Category Archives: Auto Factoids

Auto Factoid for Week of Nov. 30, 2014

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Hope you all had a great Turkey Day!!

Here is the line up of Auto Factoids for the first week in December!!!

 

Nov 30 1960  De Soto ceases production.  The last De Soto produced were really the Chrysler Windsor, most did not sale, even though dealerships continued to received cars after the brand was terminated.

1961 Windsor

1961 Windsor

1961 DeSoto

1961 DeSoto

 

Way before that on Nov 30, 1900 Germany patented an automobile front wheel drive.  Although this is a common historic fact, there is some evidence that the first production car with front wheel drive was a French car.  There exists a French Patent around 1898 or 1899.  The manufacturer was Société Parisienne and the car was the Victoria Combination.

It was a lightweight two-seater trailer,known as a ‘Victoria’, combined with the back axle and mechanical components of a motor tricycle, but this axle was placed in front of the trailer and steered by a long tiller on which the controls were located. The first examples were powered by 1.75 or 2.5 horsepower De Dion Bouton engines geared directly to the differential, but larger engines of this make were fitted as they became available.

1900 Victoria Combination

1900 Victoria Combination

 

December 1, 1925 GM purchased Vauxhall.  Vauxhall started out as engine manufacturer mainly for pumps and marine use (1857 – Alex Wilson).  They began making cars in 1903.  Here is a video of a 1903 Vauxhall.  They are still producing cars using the Opel name under GM.

One more of it on a road test.

Back 1913 (just over 100 years ago) on Dec 1, Ford fired up the first continuous assembly line.

Ford's Production Line

Ford’s Production Line

And just one day and 14 years later (Dec 2, 1927) Ford began selling Models A off this assembly line.

1927 Model A

1927 Model A

 

Dec 3, 1951 is Rick Mears birthday – one of only three drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 3 times.

Rick Mears in his Formula 1 car

Rick Mears in his Formula 1 car

 

That round out the week.  Thanks for reading Auto Factoids.

Tim

 

If you’d like to sponsor a week of Auto Factoids contact me directly.

#AutoFactoids

Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV

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This is a fantastic car.  Follow the link below on Street Legal TV.

 

1964 Monster Tempest

1964 Monster Tempest

 

Many of the people we come across tell us they’ve had their car for a long time, and that time frame is just barely into double digits. But Paul Minore from Orange, Connecticut, has surpassed many of those people three-fold. His 1964 Pontiac LeMans was purchased right out of high school and has been in his possession for 32 years now. It wasn’t new at the time, with some 18 years under its belt already, but he had plans for it.PM-Tempest09While most people know the musclecar-era LeMans as an A-body, it began as the Y-body Tempest, a sub-compact car that was shared with Buick and Oldsmobile in the early 1960s. Pontiac’s designer du jor from that decade was none other than John DeLorean, who had a hand in making the early Tempest a bit more unique than its Buick and Olds cousins.

via Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

326/3-Speed 1964 Pontiac LeMans Coupe | Bring a Trailer

2) The tail lights and rear trim are from a 1964 Tempest Custom. 3) The paint code says the original paint was Alamo Beige (however Sunfire was available in 1964) 4) The trim code says it was originally a saddle interior.

Auto Factoids for Week of June 8, 2014

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Let’s get right to the glory and the tragic historical events of this weeks Auto Factoids.

 

June 10, 1927 the Graham brothers purchased Paige-Detroit Motor Co. These guys started out producing glass and then moved into making conversion kits to turn Model T Fords in to truck.   They decided they wanted to produce their own trucks and made a deal with Dodge for the engines and selling their trucks though Dodge.  In 1927 they decided they wanted to go into the car business and make the historic purchase of Paige-Detroit Motor for what was $4 million dollars.  Renamed Graham-Page, they produced 6 and 8 cylinder cars using their own bodies (after buying Wayne Body Company) and light trucks.  Truck production ceases when Dodge threatened to enforce the non-compete clause of the original agreement.  Of note was the 8 cylinder engine they developed nicknamed the “Blue Streak”.  It soon became the name for the car. Graham brothers produced cars up until 1940 and only used their factory during WWII for various war effort production.  By 1946 they were producing cars again and farm equipment under Kaiser-Frazer name.  They eventually transferred all the rights to Kaiser-Frazer and their production facilities were sold to Chrysler.

Love this 1927 Panel Truck

Love this 1927 Panel Truck

Model 827 Circa 1929

Model 827 Circa 1929

Survivor!!!!

Survivor!!!!

Oh YES...THEY DID A BUS!!!

Oh YES…THEY DID A BUS!!!

 

June 10, 1951 Jaguar has it’s first Le Mans win and 4 years later and one day, the worse racing tragedy in organized racing history – 81 spectators were killed in the Le Mans crash on June 11, 1955.

LeMans1 LeMans2 LeMans3

June 12 1954 – Packard offers new cars with tubeless tires – major milestone!!!

June 12, 1975 – Chrysler Imperial is no longer produced.  If you recall Imperial started out as it’s own brand and then purchased by Chrysler the name was retired for a period of time and then brought back in the 1970’s.

1975 was the last year for the Land Yacht

1975 was the last year for the Land Yacht

 

June 14 1932, Happy Birthday to

Nicolaus Otto

Nicolaus Otto

Who gagraham paige car for sale

Auto Factoids for Week of May 18, 2014

If you thought last week was light…this week is weak!! Buick became a corporation back in 1903 back on May 19. It eventually became a major General Motors brand.
Auto Factoids for Week of May 11, 2014

Light week this week. 5/14/1969 – Last Corvair build. If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60′s and 70′s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader. With a little …
Auto Factoid 9/8/2013 – 9/14/2013

Auto Factoids are back!!!!   Lets just get started. Happy Birthday (Sept. 8, 1903) Preston  Tucker – nice cars!!!   On Sept 9th 1935 Studebaker put the first car on a Pennsylvania RR rail car headed to NYC  but the final destination was London.  (Actually there were 163 cars in that shipment.) These are …
Auto Factoid 9/8/2013 – 9/14/2013

Auto Factoids are back!!!!   Lets just get started. Happy Birthday (Sept. 8, 1903) Preston  Tucker – nice cars!!!   On Sept 9th 1935 Studebaker put the first car on a Pennsylvania RR rail car headed to NYC  but the final destination was London.  (Actually there were 163 cars in that shipment.) These are …

ve us this thing:

first internal-combustion engine to efficiently burn fuel directly in a piston chamber.

first internal-combustion engine to efficiently burn fuel directly in a piston chamber.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of May 18, 2014

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If you thought last week was light…this week is weak!!

Buick became a corporation back in 1903 back on May 19.   It eventually became a major General Motors brand with some great cars in the 60 and 70 like the A bodies GSX, the Wild Cat, and the Grand National.

1903Buickgm_first_buick_1903 1970-buick-gsx-1 BuickGNX

 

I got the Goodyear Blimp taking its first flight on May 22, 1929.  Still provides some of the best auto racing coverage!!!

blimp

 

In an earlier Auto Factoid we talked about Walter P. Sloan of GM fame, well he has a birthday coming up this week.  May 23 back in 1875 he was born in New Haven Conn.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of May 4, 2014

This one got lost. Better late, than never. 5/4/1923 First Le Mans 24 hour race -The original intention of the race was for a winner to be declared following.
Auto Factoids – 1970 Mustang – Ford Assembly Line …

Auto Factoids – 1970 Mustang – Ford Assembly Line http://timsweet.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/auto-factoids-1970-mustang-ford-assembly-line/ December 1, 2010. Today is the anniversary of the assembly line created by …
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E

Good write up – rare Corvette RPO. Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing 1957 – 1958 saw the use of the …

Auto Factoids for Week of May 11, 2014

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Light week this week.

 

5/14/1969 – Last Corvair build.  If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60’s and 70’s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader.  With a little Google’in you’ll find various search results linking him to the demise of the Chevy Corvair (and apple pie and America) – most are not flattering to Mr. Nader.   According to most accounts the last Corvair carried 6000 as the last 4 digits of it’s serial number.  The car was blanketed by the press when it rolled off the assemble, but then disappeared.   There are various stories as to the actual disposition of car #6000  but it remains a mystery.  We do know it was a two door, hard top,  Monza, Olympic Gold was the color and it likely had a Service 140 replacement engine.

I'm seeing the Corvair but can't help notice the Nova's on the rail car.

I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.

The last Corvair convertible was #5997 which was a Forest Green Monza that has come up for sale a few times.

 

The last Corvair Vert.

The last Corvair ‘vert.

If you are a Corvair fan you’ll enjoy this read:  1969 Corvair: Finger Tip Facts by Corvair historian Dave Newell.

 

5/17/1868 – Horace Dodge was born in Niles, Mich.    Horace and his brother started out working in a boiler plant and invented a dirt proof ball baring and begin producing bicycles (1897).   In 1901 they began production automotive parts which led to a contract in 1902  to build transmissions for Oldsmobile.  The following year they refused a contract renewal with Olds and began producing engines for Ford.  By 1913 the Dodge boys were producing trucks, ambulances and other vehicles for the military.  The produced their first commercial car in 1917.

Dodge Half-Ton Military pickup

Dodge Half-Ton Military pickup

 

1913 Dodge Brothers Touring car.

1913 Dodge Brothers Touring car.

Thanks for reading.  If you have an auto factoid, drop me a note.

Timhorace dodge

Horace Elgin Dodge

Horace Elgin Dodge, Sr. (May 17, 1868 – December 10, 1920) was an American automobile manufacturing pioneer and co-founder of Dodge …

 

 

Stolen car alert: 1958 Rambler Ambassador | Hemmings Daily

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via Stolen car alert: 1958 Rambler Ambassador | Hemmings Daily.

Keep an eye out for this car:

Any Northeasterner into AMCs must have seen Bob Majeski’s 1958 Rambler Ambassador over the last 14 years: In the time that he’s owned it, Bob has put 34,000 miles on it driving it to pretty much every major AMC show in the region. Now Bob is counting on that familiarity to bring his car back to him after thieves took it in broad daylight over the weekend.

“I used to joke, ‘Why would anybody ever steal it?’” Bob said. “It’s pretty much the only one around, and nobody needs any parts from it. And yeah, it’s a beautiful car, but it’s a 1958 Rambler, so who’d want it?”

Nevertheless, after he came back from a drive with some friends, mapping out the weekend’s dust-off run for the Connecticut region of the American Motors Owners Association and AMC Rambler Club, he found his Ambassador missing from where he left it earlier that afternoon in the parking lot of the All Seasons Inn and Suites in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

“I’m floored,” he said. “I can’t believe anybody would want to steal this car with AMXs and Javelins around it. All I can figure is that somebody thought they were stealing a ’57 Chevy, and somebody opening a container in South America will be surprised when they see my car.”

stolenAmabassador_01 stolenAmabassador_02

via Stolen car alert: 1958 Rambler Ambassador | Hemmings Daily.

Auto Factoids for Week of May 4, 2014

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This one got lost.   Better late, than never.

5/4/1923  First Le Mans 24 hour race

-The original intention of the race was for a winner to be declared following three straight years of competition. The Rudge-Whitworth Cup would be given to the driver combination to complete the farthest distance total over three years. Unfortunately the idea would be abandoned after the end of the first three year segment, in 1925.

The winners for 1923 were  Andre’ Lagache and Ren`e Leonard and the accomplished that feat by completing 2209.536 km (apporximately 1372.9420186 miles –  🙂 in 128 laps in a Chenard & Walcker Sport with 3-Litre overhead camshaft engine.

 

This is an awesome looking car!!!

This is an awesome looking car!!!

Originally, the race was held for cars as they were sold to the general public…

...Not so much so today!!!

…Not so much so today!!!

5/6/28 – Chrysler intros the Desoto

Debuted in 1928 and produced for sale in 1929.  Desoto merged with Chrysler as part of the Dodge Brother’s deal and the name disappeared in 1960 and was renamed “Newport”.

28Desoto 220px-'29_DeSoto_(Auto_classique)

 

5/7/28 – Chrysler buys Dodge – Follow this – Mr. Chrysler started Dodge and booted out. Mr. Chrysler starts Chrysler and buys Dodge.

5/10/23 – Alfred Sloan becomes pres of GM – MIT grad – carried GM through the Great Depression.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1929 desoto roadster

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of April 27, 2014

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Here is your weekly installment of Auto Factoids.

This week we are highlighting a few milestones and a birthday and a corporation formation.

Starting out with big Happy Birthday to Ferruccio Lamborghini , born 4/28/1916 in Italy.  What many don’t know is Ferruccio brought about Lamborghini, because he was happy with his Ferrari due to frequent and poorly done repairs.  They say he confronted Enzo Ferrari and that meeting didn’t go well and Ferruccio decided to build his own cars.

Ferruccio Lamborghini

On the same day in 1953 Kaiser-Frazer purchased Willys.  By 1955 Kaiser Industrial (name changed) stopped building cars in the U.S. (only   with the exception of Jeep production in Ohio.

'55 Willys Jeep Wagon

’55 Willys Jeep Wagon

'55 Willys Bermuda

’55 Willys Bermuda

 

4/29/1959  Fords 50 millionth car.   It was assembled from specially designated parts shipped to Dearborn from Ford plants throughout the country. It is powered by the 292 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 backed by a three speed automatic transmission. It sported triple tone gold, black and white interior. It is now privately owned.

1959 Ford Galaxie.

1959 Ford Galaxie.

 

5/2/1918 Chevy becomes part of GM.   How did this come about?  Here is the short version:

Billy Durant started General Motors after taking control of Buick. He incorporated a we more car brands in with GM including Oakland, Olds and Caddilac.  He was forced out of GM and started Chevrolet with partner Louis Chevrolet.  Chevrolet did well and Billy began buy more stock in GM (he had kept his shares when he was ousted).  He completed his take over of GM by offering current GM stockholders a smoking deal on Chevy stock (7 shares) for one GM stock.

5/3/48 Willys Jeep Phaeton debuted.

1948 Jeepster Phaeton

5/3/49   Packards 50th Anniversary 2000 gold Packards.  Yes that did happen.  They were painted in a special paint code of Gold.  Each were powered with 327 c.i.d., 150 hp engine.

1949 Packard - Now the 2000 weren't convertibles only 600 plus of those were produced.

1949 Packard – None of the 2000 were convertibles –  only about 600 verts were produced.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Kitty O’Neil

time in auto history, with a timed run of 3.22 seconds at 396 | mi/h | km/h | abbr on with an average speed of 279.5 | mi/h | km/h | abbr on. …

 

 

Auto Factoids – Week of 4/20/2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week of April 20, 2014;

 

Only 3 major hits this week.

The first is that the American Motor Corporation (AMC) was formed by the merger of Nash and Hudson that happened on 4/22/1954.  It was actually Nash-Kalvinator and Hudson.   Cars were still produced under the Hudson name until 1957.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

You know that AMC brought you some pretty out of the ordinary cars (Gremblin, Pacer) as well as some class muscle, (AMX, Javelin, Rebel).

There is great article on a Rebel in the May 2014 Hemmings Muscle Machine on a 1970 AMC Rebel.
Javelin

Rebel

 

Next up Chrysler purchases Lamborghini on 4/23/1987. What?   Yes….funny now Chrysler is owned by an Italian car company (Fiat).  Oh it was a smoking deal, only $25 million dollars.  That lasted until 1994 when Chrysler sold Lamborghini to an Indonesianan company.  In 1998 Volkswagen took over Lamborghini.

 

Finally this week back on 4/25/1970 Mazda’s first cars show up on U.S. shores.

 

RX-2

Mazda’s 1970 RX-2

Thanks for reading.  

Tim    

If you liked to sponsor an Auto Factoid article drop me a note.

 

lamborghini countachamc

 

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of March 30, 2014

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Here is your weekly Auto Factoids for 3/30/2014.

 

April Fool’s Day back in 1964 the Plymouth Barracuda was introduced.

1964 Barracuda

1964 Barracuda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base price for a ’64 ‘Cuda was about $2,500.   The platform was the Valiant A-Body.  The engine choices were between two variations of the Chrysler I6 (slant 6), either the 170 (2.8L) rated at 101 hp or the 255 (3.7L) with 140 hp.  You could also get a V8, that was the 273 (4.5L) and with a two barrel carb it produced 180 hp.

 

Lot of Color Options!!!!

Lot of Color Options!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same date back in 1970 the AMC proudly  debuted what was perhaps the homeliest car of the era – the Gremlin.

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again on April 1st, what was a innovated car for its time the Amphicar in 1961 was all car and part boat, was introduced.  These babies are sought after aggressively.

Love the fins!!!

Love the fins!!!

Engine - 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

Engine – 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between '61-'68

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Walter P. Chrysler who was born in 1875, on April 2nd.  Wonder what he would have to say about government bailouts and Fiat?

Walter Chrysler

Walter Chrysler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular production began of air-filled tires by Firestone on April 5, 1923.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim