Category Archives: Auto History

Aaron Robinson: So Long, Convertibles – Column – Car and Driver

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Aaron Robinson: So Long, Convertibles – Column – Car and Driver.

Thought I’d share this article from Car and Driver.

My first car was a convertible – 1966 Impala. It was given to me in 1976 when I graduated high school.  I lived in upstate New York and being young I could squeeze out a good 5 months of top down.   But speeds were slower then and gas was cheap so cruising wasn’t half your paycheck and you could still hear the stereo.  But when it got down to the middle up winter in the Adirondacks, nothing stopped the code from getting in and you sure could tell how light the car was when you had to drive on snow and ice.

My next convertible was my 1984 Corvette, of course wasn’t really a rag top but a targa top, which is a perfect alternative to a folding cloth top and much better than a mere sun roof.  But I know live a weather environment 180o from where I had my first convertible.  Here in southern Arizona you can maybe squeeze out 5 months where it’s great to run with the roof off without melting like a carton of gelato in a microwave oven or freezing your assets off when it 29o  – Yeah it gets that could here!  However, depending on how sensitive to hot and cold you are and whether you mind lifting the lifting the top out of the rear cargo area you in the summer time often start out the morning with the top in the back and pop it on when the temp climbs past your liking.  EXTRA BONUS – it keeps the cool air in 90% better than the cloth top.  I enjoy by C6 topless.

Oh, as a side note the C4 top was a pain to remove – the C6 much easier to remove and replace!!!

You might know this car. Yup my c6. Only Corvette to show up.

 

Rag Top '66 Impala

Rag Top ’66 Impala

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

2014 McLaren Mercedes MP4-29

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How racing has changed over the years.  Now I’m not a big F1 follower although I did drive a F1 at Phoenix International Speedway, in Phoenix, AZ and that was impressive machine – slightly older model.  So I have a lot of respect of them and driving them for hours…well…let’s just say you are going to have be a hard a$$ or develop one!!!

So look at the McLaren’s new offering the shape is amazing.

BexlqMUCcAA_ZPG.jpg large

2014 MP4-29 F1

Take a look at the side view:

Sure is different than those old flat bottomed Formula 1

Sure is different than those old flat bottomed Formula 1

Here are some spec:

Category Formula One
Constructor McLaren
Designer(s) Tim Goss (Technical Director)
Predecessor McLaren MP4-28
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Carbon-fibre composite incorporating driver cockpit controls and fuel cell
Suspension (front) Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Suspension (rear) Carbon-fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Engine Mercedes PU106A Hybrid[2] 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 Turbocharged mid-mounted.
Transmission McLaren Racing eight forward and one reverse hand-operated seamless-shift Epicyclic differential with multi-plate limited-slip clutch
Weight 691 kg (1,523.4 lb) (with driver)
Fuel ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Mobil Synergy Fuel System
Mobil 1 lubrication
Tyres Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrants McLaren Mercedes[3]
Notable drivers 20. Denmark Kevin Magnussen[4]
22. United Kingdom Jenson Button[5]

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

formula 1 racing

McLaren M7A

first Alan | last Henry | authorlink Alan Henry | title McLaren: Formula 1 Racing Team | publisher Haynes | year 1999 | ref harv | isbn 1- …

Formula One

as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship is the highest class of single-seater auto racing …

 

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu turn 50 | Hemmings Daily

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Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu turn 50 | Hemmings Daily.

 

Hugely collectable with many a Malibu becoming “Chevelle SS” in the 69-72 years.  Beautiful car when they were angular and beautiful cars after they round them up a bit.

 

1964

1964

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

chevy chevellechevy chevellechevy chevelle

Chevrolet Chevelle

The Chevrolet Chevelle was a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet … The Heavy Chevy (RPO YF3) was ONLY available with the base …

Auto Factoids for the Week of Jan 18, 2014

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Well we just returned from a weekend trip to Las Vegas celebrating my beautiful wife’s birthday. Of course since you see this post, you can surmise that we didn’t come back big winners, but I did bring home more money than what I started with and we had a great time.  However,  I was disappointed, I hadn’t been to the “strip” for a number of years and I was expecting to see some fantastic cars zipping around. High roller – flashing their Lambo’s and Farraris or even a Lotus or a classic.  Nope – not a one, unless you count the Ferrari that sat at the resort the entire time.  Very disappointed.

So back at the old keyboard and here are your auto factoids for the week.

Jan 20, 1942 – Chevy sends it last car off the assembly line until WWII concludes.  The bulk of the last cars produced were, for the time,  the very undesirable “black out” models – where chrome wasn’t used and the cars seemed muted.  But a true black out model is highly sought after in today’s market.

Auto Factoids

http://travelphotobase.com/v/USWA/WATM4211.HTM

Jan 21, 1954 – …… Tell you what….guess what this is?

http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/trueauto55/trueauto55.htm

http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/trueauto55/trueauto55.htm

It’s a gas-turbine engine powered bus.  First displayed in NY on this date. This is a GM application the are others, including a “firebird” and some Chrysler projects.

Jan 24, 1960 – Volvo shows the world the P1800 Prototype.  The engine was the Swedish  B18 and it displaced 1800 cc. Topped with dual SU carbs it produced 100 hp.  The try was dubbed the P1900 but only double digit(under 100) number of cars were sold.  The engine was Swedish but the car was being manufactured by Jensen.  Jensen had quality control problems with the P1800 and by 1963 Vovlo took the car home to it’s Gothenburg and named it the 1800S (for Sweden).

I seriously like the lines of this car!!

I seriously like the lines of this car!!

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor one or more AGCRMR’s Auto Factoid articles – drop me note.  With over 200k monthly page visitors you’ll get a lot of visibility.

 

KTVU

RT @Eric_Rasmussen: Talk about a heartbreaking rip-off for some classic car owners in the Bay Area. For weeks, I’ve been looking into… h…

 

 

Color Us Excited: Two New Colors Coming to Corvette for 2015 | Corvetteforum

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Well I can say I’m not all that excited about another shade of gray (…snicker) and yellow never has done much for me.

Let me know what you think?

Color Us Excited: Two New Colors Coming to Corvette for 2015 | Corvetteforum.

Another Shade of Gray?

Another Shade of Gray?

Thanks for reading.
Tim

2015 corvette z06

A closer look at the 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06

There is no doubt that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was one of the hottest vehicles to debut this week at the Detroit Auto Show, but Autoblog West Coast Editor Michael Harley takes it one step further by calling it the “highest-performing vehicle …

2015 Corvette Z06 Arrives Late 2014: Supercharged Callaway SC610 Offers …

Callaway Cars has officially announced its supercharged version of the Corvette Stingray, dubbed SC610. The Callaway SC610 provides an intriguing alternative to the the 2015 Corvette Z06, which doesn’t go to sale until later this year. The Callaway …

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Video Preview

… some time at Germany’s Nürburgring. We’re expecting some crazy lap times for the Z06; in fact, Chevy’s already confirmed the car is quicker than the ZR1 on most of GM’s test tracks. For the 2015 Corvette Z06’s full story, check out our extensive …

Auto Racing Rules – The Good Old Days

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Now any professional auto racing event has rules, upon rules, upon restrictions, upon more rules.  NASCAR, NHRA, even local Test & Tunes.

But there was a time when race was simple.

Here’s what that should be!!!

1. Limited to vehicles with 3 or more running wheels

2.  Must derive all their motive power from within themselves

3.  No vehicles shall be admitted to competition which depend any way on muscular exertion, except for purpose of guidance.

4.  Each Vehicle must be able to carry ‘comfortably’ at least two persons throughout the race.

5.  Judges will eliminate any vehicle (TECH CHECK) deemed to be unsafe to operate

6.  Judges will bar any entry they felt was not of “practical utility”.

(Rules 4 and 6 would eliminate nearly all of  what we call race cars today.)

Also in consideration was the practical nature of the machine, its cost, its economy, and it’s general appearance and design, in addition to the speed.  They even tested fuel consumption and efficiency of every car.

These were the rules for the 1895 Paris-Rouen and Paris – Bordeaux races.

1895

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

paris bordeaux race 1895

This Day in History: Jun 13, 1895: First auto race held from Paris …

In 1895, a committee of journalists and automotive pioneers, including Levassor and Armand Peugeot, France’s leading manufacturer of bicycles, spearheaded the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race in order to capitalize on public …
How The Car Racing Sport Began – Urban Adventure Racing

The June 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race of 1,178 kilometers is what other historians consider as the first car racing event. There were 92 drivers who ran the race. Emile Levassor, who drove a Panhard 1205cc car, finished first with a time of …

Auto Factoids for the Week of Jan 12, 2014 – Ford, Dodge, Caddy

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Here is your Auto Factoids for this week.

Jan 13 – Ford figured how to build car bodies with plastic and patented the process in 1942.

Jan 14  – Ford kills the Edsel division by merging it with Lincoln Mercury in 1958.  Although the Edsel division didn’t produce cars until 1958  Ford actually started R&D in 1955, code name ‘E-car’.   They produced full-size models Citation, Corsair, Pacer, Ranger, as well as stations wagons the Bermuda, the Villager, and the Roundup.  Only 118,287 Edsels were built (only 2,846 in 1960) and 7,440 produced in Ontario, Canada. It was voted one of the 50 worse cars.  I  still want one, prefer a two door or a wagon.  Got one you want to get rid of?  Drop me a note.

Nice 2 Door Wagon

Nice 4 Door Wagon

OH!! Tell me you don't like an Edsel in the 'vert configuration???!!!

OH!! Tell me you don’t like an Edsel in the ‘vert configuration???!!!

2 Door Ranger!!!!

2 Door Ranger!!!!

 

Jan 16 – A.J. Foyt was born in 1935.

Jan 16 – Chrysler debuted the Omni (Dodge) and Horizon (Plymouth) in 1977.  The Omni would later have the distinctions of being treated to a Carol Shelby maker over 9 years later (1986).

1987 Shelby GLHS - nice looking car!!!

1987 Shelby GLHS – nice looking car!!!

 

Jan 17  – Caddy shows the worlds it’s first car – where else?  Madison Square Garden – 1903.

1903 Cadillac

1903 Cadillac

Jan 17 – 1956 Ford Motor Company allows the public to buy stock.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Hemmings Find of the Day – 1971 Jensen Interceptor Mark II

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I would own one of these.  Maybe I can find a junker somewhere, get it cheap and rebuild it!!!    So tell me – would you consider this a muscle car?  If not what would you do to turn it into a hot rod?

I first saw one of these in person at a local grocery store. It was nicely restored and sounded great!!!

I first saw one of these in person at a local grocery store. It was nicely restored and sounded great!!!

6.3 L, 383 ci, V-8 and 727 TorqueFlite trans. completely gone through and rebuilt at 75K miles. 4wheel disc brakes (upgraded master cylinder) and the original Holley 4-barrel carb recently rebuilt, as well. Not “show car” perfect, but an excellent driver. Small leaks at p/s rack and 1 rear caliper. a/c blows, but not cold. Current odo 89,500 miles (15K since rebuild). Runs strong, sounds sweet, looks FAR more valuable than the sale price.

via Hemmings Find of the Day – 1971 Jensen Interceptor Mark II | Hemmings Daily.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

jensen interceptorjensen interceptor

1ganjo

Directors @CropredyBridge home to Jensen Interceptor choose Supermodel @HarriadnieBeau as the vintage cars Ambassador http://t.co/v2EBQiyjpF
Jensen Interceptor

The Jensen Interceptor is a sporting GT -class car that was hand-built at the Kelvin Way Factory, West Bromwich near Birmingham in the …
Jensen Interceptor (1950)

The first generation of Jensen Interceptor was the second car to be made by Jensen Motors after World War II and was produced from 1950 to …

Car News 1/8/2014 – BMW, Tesla, Evo

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Doing some quick reading and ran across some interesting car news.

First up is BMW.
– Tossing out the natural aspirated engine the new BMW M3 will be getting a twin turbo charged six cylinder. (Oh I bet you could get over the UNnatural aspirated deal, when you find out it’s kicking out 425 hp and putting down 406 foot lbs of torque!!!….Yeah I thought so!!!)

425 HP...'nough said!!

425 HP…’nough said!!

– Add this to the BMW line up the Long 7 – code name “G11” – it’ll have an extra long wheelbase.

0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 350 km/h. Read more at: http://www.wemotor.com/blog/2011/10/bmw-7-series-long-version-with-720bhp/

0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 350 km/h.
Read more at: http://www.wemotor.com/blog/2011/10/bmw-7-series-long-version-with-720bhp/

 

Tesla’s burning rubber or Tesla sedans are HOT!!

– While there could be other possibilities, a Southern Ca fire department ruled that a garage fire was started by an over heated charging system for Tesla’s Model S.

 

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo GSR for 2014

– 291 hp and 300 ft lbs of torque from the turbo-fi-ed 2 liter.

– 0-60 in 5.8 seconds

2014 Mits Evo

2014 Mits Evo

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

One man and his Mustang – ’66 Restoration Project | A Classic Mustang Coupe 289ci v8 restoration

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Ran across this blog the other day. Some nice work on this beautiful ’66.

One man and his Mustang – ’66 Restoration Project | A Classic Mustang Coupe 289ci v8 restoration.

 

Before

Before

Check it out and leave him a note.

Thanks for Reading.

Tim

 

289 engine

Ford Windsor engine

Although all of the 1962 through 1964 221-289 engines used a five-bolt bell housing, the block mount pads varied in length between the 221 …