d sunny n u o r a a t ia M Mazda ion. ss a p r e h t o n a is South Florida 20 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019 • 21

CARS  spare parts

ICONIC CAR SONGS Americans have a love affair with their cars.

On average, we spend 101 minutes each day driving. Cars mean freedom and independence. They connect us with adventure, they take us to work, to the mall, and to the doctor’s office. Cars are an extension of ourselves whether we keep them shiny and spotless or carelessly toss used fast food bags and soda cans in the back seat. Regardless of what car you own — a minivan, a sedan or a hot rod — here is a playlist about cars and driving.

Raise the volume and start your engine.

1. “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” by Billy Ocean 2. “Little Red Corvette” by Prince 3. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen 4. “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson 5. “Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole 6. “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry 7. “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar 8. “Born to be Wild” by Hinder 9. “Cars” by Gary Numan

10. “Fun, Fun, Fun” by The Beach Boys 11. “You Can Sleep While I Drive” by Melissa Etheridge 12. “Drive” by The Cars 13. “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin 14. “Slow Ride” by Foghat 15. “Trans Am” by Thompson Square To listen to these songs, check out the playlist on Spotify:

www.spoti.fi/35I1bem

CARS  spare parts

The Silent Car – A Hidden Danger sfgn staff By their very nature, electric vehicles are quiet – and that can be a problem. If pedestrians can’t hear a car approaching, they don’t know to step out of its way.

Even without electric cars it is already a problem. People walk and cross the street wearing headphones and staring or interacting with their smartphones, Slamming into doors, colliding with lampposts, falling into fountains, deaf and oblivious to the din of traffic around them.

New federal safety regulations requiring all 2020 EV and hybrid models to make noise while driving at low speeds should address the issue.

Nissan, maker of the Leaf, has been working on an answer. It’s artificial-engine vroom, designed with New York studio man made music,

22 • SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October 2019

An electric car gets a quick charge during the Georgia Alternative Fueled Vehicle Roadshow.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Misuzu Allen)

meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements for volume and frequency. The standard requires new EV to emit audible sound when traveling at less than 128.6 mph, (traveling faster than that, a car produces enough tire-on-road noise to warn people it’s coming).

According to BloombergNEF researchers, 55% of all new car sales could be electric by 2040 transforming the din of cities in the future.

CARS  feature

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Ryan Eldred My beloved 1976 Datsun 280Z

Never in my wildest dreams, did I think I’d be able to drive my partner of 11 years around in it.

has been in my family since the mid 80’s. My uncle owned it in Tallahassee, who passed it along to my Dad. It was given to me as my first car when I was a junior in HS. My Dad and I did lots of work to it, paint and body, mechanical, etc....When I moved away to go to college, I didn’t take it with me so it was stored indoors for all of the 2000’s. (No, it didn’t take me a decade to go through college, I went thru a Mustang phase).

Finally in January of 2010, my Dad told me to drive it or sell it. Selling was not an option, so with some work I got it back on the road, and it’s been my weekend car ever since. Never in my wildest dreams, did I think I’d be able to drive my partner of 11 years around in it. (He loves every minute of it.) It’s about to turn 229k miles, and I hope for many more.

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SFGN’s Car Issue // Sponsored by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale // October2/6/18 20192:21•PM 23

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