Category Archives: Auto History

Auto Factoids for Week of April 12, 2015

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Just got this out for the week!!   Here is your Auto Factoids (#autofactoids) for April 12, 2015.

April 13 1965  Pontiac 10-millionth

The car was a 1965 Catalina.

1965 4 door Catalina the 10th Millionth Pontiac

1965 4 door Catalina the 10th Millionth Pontiac

 

April 13 1904  Caddy assembly plant burned to the ground.  More info on this site:   http://www.car-nection.com/yann/dbas_txt/Factq-s.htm

 

April 14, 1927  First Volvo is produced

1927 Volvo "Jakob"

1927 Volvo “Jakob”

It had wooden (ash and copper beech) underpinnings, sheet steel panels, leather upholstery, live axles and long leaf springs – loosely based on an American design.  It had a 4 cylinder engine that produced 28 hp.

 

April 16, 1908  Oakland motors sells its first car.

I believe they actually began producing cars in 1907.

I believe they actually began producing cars in 1907.

 

April 17, 1964 Ford Mustang debuts

1964 2+2 Mustang

1964 2+2 – My favorite of the under 1968 Mustangs.

 

 

4/17/1969 Ford began selling the Maverick.  <cricket…..cricket…>  Come on..it was a good car and getting more and more collectible!!!

 

1964 Maverick

1964 Maverick – Proper mods and you’ll have a monster street car!!

 

April 18, 1955  Lincoln becomes a separate division of Ford.   Lincoln started out as a separate brand in 1917 with its plant at 6200 West Warren Avenue in Detroit, Michigan and was name after Abe Lincoln. They began business by producing Liberty aircraft engine with pistons purchased from Ford for WWI.  After the war the re-fitted the plant and produced luxury  Ford bought the company in 1922.
April 18, 1964  Sunbeam Tiger Debuts

 

Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the Tiger.

Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the Tiger.

 

 

 Thanks for reading

Tim

#autofactoids

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of April 5, 2015 – Lotus and Tires

It’s a light week for the automotive history. April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly depend and relied on Mr. Firestone’s improvement. It was a combination of …
Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015. March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive 1980.

BangShift.com Chrysler 413

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The Chrysler 413 is an interesting engine because it lived a long life in multiple roles and a very wide range of equipment. Hot rodders like to think about the hot rodded Max Wedge 413 (that gave way to the Max Wedge 426) and luxury car people like to think of the powerful and smooth Imperials and other cars that were shoved along by it, and finally truck guys will tell you that the 413 was a stalwart gas power plant offered in big trucks until 1979. That is a heck of a run for a mill that showed up on the scene in 1959 and was used in cars until 1965.

The videos below aren’t about floating Imperials or sneaky big Polaras. Nope, the videos below celebrate the most BangShifty application of the engine in the form of the 420hp Max Wedge 413 as offered in a small number of Plymouth and Dodge models in 1962. Combating the Pontiacs and Chevrolets, the “Super Stock Dodges” were quickly recognized in songs and popular culture. The Beach Boys talked about the cars in their song “Shut Down” while Jan and Dean were singing about the “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” who happened to also be driving a Max Wedge powered Chrysler. Rated at 420hp at 5,000 RPM this engine was a harbinger of things to come from Chrysler who really took the gloves off the next year when they expanded the engine to 426ci and later when the Hemi was introduced.

via BangShift.com Chrysler 413.

 

Watch the guy shift the car!!

 

 

 Yeah..that’s right…using the automatic push buttons.

 

Chase the BangShift link above to see the other video and the rest of the article.

 

Thank for reading.

Tim

413 max wedge

Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – Some Oldies

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One of the great attributes this collection has is some of the first cars and other types of early transportation.  So let’s get right to them.

 

Let’s just start at the beginning.  That would be this beauty!!!!

1886 Benz

1886 Benz
1886 Motorwagen - engine

1886 Motorwagen – engine

Benz Motorwagen

Benz Motorwagen

 

 

Here is the next one in line.  It’s a 1905 Cadillac – in white!

1905 Caddy

1905 Caddy – It’s the 4 Door Touring Model AC-F.   6.5 HP is produced by the 98.2 cubic inch engine.

 

What something a little ‘racier’?  How about this 1914 Ford Model T Racer – knocking out 40 hp from it’s 4 cylinder Rajo over-head-value engine.

Burns Intake and Winfield Model S1 Cab get this 1000lbs car up a moving!

Burns Intake and Winfield Model S1 Cab get this 1000lbs car up a moving!

 

 Here a fly-by for you.

Let’s stick with the racing theme for a bit and take a look at this 1922 Chevy Sport Roadster, body by Mercury Body Company.  Mr. Martin purchased this and drove it in the 1999 Hemmings Motor News Great Race.

Called the "Superior Chassis"

Called the “Superior Chassis”

Looks Fast to me - 26HP!!!

Looks Fast to me – 26HP!!!

 

That cooper tubing is make-shift oil cooler.

That copper tubing is make-shift oil cooler.

Headers are nicely wrapped

Headers are nicely wrapped

Looks like pretty comfy cockpit vs. the 1917 Model T Racer

Looks like pretty comfy cockpit vs. the 1917 Model T Racer

 

 

I wanted to jump to couple more utilitarian transportation modes of a vintage nature.

 

 

This is a 1915 Depot Hack by Ford.

This is a 1915 Depot Hack by Ford.

Motometer intack

Motometer in tack

Back of the Hack!!!

Back of the Hack!!!

Hack Cockpit

Hack Cockpit

 

I want to wind this up something I’d never seen before. 

 

1917 Douglas Dump Truck

1917 Douglas Dump Truck

Dumptruck

Powering this 6000 lbs utility vehicle is a 60HP Buda engine.

 

Coming up some of my favorites at the Martin Museum.

Thanks for reading.  

Tim

 

Vintage cars for vintage pinstripes

Vintage cars for vintage pinstripes. NEW YORK (AP) — Some riders using New York City’s subway system to get to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day are also going to get a trip back in time. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says a four-car …
About 150 vintage cars, tractors up for grabs at auction near Burwell, Nebraska

About 150 vintage cars and tractors will be up for grabs at the auction. Some noteworthy items include an original 1967 Ford Mustang convertible that still drives, 1959 Ford Edsels and a 1961 Studebaker Lark. Wolf estimated more than 200 items will be …
69 Vintage Cars Once Owned By OC Plumber About To Go On Auction Block

He was 76 and a plumber by trade. He lived in Buena Park. He also loved vintage cars. He collected them. A lot of them. Sixty-nine of them to be exact. KCAL9’s Brittney Hopper previewed the collection which is about to go on the auction block. It might …

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of April 5, 2015 – Lotus and Tires

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It’s a light week for the automotive history.

 

April 5, 1923  Firestone introduces balloon tires.  Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly depend and relied on Mr. Firestone’s improvement.   It was a combination of cotton cords infused with rubber that allowed for long distance driving without punctures.

Pneuamtic Tire

Pneuamtic Tire

Balloon tire ad.

Balloon tire ad.

 

April 9, 1957 – Lotus’ first single seat race car.  As far as I’ve researched Lotus had a single seat race car concept either in 1954 or 1955.  The 1956 Lotus was a two-seater but usually had a single roll cage on the right side (drivers side).   It seems clear that the 1957 Lotus 11 (or Lotus 13 unofficially) race car didn’t actually race in a Grand Prix until 1958.

 

1955 Lotus MK IX

1955 Lotus MK IX

1956 Lotus 11

1956 Lotus 11

 

1958 Lotus 11

1958 Lotus 11

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

 

lotus racing

Ron Scott’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Has a Split-Window Personality

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Emulation is probably one of the most commons things in the car hobby. We see a car at a show or race and are instantly entranced by its siren song of looks, performance, and imagination-stimulating allure. And after enough exposure, commitment to building a duplicate becomes irresistible.

Ron Scott Jr. had always loved the vintage race look on classic Corvettes. Wide wheel flares, spoilers, race-style wheels and brakes, the growl of a powerful V-8 through headers and race exhaust, they all had him entranced to the point he wanted to build one of his own. He wanted a car he could not only show, but also take to track days and autocross events as well. After searching online, he found a suitable candidate on eBay to start his build with.

“I found the car on eBay for $35K. It was rough, with some bodywork completed and a second-gen LT1 out of an early fourth-gen Camaro sitting in the frame. It was pretty much a roller with no interior, wiring, or anything special. It was perfect for what I was looking to do, as we didn’t want to modify anything that was nice.”

See the rest of the images and store @  Ron Scott’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Has a Split-Window Personality.

 

1963-chevrolet-corvette-drivers-side-view

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

super chevy show 2015super chevy show 2015

Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – Corvettes

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Last week my wife had to sit for a certification exam for her profession.   It was conducted over multiple days and held in Phoenix, AZ.  That is about a 1.5 hours drive (unless I’m driving the Vette, just joking always, obey the speed limits kids!!) north of Tucson and it made sense to grab a hotel room and spend 3 days.  While she was enduring the slow torture that they cleverly called “taking the exam”, I was left with a very rare, continuous span of free time.

I don’t know about you, but when I end up with unappropriated time and I’m in a hotel room, I don’t spend it watching HBO. I’ll jump on the WiFi and find some car action.  This was a perfect time to find some local car shows or events.  Just so happens on the way to the hotel I saw a sign, a few exits before the one we exited to reach the hotel, that read “Auto Museum”.

I gave that a Google and found the exact address.  The museum was called Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – “Phoenix’s Largest Auto Museum” and it was only open from noon to five the next day and asked for a $5 donation. So I put that on my to do list and head there the next day.

The museum is on a one way frontage road.  The building looks to be an old self-storage place converted in to businesses.  The museum entrance looks unassuming and you wouldn’t think it large enough to house 60 cars and a ton of automobilia.

Here are some highlights:

 

What kind of car museum would you be without a Corvette or two?

 

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

Check out Corvette Row!!!

VetteRow-3 VetteRow-4
VetteRow-5

 Here is a Vette you don’t see anywhere!!!

ListerVette-1

The 1992 Lister Corvette

ListerVette-2

Great lines…barely resembles a C4.

ListerVette-3

Front end looks like a Jaguar’s

ListerVette-6

I think the 17″ wheels are great looking!!!

ListerVette-5

The hood has those breathing holes for a reason. The LT1 under the hood…yeah it’s Vortech Supercharged!!! 500HP and 454 LB-FT of torque!!! Only automatic produced.

ListerVette-7   ListerVette-10

It also included the 1978 25th Anniversary Indianapolis Pace car.

Only 15 miles on this well preserved beauty! (No I don't know why I took the pic this way.)

Only 15 miles on this well-preserved beauty! (No, I don’t know why I took the pic this way.)

 

Thanks for reading.  More coming up on Mel Martin’s Auto Museum.

Tim

 

mel martin auto museum

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015.

 

March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive

1980 Quattro - Not a bad looking car at that!!!

1980 Quattro – Not a bad-looking car at that!!!

Here are some specs for the Quattro:

Engine     2.1 L I5 SOHC 10v

Transmission     5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase     99.4 in
Length     173.4 in
Width     67.8 in
Height     53.0 in
Curb weight  2,844 to 2,976 lb

 

April 1, 1970 AMC debuts the Gremlin.

 

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back“

 

I bet AMC never envisioned this:

OH...MAN!!!!

OH…MAN!!!!

 

Or this:

BTW..this doesn't end well!!

BTW..this doesn’t end well for the suspension.

 

 

April 1, 1964 Plymouth shows off the Barracuda – There were 23,443 Barracuda produced (called Glassback) and was based on Plymouth’s Valiant platform.

1964 Barracuda - Glassback.

1964 Barracuda – Glassback.

 

April 1, 1961 the very collectable Amphicar debuted – I saw my first Amphicar when I was about 9 or 10.  Grew up on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack of upstate New York. The car drove down the beach and right into the water.  Coolest thing I’d seen up to then!!

 

 

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

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

 

April 2, 1879   Walter P. Chrysler was Born in Kansas.

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

 

 

April 2, 1889  Charles Hall patent Aluminum.  –  It was actually a process made extracting Aluminum less expensive.  It involved passing an electric current through a bath of alumina dissolved in cryolite, which results in a puddle of aluminum forming in the bottom of the retort. (Come on…tell me you didn’t want to know that!!!!)  Unfortunately a French guy – Paul Héroult was working on the same process. (No way?!!?!   Way!!!) so the named the process after both “Hall-Heroult process’.

From a puddle in the bottom of a retort to the Ford F150….that’s progress!!!  Thanks Mr. Hall and French guy!!!

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

 

 

Thanks for reading.  If you like #AutoFactoids – share them!!

 

Tim

 

Jeffrey Faber · Top Commenter

Put on the top of the list the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hills, which houses three floors of classic and concept vehicles. Currently, it is open only to employees of Fiat-Chrysler, and occasional special events. The Piquette Plant in Detroit …

walter p chrysler museum

 

1965 FIA World Manufacturers’ GT Championship – Bob Bondurant

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You no doubt know about Ford and Carroll Shelby’s Cobra winning the 1965 FIA World Manufacturer’s GT Championship – breaking Enzo Ferrari’s reign on the in that event.   But this short video tells more about what Bob Bondurant endured during those races.   He is a true racing icon.

 

I’ve had the thrill of running Bondurant course here in Phoenix, AZ., include the F1 event held at Phoenix International Raceway.   All great experiences from a well run organization.

 

Check out the story of how the U.S. Team (with Bob and two English drivers) took home the win.

 

 

Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Tim

1965 ford cobra gtcarroll shelbybob bondurant

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

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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 orders just seemed appropriate).

 

March 15, 1960 – Mercury/Ford/Edsel debuted the Comet.  The reality is that the Comet was to be a sub-model under Edsel.  With the Edsel’s demise the Comet was parent-less so to speak.  For the 1960-62 the car was simple badged as Comet.  The images below are those I took of a Comet I was interested in purchasing as a project car.

 

1961 - you can just see the Comet badge

1961 – you can just see the Comet badge

 

You can see the Edsel like instruments. Only badge is Comet.

You can see the Edsel like instruments. Only badge is Comet.

 

March 17, 1834 – Mr. Gottlieb Daimler was born in Germany.  He was an engineer and teamed up a guy named Karl Benz and together started a little car company.  I can’t recall the name!!!!

 

March 17, 1949 Porsche was debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.

 

1949 Publicity shot

1949 Publicity shot

 

March 18, 1858 Rudolph Diesel born in Paris, France.  In case you can’t guess he developed the diesel engine.

First Diesel Engine

First Diesel Engine

 

The first production diesel-powered car was created by Citroen called the Rosalie in 1933. (I always thought it was Mercedes-Benz but that didn’t happen until 1936!!)

Desiel engine

First production car diesel engine by Citroen.

 

 

1933 Citroen Rosalie - What a beautiful car!!!

1933 Citroen Rosalie – What a beautiful car!!!

March 18, 1923 Andy Granatelli 1923 Dallas, TX

Dude....It's Andy!!! "nough said"

Dude….It’s Andy!!! “nough said”

 

March 21, 1961 Jaguar  E-type was deputed

One of the best styles of the 1960's

One of the best styles of the 1960’s

 

March 27, 1863 Mr. Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, England. From aircraft engines to ultimate in high-end luxury iconic cars. You know the name Royce (as in Rolls Royce).

1933 Merlin - used in the Hawker Hurricane, de Havilland Mosquito and the famous Supermarine Spitfire

1933 Merlin – used in the Hawker Hurricane, de Havilland Mosquito and the famous Supermarine Spitfire

 

1933 Hooper Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Coupe

1933 Hooper Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Coupe

 

Thank to all the followers of #AutoFactoids.   Special Twitter give-away so follow me @AGCarRestore.

Tim

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of 2/22/2015 – Firebird …

Got a few huge debuts this week’s Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids), so lets get started. Feb 23, 1954 – Ford shows off the Thunderbird for the first.
Auto Factoids for Week of Feb 15, 2015 – SCCA, Nash-Healey

Here are your Auto Factoids (#autofactoids) for the middle of Feb, 2015!! Feb 15, 1944 – Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) was formed. For those of you that don’t follow racing you need to check out what SCCA does.
Auto Factoids for the Week of 2/1/2015 – Kaiser Week

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week in Feb. 2015!!! I think we can call this Kaiser Week as 3 of our factoid are related to the Kaiser auto.

Good Guy’s Car Show – Scottsdale, Az – The Wagons

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I thought I’d start off with one (one of many…mind you!!) favorite car classes, the Station Wagons!!   I am a big fan of the 1950’s, 1960’s wagons.  From the Nomads to the to the Falcon wagons the styling is varied, options many and with a little muscle added, they are fine machines!

If you’ve read my bio, you may recall my first car (given to me as a graduation gift back in the late 1970’s) was a restored 1966 Chevy Impala convertible.  Awesome car with the reliable 283 engine.  So it’s not hard to guess that I’d love seeing the wagon version of my Chevy. Well is just so happened that there were two 1966 wagons at the show. 

The first one had the 327 engine and the owner added nice rims to hold it up. I’d improve the stance a bit by getting wider rubber for the rear tires.  I think the roof rack is excellent.    (I guess I should mention the Pinto wagon next to it.  It was nicely done too.)

 

1966 Chevy Impala Wagon

1966 Chevy Impala Wagon

 

Another 1966 Chevy Wagon.

Another 1966 Chevy Wagon.  Same 327 engine and very nice wheels

 

 

Great lines. No roof rack

Great lines. No roof rack

 

DSC_0131

Interior was spectacular with the original horn which is impressive.

 

Crazy or not I love the wagon versions of my Impala.

 

There were a few others that I thought notable.

 

Beautiful Pontaic with a 326 engine

Beautiful Pontiac with a 326 engine

 

Here a great little Nash Rambler Super.

 

DSC_0121 DSC_0122 DSC_0123 DSC_0124

 

This one will floor ya!!

Mercury Colony-Park Monterey.

Mercury Colony-Park Monterey.

 

Not Real Wood mind you, but still nicely done.

Not Real Wood mind you, but still nicely done.

DSC_0142

Love the wide white walls!!

 

Let's talk painted dash!!! My favorite!!!

Let’s talk painted dash!!!  One of my favorite features of ’50’s and ’60’s cars!  Who needs padding?

 

AW Dude....it's a STICK!!!!

AW Dude….it’s a STICK!!!!  Lots of Chrome!!!

 

 

Did you know that the Dodge Dart could be had in a wagon?

Yup!!! Although I'm pretty sure it didn't have a V8 and Dual exhaust originally.

Yup!!! Although I’m pretty sure it didn’t have a V8 and dual exhaust originally.

 

But don’t think wagons are just show cars.    Here’s a shot from the autocross competition.

There wagon in staging!!

There wagon in staging!!

The wagon rolls up in a few frame and in case you thought it might be six cylinder…turn up you volume!!!!

 That’s a great sound.

Thanks for reading and if you have a wagon you are proud of, drop me a note.

 

Tim

 

Cars and Global Warming: Why Station Wagons Are Greener Than SUVs

Image: Cars and Global Warming: Why Station Wagons Are Greener Than SUVs The 2015 Honda Fit is pictured at the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the New York International Auto Show in New York April 17, 2014. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters/Landov).

best vintage station wagonsbest vintage station wagons