Tag Archives: Auto History

Auto Factoids for Week of April 27, 2014

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Here is your weekly installment of Auto Factoids.

This week we are highlighting a few milestones and a birthday and a corporation formation.

Starting out with big Happy Birthday to Ferruccio Lamborghini , born 4/28/1916 in Italy.  What many don’t know is Ferruccio brought about Lamborghini, because he was happy with his Ferrari due to frequent and poorly done repairs.  They say he confronted Enzo Ferrari and that meeting didn’t go well and Ferruccio decided to build his own cars.

Ferruccio Lamborghini

On the same day in 1953 Kaiser-Frazer purchased Willys.  By 1955 Kaiser Industrial (name changed) stopped building cars in the U.S. (only   with the exception of Jeep production in Ohio.

'55 Willys Jeep Wagon

’55 Willys Jeep Wagon

'55 Willys Bermuda

’55 Willys Bermuda

 

4/29/1959  Fords 50 millionth car.   It was assembled from specially designated parts shipped to Dearborn from Ford plants throughout the country. It is powered by the 292 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 backed by a three speed automatic transmission. It sported triple tone gold, black and white interior. It is now privately owned.

1959 Ford Galaxie.

1959 Ford Galaxie.

 

5/2/1918 Chevy becomes part of GM.   How did this come about?  Here is the short version:

Billy Durant started General Motors after taking control of Buick. He incorporated a we more car brands in with GM including Oakland, Olds and Caddilac.  He was forced out of GM and started Chevrolet with partner Louis Chevrolet.  Chevrolet did well and Billy began buy more stock in GM (he had kept his shares when he was ousted).  He completed his take over of GM by offering current GM stockholders a smoking deal on Chevy stock (7 shares) for one GM stock.

5/3/48 Willys Jeep Phaeton debuted.

1948 Jeepster Phaeton

5/3/49   Packards 50th Anniversary 2000 gold Packards.  Yes that did happen.  They were painted in a special paint code of Gold.  Each were powered with 327 c.i.d., 150 hp engine.

1949 Packard - Now the 2000 weren't convertibles only 600 plus of those were produced.

1949 Packard – None of the 2000 were convertibles –  only about 600 verts were produced.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Kitty O’Neil

time in auto history, with a timed run of 3.22 seconds at 396 | mi/h | km/h | abbr on with an average speed of 279.5 | mi/h | km/h | abbr on. …

 

 

29th Annual Chevy Showdown – The Corvairs

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There were many Corvair owners that braved the wind and brought their Monza’s, Drop Tops and Van’s to the 29th Annual Chevy Showdown today.

Here are some of the pictures.

Parking and setting up

Parking and setting up

 

I’d estimate about 20 Corvairs attended.  The white Monza was beautifully done!!  There were a couple unique Corvair powered entries.

In a previous post entitled  “Lost Classics – Trucks – Corvair Rampside” I mentioned that I’d never seen a Rampside in person.  Well, I can scratch that off my car bucket list.  Here is the 1961 Corvair powered Rampside.

Corvair 95

Corvair 95

DSC_0068 DSC_0069  DSC_0071 DSC_0072 DSC_0073

This Corvair 95 Rampside is in very good condition and got to the show under it’s on power provided by the ‘Flat Six’.

Now the Rampside also came in the Greenbrier packaged.  And there was a Greenbrier Corvair there….this great looking 1962 van with the 110 engine.

1962 Greenbrier Corvair Van

1962 Greenbrier Corvair Van

DSC_0117 DSC_0118

AC in front and back!!!

AC in front and back!!!

 

Yup that's A/C stuffed back here!!!

Yup that’s A/C stuffed back here!!!

 

There now I’ve seen all manner of Corvairs!!!  Only that was there was the Corvair wagon.

More coming up on the Chevy Showdown here in Tucson, Az

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

29th Annual Chevy Showdown – Corvettes
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29th Annual Chevy Showdown – Corvettes

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There is almost never a bad day for a car show, especially here in Southern Arizona.  Today was cool and a bit overcast, but extremely windy and so much tree pollen (as well as other stuff) it covered anything standing still.   That may have what caused the light turnout for cars as well as spectators for the 29th Annual Chevy Showdown, which is limited to classic cars (up to 1972 with a category for 73-89).  This is put on by the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson and there were a few sub-clubs attending like the local Corvair and Nomad club.

But I’ve never had a bad time at a car show and this one had a lot to offer.

I attended the 27th Annual Chevy Showdown here in Tucson, AZ and the turnout was much higher that year and I saw at least one familiar car – I’ll cover that later.

I wanted to share the Corvettes that showed up. So here are some shots.

The only C3 to show.

The only C3 to show.

 

C2 Showed up in forces. Sorry I didn't get a good shot of the C1's.

C2 Showed up in force!

 

Sorry I didn’t get a good shot of the C1’s and no C4 showed.

More coming up from the Chevy Showdown.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

What is FELINO cB7?

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Some recently post a picture of this fascinating car on my Google Plus account and I had to look it up.

cB7 Prototype

cB7 Prototype – Look a little like a C7? That’s what I thought.

 

So what is cB7?

The FELINO cB7 is a tubular frame vehicle wrapped with composite and carbon fibre elements; it weighs approximately 1 000 kg, according to the selected drive train.

Therefore, the cB7 can be mounted with a 4, 6 or 8-cylinder engine, optional for the buyer.

The early prototype, equipped with a 4-cylinder turbo engine, was tested and received high marks in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, a 6,2 litres V-8 was installed under the bonnet of a second-generation prototype and will be tested thoroughly in the Spring of 2014.

The specifications featured in the press documents are those of the V8 version. These specifications may change. Final model specs will be available in the Summer of 2014.

The entry-level model of the FELINO cB7 will be available at a price under $100,000. Final sales prices will be announced later. The FELINO corporation is already considering the possibility of an electric vehicle in a few years.

cb7-2

PRODUCTION STATUS OF THE FELINO cB7

After three years of research and development, the first FELINO cB7 prototype became a reality in 2012 and was tested on race tracks and notably on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2012 and 2013.

In 2013, FELINO built a second-generation prototype, featuring a chassis evolution, along with a mechanical and design upgrade. It will be tested in the Spring of 2014.

In 2014, the company will reach the final phase of development and the level of pre-production. Two more units will be assembled and tested before Production 1 starts. A limited production series is forecasted for 2015.

via F E L I N O | Informations.

Here are the specs they vary of course depending on the drive train.  I’m liking it to a kit car – like a Cobra.

Specs

Specs

 

Would you buy one?

Thanks for reading

Tim

iWireless1

⚫ FELINO CB7 ⚫ http://t.co/ep1f4GYO37
Super car soon to be a reality

One does not often mention Canada and supercars in the same breath, but Felino, a new high-performance carmaker based in Montreal, hopes to change that with its first production model, the Felino cB7. Founded by the former Canadian racecar driver …

Bugatti pays homage to classic Type 18 sports car with new special edition

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Bugatti pays homage to classic Type 18 sports car with new special edition.

It seems the only constant at international auto shows these days is a new Veyron special edition. Bugatti has been unloading these Veyron cosmetic packages one by one, in an effort to keep attracting buyers to the decade-old model. The latest such special edition brings a little more intrigue than the average, recalling what Bugatti calls “one of the first ever street legal super sports cars.”

 

bugattivitesseblackbess-17 bugattivitesseblackbess

 

Although 1000 hp is cool, I prefer the older model.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

bugatti racingbugatti racingbugatti racing

1000HP MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 SUPERSNAKE – AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR

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1000HP MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 SUPERSNAKE – AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR

You will see and enjoy the voices of few very powerful American muscle cars –  Mustang Shelby GT500 ,  Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT & Mustang Shelby KR. Super hot rides, which sound 10 times louder if you hear them live and will make you shake. Anyways check out the video to see this beasts. watch, Enjoy & Share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

shelby super snake price

2015 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake Imagined

While it seems like quite a while since the early December reveal of the 2015 Ford Mustang, the car is very much still in its infancy. Consequently, the most powerful variant currently available is the 5.0-liter V8 powered Mustang GT. However, in the …

Auto Factoids – Week of 4/20/2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week of April 20, 2014;

 

Only 3 major hits this week.

The first is that the American Motor Corporation (AMC) was formed by the merger of Nash and Hudson that happened on 4/22/1954.  It was actually Nash-Kalvinator and Hudson.   Cars were still produced under the Hudson name until 1957.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

You know that AMC brought you some pretty out of the ordinary cars (Gremblin, Pacer) as well as some class muscle, (AMX, Javelin, Rebel).

There is great article on a Rebel in the May 2014 Hemmings Muscle Machine on a 1970 AMC Rebel.
Javelin

Rebel

 

Next up Chrysler purchases Lamborghini on 4/23/1987. What?   Yes….funny now Chrysler is owned by an Italian car company (Fiat).  Oh it was a smoking deal, only $25 million dollars.  That lasted until 1994 when Chrysler sold Lamborghini to an Indonesianan company.  In 1998 Volkswagen took over Lamborghini.

 

Finally this week back on 4/25/1970 Mazda’s first cars show up on U.S. shores.

 

RX-2

Mazda’s 1970 RX-2

Thanks for reading.  

Tim    

If you liked to sponsor an Auto Factoid article drop me a note.

 

lamborghini countachamc

 

 

 

 

Mopar ’14 Challenger is Sold Out – Cars & Parts

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Gone in a Flash – Cars & Parts.

Andy Bolig – April 03, 2014 10:43 AM

If you blinked, you missed it. The limited-edition Mopar ’14 Challenger, the latest Chrysler Group LLC vehicle to come straight from the factory already upgraded with Mopar products, has sold out in just the first day after being made available to dealers.

 

New Mopar ?14 Challenger model revealed: only 100 serialized coupes will be built, offering ?Mopar-or-no-car? fans the rarest factory-produced Dodge Challenger model to date with unique ?Moparized? equipment New Mopar ’14 Challenger model revealed: only 100 serialized c

The Mopar ’14 Challenger is the most recent limited-edition vehicle offered by the brand, continuing the success of the Mopar ’10 Challenger, Mopar ’11 Charger, Mopar ’12 300 and Mopar ’13 Dart in demonstrating how owners can personalize their rides with Mopar products — even before driving away from the dealership. With only 100 built, the Mopar ’14 Challenger is the rarest limited-production Dodge Challenger offered to date.

 

Did you get a 2014 Challenger?  Let me know.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

2014 challenger shaker

JDeuceO7

@Dodge 2014 Challenger Shaker!!!!

Wrecked – 1959 Bel Air

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Wrecked is a one of the features on Average Guys’ Car Restoration, Mods and Racing that spotlights vintage cars that are available as parts donors.  I do this based on the offering that PartingOut.com has listed.

Parting Out does a great job of pulling together offering from across the country of salvage yards and private individuals that have vintage/classic car parts available for plundering.  Many of these are located in the steel friendly Texas.

 

Up this time a 1959 Chevy Bel Air, oh yea…the era of big finned cars.

This car’s not ‘wrecked’ and there is a lot of good steel and good looking chrome still on it.  It is a 4 door.

 

'59 Bel Air Parts Donor.

’59 Bel Air Parts Donor.

 

Lots of restorable chrome here!!!

Lots of restorable chrome here!!!  Hard to find a gille with all the bullets still on it.

59bel-3 59Bel-4 59bel-5 59bel-6

Good look steel, restorable dash and it even had the original power plant – 283 maybe?   See at PartingOut.com  1959 BEL AIR.

 

The 1959 Bel Air was the 4th Generation Bel Air – basically an entirely new car as compared to the 1958 Bel Air.   The 1959’s came in 2 door, 4 door and re-branded as Parkwood or Kingswood for the station wagons. To power these  210.9″ long cars you had the 3.9L (235.5 cid), 4.6L (283 CID) and the 5.7L (348 CID).  They were mated up 3 & 4 speed manuals or 2 speed power glide automatic.

 

Grab some of these parts and you could have a classic that looks like these:

1959_chevrolet_bel_air 112809BelAir3

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Own a 1959 completed or project Bel Air?  Drop me a note!!

 

virtualex71

I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/mNBKjK6FrB 2009 Chevy Malibu vs 1959 Bel Air Crash Test
1959 Bel Air | Flickr – Photo Sharing!

Heard some guys talking that this car was low mileage, like 40000 miles. I didn’t look at the sign, but sure looks like it has been restored and not original. I like this car and I would drive it everywhere.
1959 Bel Air – Best Chevy Ass end ever | Flickr – Photo …

Kustom Koffin – Grandpa’s Dragula from The Munsters – Homage; 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air – Cool Tail Light and fin detail; 1959 Bel Air – Best Chevy Ass end ever; 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom – Side View; Gene Winfield’s …

Mustang 50 Years Old and Back On Top of the Empire State Building

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Mustang turn 50 years old this year and is one of the best-selling sports cars in the U.S.  It’s now back on top as Ford re-enacts the publicity stunt that they use to help launch the model.

 

As you might expect the building has changed a bit in 50 years so it was a bit more challenging to get the car to the top.

 

Here is how they did it.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

mustang empire state building

Ford Put A Mustang On The Empire State Building

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, the auto giant planned a photo opportunity that would appear to stretch the limits of possibility — placing the 2015 edition of the iconic vehicle on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire …