Classic – Muscle Car Shopping – Primer Part I

If you are following a long you know I’m on the hunt for my next project car and boy are my fingers tired and I can’t get this thing off of me:

Maybe WD40?

It’s a lot of work when you search nationwide.  Setting up searches on different web sites and on those that don’t offer that feature you are continually recreating the same search.  Then there are emails with questions like, “Is it still available?’  and other questions that often get ignored.  Here’s an actual example: (Setup – the ad said make an offer)

12:24 PM Jun 06 (ME)

I’d consider $4K…thoughts?

12:46 PM Jun 06 (Seller)

6500 is what I’m looking to get

01:34 PM Jun 06 (ME)

Ok…a few more questions if you don’t mind. How’s the interior? I can tell from the pic but the tires seem to be good enough to get it on a trailer. Has it been driven recently or at least started? Thanks. Tim – Tucson AZ

10:23 PM Jun 07 (Seller)

The car runs and drives fine

06:57 AM Jun 08 (ME)

I’d like to take a look at it and hear it run. I’ll be up in Phx late Saturday afternoon.

NO RESPONSE.

That’s nothing but fun!   Just as fun are the sites that don’t know anything about the car and people listing  cars they don’t actually own. My a favorite phrase has become “I was told it runs great.” right up there with “ran when parked”.

I just got of the phone with an interesting site – consignment site of course.  That went something like this:

Me: Hi I had a couple of questions that I emailed about the car. Those weren’t answered but you sent me an invoice for purchasing the car.  Can you answer these questions?

Lady on the Phone:  No I can’t.

Me: Is there someone there that can? Or can I call back later to speak to someone?

Lady on the Phone: No it’s just me here.

Me:  Ok.  I have a question about payment.  The invoice says you are located in PA but you want me to “wire” money to an account in FL.  Is there another way I can make the payment?

Lady on the Phone: No.  I’ll just cancel the invoice. – CALL ENDED.

I’ve saved the best for last!

www.hotmusclecars.com has a lot of cars for sale. The problem is they allow anyone to post an ad and  many are scams. VERY ELABORATE SCAMS. (Found this problem with Facebook marketplace and Offerup as well). The same car is listed in 8-10 different cities and at different prices but the same pics. There aren’t that many tall pine trees in the middle of LA, CA.

For fun, I decided to chase one down. It was a Mach I for $6k, which is a stupid price for such car (1969). The car was listed in Los Angles and she was in FL. I sent the obligatory “Is it available?” email. Response said it was and the story.  It was her husband’s car and he died, and she had to move to Lakeside, FL with her two children.

She said she had arranged to ship through eBay (which according to eBay – isn’t a thing). I told her I’d be fine buying through eBay and if there was a buy it now page I’ll pay through eBay as well. She said ok and sent me a link to a buy it now page. The problem was it wasn’t actually on eBay. The website looked just like eBay, but there was no VIN listed (that’s required by eBay) and no pictures. I told her that the listing wasn’t working and that I’d call eBay and let them know. She said “oh don’t call them. Just tell me what you want to see and I’ll add it to the page. ” As a former IT guy (20 years – in web development) red flags popped up. I did call eBay to let them know and they said “Yup” happens all the time. They recommend that if it looks odd call them with the item number. You can leave a number and they’ll call you back.

The search continues.

Thanks for checking in.

Tim

 

Corvette Graveyard in Upstate New York

Corvette Graveyard in Upstate New York.

Upstate-Corvette-Graveyard-2-600x375 Upstate-Corvette-Graveyard-600x375

Growing up in Upstate New York, reader Tim S remembers riding his bike along the railroad tracks near his home. One day while riding with some friends, he spotted several Corvettes parked in a field. At the time, they were still fairly new looking cars and he can only assume they must have been wrecked and not abandoned. A few years later he got a job at a shop just down the road from this Corvette graveyard and all the cars were still there like they had been when he was a boy. Time went by and he forgot about these Vettes, but he just recently had a run in with them once again.
Read the store:
Read more at http://barnfinds.com/corvette-graveyard-in-upstate-new-york/#Gv8rHZqE3AtxXaIV.99
corvette graveyard

Selecting the Right Clutch for Your C5/C6 Corvette – CorvetteOnline.com

A while back I ‘had’ installed a Spec Stage 3 clutch with steel/iron fly-wheel.  I did a lot of research before hand and decided that this would be a great combination for my auto cross/daily driver.  So far I’ve been happy with the switch.  It’s not as ‘street’ smooth as the stock but it helps get the torque to rubber!!  But you have to do your research.  If you noticed in the first line above I used the phrase ‘had installed’.  It is a monster job to disassemble the tunnel and you don’t want to have to do it again after find out that you can’t leave a red like without loosing rubber, nor pay the $$$ for someone else to do it.

I grabbed the article below to share, it has some great tips.

Selecting the Right Clutch for Your C5/C6 Corvette

If you’re a late-model Corvette owner and you’ve ever been in the market for a new clutch, then you’ve discovered that there is such an array of options to choose from, you could find yourself being a little bit lost and confused. To make things even more difficult, thanks to the transaxle layout of the C5 and C6, swapping a clutch is a far more involved process than on a car with a more conventional driveline. A clutch swap isn’t the kind of job you want to do twice on these Corvettes, so getting it right the first time (and having the room to grow for more horsepower and torque down the line) is critical.  Read on:

via Selecting the Right Clutch for Your C5/C6 Corvette – CorvetteOnline.com.

 

 

Street-Disc_Optimized

Thanks for reading

Tim

corvette clutch

Vooveo: 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Clutch Kit Ac Delco …

1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Clutch Kit Ac Delco Chevrolet Clutch Kit 381408. ac delco clutch press and driven plate kit 11-11/16 in. x 26t x 1-1/8 in. diaphragm; includes flywheel and cover; a high quality direct fit oe …

National Corvette Museum Corvette Rescue – Current Update Graphic

Ok…Here is the latest graphic updating the rescued Corvettes from the sinkhole.

 

Three more to go!!!

Three more to go!!!

 

 

Five of eight Corvettes pulled from museum sinkhole; photos show heavy …

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I don’t think many people have really been sure what to… more Car Reviews >>. PHOTOSmore >> · 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk review notes. VIDEOSmore >> · Racing. RACING BY SERIES. NASCAR · INDYCAR 

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National Corvette Museum PPG Pace Car – Surprise Rescue 2!!!!

“Sad” is the only way to describe this once beautiful machine.  I’ve seen this beauties many times during my visits to the museum (except the Blue Devil) that were or are in the sinkhole.

PPG Pace Car

PPG Pace Car

PPG Pace Car

PPG Pace Car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a very unique vehicle. As you can see it was crushed with a slap of concrete.  I think I read where one of the workers said it was “karate chopped”.

PPG Pace Car

PPG Pace Car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of all the damaged Vettes this one might just be the most impressive if they can restore it!!!!

Thanks for reading
Tim

Tucson Classics 7 Annual -BEST Car Show in Southern AZ – Highlights!!! Part 2

The thing about attending regional car shows in your region is there’ a very good chance that you are going to run some of the same cars, even in a show as big as this one.  Oh..don’t get me wrong I love looking at them but writing about the same cars is not very rewarding.  So I’m going to show you some of the cars I really enjoyed.

 

Of course I’m always drawn to the Vettes.

DSC_0157

Maybe something in Satin?

DSC_0164

Or maybe something with a bit of a sting-er

DSC_0159

Or how about an Anniversary Grand Sport!!!
DSC_0135 DSC_0136 DSC_0137 DSC_0181

And this one made me miss my old C4.

DSC_0176 DSC_0177 DSC_0178 DSC_0179 DSC_0180

Lots more to come from the Tucson Classic car show – including – dashes and one particularly rare and extremely AWESOME car!!  (Oh..and it’s not a Corvette!!!)

Thanks for reading.

Tim

car show corvettes

Car Show Corvettes at Carlisle – CarShowRegistry.com

Corvettes at Carlisle. (8/26/2011 — 8/28/2011 ) Carlisle Events (717) 243-7855 1000 Bryn Mawr Road Carlisle, PA 17013 USA www.carlisleevents.com. Show Details One of the largest and most fun-filled Corvette events in the world, the 

Are ‘Vette owners more extreme about their cars than most? | Corvetteforum

Are ‘Vette owners more extreme about their cars than most? | Corvetteforum.

Sharing this from the Corvette Forum.

After you read this you might think, Corvette drivers are … well….Richard Craniums… but I think this is an issue with any car person with a car they love. community-ocd-600x396 My wife is like that with new cars – Nissan and two Lexus brand cars over the years.  I’ve been less so, I think with my ’70 Mustang (now going to a large collector) and my two Corvettes (C4 and C6) – well maybe not.

But generally I don’t make people take their shoes off before getting in my car.  No smoking of course and eating and drinking are fine.  Spills will get you tossed out at the next stop however.

Got “Not in my car!!!” moment?  Share it here.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

DL0RENZ0

I love the unwritten rule that #Corvette drivers wave to each other on the road. Can’t wait to have my one one day. #ThanksMom
Study Shows Chevy Corvette Drivers Among Safest | Chevy …

Corvette convertible drivers among the safest, study shows. We all know Chevy Corvette drivers are passionate about their cars. One clear indication of this is how safe they are when it comes to their driving – well, some may 

 

If You Dream It…We Can Build It. Parker Brothers Concepts

If You Dream It…We Can Build It.

When you build things that are powered by Corvette or Harley EVO engines…well…it’s worth sharing.

Thanks for reading

Tim

parker brothers conceptsparker brothers conceptsparker brothers concepts

Star Cars: Janis, Jimi and Jim

Jimi Hendrix Corvette

Jimi Hendrix Corvette

It’s a well-known fact that James Marshall Hendrix, better known as “Jimi,” was a fan of the iconic Fender Stratocaster. What isn’t common knowledge was his affinity for Chevrolet Corvettes. During his short time in the spotlight, Hendrix owned not one, but two Vettes.

His first, a Stingray, was purchased in Cleveland in 1968 while on tour with his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, in support of their recently released masterpiece Axis: Bold As Love. Sadly, after less than a year, Hendrix totaled the car following a long night of heavy partying. Undeterred, and with his insurance claim filed, Hendrix took delivery of a replacement Corvette.

This second Corvette, in Cortez Silver, remained in Hendrix’s possession until his death, after which it was sold to cover mounting bills faced by his estate. From there the trail goes cold, with the car’s whereabouts currently unknown.

See more at http://www.historicvehicle.org  link below.

via Star Cars: Janis, Jimi and Jim.