Tag Archives: Auto History

Auto Factoids for Week of March 30, 2014

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Here is your weekly Auto Factoids for 3/30/2014.

 

April Fool’s Day back in 1964 the Plymouth Barracuda was introduced.

1964 Barracuda

1964 Barracuda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base price for a ’64 ‘Cuda was about $2,500.   The platform was the Valiant A-Body.  The engine choices were between two variations of the Chrysler I6 (slant 6), either the 170 (2.8L) rated at 101 hp or the 255 (3.7L) with 140 hp.  You could also get a V8, that was the 273 (4.5L) and with a two barrel carb it produced 180 hp.

 

Lot of Color Options!!!!

Lot of Color Options!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same date back in 1970 the AMC proudly  debuted what was perhaps the homeliest car of the era – the Gremlin.

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again on April 1st, what was a innovated car for its time the Amphicar in 1961 was all car and part boat, was introduced.  These babies are sought after aggressively.

Love the fins!!!

Love the fins!!!

Engine - 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

Engine – 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between '61-'68

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Walter P. Chrysler who was born in 1875, on April 2nd.  Wonder what he would have to say about government bailouts and Fiat?

Walter Chrysler

Walter Chrysler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular production began of air-filled tires by Firestone on April 5, 1923.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Corvette Museum Sinkhole Update 3/31/2014

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Look as though they will be attempting to pull out the Corvette Spider from the Sinkhole.

 

 

Digging out the Spider

Digging out the Spider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The car was secured with straps attached to the other crane.  They attempted to pull it out, but still too much dirt on the car.

Shoveling it off with the huge shovel/backhole.

 

Stay tuned for more updates.

Tim

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of March 23, 2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week.

Back in 1863 Mr. Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, England on March 27th.

 

Mr. Royce

Mr. Royce

The Royce 10

The Royce 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royce 10 was a 10 horse powered car.  It was produced at the Trafford Park, Manchester plant in 1904 and sold fro 395 British pounds.  You could a variety of ‘power plants’ for this first offering.  Those included 15, 20 and 30 hp models.  (They were named the Royce 15, Royce 20 and Royce 30.

 

On March 29, 1980 Audi debuts the first all wheel drive (4 WD) Quattro.

1980 Quattro - Not a bad looking car at that!!!

1980 Quattro – Not a bad looking car at that!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor an Auto Factoid drop me a note and your ad appear weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA

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History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA.

 

Bugattii 105

Bugattii 105

The 1984 Bugatti Type 105 is a 4-wheeled what if, the car isn’t real of course and is the work of designer Nikita Bridan, though it has to be said, Nikita did a great job of capturing early-80s automotive design. His backstory for the Bugatti Type 105 is below in full:
The Bugatti type 105 was the last attempt to restart the company by Roland Bugatti and its road cars. An attempt to create the first digital super car, it featured extensive computer assists and software to keep the car in control. During early prototype road tests, feedback from reviewers was horrible.
Citing a huge lack of feedback and a lack of consistency in the assists, led to the car having horrible dynamics.This eventually sealed the fate of the type 105, Bugatti laid dormant until the 110 EB.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Timbugatti 105bugatti 105

North Country Corvettes – NCoCC Plastic Fantastic XXXVII

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NCoCC.

They have been holding this Plastic Fantastic  car show for 37 years (the oldest and largest Corvette show…ever!!!)

Looks like a blast!!!!!

Plastic Flyer 2014 - mailer 01-15-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The proceeds go to support the club charity, the San Diego USO.

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

Auto Factoids for Week of 3/16/2014

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Another week gone and March Madness in upon us.  Nope you are going to find any brackets here, just your Auto Factoids for the week.

Big day on the 17th of March.  That’s when Geneva attendees were treated to the first of what would become world iconic car.   The Porsche debuted back in 1949. Volkswagen or not it is still going strong.

1949 Publicity shot

1949 Publicity shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Porsche was in production a few year before this debut.  Most of the first Porsche’s contained Volkswagen parts, as the Beetle was the first car the Porsche built.

 

A few years before the Porsche debut (about 115 –  1834) Gottlieb Daimler was born in Germany on the 17th of March.

 

Two more March birthdays show up on a search. Those are for Rudolf Diesel in Paris in 1858 and Andy Granatelli in Dallas, TX in 1923, whom just passed way on Dec 29, 2013.

 

RIP

RIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Andy Granatelli

Anthony “Andy” Granatelli (March 18, 1923 – December 29, 2013) was the CEO of STP (motor oil company) and a major figure in automobile …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parkinglot Spot Light – 1980 Firebird TA 4.9

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Head in to the store for my second time today (happens when you don’t  follow the list as close as you as should) and I spotted this iconic car, the one, the only Firebird Trans Am.

I’m not sure why I took the pics like this – maybe balancing the bag of groceries and my Android and an impact.

 

 

IMG_20140316_113144_404 IMG_20140316_113147_246 IMG_20140316_113155_988 IMG_20140316_113210_740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly this car is a driver and that is perfect in my book.   Love the original honeycomb wheels and that hood scoop!!!  That 4.9 on the scoop indicates there might be a turbo under that bird sticker!!!!

Should look something like this:

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The choices were the 4.9L T/A Pontiac V8, the Chevrolet 5.0L V8 and 1981 the highly desirable 4.9L Turbocharged Pontiac V8.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Corrections & Amplifications

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in the first “Smokey and the Bandit” movie was a 1977 model. An Arena article on Friday about car movies incorrectly said the car was a 1976 model. In the movie, it was intended to be a 1977, although car buffs …
“Smokey and The Bandit” Fans, NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart Is Bringing It Back

The six-part web series has Stewart channeling his inner Burt Reynolds complete with an enormous mustache that would make any man jealous. He’s also got the iconic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am to play with and the hat to make the transformation complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tesla sales will be banned in New Jersey starting April 1st | The Verge

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Tesla sales will be banned in New Jersey starting April 1st | The Verge.

Just as well. You can’t keep any car charged long enough to sit through a governor sanctioned traffic Jam!!!

But the reality is that these states, AZ (my state – come on really!?!?!?!), Texas and NJ object to Tesla not having a dealership in those states and doing direct sales. It is not like residents of these states are banned from the driving of the electric car. So buy it in another state that doesn’t hate unrestricted free trade and thinks they must have a piece of the pie for the big business that is car dealerships.

Asinine.

I like the look.

I like the look.

Auto Factoids for Week of 3/9/2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for this week.

The Oldsmobile Motor Works is destroyed by fire 3/9/1901.  Started by a careless work, all but one of the curved dash prototypes were lost.

Fire started by a worker.

Fire started by a worker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day later and 26 years (1927) Sir Henry Seagrave sets a speed record over 200 mile per hour.

r built by the Sunbeam car company of Wolverhampton that was powered by two aircraft engines.

Built by the Sunbeam car company of Wolverhampton that was powered by two aircraft engines.

March 12th has a lot of birthdays:

–  Johnny Rutherford in Coffeyville, Kansas – 1938

one of nine drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times

One of nine drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Giovanni Agnelli – 1921

Not to be confused with his namesake grandfather the founder of Fiat.  But Giovanni the grandson was responsible for massive expanding Fiat to Russia and South American.

Giovanni Agnelli

Giovanni Agnelli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–  Clement Studebaker – 1831

A wagon and carriage manufacturer. With his brother Henry, he co-founded the H & C Studebaker Company, precursor of the Studebaker Corporation, which built Pennsylvania-German Conestoga wagons[1] and carriages during his lifetime, and automobiles after his death.

Clement Studebaker

Clement Studebaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 13 in 1948 Honda Motors was formed.

March 13, 1974 the Arab oil embargo ended.

March 15, 1960 Mercury debts the Comet.

Dubbed as Fords first compact car, it came in 2 or 4 door configuration as well as station wagon.

I like the two and the fins

I like the two and the fins

1960 4 Door Comet

1960 4 Door Comet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960 mercury comet

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Barrett-Jackson to Auction First 2015 Corvette Z06 in Palm Beach | Corvetteforum

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Barrett-Jackson to Auction First 2015 Corvette Z06 in Palm Beach | Corvetteforum.

 

2015 Z06

2015 Z06

 

 

Corvette enthusiasts from around the world have been waiting for the reintroduction of the legendary model since production of the C6 Z06 ended, but the wait will soon be over. If you want to be the owner of the first 2015 Z06 produced, then you need to be at Barrett-Jackson’s second auction of the 2014 season, being held at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, April 11 – 13. Gary Bennett, Vice President of Consignments, has once again struck a deal with GM to auction off the very first production model of a new Corvette. At this point, the Z06 is scheduled to cross the block on Saturday, April 12.

 

 

 

Check out the link above.

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

In-Depth with the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

If, however, you guessed the 2015 Corvette Z06, you are also correct. If you guessed anything else, you’re reading the wrong magazine. Because of the upcoming Z06’s striking similarities to the ZR1, we’ve taken to thinking of the new car as the “ZR06.”.