Tag Archives: AutoBlog

Curb Weight – Corvettes and Corvairs

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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.

I’ve visited the Bowling Green assembly plant a few times and it never grows old.  The last time I was there they were expanding the plant to include Chevy Volt production and (not releasable at that time) and this as well:

The new Corvette Stingray will be built at GM’s Bowling Green, Ky., assembly plant, which underwent a $131-million upgrade, including approximately $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the aluminum frame in-house for the first time.

Check out my post from one of my visits Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant Tour…AWESOME!!

OOOHHH....I'd work there!!!

OOOHHH….I’d work there!!!

I did a post from a car show down on the border and covered a corvair with a Ralph Nader for President bumper sticker which was a hoot. (See it here Corvair – The Last Car .) But one Corvair I haven’t seen in years at a car show  or anywhere is the  Lakewood.

1962 Lakewood

1962 Lakewood

There’s a good reason for this.  These  Corvair station wagons were only made in 1961 and 1962.  Only 33,271 wagons were produced in those two years.  A subset of those were the Monza of 1962.  Only 2567 of those wagons were produced.

A there were a couple of engine the 80 horse power Turbo Air and a 98 horse powered Super Turbo Charge.

That makes me think I need to do post on just Corvairs.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

corvette corvair

FelipeM1000

1954 Corvette dream cars – Corvette Corvair fastback, Corvette Nomad wagon and Corvette convertible coupe http://t.co/OrJk5A2sX1

 

 

 

 

New Zealand man prints an Aston Martin DB4 – Autoweek

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New Zealand man prints an Aston Martin DB4 – Autoweek.

The 3D printer has really taken off and become affordable for a lot of hobbyists.  As model car builder, I enough building cars (and a few planes) but this guys make a 3D model of a DB4.  Pretty cool.

3D Printing of DB4

3D Printing of DB4

Thanks for reading.

Tim

aston martin db4

transport_green

CARS – 3D-Printed Aston Martin DB4 A Preview Of Future Manufacturing Methods? – Gas 2 http://t.co/YmmkebulyT

aston martin db4

 

 

 

 

 

Hennessey tunes C7 Corvette Stingray – Autoweek

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Hennessey tunes C7 Corvette Stingray – Autoweek.

Get to your Hennessey!!!!!

In October, the Hennessey HPE700 Corvette is expected to debut packing a claimed 700 hp, with help from an Eaton TVS R2300 supercharger. It adds 8 psi of boost through custom CNC-ported factory cylinder heads, working with proprietary intake and fueling systems. Hennessey says it will also recalibrate the ECU. Like the factory C7, a seven-speed manual or six-speed automatic can be specified.

700 HP and a cool interior upgrade...WOW!

700 HP and a cool interior upgrade…WOW!

I really the color and trim on this C7.

Got your C7 yet?

c7 hennessey

Official: Hennessey Performance Corvette Stingray Upgrades

Hennessey Performance has been on a roll as of late with their Venom GT breaking speed records seemingly every month. Now, in anticipation of the release of the 2014 Corvette C7, Hennessey has announced their upgrade packages for the new Stingray.
Hennessey’s HPE700 C7 Corvette Beats the Factory’s ZR1 to the …

… Performance Parts, Pictures and More from HPE. Home · About · HennesseyPerformance.com; July 31, 2013. You are here: Home / Corvette / C7 / Hennessey’s HPE700 C7 Corvette Beats the Factory’s ZR1 to the Punch …

Thanks for reading.

 

AUTOWEEK – 2014 Corvette Stingray Video

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Check out the video and listen to the commentary on the 2014 Corvette Stingray.

 

corvette stingray

jaysonalva

The new corvette stingray is just beautiful … Never thought I’d say that about an American car
AhmadRouziAR

I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/e9FeHz9GPG First Look: 2014 Corvette Stingray – Jay Leno’s Garage
Thanks for reading
Tim

BMW introduces the i3 electric car with optional range-extending engine

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BMW introduces the i3 electric car with optional range-extending engine.

bmwi3debut

What is that noise?  The sound of the electric motor?  No it’s me yawning!!!   I’m getting bored with electric cars that look like bubble.   This BWM looks like a mini-cooper, cross over, mini van thing.

However I do like the interior!!  Take a look.

The i3 interior uses a variety of sustainable materials, including the eucalyptus wood on ...

Not bad looking!!!

But it’s no Tesla!!!!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

A Photo Shoot – Studebakers The GT Hawk!

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As promised we are going to take closer look at the Golden Hawk Gran Turismo (GT).

I really like the Golden Hawk it has very cool lines.

I love the roof line and I live the molding on the pillar, just above the quarter panel.

I love the roof line and I live the molding on the pillar, just above the quarter panel.

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I love the ‘muted’ fins…there but not huge…The tail lights are great looking as is the slope of the trunk lid.

Love the curve of the fender that are topped with Chrome,

Love the curve of the fender that are topped with Chrome,

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The Gran Trisumo emblem it spectacular and I like the unique placement. Notice the Studebaker emblem on the mirror.

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I love the way the fenders end in a single headlight.  The grill…well….I wouldn’t have done.  What I do like about the front end are the vents that end in signal lights.

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I like indications of a hood scope and the taper for the hood.  I especially like the way the top fender molding has a slight curve and tapers at the end, above the headlight.  The vent  on the front fender is very cool old school!!!

Last but not least….I would not have those wheels on it…I’d rather have steel wheels and poverty hub cabs.

Your thoughts?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

gt hawk restorationgt hawk restoration

Cammack Tucker trio makes the move to AACA Museum | Hemmings Daily

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Cammack Tucker trio makes the move to AACA Museum | Hemmings Daily.

These are beautiful cars.  It’s great that they’ll be available for the public to view.

Love the Tucker!!!

Love the Tucker!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

More on Tucker cars

1948 Tucker Torpedo surfaces in Jay Leno’s Garage – Autoblog

This video from Jay Leno’s Garage takes a look at the historic, but doomed, 1948 Tucker Sedan.
Automobile Brand’s Of The Past..,: 1948 Tucker Torpedo

1948 Tucker Torpedo. Tucker Torpedo, 1948 · Zoom. Tucker Torpedo, 1948. Tucker Torpedo, 1948 · Zoom. Tucker Torpedo, 1948. Tucker Torpedo, 1948 · Zoom. Tucker Torpedo, 1948. Tucker Torpedo, 1948 · Zoom. Tucker …

 

 

A Photo Shoot – Studebakers – Coup and GT Hawk!

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It’s monsoon season in Tucson and hence we are in a drought as far as car shows go.  So today was a great day – clear blue skies, with thunder storm beginning to pop up over the mountains (yes we have mountains in Az).

My son is a photographer and I’m a want too be.  So wanting to de-stress for a day I choose to check in with him and see if he had time to drag the old man around for a photo shoot.  He often takes a weekend day and tools around with his camera, which is fun and  with no specific agenda, just what the doctor ordered.

I picked him up and we headed to a park, that normally has an abundance of water.  Yes we have lakes in Arizona (although many are man-made or at least get a lot of help from managed care).  This place normally is home to fish, turtles and various water fowl (YES  we have ducks here too!!!).

As we approached the entrance a car turned out of the park and I didn’t immediately recognize and as we entered the park a see a 1920’s 4 door sedan, looking mostly original.  I was still not sure the maker.  As we entered the park and drove the round to the parking in back I spotted a rare hawk and it’s companion.

Yes that is a Golden Hawk... GT by Studebaker.

Yes that is a Golden Hawk GT… by Studebaker. (Right)

1937 Coup - split rear window.

1937 Coup – split rear window.

Just our luck, during the Arizona car show drought season, we ran into the tail-end of a local Studebaker Club breakfast!!!!  And just my luck – only two cars were left, out of the 30 that showed up earlier and I missed maybe one of the oldest Studebakers I may every see in person.  A 1933 Sedan!!!

I got to speak to one of the members and inquired as to how many were in their club.  He believed that there were 30-40 with a total of just under 1oo exampled of the Studebaker legacy.  He himself owned these two car plus two more.

We’ll take a closer look at these two cars in the next couple posts.

Stay tuned!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Just A Car Geek: 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

This car is a nicely preserved / restored Studebaker GT Hawk. This is not the type of car I would buy, but it’s a car that makes me think… If Studebaker had been in better financial shape and remained a player in the US auto …

Nick Lyons-Young Gun-SM 300th issue Ford Falcons – crcooperphotography

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I love the Fords Down-Under.  Check these two out!!!

Nick Lyons-Young Gun-SM 300th issue | crcooperphotography.

Check out the Fords.

Check out the Fords.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Good ole Herby | come to explore

… photography (2); prada (1); rebel (1); road trip (3); skirt (1); sky (1); steve madden (1); stress (1); summer (3); van (2); Van bus travel explore restoring restored ford falcon roadtrip (1); vans (1); vintage (2); volkswagon bus (1) …

 

Spotted: Jaguar F-Type in the Wild

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I saw my first F-Type on the streets the other day.  It wasn’t just a sighting, it was a drive along.

The convertible as white and I think it looked great in motions.  We drove side by side for about 10 blocks and it seemed quick (not as quick as my C6 – had to prove that – without breaking any laws or freaking out the cars around us) and had a snappy take off.

However, with my windows down and my stereo off (that almost never happens) I got a ear full of how it sounded.  Sorry to say I was not impressed.

I expected to have been, with power specs like this:

3.0 liter V6 Supercharged 3.0 liter V6 Supercharged 5.0 liter V8 Supercharged
340 @ 6,500 380 @ 6,500 495 @ 6,500
3.33 x 3.50 in.
(84.5 x 89.0 mm)		 3.33 x 3.50 in.
(84.5 x 89.0 mm)		 3.64 x 3.66 in.

I don’t know which model I was driving along with, it didn’t like the sound.

We’ve all seen/heard the Hondas and Nissans with the “enhanced” sound effects mufflers.  The F-Type sounds like the Jaguar was trying too hard to create the “muscle” car sound and missed by several octaves (at least).   A baffling problem given such a good looking sports car.

Great looking coupe

Great looking coupe

 

The Convertible.

Really?!?!?!?!

Thank for reading.

Tim