Category Archives: Auto Restoration

A Photo Shoot – Studebakers – Coup and GT Hawk!

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It’s monsoon season in Tucson and hence we are in a drought as far as car shows go.  So today was a great day – clear blue skies, with thunder storm beginning to pop up over the mountains (yes we have mountains in Az).

My son is a photographer and I’m a want too be.  So wanting to de-stress for a day I choose to check in with him and see if he had time to drag the old man around for a photo shoot.  He often takes a weekend day and tools around with his camera, which is fun and  with no specific agenda, just what the doctor ordered.

I picked him up and we headed to a park, that normally has an abundance of water.  Yes we have lakes in Arizona (although many are man-made or at least get a lot of help from managed care).  This place normally is home to fish, turtles and various water fowl (YES  we have ducks here too!!!).

As we approached the entrance a car turned out of the park and I didn’t immediately recognize and as we entered the park a see a 1920’s 4 door sedan, looking mostly original.  I was still not sure the maker.  As we entered the park and drove the round to the parking in back I spotted a rare hawk and it’s companion.

Yes that is a Golden Hawk... GT by Studebaker.

Yes that is a Golden Hawk GT… by Studebaker. (Right)

1937 Coup - split rear window.

1937 Coup – split rear window.

Just our luck, during the Arizona car show drought season, we ran into the tail-end of a local Studebaker Club breakfast!!!!  And just my luck – only two cars were left, out of the 30 that showed up earlier and I missed maybe one of the oldest Studebakers I may every see in person.  A 1933 Sedan!!!

I got to speak to one of the members and inquired as to how many were in their club.  He believed that there were 30-40 with a total of just under 1oo exampled of the Studebaker legacy.  He himself owned these two car plus two more.

We’ll take a closer look at these two cars in the next couple posts.

Stay tuned!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Just A Car Geek: 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

This car is a nicely preserved / restored Studebaker GT Hawk. This is not the type of car I would buy, but it’s a car that makes me think… If Studebaker had been in better financial shape and remained a player in the US auto …

Nick Lyons-Young Gun-SM 300th issue Ford Falcons – crcooperphotography

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I love the Fords Down-Under.  Check these two out!!!

Nick Lyons-Young Gun-SM 300th issue | crcooperphotography.

Check out the Fords.

Check out the Fords.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Good ole Herby | come to explore

… photography (2); prada (1); rebel (1); road trip (3); skirt (1); sky (1); steve madden (1); stress (1); summer (3); van (2); Van bus travel explore restoring restored ford falcon roadtrip (1); vans (1); vintage (2); volkswagon bus (1) …

 

Goodguys Congratulates Street Rod/Street Machine Of The Year Winners – RodAuthority.com

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Goodguys Congratulates Street Rod/Street Machine Of The Year Winners – RodAuthority.com.

These are two beautiful cars.  But I’ve been to a couple Goodguy events and I will tell you I just don’t know how they’d pick just one or two as winners…I’d only be able to pair it down to 20 or so!!!!   I’d enclose these two as well.

Troino Custom...great looking.

Troino Custom…great looking.

This should get ya from point A to point B

This should get ya from point A to point B


Love this Ford Coup!!

gg_ppg_nats_6-640x423

What do you put in a beautiful Ford Coup like this for power? Well…

1953 Mercury Flathead topped with a 4.71 GMC blower,

1953 Mercury Flathead topped with a 4.71 GMC blower,

Got a favorite rod?  Let us know.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Maddie_Light22

Oh my god Hot Rod is on Netflix!!!!
Jobs We Want: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Tester

Our friend Evan Smith, editor of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, has a pretty neat job this year. He’s working with Ford Racing, doing his best to put the 2014 Cobra Jet prototype through the ultimate automotive test–being driven by an automotive …
2013 Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout – Pro-Line

These big events include events such as the Cactus Classic, The Reedy Race, ROAR Nats, and the one that just passed this weekend in Saugus, CA; The Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout. This year marked the 16th year of this …
1930 Ford Pickup Hot Rod – Pure Fun

There are a lot of reasons to build a hot rod and never just one reason. Here are a couple guys enjoying one of the reason. http://youtu.be/XsFBSksOjHU Thanks for reading. Tim

Brittish TVR Sports Car Second Chance – Maybe.

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A bit ago I did a 3 part article entitled “Cars  You Never Heard Of!”   In part three (http://wp.me/p2YxYx-Gb) I touched on the Brittish TVR sports car.  TVR engineering started back in England in 1947 with the first TVR being produced in 1949.   The company was sold to a Russian buyer in 2004 and after a not so great start the company halted production.

Now a multimillionaire Les Edgar (Bullfrog Productions – gaming development company – associated with Electronic Arts (EA)) has taken a liking to the  TVR and purchased it from Nikolai Smolenski (the Russian owner) along with the name rights from Blackpool Engineering.

Mr. Edgar wants the car to be a powerful front wheel drive sports cars and is shooting for production with two models priced between $50k – $80K.

Pictured here is the 2015 Sagaris.

TRV 2015

TRV 2015tvr_20-0606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t wait until we find out the engine choices.  I’ll keep one ear on the pavement and bring updates when they are revealed.

Thanks for reading

Timtvr sports carstvr sports cars

GTS Racing

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I was talking with a “new to the car world” friend the other day and he had watched a recent road race on the Speed Channel and was a bit confused with the classes and “what make them think you can run a Ford Focus against a Corvette…that’s a no brainer….” he says.   So I walked him through the classes and I think he understood that they may be on the same course at the same time but they are only competing  against others in the  same class, although they do have to contend with the others.

Last post covered the GT class with the likes of the Corvette and the Aston Martin DB9.  The GTS class is it much more stock and closer to the what you and I will drive around town….well…sort of…!

With cars like the Kia Optima and the Pontiac Solstice (well what’s left of them) you might be thinking yeah…I’ve see those in the ‘hood’.  Well….sort of….

The Kia has 370 hps – yeah…all that from a 4 cylinder aluminum engine.  That’s only 70 MORE!!! horse power less than the Lotus Exige that runs in the GTS class as well.

Optima - in racing colors

Optima – in racing colors

 

 

 

 

Exige

Exige

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This class also has the Ford Boss 302 Mustang (420 hp), Dodge Challenger (420 hp) and the Camaro (422 hp) along with Maseerati Trofeo Gransport (385 hp) and the Scion FR-S (330 hp).

Maserati Trofeo

Maserati Trofeo

Boss 302S

Boss 302S

There are six classes for GTS: GTS1, GTS2, GTS3, GTS4, GTS5, and GTSU. All cars will be classed
on a power to weight ratio. A vehicle’s classification and minimum allowable weight (as the car
would exit the track with the driver) will be determined by multiplying the appropriate class
weight ratios by the vehicle’s power. “Power,” as used here, will be determined from a minimum
of three consecutive dyno pulls, and shall be defined as:
a) the horsepower value (WHP) from the single run with the highest horsepower reading (for
cars with higher horsepower than torque);
Weight
———————————-
WHP
or,
b) the average of horsepower and torque from the single run with the highest average of those
values (for cars with higher torque than horsepower):
Weight
———————————-
(WHP+WTQ)*.5
The following table shall be used to determine each car’s class based on the calculations
determined using the above methods.
Minimum ratio for                                          D.O.T. Approved Tires                                               Non-D.O.T Tires
GTSU                                                                             No limit                                                                  No limit
GTS5                                                                                  6.6                                                                            7.2
GTS4                                                                                 8.5                                                                             9.0
GTS3                                                                                  11.0                                                                         12.0
GTS2                                                                                  14.5                                                                          16.0
GTS1                                                                                  18.5                                                                         20.0


This all seem a bit formal, because it’s pulled from the SCCA guide for classes.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

GT Racing

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I love road racing.  I’d much rather race on a road course. It’s not as intense as the short burst on a drag strip and or as predictable as an oval course.  It challenges all of your driving skills, shifting, braking, acceleration and cornering.

Watching on T.V. I rather enjoy a good road race.  I was lucky enough to live in Riverside, Ca.  when Riverside Raceway was still  running and I attended one of the last road races there.  It was great.

But what about those classes?  I’ve learned a bit more since racing SCCA, but still I’m not 100%.  So let’s start with a the GT Class.

These are limited in body style to coupe, sedan and convertible.  They have to be models that are sold in the real world market as a sports car, sport touring cars for performance version off luxury cars.  Those are cars like:

Audi R8

Audi R8

Corvette_C6_01

My Fav the C6 Corvette

chevrolet-corvette-c6.r-02

C6R

 

DB9

DB9

Forced induction is allowed, if the car came that way in production.  SCCA has a provision to allow better competition for car to add forced induction so help meet the horse power range.

The horsepower range is 425 (15 over stock base model C6) to 525.  Your car has to be rear real or all wheel drive.  Weight a varied  depending on wheel/tire size but average 2900 – 3800 lbs.

Coming up next is the GTS, TC and TCB.

Done any racing – oval, strip, road?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Cruising – Cadillac Eldorado Chrysler Imperial and more | Hagerty Articles

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Summer Cruising – Cadillac Eldorado Chrysler Imperial and more | Hagerty Articles.

What is your dream summer cruiser?  Drop me a note with your choices.

cadillac eldorado history

This Thing Called Cadillac: Cadillac Eldorado History

Your best bet will be introducing a large 2+2 coupe based on its CTS saloon. Little is actually known other than that, Cadillac keeping relatively tight-lipped as to when such a brand. Mention the cadillac eldorado history to any …

Ford Racing’s 2008 Mustang FR500S – The Assembly Line Race Car-LSXTV

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Ford Racing’s 2008 Mustang FR500S – The assembly line Race car.

Why this car was built: This car is #56 of only 75 that were built. They were built by Ford specifically to be entered into the Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. It is the first time in Ford’s history that they have produced a line of cars specifically for a race series on their assembly line.

The FR500S – Photo from Barrett Jackson

One unique thing about this car: This Mustang is unique in the fact that it has a passenger seat. Most racecars have only one seat, but this one carted around different celebrities and media personnel, so a second seat was needed.

Why they are auctioning this car off: Ford Racing & Capaldi Racing are auctioning this Mustang off at the Barrett Jackson Auctions, for the St. Jude’s Children Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee. All of the proceeds will be given straight to the hospital.

Photo from Barrett Jackson

mustang fr500s

Ford Mustang FR500S, primera sobremesa entregada | TuningSpain

El pasado fin de semana Ford entregó su primera sobremesa de este tremendo Mustang preparado para competición. La sobremesa consistió en solo 19 Ford.

Tesla in the Wild

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Maybe for some of you Left Coaster (maybe Right as well) a Tesla isn’t as rare as it is out here in the Southwest.   But for in the smallish city they are rare.   So the excitement of seeing on in our non-assuming neighborhood is a very cool site.

Of course as you might expect I missed the it, (by a day!!) but I have a lot of associates and friends that will snap a shot of something and toss it may way.

These pics were from our personal trainer – outside the very studio I worked out the day before.  Lucky Christine is also friend  and is often tips me off when there’s an AOI (Auto Of Interest) about.

So she when she saw the Tesla she snapped a couple shots for me.  So vicariously I’ve seen my first Tesla in the wild.  (Come on now…that funny!!!)

Here are the shots.  It the S-Model sedan.

Tesla S-Model

Tesla S-Model – I love the wheels

A bit aggressive looking front end.

A bit aggressive looking front end.

Like how the rear window blends into the roof.

Like how the rear window blends into the roof.

Here are some specs:

  • Body
  • Lightweight aluminum body reinforced with high strength, boron steel elements
  • UV and infrared blocking safety glass windshield
  • Rain sensing, adjustable speed windshield wipers
  • Frameless, tempered safety glass front windows
  • Solar absorbing, laminated safety glass rear window with defroster
  • Flush mounted door handles
  • Manual folding side mirrors
  • 19″ aluminum alloy wheels with all-season tires (Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 245/45R19). Note: optional 21″ wheels come with Continental Extreme Contact DW 245/35R21 high-performance tires
  • Aluminum roof
  • Halogen headlights with automatic on/off and LED daytime running lights
  • Backlit side turn signals, front side marker lights and rear reflex lights
  • LED rear taillights and high-mounted LED stop lamp
  • Powertrain
  • Model S is a rear wheel drive electric vehicle. The liquid-cooled powertrain includes the battery, motor, drive inverter, and gear box.
  • 60 kWh microprocessor controlled, lithium-ion battery
  • Three phase, four pole AC induction motor with copper rotor
  • Drive inverter with variable frequency drive and regenerative braking system
  • Single speed fixed gear with 9.73:1 reduction ratio
  • Suspension, Steering, and Brakes
  • Double wishbone, virtual steer axis coil spring front suspension and independent multi-link coil spring rear suspension
  • Variable ratio, speed sensitive, rack and pinion electronic power steering
  • Electronic Stability Control
  • Traction Control
  • Anti-Lock disc brakes (ABS) with ventilated rotors and electronically actuated parking brake; front: 355 mm x 32 mm; rear: 365 mm x 28 mm
  • Charging
  • 10 kW capable on-board charger with the following input compatibility: 85-265 V, 45-65 Hz, 1-40 A (Optional 20 kW capable Twin Chargers increases input compatibility to 80 A)
  • Peak charger efficiency of 92%
  • 10 kW capable Universal Mobile Connector with 110 V, 240 V, and J1772 adapters

Got a Pic of a local Telsa – drop me a note.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

HeyItzDucky

I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/pYLByqB7Rr Tesla Model S – Megafactories HD 720p Super Carros
Yes, you can get your hand stuck in Tesla Model S door handles [w …

In this short and kind of absurd video, someone tests out what happens if you leave your hand in the Tesla Model S door handle too long.

 

EVENT: 25th Annual Convention of the Chevrolet Nomad Association | Classic Recollections

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I love the Chevy Nomad.  Here’s an event you can attend if you close to Itasca, IL.

Follow this link on Classic Recollections:

EVENT: 25th Annual Convention of the Chevrolet Nomad Association | Classic Recollections.

It’s got to be a cool event!!!

Classic Chevrolet Nomad wagons on display in Itasca, IL at the 25th Annual Convention of the Chevrolet Nomad Association.

If you want to know about the Nomad here’s a link to the clubs page.

http://www.chevynomadclub.com/CNACONVENTION.html

Thanks for reading

Tim Sweet

chevy nomad

starlightcrow

Photo: 1955 Chevy Nomad #AmericanCars http://t.co/wwMmknvrv3
ModelKitDeals

Vintage Blue/White 1960 Chevy Nomad Dealer Promo Car $29.99 http://t.co/jOG58M5wAG #kits #model
1959 Chevy Nomad station wagon | Classic Cars Daily

Survivor 1959 nomad wagon, with a 348 big block and factory air conditioning. Rust free 2 owner Colorado car. Original interior in VERY NICE condition.

timsweet@cox.net