Posted on April 24th, 2012 • by Bill Cawthon
The Mid-Michigan Section of SAE will hold its Recognition Night Monday April 30th, 2012, and the highlight of the evening will be a presentation by the Original Ramchargers Drag Racing Team with speakers Mick Buckel, Tom Coddington, Dave Rockwell and Jim Thornton.
The event will be held at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, 1 Chrysler Drive in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Tickets for the event are Students, $18; Retirees, $20; Members, $25; Non-Members, $30 and only a limited number are available. Reservations are required by noon on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012.
Contact: Bernard Santavy at: SAEMidMichSec@cs.com or (810)-635-7948. Tickets also may be purchased online at http://www.midmichigansae.org
Schedule: Doors open with sign–in at 5:00 PM; Hors d’Oeuvres served on the Second Floor at 5:30 PM. At 6:00 PM the Ramchargers presentation will begin in the Second Floor Auditorium. Doors close at 8:00 PM
Posted on April 23rd, 2012 • by David Zatz
Former Chrysler engineer and current consultant Bob Sheaves was quoted today in an Automotive News piece written by Toledo Blade veteran Larry Vellequette. The article covered the impact of modern technology on automotive design. Ford people were quoted on an engine redesign project, and Mr. Sheaves was quoted on the Dodge Dart. Read the article
Posted on April 16th, 2012 • by David Zatz
Today, Allpar.com released an interview with Chris Theodore, in which he talked about the development of the PT Cruiser, resistance from within Chrysler, the true meaning of the initials “PT” (no, they don’t mean Plymouth Truck or Personal Transportation), and the Plymouth tie-in. Continue to the story… (The incorrect URL was provided earlier. It has been fixed.)
Posted on April 13th, 2012 • by David Zatz
Chrysler has resurrected the Imperial logo for use in its “license plates” at the New York Auto Show. The meaning of the letters and numbers should be clear: “313″ is the main area code for downtown Detroit and if you can’t figure out “IFD,” you haven’t been paying attention (Imported From Detroit). The logo has been used in other Imported From Detroit merchandise, as well, with no explanation.
There have been rumors, off and on, of a new Imperial for years, and an Imperial concept was indeed shown a few years ago at the Detroit Auto Show, to mixed reviews. Chrysler did not have the headroom for a real Imperial when it was owned by the parent company of Mercedes, and today is limited more by public perception and funding, since Maserati, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo are not in the same basic category as Imperial would be. (Thanks, Gabriel T. Dal’Maso and Gerald from NYC.)
Update: Allpar’s intrepid readers noted that IFD means Imported From Detroit while 313 is Detroit’s area code (Chrysler’s, incidentally, is 248 — Auburn Hills).
