Jay Leno Never Thought He’d Get to Drive This American Racing Legend

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Jay Leno has driven all manner of new, classic, and antique cars over the years. Many have been his, but he’s also featured plenty of ‘guest’ vehicles on his YouTube channel. One might imagine that there aren’t too many cars on his automotive bucket list. But even Jay Leno didn’t think he’d ever get behind the wheel of the Old Yeller II.

Max Blachowsky’s 1959 Old Yeller II was a ‘Junkyard Dog’ that beat Ferrari, Maserati, and Jaguar

Rob Drake driving the Old Yeller II at the 1960 Times Grand Prix | Al Paloczy/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, NASCAR was just getting off the ground. And the Indy 500 “was the exception rather than the rule” when it came to road courses, Hemmings reports. At the time, marques like Jaguar, Maserati, and Ferrari were the dominant forces in motorsport. Cars like the C-Type, the ‘Birdcage’ Tipo 60/61, and the original Testa Rossa were on the cutting-edge of race car design. And they were beaten by the work of one Max Balchowsky: the 1959 Old Yeller II.

Max Balchowsky, together with his wife Ina, founded California-based Hollywood Motors to make custom sports and race cars, Silodrome reports. The duo welded, fabricated, and welded on a variety of vehicles, including the original Bullitt Mustang, Silodrome explains. With their motto “We can replace anything with anything,” they earned a reputation as engine-swap experts, Road & Track reports. And one of their most memorable creations is the 1959 Old Yeller II.

Max Balchowsky driving the pale-yellow Old Yeller I at the 1958 Times Grand Prix
Max Balchowsky driving the Old Yeller I at the 1958 Times Grand Prix | Bob D’Olivo/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images

The 1959 Old Yeller II is a true chop-shop work of art, Goodwood explains, built from a collection of salvaged parts. Max and Ina designed the chassis using chalk outlines drawn on their shop’s floor and used recalled Goodyear station wagon tires, Hagerty reports. The rear axle is from a Studebaker, and the suspension is a mix of Pontiac, Jaguar XK120, and Morris Minor parts, Classic Motorsports reports. And the bodywork and hodge-podge-looking gauges are a testament to the ‘form follows function’ mentality, HotRod describes. Hence the ‘Junkyard Dog’ nickname.

Yet for all that, the Old Yeller II is also an example of ingenious thinking. The Balchowskys used softer, grippier tires when everyone else was going with harder compounds. Those XK120 suspension arms have drilled holes—not to decrease weight, but to turn them into ersatz crumple zones. And then there’s what’s under the hood.

Jay Leno on the Old Yeller II: “That is one of the best cars I’ve ever driven”

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Under the Old Yeller II’s hood is a 6.6-liter Buick ‘Nailhead’ V8 rated at well over 300 hp and 360 lb-ft, Classic & Sports Car reports. That power goes to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. As Jay Leno describes in the video below, the engine is “a torque monster.”

And because the car only weighs about 2000 pounds, it’s very quick. 0-60 mph takes less than four seconds, R&T reports, and it can run the ¼-mile in 11.9 seconds. That’s impressive even by modern standards.

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In period, several famous racing drivers spent some time behind the wheel of the Old Yeller II. Brock Yates, Dan Gurney, and Carroll Shelby all competed and won with it. And according to the current owner, Ernie Nagamatsu, it’s partially because of this car that Shelby eventually built the Cobra. Plus, Nagamatsu doesn’t keep the Old Yeller locked away in some garage; he still regularly races it.

By his admission, Jay Leno spent “years and years” reading about the Old Yeller II and its history. And based on his reaction, it seems the wait was worth it.

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“The genius of this car is,” he says, “the brakes are excellent [and] the steering is so light…it almost feels like power steering.” True, the interior is rather cramped; Jay Leno has to drive with his legs bent and almost touching the dashboard. But “no matter what gear you’re in, you’re fine,” he says. And in his opinion, it handles “better than any Corvette from the period.”

To quote Jay Leno, the Old Yeller II may look crude, but it’s really “an impressive piece of machinery.”

The race car icon is still kicking, but it’s a rare sight, indeed

As mentioned earlier, Ernie Nagamatsu regularly competes in his 1959 Old Yeller II. By his reckoning, the car has only sat idle for about two years in total. But while Nagamatsu is a regular sight at classic car races, the Old Yeller itself isn’t.

The yellow-with-blue-stripes 1961 Old Yeller VII in the desert
1961 Old Yeller VII | Bonhams

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The Balchowskys built nine Old Yellers in total. As a result, finding one at a racetrack is difficult; finding one for sale even more so. The last time one went appeared at an auction, to our knowledge, was at a 2011 Bonhams sale.

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Are Volvos Really Safe?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Volvo has been around for a long time, having originated in Sweden in 1927. Since then, they’ve gotten a reputation as a leader in car safety, but is that title deserved? Are Volvos really safe? Let’s look at their history and how many are on the IIHS Top Safety+ Picks list.

2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge | Volvo

Volvos began centered around safety

The first Volvos were designed with safety in mind and made safety a priority long before it was mandated. One of its first innovations was laminated glass, which doesn’t fall apart when shattered, in 1944. 

In the 1950s, Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer, designed the first three-point seatbelt. Volvo used the three-point seatbelt in all cars by 1959. They also shared this patent freely, so that other car manufacturers could improve the safety of their vehicles. 

They are also responsible for designing the first rear-facing child seat in 1964. The design was inspired by images of astronauts lying on their backs during takeoff. They also came up with their own child booster seat in 1978. 

By the 1990s, Volvo was changing safety in the car industry

The 1990s saw the Swedish car company introduce a Side Impact Protection System, which absorbed some of the shock of a collision into a safety cage. This was one of their more well-known safety features, and has been standard on every one of their vehicles since. 

Volvo was the first car manufacturer to introduce side airbags, doing so in 1995. In 1998 they installed a head-protection airbag. That same year they also introduced a Whiplash Protection System, designed to protect front seat occupants in event of a collision. 

Volvo continues to make safety a top priority

A white Volvo XC90 exemplifying Volov safety on a showroom floor.
Volvo XC90 | Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images

Run-Off Road Protection technology was introduced in 2014 to protect occupants of the XC90 SUV in event of an off road crash. It also incorporated a rollover protection system, blind spot technology and low-speed automatic braking, as well as pedestrian detection.

Volvo’s goal is zero deaths with their Million More plan

Volvo is making more advancements toward safety, including limiting the top speed on all of its new cars to 112 MPH. They’ve introduced a Care Key, which limits the top speed of their vehicles. The Care Key is designed when a young or inexperienced driver will be behind the wheel. 

They are also working on putting driver-facing cameras inside of cars to determine if a driver is impaired or distracted. 

There are 15 Volvos on the 2021 IIHS Top Safety Picks list 

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Not only are they all on the Top Safety Picks list, but they’re all Top Safety+ Picks too. Top Safety+ Picks must get good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, and moderate overlap front tests. They also must have good ratings in the side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

Top Safety+ Picks have to get an advanced or superior for their available vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention. Additionally, they must get an acceptable or good headlight rating. 

Volvos are still some of the safest vehicles you can buy

Other car manufacturers have made huge strides in vehicle safety, but Volvo continues to produce consistently safe vehicles. Of course you should always check the safety ratings on the individual vehicle you’re considering, but when safety is your top priority, Volvo is a great choice.

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Surprisingly, the Subaru WRX Has Outsold the Mazda MX-5 Miata for Years

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Sports cars can be thrilling for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. Even people less familiar with this segment are often aware of popular vehicles, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata. However, though the Miata may be more widely recognized, one of its competitors — the Subaru WRX — has been outselling it for years, GoodCarBadCar reports. Here’s how the two vehicles compare.

How Subaru WRX and Mazda MX-5 Miata sales compare

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Though the Mazda MX-5 Miata is popular, GoodCarBadCar shows the roadster’s sales numbers are notably lower than the Subaru WRX’s. So far this year, the Miata has sold 3,976 units. By comparison, the WRX has sold 8,749 units.

This discrepancy in sales stretches back years. Every year since 2016, the WRX has consistently sold over 20,000 units. In fact, in 2017, the WRX sold a whopping 31,358 units. The Miata sold only 11,294 units the same year. Excluding 2017, the Miata hasn’t hit even 10,000 sales at any point between 2016 and 2021.

Even in 2020, when many automakers took significant sales hits, the WRX excelled compared with the Miata. While the Miata sold just 8,807 units, the WRX sold 21,178 — a shockingly high figure considering the pandemic’s impact on the auto industry.

What makes these sports cars fantastic?

Despite the discrepancy in their sales numbers, the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru WRX are excellent models worth considering if you’re looking for an affordable sports car. In fact, MotorTrend places both on its list “The Best Cheap Sports Cars Under $40,000.”

The 2021 Miata starts at just $27,825. According to MotorTrend, it’s such an excellent car that it’s hard to go wrong no matter which generation you choose — as long as you opt for one with a manual transmission. Reviewers praise the Miata’s small size and light weight, making for a speedy and fun driving experience.

Starting at $28,420, the 2021 WRX is slightly more expensive than the Miata. MotorTrend calls it “an incredibly fun car to drive,” noting it can reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.

Everything else you should know about these vehicles

The 2021 Subaru WRX packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. MT’s reviewers say the standard six-speed manual is excellent and advise against the optional continuously variable transmission. MotorTrend also notes that although Subaru sells a pricier trim — the WRX STI — you’ll actually get more speed from the standard model.

Although its current generation is reaching the end of its life, its affordability and high performance still make it worth a look. But reviewers note one downside: The WRX is available only as a sedan, with no hatchback or wagon options. 

With a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, the 2021 MX-5 Miata is slightly less powerful than the WRX. However, this seeming lack of power doesn’t translate to a lack of speed, MotorTrend reports. The Miata essentially matches the WRX, reaching 60 mph in a speedy 5.7 seconds.

Although the Miata has a lower starting price than the WRX, MotorTrend recommends the higher-trim Miata Club with the optional Brembo/BBS Recaro package. That’ll bring plenty of additional features but at a higher price of $35,755.

All in all, it’s hard to go wrong with either of these excellent sports cars. Both the Subaru WRX and Mazda MX-5 Miata have their own strengths and weaknesses, but their performance and price tags are hard to beat.

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The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Faces Limited Production

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We know that the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is coming. However, we don’t know precisely how many Ford Lightning F-150 models are coming. This EV truck may face limited production during its first year. 

Will the 2022 Ford F-150 Lighting have limited production? 

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

Maybe. According to InsideEVs, analysts have already put a number on the expected volume. Ford already has over 44,000 reservations for this all-electric F-150 and expects to produce about 80,000 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning models a year. 

This is a pretty substantial volume for the first year. Still, Wolf Research Analyst, Rob Lache, estimated this production limitation based on capacity data from the plants that supply equipment and parts for the truck. 

Ford CEO, Jim Farley hinted at a limited production for the Ford F-150 Lightning but didn’t provide any specific numbers. The Ford Mustang Mach-E has a limited production of about 50,000 units per year. 

Plus, the electric Ford F-150 is a totally new product with battery supplies that aren’t very flexible. InsideEVs mentions that you have to order batteries or even entire plants a few years in advance so that physical limits may occur. 

When will Ford F-150 Lightning production begin? 

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Production of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is expected to kick off next spring. Ford won’t turn reservations into orders until this fall. Jim Farley confirmed that sales of the F-150 Lightning will be limited during the first year, and full production won’t begin until 2023. 

If you want to claim a spot in line for this truck, get moving. Ford received over 44,500 reservations in less than 48 hours. You can reserve your Ford F-150 Lightning with Ford by providing a refundable $100 deposit. 

Despite being virtually nonexistent right now, the electric pickup truck market is about to get very competitive. The Tesla Cybertruck received over 146,000 reservations during its first day and now has over 650,000 reservations. 

The Rivian R1T is expected to start being delivered next month. The Hummer EV pickup should follow it in a few months, then the Tesla Cybertruck. The F-150 Lightning should catch up next year. 

What is the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro? 

A grey 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat, which may be eligible for EV tax credits
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat | Ford

Another factor to consider with the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is the Lightning Pro. The Pro serves as the work-oriented version of the truck for fleets. Work versions of the truck will be sold along with civilian models. 

The commercial ford F-140 Lightning Pro begins at about $40,000 and is designed for professionals that want to get the job done. It includes a battery pack with an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles with 462 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. 

This base model can carry a payload of up to 2,000 lbs and tow up to 5,000 lbs. If you add the Max Trailer Tow Package, then the truck can tow up to 7,770 lbs. The extended range battery pack costs about $10,000 to add but increases the range to 300 miles, the horsepower to 562, and the towing capacity to 10,000 lbs. 

The Ford Lightning Pro will only be offered in a full-size, four-door, five-passenger SuperCrew configuration. But it includes a standard 12-inch touchscreen and Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system. It’s unclear if certain models will be produced at a higher capacity than others.

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