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mrderwrtr · 5 years

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A Hero Dead & Gone

It was snowing again. An inch or more had fallen, covering the slush and ice the thaw from the last two days had left behind. He liked the snow. It made everything quite.

Rush hour traffic was dying down.

A pair of police cars blew through the intersection at the far end of the block, siren blaring, breaking the quiet. Red and blue lights glittered off the fresh blanket of snow.

Alec Dorsey tapped another Newport out of the hard pack, pinched it between his chapped lips then tucked the pack back into the inside pocket of his baggy leather jacket. He watched the two patrol cars as they disappear into the lights of the downtown skyline.

A cloud of smoke rose up around his head. He turned his attention from the street to the fluorescent bathed entrance to Ellis Memorial Veteran’s Hospital. He took another drag on the cigarette then pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes.

He felt for the little green bottle in the right hand pocket of his jacket, found it then gave it a quick shake. There were less than a dozen pale blue football shaped pills left.

*****

Snow flurries swirled around the scrap yard, whipped up by the frigid wind sweeping over the levee of the Little Cree River. A tall, wiry red-headed man dressed in a pair of Carhart overalls and a baggy black t-shirt made his way across the yard, a battered black cellphone pressed against his ear. He threw a half-hearted wave back at the heavy-set man in the shack by the scales.

The rumble of a diesel engine caught his attention. He stopped and looked up to see a dirty white box truck roll through the gate by the office. His attention turned to the dock of the warehouse. He frowned as he pulled the phone away from his ear. “Dorsey…,” he shouted.

The truck swerved around him, made an arch through the loading dock then came to an abrupt halt.

The man shrugged.

Alec sat back on the toilet of the Port-o-Let and stared at the powder blue, oval shaped pill in the palm of his hand. He closed his eyes as wind buffeted the outhouse. His heart was pounding. A film of sweat coated his forehead. He took a deep breath, quickly swallowed the pill then ran the back of his hand across his brow.

After a moment, he forced himself to stand and pushed open the door. A rush of cold air swirled around him. He stumbled out into the scrap yard and saw a dirty white box truck backing into the dock.

“Dorsey,” the red head shouted. Alec looked over at him. “Let’s go…,” he said and gestured to the truck.

Another gust of wind whipped through the dock. Alec pulled the collar of his jacket up around his ears and turned his back to the wind. He leapt up the cement stairs, grabbed one of the pallet jacks parked by the bay doors and hurried toward the truck.

“Cesar,” he shouted. “What we got today?”

The man shrugged out of his parka, tossed it onto a stack of plastic skids then looked back at him. “Shit,” he yelled back. He ran toward the edge of the dock as the truck smashed into the rubber bumpers.

The passenger door of the truck swung open and a beefy blond haired man hopped out. Alec threw up his hand, waving him off. The man stared at him a moment, shook his head then turned and made his way around the front of the truck.

Cesar knelt at the edge of the dock, unlatched the rear door of the truck and shoved it open. He stood, flipping the metal ramp on the edge of the dock with the toe of his boot. It landed with a thud against the floor of the truck

The sound of it banging against the roof of the truck echoed off the cinderblock walls. Alec felt his body shake. He stared at the truck. The sound echoed in his head. He took a quick step backward and stumbled over the steering wheels of the pallet jack.

The back of the truck was filled with old kitchen appliances, broken furniture. Half a dozen battered cardboard boxes were filled with empty bottles, cans and bundled newspapers and magazines. Another pair of boxes held an assortment of computer parts. The load shifted, sliding forward and the headboard of a wrought iron daybed fell, bouncing over the shell of a refrigerator.

“What are you staring at?” Cesar said then quickly turned and grabbed the handle of his hand truck. “Let’s go, bro’…it’s cold.”

A tall, pale-skinned man with a stocky build in a dirty orange and black windbreaker and desert camouflage pants came out of the warehouse. “Hey, Dorsey…,” he said, slapping him on the shoulder.

Alec jumped, startled and faced the man. “Jesus, Cody…,” he said and shrugged him off.

“You got a cigarette?”

He dug a pack of Newports out of the inside pocket of his coat along with a chrome Zippo. “You need to start buyin’ your own.”

Cody chuckled. He glanced over at Cesar heading into the truck then pried one of the cigarettes out of the pack. “Fuck you,” he chuckled and lit the cigarette. His attention turned to a primer colored Chevy S-10 rolling past the loading dock. “Looks like your friend’s back.” He handed the pack and lighter back.

“Fuck,” Alec hissed and shook his head. He caught Cesar as he came out of the truck with a box of computer parts. “You and Cody handle this ‘till I get back?”

Cesar looked past him at the big red-headed man. “Come on, man,” he groaned, trying to keep his voice down. He shook his head angrily and pulled his load off the truck.

“It’ll only take a minute.” He turned away from him and jumped off the side of the dock then headed for the scales.

A thin, brown-skinned man in an ill-fitting green and white Philadelphia Eagles starter jacket and jeans slid out from behind the wheel of the Chevy. He smiled at Alec then raised his arms. “What up, Money?” he bellowed.

Alec grinned. He grabbed the man by his arm and pulled him into a shoulder hug. He glanced at the load of copper wire and car parts in the bed of the truck. “What ‘cha got there?”

“It’s all good,” he said. He looked over at the shack beside the industrial sized scales then back at Alec. “Got it from that school demo ova’ on Broadway.”

Alec threw a glance at the booth and exhaled through his pursed lips. “You get it legal?”

“How you gonna ask me dat, Alex?”

“Jay…,” he started and slowly made his way around the truck. “You know the deal. A guy nearly fried himself two weeks ago trying to steal this shit.”

“It’s all clean,” Jay said. “Trust me.”

Alec looked over the collection of scrap metal, copper wire and assorted car parts again. A metal box lay on its side in the corner of the truck under a coil of tangled cables and what looked like pieces of a carburetor. “What’s that?” he said, staring at the box.

Jay looked into the truck. “Shit…,” he said and reached for the box.

“Woah…,”Alec said and stiff armed him.

“What?” He reached into the truck bed and pulled the box out by the handle. “It’s just my gear…forgot I put it in there.” He opened the driver’s door and tossed the box onto the seat.

Alec closed his eyes a moment, took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “Pull…pull it up,” he said, then turned and started for the shack.

“You alright, man?” Jay said as he watched him walk pass.

He nodded then hurried over to the corrugated metal shed by the scales.

Nicky Combes sat behind the cluttered metal desk refilling his coffee mug from a tall, bullet-shaped thermos. “It all on the level?” he said, not bothering to look up at Alec. He glanced out at the truck through the scuffed Plexi-Glass window and sipped his coffee.

“He says it is,” he said and leaned against the doorway. “You give a good deal?”

“It is,” he said and snorted. He gave him a sideways glance as he screwed the top back on the thermos. “And you believe him.”

“Yeah, I trust him,” Alec said and stared at the ruddy faced man. “He said he got it legal.”

Nicky swallowed another gulp of tepid coffee then looked up at him. “Where’s his paperwork?”

“Come on,” Alec said and pushed away from the doorway. “Why you gotta….”

“Alec…,” he said, cutting him off. He stood. The bulk of his six foot frame seemed to fill the room. “You’re a smart kid. You know half the scrappers come in here grabbed the shit while somebody’s back was turned.”

“He says it’s clean, Nick,” Alec snapped. “He got it from a school demo.”

“What school?”

Alec turned and watched the skinny black man unload the truck.

Nicky swallowed the last gulp of coffee then stepped around the desk. “Weigh him up and get ‘im the fuck outta here before Dennis sees ‘im,” he grumbled as he brushed passed him and walked out of the booth.

“Where you goin’?”

“To take a piss,” he shot back.

Alec watched him amble out of the shack. A boy on a BMX bike pulled up behind the truck towing a make-shift trailer loaded with bags of empty cans.

“Take care of that one too,” Nicky shouted

He sighed angrily then grudgingly slid into the chair behind the desk.

*****

Alec Dorsey took one last drag on his Newport then pitched the butt into the puddle of rain water collecting under the wheel of the silver and black Lincoln parked at the curb. His hands were shaking. He brushed rainwater off the shoulders of his windbreaker as he jogged down the redbrick steps and pulled open the mahogany door of the Red Bull Tavern.

The late afternoon crowd was thinning out when he walked in. Half a dozen regulars sat at the bar while another dozen or so were scattered around the bar at the black lacquered tables. A heavy-set, gray haired man in a camouflage jacket and khakis sat on the edge of a stool at the end of the bar. He turned to see Alec walk through the door and his weathered face broke into a smile. He slid off the stool and snapped a salute.

Alec let a crooked grin show on his face. He lazily made his way over to the bar.

“How ya doin’, Specialist?” the big man said and laid his meaty hand on his shoulder.

He nodded. “I’m alright,” he mumbled. He looked past the man at the curly haired blond woman behind the bar and nodded to her then found a seat at the water-scarred redwood counter.

The big man sat beside him. He glanced down at his trembling hands then reached for his bottle of beer. “You sure you’re alright, son,” he said.

Alec looked over at him then quickly curled his hands into fists. “Yeah…I’m fine, Russ.” He shrugged. “Went by mom’s this morning.”

He turned up his bottle. “Yeah…,” he said and swallowed a gulp. “How’s she doin’?”

Alec smirked. “She’s ok…Rob’s wife’s pregnant again.”

“What can I get ya’?” the blond said and leaned against the counter.

He looked up at her. “Hey, Katie,” he said. He threw a glance around the bar. “Can I get a beer?”

“That depends,” she said flatly and tossed her hair back from her face.

“Come on, Kate,” Russ grumbled.

She turned her steel gray eyes toward him a moment then back at Alec. “You want something to eat with that?” she said and pushed away from the bar.

“A burger…please,” he said. “And some onion rings.”

Russ held up his empty bottle and waved it at her. He watched the woman turn to the cooler then looked over at Alec. “So Sarah’s pregnant again,” he said and chuckled. “What’s that three for him now?”

“Yeah,” Alec yawned. He laid his hands flat on the counter. Katie set a frosted pilsner glass in front of him along with an aluminum bottle of Bud Light. He nodded his thanks. “Two boys plus this one…whatever it turns out to be.” He stared at the bottle a minute then picked it up and slowly started to fill the glass.

The big man watched him a moment. Katie popped the top on a bottle of Sam Adams and slid it in front of him. “Good thing you ain’t got no kids,” he said and swallowed a gulp of beer.

He glanced over at him as he sipped his beer. “What…why you say that?”

Russ shook his head and glanced around the bar. “Nothin’,” he muttered and turned the bottle up again.

“I wouldn’t make a good father?”

“I didn’t say that.” A chubby brown-skinned woman in a tight black skirt and a tighter black t-shirt weaved between the tables carrying a tray of empty glasses. He followed her with his eyes as she made her way back to the bar.

“You’re a good kid, Alex.”

“Just not good for kids.” He took another gulp of beer then set the glass down and drummed his fingers on the bar.

Russ hissed. He looked over at Katie drawing a pint of Guinness from the tap, made a circle over Alec’s head then raised his index finger. “How’s that job workin’ out for ya?”

Alec shrugged. “It’s….” He turned, startled as one of the chairs fell over. Russ followed his gaze. Two men, both dressed in shirt and tie, stood at a table by the windows laughing. One bent over to pick the chair up as the other slipped on his sportcoat. Alec let out a heavy sigh.

“Well…,” the big man said, finishing off his beer. “I gotta get back across the street. He tapped Alec on the shoulder and turned away from the bar. “Next time you stop by your mama’s, tell her I said hey.”

Katie looked the bar over. The lunch crowd had dwindled down to a handful of tables. She cleared the empty glasses from the bar and set them in the sink beneath the counter then made her way back down the bar to Alec.

“Your burger’ll be up in a couple minutes,” she said and leaned against the counter.

“Depends on what?” He gulped down the last of his beer and pushed the glass toward her.

She stared at him. “You see your doctor today?”

“Nope,” he said and swallowed a gulp.

“Alec…,” she whined. She looked across the room at the two men heading for the bar.

“It’s a waste of time,” he said. “Ain’t nothing Doctor Trudeau can do for me…besides….” He wrapped his hand around the glass and finished it off.

Katie whipped her head around to look back at him. “Besides what?” She turned to the two men. The taller of the two handed her a black leatherette case, his credit card protruding from the top of it. She quickly swiped the card then handed it back. “Thanks, guys.”

The taller one winked at her then turned and followed his partner to the door.

“So why won’t you go to the doctor?”

Alec ran the back of his hand across his mouth and looked up at her, a hint of anger in his eyes. “Can I get another one, please?” He quickly looked back at the door as it slammed closed. “I’m fine,” he said, turning back to her. He brought a tiny green bottle out of his pocket and shook it at her. “Long as I got these, I’ll be alright.” He tucked the bottle back into his pocket.

“Alec…,” she whined. “Doctor Trudeau….”

“What?”

She shook her head then grabbed another bottle of Bud Light from the cooler. “Sooner or later you’re gonna need some help.” She turned to see Benita waving a check at her. She slid the bottle toward him then walked away.

Alec filled his glass then pushed the empty bottle aside.

*****

A thin, dark haired woman in a grey turtle-neck sat behind the faux-stone and redwood desk. A thick paperback book with a bright, lime green cover was lodged between her long slender fingers. She looked up at the man stumbling through the automatic revolving door. He hesitantly made his way across the marble floor toward her.

“Hi…,” she said and set her book aside. She stood, smoothing the lines from her black pencil skirt.

Alec Dorsey glanced over his shoulder at the door. “Hey…,” he whispered. “I…I’m…I…a friend of mine is here.” A nervous smile tugged at his lips. “I finally got up the nerve to see him.”

“Name…?”

“Alec,” he said then chuckled. “Oh, you mean his name…Brian…Brian Higgins.” He watched her turn to the computer beside the desk.

She brought up the name then turned to face him and caught him staring at her ass. “Your friend is on the sixth floor,” she said and grabbed the stack of Post-It Notes beside the keyboard. She scribbled the room number on the note pad then peeled it off and handed it to him. “Room sixty-three twenty-four.” She pointed to the trio of elevators on the far side of the lobby.

Alec stared at the note a moment then looked across the lobby at the elevators. His heart pounded against his chest.

She gave him a puzzled look. “Is everything ok?”

He looked back at her and nodded. “Yeah…thanks.” He took a deep breath then willed himself to move.

She watched him walk away then slid back into her chair and picked up her book.

*****

The snow the Channel 23 weatherman had predicted was falling as freezing rain. Alec Dorsey’s kale green overcoat was soaked. He threw a glance back at the glass and brass doors of the Holt Street Theater. The skinny, baby-faced security guard was already turning the key in the push-bar, locking the door. He pulled the collar of his coat up over his ears then sprinted for the bus stop at the corner opposite the theater.

The fifteen minute trip downtown to pick up his check had turned into more than an hour. He stared down the darkening street as he paced the curb in front of the bus stop. It was too cold, he surmised, to chance walking home. The Clancy Street Bridge would be a sheet of ice soon. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shuddered, cursing under his breath.

It was another ten minutes before the dirty yellow and white PTA bus pulled up to the corner. The doors stuttered open and an elderly black woman slowly made her way down the steps. She opened her tattered purple umbrella, spraying Alec with rain water. He gave her a perfunctory smile then quickly stepped past her.

A little more than a dozen passengers were scattered through the bus. He dropped his token into the fare box then started down the aisle. A woman in a white, fur trimmed parka sat on the aisle just past the handicapped seating. He stared at her a moment. The bus lurched to a start and he found himself stumbling toward her.

“Excuse me,” he said, sliding into the seat beside a heavy-set, dark skinned man.

The woman looked over at him and a smile curled the corner of her full pink lips. “Alec…?” she said surprised.

He looked back at her, turned in his seat to face her. “I thought that was you,” he said. He glanced back at the front of the bus, catching the eye of the bus driver through the rearview mirror. He turned back to the woman. “How you been?”

She nodded. “Ok.” Her smile widened as she stared at him. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”

“Yeah…,” he mumbled. “Didn’t really leave.”

“I thought you were off to art school…Pittsburgh, right?”

Alec lowered his head briefly then shrugged. “That didn’t work out too well.”

She glanced at the back of the bus. A group of teenagers were gathered in the rear corner talking loudly. She rolled her eyes then turned back to Alec. “So what have you been doin’ with yourself then?”

“Freelancing mostly,” he said with a smirk. “Doin’ some carpentry work over at the theater.” She gave him a quizzical look. “I know, it ain’t exactly sculpture, but it pays.” Again he shrugged and looked away.

“Well…,” she sighed and watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat. “I ain’t exactly Doctor Crawford yet either.”

Alec smiled. “But you will be,” he said. “You wanted to be a doctor since what, sixth grade.”

A chuckle bubbled up out of her throat.

The bus turned onto Upland Avenue, making its way toward Cornell Hills. The man sitting beside Alec signaled for his stop then gathered up his collection of grocery bags.

He stood as the man squeezed past him and headed for the front of the bus. He turned his attention back to the woman as he sat down. He stared at her a moment. “You and Brian still…?”

She gave him a surprised look and shook her head and turned her eyes to the window. The rain had turned to a slushy snow.

The crooked smile on his face faded. He watched as she fidgeted with the straps of her purse. She looked over at him as he settled back into his seat and their eyes met. “What’s he been up to?”

She quickly turned away again and stared at the back of the seat in front of her. “He was deployed a little bit over a month ago,” she said and glanced over at him.

Alec felt his face flush. “Oh, wow,” he sighed. “You heard from him since he left?”

She nodded. “He sounds like he’s doing ok.”

“Brian…,” he said and chuckled under his breath. “He always was a jarhead.”

She nodded and stared ahead as the bus made the turn onto Clancy Street, heading for the bridge.

“Shannon…,” he said. “You ok?”

“Yeah,” she said and reluctantly looked over at him. Their eyes met.

“You wanna…get a bite to eat sometime?”

She took a deep breath. “Alec….” The bus made a wide turn as it crossed the bridge. She slid forward in her seat. Alec lunged forward to catch her. His hand landed on her breast. She looked at him startled and braced herself against the seat in front of her.

“Sorry…sorry,” he said embarrassed.

Shannon shook her head. “It’s ok.” She stood. “This is my stop anyway.” She pulled the yellow cord above the handrail then started toward the front of the bus. She glanced back at him. “It was good to see you.”

Alec watched her hurry to the door. The bus came to a halt in front of Jackson Elementary School. She looked back at him again then hurried up the walkway to the school.

“Yeah…,” he said to himself. The door closed behind her and the bus bolted away from the curb and continued on its route.

*****

It was hot.

The M4 felt like it weighed a ton. A sinking feeling lingered in the pit of Alec Dorsey’s stomach as he followed the three strong convoy of Humvees through the cluttered, narrow streets. He threw a glance over his shoulder. The last thirty yards, give or take, were clear. As he swept the barrel of the gun across the street, he thought he saw a puff of dust lingering in the air behind an overturned bus.

“Sarge…,” he barked, staring down the site of the gun as the dust settled. “Looks like we got Hajis in the midst.”

The gunner atop the rear Humvee eyed the rooftops. “Roger that…,” he shouted back. The sound of gunfire cut him off. He whipped the .50 caliber machine gun toward the rooftop of the four story building to his right and fired back.

Alec raced toward the bus, firing in quick burst. Crumbling plaster rained down on the street. He made his way around the end of the bus as an explosion erupted on the third floor balcony. He spun around as chunks of hand carved wood and stone shattered behind him.

The torso of a young boy lay among the rubble.

The lead Humvee rolled through the next intersection. An RPG caught the tail end of the truck. It spun sideways. The rear axel buckled and it rolled onto its side, blocking the street.

The gunner atop the rear Humvee let loose another salvo of rounds from the .50 caliber tearing through the lower floors of the building.

Alec stared at the boy’s torso. A tattered khaki colored smock was wrapped around his slender frame, splattered with blood. In his left hand he held what was left of a smaller hand.

“Move it, soldier,” the gunner barked. His Humvee bolted forward, following the caravan.

He staggered across the road and pressed himself against the stucco façade of a storefront. His eyes slammed shut. Gunfire pelted the doorway spraying bits of ashwood and mortar across his face.

The second Humvee sped through the intersection, swerved right. The gunner swung the turret of his machine gun left, spraying gunfire across the street. Another RPG shot through the cloud of dust. It missed its mark and smashed into the front of a café on the corner.

Alec slowly opened his eyes. His chest was pounding. His head was pounding. He felt dizzy. The sound of gunfire filled his ears. He peered out of the doorway and saw flames racing up the front of the café.

He staggered out of the doorway. The overturned Humvee was less than a block away. He found his footing and hurried toward the corner. Cover fire screeched over his head. He turned left and fired at the barricade of cement blocks and burned-out cars at the far end of the street.

The third Humvee made a hard right onto the cross street, gunfire trailing behind it. The gunner slumped over the turret then slipped out of sight.

Alec broke into a sprint. He spun to his right firing blindly at the terraces above the downed Humvee. A bullet grazed his helmet. Gunfire ripped through the air as he dropped to the ground. He could see the rest of the unit scurrying from the second truck.

A stocky Hispanic man leapt out of the truck. He looked down at Alec struggling to his feet. His head tilted back as blood squirted from the gaping hole that had opened in his neck.

Alec stood. He whirled around and fired back at the makeshift barricade then scrambled toward him. “Brian…,” he shouted. Blood was pooling in his mouth. “Fuck…medic….”

His eyes fluttered.

“Brian….” Alec said. Gunfire pinged off the side of the truck. He raised his rifle. Through the scope he could see three figures in black moving over the concrete barricade. He squeezed the trigger.

*****

“You alright?” she said.

Alec looked up at the woman’s reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was naked except for a pair of powder blue panties. Her strawberry blond hair was pulled back from her round freckled face into a pair of pigtails. He closed the lid of the toilet then sat down. “I’m fine,” he exhaled.

Katie Lightcap leaned against the doorway and folded her arms across her pert breast. Her vanilla colored skin glowed in the early morning light. “A little morning sickness, then?”

“Funny,” he said and smirked. He reached behind him and flushed the toilet. “Must’ve been something I ate.”

She walked over to him and straddled his lap. “Is that a shot at my cooking?”

He chuckled, leaned forward and kissed her gently between her breasts. “Maybe it was something else I ate.” She gasped then drew back her hand to slap him. He caught her by her wrist and they stared at each other a moment. He let go of her arm and shoved her back against the wall. Her feet slid out from under her and she fell to the floor beside the tub.

“Fuck…,” Katie groaned.

Alec stood. “K….”

She scrambled away from him. “Jesus,” she said and stood then walked out of the room.

“Katie….” He let out an angry sigh then ran his hand over his nearly bald head. After a moment, he followed her into the bedroom.

She was sitting on at the foot of the double bed wriggling into a pair of faded black jeans. She sat up, stepped into a pair of crimson and black Bordello boots then stood. A black V-neck t-shirt lay on the bed beside her. She fastened her jeans then grabbed the shirt.

“I’m sorry,” he started.

She pulled on the shirt, glanced over at him then slowly walked across the room. “I gotta get going anyway,” she said.

“Ka….” He exhaled loudly and rubbed his eyes. “It was the dream.”

She grabbed her pack of Marlboro Lights from the nightstand. “What was it about this time?” She tapped one of the cigarettes out of the pack then reluctantly pushed it back in. She glanced over at him as she dropped the pack into her purse.

Alec shook his head. “Nothin’,” he mumbled. “Just a bad dream.”

“You’ve had these dreams every night I’ve been here,” she said and combed her hair with her fingers. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

He shook his head. “It was just a bad dream, Kate,” he said.

“Well…it didn’t feel like just a dream,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He stared across the room at her. “I…I didn’t mean to….”

She gave him a half-hearted nod then slung the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later then.”

Alec watched her walk out of the room. He made his way over to the dresser. A green pill bottle lay on its side among the collection of crumpled lottery tickets, cologne samples and a chrome plated lighter. He opened the bottle and tapped a pair of oval shaped, pale blue pills into his palm.

He slumped to the bed as he swallowed the pills and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes were almost closed when the cellphone on the nightstand began playing Oye Como Va. He reached for it, saw the number scroll across the screen then tossed it aside. The song ended abruptly.

*****

“Katie know you’re here?” Benita said. She pulled one of the round cardboard coasters out of the caddy at the far end of the table, set it in front of him then followed it with a frosted pilsner glass.

He shook his head and glanced up at her. He took the bottle of Bud Light as she handed it to him and filled the glass. “She lookin’ for me?” He set the bottle aside.

She threw a glance around the bar. The evening crowd was starting to file in. She slid into the seat across from him. “What happened wit’ ya’ll?” she asked, lowering her voice.

“She didn’t tell you?” Alec said and swallowed a gulp of beer.

She quickly shook her head.

“Then I won’t either.”

Benita smirked. “You two get into a fight?” She looked over her shoulder at the tall, skinny man behind the bar and saw him talking to Russ and another man in a leather jacket and jeans. She turned back to Alec. “Come on…,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I saw the bruises on her neck.”

He set the glass down and stared at her.

“…or was that from something else?”

“Benita….”

“What?” She gave him a crooked grin and winked.

He picked up his drink. “There goes your tip,” he said and sipped his beer.

“Like you tip all that much.” She slowly pushed away from the table and stood. “If you hurt her, you know I’ll fuck you up.”

Alec rolled his eyes.

“You know I can.” She backed away from him then turned and headed for the bar.

Alec swallowed another mouthful of beer then set the glass down and pushed it away. A stocky man dressed in desert camouflage passed by him heading for the pool tables. He turned to follow him and he was gone. He shook his head then finished his beer.

After a moment he stood and dug the deer skin wallet out of his back pocket. He rifled through the wallet, found a ten and slid it under the glass then turned and made his way across the bar to the door.

*****

She was sitting on the stoop of the brownstone when he rounded the corner of Williams Street and Fifth Avenue. A bottle of Bud Light dangled between her legs from the tips of her fingers. Beside her sat two plastic grocery bags. He smiled then jogged across the street to meet her.

Katie took another sip of her beer then dropped the aluminum bottle into one of the bags. She looked to her left and saw Alec darting across the narrow street, a grin on his face. She brushed the flakes of snow from her hair then stood and started down the steps.

“Hey…,” he said then threw a quick glance over her shoulder at the bags. “You movin’ in?” He looked back at the corner as the number thirty bus rumbled through the intersection then tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

She smirked. “Funny,” she said brushing her dirty blond hair from her face. “Where you been…I’ve been out here almost half an hour?”

Alec shook his head. “Had an errand to run.”

She stared back at him a moment, started to say something then sighed. “You alright?”

He gave her a curt nod then stepped past her. “What’s in the bags?”

“Dinner,” she said and followed him. “Thought you might be hungry.”

He fished his keys out of the pocket of his windbreaker then grabbed the bags from the stairs. The rattle of beer bottles caught his attention. “How long’d you say you were out here?” he chuckled and opened the door.

“Long enough,” Katie grumbled. She pulled open the glass door then followed him into the building. “Your neighbors are at it again.” She nodded toward the apartment at the far end of the hall.

Bass heavy rap music blared down the hall. Alec stared at the door then handed her the bags. “Take these upstairs,” he muttered. “I’ll….”

“No…Alec….” She jerked her head toward the stairs, her hair falling across her pale blue eyes. He let out an angry sigh then reluctantly followed her up the steps.

The apartment was dark except for the fluorescent light over the sink and the flickering glow of the television in the living room. He set the bags on the counter then tossed the empty beer bottles into the trash can. “So what’s the occasion?” He grabbed a bottle from the remnants of the six pack and headed for the living room.

She pushed her hair back from her face and took a pack of chicken out of the bag. “No reason,” she replied and set it in the sink. The tap sputtered as she turned on the cold water. “What was your errand?”

“I…,” he started then turned her attention back to the TV. “Nothing.” He flopped onto the couch and laid the remote on the coffee table. The second round of Jeopardy had started. A stoutly built dark-haired woman was trouncing her two male competitors. He laid his head back on the couch and pressed the cold bottle against his left temple.

A collection of mismatched steak knives lined the drawer to the right of the sink. She grabbed one, popped the plastic wrapping covering the chicken and peeled it away. “What was that?” She washed the wrapping under the tap then tossed it in the trash. A slight smile lit across her face. She turned the water down to a trickle then leaned against the doorway. “You go see your doctor?”

He looked back at her then quickly turned away.

The hint of a smile disappeared. “I’ll take that as a no,” she grumbled.

Alec stood and faced her. “Katie…,” he started. She turned away from him and walked back into the kitchen. “I….”

“Whatever,” she shot back. She shut the water off, grabbed a glass pie pan from the cabinet beneath the sink and emptied the last of flour from the tin on the counter into it then slammed the cabinet closed.

“Katie.”

She turned to face him. “What….” A sneer turned the corner of her mouth. “Oh…was that too loud for you?”

He stared back at her a moment. “Fuck you.”

“See, this is why you need to go see that doctor.”

“What,” he said. “Because of a little noise?” He watched her turn away from him then sat back down. He grabbed the remote, flipped through a half a dozen channels then tossed the remote aside angrily.

Katie brushed the back of her hand across her cheek. She found a half empty bottle of worcestershire sauce in the cabinet over the sink and slammed it on the counter. Tears slowly welled behind her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said and threw a quick glance back at him. “But, Alec, you need to talk to somebody.”

“Kate…,” he sighed.

“…and I can’t be that somebody anymore.”

He looked back at her then stood. She was leaning against the sink, her head down. He slowly walked toward her. “What?”

She turned to face him. “You need help, Alec.”

“You’re leaving me?”

She shook her head quickly. “No,” she said. “But I’m not gonna watch you do this to yourself.”

“Do what?”

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thecardaddy · 5 years

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2015 Fiat 500l Lounge - $10,989.00

Clean CARFAX. Gray Metallic 2015 Fiat 500L Lounge FWD 6-Speed Aisin F21-250 Auto 1.4L I4 16V MultiAir Turbocharged 16 Aluminum Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, ABS brakes, Air Conditioning, AM/FM radio: SiriusXM, Anti-whiplash front head restraints, Brake assist, Bumpers: body-color, Delay-off headlights, Driver vanity mirror, Dual front side impact airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Emergency communication system, Front anti-roll bar, Front Bucket Seats, Front Center Armrest w/Storage, Front dual zone A/C, Front fog lights, Front reading lights, Front wheel independent suspension, Heated front seats, Knee airbag, Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats, Low tire pressure warning, Occupant sensing airbag, Outside temperature display, Overhead airbag, Passenger door bin, Power door mirrors, Power steering, Power windows, Rear Parking Sensors, Rear window wiper, Remote keyless entry, Security system, Speed control, Split folding rear seat, Spoiler, Steering wheel mounted audio controls, Variably intermittent wipers.******** KERRY FORD ** 155 WEST KEMPER ROAD, SPRINGDALE OHIO 45246 ****** We are in need of used vehicles and will pay a premium for your 2007 or newer trade-in****WE CAN HELP WITH FINANCING NO MATTER YOUR CREDIT HISTORY!!!!!******** 22/30 City/Highway MPGProudly Serving: Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Louisville, Lexington, Indianapolis, Hamilton, Florence, Alexandria, Beavercreek, Springdale, West Chester, Monroe, Fairfield, Kenwood, Newport and all of greater Cincinnati Ohio, Indiana, and Northern Kentucky 45066, 45246, 45242, 45069, 45040, 45044, 45042, 45011, 45013, 45015, 45240, 45241, 45037, 45036, 45014..Reviews:* Big-car passenger and cargo space; good outward visibility; lots of European personality inside and out; available touchscreen is easy to use. Source: Edmunds* With the introduction of the 500L, Fiat has given fans of their unique urban cars a larger option to enjoy. With four passenger doors, this vehicle can seat five in style. Plus, with its large liftgate in back, and split folding rear seats, all models have been built with room for your cargo if you need it. It is offered in four models: Pop, Easy, Trekking and Lounge. Each model comes with a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder, Turbo Engine with 160 horsepower. Despite being peppy, all trims get an impressive EPA estimated 25 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway, with the exception of the Lounge which comes close with 24 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway. Once inside, you'll notice the striking modern interior and surprisingly spacious head and legroom. For tech from Cardaddy.com https://www.cardaddy.com/vehicles/vehicle/2015-fiat-500l-lounge-cincinnati-ohio-17140273

#Trucks #Cars #SUVs #Vehicles For Sale Near Me

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poweroftheminds · 7 years

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Top 10 Chrysler Concepts You May Have Forgotten » AutoGuide.com News

http://www.autositenews.com/?p=7643

Chrysler‘s recent concept cars may not be terribly exciting, but in the past, it has created some stunning machines.

The American automaker’s most recent concept car is the Portal EV, an autonomous minivan-like vehicle that offers seating for six. If you’re an automotive enthusiast, nothing about the Portal Concept gets you excited. And if we’re being honest, Chrysler’s lineup these days isn’t doing the brand much justice with just the 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan being offered.

SEE ALSO: Chrysler Portal Concept Tries to Make Minivans Cool Again

But there was a time when Chrysler generated a lot of interest with its concepts, some of which featured design and styling elements that eventually made their way to production cars. Other concepts never resulted in anything, despite a positive reception from the general public.

So we decided to take a look at some of Chrysler’s past concept cars, and here’s 10 you may have forgotten even existed.

10. Chrysler Chronos Concept

Introduced in 1998, the Chrysler Chronos Concept was heavily inspired by the 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance Concept, as well as the design of the Chrysler 300C. Under the hood of the concept was a 6.0-liter V10 engine generating around 350 horsepower, while it borrowed components from the Viper’s suspension. It rode on a high-strength steel chassis with rear-wheel drive, aluminum wheels, and a large wheelbase. Chrysler also put an emphasis on the concept’s interior, making it incredibly luxurious with wood dash panels, an in-place humidor with storage, humidistat, and lighter, as well as a hand-wrapped leather steering wheel.

9. Chrysler Java Concept

The Chrysler Java Concept made its official debut at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show and was considered a design study for the brand. “Conveying American optimism, the Chrysler Java show car represents a fresh design approach to an important European market segment,” Chrysler said in a press release at its unveiling. “With its clean, yet refined and elegant ‘one box’ profile, Java’s ‘Passenger Priority Design’ makes maximum use of its exterior dimensions.”

The concept boasted what Chrysler called unique Panoramic Seating that featured high H-points that enhanced visibility, comfort, space, and ease of entry and exit for both driver and passengers. The company said its design was almost architectural rather than automotive, with classic architectural proportions complemented by dynamic contemporary character lines. Under the hood was a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating around 80 horsepower and 95 pound-feet of torque.

8. Chrysler Phaeton Concept

There was a time when Chrysler wanted a flagship for its lineup, with Plymouth offering the Prowler and Dodge having the infamous Viper sports car. The Phaeton Concept debuted in 1997, and perhaps in a way, it was Chrysler’s vision of a flagship but in the form of an outlandish four-door convertible. Head designer John E. Herlitz said the concept “embraces and contemporizes elegant, classic design cues from historic touring automobiles of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.” Heavily inspired by the 1941 Newport, the Phaeton Concept rode on 22-inch wheels, while the interior featured cream leather with brown details, satin metal highlights, and Zebrano wood accents.

Powering the Phaeton Concept was a 5.4-liter aluminum V12 engine with around 425 hp, while suspension similar to that of the Dodge Viper was used.

7. Chrysler Citadel Concept

Before hybrids were as popular as they are today, Chrysler rolled out the Citadel Concept in 1999 with a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine powering the rear wheels, and an electric motor powering the front. At the time, Chrysler said the V6 generated 253 hp and the electric motor added another 70 hp, helping generate similar performance of a V8 vehicle. There was also a spacious interior with dual-power sliding rear doors and a power rear gate, all of which has become commonplace since the concept’s original debut.

6. Chrysler LHX Concept

The Chrysler LHX Concept may look a bit familiar, especially its headlights. The concept was introduced in 1996 and previewed styling elements that eventually made their way onto the Concorde sedan. At the time of the LHX Concept’s debut, Chrysler executive vice president of product design and international operations, Tom Gale, referred to the LHX as a “heritage design,” defined as “taking the best aesthetic elements from the past and providing a modern interpretation.” Like the LHS that came before the Concorde, the LHX Concept had a front-engine, front-wheel-drive design, featuring a 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine.

5. Chrysler Atlantic Concept

First shown in 1995, the Chrysler Atlantic was dubbed a retro concept car, designed by Bob Hubbach and inspired by the Bugatti Atlantic coupes of the 1930s. Powering the concept was a 4.0-liter straight-eight engine, with massive 21-inch wheels up front and 22-inch rollers in the rear. Output from the inline-eight engine, which was essentially a pair of 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine blocks from the Dodge Neon put together, was around 360 hp.

There’s a story behind the Chrysler Atlantic’s design, with some saying “what if” sketches were done by then Chrysler president Robert Lutz during a lunch with design chief Thomas Gale. Gale passed those ideas to the design staff, and the Atlantic Concept was the result.

4. Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept

Sporting a 4.0-liter V8 engine with 270 hp, the Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept borrowed styling cues from the 1941 concept car of the same name. Chrysler even created a flyer for the Thunderbolt Concept, calling it “The Dream Car.” The two-door hardtop coupe featured four-wheel disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. “Remember dreaming of that special car? A car so unique and so elegant it would be a rolling sculpture, a fine work of art? It would be sleek, moving effortlessly and gracefully through the streets, with shapely body panels, a low stance to pounce on any challenge, and plenty of glass for great visibility – to see and be seen,” the flyer read. “That’s what the Thunderbolt is all about.”

3. Chrysler Cirrus Concept

One of Chrysler’s more interesting concepts was the Cirrus from 1992. Under the hood was a 3.0-liter turbocharged, two-stroke engine that ran on fuel-grade alcohol, producing 400 hp. The concept featured a cab-forward design and the lack of a B-pillar was due to the fact the rear-passenger doors were rear-hinged. The Cirrus nameplate went on as a production car, more commonly known as the Stratus or Plymouth Breeze.

2. Chrysler 300 Concept

The Chrysler 300 as we know it is really a far cry from the 300 Concept from 1991. Inspired by the Dodge Viper, the Chrysler 300 Concept was longer, wider, and taller but was still powered by an 8.0-liter V10. Although the concept was created as a production-intent vehicle, with standard steel and lighting to meet legal requirements, it would never head to production. Certain elements of its design, however, did end up on later production cars for the brand, such as the grille and scalloped headlights. The concept even featured an interesting version of keyless start, with a coded key card that had to be inserted into the center console in order to access the ignition button.

1. Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Concept

Believe it or not, the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Concept was first unveiled at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. Sporting a chassis tub constructed from carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb, the lightweight supercar was powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine with four turbochargers to generate 850 hp. At the time, had the Four-Twelve gone into production, it would have been the most powerful and fastest road-going vehicle. But sadly it never went into production. What’s interesting is that the styling is modern even by today’s standards, and Chrysler could roll this thing off the assembly line in 2018 and people would probably line up to buy it.

Discuss this story on our Chrysler Forum

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itsworn · 7 years

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This 1955 Chevy Convertible is the Ultimate PCH Cruiser

Picture this: you’re sitting at Ruby’s Shake Shack in Newport Beach, California on a typical sunny Sunday afternoon enjoying some fries and a delicious shake. Behind you waves are crashing on the beach and kids are playing in the sand, but that’s not where you’re looking because you’re staring dreamily at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) watching all the cars ritzy Newport Beach has to offer. There goes a Porsche, a few Teslas, and another Porsche. Ooh a Ferrari. Was that a Rolls Royce? Yep. Bentley, Maserati, Lambo—check, check, check. You’re not even noticing the countless BMWs and Mercedes at this point. Remember, this is a typical sunny Sunday afternoon.

So if you live in coastal Southern California and you’ve got a few bucks to spend on a weekend cruiser, what ever could you do to stand out? The only logical answer is to be completely illogical.

Enter Andrew Gabriel. He wasn’t interested in driving down to the local Bentley dealership and dropping six-figures to simply blend into the herd. No, he had another idea, one that pulled its inspiration from experiences in his youth years ago. As Gabriel tells us, “My childhood friend’s neighbor had a yellow ’57 [Bel Air] that I use to stare at whenever the garage was open. When we were shooting hoops one day after class his neighbor fired it up and drove off and I remember telling my friend, ‘I’m doing to get one of those one day.’”

That first obsession with Tri-Five Chevys stuck with him all these years until his career afforded him the opportunity to make good on that goal. Although he grew up watching his grandfather toil away on Ford Woodies, Andrew wasn’t interested in trying his hand at building or restoring a car himself. He much preferred the idea of having an old car that was built by someone with some real experience. Andrew’s journey toward a ’55 Chevy started with him looking to purchase a car that had already received a full restomod treatment. But the longer he looked, the more he realized that he would never find that perfect Tri-Five for cruising PCH. Lucky for Andrew though, he was introduced to Craig Morrison of Art Morrison Enterprises who, in turn, introduced him to Scott Bonowski of Hot Rods and Hobbies in Signal Hill, California. Trusting his referrals, Andrew jumped in head first and had Scott begin the search for a usable ’55 Chevy convertible.

“I was having a beer with a couple friends,” Andrew recalled, “when Scott called me and said, ‘This is your car!’” The car he was referring to was a 1955 Bel Air convertible in Kansas. Andrew, eager to get the build going, didn’t hesitate to have the car purchased and brought out to Southern California.

With Craig Morrison in the conversation and aspirations of modern ride and handling characteristics, a full chassis from Art Morrison was the obvious starting point for Andrew’s Chevy. The chassis showed up to Hot Rods and Hobbies complete with an independent font suspension (IFS) and a four-link in the rear with JRi coilovers at all four corners. A Ford 9-inch from Strange Engineering is the centerpiece for the four-link and houses 31 spline axels with a limited-slip differential and 3:73 gears. The chassis also came with some serious brakes. In the front live six-piston Wilwood disk brakes with 13-inch rotors while the rear gets slightly smaller 12-inch rotors and four-piston calipers. Braking assistance is lent by an electric booster from ABS Power Brakes.

The next part of the restomod equation was the engine and what better than the power and reliability of an LS3 crate motor from Chevrolet Performance? For even more performance and style, the LS was topped with a Precision Metal Craft intake manifold pulling air through a custom dual intake and two K&N air filters. Hot Rods and Hobbies fitted a Billet Specialties Tru Trac Serpentine System on the front of the LS3 to handle the ancillaries along with Billet Specialties valve covers to match. To keep engine temperatures under control, an aluminum radiator from Mattson’s Custom Radiators paired with electric fans from SPAL are fed by an Edelbrock water pump. The final piece of the puzzle was the exhaust which was made much easier by custom-fitting headers from Art Morrison. The rest of the system was custom fabricated by the guys at Hot Rods and Hobbies. When it was all said and done, the LS3 made a stout but streetable 495 horsepower and 473 lb-ft of torque. Since Andrew’s Bel Air would be a PCH cruiser, an automatic transmission was his preferred choice, so behind the LS went a 4L65E transmission.

With the boxes checked for modern performance and reliability, it was time for Scott and his crew at Hot Rods and Hobbies to focus on making the ’55 stand out visually. Andrew didn’t want to blend into the background while cruising around in Newport Beach but he also didn’t want to draw cheap attention by painting the car in some ridiculously flashy hue. “Picking the paint color was pretty stressful,” Andrew told us, but in the end the color was one of his overall favorite parts of the Chevy. After much deliberation, they settled on a custom mix of midnight blue which Scott sprayed on the car using Axalta paint. “Badass but subtle and understated,” was the goal according to Andrew and if you’ve paid much attention to the pictures, that goal was certainly accomplished.

While the paint itself is quite enchanting, it’s the little details around the car that make all the difference. They cleaned up the car big time by removing all the emblems, the hood ornament, and the gas filler door (which was then moved behind the left taillight a-la-1956 Chevy). The windshield frame was also chopped 1-inch and flattened while both front and rear bumpers were shaved, narrowed, and pulled in tighter to the body. All the once-chrome trim was then sent down the street to Artistic Silver Plating Inc. in Signal Hill, California and nickel-plated to match the subdued look Andrew wanted. Furthermore, custom flush door handles were installed along with a new custom grill. The final touch for Andrew’s ’55 came in the form of Schott Mod 5 wheels wrapped in Continental Sport Contact tires. In the front, 245/45R17 tires were mounted on 17X8-inch wheels while out back, 275/45R18 tires went on 18X10-inch wheels.

In a convertible that would see countless hours of top-down coastal cruising, the look of the interior was almost as important as the exterior. Mark Lopez of Elegance Auto Interiors in Upland, California was tasked with creating a refined and luxurious feel inside the Bel Air. Ferrari tan leather was chosen to contrast the midnight blue paint and covers a majority of the interior from the front and rear seats to the custom dash and door panels. While the seats and dash get a little Ferrari, the carpet gets some Mercedes Benz—Saddle-colored Mercedes Velour carpeting to be exact. Speedhut gauges are located just above the ididit tilt steering column and 15-inch stock-style steering wheel giving Andrew a simple and stylish view from the driver’s seat. In the custom center console is a Pioneer head unit installed by Carlos Rodriguez at Art of Sound in Upland, California which controls a full Rockford Fosgate sound system. Also in the center console live the controls for the Vintage Air A/C along with a Lokar shifter.

When all was said and done, “The most challenging part has been testing my patience with the time it took to build,” said Andrew. It’s been three years now since he purchased the ’55 and his only gripe with the whole process is that he didn’t do it sooner. Regardless of timeframe, he finally has that badass but subtle car that he can pull out of the garage and rip around town whenever he wants. Now on any given sunny Sunday afternoon in Newport Beach, you’re still sure to see plenty of Ferraris and Bentlys, but if you’re lucky, you’ll also see one stunner of a convertible 1955 Chevy Bel Air cruise by too.

The post This 1955 Chevy Convertible is the Ultimate PCH Cruiser appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1955-chevy-convertible-ultimate-pch-cruiser/ via IFTTT

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justbritishmotoring · 7 years

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An evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars. For seven decades the heartbeat of Aston Martin’s purest models, the Vantage nameplate has been worn by some true icons. First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, Vantage was quickly established as a model in its own right. Highlights include the William Towns-designed V8 Vantage, spectacular twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage. Today this formidable sporting dynasty is poised to hit new heights with the introduction of the new Vantage.

A spectacular new Aston Martin sports car demands a bold and distinctive design language. Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent within the car. New head and tail lights form dramatic new signatures giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong and individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range.

Aerodynamic performance was central to the Vantage design concept: the front splitter directs airflow underneath the car, where a system of fences channels cooling air where it is needed, and also ensures the rear diffuser is fed with clean airflow. The design of the diffuser creates an area of low-pressure air, while simultaneously preventing turbulence generated by the rear wheels from disrupting the flow of air exiting centrally from beneath the rear of the car.

Together with the new side gills, which have been integrated into the body surface and bleed air pressure out from the front wheel arches, and the pronounced upswept rear deck lid, the Vantage generates a significant level of downforce – a rarity on any production car and a first for a core production Aston Martin model.

The design story continues inside with a dynamic and focused sports car cockpit that rejects long, fluid curves in favor of sharp, focused lines denoting the more aggressive nature of the car. A high waist interior theme and lower driving position creates a more immersive driving experience and contributes to significant gains in occupant space and significant improvement in headroom compared with the outgoing Vantage. A combination of rotary and toggle style controls have been used for their tactile and intuitive functionality. Likewise, the PRND transmission buttons have been moved into a triangular formation so as to cluster major controls into clearly defined zones. The interior also offers generous stowage space, with useable room behind the seats and generous double-tier storage areas.

The heart of the Vantage is Aston Martin’s potent new alloy, 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Set low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal center-of-gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution, this high performance, high-efficiency engine returns a CO2 figure of *245g/km yet develops 510PS at 6000rpm and 685Nm from 2000-5000rpm. With a dry weight of 1530kg this gives the Vantage formidable power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios – something vividly demonstrated whenever the throttle is squeezed. Detailed tuning of the induction, exhaust and engine management systems has given the Vantage a truly intoxicating character and soundtrack.

The Vantage deploys its impressive power and torque to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 195mph, it employs a sophisticated suite of integrated electronic systems to offer maximum control and driver enjoyment. These include Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Torque Vectoring. The speed-dependent electric power steering has 2.4 turns lock-to-lock for an outstanding combination of responsiveness and precise, intuitive control.

For the first time on an Aston Martin, the new Vantage also features an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff). This differential is linked to the car’s electronic stability control system, so it can understand the car’s behavior, and react accordingly to direct the engine’s power to the relevant wheel. Unlike a conventional LSD, it can go from fully open to 100% locked in a matter of milliseconds. At higher speeds, the Electronic Differential’s speed and sensitivity of response enables the system to take very fine control of the car’s dynamic behavior. It makes the car feel much more composed both in terms of its straight-line stability and its cornering performance, providing the driver with increased levels of confidence to explore and enjoy the car’s capabilities to the full.

The chassis is an evolution of the latest generation bonded aluminum structure first seen on the DB11, though some 70 percent of the structure’s components are new for Vantage. Balance, strength, rigidity and weight efficiency were all priorities in the new design, as was handling purity and consistency. Highlights of the chassis include a solidly mounted rear subframe for an enhanced feeling of direct connection for the driver, new Pirelli P Zero tires developed specifically for new Vantage and the latest generation Adaptive Damping System which incorporates Skyhook technology and offers the choice of Sport, Sport Plus and Track modes.

Thanks to full integration of engine, transmission, E-Diff, Dynamic Torque Vectoring, Dynamic Stability Control, Adaptive Damping and the electric power steering systems, each mode optimises every area of the car as one. With each step the Vantage gains in agility and responsiveness, its character becoming progressively sharper, more vocal and more exciting. This is the essence of the Vantage driving experience – a car that’s never less than connected and engaging with the breadth of capability to revel in challenging roads and bare its teeth on track.

The car features a high level of standard equipment, including keyless start/stop, tire pressure monitoring system, parking distance display, park assist and front and rear parking sensors. The In-Car Entertainment system – controlled and viewed via a centrally mounted 8” LCD screen – comprises of the Aston Martin Audio System, Bluetooth® audio and phone streaming, iPod®, iPhone® and USB playback and an integrated satellite navigation system.

Being an Aston Martin, the new Vantage also features a high level of craftsmanship, evidenced by flawless paintwork, luxurious Alcantara® and leather upholstery and the levels of finish optimised through the use of tactile natural materials of the highest quality. There is also extensive scope for personalization via a generous choice of options. These include forged alloy wheels in a variety of finishes, Sports Plus Collection (comprising Sports Plus seats and Sports steering wheel), carbon fiber interior and exterior detailing and a Premium Audio System.

Aston Martin President Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer said:

It speaks volumes for the outgoing Vantage that it is the single most successful model in Aston Martin’s history. Creating a worthy successor has been a challenge to relish and a huge source of motivation. I’m enormously excited by what we’ve created: a new Vantage that’s more explicit in looks and intent, wrapping heart-pounding performance and dazzling dynamics into an everyday usable package. A true sports car with a sharper look and a keener dynamic edge, the new Vantage is the Aston Martin pure driving machine enthusiasts have been waiting for.

The new Vantage is on sale now with a recommended retail price from £120,900 in the UK, €154,000 in Germany and $149,995 in the USA. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018.

The first time the Vantage name was used few could have imagined its future significance. Originally used in 1951 in sales literature for a high-performance derivative of the DB2, the engine – offering 125bhp against 105 for the standard model – was far from a standalone model, but established the name as one that would appeal to the keenest drivers.

The Vantage name next used in 1962 to denote a distinct model was the DB4 Vantage. In addition to a high-performance engine, these Vantage specification cars also featured subtle styling modifications. With the introduction of the DB5 in 1964, the Vantage model became firmly established as the high-performance derivative. They were visually distinguished by discreet Vantage badges attached to the side strakes on the front wings – a strategy that also applied to, the DB6, DB6 Mk2 and DBS.

The first standalone Vantage model was the short-lived AM Vantage – in essence, a re-styled DBS Vantage with a 4.0-litre 6-cylinder engine. Produced for a little over a year between the spring of 1972 and 1973, it was sold alongside the new William Towns-designed AM V8. Though just 70 examples were built, it was to spawn a true icon in the shape of the V8 Vantage. Introduced in 1977 as Aston Martin’s performance flagship, it was defined by its muscular looks and immense performance courtesy of a tuned 375bhp version of the 5.3-litre V8. One of the fastest and most desirable cars of its day, the V8 Vantage would ultimately spawn Volante and Zagato versions before it ceased production.

By now firmly established as the quintessential British supercar, the next Vantage was a magnificently brutal evolution of the V8-engined Virage Coupe. With uprated brakes and suspension and a pair of superchargers attached to the hand-built V8, this new Vantage was a 550bhp monster. Later developments saw power rise to 600bhp, with the final V600 Le Mans models amongst the rarest and most desirable Vantage models of all and the last Vantage model to be built at Newport Pagnell.

The DB7 Vantage of 2000 was a landmark car, as it introduced Aston Martin’s new 6.0-litre V12. A huge step up from the six-cylinder DB7, the Vantage was a true Ferrari rival. Available with manual and automatic transmission, and in Coupe or Volante body styles.

With the introduction of the all-new 2005 V8 Vantage, Aston Martin was to experience unprecedented levels of kudos and sales success. Built around the company’s innovative VH platform and using a strong, lightweight bonded aluminum chassis, this generation of Vantage would continually evolve. First with a large capacity V8 engine, followed by the introduction of an Automated Sequential Manual transmission. When a V12 was launched in 2009 it wowed enthusiasts around the world. Since then special series models such as the track-biased Aston Martin GT12 and GT8 models have continued to exploit a design with apparently limitless potential.

Now, with the introduction of the new Vantage, a fresh chapter of this legendary model is about to begin.

Note: Press release courtesy of Aston Martin.

Introducing the New Aston Martin Vantage An evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars. For seven decades the heartbeat of Aston Martin’s purest models, the Vantage nameplate has been worn by some true icons.

#Vantage

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