Q. Will the day arrive when
you can buy a car that will drive itself? – F.K., Harrisburg, Pa.
A. In fact, Cadillac has developed a “driverless”
system for a car during highway driving. It’s called “Super
Cruise.” And it may be offered on production models within the
next decade—perhaps sooner rather than later. About a decade ago,
I visited Honda’s proving grounds in Japan and was behind the
wheel of a car with an experimental system that let the auto drive
itself during simulated highway motoring.
Q. If a car is garaged and not dirty, can you get
rid of an average amount of dust on it without washing it. I know that,
as with dirt, dust traps moisture that can lead to rust. I’m a
car buff and don’t want to wash the car and get it wet any more
than I have to. What about car covers? – E.A., Dallas
A. Car dusters do the job. The original such item was, as I recall, the
California Duster, which is still sold. Check the Internet for such
dusters, which are advertised in specialty car magazines that cater to
auto enthusiasts. As for car covers, they offer good protection from
dust and dirt, especially if a car is parked outside. Custom-fit car
covers are the best. But make sue they are soft so they won’t
damage expensive paint and “breathe” so they don’t
trap rust-causing moisture.
Q. I read that legendary black dancer and movie
actor Bill Robinson, known widely as “Bojangles,” owned a
fantastic Duesenberg, which he bought when he was almost 60, in 1935. A
hit song, “Mr. Bojangles” was written about a poor
guy, who the song’s author said he met in a New Orleans jail
cell. How could a poor person afford a rich man’s car such as the
Duesenberg? — H.N., Nashville
A. The song was written in the late 1960s by country music artist Jerry
Jeff Walker and is not about Robinson, who died in 1949 at age 71. The
song has been widely recorded, most famously by the Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band in 1970. Walker said he wrote the song after meeting a poor old
street performer he met in a New Orleans jail cell. The man used the
name “Bojangles” to protect his true identity from the
police and talked about his life with Walker. The man tap danced and
said he had a beloved dog that had died years earlier—a fact used
in Walker’s song. Robinson earned more than $2 million during his
career, which included appearing in major Hollywood movies. There is an
excellent article about Robinson and his Duesenberg, written by
Dennis Adler with Bill Deibel, in the April, 2007, Car Collector
magazine.
Q. I hear that the 1960-69
rear-engine, air-cooled Chevrolet Corvair is gaining in popularity in
collector car circles after being ignored by most for decades. I know
where one is offered for sale and wonder if it’s worth fixing up
to drive this summer? It doesn’t cost a lot, and I know there is
a very active national Corvair club that could give me support. —
G.S., Los Angeles
A. The cleanly styled Corvair was innovative (for Detroit) and came in
various models, including turbocharged ones. (See the Corvair profile
in this website under Classic Cars.) Unlike most widely recognized
classics, it doesn’t cost very much. The beautifully styled
1965-69 models are especially desirable, but so are some built earlier,
such as the 1962-64 Monza Spyder. Nationally known Corvair expert Larry
Claypool, of the ‘Vair Shop in Frankfort, Ill., near Chicago says
he sees an increasing number of Corvairs brought to his facility to fix
and bring up to driving condition.
Q. I see that the new, redone Porsche Boxster has
gotten pretty close to the Porsche 911, but is considerably less
expensive. Actually, I could afford both. Which one do you recommend?
— E.B., Seattle
A. Porsche has been careful not to make the Boxster too much like its
iconic 911. I’d opt for the 911, but you could have as much fun
in the new Boxster.
Q. I hear that the upcoming new-generation Chevy
Corvette will be a radical change from the current model. — D.W.,
Chicago
A. Not true. Although much improved, it still will be very recognizable
as a Corvette.
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