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The late 1970s was unquestionably one of the darkest periods in American cultural, political and automotive history. Think about it: The two most popular forms of music in the late 1970s were blaring disco and bad corporate rock. The well-meaning but utterly ineffectual Jimmy Carter was in the White House, Iran held American hostages and there were long lines and high prices at the gas stations. The domestic U.S. auto industry was in a shambles, too, with bad designs, minimal quality control and severely choked horsepower.

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Before to his death in 2008, Boyd Coddington was one of, if not the most influential custom-car builders of his time, with a unique and distinctive style that changed the business. Coddington loved to design cars that were long, low and swoopy and his bold creations remain some of the most sought-after customs of the modern era. One of his most striking early efforts was a 1948 Cadillac commissioned by rock band ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons. The outrageous “Cadzilla” firmly established Coddington as a top-flight builder who stretched the boundaries of conventional design.

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For most people, January isn’t the time of year you want to visit Detroit, Mich., but if you’re a car nut, it’s the place to be because that’s where and when the North American International Auto Show takes place.
Although the theme was definitely about “mobility” and “connectivity” (running our lives from our cars, basically), this year, the debuts were flat out amazing and we humbly present a sample of our favorites.

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Description

Automakers push the limits of “connectivity” with technology that steps outside the four walls of your vehicle. But is it useful or just technology for the sake of technology? Read on to see if you end up nodding your head or shaking it. The world is changing at a crazy fast pace, and that includes the automotive universe, where a dizzying array of new technologies are about to emerge.

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Description

With apologies to The Vapors . . . “Turning Japanese, I’m really turning Japanese, I really think so . . .”
During the last weekend of January, hundreds of thousands of classic and vintage-car enthusiasts will descend on the Valley of the Sun for a series of auctions from Barrett-Jackson, RM/Sotheby’s, Russo and Steele, Gooding, Bonhams and Silver.

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If you thought the birth of self-driving cars would be an easy one, think again. As it turns out, it’s anything but.
In mid-December, the state of California published a summary draft of autonomous-vehicle-deployment regulations, which could be enacted on as early as 2016.
The draft regulations contain provisions that, among other things, would require that the operator of any autonomous vehicle “must be a licensed driver who possesses an autonomous vehicle operator certificate issued by the DMV.”

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Description

Calendar year 2015 is almost in the books and what a year it has been for automotive enthusiasts. From new cars to new controversies, 2015 has seen some of the good, the bad and the ugly. Following are several of the biggest auto-industry and hobby stories of the year.

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Description

Whether electric-car maker Tesla ultimately profits hugely or ends up like so many failed automakers before it, there’s no question that company boss Elon Musk and his team have changed the automotive landscape forever. Electric-only cars used to be regarded as novelties and little more than glorified golf carts suitable only for quick urban jaunts. Not anymore. The critical success of Tesla has led other automakers to look seriously at high-end all-electric cars and not just humble commuter vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt.

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Description

By any measure, Ray Evernham is a car guy’s car guy.
The New Jersey-born former race-car driver is best known as the brilliant mechanical and motivational leader who won three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships as driver Jeff Gordon’s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports. Evernham left Hendrick to lead Dodge’s return to NASCAR in 2001, which was a massive undertaking that included building a race team, shop and engine facility from the ground up. Evernham sold his successful race team in 2007, but he didn’t slow down at all.

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Description

The most important auto show in the world continues to take place in Detroit, Mich., every January, but the yearly Los Angeles Auto Show has gained considerable importance in recent years as manufacturers are increasingly using the Left Coast event to introduce new vehicles. Following are some of this year’s more significant offerings from the show, which wraps up Nov. 29.