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Rick Schmidt – Ask Rick:
It is September and Football time is finally here! Tailgating and eating hotdogs in parking lots and enjoying fall with friends and family. School has started back up for younger and older kids as well and it is time to get back into the swing of school life.
Ricks Take on the Detroit News: Halo Cars and Exhausting Politics!
Amid the roar of electric prototypes around the Nürburgring, it’s not the SuperVan itself that commands attention—it’s how OEMs are grappling with seismic shifts in automotive strategy.
In late August 2025, Ford Performance sent two of its EV demonstrator vehicles, the SuperVan 4.2 and the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, around the Nürburgring Nordschleife to extract real-world data under brutal conditions. The SuperTruck delivered a blistering 6:43.482 lap—ranking fifth fastest on the all-time prototype leaderboard—while the SuperVan clocked in at an impressive 6:48.393, placing seventh Road & TrackAutoweekGM Authority.
But beyond headlines, these runs underscore the burdens and opportunities for OEM leadership. These CEO’s must steer massive manufacturing enterprises through a shifting terrain where governmental energy mandates—favoring electrification—are one moment applauded and the next subject to rollback. Every pivot in policy forces them to reroute billions in R&D, dashing investments in electric platforms or reigniting interest in internal combustion powertrains.
Ford’s global director of performance, Mark Rushbrook, frames the Nürburgring not as a PR stunt but as a high-stakes laboratory: “This is what happens when Ford’s spirit meets tomorrow’s tech” Road & TrackAutoweek. CEOs and their teams must champion continued innovation, even when political winds shift, to ensure their platforms remain adaptable—whether that means EV, hybrid, or traditional powertrain.
As politics oscillates between green energy incentives and calls for fossil fuel resurgence, OEMs are caught in a tough position. Their global-scale operations—ranging from US-centric passenger models to international commercial fleets—can’t afford the volatility of abrupt policy reversals. Fleet planners, investors, and consumers all expect continuity and confidence.
Ford’s Nürburgring gambit demonstrates how technological rigor can anchor direction—even when politics can’t. It shows that, with savvy leadership, data derived from extreme testing can future-proof production EVs, rather than leaving them stranded in legislative whiplash.
Ford SuperVan
Rick’s Take: The College Football Car Deal Showdown
In another rousing edition of Rick’s Take on Car Deals, we’ve got a tailgate-worthy challenge. Rick needs a red sports car to haul down to college football Saturdays—something that turns heads, runs reliably, and already has a few miles on the clock (so you’re not sweating every extra 5–10K you pile on).
The trick? It’s not just about fun—it’s about ROI. The winner isn’t just the car that makes the loudest entrance, but the one you could flip to your buddies by season’s end with the best return on investment. And remember: refurbishment costs count.
Here’s the lineup of ‘90s icons on the board:
Car #1: 1991 ZR1 Corvette with LT5 – Rick’s Pick!
The legendary “King of the Hill.” With its Lotus-designed LT5, this Corvette packs exotic credibility in a good ol’ American wrapper. The upside? Rare, fast, and already collectible. The downside? Maintenance costs can bite hard if that LT5 needs attention.
https://www.hemmings.com/
Car #2: 1992 Eagle Talon TSi
Turbo AWD fun from the DSM era. You’ll be the quirky cool guy pulling up in this one—bonus points for being different. But long-term ROI? Parts scarcity and cult-only demand might leave you sweating resale compared to the other two.
https://bringatrailer.com/
Car #3: 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
The Fox-body holy grail. With values already climbing and huge nostalgia appeal, this one’s a hedge you could park in your buddy’s driveway next year at a profit. Lower refurbishment risk than the Corvette, with just enough mystique to hold value strong.
So which pays off best? That’s where Rick’s insight shines—because he doesn’t just drive cars, he reads markets.
https://bringatrailer.com/
The Investment Hedge Round
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Car #1: 1966 Ford Bronco
Classic 4x4s are still hot, but the peak may be behind us. Broncos are safe money, but gains could flatten in the near term. Think steady, not explosive.
https://bringatrailer.com/
Car #2: 1965 Shelby Cobra CSX1000
The heavy hitter. CSX-continuation cars bring heritage without the eight-figure price tag of originals. But ROI can vary—these live in a rarefied collector’s market. Not exactly a quick-flip tailgate car, but definitely a prestige play.
https://bringatrailer.com/
Car #3: 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT Coupe
Modern Shelbys are hitting that sweet spot where depreciation bottoms out and collector interest rises. Low risk, fun to own, and in 3 years you’ll likely be sitting on tidy gains. Think of it as the sleeper investment.
https://bringatrailer.com/
Why Rick’s Take Matters
The fun here isn’t just picking the coolest Saturday ride—it’s learning how to play the ROI game. Rick shows us that the best move isn’t always the flashiest or most nostalgic. Sometimes it’s the car you can get into, enjoy, and sell to your buddy for a profit while already scouting the next deal.
So which would you pick? More importantly—which would Rick flip the fastest? That’s why we tune in—because Rick doesn’t just see cars, he sees markets on wheels.
