CUSTOM CONTENT - HOUSE ACCOUNT - Ad from 2024-06-09 (2024)

CAR TALKWhen planning a trip of a lifetime, start with a reliable truckRAY MAGLIOZZIKing Features Contentcartalk@gmail.comDEAR CAR TALK:I have a lifelong dream of driving to the Arctic Ocean.This will involve around 10,000 miles across the U.S.and Canada. I will go in the summer, and the riskiestsection will be the gravel roads in northern Alaska.What are your suggestions for a vehicle and gear?Should I bring spare parts? Exterior fuel canisters?Moose repellent? I’m considering a 4WD, manual, longbed Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell for storage andsleeping (if necessary).I’d really appreciate your advice for an adventuremy wife says is exciting ... but crazy. Thank you Ray!– Steve--Yeah, your wife is so excited that she just increasedher life insurance policy on you, Steve.I’d bring all of the above. A few spare parts, someversatile tools and duct tape. Definitely bring exteriorfuel canisters, moose repellant, and, most importantly, asatellite phone. You might want to bring a dentist, too.You never know when you might need a filling.I think the Tacoma is a good choice, although ifyou’re buying one, the newer the better, and I’d get anautomatic. Not only will you get better gas mileage,but you’ll never need to stop for a clutch job at ArcticOcean Toyota.The Tacoma has a great reputation for durability andreliability. And they’re common enough that you’ll findsomeone to work on it when necessary. They also holdtheir value well, so if you run out of room for new buttcalluses somewhere in the Yukon, you can easily sell itand buy a plane ticket home.In terms of spare parts, it’s really hard to know whatto bring. If the truck is relatively new, you shouldn’tneed much of anything. But on rough roads, certainparts are vulnerable, even in a new truck. For instance,you might want more than one spare tire, so when youblow one out on the gravel road and then blow a secondone, you won’t end up passing through the digestivesystem of a polar bear waiting for AAA, eh?You probably want an accessory belt, because if youdrive over a tree branch you could tear one off. But youcan’t plan for everything. And even if you tear open aCV boot on a boulder, you’re not going to replace thatyourself at the side of the Alcan Highway. You’re goingto need a shop anyway.Obviously, unless the truck is new (which is not abad idea), you’ll want to get it serviced and carefullyinspected. Replace anything that appears questionable.And then, don’t forget your Speedo, for when you get tothe Arctic. Bon voyage, Steve.***Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in careof King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL32803, or email by visiting the Car Talk website atwww.cartalk.com. (c) 2024 by Ray Magliozzi and DougBerman. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.OLD CAR COLUMNThe Hugger Orange K5 Blazer is one hot number on the roadwas 300 a year. In 1969, the first year, they sold 5,000, but by1973, they sold over 45,000.BRUCE KUNZUPCOMING EVENTS: Look for The FIN MAN, my sonJeff Kunz and others from the FIN MAN posse at the HCCM’sFather’s Day car show on Sunday June 16th, from 10am to1pm at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood.Brand Ave. Contributing Writerthe_fin_man@msn.comIt may look like a bright red, but this Chevy K5 Blazer isactually painted in PPG 2084, commonly known as HuggerOrange.The K5 Blazer introduced for the 1969 model year iscategorized as a full-sized, sport-utility vehicle based on theC10 Chevrolet pickups.You can attend dozens of local car shows and cruises andnever see a K5 Chevy Blazer. They weren’t common even whenthey were being built. And now that they are a half century old,they are even more admired today.That may be the reason Frank Vilmer, owner of All StarCollision & Repair in Fairview Heights, was drawn to thisparticular example when he saw it advertised on Craigslisteight years ago. In Frank’s words, it was “when Craigslist wasgood.”The K5 was listed by a private party owner and was in needof a total restoration which has been in the works ever sinceFrank hauled it to his shop. He started out by replacing theoriginal 350 Chevy V-8 with a 454 big block engine toppedwith a Holley 4-barrel carb. Frank then went on to replace theoriginal 4-speed manual transmission with a 700 R4 automatic.Several years ago, even I realized an automatic transmissionwas the way to go when I had to give up my Mustang GT5-speed manual for a 2011 Camaro with an automatic. It’smuch easier driving down the road with a cheeseburger in oneTri-Power Trivia:Photo by Bruce KunzPerched high on the hill overlooking Illinois 157 at All Star Collision & Repair inFairview Heights is a 1972 Chevy K-5 Blazer.hand and a chocolate milkshake in the other.Having a full-service auto body shop, Frank went on tothe exterior restoration part of his project. When he boughtthe Blazer, it was a white lower body with a white removablehardtop. Frank has the hardtop which he has restored in itsoriginal white color, but he painted the lower body in hisfavorite Camaro color, Hugger Orange. You may notice thatthe black soft top seems to have a casual, loose look to it. That’sbecause it’s a Softtopper, an aftermarket supplier of convertibletops. The original factory soft top was rather large and heavy,making changing it out, as well as storing it, a rather difficultprocess.Frank’s Blazer has power brakes and steering so it’s easyto steer and brake. It also has Vintage Air, an aftermarket airconditioning that looks just like the factory version. Frankalso replaced the original AM/FM radio with a “factory-look”model that has Bluetooth.FIN MAN FACTOID: The initial estimate for Blazer sales1. What is Bluetooth?2. Name the two competing model SUVs thatChevrolet was hoping to compete with byintroducing the Chevy Blazer?3. What popular movie from 1975 starred aChevy Blazer driven by the movie’s malelead?Tri-Power Trivia Answers:1. For you old timers like me, Bluetooth is “a standardfor the short-range wireless interconnection of mobilephones, computers and other electronic devices.”2. The International Harvester Scout introduced for the1961 model year, and the Ford Bronco, 1965/66 utilityvehicles.3. Amity Island Police Chief Brody, played by RoyScheider, drove a 1975 Chevy Blazer in the movie Jaws.The news and editorial departments of the St. Louis Post-Dispatchhad no role in the creation or display of this content. 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