Tag Archives: Auto Restoration

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show 2014

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This weekend I attended the 8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show put on by the Rotary Club of Tucson.  I’ve attend the last 5 of these shows, twice as a participant (once with my ’84 Vette and ’70 Mustang and then once again with just the Mustang) and it has never disappointed and it’s on GRASS!!! Yes!!! No hot sticky black top parking lot or weed ridden field, but an actual grassy sports field, it’s fantastic!!!!

This year was no different and in fact it exceeded the past two years by the number of cars, value of cars and in two other aspects.  This year the show was opened up to motorcycles (way cool!!) and toss in the display of one of the rarest early and privately owned cars that hasn’t been seen in public in many years (more on that in next post).

The cars were outstanding as always and covered just about any era, from the 1911 to 2014 Corvette Sting Ray (classic from day one).  I’ll show a few of those in the a later post.

For this post I want to extol the motorcycle corral, it was small – but awesome!

I love getting to a car show early – before all the exhibitors arrive.  Getting my car set up and then watching the other participants bring their cars in.  It’s a great what to select the ‘gotta see first’ cars.  I didn’t make it that early to this year’s event, but was early enough to see the a few of the motorcycles show up and there were some fantastic bikes.   It’s a treat to see someone ride up in one of the first Indian motorcycles or a Royal Enfield…yes….they were ridden in!!!

One of the oldest Indians I've every seen running!!!

One of the oldest Indians I’ve every seen running!!!

Very Cool Bike!!!

Very Cool Bike!!!

There were some other great bikes there, like the Triumph and Norton.

Norton Commando 750 - Awesome bike!!!

Norton Commando 750 – Awesome bike!!!

1976 BMW - Norton in the background

1976 BMW – Norton in the background

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Another great looking Indian

Another great looking Indian

Classic Indian - love the fenders.

Classic Indian – love the fenders.

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So my goal is to get my 1966 Bridgestone Dual Twin ready for next year!!   Fingers Crossed!!!!

Thanks for reading more coming up on the 8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show!!!

Tim

 

DTtucson

2014 Rotary Club Tucson Classic Car Show: http://t.co/XiRYrf8Agq via @YouTube
VeroAmoreAZ

Catch the Vero Amore Fire Truck at Tucson Classic Car Show at the Gregory School today till 4pm!
garagistry

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show A WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND A FALL SATURDAY GREAT WEATHER IS IN THE FORECAST TOO! http://t.co/yrVEEPu6YK

Detroit Made!!!!

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You are gonna love this new music video by By Seger!!!

 

I’m going to let this one ride a few days on my front page for a few days!!

 

Thanks for reading…I mean rocking!!!!!

 

Tim

Jason Horn’s 1969 Pontiac GTO!!

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I was contacted by one of my followers on Twitter (@CarRestoration), I follow him as well (love a nice GTO) Jason Horn of Beattyville, KY.

He is currently heal up from an injury but he provided a link to what is a monster power plant that he’s build for his 1969 GTO rebuild.

Check out this how this mild-mannered 375 wants to jump right out off its motor mounts!!

 

 

Here’s why: It is a Butler performance stroked factory 375 that is now a 474.
Jason is looking at 650 – 700 HP and he’s connecting that up to TKO 5 speed!!!!

This is his 28th Pontiac engine rebuild.

Rest that injury Jason and drop us a note when you are back at the project.

Best of luck
Tim Sweet

1969 gto

National Corvette Museum to close sinkhole, plans for Great Eight finalized | Hemmings Daily

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It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on the Great 8. The National Corvette Museum has just announced that they will close the sinkhole.  See more here:   National Corvette Museum to close sinkhole, plans for Great Eight finalized | Hemmings Daily.

 

As for the Great Eight Corvettes themselves, the museum’s board of directors, in conjunction with Chevrolet, has determined that only three of the eight cars damaged were in sufficient condition to be repaired. Chevrolet will oversee the restoration of the 2009 ZR-1 Blue Devil prototype, as well as the 1,000,000th Corvette assembled, a white 1992 convertible, at the GM Heritage Center. The third car to be restored is the black 1962 Corvette; Chevrolet has agreed to fund this restoration, which will be handled by a shop designated by the National Corvette Museum. The remaining five cars will be preserved in their current states, and will form the basis of a future museum exhibit.Speaking of the car’s damaged in the sinkhole collapse, GM’s executive vice president of Global product development, Mark Reuss, said, “Our goal was to help the National Corvette Museum recover from a terrible natural disaster by restoring all eight cars. However, as the cars were recovered, it became clear that restoration would be impractical because so little was left to repair. And, frankly, there is some historical value in leaving those cars to be viewed as they are.”

 

1 Millionth

1 Millionth

1962

1962

Blue Devil 2009 ZR1

Blue Devil 2009 ZR1

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Corvette museum to fill in sinkhole, leave five cars unrestored

Preservation or restoration. That’s the question that faces anyone dealing with classic cars, and it’s the issue with which the National Corvette Museum is grappling in the wake of the sinkhole that opened up in its midst this past February. In the …
National Corvette Museum sinkhole will not be permanent attraction

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) – A massive sinkhole that swallowed eight sports cars won’t be a permanent attraction at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky. The museum’s board voted Saturday to fill in the entire hole that opened up in February and …

 

8th Annual Tucson Classics Car Show! Best Car Show in Southern Az! Oct. 18

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Wow where has 2014 gone?!  It’s almost Oct!!!!   But that’s a good thing here in the southwest, because that means its peak car show season and there “ain’t” nothing better than that!!!

Being a veteran car show participant, both as a spectator and entrant, I attend many hot, dusty car shows in Southern Arizona.   But the Tucson Rotary Club’s Annual Tucson Classics Car Show is a premier car show, in a beautiful setting and…wait for it…wait…it is on “GRASS”!!!!

With over 400 antique, sport, classic and hot rod cars, product and food venders everywhere,  it is a day well spent with the family.

If you are entering your pride and joy, these guys know how to run a quality car show!  Well organized and professional with lots of classifications.  They really cater to the car owner.

Since I’m a Corvette lover, I really like that the Tucson Rotary Club is, again, giving away a beautiful Corvette! I never miss a chance to win a Corvette.

Oh!!! All the proceeds support local charities, like the St. Joseph’s Neonatal Unit, among others.

Here a peek at this beauty:

 

Win this 2003 C5 Corvette Convertible!!!

Win this 2003 C5 Corvette Convertible!!!

For more information on the rules for the give-a-way and the car show navigate over to WWW.ROTARYTCC.COM and you can purchase your tickets for a chance to with this beautiful 2003 C5 Convertible (and other prizes) and enter your vehicle.

Maybe I’ll see you there and we talk cars!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

See you there!!!!

See you there!!!!

 

 

 

Our top ten 250bhp+ bargains – BBC Top Gear

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Of course not all of these cars are available over here on the left side of the pond!!!!!

via Our top ten 250bhp+ bargains – BBC Top Gear.

I did drive the Renault sport in Italy last year and I’d have to say it was a blast!

100% Fun to Drive

100% Fun to Drive

SEAT Leon Cupra 265

The value option of the VW group’s bulging array of hot hatches. A point rammed home by the option of a 276bhp version (until recently a Nürburging record holder), which, at £27,210, could technically slot into fourth in this list. £25,690, 261bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the SEAT Leon Cupra

Renaultsport Megane 265

If a comfortable ride and the option of a paddleshift gearbox aren’t important to you, this is the hot hatch of choice. Aggressive front differential makes it exciting enough for you to wonder why you’d want rear-wheel drive. And the new Trophy-R version nicked the Leon’s Nordschleife bragging rights. £26,930, 261bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Renaultsport Megane 265

Nissan 370Z

A proper, six-cylinder, rear-drive sports car for £85 more than a tarted up Renault Megane looks like the bargain of the century. And indeed, the Zed is a fun old thing. But the key word is probably ‘old’… £27,015, 326bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Nissan 370Z

Vauxhall Astra VXR

Like the Megane 265, a mechanical diff on the front axle endows the go-faster Astra with some properly engaging dynamics, though this is a blunter instrument than its French rival. Approaching 300bhp through the front wheels ensures torque steer aplenty. £27,270, 276bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Vauxhall Astra VXR

Subaru WRX STI

It’s a particularly old school way to get hold of a shed-load of power for not a lot of money, but there’s plenty to like here: stocky manual gearbox, rally kudos, simply enormous rear spoiler. Its heinous thirst betrays its £-per-bhp honours somewhat. £28,995, 296bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Subaru WRX STI

VW Golf R

The finest all-round hot hatch on sale also offers a very healthy amount of power and premium loveliness for its sub-£30k price tag. Hugely fun four-wheel-drive system results in a better modern-day take on the rally-rep Impreza than Subaru’s own WRX STI. £29,900, 296bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the VW Golf R

Audi S3

Same engine as the Golf R, but Audi will take an extra £745 off you for demanding your German hot hatch has four rings on its front grille. Not quite as fun to drive as its VW relative, but it’s still the best S3 yet. £30,645, 296bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Audi S3

BMW M135i

The S3’s closest rival, and a car which delivers an extra 20bhp, priced at an entirely reasonable £10 each. The Beemer is also more entertaining, owing to its rear-wheel-drive chassis and sonorous six-cylinder engine. £30,845, 316bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the BMW M135i

Volvo V40 T5

The least fun car in our top ten, the Volvo V40 is undoubtedly rather sensible in this company. But it’s a very pleasant thing, nonetheless. Its characterful five-cylinder engine is nearly ruined by a dim-witted automatic gearbox, though. £31,900, 254bhp

Read Top Gear’s verdict on the Volvo V40

Peugeot RCZ R

Further proof of Peugeot’s return to form. The RCZ R is not only ludicrously powerful for a car with a 1.6-litre engine, it will also oversteer like a exuberantly driven 205 GTI if you want it to. Who needs a TT? £31,995, 266bhp

 

Thanks for reading.

Timbbc america top gear

Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV

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This is a fantastic car.  Follow the link below on Street Legal TV.

 

1964 Monster Tempest

1964 Monster Tempest

 

Many of the people we come across tell us they’ve had their car for a long time, and that time frame is just barely into double digits. But Paul Minore from Orange, Connecticut, has surpassed many of those people three-fold. His 1964 Pontiac LeMans was purchased right out of high school and has been in his possession for 32 years now. It wasn’t new at the time, with some 18 years under its belt already, but he had plans for it.PM-Tempest09While most people know the musclecar-era LeMans as an A-body, it began as the Y-body Tempest, a sub-compact car that was shared with Buick and Oldsmobile in the early 1960s. Pontiac’s designer du jor from that decade was none other than John DeLorean, who had a hand in making the early Tempest a bit more unique than its Buick and Olds cousins.

via Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

326/3-Speed 1964 Pontiac LeMans Coupe | Bring a Trailer

2) The tail lights and rear trim are from a 1964 Tempest Custom. 3) The paint code says the original paint was Alamo Beige (however Sunfire was available in 1964) 4) The trim code says it was originally a saddle interior.

New 8-Speed Enables Quicker, More Efficient Corvette

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I’m a GM fan. Have been since I  was a kid and currently drive a C6 Corvette as my daily.  I’m also a manual transmission guy so automatic transmission really aren’t a preferred option. Of course the new Corvettes has paddel-shifting which is state of the art, but what do I do with my left leg???!!!!

 

DETROIT – The all-new, GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L90 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission offered in the 2015 Corvette Stingray and Z06 enhances performance and efficiency, while delivering exceptional refinement and world-class shift responsiveness that rivals the world’s best dual-clutch transmissions.

In fact, in the 2015 Corvette Stingray, it enables a class-leading 29-mpg EPA highway estimate – a 3.5-percent increase in fuel economy over the previous six-speed automatic – and a quicker 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, all while delivering wide-open-throttle upshifts quicker than those of the dual-clutch transmission offered in the Porsche 911.

“GM’s new 8L90 eight-speed automatic represents a rare win-win-win scenario for customers,” said Kavoos Kaveh, global chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions. “It offers greater performance and efficiency, while weighing less than the transmission it replaces. That’s a rare accomplishment in the industry today – and one for which GM has been awarded more than two dozen patents.”

via New 8-Speed Enables Quicker, More Efficient Corvette.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2015 Hydra-Matic 8L90 (M5U) Eight Speed RWD Automatic Transaxle

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Chevrolet Corvette (C7)

seven-speed manual with rev-matching technology or an Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, a …
GM makes 8-speed automatic transmission standard on 2015 Chevrolet …

The GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed is approximately the same size and weight as the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic. Its 7.0 overall gear ratio spread is wider than GM’s six-speed automatic transmissions, providing a numerically higher …

Wrecked – 1972 Mercury Cougar

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I haven’t done a “Wrecked” piece in a while.  These are fun articles to do.  They include some history and specs for the highlighted car and a look at one that has quality parts still available.

You can find this featured car over on www.Parting Out.com. They have a unique system that pulls together quality used parts from all over Texas and U.S.

In 1972 the Mercury Cougar (rich cousin to the Mustang) took a different path from is roots as a classy coupe and began the move to the luxury side of the auto market.

By 1972 the Cougar series to flavors the Cougar and the Cougar XR-7.  Body styles were 2 door hard top Coupe and 2 door convertible for both the versions. If you say “…hmmm I don’t recall seeing a convertible!”   There’s a good reason for that.  In 1972 only 1,240 Cougar  verts were produced and only 1,929 for the XR-7.

Engine for the 1972 was the Ford work-horse power plant, the 351.  It had a cast iron block, overhead valves, bore and stroke 4.00″X3.50″.  Compression ratio was a low-ish 8.5:1 and topped with a two barrel carb it was able to knock out 163HP.

There isn’t anything that great to see is a donor car like this one:

Lot of parts on this car. Hard to find glass and any of the light lenses.

Lot of parts on this car. Hard to find glass and any of the light lenses.

 

Good fenders and doors and intact rocker molding - a huge plus

Good fenders and doors and intact rocker molding – a huge plus

Here is the best part. Rear bumper..will need re-chroming but the taillight lenses took to be in good shape!!

Here is the best part. Rear bumper..will need re-chroming but the taillight lenses took to be in good shape!!

 

Restoring a Cougar?  Give me a shout!!!!

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

1972 cougar xr 7

1971 429 XR-7 on E-Bay – Mercurycougar.net

1971 429 XR-7 on E-Bay. A bit tired but has some nice options. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercu…item4ac46cf6e3. 1972 Cougar,XR-7. My Cougar 2003 Focus SVT My SVT …

They Made How Many? 1962

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I love this series (well I write it…so those were wasted letters) and 1962 was a mix bag of cars. The beginning of the space-age, muscle car era and the ending of the classic, heavy, finned cars.

For example take a look at the 1962 Imperial:

You can still see the fins, but a little space-age flare with the taillights.

You can still see the fins, but a little space-age flare with the taillights.

 

Now the 1962 Thunderbird:

Fins are almost gone and now see the space-age/turbine round taillights.

Fins are almost gone and now see the space-age/turbine round taillights.

 

So the leader for 1962 was Chevrolet topping the charts with 2,061, 677 units produced. That is 600,000 more cars than it’s nearest competitor Ford that came in second with 1,476,031 and for had nearly 1 million more than the 3rd place manufacture Pontiac with 521,933 units. Rambler was 4th with 442,346 followed by Oldsmobile with 428,853.

The rest of the field looked like this:

Buick – 399,526

Mercury – 314,366

Plymouth – 339,527

Dodge – 240,484

Cadillac – 160,840

Chrysler – 128,921

Studebaker – 89,318

Lincoln – 31,061

Imperial – 14,337

Checker -1,230

Metropolitan – 420

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1962 cars