Category Archives: Parts News

Meet the 1968 Dodge Daytona, Star of Fast and Furious 6

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fast-and-furious-6-daytona-brown-wIt’s an exciting week for car lovers. The new Fast & Furious movie is finally out and is packed to the brim with outrageous stunts featuring the most powerful cars on the market. The films have always been about showing off which cool and exotic muscle cars they were able to find and crash onscreen, but one in the new film really stood out against the whole of the franchise. That would be Vin Diesel’s 1968 Dodge Daytona.

The lucky writers at Popular Hot Rodding got a call from the Fast and Furious team for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to check out the Daytona and the other muscle cars assembled for the action flick.  Like any one would in their situation, they screamed in joy at this opportunity. They certainly didn’t come back disappointed.

The entire article is a fascinating read into the work that is done on a car before it gets in front of a camera. It’s not as simple as picking it up off the lot and driving it out for the stunt drivers to film with. Dennis McCarthy is the owner of Vehicle Effects and gets all the shiny cars for the movie crew to work with. He detailed the work that went into getting the Daytona, and a lot of Dodge Chargers, ready for its close-up.

From giving it a pretty and movie-quality exterior to a ton of work on the engines to make sure that the cars could be pushed to their limits for some of the stunts. Thanks to the custom engines they inserted, all the cars were able to endure six months of heavy stunt-work and not once did they suffer engine failure.

Read the whole thing for a complete break-down of all the work and to see a ton of photos of the star Dodge Daytona. It’s amazing to see the magic that Hollywood can work on their cars without having to resort to creating complete CGI scenes.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge operates in the Queens area with top quality staff and tech to help you with your car problems. If you’re having issues with your car, contact our service department and we’re schedule a time to help get you back on the road asap. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter for more news and monthly part specials.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge’s Military Incentive Program

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militaryWe have a special offer for the men and women risking their lives for us on a daily basis. If you’re an Active, Active Reserved, Retired Military or Retired Military Reserve, then you are are eligible for up to $500 in bonus cash under our Military Incentive program. This offer is for 2012 model year vehicle purchases and leases on all new vehicles.

To see the full details of the program, including restrictions, visit our website or contact us at the dealership.

*Excludes SRT models, Viper & Fiat Abarth

 

Fast & Furious 6 Showcase the Best Dodge & SRT Have to Offer

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fast-and-furious-6-screenshot-vin-diesel-drives-dodge-charger-daytona-54662-7-640x373The Fast and Furious films are pretty much my biggest guilty pleasure when it comes to major blockbuster films. It’s hard not to love a group of people getting together and trying to figure out new ways to get the sexiest and most powerful cars to perform the most outrageous stunts. The poster may show Vin Diesel, The Rock, or Paul Walker on it, but the cars have been and always will be the stars of the franchise.

In the new upcoming sequel Fast & Furious 6, the filmmakers turned to the ones they loved. The team at Dodge and SRT had no problem providing the best cars to work with.

Taking center stage will be the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8, the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, and a vintage 1969 Dodge Daytona.

Previously one of the most spectacular action sequences came at the end of Fast & Furious 5 with 2 Dodge Chargers dragging a massive bank vault through the streets of Rio. How do you top something so impressively awesome? Well, judging from the trailers, it seems bringing down a plane and racing from a tank is a good place to start.

How does Dodge and SRT feel about their cars being used in such reckless fashion? Seems they’re huge fans of it actually. Ralph Gilles, CEO of SRT Brand, enjoys handing over his top-of-the-line cars to the crew behind the films to see how many actually make it back to him.

Dodge is really stepping up to help advertise the film though. They’ve already released a “How To” video concerning how to make the Dart a Fast and Furious car.

Also, any fan that purchases their ticket in advance for a showing of Fast & Furious 6 will be entered into a contest to win a Dodge Charger SRT8 from the movie. I feel whoever wins should have to sign away all liability that may occur after watching the films. Dodge is not responsible for any injuries that occur while ramping a car off a train.

For the rest of us, getting a vehicle in such condition to race a tank requires hardwork and dedication. It doesn’t hurt to have a place to find quality parts and upgrades. That’s where Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge comes in. We operate in the Queens area with top quality staff and tech to help you with your car problems. If you’re having issues with your car, contact our service department and we’re schedule a time to help get you back on the road asap. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter for more news and monthly part specials.

Chrysler Custom Challenge Championship Seeks Best Mopar-ized Vehicle

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UntitledThe Spring Festival of LXs in Irvine, California started when a group of four wanted to have a get-together to show off their rides to one another. As these things can do, it grew. The following year, more people showed up and the year after that even more. Now the event brings in thousands of people and around a thousand cars from all over the country.

Drivers weren’t the only ones who noticed, Chrysler did as well. The event was started specifically to out of love of their products, specifically the Dodge Challenger, Charger, Magnum, and Chrysler 300. The automaker loves the idea of their fans gathering and they want to be part of it.

The CEO of Chrysler, Saad Chehab, has pledged their support to the Mopar fanatics by creating the “Chrysler Custom Challenge Championship.” To enter, all you do is pay a visit to Chrysler Facebook page and upload a picture along with a description of your vehicle and you could win a trip to the 2014 North American Auto Show in Detroit, a luxury vacation package for two, and a two-year lease of a Chrysler vehicle.

Good luck to all who enter!

In need of a check-up?  Schedule an appointment online at our website or contact us at 888-425-7294.  Like Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for a full list of our special monthly offers.

Spring Vehicle Maintenance Check-List

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ID-10085780One of the first things I heard when I moved out to New York concerned the weather.  I was told “Don’t like the weather?  Just wait.”  It wasn’t too clear to someone who came from a region with four discernible seasons, but after a few years I get it.  Spring is coming, and it can’t figure out if that means warm or cold.  What that means for you, as an auto owner, is that it’s time to make sure your vehicle is in working order.

Pat Dougherty, the VP of Sales at Mopar, put together a list that drivers need to have checked out as the weather warms up.  “Vehicles need to be in shape for the summer travel season.  Preventive maintenance keeps vehicles on the road longer and save customers money in the long run.”

Here are the parts that need checking:

  • Engine, Belts, Hoses, & Fuel Filter:

Replacing belts and hoses on a regular basis helps to avoid a breakdown or engine damage.  Replacing the fuel filter will make sure that your engine is running properly and will maximize your fuel economy.

  • Tires:

Check the air pressure for all of your tires.  That includes the spare.  If the pressure is off, that can lead to premature ware.  That, in turn, leads to decreasing your fuel mileage.

  • Brakes:

Brakes are used frequently throughout a single day.  Every time the brakes are applied, a thin layer of the pad disintegrates.  Make sure you inspect and replace those pads to ensure proper performance.

  • Oil:

Make sure your engine oil level is checked often and changed and refilled on a regular basis.  If the oil is dirty or too low, you can experience engine problems.  Not something you want happening to you in New York summers.

  • Air Filter:

Replacing a dirty filter will help protect your engine from airborne contaminants.  The car will get better air flow.  That helps decrease on fuel consumption.

  • Fluid Levels:

Dirty fluids have an impact on the performance of your vehicle and can lead to breakdowns.  Make sure you’re checking that everything is filled to the proper levels and on a regular interval.

  • Battery:

It’s been a rough winter and that meant some rough cold-morning starts.  Make sure there’s no corroded terminals or cracks on the case.  It’s never fun to have a battery fail in the middle of the city.

  • Shocks & Struts:

A rough winter also hurts the city streets, filling them with numerous pot-holes.  Make sure you have a smoother ride by seeing if those bumps caused any damage.

  • Wiper Blades:

Spring brings with it plenty of storms.  Don’t get caught in the rain with broken wipers.  You never want to have to fight to see through a downpour.

  • Headlamps, Tail Lamps, Turn Signals, & Hazard Lights:

Always make sure your lights are in proper working order to avoid two things, accidents and the cops pulling you over for a citation.

Bring your vehicle into our service department and we’ll give it the look over to ensure it’s ready to face the on-coming weather.  Best to get it out of the way before your vehicle develops problems on a road-side and your great vacation out of state has turned into a few hours waiting for the tow truck.

Schedule an appointment online at our website or contact us at 888-425-7294.  Like Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for a full list of our special monthly offers.

Image courtesy of Surachai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is Electric the Future for Cars?

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2013 Fiat 500e

Every industry has the same problem.  No one can predict future trends.  Try as much as they might, the market reacts however it wants.  That’s a problem that the auto industry is going through right now.  How can they prepare for a future that is looking more and more to not be dependent on traditional gas?  Recent developments that have been made with electric cars certainly point to this being the most potential industry.  But CEO of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne questioned whether this would be the case.

Speaking at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress in Detroit, Marchionne brought up the subject the new technologies.  His major critique was against the government adding incentives to the market to convince people to embrace electric cars.

“I believe we should continue to explore the potential of electricity, but without being strong-armed by regulators and in combination with benefits of all other available technologies.”

He continued by adding that he thinks the US should be neutral to technology and has the automakers be the ones that test potentials for alternative fuels.

Currently, the US has a $7,500 federal tax credit for buying a plug-in electric or all-electric vehicle.  While it’s a great incentive to those on the fence about getting one, but the tax credit hasn’t seemed to have made an impact yet.

While Marchionne may not be completely on-board with electric quite yet, it hasn’t stopped the automaker from producing their first all-electric car, the Fiat 500e.  It’s being speculated that Marchionne may be raising warning signs about electrics cars due to the loss the company takes with each vehicle sold.  And that’s after all subsidies.

New technology is difficult to accept especially when it’s taking over for something that’s been ingrained for so long in a products existence.  Only time will tell if electric is the way of the future or if there is something else just wanting to be discovered.

Is your service light on?  Need a check-up before a family vacation?  Stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge in the Queens area.  Our service department features top-quality customer service and will work with you to make sure you’re satisfied with the service provided.  Like us on Facebook and follow the dealership on Twitter for more tech news and future parts and service specials.

Mack Avenue Plant Makes Final Engine; Readies for Pentastar

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It’s the end of an era at the Mack Avenue Engine Plant in Detroit.  They reached a mile stone with the production of a 4.7 liter V-8 engine.  Normally it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, making another quality engine for Ram trucks and other Chrysler vehicles.  This one, however, happens to be the last one they’ll ever make as production is ceasing.

C-Mack47signedenginesignv1The Mack Avenue Plant has put together more than 3 million powerplants.  They are now planning to move on to the next engine type.  Back in November of last year, Chrysler invested $198 million dollars into the plant, as well as added around 250 new jobs, so that the Mack Planet can start production of the Pentastar V-6 engines.

The final engine made was signed by the employees and will now be displayed in the lobby of the plant.  It’s a bittersweet moment as the workers begin to transition over to the next phase in production.

“Producing more than 3 million engines is a testament to each and every person that has worked at Mack Avenue Engine Plant 1 during the past 15 years,” said UAW Local 51 President Lorenzo Poole.

Plant Manager Bob Hollingsworth continued, “The Mack Avenue team should feel incredibly proud of what we have accomplished.  I applaud all the men and women who have helped build the 4.7 for all these years.  We are going to celebrate because we have a lot of work ahead of us, producing the award-winning Pentastar engine.”

If you are in the Queens area and are looking for top quality service, bring your vehicle into Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Contact us and schedule a time for us to take a look at your car.  You can also shop online at the Mopar E-Store for a special treat.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news and service specials.

Mopar Shows Off New Jeeps at Easter Jeep Safari

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03JeepMoparWe recently wrote about the concepts that Jeep and Mopar are teaming up to bring to the Easter Jeep Safari.  Since then, the event has gone underway and more information is available on the six models being presented.  Turns out the concepts are the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept, the Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon, Jeep Wrangler Stitch, Jeep Wrangler Sand Trooper II, Jeep Wrangler Flattop, and the Jeep Wrangler Slim.

Auto Media decided to focus on 3 of the concepts.  The first one they looked at is the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk.  This new Jeep contains the much talked about and much desired EcoDiesel engine.  The outside is clad in blood-orange paint and has 35-inch off-road Micky Thompson tires, along with custom fender flares and capped off with a modified SRT hood.

Next up is the Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon.  The template is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.  Underneath the hood is a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 crate engine, capable of 470 horsepower.  The Wrangler Recon is built to be tough and shows that by having many features that make it capable to withstand some punishment.  Mopar put a Warn winch, high-clearance flat fenders, and rock rails on the Jeep along with the Rubicon’s 10th Anniversary hood on for good measure.  All of this is clad in a slate gray paint-job.

Last is the Wrangler Stitch, also a mod of the Wrangler Rubicon.  What Mopar did to this was put the Wrangler on a diet, shedding over 3,000 pounds to make it a similar weight to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.  That weight loss didn’t diminish the qualities though, so don’t fear.  The list of goodies included is quite long and includes, 17-inch aluminum wheels, customer DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 axles with 4.88 gears.

It’s clear that just by looking at these three Jeeps and what they are capable of, they were built for the Jeep owners looking to push an envelope.  “We created our new Jeep Performance Parts portfolio for extreme off-road Jeep fanatics ” said Mopar’s President and CEO, Pietro Gorlier.  “Jeep owners who are passionate about customization, performance, and personalization will have a long menu of Jeep Performance Parts from which to choose.”

Planning a spring getaway or just need to figure out why the ‘check engine light’ is on, stop on into the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. We offer top quality customer service and want to make sure you work only with the best. If you’re looking to do some additional work on your vehicle, you can shop online through our website at theMopar E-Store. For more Mopar news and special monthly offers, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Mopar Readies Six New Jeep Concepts for Easter Jeep Safari

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jeep-teases-new-mopar-concepts-medium_2Mopar and Jeep are joining forces to create not just one new concept, but six. All of them will be ready for display at the Easter Jeep Safari.

Chrysler teased two of the Jeeps today. The first is the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk II concept and the second is the Wrangler Slim. Both of these vehicles will be getting ‘Moparized’ to improve their off-road performance. The exact details of those modifications are, as of yet, unknown.

The remaining four Jeeps are going to remain under wraps until the Safari.

The Easter Jeep Safari is celebrating it’s 47th show and will be happening in Moab, Utah later this month on the 23rd through the 31st. The event is meant to cater to Jeep and 4×4 enthusiasts who are looking to see the best all terrain vehicles get put to the test. It’s one of the best places to show off a new Jeep that Mopar has put together to display their off-road capabilities.

Planning a spring getaway or just need to figure out why the ‘check engine light’ is on, stop on into the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. We offer top quality customer service and want to make sure you work only with the best. If you’re looking to do some additional work on your vehicle, you can shop online through our website at the Mopar E-Store. For more Mopar news and special monthly offers, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.