Lost Classics – Trucks – Corvair Rampside

I love classic trucks and in my 3 plus years of bogging in this field I haven’t done much on trucks. Yes, you’ll see some in my Parking Lot Spot Light pieces but not much else.

Then I got to thinking about doing some articles to make up for that and I realize, after I picked up a book (“Collectible & Classic Trucks” by The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide) at one of my company’s stores (we specialize, among other things, used books) that even those in to the classic truck scene, often over look some really cool trucks.

So I thought I’d cover a few.  First up is one I forgot was ever made, much less have seen (in person) any in the past 20 years or so.  The Covair Rampside trucks.

This is a 61 Rampside

This is a ’61 Rampside

This are rear engined, air cooled workhorse that are clearly Corvair all the way.

Fully restored they look great.  But leaving them survivor style is really cool as well. Like David Hopkins’

David Hopkins "Everything mechanical is new, but when it came to do paint and body we just couldn't erase all the history."

David Hopkins “Everything mechanical is new, but when it came to do paint and body we just couldn’t erase all the history.”

These rough and tough working guy trucks were powered a by rear-mounted, horizontally-opposed six cylinder, air-cooled engine that delivered 80HP and 128 ft-lbs of torque with 145 cu-in of displacement.

This wasn’t the only truck that was Corvair based.  We’ll look at the others coming up.

Thanks for reading

Tim

corvair truck

Chevrolet Greenbrier

A Corvair truck could be ordered as a “Loadside” or “Rampside”. The Loadside was essentially a pickup truck with a standard tail gate.

FEATURE: 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400 | Classic Recollections

FEATURE: 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400 | Classic Recollections.
Mecum Chicago: 1969 Pontiac Firebirds Trans Am 400

There was more than a few eye-catching machines at the Mecum Auction to gaze upon and one that grabbed our pupils was this 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400. The vehicle garnered a 2009 National Olympic Gold freeze frame and lost and found award before undergoing a complete restoration in January 2012. Underhood, it still retains the factory-installed 400ci, 335HP Ram Air III V8 engine. Gears are selected with a four-speed manual transmission. The exterior sheet metal is coated in the correct Cameo White and Tyrol Blue paint while the interior has been freshened with new carpeting and Blue vinyl upholstery. Unique items include a Hurst Shifter, full gauges and a wood-rimmed Sport steering wheel.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

firebird tans am

topbestsellerst

1978-1982 Corvette firebird tans am cb radio all intact: $45.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday Nov-21-2013 16:38:39… http://t.co/z0KBlOOEVk
Pontiac : Firebird Tans Am 1998 Pontiac Trans Am – F-Body Online

US $1125.00 (5 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-09-2011 16:51:12 PST Buy It Now for only: US $15000.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list More…
Pontiac Trans Am Firebird : AutomaTick – Das Auto Magazin

Doch mal ehrlich: Auch ohne „Turbo Boost“ oder „Super Pursuit Mode“ macht der Pontiac Firebird Tans Am keine schlechte Figur und schon die früheren Modelle brauchten den Vergleich mit anderen Muscle Cars, wie dem 

 

 

Area couple owns first Mustang ever sold – DailyHerald.com

Area couple owns first Mustang ever sold – DailyHerald.com.

 

dsc_1331_72

 

Thanks for reading.  Drop me a note if you have suggestion, request or want to show off your car.

 

Timfirst mustang commercialfirst mustang commercial

Tucson Classics 7 Annual -BEST Car Show in Southern AZ – Highlights!!! Part 3

I can go on for more ‘Parts’ than there were Rambo or Rock movies, but I’ll stop with what I think was the star of the car show.  It was only on display, so it wouldn’t be taking any trophies home.

It wasn’t this Ferrari

DSC_0049

Or this guy in the matching Ferrari hat.  (Hey Ryan)

Or this guy in the matching Ferrari hat. (Hey Ryan)

 

Nor was it this original Shelby Aluminum bodied racer

Nor was it this original Shelby Aluminum bodied racer

It was this car!!!

No what it is?

Know what it is?

 

It's a 1958 Scarab MK

It’s a 1958 Scarab MK I

It is a work of art, for sure.

DSC_0040

Powered by a Chevy Small Block (283).

DSC_0037 DSC_0038

DSC_0039 DSC_0041

DSC_0042 DSC_0043

DSC_0044 DSC_0045

Beautiful Car.

Thanks for reading.  Go find a car show to attend.

Tim

Scarab (constructor)

Scarab was an all-American open-wheel race car and sports car constructor from the USA featuring cars designed and built by Tom Barnes and
Lance Reventlow

Shifting operations overseas to Britain , Reventlow’s team raced the Scarab cars in Formula One with little success against the new rear-

scarab carscarab car

A Feat Of Engineering: This Dart Has What It Takes To Win – StreetLegalTV.com

A Feat Of Engineering: This Dart Has What It Takes To Win – StreetLegalTV.com.

OH.....MY!!!!

OH…..MY!!!!  I think it needs more rear meat (tires)

 

dodge dart

Buying a New 1963 Corvair at the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction

Buying a New 1963 Corvair at the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction.

 

I watched the event on History Channel – more thoughts on that later.  I didn’t actually see this particular Corvair, but I thought, wow that is a lot for this car.

$40k Corvair.  I wonder what the largest sum every paid for a Corvair?

$40k Corvair. I wonder what the largest sum every paid for a Corvair?

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Recap: the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction | Mac’s Motor City Garage

A crowd estimated at 10,000 people, including 3,400 registered bidders, helped to shape the spectacle at the Lambrecht Chevrolet auction in Pierce, Nebraska this past weekend. 1963 Corvair Monza Coupe, 6 cyl. 4-speed 

 

Lamborghini on fire — Top Speed Record, 402 kph (250 mph) on one mile

Toasted Lambo – glad the driver wasn’t injured.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Lamborghini V12

The Lamborghini V12 is a sixty degree (60°) V12 petrol engine designed by Lamborghini and was the first internal combustion engine
Gold Lamborghini: Yours for $7.5 million – CNBC.com

Supercars are very common on the wide, state-of-the-art highways of Dubai. But a new record-breaking Lamborghini, made out of gold and gems, is sure to turn heads.
Twin-turbo Lamborghini ignites at 250 mph – Autoblog

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 tuned by Underground Racing goes 250 mph in 23.9 seconds on a one-mile drag strip, then bursts into flames.

FEATURE: 1964 Ford Mustang – ’1st Mustang Sold’ | Classic Recollections

FEATURE: 1964 Ford Mustang – ’1st Mustang Sold’ | Classic Recollections.

Great story!

First Mustang Sold

First Mustang Sold

Thanks for reading.

Tim

first mustang

first mustang made

Donald Frey, Designer of the Original Mustang, Dies at 86 – Jalopnik

Few cars have made the lasting impact that that first Mustang made. It created a new genre of car, where we took a giant engine and plopped it down into a chassis that wasn’t made for it. Thank you. The 65 Mustang is the car 

Curb Weight 9/15/2013 – Mustang 2015

The Mustang turns 50 and there is special cars in the works.

They will have have turbo charged 4 banger models for the first time since the Fox Body SVO stangs.  They’ll also have independent rear suspension.  The charged 4 cylinder could top out at about 300 HP…pretty cool!!

2015 50th Anniversary - (rendering)

2015 50th Anniversary – (rendering)

Thanks for reading

Tim

50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration in Charlotte, NC – Team Shelby

50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration in Charlotte, NC – posted in Team Shelby: Automotive General Discussion: My hubby and I are planning on attending the 50th Anniversary Mustang Celebration event in Charlotte, NC to 
Next-Gen Ford Mustang Reportedly to Launch as 2014.5 50th …

We assume—and we suspect we won’t be making asses out of anyone with such an assumption—that a hypothetical 50th Anniversary Mustang will come complete with requisite unique dash plaques and VIN numbers.

 

 

 

Ford Falcon – 2005?

I really perked up when I ran across a web site that offered repair details on the Ford Falcon.  So I called up the URL and saw Ford Falcon 2002-2005 repair manual and that’s got to be a mix up at the programmers desks.  There aren’t any 2002, 03, 04 or 05 Falcons…come on!!!    Well  it just goes to show that we Americans (or maybe it’s just me) are a bit U.S. centric when it comes to cars.  Then I Googled and realized that the folks ‘down-under’ do some cool stuff and Ford is a big part of that.  Yeah..they are still using the Ford Falcon moniker.

But don’t expect to see that boxy little car that we stuff V8’s in and cram headers between the around the suspension, nope that’s gone.  But you will find a couple of surprises.

Ford-BA_Falcon_XR6_Turbo_2002_1600x1200_wallpaper_02

Looks pretty pedestrian, doesn’t it?  What if I told you it had….

Barra straight-six 4.0-litre DOHC VCT (turbo)

OR….

Barra 220 producing  300 hp and  348 lb·ft or  Boss 260  producing 350 hp  and 370 lb·ft or Boss 290 producing producing 390 hp and 380 lb·ft.

NOT BAD!!!!

Or maybe you’d like a UTE – a WHAT?   Well a Ranchero of sorts:

Ford-BF_Falcon_XR8_Ute

Including the first US models the Ford Falcon is now in it’s 7th Generation.  Which includes and not so great looking new model (not even gonna show ya a pic)  but this will impress you – The 5.0-litre ‘modular V8’ engine is currently the Ford Performance Vehicles’ V8 engine of two varieties, one rated at 422 hp and 402 lb·ft of torque (“Boss 315”) and the other at 449 hp and 420 lb·ft of torque (“Boss 335″).

Ok Ford – Down – Under….let’s see something retro!!!!  Come on you can beat Chevy to the punch by creating something Felcon- Ranchero-ish before they bring out the El Camino!!! (I’m going to blog about Chevy later and use the line in reverse)”

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

ford falcon

Alan Mulally talks about why Ford’s Falcon had to die – Autoblog

Ford CEO Alan Mulally gives a pretty succinct explanation of what lead Ford to end Australian production, while trying to minimize the collateral damage to those invested in the manufacturing.