Category Archives: Auto History

Unrestored high-desert Mopars sell for bargain-basement prices | Hemmings Daily

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment

Unrestored high-desert Mopars sell for bargain-basement prices | Hemmings Daily.

 

Just a field full of vintage Mopar metal!!!!   You’ve gotta love the prices that these car brought.

I often read where automotive writers type, “Where are all the classic/muscle cars?”   They really need to get out more. There are many places just like this one across the U.S.   Take a drive a cross the Painted Desert.  I’m sure I saw at least 10 muscle Mustangs in the backyards, garages and car ports!!!

 

Field of Mopars. Someone's Field of Dream!

Field of Mopars. Someone’s Field of Dream!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Reilly Motorsports’ Street-Lynx Rear Suspension Install

Ok, let’s get overly simple: Your classic Mopar has come from the factory with a leaf-spring suspended rear end. This setup has been installed in cars and trucks since the automobile’s humble beginnings. It works well in factory-designed situations …
Classic “A” Body Mopar Enthusiast Forum, ForABodiesOnly.com, Celebrates a …

With over 30,000 members, ForABodiesOnly.com has become the largest and leading authority online for information focused on “A” Body Classic Mopar cars and is pleased to celebrate a decade of serving the community. Chicago, IL — (SBWIRE) …

Rambler – With an Eye on the Weather.

By | | , , ,
6 Comments

If you are over 40, you might remember back when talking to your car was only done to coax it to start or make it to the next service station or when it failed to do either one. Gadgets were limited to a radio with AM/FM and a cigarette liter.

Now days you can give your car voice commands and it can give you a host of information, like my Drivers Information Center (DIC) which runs my C7 Corvette. We can even control the environment on different sides of the car from temperature on down to how much air blows out of your vented seats.

But that wasn’t always the case. If you are way over 30 you might recall the only way to adjust the temperature was to open your vent window.

Recently I was at a car show and if you’re a regular reader you might recall that I love dash boards, especially those that are painted and chromed, I saw a curious feature on a Rambler dashboard(I don’t recall the year). It was labeled “Weather Eye”.

So a little research was in order.

As you may know Nash was an auto maker and through a series of mergers or purchases changed it name to Nash Kalvinater,  eventually became American Motors Corporation (AMC).  Well they were the first to develop a car heater.  Back in 1938 engineers got the idea to run fresh air over the hot engine water and pass it into the cabin.  The air came in through the vent in the cowl and passed the air through a heater core filled with hot coolant.  Later on they figured out how to keep the warm are in and the cold are out, by adding a fan to keep constant pressure in the cabin.

A year later Nash engineers added a thermostat for the first climate control, dubbed the “The Weather Eye”.  Here are some pics:

This was the dash that caught my eye.

This was the dash that caught my eye.

Here is a image from the web that shows a better image of the "Weather Eye"

Here is an image from the web that shows a better image of the “Weather Eye”

Here is a image show the "Weather Eye's" controls

Here is an image show the “Weather Eye’s” controls

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Nevada Prisoners are Bringing Classic Cars Back to Life – StumbleUpon

By | | , ,
3 Comments

A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested.

See more at:    Nevada Prisoners are Bringing Classic Cars Back to Life – StumbleUpon.

 

102153 102155

 

Cool!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Cruisin’ Style Magazine

Cruisin’ Style Magazine features articles on classic car restoration, hot rods, performance cars (particularly Corvettes), muscle cars, …
Vandenbrink GTO

The new coachworks are handcrafted in aluminium by Dutch classic car restoration specialist and coachbuilder Alwin Hietbrink. …
Classic Motorsports

Classic Motorsports is an American periodical devoted to classic cars, classic car restoration and vintage racing. It was established in …
A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf
A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf
A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf

A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf

A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf
A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested. – See more at: http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/10/30/Nevada-Prisoners-are-Bringing-Classic-Cars-Back-to-Life-7705491/#sthash.HNHeZB1O.dpuf

Auto Factoids for Week of April 27, 2014

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

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. …

 

 

29th Annual Chevy Showdown – The Corvairs

By | | , , ,
2 Comments

There were many Corvair owners that braved the wind and brought their Monza’s, Drop Tops and Van’s to the 29th Annual Chevy Showdown today.

Here are some of the pictures.

Parking and setting up

Parking and setting up

 

I’d estimate about 20 Corvairs attended.  The white Monza was beautifully done!!  There were a couple unique Corvair powered entries.

In a previous post entitled  “Lost Classics – Trucks – Corvair Rampside” I mentioned that I’d never seen a Rampside in person.  Well, I can scratch that off my car bucket list.  Here is the 1961 Corvair powered Rampside.

Corvair 95

Corvair 95

DSC_0068 DSC_0069  DSC_0071 DSC_0072 DSC_0073

This Corvair 95 Rampside is in very good condition and got to the show under it’s on power provided by the ‘Flat Six’.

Now the Rampside also came in the Greenbrier packaged.  And there was a Greenbrier Corvair there….this great looking 1962 van with the 110 engine.

1962 Greenbrier Corvair Van

1962 Greenbrier Corvair Van

DSC_0117 DSC_0118

AC in front and back!!!

AC in front and back!!!

 

Yup that's A/C stuffed back here!!!

Yup that’s A/C stuffed back here!!!

 

There now I’ve seen all manner of Corvairs!!!  Only that was there was the Corvair wagon.

More coming up on the Chevy Showdown here in Tucson, Az

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

29th Annual Chevy Showdown – Corvettes
http://wp.me/p2YxYx-3tj

29th Annual Chevy Showdown – Corvettes

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment

There is almost never a bad day for a car show, especially here in Southern Arizona.  Today was cool and a bit overcast, but extremely windy and so much tree pollen (as well as other stuff) it covered anything standing still.   That may have what caused the light turnout for cars as well as spectators for the 29th Annual Chevy Showdown, which is limited to classic cars (up to 1972 with a category for 73-89).  This is put on by the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson and there were a few sub-clubs attending like the local Corvair and Nomad club.

But I’ve never had a bad time at a car show and this one had a lot to offer.

I attended the 27th Annual Chevy Showdown here in Tucson, AZ and the turnout was much higher that year and I saw at least one familiar car – I’ll cover that later.

I wanted to share the Corvettes that showed up. So here are some shots.

The only C3 to show.

The only C3 to show.

 

C2 Showed up in forces. Sorry I didn't get a good shot of the C1's.

C2 Showed up in force!

 

Sorry I didn’t get a good shot of the C1’s and no C4 showed.

More coming up from the Chevy Showdown.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

What is FELINO cB7?

By | | , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Some recently post a picture of this fascinating car on my Google Plus account and I had to look it up.

cB7 Prototype

cB7 Prototype – Look a little like a C7? That’s what I thought.

 

So what is cB7?

The FELINO cB7 is a tubular frame vehicle wrapped with composite and carbon fibre elements; it weighs approximately 1 000 kg, according to the selected drive train.

Therefore, the cB7 can be mounted with a 4, 6 or 8-cylinder engine, optional for the buyer.

The early prototype, equipped with a 4-cylinder turbo engine, was tested and received high marks in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, a 6,2 litres V-8 was installed under the bonnet of a second-generation prototype and will be tested thoroughly in the Spring of 2014.

The specifications featured in the press documents are those of the V8 version. These specifications may change. Final model specs will be available in the Summer of 2014.

The entry-level model of the FELINO cB7 will be available at a price under $100,000. Final sales prices will be announced later. The FELINO corporation is already considering the possibility of an electric vehicle in a few years.

cb7-2

PRODUCTION STATUS OF THE FELINO cB7

After three years of research and development, the first FELINO cB7 prototype became a reality in 2012 and was tested on race tracks and notably on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2012 and 2013.

In 2013, FELINO built a second-generation prototype, featuring a chassis evolution, along with a mechanical and design upgrade. It will be tested in the Spring of 2014.

In 2014, the company will reach the final phase of development and the level of pre-production. Two more units will be assembled and tested before Production 1 starts. A limited production series is forecasted for 2015.

via F E L I N O | Informations.

Here are the specs they vary of course depending on the drive train.  I’m liking it to a kit car – like a Cobra.

Specs

Specs

 

Would you buy one?

Thanks for reading

Tim

iWireless1

⚫ FELINO CB7 ⚫ http://t.co/ep1f4GYO37
Super car soon to be a reality

One does not often mention Canada and supercars in the same breath, but Felino, a new high-performance carmaker based in Montreal, hopes to change that with its first production model, the Felino cB7. Founded by the former Canadian racecar driver …

Bugatti pays homage to classic Type 18 sports car with new special edition

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

Bugatti pays homage to classic Type 18 sports car with new special edition.

It seems the only constant at international auto shows these days is a new Veyron special edition. Bugatti has been unloading these Veyron cosmetic packages one by one, in an effort to keep attracting buyers to the decade-old model. The latest such special edition brings a little more intrigue than the average, recalling what Bugatti calls “one of the first ever street legal super sports cars.”

 

bugattivitesseblackbess-17 bugattivitesseblackbess

 

Although 1000 hp is cool, I prefer the older model.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

bugatti racingbugatti racingbugatti racing

1000HP MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 SUPERSNAKE – AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR

By | | , , , , , ,
1 Comment

1000HP MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 SUPERSNAKE – AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR

You will see and enjoy the voices of few very powerful American muscle cars –  Mustang Shelby GT500 ,  Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT & Mustang Shelby KR. Super hot rides, which sound 10 times louder if you hear them live and will make you shake. Anyways check out the video to see this beasts. watch, Enjoy & Share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

shelby super snake price

2015 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Imagined

While it seems like quite a while since the early December reveal of the 2015 Ford Mustang, the car is very much still in its infancy. Consequently, the most powerful variant currently available is the 5.0-liter V8 powered Mustang GT. However, in the …

Auto Factoids – Week of 4/20/2014

By | | , , , , ,
2 Comments

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