There were a lot of car makers in 1908 some of the names you’d recognize like Lincoln, Imperial and Sears (yup that Sears) and some you wouldn’t like Benner, Mier and Browniekar.
The top makers were headed up by Ford with a whopping 10,202 cars produced. (This was the year Ford introduced the Model T.) The rest of the maker looked like this:
Buick – 8,820
Studebaker – 8,132
1908 STUDEBAKER – Model H, 4-cyl., 30 hp
Studebaker Electric
Maxwell – 4,455 – What’s a Maxwell? Well like many cars of this era they look like one another but here’s a pic.
Amphicar – a flip of a lever and two propellers kicked in and made water-crossing a breeze.
It was powered by an iron block and iron head Inline 4 engine with 2 valves per cylinder. It displaced 1147 cc and had 2.72 x 2.99 bore and stroke with 8.0:1 compression produced 47 hp and 61 ft lbs of torque.
For years later one of the most important cars (although not this particular version) was introduced – the 1964 Plymouth Barracuda. Little did Plymouth know at the time 6 to 8 years later the version of the ‘Cuda’ would break collector car value records.
1964 Barracuda – Glassback.
Not the powerhouse that the 70’s versions were but it did have a V8 available that net you 180 hp. Dubbed the “Glassback” because most of the slanted back was class (not unlike my 07 Corvette).
A few years later in 1970 AMC showed off their oddest car yet – the Gremlin. (Although the Pacer was arguably the worse.) Ugly or not it was a good seller and it’s standard 6 cylinder was economical and produced 128 hp. There were 872 2 passenger and 27,688 4 passenger made that year.
1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back”
Also this week Mr. Walter Chrysler was born in 1875 on April 2 and Charles Hall patented Aluminum in 1889 on the same day.
In 1923 on April 5th, Firestone produced the first balloon tire.
Spec Page is a new series where we explore a particular model’s DNA.
This post is covering a car that I’ve frankly never heard of before. Plymouth Belvedere sure is recognizable as a 60’s muscle car (yes properly powered they were muscle cars) and Suburban as big hauler. The 1954 Plymouth Belvedere Suburban was a hauler, but power house it wasn’t.
Plymouth Belvedere Suburban
So lets start with the engine. Weren’t a lot of choices in 1954 and the standard for working class cars was the Plymouth’s flat head six.It was an iron block with L-head valves. It had a bore and stroke of 3.25″ 4.64″ and a compression ratio of 7.1:1 and displaced 217.8 cubic inches. Topped with the a single carb barrel downdraft (normally a Carter Type BB model D5h2) help produce 100 hp.
Flat Head Six
All that power was transferred to the wheels was a 3 speed synchromesh on column and a Hypoid 3.73:1. Once underway stopped by 4-wheel hydraulic drum with double front cylinders. And those will be need to get this 3,000 plus pound, 189 inches (nearly 16 feet).
Supporting all this mayhem was a double-channel box frame with side rails and 4 cross members and Briggs all-steel body. The suspension was independent in the front with coil springs and torsion sway bar with tapered leaf springs and 6.50 x 15″ tires and press steel safety rims.
You could buy his car with some added option like push-button radio, heater, two-tone paint, wire wheel covers, white side walls, bumpers guards, tissue dispenser, exhaust extension deflector locking gas cap, mirrors.
I really enjoy doing the engine line up series. I love engines. If I had the $$$ and the space I’d collect them. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a straight eight, or twelve cylinder sitting on a stand, all clean and shiny?
For 1946 Chrysler had the Royal, the Windsor, The Saratoga and the New Yorker series, 2 more series than they had engines.
One of the coolest models was the Windsor two-door three passenger coupe.
1946 Two door, 3 passenger
Let’s get to the engines.
If you can’t guess there were one 6 cylinder and one 8 cylinder. They were split by series. One was the Royal/Windsor engine and the other was Saratoga/New Yorker engine. If you know anything about Chryslers you might know that the New Yorker named cars were large cars and traditionally had larger engines. In this case the Saratoga/New Yorker carried the V8.
It was an L-Head, cast iron block V8. It displaced 323.5 cubic inches with a bore and stroke of 3.25″ x 4.875″. With a compression ratio of 6.7:1 the engine put out about 135 horsepower. It had five main bearing and solid lifters and was topped with a B-B E7A1 carb.
1946 Chrysler 323.7 Straight Eight.
The other engine was a 6 cylinder or the Royal/Windsor engine, smaller cars (like the 2 door 3 passenger).
It two was an L-Head and cast iron block engine. It displaced 250.6 cid and the bore and stroke were 3.438″ x 4.50″. The compression ratio was 6.6:1 and it had solid lifters and 4 main bearings which combined generates 114 horsepower. It was topped either B-B EV1-EV2 j or E7L4 (for the Fluid Drive and Vacumatic) or B-BEX1, 2 or 3 (for the standard transmission).
As you know Parking Lot Spot Light is a piece where someone as parked their classic, muscle or other cool car in a local establishment to conduct some sort of business.
This time it was a local grocery store (car peeps need to eat) this beautiful fastback.
As Mustang fans know the 1964 Mustang flew out of the show room. But I bet if they new what was coming in 1965 the might have waited. I know if I but a 1964, I’d be looking to trade it the fastback came out. Especially if I had saw this color with these stripes.
Fantastic Fastback
Love the scoop and the stripes!!!
Didn’t get to peek under the hood but I’m betting the 289 is still there.
The interior was just a great looking as the exterior.
A really light week this week. It includes a government bailout, corporate take over, iconic debut, a tragedy and record falls. Yeah…not much going on!!!
Lets start with the government bailout it was 1971, but it wasn’t a US auto company but Rolls-Royce got a $144 million loan from the British government March 5th 1971.
1971 Rolls Royce
On the same day in 1952 Willys rolled out its Aero-Ace.
Willys Aero Ace
In 1929 on March 7th General Motors buys Opel. I was not aware that this occurred that early.
The iconic car released by Pontiac on March 8, 1969 was a variation of the Firebird – the Trans Am – amazing car.
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Did you know there is a company that is making the a Trans Am out of the new 2012 Camaro? More coming on that!!!
Automotive tragedy occurred in Detroit in 1901. The Oldsmobile plant burned down.
A few days later (plus) twenty-seven years Sir Henry Seagrave broke the 200 mph land speed barrier. Here is his beast.
This is my latest segment. It will be a frequent blathering of car stuff – current and maybe some old stuff. I hope you enjoy it.
Bench seats started as the first front seats, clearly a hold over from the old ‘buck-wagon’. Over the years the bench was a stable, but has somewhat faded Well for American cars it comes to an end the last 2013 Impala, which is the last U.S. car and the 2014 Impala will have bucket seats.
’61 Chevy bench seat.
2012 Impala w/bbench seet and 2014 without
I was really excited to see C-X75 Super Car for Jaguar back in 2010 at the Paris Car show. The car was to sticker at about 1.1 million dollars. However, it has been killed after just 3 prototyped.
Ye,s I know, you are saying big deal!! But it was a big deal here is southern Arizona. Even a couple snow flakes can cause a tizz, that alone two snow squaws dumping 2 plus inches each and then having cold enough to stick around until the next day.
Vette – Nicely tucked in the garage. Mustang tucked under it’s cover.
Normally this isn’t the normal scene, the snow nor the Vette in the garage over night (0nly happened because I was taking the Mrs. Lexus in for service.
Here are some more RARE winter scenes from Southern Arizona.
