Category Archives: Auto History

Curb Weight 9/15/2013 – Mustang 2015

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The Mustang turns 50 and there is special cars in the works.

They will have have turbo charged 4 banger models for the first time since the Fox Body SVO stangs.  They’ll also have independent rear suspension.  The charged 4 cylinder could top out at about 300 HP…pretty cool!!

2015 50th Anniversary - (rendering)

2015 50th Anniversary – (rendering)

Thanks for reading

Tim

50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration in Charlotte, NC – Team Shelby

50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration in Charlotte, NC – posted in Team Shelby: Automotive General Discussion: My hubby and I are planning on attending the 50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration event in Charlotte, NC to …
Next-Gen Ford Mustang Reportedly to Launch as 2014.5 50th …

We assume—and we suspect we won’t be making asses out of anyone with such an assumption—that a hypothetical 50th Anniversary Mustang will come complete with requisite unique dash plaques and VIN numbers.

 

 

 

Are ‘Vette owners more extreme about their cars than most? | Corvetteforum

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Are ‘Vette owners more extreme about their cars than most? | Corvetteforum.

Sharing this from the Corvette Forum.

After you read this you might think, Corvette drivers are … well….Richard Craniums… but I think this is an issue with any car person with a car they love. community-ocd-600x396 My wife is like that with new cars – Nissan and two Lexus brand cars over the years.  I’ve been less so, I think with my ’70 Mustang (now going to a large collector) and my two Corvettes (C4 and C6) – well maybe not.

But generally I don’t make people take their shoes off before getting in my car.  No smoking of course and eating and drinking are fine.  Spills will get you tossed out at the next stop however.

Got “Not in my car!!!” moment?  Share it here.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

DL0RENZ0

I love the unwritten rule that #Corvette drivers wave to each other on the road. Can’t wait to have my one one day. #ThanksMom
Study Shows Chevy Corvette Drivers Among Safest | Chevy …

Corvette convertible drivers among the safest, study shows. We all know Chevy Corvette drivers are passionate about their cars. One clear indication of this is how safe they are when it comes to their driving – well, some may …

 

Ford Falcon – 2005?

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I really perked up when I ran across a web site that offered repair details on the Ford Falcon.  So I called up the URL and saw Ford Falcon 2002-2005 repair manual and that’s got to be a mix up at the programmers desks.  There aren’t any 2002, 03, 04 or 05 Falcons…come on!!!    Well  it just goes to show that we Americans (or maybe it’s just me) are a bit U.S. centric when it comes to cars.  Then I Googled and realized that the folks ‘down-under’ do some cool stuff and Ford is a big part of that.  Yeah..they are still using the Ford Falcon moniker.

But don’t expect to see that boxy little car that we stuff V8’s in and cram headers between the around the suspension, nope that’s gone.  But you will find a couple of surprises.

Ford-BA_Falcon_XR6_Turbo_2002_1600x1200_wallpaper_02

Looks pretty pedestrian, doesn’t it?  What if I told you it had….

Barra straight-six 4.0-litre DOHC VCT (turbo)

OR….

Barra 220 producing  300 hp and  348 lb·ft or  Boss 260  producing 350 hp  and 370 lb·ft or Boss 290 producing producing 390 hp and 380 lb·ft.

NOT BAD!!!!

Or maybe you’d like a UTE – a WHAT?   Well a Ranchero of sorts:

Ford-BF_Falcon_XR8_Ute

Including the first US models the Ford Falcon is now in it’s 7th Generation.  Which includes and not so great looking new model (not even gonna show ya a pic)  but this will impress you – The 5.0-litre ‘modular V8’ engine is currently the Ford Performance Vehicles’ V8 engine of two varieties, one rated at 422 hp and 402 lb·ft of torque (“Boss 315”) and the other at 449 hp and 420 lb·ft of torque (“Boss 335″).

Ok Ford – Down – Under….let’s see something retro!!!!  Come on you can beat Chevy to the punch by creating something Felcon- Ranchero-ish before they bring out the El Camino!!! (I’m going to blog about Chevy later and use the line in reverse)”

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

ford falcon

Alan Mulally talks about why Ford’s Falcon had to die – Autoblog

Ford CEO Alan Mulally gives a pretty succinct explanation of what lead Ford to end Australian production, while trying to minimize the collateral damage to those invested in the manufacturing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS CAR MATTERS: 1911 Franklin Model D

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THIS CAR MATTERS: 1911 Franklin Model D.

Be sure to check out  http://www.historicvehicle.org.  If you are a member consider joining.

And if you end up in the Tucson area, be sure to added the Franklin Auto Museum

1405 East Kleindale Road
Tucson, AZ 85719
(Entrance is on Vine Ave.)

(520)326-8038

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

franklin automobile

Franklin (automobile)

The Franklin Automobile Company was an American manufacturer of automobile s in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, …
John Wilkinson (Franklin automobile)

He invented the air-cooled motor which was used in the Franklin (automobile) produced by H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company where he …

More 2015 Mustang Renders – MustangForums.com

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More 2015 Mustang Renders – MustangForums.com.

Are you tired of “spy photos” or “artful rendering” of up an coming cars?    Me too!!!

But it’s trending so here ya go!!!!

2015 Mustang? Perhaps.

2015 Mustang? Perhaps.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

MDotMuhib42

RT @PrestonMahler: The 2015 Mustang Gt looks nothing like a Mustang/Muscle Car.. It looks like a Lancer.. Anyone else agree?? http://t.co/B…
PrestonMahler

The 2015 Mustang Gt looks nothing like a Mustang/Muscle Car.. It looks like a Lancer.. Anyone else agree?? http://t.co/BIWXJ2rGDP
Best 2015 Mustang concept photos and renderings | Digital Trends

There are countless renderings of what the 2015 Ford Mustang could look like circulating the web revving up for what could be the biggest car debut ever.

 

Auto Factoid 9/8/2013 – 9/14/2013

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Auto Factoids are back!!!!   Lets just get started.

Happy Birthday (Sept. 8, 1903) Preston  Tucker – nice cars!!!

 

On Sept 9th 1935 Studebaker put the first car on a Pennsylvania RR rail car headed to NYC  but the final destination was London.  (Actually there were 163 cars in that shipment.)

These are what were shipped

These are what were shipped

studeexport

Studebakers on the ship headed for London

 

On September 13, 1945 Pontiac began producing cars again after WWII.   Well sort of. From 1946 to 1948, all Pontiac models were essentially 1942 models with minor changes – like interior and bright-work.  The next “all new” Pontiac was the 1949 model.

Looks a like the the '42 model you say? Yup.

Looks a like the the ’42 model you say? Yup.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

TuffyEasternIA

The 1948 Tucker Torpedo was a unique model which sported 3 headlights! #tbt http://t.co/Zly6WuxBtG
j12s634

1948 Tucker Torpedo, ahead of its time….. http://t.co/U0wH1KLAJq
Documentary Tells the Real Tale of the Tucker Torpedo/48 [w …

Of all the great cars that could have been, the Tucker is right there at the very top of the list. Only around 50 cars were ever made, despite the fact that the company had the largest single-space factory in the world (at the time) …

 

 

 

 

Chrysler Town & Country K-car sells for $13,750 at Auburn | Hemmings Daily

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Chrysler Town & Country K-car sells for $13,750 at Auburn | Hemmings Daily.

A Woodie K-ar

A Woodie K-ar

 

While it’s hard to discount the Chrysler K-cars’ historical significance (they did, more or less, save the company under Lee Iacocca’s leadership), most owners viewed them as disposable transportation, to be driven to the point of failure and then discarded. Recently, however, survivor K-cars have been turning up at auctions with surprising selling prices, such as the 1983 Chrysler Town & Country Mark Cross convertible that drew a winning bid of $13,750 (including the 10 percent buyer’s premium) at last weekend’s Auctions America sale in Auburn, Indiana.

Collectible K-Cars?   Of course!!!!  But did the K-Car really save Chrysler?

Thanks for reading

Tim

The Ten Worst Convertibles Ever Made – Jalopnik

No Chrysler K Car Convertible (even if it was owned by Jon Voight)? Seriously, you’re going to include aftermarket jobs that nobody has ever heard of and not the infamous K Car? 6/08/12 11:49am. NovaloadUZundfolge. 1. L.
Troutdale Canfield: What A Parade!

And what a car Neil had prepared for us- a 1970’s Chrysler K car convertible. Apparently, the parade assembly folks had spotted this classic in front of the Handy Bros. Garage earlier that morning and asked Neil if the thing still …

2016 Corvette Z07 to offer 600 hp :: Safelite AutoGlass®

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2016 Corvette Z07 to offer 600 hp :: Safelite AutoGlass

2016 Corvette

2016 Corvette

New details are starting to emerge about the next-generation Z06. According to Car & Driver, the the Z06 replacement will be called the Z07 to reflect that it is based on the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette.

The magazine also believes the car will use a turbocharged or twin-turbocharged V8 engine which could develop 600 hp from significantly less than 6.2-liter of displacement. Regardless of the engine’s output, it will be mated exclusively to a Tremec TR-6070 seven-speed manual transmission.

To take advantage of the added impetus, the Z07 will be equipped with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter wheels and larger Michelin tires.

The Corvette Z07 is expected to be introduced in early 2015 as a 2016 model. While the outgoing Z06 costs around $76,000, the Z07 will have a starting price of $100,000.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

New Chevrolet 2016 Corvette Will Have the Name, Price Tag, and Power

General Motor Co.’s (NYSE:GM) 2016 Chevrolet Corvette may not have the most creative name, but the U.S. automaker is confident that what it lacks in name creativity, it makes up for under the hood. Autoblog reported Monday on the new C7 Corvette, …

 

 

 
The magazine also believes the car will use a turbocharged or twin-turbocharged V8 engine which could develop 600 hp from significantly less than 6.2-liter of displacement. Regardless of the engine’s output, it will be mated exclusively to a Tremec TR-6070 seven-speed manual transmission.

To take advantage of the added impetus, the Z07 will be equipped with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter wheels and larger Michelin tires.

The Corvette Z07 is expected to be introduced in early 2015 as a 2016 model. While the outgoing Z06 costs around $76,000, the Z07 will have a starting price of $100,000.

The Life and Death and Life of the U.S. Auto Industry

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I had one of my readers send me this graphic.  Thought I’d share.

 

The Life and Death and Life of the U.S. Auto Industry.

The Life and Death (and Life) of the U.S. Auto Industry

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

us auto industry statisticsus auto industry statistics

Our Rice Blogs

The ability to extract auto industry statistics enlightenment, is with us auto industry statistics.We understand everything as concerns auto industry statistics. The effortless process to acquire director of photography clue is with …

It’s Not All about Cars – Words

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Every now and then it’s not about cars, racing or banging on car fenders.  But it’s always about Words.

Although this is a bit about cars, because this popped into my head when I was reading the book “A Most Unique Machine” by George S. May. Any excellent read if you like the history part of this passion of ours – cars.

In the book they grab excerpts of real period accounts and news articles about the dawn of the auto industry in the United States – which was mid morning to the rest of the world – as we were behind many European countries.

These excerpts came from a time when words stood lone.  Words like ‘marvelous’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘unique’.  The use of these words meant some thing back then.  They were reserved words, used to emphasize important events or objects. The word ‘unique’ really meant something special.  Here’s an example from the Detroit Journal:  ‘when in motion, the connecting rods fly  like lightning, and the machine is capable of running seven or eight miles an hours…a most unique machine.’

This excerpts is a description of Charles King’s evening joy ride in his gas powered horseless carriage in March of 1896.   Of his version of the car he said…”I am convinced they (horseless carriages) will in time supersede the horse.”

Back then words such as ‘fly like lightning’ or even words like ‘capable’ and ‘unique’ were as good as it got. If someone called you ‘capable’ that was high praise as was ‘unique’ and if you supersede someone or something it meant you were the best.  In today “drama – filled, I need attention writing these are lame words.

Can you image describing the winning top-fueled drag car – fast as lightning?    Certainly not (hell no) it would be friggin’ fast.

Words meaning have been muted by adjectives and adverbs.

Ok on to my next audacious, awesome filled, friggin’ outstanding article.

Thanks for reading,

Tim

king horseless carriage

Ruff Bolt and the King’s Horseless Carriage « Kids with Bricks

Here we have Ruff Bolt and the King’s Horseless Carriage. Ruff Bolt is a funny automatic controlled plane which can fly 10,000 km per second! The Kings Horseless Carriage is small, cozy, and pretty fast. Both Ruff Bolt and …
This Day In History For March 6, Michelangelo, Bayer, Oreo and …

King’s “horseless carriage” moved down Woodward Avenue to the surprise of pedestrians. The next day a local newspaper called it “a most unique machine.” King became the first Detroiter—and possibly the first …