Weems & Plath Nautical Slide Rule Item #105 on 2040-parts.com

No sign of global auto meltdown at Tokyo Auto Salon

With more than 600 cars on display and a record number of exhibitors, nothing at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon tuner show hinted at the global economic downturn. As always, there was a great mix of styles, from hard-core, 1,000-hp, supertuned machinery to weird customized scooter tricycles. Auto manufacturers tried hard to capture the minds--if not the wallets--of the younger-than-30 crowd with customized versions of production cars, while tuners were busy persuading power junkies to choose them for their next engine modification.

2013 Ford Fiesta Van Facelift arrives (+video)

Ford has given their Fiesta Van a facelift for 2013 with much the same changes the new Fiesta gets – including the Aston Martin grill. Ford has decided it’s not just the new Fiesta that’s getting a touch of Aston Martin, it’s the Fiesta Van too. So the 2013 facelift for the Fiesta Van features most of the changes the new Fiesta gets, including that Aston Martin inspired grill on the nose.

Fiat Panda Cross wins top 4×4 Award

The Fiat Panda Cross, that mirculous little go-anywhere 4×4, which only came to the UK a few months ago, has won the Top 4×4 Award from 4×4 and MPV Driver Magazine. Well done! Amazingly, the judges put the little Fiat at the top of the pile, praising its affordability and off-road ability, and highlighting the cracking little 1.3 turbo diesel engine which makes this car shine.