Four-Links – rotting J-tin, Hertz AMX, Bloody Mary, crushing a Jaguar

* Apparently, Japan has its rednecks too. Japanese Nostalgic Car recently pointed us over to the Kusahiro Exploration Corps blog, which travels the Japanese countryside photographing old cars as they slowly rust away. I’m betting if I run the site through a translator, I’ll eventually come across some variation of “I’m gonna fix that up someday.”

* When we think of Hertz and muscle cars, we naturally think of the Shelby Mustang, but Hertz apparently also let out some AMXs, including this one, according to the owner of this 1968 AMX, currently undergoing restoration.

* Single-seater motorcycle-engined race cars are cool. Doubling up the number of motorcycle engines in your single-seater race car is mind-blowing. Adding two more? Achingly awesome. John Vary Bolster did just that with his Bloody Mary race special and raced it from the time he built it in 1929 until after World War II. I think I need to replicate it.

* Cash for clunkers officially took effect this week, but dealers have been accepting so-called clunkers all month. David Clarke, over at the CarDomain blog, decided to see what people have been trading in as part of the program so far at a dealer close to him, and found the above Jaguar sedan, along with a Land Rover and a Vanagon/Westfalia. Good thing, because these vehicles would never ever be considered collectible.

Related posts:

• 2009 New York Auto Show: Mercedes Benz shows off E-Class AMG, M-Class Hybrid
• Stig Revealed Blah Blah Blah
• My 2008 Car of the Year Award goes to…
• EURO NCAP Pedestrian test - Star Rating: 9 Insurance Group: 19 Manufacturers ...
• Remote Door Unlock: Have you ever locked yourself out of your car?  If ...

Related posts:

• Rip Off: 2008 Nissan Nismo 350Z
• More Affordable Mopars
• Can the Enclave make Buick relevant in America again?
• All-New 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan Same Price as 2006
• New BMW 3 Series Convertibles Unveiled

Nuts. Cash for clunkers passes Senate.

Just heard that cash for clunkers is all set to pass the Senate as part of the wartime spending bill. The good: It got cut from $4 billion to $1 billion. The bad: It’s almost certain to become law now. Still looking for a bill number so we can get the exact wording to see if the 25-year exemption made it through the Senate.

Also, thanks to Consumer Reports, we have a list of vehicles most likely to be turned in and crushed as part of this program. Some might say so what to the Ford Aerostar and Isuzu Rodeo, but a number of those on the list (Jeep Wrangler, Pontiac Firebird) can already be considered collectible cars, and many more can be considered potential collector cars. This right here is why we oppose any cash for clunkers scheme, regardless of how much bite it promises.

Related posts:

• In 1950, the automotive and racing monthly “Speed Age” presented achievement ...
• “In these tough economic times, consumers appear to be torn on whether ...
• The 2010 Mustang poses as KITT during an inspection and impresses ever ...
• Ford Recalls 145,000 Vehicles, Including Escape Hybrid

Related posts:

• 1.9% financing for 60 months is available on Dodge trucks.
• Chrysler will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show the Jeep Renegade C ...
• Jeep Gladiator: The 2009 Wrangler-based Truck
• Jeep JT Pickup Spy Photos...Is Jeep Working on a Wrangler-Based Truck?
• Are Cars As Essential to the 4th of July as Fireworks and Hot Dogs?