We have a couple of debuts’ this week and a couple of Birthdays.
First up on Sept. 23 in 1969 the iconic and now recreated Dodge Challenger.
From this:
1969 Challenger
And this:
The Iconic General Lee
To this:
The 2012 version.
Virgil Exner was born on the 24th of Sept in 1909. Who was “Ex”? A car designer. Oh…ok…of what? Just a couple of designs, like all of these:
Studebaker Champion
Studebaker Starlight
Chrysler C-200
Chrysler 300 letter series
Chrysler 300 non-letter series
Chrysler New Yorker
Imperial 1955-1961
Chrysler Diablo Concept with Ghia
Plymouth Savoy
Plymouth Belvedere
Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Suburban
Plymouth Valiant
Dodge Coronet
Dodge Firearrow Concept
Desoto 1961
Desoto Adventurer
Bugatti 1965 concept with Ghia
Mercer-Cobra 1965 concept
Duesenberg 1966 prototype with Ghia
Stutz Blackhawk
Bill France was born on the 26th in 1909 in our nations capital. Mr. France was an American race car driver. He is best known for co-founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing.
The final debuts was on Sept. 26, 1967 when AMC released the Javelin.
We were lucky enough to have a cloudy morning for this month’s Cars and Coffee. The diffused light that the clouds provide makes my job really easy! Enjoy the photos.
Few post back I mentioned the issues with being able to shift the C6 into reverse and then generally the shift began to get worse. Additionally the clutch fluid would become low.
As most Corvette owners know, the C6 has a separate hydraulic clutch. I had the fluid flushed numerous times and eventually we found a small leak at the clutch slave cylinder.
Replaced the cylinder and stopped the leak. This stopped the fluid usage and shifting improved, but only slightly.
Eventually it began getting much worse. With the ignition on the car would not go into reverse at all. The only way to get it into reverse was to turn the car off, put the that trans in reverse and start the car. Even then, it would sometimes kick itself out of gear when started Then highway shifting began slipping and RPM when up.
I do auto cross the car and I guess some spirited street driving. Here is what my clutch and flywheel now look like, yes… I saved them!!!
Clutch1
Clutch 2
Those shiny rivets – not a good thing!!!!
The Flywheel, interesting coloration, don’t you think?
Up until 1952 the only engine available was the L6 cylinder and it again was the main power plant for the ’52 production year.
This engine for 1952 was an iron block with a bore and stroke of 3.438X4.50 with a compression ratio of 7.0:1. With 5 main bearing and topped with a Stromberg 380359 or 380349 or a Carter E9AI it produced 116 hp. This was pretty much the same for all the L6’s but bore and stroked changed through the life of the company as well the number of main bearings (most numbering four) and the displacement fluctuated between 236.7 and 250.6 CID. The engine disappeared from Desoto line-up in 1954.
L6 Engine
But the really big deal for the 1952 Desoto was the addition of what would become one of the most famous engines every produced. It was the spherical segment combustion chambered engine, the Desoto Hemi V-8.
It was an overhead value hemispherical combustion chambered iron block. It displayed 276.1 cid and it’s bore and stroke was 3.626×3.344 inches and a compression ratio of 7.0:1. It had hydraulic lifters and five main bearings. Topped with a Carter 2bb (models 884S, 884SA and 884SC it produced 160 hp. The Firedome V8s were the same but used the Carter models 908S,909S and the 910S.
Some famous and infamous events this week occurred this week in automobile history.
General Motors incorporated 9/16/1908 – I often think that GM was started with Chevy, but in fact GM was a holding company for Buick in 1908. Shortly after incorporation Oldsmobile was added and the following year (1909) Cadillac, Cartercar, Elmore, Ewing, and Oakland (would become Pontiac) were purchased and added to the company.
Speaking of Buick, on Sept. 17 in 1854 David Buick was born in Scotland. He didn’t start out building car but engines to sell for farm equipment and then for cars and then developed his business to build both engines and cars in 1902. He developed the “Valve-in-Head” overhead valve engine.
Now for the infamous – Sept. 19th 1970, Ford introduced the Ford Pinto. We all know the story of the lack of safety surrounding the gas tank and the less than stellar calculated approach to not wanting to spend the $$ to make is safe.
1970 Pinto
Finally this week on Sept. 21, 1895 Duryea Motor Wagon Company was founded.
The Duryea brothers entered their horseless carriage in many shows and races. The Duryea Motor Wagon carriage won the first prize in the first ever American automobile . The wagon was produced in 1893 and had a 1 cylinder engine and 4 HP.
One of my worse fears is to over heat a car, I’m talking almost phobia status for me. I’ve had it happen all too often, with my first car ’66 Impala and various cars I’ve owned. This includes a 1988 Toyota (new at the time). It makes a horrible mess and depending the composition of your it can warp heads and effects electrical work, under hood plastics and even paint.
Avoiding this in one of my number one goals. When I designed my ’70 Mustang’s engine (w/dealer installed A/C – which means that the condenser is in front of the radiator) I picked a triple core aluminum radiator for the cooling plant. I want my cars running cool. I have ever had an over heating with the Mustang and that includes trips to the drag strip. When I owned my 84 C4 I avoid the problem as well. One of the major concerns with Corvettes is….well…let me have Steve, one of my two constant readers show you.
Tim,
My vette was running pretty warm about 3 weeks after I bought it. Nice and cool
at highway speeds.
The picture shows what I'm sure is a full 22 years of crap on the radiator.
Runs at normal temps now. Lots and lots of bolts on that fan shroud. Ha Ha.
Steve
Thanks Steve. This is the number one place to first look if your Corvette begins running warm.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
When Ford began to get more involved in Shelby American’s affairs in 1966, it at least picked the right man to send to Shelby as that company’s new chief engineer, Fred Goodell. A hot rodder at heart, Goodell built many a souped-up Mustang for the Shelby works, including the fuel-injected and independent rear suspension-equipped one-off Green Hornet, which Barrett-Jackson recently announced will cross the block at its Scottsdale auction.
Officially known as the EXP 500, the Green Hornet’s genesis began with another Goodell-built car, a 1967 Mustang hardtop that he called Li’l Red. Fitted with Shelby decor and a Paxton-supercharged 428, Li’l Red eventually served as the template for the Mustang GT/California Special and very nearly became the template for a similar national version of the California Special. Ford in fact built two prototypes for a national version, including a Lime Gold 1968 Mustang hardtop with Deluxe interior and a 390/C6 drivetrain (VIN 8F01S104288), before round-filing the idea.
That Lime Gold hardtop then made its way to Shelby’s facility – at the time located in Ionia, Michigan – after Ford canceled its program. Goodell likely had a hand in the transfer, and once it arrived in Shelby’s shops, he tore into it. He replaced the 390 with a 428 Cobra Jet V-8 topped with a Conelec electronic fuel-injection system – Ford was already testing the systems to see how they would meet upcoming emissions regulations, so it was little trouble for Goodell to secure a system – and replaced the stock C6 with a C6 built to F350 specifications. He then swapped out the live rear axle for an independent rear suspension based around a Ford 9-inch center section and a cradle that bolted into the rear leaf spring mounts. Rear disc brakes and a full Shelby front suspension rounded out Goodell’s mechanical modifications, while darker gold-flecked green paint and a black vinyl top gave it some visual pop.
Goodell’s modifications reportedly endowed the Green Hornet with a 5.7-second 0-60 time and 157 MPH top speed, but yet again the ideas embodied in the prototype didn’t reach production. Unlike most prototype and experimental cars, however, the Green Hornet survived the scrapper: A Ford employee named Robert Zdanowski bought the Green Hornet – sans its EFI and IRS – but sold it six months later to Don Darrow, a Ford dealer in Cheboygan, Michigan. Darrow and his son Randy would later confirm the Green Hornet’s identity with Fred Goodell and restore it using a scratch-built IRS built to Goodell’s specifications along with a Holley ProJection EFI system (Goodell rounded up some components of another Conelec EFI system for the Darrows). It then passed through the hands of Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, before it made its way into the collection of Craig Jackson, who owned it at the time Jeff Koch photographed it for an article that appeared in Hemmings Muscle Machines #36, September 2006.
Jackson will run the Greet Hornet across the Barrett-Jackson block as part of the auction’s Salon Collection, which means that it will run with a reserve. Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction will take place January 13-20. For more information, visit Barrett-Jackson.com.
UPDATE: Barrett-Jackson sent over these two additional photos of the Green Hornet.
Such awesome foresight by Goodell. Sad that those in power @ Ford didn’t build these for the public. One off cars are nice…now for “collectors”, but imagine seeing some of these scooting around town or at the drags.
I saw this car several years ago at a Shelby National Convention, it was very nice. It has also been featured in “The Shelby American,” the SAAC club magazine.
This car spent time in Elmira, NY on Gould St. At the home of my childhood friend Chris Long. His father was the President of Conelec Fuel Injection. This car had a distinct note that we could tell from blocks away. I never personally drooled on this car but the sweat from my tongue can probably still be found on there! BTW we didn’t know that the Ford Factory codenamed this as the Green Hornet; we the neighborhood kids thought we were clever giving it that name! I had numerous pictures of this car, all we’re lost in the flood of 72!
The dash looks like it has/had air conditioning but there is nothing under the hood. . . . ?
I guess just another mark of a heavily modified car.
Besides the VIN and history, it doesnt seem like there are many special changes that any restorer could not build the same thing in their own garage.
Nice, but it is not the same as a motorama show car!
[…] Green Hornet: Shelby’s one-off experimental Mustang heads to auction From Hemmings blog http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2…ds-to-auction/ Reply With […]
I noticed that part too..I also noticed that the Barret Jackson fees have been creeping back also…at one point they were 14% charged to the seller plus 14% added to the buyers bill…before this madness the standard commission was 6% to each end…I predicted that these insane prices have to come down sooner or later…..can’t wait for the prices to match the 1983 numbers when you could buy a 428 Mach 1 for 3 paychecks…..I can dream can’t I…
It is really a sad indictment how so many are so impressed by people with ore money than brains and are proud they paid more than anyone else. In the “old” days collectors marveled and laughed about the inflated “Hershey” prices, referring to the prices at the fall Hershey Swap meet. Times change, but egos don’t!
Never warmed to Shelby “styling”. They look like pieces that were glued on that were laying around the shop. They quit when they had nothing left to glue on or ran out of glue.
Nothing wrong with what’s underneath, but that is a homely car. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Knowing what the car is worth doesn’t make it prettier.
Shelby did the same thing with that Aurora engine joke Series 1. Didn’t know when to quit.
Why does the rear sidelight on the passenger side appear to point down? The drivers side is straight.
I’ve always wondered why the muscle cars of this era were jacked up and not lowered, compared to the more sedate versions of the same car. This car would look spectacular(er) if it were lowered about 2 inches.
The Tail Lights are a Bit Gaudy , and if they are sequential like the Cougars it might lessen the situation . On Performance tough I’d like to see this go out and Blow Off some Rice Burners etc. ..
I’ll bet it goes for a high premium price, would not even guess how much! I have never owned a Mustang but working in that. Fastest ride I ever had in one was many years ago when a mechanic friend of mine came by to show what he had just “built”. It was a simple ’66 coupe, all stock looking. But, he had put a lot of hot stuff in it, big cam, special heads, headers, dual glass packs, big 4 barrel, custom intake and more plus a 4 speed. It had a nasty lope at idle and took off like a dragster!! He went through the gears and let off at almost a 100mph. [I was sorta’ glad of that!!] Oh, the road was out in the country but really smooth, it was his drag strip along with many others, there were big and some were long burn out strips all over the place. What fun!.
That thing rocks; beautiful. Should go for a good buck.
In today,s market a one off car with bulletproof provenance will undoubtably sell over 1 million.
Anyone know what happened to “Little Red?”
Reportedly it’s been crushed.
I predict that by the year 2000, all Mustangs will have independent rear suspension.
Such awesome foresight by Goodell. Sad that those in power @ Ford didn’t build these for the public. One off cars are nice…now for “collectors”, but imagine seeing some of these scooting around town or at the drags.
Rear suspension looks fresh out of high school metal shop!
I saw this car several years ago at a Shelby National Convention, it was very nice. It has also been featured in “The Shelby American,” the SAAC club magazine.
I suspect it’ll end up in Ron Prattes garage.
He’ll just keep his hand in the air til Spanky says,
“Sold”!
I guess what really stands out in the article is that when it comes to his own vehicle, Craig Jackson is selling his car WITH A RESERVE!
This car spent time in Elmira, NY on Gould St. At the home of my childhood friend Chris Long. His father was the President of Conelec Fuel Injection. This car had a distinct note that we could tell from blocks away. I never personally drooled on this car but the sweat from my tongue can probably still be found on there! BTW we didn’t know that the Ford Factory codenamed this as the Green Hornet; we the neighborhood kids thought we were clever giving it that name! I had numerous pictures of this car, all we’re lost in the flood of 72!
The dash looks like it has/had air conditioning but there is nothing under the hood. . . . ?
I guess just another mark of a heavily modified car.
Besides the VIN and history, it doesnt seem like there are many special changes that any restorer could not build the same thing in their own garage.
Nice, but it is not the same as a motorama show car!
[…] Green Hornet: Shelby’s one-off experimental Mustang heads to auction From Hemmings blog http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2…ds-to-auction/ Reply With […]
I noticed that part too..I also noticed that the Barret Jackson fees have been creeping back also…at one point they were 14% charged to the seller plus 14% added to the buyers bill…before this madness the standard commission was 6% to each end…I predicted that these insane prices have to come down sooner or later…..can’t wait for the prices to match the 1983 numbers when you could buy a 428 Mach 1 for 3 paychecks…..I can dream can’t I…
I meant the part about the reserve at the auction…I’m sure “you get me”….
It is really a sad indictment how so many are so impressed by people with ore money than brains and are proud they paid more than anyone else. In the “old” days collectors marveled and laughed about the inflated “Hershey” prices, referring to the prices at the fall Hershey Swap meet. Times change, but egos don’t!
Never warmed to Shelby “styling”. They look like pieces that were glued on that were laying around the shop. They quit when they had nothing left to glue on or ran out of glue.
Nothing wrong with what’s underneath, but that is a homely car. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Knowing what the car is worth doesn’t make it prettier.
Shelby did the same thing with that Aurora engine joke Series 1. Didn’t know when to quit.
Why does the rear sidelight on the passenger side appear to point down? The drivers side is straight.
I’ve always wondered why the muscle cars of this era were jacked up and not lowered, compared to the more sedate versions of the same car. This car would look spectacular(er) if it were lowered about 2 inches.
Not a bad looking car, but I’m torn……….A Shelby is either ‘vert’, or fastback.
The Tail Lights are a Bit Gaudy , and if they are sequential like the Cougars it might lessen the situation . On Performance tough I’d like to see this go out and Blow Off some Rice Burners etc. ..
Thye taillights are sequential and just like all ’68-’70 Shelbys they are ’65 T-bird units.
I’ll bet it goes for a high premium price, would not even guess how much! I have never owned a Mustang but working in that. Fastest ride I ever had in one was many years ago when a mechanic friend of mine came by to show what he had just “built”. It was a simple ’66 coupe, all stock looking. But, he had put a lot of hot stuff in it, big cam, special heads, headers, dual glass packs, big 4 barrel, custom intake and more plus a 4 speed. It had a nasty lope at idle and took off like a dragster!! He went through the gears and let off at almost a 100mph. [I was sorta’ glad of that!!] Oh, the road was out in the country but really smooth, it was his drag strip along with many others, there were big and some were long burn out strips all over the place. What fun!.