A few big ones this week.
11/15/1977 – Ford sell its 100 millionth CAR. What was the car? A Mustang? One of the legendary F150s? Nope it was a 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura (the triple F).
Ford Fairmont Futura (The Triple F) Although some owners had an additional F to add.
The guy that started Honda Soichiro Honda was born 11/17/1906 in Japan.
11/18/1940 Buick produced it 4 millionth car.
http://ucapusa.com/heritage_buick.htm
1940 Buick Super Coupe
One day and 19 years later (11/19/1959) Ford stopped the production of the ugliest cars you’d love to own the “Edsel”.
I love going to car shows. I recently attended one of Tucson, AZ largest car shows called “Cops and Rodders” (for my 3rd year). It is huge by our standards, over 500 cars, trucks, military vehicles, emergency response vehicles and a lot more. Entering my cars is a lot of fun and getting to talk about them we complete strangers, often having nothing in common with you except that love of cars, is a great way to spend a day.
Besides having conversations with anyone that stops by, I enjoy wandering around the shows. There aren’t too many cars that don’t interest me. Oh I don’t really care for the tricked out PT Cruiser with the giant stereo or limo-Hummers (or any other SUV in that configuration), but there’s something about most cars I can find to like.
One of my favorite, all time favorite thing are the painted dash boards of the 60’s and earlier cars. The lines are clean, the surface is smooth and rather than dull down the interior it makes bright and colorful and the contract between the paint, the chrome that normally accompanies them and the gauges just stand out that much more.
Take this 1960’s Impala. It’s bright and clean. Not the dull, padded dashes of today’s cars. Yes..I get the safety aspects and that’s a good thing, but come on, look at this and say you don’t like it…I bet you can’t.
1960 Impala
It's a thing of beauty!!!!
Got a painted dash? Send me a pic and I’ll post it up.
I’m going to ruin the ending, but I did end up with a quality install on my wife’s Lexus with quality glass.
Thanks reading.
Tim…………………Ok…just kidding.
The ordeal continued when I told the shoddy installer that I didn’t want them to return and remove the fun house mirror from the font of the Lexus. This prompted several calls back to my insurance company. For about two hours I telephonically (that might not be a word!!!) climbed the corporate ladder until I got to the “Head of Corporate Glass” (that was the exact title…).
The individual I spoke to, listened to my story, including the intentional installation of faulty mirror support, and assured me the concern would be taken seriously. That part went well and the next part was even better, but first have to set it up a bit.
It seems that when the previous windshield was installed I was authorized the original glass because the car was under 3 years old. That was their policy. However, since the car was over 3 years old this time, they would not authorize the original glass, unless…I paid a difference of $800.00. (More on the price of glass in a bit later.)
So I was surprise when the ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ (I hear this in a booming God-like voice, like when God spoke to Charlton Heston in the famous movie “Mose and the 10 Commandments”) say, “We’ll wave the $800.00 and authorize you original glass.” I won…I won…I beat the evil insurance company!!!…Oh hold the proverbial horses…the round-up wasn’t exactly over.
She next told me I had to have the same installer put in this ‘quality glass’. Oh…the horses have stopped. I did not agree and she insisted, stating that because of the warranty they (the insurance company) had with Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc. it was required to have them re-install the new piece. I said that I should have the right to have anyone put it in and that whatever agreement they (the insurance company) had with them (Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc.) wasn’t my problem. I also mentioned again their total disregard for the safety and quality which should concern them (the insurance company….ok…do I have to keep lawyer-ing up here?….actually I just want to see how annoying I could be!!!…I sure someone will let me know.) and they would have paid a lot more if the swinging mirror resulted in an accident. She still insisted and I asked to be moved up a rung in the corporate ladder and she said there wasn’t a next rung. I said no again and she said ok. Ok…let the horses go because this was a complete victory!!!! Score a point for the down trodden masses!!!!
Almost…..it took nearly 3 weeks to get the new glass. The first company I selected said they couldn’t order the windshield. I said, sure you can. A few day later, they said we can’t find the glass to order. I called the dealership and got the part number and even how long it would take to get in (two days). I gave the installer the information. One week later still no windshield. I called the installer back and found that they called the insurance company and someone a bit lower than ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ unauthorized original glass.
So another call to ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ . I wasn’t able to talk to HER (get it..all caps???) but the lady I did talk to found the note from HER and said sure, no problem. I said “Hold your horses, missy”. And with that we telephonically (it’ll be a real word when I done with this article!!!) found the guy that “de-authorized” my original glass and while we are all conference together, had him talk to a 3rd installer and tell them I was authorized… with everybody on the line as witnesses. Ok…party hat time and no can’t you get back time it took you to read this!!!!
There was one more interesting revelation when I compared the prices of the glass provided by Mr. Shoddy installer, my insurance company preferred vendor, paid for the glass and what Mr. Speedy (yup that’s what Mr. We Know What We Are Doing installer is officially known as) paid for original. I know why Mr. Shoddy was preferred. See below:
Mr. Speedy – $1350 for original Glass
Mr. Shoddy – $252 for OME glass (There was no extra charge the fun house entertainment.)
10/12/50 – Kaiser-Fraizer built their 500,000th car – 4 years later they opened up car manufacturing in South America.
1950 Kaiser-Frazers
10/13/1902 – Packard Motor Car Co was formed out of the old Ohio Automobile.
1902 Packard Run-About
10/15/24 – The original Mr. Government Auto Company Bailout. Mr.Lee Iacocca was born this date. If that’s all you remember him for, turn your car lover card…this guy rocked it in the car world!!!! This might change your mind…yea…the Mustang was his baby too.
How ya like him now???!!!!!
And now for the new arrivals!!!
10/14/65 – the Oldsmobile Toronado – a friend of my had one of these when I was in college back in the late 1970’s. It was my first awareness of a front wheel drive car.
1966 Toronado - Kool factor of 8.5 out of 10.
And one of my favorites
10/16/58 the Chevy El Camino arrives. Now I’m big fan of those fins!!! These also spawned the GMC Sprint and a few other variations.
9/26/1967 Everyone loves this car AMC’s Javelin the car was in the public’s hands by 1968. I loved the body style.
1968 Javelin
10/1/1908 – Mr. Ford began selling is Model T
Model T Ford – Rag Top
(they were all convertibles!!!…just saying!!!)
Oh.. you’ll like this one.
10/2/1959 – Chevy introduces the Corvair. Believe it or not I’ve seen some of the sale footage and they treated it like a jeep. Chevy had drivers drive up embankment, up and down streams with water over the tires. This gave Ford a scare but it wasn’t until they could put together the Mustang did they really have an answer.
If you are work on your older cars engine, there are a good many tricks that you can use save a couple bucks and gain a little horsepower.
This one is an oldie but a good.
Have your intake valves back cut, you’ll get a similar boost as if you use high lift rocker arms or cam.
The procedure is best done by a qualified machinist. So while you have your engine apart and laying all around our garage on pieces of cardboard (come…you know that’s what happens!!!) have him take a little off the port side of your intake valves. This creates the same effect as an earlier opening a later closing action like just a like a the addition of a an upgrade cam. The lighter valve means less spring pressure is required to control the valve at higher rmps.
A 30 degree cut is what they do on vortex engines.
The backcut is at the edge of the normal valve cut.
Evo is short for Evolution Performance Driving School. Evolution Performance Driving Schools are hands-on, foot to the floor autocross driving schools. With programs designed to improve the driving skills of 16 year old novices to multi-time Solo II National Champions. (I didn’t write that it from their web site.)
This even is sponsored by the SCCA Tucson, Arizona Border region and will be held at the Marana Airport, Marana, AZ .
This weekend two instructors Brian Peters and Tom Kotzian will we taking us through our paces with our cars. Both of these guys have plenty of experience with National level Solo with the SCCA, including multiple National level wins, and Championships.
Yes I’ll have my 07 Corvette there and Well see how I do.
While I getting my act together after a very nice week-long road trip I wanted to share a car that I once owed and that for all too common reasons let it go to a new home.
1974 was about the time the U.S. government’s fossil fuel consciousness began to kick in, choking the horsepower out of the muscle car. But this car was an exception. Here’s its specs.
Gran Torino Sport
VIN: 4H38Q107971
Body: 65R
Color: 3D
Trim: DB
Trans: U
Axle: 9
DBO: 75
Date: 08/73
Vin Code: 1974
VinCode Body Serial = Gran Torino Sport 2dr HardTop
VinCode Body: Medium Blue Metallic
Seat: Balmora B/Cloth & Corith (L/B Bench)
Trim Code: Med. Blue
AxleCode = 3.25:1
DSOCode: Phoenix
Assembly Plant: Lorrian
Undercarriage is aerodynamic ball joints are much larger than other Torino’s of the same vintage
Transmission is unique (Minus the traditional “Humped” housing)
Engine is 351-V4 Cobra Jet (Not a Cleveland)
9” rear end
10.5:1 ratio
Came with a 3500 Stall Speed Torque Converter.
This was an amazing car.
Unless you are an expert on the Torino what you won’t know is that the 351 V4 Cobra Jet for 1974 was only one of 300 engines made that year. It took me nearly two years of research to find this out.
I sold this car to a nice guy up in Green Bay. Here is a before shot:
People love their cars. Some people love only a specific make or model. I case you haven’t noticed I have a thing for Corvettes and thing for Mustangs (yup Ford and Chevy). I enjoyed this comment from a guy who left it on my Facebook
Andy from my Facebook wrote this:
Part of the reasons why I Love Corvettes, the heritage, history and traditions. To some it’ ll be just be a car, to others it’ s part of their lives. A true Corvette owner/enthusiast will appreciate all aspects of the Corvette, from whateve…r generation. They may have a least favorite but none should be hated or looked down on, because without the last there would be no present. I Love the great community behind this Car, it makes owning one so much better. Owners all across the world willing to give others a helping hand, worldwide Corvette events are held, some over 500 owners attending, a lot for good causes. To me, that’ s something very special because this doesn’t just represent a “Car”. It represents a special select group of individuals willing to enhance the past traditions, that is Loyalty!!. I plan to hold onto it for as long as I live. Something this special is hard to come by and shouldn’t be let go. Just felt like sharing this thought!! Have a great Sunday.See More
Brent worte: Beautiful and well written Andy!
Tim Sweet – As a previous owner of a C4 and the new owner of a C6. You are right on Andy. Save the Wave!!!!
