Bounce Back: Local car, boating industries rebound in 2011 and look for smooth rides next year

Yes here we are, on the dawn of a new year for the local automotive and marine industries in the Charleston area.

Sure it would be great to look ahead, but my crystal ball is in the shop.

It’s safe to predict a few things: people will buy and retailers will sell cars and trucks and boats in 2012. Lots of them.

Look for hybrids and electric vehicles to boost their presence. Fiat may open a Lowcountry outlet at some point. And expect a surprise or two involving area car dealerships (isn’t that always the case). Gas prices will rise, and will fall. Expect rates to stay between $3 and $4 a gallon by year’s end (Wow, that’s going out on a limb).

In the boating business, look for calmer seas than in past years. Local manufacturing should pick up a bit, and dealers will boost sales. As with car outlets, boat dealers may play some merry-go-round, too.

OK, that’s it. My divining rod got run over by a reindeer, my tea leaves fell down the trash disposal.

All I’ve got left is a look back. In the words of a famous Japanese philosopher (Godzilla?), those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. (What’s that again? I wasn’t paying attention).

So here’s a slightly offbeat look at the wheels and waves field in 2011, using the trite but true A to Z method:

A - Anderson (and Ford F-150). In an unofficial Post and Courier contest to name the state car and truck, voters choose the kingpin F-150 as pickup and the Anderson, a well-built Rock Hill model from the 1920s, as state car. Hmm, with a little luck York County could have been the Detroit of the South. Then again, probably not.

B – Baker, buyer of Miller Cadillac. Baker Motor Co. last month took over the long-time Cadillac dealership in Mount Pleasant held by the Miller family. Baker and Miller. Is this a car dealer transaction or a food show?

C – Chump Car Series. Old Saturns from Hendrick Imports were donated to auto shops at Stratford High and Garrett Academy of Technology who fixed them up from “beaters” to fine-looking, hard-charging cars. In a race this spring in the Chump Car series for fixed-up, low cost vehicles, Garrett’s Saturn outdueled Stratford’s. No word yet on a rematch.

D – Darius Rucker’s Karmann Ghia decked out in University of South Carolina colors was on display at a Mount Pleasant trade event and car show in the summer. Do I hear “History in the Making?”

E – Electric vehicles hit Charleston. Chevrolet rolled out the Volt. (Sounds shocking). Nissan follow up with the Leaf (sounds green). On the way is the Mitsubishi i, the car formerly known as MiEV. (Sounds mono-alphabetic).

F – Fireball Run stops in North Charleston. Not to be confused with the Cannonball Run or the Firecracker 400, the car rally this summer from Florida to the Gulf Coast pitted at Crews Chevrolet. Motorists in the charity fundraiser included a former NASCAR driver and an astronaut. Ricky Bobby, meet Rocket Man.

G – Gas prices. According to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge report, the average price for unleaded regular fuel in the Charleston area on Dec. 29 was $3.093. A month earlier, it was at $3.111 and a year ago it was $2.922. Remember the peak? On Sept. 17, 2008, regular unleaded reached $3.95 a gallon locally.

H – Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance marked its 10th year in November. It also marked the 10th year since South Carolinians found out what a “concours d’elegance” is.

I – Italian-based Fiat officially takes over Chrysler. It was more of a symbolic move when Fiat completed its purchase of Chrysler Group, makers of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. It’s OK, you can still say, “That thing got a Hemi?”

J – Jeff Gordon’s race car displayed at Bessinger’s Car Show. NASCAR legend Gordon wasn’t there, but the No. 24 car was showcased for a charitable cause. Tony Stewart was seen passing by on the way to the Sprint Cup title.

K – Keep control. That’s what Stall High School students mastered in a Ford Driving Skills for Life program. One teen racked up a fake 125 years in jail after wearing special glasses to simulate driving while intoxicated. Lucky — and smart — for him and for all the students who took part.

L – Land Rover Evoque arrives in Charleston. The streamlined Land Rover generated interets and talk, notably how do you pronounce Evoque? (Same as “evoke").

M – Modified Mini racer. Mini of Charleston this fall became the lead dealership in helping people modify their Minis to compete in a new sports car racing series geared to compact models. In other words, give your Mini a makeover.

N – Nissan unveils commercial van. The Nissan NV arrived in Charleston during the year, offering choices for contractors and domestic customers who want more than a minivan. The jury is out on whether it's the “NV” of the neighborhood.

O – One hundred years for Chevrolet. Launched in November 1911, Chevrolet has joined baseball, hot dogs and apple pie in iconic status — at least in clever ads.

P – Palmetto Ford agrees to offer SeaFox boats for sale. The Charleston car retailer and Moncks Corner boat manufacturer got together earlier this month. Call it angling for business.

Q – Quick. That monicker belongs to Tony Ford of Charleston, who took part in the Safelite AutoGlass tournament to find the nation’s best windshield technician. Alas, he was not speedy enough to win but had a good showing.

R – Regional media get Hyundai introductions. The Korean automaker held an event for auto journalists at Charleston Place to test-drive the Accent and Genesis. Few tackled the Ravenel bridge; most liked Charleston.

S – Scout Boats rolls out new models. The Dorchester County manufacturer unveiled a slew of novel boats, offering test-drives for marine journalists in October. None fell overboard.

T – Twenty-five. That’s how long Charleston resident and retired General Motors executive George Spaulding has penned a weekly automotive column for The Post and Courier, missing only two. He says he plans to conclude the column in May 2012, unless we talk you out of it, George!.

U – USA chief Steve Cannon. Less than a month after lecturing a class at the College of Charleston, Mercedes-Benz USA marketing director Cannon was named to the president and chief executive post effective Jan. 1, 2012. Coincidence? I think … maybe.

V – Vehicles, of the Police Patrol variety. Chevrolet has built a number of the so called PPVs in Australia. A handful of Caprices were shipped to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet where local police and sheriff’s departments tried them out. We’re waiting to hear if they’re as effective as Crocodile Dundee.

W – World Race 2011. At least five Charleston area car enthusiasts took part in at least portions of World Race 2011, a road rally from New York to Paris. Çonsidering maybe 30 people all told were involved, that’s a pretty high percentage from the Holy City, or should we say holy rollers.

X – X3s, from BMW. The first of the new, enlarged X3 Sport Activity Vehicles drove off an assembly line at the BMW plant near Spartanburg early this year. Xciting!.

Y – Yacht race. Comedian Stephen Colbert, who grew up in Charleston, took part in the Charleston to Bermuda yacht race this summer as a crew of “The Audi.” It was in his pre Colbert PAC days.

Z – Zodiac offers inflatable boats for Hurricane Irene victims. The storm bypassed the Charleston area but skimmed the upper East Coast, causing massive flooding. Zodiac, which has its North American headquarters in Dorchester County, was glad to help.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542.