This ‘49 Ford Is Really A Bimmer
While it's obvious this '49 Ford Shoebox has been modified, few would expect that under the skin it's really a 2008 BMW 335i. After all, the guy who built this car claims it's the first of its kind and we believe him. This is a crazy project, just the kind we love the most.Who would build such a car? A shop called Maniacs Garage, of course. More of a side project than a professional outfit, they stated off with the Ford which had been partially chopped a couple of decades before, but never was finished.
Maniacs knew the plan was to swap the '49's body onto a more modern, potent vehicle. When a friend crashed his BMW 335i, they made a move, buying the German coupe off the insurance company, then hacking it apart before dropping the Ford's body onto it.
Of course, the fit wasn't perfect but some things worked in the Maniacs' favor. As you can see from the video chronicling the build's progress, everyone had a lot of fun with figuring things out. That always made a tedious project far more enjoyable.
What most people have seen is the finished product, which might not look like much to the untrained eye. But we know these guys put in a lot of sweat, blood, and tears into this build.
Of course, these guys didn't just leave the E92 BMW completely stock, as you can clearly see with the rather large turbo protruding above the hood. They ditched the small factory snails, replacing them with the beast 62mm Garrett that's both oil and water cooled.
Plus, the exhaust exits out of the back of the turbo assembly, adding to the industrial vibe of this build. If you watch the Autotopia LA walkthrough, you get a good rundown on the build details, plus you get to see this ride in action – it's a hoot.
But Ford fans aren't going to like this build one bit.
Images via Autotopia LA/YouTube
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
CarPlay in iOS 26 — 5 biggest upgrades coming to your car
This year, Apple is looking to bring some substantial changes to its various operating systems, and that includes its CarPlay automotive interface. Between the introduction of CarPlay Ultra and numerous updates connected to iOS 26, you can expect plenty of CarPlay changes in the coming months. We've picked out the five biggest upgrades coming to your cars and how they'll affect your next drive starting in the fall, when Apple's updated software is slated to get a full release. Several Apple apps are getting improvements in CarPlay, but I do want to highlight some from apps you're more likely to use often while driving. Maps will add multitouch support for vehicles that have multitouch displays. Meanwhile, Messages will gain the ability to perform a tapback, meaning you can select a quick response, rather than speaking out loud to return texts. This should let you focus more on the road rather than coming up with a reply as you drive. Additionally, phones will no longer go into full screen mode when you make or receive calls. Instead, the call will appear in a compact widget so that you can still see other apps like Apple Maps. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious upgrade to CarPlay is the new Liquid Glass aesthetic that Apple is introducing to across its operating systems. Within the new design, you can customize the icons in clear, dark, and default appearances. Dark mode puts the usual icon symbols on dark backgrounds. In clear mode, the CarPlay icons turn somewhat transparent, with an etched-glass look. Additionally, the Clear look comes with several variants: Light, Dark, and Auto. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. We've tested the new design, and my colleague John Velasco prefers it in CarPlay compared to how it functions on iPhones, citing 'the bubble that surrounds the three menu icons' for showcasing 'better separation between the … layers' of Liquid Glass elements. Included with the CarPlay iOS 26 update are some new wallpapers that are reminiscent of the new default iPhone wallpaper. Disappointingly it doesn't look like you'll be able to select your own photos as a backdrop. Introduced on iPhones and Apple Watch with iOS 16, Live Activities will make their way to CarPlay, iPad, and Mac via macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26. If you have Live Activities on your iPhone, they'll now display in your CarPlay interface, which you can use to track things like flights, sports scores, and timers, to name a few examples. Apple announced that CarPlay was getting video playback during June's WWDC 2025 event. The feature will only be available when the car is not driving and set in park. When your car is parked, you should be able to stream a video to your vehicle's display via third-party apps like YouTube. The feature wasn't available when we tested the iOS 26 developer beta, so we haven't seen it in action yet. But we're hoping it works well. The rumored CarPlay 2.0 was supposed to introduce widgets to the interface, but that ended up delayed multiple times before turning into CarPlay Ultra. However, it appears the standard CarPlay won't be left behind. Now you'll be able to include widgets of various Apple apps from a dedicated panel in CarPlay. For example, we were able to make the clock more prominent and select styles that we found more legible. Other options include calendar events, battery status indicators and smart home controls. There are other features we'd like to see, including better integration with non-Apple apps like Google Maps, but the new interface is impressive and seems built to help you configure it in a way that best suits your driving needs. Right now, all of Apple's OS upgrades are in beta form, but come the fall, around the same time of the expected iPhone 17 release, look for CarPlay to arrive with the upgrades detailed here. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button
Axios
8 hours ago
- Axios
Why Ford is doubling down on electric vehicles
Ford's decision to invest $5 billion in a new family of electric vehicles might seem crazy at this point, given how much the political winds have shifted against EVs since President Trump took office. Widen the lens, however, and Ford's big bet is the only natural choice in the face of existential threats to its business. The big picture: More and more mainstream car buyers can't afford to buy a new Ford, which sells for an average of $56,000. It's not just Ford, of course. The entire industry is facing an affordability crisis. At the same time, Chinese carmakers have figured out how to make inexpensive, high-quality, digitally advanced EVs, and they're quickly taking over the world. It's only a matter of time before those Chinese cars arrive in the U.S. Failure to invest in the face of that global challenge is akin to waving the white flag. Yes, but: Building affordable EVs profitably is a lot harder without consumer tax credits and other EV-friendly policies killed by the Trump administration. Trump's tariff policy has also placed a huge cost burden on American automakers — nearly $10 billion this year alone for General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. At least his environmental policy has given them more time to push high-margin, U.S.-built trucks and SUVs. Threat level: U.S. automakers are at a crossroads, with new technology and new competition from all directions, says Ford CEO Jim Farley. "We saw this coming for years. We knew that the Chinese would be the major player for us globally — companies like BYD, new startups from around the world, Big Tech has their ambition in the auto space. They're all coming for us," he told employees and visitors at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant Monday. "Legacy automotive companies, we need a radical we need to do it and be sustainable and make money, and we need to do it with American workers." Driving the news: Ford's answer is a new electric vehicle platform designed from a clean sheet by mostly outsiders to bring fresh thinking to the problem. ""We took inspiration from the Model T – the universal car that changed the world," said Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer, who previously worked at Tesla and Apple. "We applied first‑principles engineering, pushing to the limits of physics to make it fun to drive and compete on affordability. Our new zonal electric architecture unlocks capabilities the industry has never seen. This isn't a stripped‑down, old‑school vehicle," Field said. The first model, coming in 2027, will be a versatile medium-sized pickup truck, with room for five passengers, a storage "frunk" (front trunk) and an open pickup bed. Ford envisions multiple body styles sharing the same universal EV platform at price points below $40,000, enabling economies of scale to ensure profitability. The cars will be powered by low-cost, lithium-iron-phosphate batteries produced in Michigan. Zoom in: The effort includes a complete rethinking of how vehicles are assembled — essentially throwing out the traditional assembly line Henry Ford invented — in order to overcome China's advantages, including low-cost labor and control of battery supply chains. "We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one," Farley told reporters. "Henry Ford would be proud." Instead of a traditional conveyor line, Ford designed an "assembly tree" with three branches for increased efficiency. Large single-piece aluminum castings replace dozens of smaller parts, enabling the front and rear of the vehicle to be assembled separately on different branches. Those modules are then united with the structural battery, which serves as the floor of the vehicle, with seats, consoles and carpeting already installed. The process dramatically improves ergonomics for employees by reducing twisting, reaching and bending, Ford said. Yes, but: New efficiencies mean fewer jobs. When the revamped Louisville plant reopens in 2027, it will employ 2,200 workers, 600 fewer than today. Workers no longer needed will be offered buyouts or move to other nearby factories, Ford said. The bottom line:"There are no guarantees with this project," Farley acknowledged. "We're doing so many new things I can't tell you with 100% certainty that this will all go just right. It is a bet. There is risk."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Is Ford Stock's Juicy Dividend Still Safe Amid the Global Tariff War?
Ford (F) delivered another strong quarter despite headwinds from shifting trade policies, intensifying global tariff disputes, and ongoing cost challenges associated with transforming its business model. Ford's stock has surged 12.5% year-to-date. However, dividend investors have another concern. Ford offers an attractive forward dividend yield of 5.4%, excluding special dividends. They question whether Ford's generous payouts can withstand the weight of a $2 billion tariff bill in 2025 while still allowing for growth in its ambitious long-term plan. Let's find out what Ford is doing about this. More News from Barchart This High-Yield (7%) Dividend Stock Is Down Significantly in 2025. Should You Buy the Dip? High Yields Without High Risk: 3 Dividend Kings You'll Want to Hold Forever Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. A Strong Quarter in a Tough Environment Ford's dividend yield exceeds the consumer discretionary sector average of 1.9% and rival General Motors' (GM) yield of 1.1%. Furthermore, its forward payout ratio (the amount of income paid out in dividends) of 43% is low, implying that dividends are currently sustainable, with room for growth. In the second quarter, Ford generated $2.8 billion in adjusted free cash flow, ending the quarter with $28.4 billion in cash and $46.6 billion in liquidity. Strong liquidity enables Ford to continue investing in growth segments, such as Ford Pro, even during macroeconomic downturns, while maintaining its dividend commitments. Ford reported revenue of $50.2 billion, an increase of 5% year-over-year and $2.1 billion in adjusted EBIT. These results came despite $800 million in net tariff costs, proving that the automaker has found ways to deliver operational improvements despite difficult trade conditions. One of the biggest safety nets for Ford's dividend is Ford Pro, the company's commercial vehicle and services division. Q2 revenue grew 11% to nearly $19 billion. Over the last 12 months, aftermarket sales (parts, software, and services) accounted for 17% of Ford Pro's EBIT, bringing it closer to the 20% target for next year. This shift to recurring, high-margin revenue makes Ford Pro less cyclical than traditional vehicle sales, which is a significant advantage during global trade disruptions. Additionally, paid software subscriptions in Ford Pro increased 24% year-on-year to 757,000. CEO Jim Farley emphasized that capital is being directed toward Ford Pro and away from specific EV projects, indicating that Ford is prioritizing profitability and stability over rapid EV expansion, which is encouraging for dividend investors. The electric vehicle (EV) industry as a whole has been dealing with demand fluctuations and profitability issues. However, Ford's Model e division more than doubled revenue to $2.4 billion this quarter, with significant margin improvement and lower material costs. Ford's next EV push, which Farley described as a 'Model T moment,' debuted on August 11 in Kentucky, with a new electric platform aimed at redefining family vehicles in terms of technology, efficiency, and features. This launch, if successful, could have a significant impact on Ford's long-term market positioning, although near-term EV profitability remains a work in progress. Management boasted that Ford sold more electrified vehicles (EVs + hybrids) than its two main domestic rivals combined, with electrified models accounting for 14% of total U.S. sales. How Ford Plans to Tackle Tariffs and Trade Policy Farley stated that Ford expects tariffs to be a $2 billion net cost headwind this year, which the company is actively managing through product strategy, pricing discipline, and targeted capital allocation. Ford's tariff strategy is to avoid high-volume, generic vehicle segments that require overseas production to remain cost-competitive. Instead, it plans to focus on: Trucks and SUVs, where Ford has a dominant market share Ford Pro commercial vehicles and services Iconic passion products such as the Bronco and Mustang Breakthrough EV technology developed and manufactured in the U.S. The company also plans to save $1 billion in net costs this year (excluding tariffs), with material cost reductions accounting for the majority of the savings. Ford reiterated its capital return policy of returning 40% to 50% of trailing adjusted free cash flow to shareholders by 2025. For the third quarter, the board declared a dividend of $0.15 per share Given Ford's consistent free cash flow generation, strong liquidity position, diverse profit streams, and ongoing cost-cutting efforts, the current dividend appears sustainable, even in the face of $2 billion in full-year net tariff headwinds. With tariffs already factored in, Ford anticipates adjusted EBIT of $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion. This suggests that, despite policy uncertainty, the company believes its core business is strong enough to meet its guidance. What Is Wall Street Saying About Ford Stock? On Wall Street, Ford stock is rated an overall 'Hold.' Of the 24 analysts that cover the stock, three rate it a 'Strong Buy,' 15 rate it a 'Hold,' two say it is a 'Moderate Sell,' and four rate it a 'Strong Sell.' Ford's stock has surpassed the average analyst target price of $10.33. However, its high target price of $14.00 implies that the stock could rise as much as 25% from current levels. The Takeaway: Ford's Dividend Looks Secure for Now While risks such as further trade escalation, EV demand volatility, or a sharp industry slowdown remain, Ford's strong balance sheet, diverse operations, and disciplined capital allocation suggest that its dividend payouts are safe for now. On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
