1989 Chevy Caprice Side-Step Proves Cute Utes Can Still Be Cool

Okay, you got me. �Cute utes� are not really my thing. I�m more of a Dodge Ram SRT-10 or an HSV Maloo man myself. Yes, they�re affordable and sure if you�re on a budget and need a reliable vehicle that can carry a whole lot of work gear and tools there�s really nothing better.

So here�s a �step-side� style ute pickup based on a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice. Step-side pickups have a step moulded into the body, typically between the passenger doors and rear wheel arch. They were popular in the 1950s though are somewhat rarer these days.

Apart from the obvious modifications (the removal of the rear bodywork and addition of the tray) this custom vehicle has also been lowered and fitted with 17-inch rims. The engine and transmission remain unchanged, however. The interior appears well maintained, and with a bit more work this step-sider could be a real looker.

There�s no reserve price, though I�d suspect around US$10,000 for a vehicle of this type. You can check out our gallery and leave your piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

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It Came from eBay Hell: Toyota Celica-Based Ferrari F430 Replica

There are probably more Pontiac Fiero-based imitations in the world than real Ferraris. Today, though, we have something a little different. No, it is not a Pontiac Fiero-based Lamborghini Miura (we have already had one of them), it is a Toyota Celica that has been transformed into a passable F430 replica.

Did I say passable? Well, only just. From the front, it looks okay, with the hood, headlights and A-pillar being sufficiently F430-like. As you move back, however, it all starts to unwind. The awkward side window treatment, slab-sided rear flanks and the shape of the rear windscreen just seem wrong. Though you can�t expect much from trying to transform a front-engined, front wheel drive Japanese coupe in a mid engine, rear wheel drive Italian exotic.

Things only get worse inside; the interior is essentially stock seventh-gen Celica with stick on parts that are supposed to give the impression of a Ferrari interior. Suffice to say, it does not work. The seller is asking US$45,000 for a car that nominally pulls around $7,500 on the used market, a frankly ridiculous price. You can check out our gallery (if you dare) and leave your bit in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

PHOTO GALLERY

It Came From eBay Hell: The Geo Storm Pickup You Never Knew You Wanted

Few names in automotive history make the average car enthusiast�s skin crawl like, �Geo�. Geo was General Motors response to the growing number of Japanese and South Korean imports that had invaded the U.S. market. Essentially taking the most boring and insipid models from Suzuki, Toyota and Isuzu and building them stateside, Geo embodied the whole, �Who Gives A...� attitude that has made GM so reviled by some.

The Geo Storm was essentially an Isuzu Impulse stripped off all the things that would have made the latter an appealing proposition to the enthusiast: Lotus tuned suspension, turbocharger and AWD. What was left was essentially a four-cylinder sedan with two less doors and a vaguely sporty body. Still, it was a big seller for Geo and GM, no doubt leaving the corpse of Colin Chapman rolling in his grave.

And so it was, from the depths of eBay Hell, a �1 of a kind� Geo Storm pickup truck. Behold the myriad of features such as a sliding rear window with �WWII Bomber Girl mural�, gullwing T-Tops and custom 17-inch rims. A fourth generation Camaro-style front end, red white and blue �Patriotic paint theme�, a Chevy Chevelle SS hood cowling and a shaved tail gate handle complete the exterior package.

The car retrains Isuzu�s 12-valve engine and 5spd manual transmission, the former of which has recently had a comprehensive tune-up. It�s hard to poke too much fun at the seller: a civilian combat veteran hit by some family health problems. All told it�s a good conversion and the price � US$13,000 � could be a lot worse. Check out the pics (and video) and leave your voice your opinion below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: eBay

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Ford Sues Ferrari Over F150 Formula 1 Car Moniker, the Italians Hastily Change it to the F150th Italia

In order to celebrate the 150 years that have passed since the unification of Italy, Ferrari recently chose to name its newest Formula 1 car the �F150�. It seems that Ford wasn�t too impressed with the patriotic gesture and sued the Italian maker over the race car's moniker. The Blue Oval claimed that it closely resembled its own F-150 nameplate, thus causing �irreparable harm� to the trademark.

According to the paperwork filed in Detroit, the lawsuit also referred to Ferrari�s www.ferrarif150.com website and accused the Italian company of cyber theft and trademark infringement.

Ford aimed to prevent the use of the F150 name in the United States, and expected Ferrari to give up any revenue and profits earned through the disputed nameplate in the States.

Furthermore, under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which protects against trademark infringement due to the use of confusing Internet domain names, Ford wanted $100,000 in damages.

However, Ferrari reacted quickly and today changed the F1 car's name to the �F150th Italia�, which was first used in a routine Formula 1 test report posted on the Ferrari website.

The report stated that �the first day of testing for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro got off on the right foot at the Cheste circuit, near Valencia. Before the lunch break, Fernando Alonso completed just over 200 kilometers at the wheel of the Ferrari F150th Italia�.

Later on, Ferrari released an official statement as well, available below.

By Csaba Daradics

[Ferrari Press Release] The name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car

Maranello, 10th February - On the subject of the name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car, the Maranello company wishes to point out that it has sent a letter of reply to Ford, underlining the fact that the F150 designation (used as the abbreviated version of the complete name, which is Ferrari F150th Italia) never has, nor ever will be used as the name of a commercially available product � indeed there will definitely not be a production run of single-seaters. In fact, it has always been the case in the history of Scuderia names, that they represent the nomenclature of a racing car project and are linked to a chronological order with a technical basis, or in exceptional cases, to special occasions. This year, the decision was taken to dedicate the car name to a particularly significant event, the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, an event of such great importance that the Italian government has declared, for this year only, a national holiday.

For these reasons, Ferrari believes that its own contender in the forthcoming F1 championship cannot be confused with other types of commercially available vehicle of any sort whatsoever, nor can it give the impression that there is a link to another brand of road-going vehicle. Therefore it is very difficult to understand Ford�s viewpoint on the matter.

Despite this and to further prove it is acting in good faith and that it operates in a completely correct manner, Ferrari has decided to ensure that in all areas of operation, the abbreviated version will be replaced at all times with the full version, Ferrari F150th Italia.

Sources: Ferrari, Detnews & Autoweek

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