Tag Archives: Auto History

Wrecked – 1960 Pontiac Catalina

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1960 Pontiac Catalina on Parting Out

1960 Pontiac Catalina

Yes you can build a Camaro from the ground of with new frames/bodies and parts everywhere.  You can clone a Boss 302 and you can build your own 1957 Chevy and find all the after market parts you need.

But there are other, equally cool cars that you might take a fancy too and want to restore.  Finding stuff can be a problem.  My new feature “Wrecked” might help you out with finding those parts.

I’m doing this in conjunction with listing on PartingOut.Com  they pull together a lot of cars and many are southwestern cars, that means less debilitating rest on the parts you need.  And that’s were I found this very near completed parts car.

This 1960’s workhorse has great lines and I love stations wagons.  So here’s info on why I think it would be one of those cool cars, you might want too own.

There were about 34,000 of these cars produced in either the a 4 door 6 passenger or 9 passenger.  There were a few AmbleWagons produced out of that lot. (oh…amblewagons were ambulances or hearses).

This is a '69 but you get the idea.

This is a ’69 but you get the idea.

One really cool feature was that, unlike may wagons of the late ’50’s early ’60’s that sported 6 cyclinders engines, the 1960 Pontiac wagons only carried a V8.  That was the 389, overhead valved, cast iron blocked engine, with a bore and stroke of 4.05×3.75 inches and a compression ratio of 8.6:1.  These were topped with Rochester 2GC, 2 barrel, it also sported hydraulic valves and Five main bearings.  This all helped produce from 215 hp (w/synchromesth transmission) or 283 hp (w/Hyrda-Matic transmission).

This was a new body design and new for 1960 were the optional “eight lug” aluminum wheels with integral brake drums that not only enhanced the car’s looks but also provided improved stopping power. Another popular option for performance enthusiasts was the “Safe-T-Track” limited slip differential.

It looks great in this configuration. Look at alll that glass!!!

It looks great in this configuration. Look at all that glass!!!

And tons room!!!

And tons room!!!

I would love to own one. The potential for making it a Muscle Wagon is extremely good.

So check out www.PartingOut.com and see what parts they have for your collectible.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

San Francisco 49ers Coach to Drive C7 Pace Car at Indy 500 – CorvetteOnline.com

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via CorvetteOnline.com.

San Francisco 49ers Coach to Drive C7 Pace Car at Indy 500

 

2014CorvetteStingrayIndyPaceCar06-mediumFor football players, there is no bigger event than the Super Bowl. Some men strive their entire lives to get to the Big Game, though just a select few have ever earned a Super Bowl title. San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh fell three points short of winning his Super Bowl bid this year, falling to his brother, John, who coached the Baltimore Ravens to victory.

indy-500But even being a Super Bowl loser has its perks. One of them is the privilege of driving the 2014 Corvette Stingray Pace Car at this year’s Indianapolis 500 event, becoming one of the first “civilians” to drive this brand new American icon.

It’s a bit of a homecoming for Jim Harbaugh, who quarterbacked for the Indianapolis Colts during the 1990s. In addition to being a fervent football city, Indianapolis has a rich racing history, including the iconic Indy 500. GM has had numerous cars pace the Indy 500, including the Corvette, but with hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance, this is the first time many of them will see a Corvette C7 up close and personal.

In fact, this is the 12th time the Corvette has paced the Indy 500, including appearances that dominated most of the past decade. But this arguably the biggest Corvette pace car event of them all, a radical redesign from the “safer” look of the Corvette C6. Painted in Laguna Blue, this stunning ‘Vette will certainly draw a lot of looks when it makes its pace car debut this Sunday.

Tarrawingee Dirt Drag invitational….Continued | crcooperphotography

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Tarrawingee Dirt Drag invitational….Continued | crcooperphotography.

From the Land-Down-Under.

TarrawingeeDirtDragsContinued-CrcooperPhotography - 001

Nice work guys!!!

Tim

A Shelby – TRUCK!!! Yeah!!! Shelby Raptor

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Well there were the Cobras and the Mustangs, even a Lancer and an Omni, why not a Shelby pick up truck….and naturally it would be a Ford.

The Ford Rapture was a formidable 4 by 4 at it’s inception with gobs of horsepower and not a badly appointed interior.

But we expect more from a Shelby and you are going to get with this monster truck.

Yeah...It's a Shelby

Yeah…It’s a Shelby

That's what most other 4x4 are going to see...the back side

That’s what most other 4×4 are going to see…the back side

The NEW Shelby Raptor delivers a heart pounding, supercharged 575 hp (50 state emissions compliant), tuned with Shelby Stinger exhaust, complimented by a custom Shelby leather interior, all wrapped in Shelby graphics and styling, and finished with an exclusive Shelby Registry number and badges. Personalize your new Shelby Raptor from your choice of three Shelby graphics packages, or add wheels and tires, light bars, bumpers and roll bars, all from our ever growing Shelby options list.

There are several paint scheme:

I like this white version - reminds me of the Mustangs

I like this white version – reminds me of the Mustangs

Shelby-ups-Raptor-availability1

 

Go GET ONE!!!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

Parking Lot Spotlight – Ford F-3

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This isn’t the greatest paint job but I love the front end of this 1950 Ford F-3.

1950 Ford F-3

1950 Ford F-3

Normally the grill insert (including the panels where the headlights are is white.

Love the hood!

Love the hood!

 

The bed has been nicely done.

Not a great shot but the stake bed is nicely done. This Truck still see a good it of work

Not a great shot but the stake bed is nicely done. This Truck still see a good it of work

The first F-Series truck (known as the Ford Bonus-Built) was introduced in 1948 as a replacement for the previous car-based pickup line introduced in 1941. The F-Series was sold in eight different weight ratings, with pickup, panel truck, cab-over engine (COE), conventional truck, and school bus chassis body styles.

The F-3 became the F-350 in 1953.

Your engine selections were:

226 CID 3.7 liter I6

239 CID 3.9 liter Flathead VI

254 CID 4.2 liter I6

337 CID 5.5 liter Flathead V*

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

Corvair – The Last Car

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Normally, I do a Auto Factoid piece and you’d find a entry that would say on May 14, 1969 the last Corvair rolled off the factory line.

Some folks loved the car and many collectors still do.  There were a few that really disliked the car for various reasons and one guy in particular, Ralph Nader, believed they represented all that was wrong with the U.S. auto industry.  Although he may not have single-handedly contributed the end of the Corvair’s production, many believe he was instrumental in it’s early demise.

That’s why in a border town car show in Nogales, AZ I found this humorous:

What's funny about a 1966 Corvair?

What’s funny about a 1966 Corvair?

How about the Ralph Nader for President bumper sticker?

How about the Ralph Nader for President bumper sticker?

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

Hot Rods Old Vail 1st Annual Car Show – My Fav- Starliner

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There was a time in Ford history where the same car carried several names at one time. This was my favorite car at this show.  The Ford Starliner also carried the name Galaxy (the Fairlane also carried the Galaxy name).   This one is a beautiful 1960 Starline and I love it.

Enjoy the pics.

'60 Starliner - great looking interior

’60 Starliner – great looking interior

 

Great Lines - imitation turbine taillights

Great Lines – imitation turbine taillights

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Hot Rods Old Vail 1st Annual Car Show – Vettes

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Just down the street is a new eating establishment.  From the outside it looks odd, until you realize that the shape on the roof is a car air filter.  On the inside it’s very unique.

While dinning you are sitting slightly above and do the West of a very large working garage.  The glass walls allow patrons to view the projects that range from a built from scratch race platform (not yet a car but tube framed out), a Cobra body – mostly likely a kit, any early 1900 Ford, a 50’s Chevy and few other.

It has a great atmosphere with lots of car and racing memorabilia (with a complete Sprint and drag car) and lots of TVs tuned to all types of sports. Food is good and prices are reasonable.

Hot Rods

Hot Rods

As you can guess in my two previous ‘almost live’ posts Hot Rods is a great place to hold a car show.

And what would a car show be without some classic corvettes?  Well we weren’t able to explore that at this show.

DSC_0181

Vettes

 

Hot Rods and Vette!!!

Hot Rods and Vette!!!

 

Classic Vettes

Classic Vettes

All this for FREE and only 1o bucks to enter these great cars!!

More coming up!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

GM Press Release: 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray base price set at $51,995, up 3%

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GM Press Release: 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray base price set at $51,995, up 3% – Corvette Action Center – Corvette Forum.

 

DETROIT – The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe will have a suggested starting retail price of $51,995, and the Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at $56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination fee but exclude tax, title, and license.

 

“The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000.”

Standard features on the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray include:

  • Seating with lightweight magnesium frames for exceptional support, and eight-way power adjustment
  • Five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes
  • New seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching
  • 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system
  • Carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes
  • Aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter (45 kg) and 57-percent stiffer than the previous model’s structure
  • Advanced, high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting
  • Dual, eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, with next-generation Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system and rear vision camera
  • Bose nine-speaker audio system with SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and SD card and auxiliary input jack
  • Keyless access with push-button start
  • Power tilt/telescope steering wheel
  • An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible that can be lowered remotely using the key fob

As shown at the North American International Auto Show, the Stingray coupe fitted with the major available options would be $73,360, including:

  • 3LT interior package, with leather-wrapped interior ($8,005)
  • Z51 Performance Package ($2,800)
  • Competition sports seats ($2,495)
  • Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995)
  • Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795)
  • Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195)
  • Carbon fiber interior trim ($995)
  • Sueded, microfiber-wrapped upper interior trim ($995)
  • Red-painted calipers ($595)
  • Black-painted wheels ($495)

The 3LT interior package includes: Bose 10-speaker surround-sound audio system; SiriusXM Satellite radio with one-year subscription and HD radio receiver; color head-up display; memory package; navigation system; heated and ventilated seats with power lumbar and bolster adjustment; premium Napa leather seating surfaces; and leather-wrapped dash and instrument panel, console and door panels.

The Z51 Performance Package includes: high-performance gear ratios; transmission-cooling system; larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and tires; larger, slotted rotors and brake-cooling ducts; electronic limited-slip differential and differential cooling system; unique chassis tuning; and available Magnetic Ride Control active-handling system with Performance Traction Management. Equipped with the Z51 package, the Corvette Stingray is capable of accelerating from 0–60 mph in under four seconds, and more than 1 g in cornering.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim