Auto Factoids for Week of March 23, 2014

Here are your Auto Factoids for the week.

Back in 1863 Mr. Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, England on March 27th.

 

Mr. Royce

Mr. Royce

The Royce 10

The Royce 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royce 10 was a 10 horse powered car.  It was produced at the Trafford Park, Manchester plant in 1904 and sold fro 395 British pounds.  You could a variety of ‘power plants’ for this first offering.  Those included 15, 20 and 30 hp models.  (They were named the Royce 15, Royce 20 and Royce 30.

 

On March 29, 1980 Audi debuts the first all wheel drive (4 WD) Quattro.

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor an Auto Factoid drop me a note and your ad appear weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA

History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA.

 

Bugattii 105

Bugattii 105

The 1984 Bugatti Type 105 is a 4-wheeled what if, the car isn’t real of course and is the work of designer Nikita Bridan, though it has to be said, Nikita did a great job of capturing early-80s automotive design. His backstory for the Bugatti Type 105 is below in full:
The Bugatti type 105 was the last attempt to restart the company by Roland Bugatti and its road cars. An attempt to create the first digital super car, it featured extensive computer assists and software to keep the car in control. During early prototype road tests, feedback from reviewers was horrible.
Citing a huge lack of feedback and a lack of consistency in the assists, led to the car having horrible dynamics.This eventually sealed the fate of the type 105, Bugatti laid dormant until the 110 EB.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Timbugatti 105bugatti 105

North Country Corvettes – NCoCC Plastic Fantastic XXXVII

NCoCC.

They have been holding this Plastic Fantastic  car show for 37 years (the oldest and largest Corvette show…ever!!!)

Looks like a blast!!!!!

Plastic Flyer 2014 - mailer 01-15-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The proceeds go to support the club charity, the San Diego USO.

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

Thanks To The International Viewers!!!

Greetings.

I was sorting through the data on the AGCRMR site and took a look at the viewers for today.

It was very cool to see that car lovers from all over the world take time out of their busy day to stop by my blog and read some of the posts. So here’s a SHOUT OUT  all the international car junkies that stopped by today.

So a HUGE “THANKS” to registered viewers:

Thanks/Merci – Canada!!

Graças – Portugal!!

Tack – Sweden!!

Merci – France!!

Gracias – Brazil!!

Thanks – England!!

Dzięki – Poland!!

Dank – Germany (where my son some born)!!!

Feel free to post up a note and just say “Hey” or find me on Facebook – Average Guys Car Restoration Mods and Racing (AGCRMR) and send me a few pics of your ride!!!! Doesn’t even have to be your ride (Pls NO JOY RIDING Innocent !!!)

Question of the Day:  Is it a Joy Ride if you don’t smile while you are driving it?

BTW – these are registered viewers, not spam and we NEVER every share names nor personal data.

Regards

Tim

 

1984 C4

1984 C4

2007 C6

2007 C6

1970 Mustang

1970 Mustang

 

Auto Factoids for Week of 3/16/2014

Another week gone and March Madness in upon us.  Nope you are going to find any brackets here, just your Auto Factoids for the week.

Big day on the 17th of March.  That’s when Geneva attendees were treated to the first of what would become world iconic car.   The Porsche debuted back in 1949. Volkswagen or not it is still going strong.

1949 Publicity shot

1949 Publicity shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Porsche was in production a few year before this debut.  Most of the first Porsche’s contained Volkswagen parts, as the Beetle was the first car the Porsche built.

 

A few years before the Porsche debut (about 115 –  1834) Gottlieb Daimler was born in Germany on the 17th of March.

 

Two more March birthdays show up on a search. Those are for Rudolf Diesel in Paris in 1858 and Andy Granatelli in Dallas, TX in 1923, whom just passed way on Dec 29, 2013.

 

RIP

RIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Andy Granatelli

Anthony “AndyGranatelli (March 18, 1923 – December 29, 2013) was the CEO of STP (motor oil company) and a major figure in automobile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parkinglot Spot Light – 1980 Firebird TA 4.9

Head in to the store for my second time today (happens when you don’t  follow the list as close as you as should) and I spotted this iconic car, the one, the only Firebird Trans Am.

I’m not sure why I took the pics like this – maybe balancing the bag of groceries and my Android and an impact.

 

 

IMG_20140316_113144_404 IMG_20140316_113147_246 IMG_20140316_113155_988 IMG_20140316_113210_740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly this car is a driver and that is perfect in my book.   Love the original honeycomb wheels and that hood scoop!!!  That 4.9 on the scoop indicates there might be a turbo under that bird sticker!!!!

Should look something like this:

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The choices were the 4.9L T/A Pontiac V8, the Chevrolet 5.0L V8 and 1981 the highly desirable 4.9L Turbocharged Pontiac V8.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Corrections & Amplifications

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in the first “Smokey and the Bandit” movie was a 1977 model. An Arena article on Friday about car movies incorrectly said the car was a 1976 model. In the movie, it was intended to be a 1977, although car buffs
“Smokey and The Bandit” Fans, NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart Is Bringing It Back

The six-part web series has Stewart channeling his inner Burt Reynolds complete with an enormous mustache that would make any man jealous. He’s also got the iconic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am to play with and the hat to make the transformation complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hemmings Backfire – Auction Ads

I was just reading one of my favorite automotive periodicals “Hemmings Motor News” (April 14th) last night and I stopped by the letters to the editor section called ‘Backfire’.  I usually just skim that section, I don’t normal care about someone else’s whine…I’m an IT guy, I get that all day.  However, one letter caught my interest (maybe just because it was long).  A reader had written a letter blasting way at “the publisher and advertisers” for promoting our hobby (car collecting, selling, restoration, etc.) in such a way as to ‘…pander to the individuals who take the interest in the industry only because of the financial gains that may be made through sale or investment in collector cars’.  Which according to him was in direct philosophical opposition to many of the writers at Hemmings who complain about “…the fact that the collector-car industry has become so money driven.”  To that I say “poppycock” and “balderdash”!! I’m not even British!!

He goes on to say that the ads promoting auctions and the articles that show the results of those auctions have value only to the ‘high roller’ segment of our hobby.  Again – poppycock!!! (Oh…if you go to reprint/publish this {permission granted} and ‘poppycock’ is not in your lexicon of acceptable words – just replace with “BS”.  I’m cool with that.)

It was good to see, however, that he understood that publishing such great works such as Hemmings Motor News isn’t free and you have to chase the advertising $$$ where it’s found.

Although he brought up a valid point, there are a lot of auction related ads/results/information/articles in Hemmings’ offering. For instance, 20 of the 53 most recent Hemmings Daily email messages either directly stated “auction” or had high-end priced car values – right in the titles.   But I like reading that ‘stuff’!!!

Needless to say I disagree with the man from Menominee, Michigan that promoting auctions is evil and that there is something inherently damaging to the car enthusiast hobby by publishing the results.  I’ll explain why in a minute but I have to set up the basis for my opinion.

I’ve restored a few cars, completely or in part (1966 Impala, 1969 Dodge Dart, 1971 Thunderbird, 1970 Chevelle, 1970 Mustang coupe – trophy winner, a 1984 C4 Corvette – 2 time trophy winner and working on a 1966 Bridgestone Dual Twin – my first attempt at a motorcycle ) and sold them, but I never made a profit – well maybe on the C4, I got that one in a title for title trade for a 1995 Celica – yes that did happen (see the story here….) and sold it for a good price.

Additional, I attend, in person, at least one “big guy” auction a year (most often it’s the Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ – just up the road a piece).  Now, I have never purchased more than a hat, t-shirt, or some other trinket at these types of auctions, I just have this little blog and a lot enthusiasm, but not a lot of ‘free range’ cash. You have to attend at least one of these auctions to understand that there are some big dollar cars that pass in front of the auctioneer, but there other beautiful collectible cars that sell for reasonable prices.  Just walking among some of the iconic classic vehicles is rewarding and I come away inspired!

I enjoy the auction information and their results in the Hemmings’ magazines for a couple of reasons.  First, it is great to know where and when they are being held and what cars are worth getting an up close look at and photograph.  Having a schedule helps with travel planning. (Get a Hemmings Calendar they are listed there.)  Second, call me a “starry eyed optimistic, to the point of being delusional, car guy” (wife would just say “delusional”) but this type of information, in part, makes me see the potential in all kinds of cars.  Just dreaming about taking something that is rough and creating something that others want or appreciate is very cool.  It also gives me a threshold to try to obtain during a restoration – one I’ll never match 100%  – average guy, with average skills and a below average budget – you know how that goes.

This inspiration would be dead on arrival, if I knew there was no way that a car could be restored.  The big guy auctions and the high end restorers help keep the market for reproduction parts going and doors to salvage yards open, either by their purchase power or just by creating the want (need) to take that old VW bus setting on blocks at grandpa’s house and get it road worthy or airing up the tires on that Ford Mustang coupe sitting in the garage with a rod sticking out of the hood and creating a clone. This helps the hobby. It keeps it publicly visible, shows that there is value (even if it’s not always attainable by everyone – what is?) and promotes preservation of history by restoring to factory specs (or close) or creating history by customizing it.  How many customized cars go on to be historic (try Ring Brothers Mustangs or a George Barris creation)?

There is one more over-looked area where these big auctions and car shows benefit the hobby. Size matters. If the industry is big and it makes money on the local, state and/or national level, two things are accomplished.  First, a fan base is created that will reject the legislation trying to be passed to limit our hobby. Second, generate enough ‘horse power’ (pronounced ‘revenue’) to lobby politicians (pronounced ‘showing them the light’) to prevent passage of laws that restrict our hobby. Both very helpful.

So guys and gals at Hemmings (the best automotive periodical publishing company, ever!!! OMG!!!) I don’t care if you have to sell ads for ‘work at home schemes’, as long as you can keep Mike McNessor writing, Richard Lentinello pontificating, the other contributors submitting articles and make Daniel Strohl stop doing whatever that thing is he does with abandoned cars (just kidding – love those too) I’ll always be a happy subscriber!!

Thank you.

Tim Sweet

Tucson, AZ

1970 Mustang

1970 Mustang

1984 C4

1984 C4

Auto Factoids for Week of 3/9/2014

Here are your Auto Factoids for this week.

The Oldsmobile Motor Works is destroyed by fire 3/9/1901.  Started by a careless work, all but one of the curved dash prototypes were lost.

Fire started by a worker.

Fire started by a worker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day later and 26 years (1927) Sir Henry Seagrave sets a speed record over 200 mile per hour.

r built by the Sunbeam car company of Wolverhampton that was powered by two aircraft engines.

Built by the Sunbeam car company of Wolverhampton that was powered by two aircraft engines.

March 12th has a lot of birthdays:

–  Johnny Rutherford in Coffeyville, Kansas – 1938

one of nine drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times

One of nine drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Giovanni Agnelli – 1921

Not to be confused with his namesake grandfather the founder of Fiat.  But Giovanni the grandson was responsible for massive expanding Fiat to Russia and South American.

Giovanni Agnelli

Giovanni Agnelli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–  Clement Studebaker – 1831

A wagon and carriage manufacturer. With his brother Henry, he co-founded the H & C Studebaker Company, precursor of the Studebaker Corporation, which built Pennsylvania-German Conestoga wagons[1] and carriages during his lifetime, and automobiles after his death.

Clement Studebaker

Clement Studebaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 13 in 1948 Honda Motors was formed.

March 13, 1974 the Arab oil embargo ended.

March 15, 1960 Mercury debts the Comet.

Dubbed as Fords first compact car, it came in 2 or 4 door configuration as well as station wagon.

I like the two and the fins

I like the two and the fins

1960 4 Door Comet

1960 4 Door Comet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 mercury comet

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Amelia Island 2014 Preview | Mind over Motor

Amelia Island 2014 Preview | Mind over Motor.

 

A great car show with some excellent photo ops for cool cars!!

 

Amelia Island

BMW

Amelia Island

Lambo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

BMW displays Calder art car, racers and classics at Amelia Island

The first BMW art car — a 1975 3.0 CSL wearing a paint job designed by Alexander Calder — headlined a class of significant cars from the German automaker at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. It was joined by a BMW M-powered McLaren F1 

 

Barrett-Jackson to Auction First 2015 Corvette Z06 in Palm Beach | Corvetteforum

 

Barrett-Jackson to Auction First 2015 Corvette Z06 in Palm Beach | Corvetteforum.

 

2015 Z06

2015 Z06

 

 

Corvette enthusiasts from around the world have been waiting for the reintroduction of the legendary model since production of the C6 Z06 ended, but the wait will soon be over. If you want to be the owner of the first 2015 Z06 produced, then you need to be at Barrett-Jackson’s second auction of the 2014 season, being held at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, April 11 – 13. Gary Bennett, Vice President of Consignments, has once again struck a deal with GM to auction off the very first production model of a new Corvette. At this point, the Z06 is scheduled to cross the block on Saturday, April 12.

 

 

 

Check out the link above.

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

In-Depth with the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

If, however, you guessed the 2015 Corvette Z06, you are also correct. If you guessed anything else, you’re reading the wrong magazine. Because of the upcoming Z06’s striking similarities to the ZR1, we’ve taken to thinking of the new car as the “ZR06.”.