Big Dog Garage: 1953 Chevy Wagon

Big Dog Garage: 1953 Chevy Wagon.

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

1953 Chevy Wagon

This 1953 Chevy Wagon was bought new by my Grandfather as a delivery wagon for his grocery store.  My Uncle and Cousin had restored and maintained it until it was passed on to me.  This is the actual first car I remember riding in as a toddler.  I was fascinated by the chrome on the dash, and have been a car nut ever since.

After a lot of thought and conversations, I have decided what direction to go with the restoration of the Wagon.  At first, I wanted to preserve the original state of the car, but if I did that, it would be dangerous to drive in today’s traffic.  In 1953, there were no seat-belts and few other safety devices.  I really would like to enjoy the car as it was meant to be…. driving it as much as possible.  I would love to build it with a Big Block, but I am realistic so I plan to install the original Corvette engine and transmission from the ’78 Vette.  I also want to install disc brakes all around with radial tires.  Of course there is creature comforts like air conditioning I want to install.  I will keep the original look of the car with a few exceptions like wheels and over-sized tires.

 

Steve Strope 1965 Mustang Ford Design Award Winner SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

Steve Strope 1965 Mustang Ford Design Award Winner SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

1965_Steve_Strope_Mustang_Pure_Vision

 

Is this the best Ford at SEMA?  SEMA gave the Ford Design award to Steve Strope’s ’65 Mustang rally car. “I wanted to imagine what if Martini Racing was involved with Ford,” said Steve at the press conference at SEMA 2012. This re-imagined race car was introduced at SEMA 2012.

1965 Steve Strope Mustang Pure Vision FORD LOTUS Indy Engine 650x433 image

 

Fake Patina: It’s Not Over Yet? New Flat Paints at SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

I am a fan of Flat/Satin look, to a point, but not the fake “rust” look however.

 

Fake Patina: It’s Not Over Yet? New Flat Paints at SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

SEMA 2012 Fake Patina

 

You know an underground trend has peaked when it goes mainstream; like when punk rock becomes Green Day. Driving rusty beater rods is punk rock. Faking patina is Green Day. Ya know how we know? Because phony rust is on display at SEMA 2012.

 

Cumberland Products has a Vintage Line of flat and satin paints that were used on this ’33 Ford to create what’s certainly the the most convincing fake patina we’ve ever seen. Even so, we can’t endorse fake rust.
However, we’re not so cynical about flat and satin paints, and what makes the Cumberland stuff cool is that it does not collect fingerprints or smudges. We fondled that ’33 to prove it. The company also claims “this coating is formulated to withstand the same atmospheric conditions as any single-stage urethane system.” So perhaps it won’t get all chalky like primer and other flats. Cumberland also has a clear that can be mixed for flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss.

 

See CumberlandProductsInc.com.

 

Think we’re wrong about patina? For that matter, do you think flat and satin are overplayed? What are the paint trends that interest you now?

 

Lingenfelter Brings Back Trans Am SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

I really like this one!!!!

 

Lingenfelter Brings Back Trans Am SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

2012_Ligenfelter_Trans_Am_

Pontiac is back… Well kind of. This is Lingenfelter’s Pontiac Trans Am based off of a 5th-Gen Camaro. It’s a turn-key package Lingenfelter introduced at the 2012 SEMA show.  Mike Copeland, who used to head special projects for GM and built previous HOT ROD project cars, said the only thing left is to sell them.

The Trans Ams will be offered in three price point packages that can be expanded upon or ditched for an entirely custom order.  The base model is the $40,000 package which includes exterior work and cat-back exhaust. Package two is $69,000 and includes exterior, interior, paint job, and wheels. The top of the line package, what you see here, includes: exterior, paint, interior, Brembo brakes, full exhaust, and a 455ci V8. Lingenfelter starts with an RHS block and builds a custom 455ci with LSX heads and 655hp to the flywheel. The cars are built to order and don’t include the Camaro (they will buy one for you if you can’t show up with your own).

In 2009 Lingenfelter built four prototypes and thrashed on them for several years tweaking them before production was ready. The body kits were designed and now built by Lingenfelter. The car has specially designed wheels built by Forgeline and no, you can’t buy them, they will only be offered on the Lingenfelter Trans Am.

2012 Trans Am 455 Ligenfelter 650x433 image
Read more: http://blogs.hotrod.com/lingenfelter-brings-back-trans-am-sema-2012-39685.html#ixzz2BajfisUW

 

Chrome Fox Body is More Than a Pretty Face – MustangForums.com

Chrome Fox Body is More Than a Pretty Face – MustangForums.com.

 

Marcus Slater
Mustang Forums

Most of the attention was on the newer Mustangs this year, but that doesn’t mean that the venerable fox body was overlooked completely. We saw this one customized by Creations in Chrome at SEMA right next to the grave digger monster truck. And, from the look of that wide body kit and matching tires, we’d say that it fits right in.

The thing about Creations in Chrome is that their name would lead you to believe that all they do is make things pretty. When in fact, their show cars are genuinely built to race. A few months back they brought their 2011 Mustang Show car to the Mojave Mile and ran it at 182 mph. From the looks of it they’re not messing around with this fox body either. I mean check out the size of that intercooler! And the size of the supercharger, geez.

So yeah, you’d be forgiven for assuming this shiny Mustang is just another SEMA showcar. But in reality, everything about this thing screams race car. I’d be curious to see how it runs down the quarter mile. Hopefully Creations in Chrome will oblige us with video like they did last year.

 

Cops and Rodders 2012 – Selling the Continental??!!!!

At this particular show I was admiring a car on the other side of the aisle, when I heard the an interesting conversation behind me.

 

1948 Continental – FOR SALE

 

The young man in this picture seemed to be having a hard time understanding why the owner (the adult in this picture) was selling his car.  At one point he was even questioning the price of $35k!!!!

 

 

Good to see such a young guy have such an interest.

Take a kid to a car show!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

HOT ROD Magazine’s Top 10 Trendsetting Cars of SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

HOT ROD Magazine’s Top 10 Trendsetting Cars of SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

 

SEMA_2012_ECKERT'S_MACH40_1969_Ford_mustang

The SEMA Show is the automotive performance industry’s most important yearly shindig—a trade-show gathering of parts manufacturers and car builders representing every kink in the gearhead world. It’s where business gets done, it’s the launching point for thousands of new products, and it has become one of the nation’s most interesting and diverse car shows. The project cars on display are advocates of the newest components and styles in the niches of hot rods, muscle cars, imports, street trucks, and 4x4s.

 

At HOT ROD, we look at the SEMA Show as an indicator of trends coming and going, and we walk the aisles looking for consistent themes in the creations of car builders nationwide. Here we present the fruit of this year’s hunt.—David Freiburger

 

sema_2012_1969_mustang_mach40

 

 

 

Cops and Rodders 2012 Car Show – Studebaker Row

Here is another row.  I’ve never seen this many  Avanti.  One of the owners heard me say to my wife, “I don’t know there were this many Avanti left!”   He tossed me  a disapproving look and then laughed.

So enjoy  Avanti row.

And some more!!!!

Avanti Engines

Thanks for reading.  More coming up.

Tim

Cops and Roders Car Show 2012 – Chevelle Row

This show is to benefit the local police departments (city and count) as well as other first responders.  This is the first year in the last 4  that I didn’t bring at least one car (Vette and/or Mustang).

As will all car shows, the hosts normally try to list the cars by class, but that doesn’t always work – often car clubs make up a large percentage of the participants and if the Mopar guys want to park together they will be allowed to.  So you’ll see the “rows” that don’t seem to match up.

In this case, however the Chevelle’s got this one right.

Chevelle Row

Another beautiful Chevelle

SS version

More coming up.
Thanks for reading

Tim