On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, as horror gripped the classic car restoration hobbyists, our U.S. House of Representatives passed the Cash for Clunkers Law. Sadly, this ridiculous bill passed by a margin of, 298-119. The clunker bill offers up to $4,500 for owners of older, less fuel-efficient vehicles (18mpg or less) to buy new vehicles that get better gas mileage. The bill still has to get through the U.S. Senate, where plans to attach this bill to another law already making its way through the Senate is the most probable plan of attack by the DC morons to destroy older cars that could possibly have historic value and be a perfect resto collector in the future. Basically, this will create problems for aspiring collector car owners who are only kids right now.
Can you imagine ripping a 350 TPI out of this car? The Clunker Law is pure B.S.!
The Congressional Budget Office estimates this Cash For Clunkers bill might generate approximately 600,000 new vehicle sales. While this may help the auto industry and its independent dealers, but I highly doubt it will turn around the sagging sales stats they are currently experiencing.
Opponents of this bill fear Cash for Clunkers will take many perfectly good vehicles off the road. This will have a ripple effect on the lower-income sector of our population – i.e. removing their access to inexpensive transportation. Many charitable organizations rely on such cars as donations, which are then resold to bolster their resources. Others actually restore or repair these cars and donate them to those who have a need for a vehicle but can’t afford one. So, these donation programs fear Cash for Clunkers is going to kill this source of vehicles.
The $4,500 voucher will be sent directly to dealers when you bring in your car, truck or SUV for the slaughter. The engine and transmission will have to be removed and the vehicle will not be allowed back on the road once it has been “betrayed.” Thus, a youngster seeking to restore an older car for shows and cruise-ins will not be allowed to register or title these vehicles.
I have to admit that the thought crossed my mind; if I were to trade-in my 2003 Silverado extended cab (I still have the “18 MPG Highway estimated fuel mileage window sticker) and pick up the $4500 stipend, and get another say, $5000 on the actual trade-in, perhaps I could get myself into one of those awesome 2010 Chevy Equinox LTZ’s with the new direct fuel injection 3.0 V6 that generates a nifty 255HP.
But I’ll also admit that the thought of some junkyard rat tearing the 5.3 liter V-8 and trans outa my gorgeous white pick-up truck was too much for me to handle.
I have taken good care of my Silverado, and it warrants another decade of service…or until my kid decides to attack a tree with it.
Ouch.
The Mac’s Wax product of the week is our all-new MUSCLE CAR WAX! Forulated with absolutely no abrasives or solids, it contains a light cleaning agent to further cleanse your paint’s finer pores. It then leave a very hard, deep warm sheen. A light sprinkle of water over the car, with alight buffing will further even-out the wax and create an incredible shine that is as smooth as the exepnsive paint job it’s protecting!
