Beautiful exotic cars securely stored at DallasCarStorage.com

In the past, GM used the Goodwrench name to advertise cars and trucks that had been fully examined by GM mechanics.  Going forward, the used car certification will be brand specific.

Used car shoppers can expect to see names like “GMC Certified Service,” “Cadillac Certified Service, and “Chevrolet Certified Service.”

“Our No. 1 priority is providing a world-class ownership experience that creates positive long-lasting relationships with our customers,” GM’s vice president for customer care and after sales, Steve Hill told The Detroit News.

This is just the most recent in a series of big changes for the troubled American automaker.  GM has retired several brands like Hummer and Pontiac, and the company has laid off thousands of workers.

The company has also worked to revamp the image of its cars.  Recent ads have focused heavily on cost of ownership, touting reliability and gas mileage.  “Cost of ownership” refers to the expense of owning a vehicle over a period of years and includes things like fuel costs, the price of discount auto insurance, and monthly car payments.

GM hopes that the move away from Goodwrench will help consumers see the company as its individual brands.  The Goodwrench name has been part of advertising culture since the 1970s.

For 22 years, the Goodwrench brand was a sponsor for NASCAR, most notably gracing the car of famed driver Dale Earnhardt.

The brand has also had an important role in popular culture.  Jay Leno and other comedians have based performances on the brand, and the name “Goodwrench” actually became associated with anyone who can fix mechanical items.

This dilution of the brand image may be part of the decision to retire the name.  Mr. Goodwrench has gone through several different advertising campaigns over the years, but this new, more specific, direction may be more effective for ailing GM.

Fans will have until February 1, 2011 to say goodbye to the Mr. Goodwrench brand.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer, who specializes in web content, editing, and technical writing.

“Halloween is fun for the whole family,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a family-friendly automotive toy museum in Dallas.  “Dressing up gets everyone into the spirit, and we’re lucky because there are a lot of great costume shops in the area.”

Wondering where you should go to outfit your child for the school Halloween parade?  Headed to a Halloween costume party but not sure what to wear?  Check out these picks for the best costume shops in Dallas.

• Dallas Costume Shoppe

Open until 5:00 pm on Halloween, the Dallas Costume Shoppe is the oldest costume shop in the Southwest.  Since the turn of the century, this Dallas costume emporium has provided costumes for masquerades, theater productions, and trick-or-treaters of all ages. 

The Dallas Costume Shoppe specializes in period costumes.  If you’re dressing up as a Greek goddess, a pioneer, a 1940s movie star, you’ve come to the right place for your Halloween costume. 

• Costume World Incorporated

This well-established costume business has locations in Florida and Pennsylvania, as well as in Dallas.  They offer a variety of costumes for all ages, including babies and toddlers.  Rather than spending a fortune on a Halloween costume for their child, many people are choosing to rent one at Costume World, Inc.

Costume World Incorporated also offers wigs, hats, masks, makeup, and a variety of other accessories for Halloween.  If you are just looking for a final touch to complete your costume, this a great place to visit.

• Spirit Dallas and Spirit Fort Worth

Since 1963, Spirit costume shops open in cities across the country.  Both Dallas and Fort Worth will have Spirit costume shops this year.  These shops are a great place to go for reasonably-priced costumes. 

Spirit Dallas will be located on Greenville Ave, and Spirit Fort Worth will be located on Southwest Loop of 820.

“We do also see some people celebrating Halloween in unorthodox ways,” says Sturgeon, who also owns a Dallas exotic car rental company.

Rather than trick-or-treating or handing out candy, some Dallas residents choose to drive a luxury car to a Halloween soiree. A Cadillac Escalade rental in basic black is a stylish way to arrive no matter where you turn up on October 31. 

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

GM claims that although the Sixteen was incredibly luxurious (deemed the Cadillac of all Cadillacs), they couldn’t risk putting the car up against Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Maybachs because of such low sales numbers in the high-end market. Cadillac did, however, promote the new 2008 CTS for some reencouragement after the news regarding the Sixteen. They boasted all new styles of the CTS to make a family of sedans, coupes and wagons similar to the BMW 3-series, hoping to attract buyers from all different regions and markets.

Cadillac Sixteen