Category Archives: Auto History

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 1, 2015 – Packard Week

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!!   Here is why:

Starting right off on the Nov. 1st 1955 Studebaker’s Hawk showed up on the car scene.

  • They when on sale in 1956 and came in the Flight Hawk, Golden Hawk and Power Hawk and Sky Hawk. As you may know these were tough time for Studebaker/Packard so the Flight, Power and Sky Hawk models were only available in 1956.   The power plants for these cars ranged from Studebaker’s old straight 6 cylinder bored and stoked to displace 185 CIDs for the Flight Hawk, and their OHV 259″ V8, which came in a 2bbl and 4bbl configuration (180 HP and 195 HP ) for the Power Hawk to the Sky Hawk’s OHV 289 CID with the Golden Hawk sporting Packard’s 352 CID (5.8 L – V8) that managed to produce 275 BHP. That is pretty good power in fairly light car.

Sky Hawk

Sky Hawk

Flight Hawk

Flight Hawk

Golden Hawk

Golden Hawk

Power Hawk

Power Hawk

On Nov. 2, 1935 we have two events.

  • Cord’s 810 debuted as did the Fords’ (Lincoln’s) Zephyr. Cord 810 was a beautiful and advanced car. It was the first US designed and built front wheel drive car with independent suspension and sported a set of very cool hidden headlights (operated with a crank on the dash-board) – another US first!! It was power by a Lycoming 289 V8 (125HP) and had a 4 speed overdrive transmission.
1935 Cord 810. This the Sportsmen Convertible

1935 Cord 810. This is the Sportsmen Convertible

  • The Zephyr was produced under the Lincoln sub-brand and was powered by 267 cu in (4.4 L) L-Head with 110 HP. It sold 15,000 units in its first with was over 50% of all Lincoln sales for 1936.
1936 Zephyr

1936 Zephyr

Continuing on with Packard Week, on Nov. 5, 1863 John Ward Package was born.

  • Before building his first automobile in 1899, he successfully operated his own business, Packard Electric
John Ward Packard

John Ward Packard

On Nov. 6 is a very busy day in Automotive history we have 3 major mile stones.

  • On this day in Carlo (a.k.a. Karl) Abarth was born in Austria in 1908. He was ultimate gear-headed business man!!! Started out designing bicycle and motorcycle frames in Italy as a teenager for Castanga, then back to Austria and motorcycle racing where he managed to become 5 times European champion. After begin seriously injured in a racing accident he gave up racing, designed a sidecar and started a company with Ferry Porsche (and couple other guys) that was eventually called Cisitalia. They produced the Tipo 360 F1 prototype – which was a flop. Later on he founded the Abarth & C company that eventually produced racing cars with the scorpion logo then moved into the production of performance exhaust now called Abarth. He should the company to Fiat and they named a car after him.

Abarth Race Car

Abarth Race Car

Logo

Logo
  • Edsel Ford was born in 1883 in Detroit, MI on this same day. Often only known for the Edsel sub brand he was instrumental in design and development of the Lincoln as well. But we all love the Edsel.

1959EdselCorsair

  • To finish up Packard Week the first Packard car was test driven on Nov. 6, 1899.
The first Packard

The first Packard

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015 – GM and Corvair

Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.

Auto Factoids for the Weeks of March 15 and March 22 2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the week. Actually, I’ve combined two weeks because I forgot last weeks and this week’s was limited. So let’s start off with the week of the 15th (’cause going in chronological …

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Fender Fitment Part III

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Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof – the fender edition  (:^o).    Here is the next set videos that show the fenders on the 1973 Mustang.

 

There’s more coming up on the fender extensions but here is how the other fender fit.

 

The gaps need to be addressed with some shims  and a little persuasion, but these are going to be near perfect!!!!

 

Thanks for checking back in with the project.   Don’t forget to drop me a note.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof.

1973 ford mustang sportsroof

The Automobile and American Life: Cars in Film: A List

Gone in Sixty Seconds 1973 Ford Mustang Sportsroof “Eleanor”. Horatio’s Drive 1903 Winton. Iron Man 2008 Audi R8. Lawrence of Arabia 1920 Rolls Royce. Lemans 1970 Porsche 917K; 1970 Porsche 911S. Mad Max 1973 …

 

 

Has the Mercury Marauder gotten better with age?

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I’d have to say that I like the look of the ’03 Marauder – remind me a lot of the when Chevy brought back the Impala, the look similar.

Maybe lowered a smidgen, and some wider tires (low profile?…maybe) and a little tuning (you know there’s more HP to be dragged out of that V8 – it would be an awesome ride!!!

2003 Marauder

2003 Marauder

Check out the test drive.

https://youtu.be/SFxI2MWYGJ4

In a recent Retro Review, MotorWeek reminds us why Mercury was cool for a hot second in the early aughts.

Source: Has the Mercury Marauder gotten better with age?

So I’d say yes, I think it would be cool to own one.  However, I’d take the 1969 Marauder any day!!!

1969 Mercury Marauder

1969 Mercury Marauder

 

What do you think?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Why The Mercury Marauder Is A Future Classic

Before I start talking to you about why the Mercury Marauder deserves future classic status, I want to start by talking about biology. Specifically, evolutionary biology, and the concept of the “apex predator.” It’s science-learnin’ time! An apex …

 

Tucson Classic Car Show 9th Annual – High Interest Cars – Le Mans Cars

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Normally I cover this car show pretty extensively here on Average Guys Car Restoration, Mods and Racing.  After all I haven’t missed but one since it’s start, and I’ve entered 3 cars, twice.  I just love this show, it on the ‘grass’!!!  That’s a rare treat here in the American Southwest.

This year I just managed to make it and after just arriving from a series of long flights from Italy 1 day ago, I just didn’t have it in me to get that intense this year.  In fact the weather the night before was filled with thunderstorms and a good deal of rain.  I nearly skipped going.  But I remembered what I call the High Interest Cars that were showing up.  I’m talking about a set of 3 Le Mans cars including the Porsche 917 – WOW!!

Take a look at these beauties:

 

 

 

 

These aren’t are just race cars, these are THE race cars you’ve seen race and win.

More High Interest Cars coming including a Jensen Interceptor III.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Rotary Club to hold car show fundraiser

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Tags. Rotary International, Gregory School, Car Show, Tucson, Tucson Classic Car Show · View 0 Comments · Download Flash Player. ACTIVATE. YOUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION …
8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show (blog.garagistry.com)

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show – Real stories about Classic Cars and the people who own them.

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Front Valance and Old Fenders

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Thanks for check back with #ProjectSportsRoof.  While I’m headed off on vacation I’ve scheduled a few post to get published while I’m out.

As a note the progress is moving well and I’m posting these in order, but they are delayed by a couple of weeks.  I’ve nearly completed the fender install – still have a few adjustments to make and you’ll see these posts coming up.  Taking advantage of various opportunity in the course of a project some times has you stop on task so to take an opening to get another task done.  This is the case here with the 351C engine.  I had a chance to get the some engine work done at a great price so I’ve jumped to that task and put the others on hold. Those post will be coming up soon.

To remove the fenders you, of course have to pull off the front valance.  This one happened to be a new after-market piece.

 

When you swapping out any original parts or components, you want to try to salvage any sub-components or parts that are still functional and look good.  Stripping these old fenders included saving the fender extensions, side makers, bolts, badging etc.

When I’ve capturing these on my Android, I trying to keep them short and often use the wrong name for some of the parts, hence Fender Ends = Fender Extensions.

🙂

 

Here is a look at the fender extensions.

If you’ve seen any of my other project you’ll notice that I try to keep things – organized – some what.

 

There’s more coming up on the fenders and the cause of the low compression on cylinder #2 – it’s not what I thought!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Fender Removal

In case you didn’t notice, the fenders that were on #ProjectSportsRoof look as though car had driven into a half pipe at a skate park. Left Fender – major.
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part I

Thanks for reading. Tim. #ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through. There is a quick walk-through of the 351C tucked between the fenders of the 1973 Mustang Sportsroof.
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part II

#ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part I. I’ve done all the clean up and all the adjustments necessary to get a good reading on the health of the ’72 351C engine in …

73-17mach 1

 

 

James Dean’s Missing Porsche 550 Spyder Found | Blog – MCG Social™ | MyClassicGarage™

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James Dean’s Missing Porsche 550 Spyder Found

Article By MyClassicGarage at 09/29/15 03:36PM

September 30th,…was the… anniversary of the sad day James Dean died.   60 years have passed, and now there are rumors that the exact car, a Porsche 550 chassis 055, might be not so lost after all.

If anyone is not up to speed on what happened, James Dean was driving his Porsche 550 on his way to Salinas, California for a race. Near Cholame, California, on a stretch of highway, Dean was involved in a head on crash with a Ford Tudor.   The Porsche was totaled, and Dean was pronounced dead.

It was tragic, but instead of only focusing on the negativity surrounding the situation, the crash became the centerpiece for a safe driving program across the country. His 550 was toured around, but strange events cast a dark shadow over the car.

People who came in close contact with the 550 experienced a string of bad luck. Many were involved car wrecks themselves, and some also suffered the same fate as Dean.

During the early 60’s the 550 actually disappeared. Somehow it vanished during transportation from Florida to California, until now.Volo Auto Museum is a good friend of My Classic Garage, and also the possible next owner of the highly sought after Porsche 550.  The whole situation is still unfolding, but here’s what we know.   During 2005 Volo offered a million dollar reward for the whereabouts of James Dean’s 550.   After the television show ‘Brad Meltzer’s Lost History,’ which aired in 2014, a man contacted Volo Auto Museum with the claim that he knew where the car was.   His tale is crazy, and sounds like the plot to a box office hit, but after a polygraph test his story was confirmed.     He was 6 years old and present as his father and some other men put the cursed 550 Spyder behind a false wall in an undisclosed building somewhere in Washington.   We have a lot of questions about all of this, but we really hope the rumors are true.   This is still coming together.    As details are released we’ll keep you updated.

Source: James Dean’s Missing Porsche 550 Spyder Found | Blog – MCG Social™ | MyClassicGarage™

 

james dean car

Wreckage from James Dean crash may be in Bellingham

Reilly describes witnessing his father and a group of men hide the famous car in a Bellingham building. “A 1955 Porsche 550, all mangled up. They were talking about it being James Dean’s car,” said Reilly. “They hid it inside a wall, basically on its side.

550 porsche spyder

Fans complete James Dean’s drive 60 years after his death

The actor was driving his silver 550 Porsche Spyder and was headed to Salinas where he planned to participate in the road car sports race at the Salinas Airport. “When he was filming ‘East of Eden,’ he really fell in love with the car culture in …

Average Guy’s Car Restoration Services – How it works.

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I get asked often how our restoration service at Average Guy’s Car Restorations works.

This is a great question so I thought I’d lay out the basic steps, keeping in mind that each car and each customer is different and we do our best to accommodate those differences.

From a full-blown frame off restoration – like we have going on with the rare 1975 Model 110 VW bug, to a customized ride, to a simple refresh to keep the family classic safe and reliable, we make it happen.  Whether you are going to keep it, sell it at the next Barrett Jackson auction or hand it down, we’ll get it to the level of perfection you desire and it deserves.

To start we’ll sit down and discuss your goals.  This is a critical step for us to understand your goal.  As you know a key component of any restoration is budget, so we’ll have that discussion too, including your budget range, initial deposit and billing/payment arrangements.  Based on this interview we lay out the next steps and you’ll know what to expect every step of the way.

After we completed the administrative tasks, we get to the exciting part.  We’ll arrange to get you vehicle transported, safely and secure.  Our rare Model 110 VW was brought to us all the way from the great state of Iowa. We select only reliable transportation contractors to move your car, so it won’t be jammed on the back of livestock truck, which just happens to be coming this way. Once we have the car in our possession it remains safe and secure at all times including when it’s with any of our subcontractors.

We begin with a complete inspection of the car, keeping in mind the customers goals, to decide the logical progression for the restore, refresh or customization. We call this the ‘Project Plan’ and we give you that step by step document. You can then compare that to your objective.

One of things we love to do is document the restoration process and you’ll be given updates, including pictures, on a regular basis and comprehensive documentation when the project is completed. Our Model 110 VW’s owner has visited from Chicago several times to personally inspect her “Buggy”. We love that interaction.

So that’s the framework of our restoration process and to just show you the quality, here are a couple of examples.

From this:
IMG_2488

 

To this:

The 302

The 302

From this

enginebay31 photo_3

To this:

in1

 

Let me show you one more.

From this rusted out VW:

IMAG0845 IMAG0835

 

To this:

74VWFloor 74VWBodyOn-1

That’s the expected out come – not just our customers want but we demand.

Of course getting these types of results isn’t by chance, you have to start with skilled professionals and you have to manage each car like a complicated project with personal oversight.  Not a bolt get’s replaces or polished or a dollar spent without my knowledge.   With two double “Best In Class” trophy winners to my recent credit, you know the attention to detail will be there.

If you are interested in the process or have questions,  feel free to contact us at AGCarRestoration@cox.net or call us at 520-405-5314.

Tim

1984 Corvette twice Best In Class winner

1984 Corvette twice Best In Class winner

 

IMG_4900

Double Trophy Winner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto Factoids and C.N.N for week of Sept 6th 2015 – TBird and Studebaker

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Here is your #AutoFactoids and Car News Now for this first full week of September 2015.

Auto Factoids

Sept. 7, 1954 – Production of Ford Thunderbird begins

1955 T-Bird

1955 T-Bird

2002 Thunderbird

2002 Thunderbird

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 8, 1903   Preston Tucker was born in Capac, MI.

While dubbed "Tucker Torpedo" during production no 'Torpedoes' were produced.

While dubbed “Tucker Torpedo” during production no ‘Torpedoes’ were produced.

tucker_car

Beautiful Cars!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 9, 1935 – Studebaker exports 163 Presidents to England.

These are what were shipped

These are what were shipped

All Aboard!!

All Aboard!!

 

Car News Now (C.N.N.)

Automobile reports that the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S get Turbocharged!!!

  • That’s the 3.0 liter flat six engine.  The twin turbo will produce 379 hp w/ 331 lb-ft fo torque in the Carrera and Carrera S will have 420 hp with 368 lb-ft.   That is 20 more horses the current 3.8 liter produces for Porsches.
2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 - smoking hot!!

2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 – smoking hot!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Buzz took a look at Audi’s A8 with Armor – it will be bullet and bomb proof – meeting VR 9 ballistics protection standards.

  • You are gonna need some extra punch to get these moving so there are two engines available. The are the 4.o liter V8 with 429 hp and a 6.0 liter W12 with 495 hp.
Armored Audi

Armored Audi

 

 

Check out the doors!!!

armored cars for sale 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

2017 porsche 911 carrera

The 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera Launched at IAA Frankfurt

With its world premiere headed for the IAA Frankfurt, the refreshed seventh generation Porsche 911 Carrera (991 series) should represent an epic showcase of efficiency, technological advancement, engine development and design curation. Innovative …

2015 Mercedes C63 Details, Armored Audi A8, Detroit Show Highlights: Today’s …

Mercedes-Benz’s next C63 AMG is due in about a year and we have some fresh details on the car straight from the head of AMG. The good news is that the car will continue to offer a V-8 and rear-wheel drive, but this time around it will be turbocharged.

 

“Mr. Corvette,” Dick Guldstrand, Passes Away at 87 Years Old | Hemmings Daily

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Posted by Terry Shea

Legendary SoCal hot rodder, racer and all-around Corvette maestro Dick Guldstrand passed away on September 2 at age 87. A few years back, we featured Dick in our Hot Rod Hero column for Hemmings Muscle Machines. In fact, I had the opportunity to speak with Dick on the day he was celebrating his 84th birthday. There is nothing quite like the candor of a retired racer, particularly one who has never truly left the arena.  (Chase the link below for the rest of the article from Hemmings.)

Source: “Mr. Corvette,” Dick Guldstrand, Passes Away at 87 Years Old | Hemmings Daily

Dick Guldstrand

Dick Guldstrand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

dick guldstrand

1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through.

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There is a quick walk-through of the 351C tucked between the fenders of the 1973 Mustang Sportsroof.

(It took about 5 takes to get this video…a slight improvement over the earlier attempts.)

As you can see there’s work to be done.  Below is a quick video on the cap/rotor/points and condenser.

While taking a look at the plugs, I discovered a good use for Rewards Cards.

 

There you have a quick overview and a little insight in to what needs to be done.  I think I’ve talked my self in to keeping the 351C, even though it’s not original to the car and a year older, I just like the idea of a period 351C – yup a re-manufactured is a an option, but let’s see what this is looks like first.  Your thoughts?

Next up will be the install Pertronix system and cap and rotor, then plug and wires.

Thanks for reading and drop me a note.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,
1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

As I posted before, after a vigorous (not read ‘desperate’) I finally found my next personal project. The 1973 Mustang Sports Roof Fastback is what I settled on.
1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I run my car projects much like I run my IT projects. You always have to know where to start and know the end game. As with any project that isn’t being built from scratch, in other word, …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …

1973 mach i

Carbonear car show concludes on successful — and loud — note

Wade Hiscock of Carbonear poses in front of his impressive 1973 Mach I Fastback Ford Mustang. It was one of three vehicles Hiscock had on display as this weekend’s Shine and Show in Carbonear. Hiscock moved back to Carbonear last year after 26 years …