I take off for CA Wed, and was wondering if anyone knows where the "hot" spots are to get a good shot on the highway of a running prototype or anything to that effect. Any and all help will be appreciated and pictures shared!

 

Interstate 405 from the southern end where it merges with the 5, up to roughly LAX is probally the spot I've seen the most prototypes and upcoming vehicles. Downtown San Diego on weekdays is where I've seen quite a few upcomming models that will soon be hitting the streets. Another is northern San Diego county on Interstate 5 is another spotty area.

The southern part of Interstate 405 & the 5/405 split have a chockful of automotive headquarters. Ford's PAG, Mazda, Toyota, Hunydai, Nissan, and quite a few others have headquarters within site of the freeway (Toyota actually has 2 buildings on opposite sides of the freeway near Carson.

Also worth noting is that GM has it's west coast styling studio in North Hollywood. Both Chrysler & Ford also have a design studio & major operations out here.

Also, there is a company that makes concept and prototype cars in the area, down near San Diego Nissan has a major studio there, and there is also a company headed by Jim Wagners of GTO fame that does independent testing of cars for auto manufacturers, that always has at least one or 2 cars of great intrest around.

I've noticed LA tends to be a hotbed of disguised cars going into or comming out of the hot weather testing season, so it's pretty much over (though Ford spent 3 days running an undisguised GT40 prototype over LA area's streets last winter.

San Diego is more of a favorite for last minute testing & photo shoots. Take a picture of a car there, and it's too late to send it to a magazine, either because of late news blackouts, or the fact that car will be on magazine covers within the 2 months or so it takes to get one out. Anything that's going to be in the mags in December or January is probally on ride & drives somewhere in California about now.

 

Thank you much.

 

I saw a disguised mustang (the new body) pulling out of the gas station by the Long Beach airport

 

D*MN IT!! I live 3 minutes away by the traffic circle!

 

You do? I live like 30 seconds from it

 

A "short" drive away is Ford's Desert proving grounds. I-40 East into AZ. Yucca AZ. Exit #?? Proving grounds road. IF you are ballsy, their are dirt roads that circle it. There may or may not be a few places with good veiws, or even holes in the fence.

I had a GOOD spot, where I saw (seen?) 14 + different test vehicles at one time. Ford got wind of it though, and Put an end to it. I also, THe Mustangs shouldn't be there anymore, They were only there for 3 weeks.

NOTE: I am not legally or morally responsible for ANY trouble he gets into.