Tag Archives: Classic Cars

Auto Factoids for Week of May 24 2015 – Mauri Rose

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last full week of May 2015.

 May 26, 1906 Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio.   Rose still holds the 2nd spot for the most Indiana 500 wins.  His first win was in 1941 but he didn’t finish in the car he left the starting line in. The first car was a Maserati and developed mechanical issues and he moved to a Wetteroth/Offenhauser car.   He managed two back-to-back wins in 1947 and 1948, driving one of a Deidt/Offenhauser  Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials.

RoseMas

Mauri in the Maserati were he started in pole position in his first win.

Wetteroth-rose

Muari in Wetteroth/Offenhauser car

Mauri in the Blue Spark car!

Mauri in the Blue Spark car!

May 29, 1946 Kaiser-Frazer produced its first vehicles.  Kaiser-Frazer’s plant was located in Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan.  The company was formed when the two purchased the defunct Graham-Paige (of which Frazer was once Present, prior to WWII).  There first cars were called the Frazer and Kaiser, one a mid-level luxury car and the other an innovative front wheel drive model.

kaiser-frazer

The two parted ways in 1951 and the company name was changed to Kaiser.  They went on to design some fantastic cars like the Darrin (named after one of the designer – Dutch Darrin.  Bill Tritt was the other part of the team.) and on to the Jeep fame with Willys-Overland.

1953 Kaiser Darrin

1953 Kaiser Darrin

Thanks for reading.

Tim

mauri rose

Indianapolis 500 Winners

1950 — Johnnie Parsons. 1949 — Bill Holland. 1948 — Mauri Rose. 1947 — Mauri Rose. 1946 — George Robson. 1942-45 — No races, World War II. 1941 — Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. 1940 — Wilbur Shaw. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw. 1938 — Floyd Roberts.

1954 Kaiser Manhattan – Dare To Be Different

The Manhattan has been honored by the community and is the first hot rod to win the people’s choice award two years in a row at the annual Kaiser Frazer Club National Convention. Share This Article. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. Author: Christopher …

From city leader to classic cars, Founder’s Day Celebration kicks off host of …

Members of the Binghamton Kaiser Frazer Club will bring vehicles, Reilley said. The Seward House Museum, at 33 South St., will showcase several cars, including the Seward family’s own Packard. There will be automotive memorabilia for sale and, if you …

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of May 17 2015 – Dodge, Buick and Goodyear!

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)for middle week in May 2015!

 

May 17,  1868 – Happy Birthday Horace Dodge (Niles, Michigan)

Horace was one of the original Dodge brothers.  He was born into a working family, with Dad owning as machine shop.  In 1903, he and his brother John won a contract to produce transmissions for Oldsmobile and the following took a contract building engine for Henry Ford.  They build their own plant in 1910 and John eventually became a vice president at Ford.  By 1913 they ended their relationship with Ford and began producing their own vehicles – trucks and ambulances mainly for military use and most found service in WWI.

Horace

Horace

Dodge Half Ton Truck

Dodge Half Ton Truck

 

May 19, 1903 – Buick Incorporates – Buick is the oldest (longest running) active car manufacturer in North America – well brand name is the oldest, still active.  Buick started out as Auto-VIM and power company in 1899 as an engine manufacturer and produced  two prototype.   In 1903 it was incorporated by David Dunbar Buick and produced their first car in 1904.

First Buick

First Buick

 

May 22, 1929   – Goodyear Blimp took its maiden flight.   Still provides some of the best auto racing coverage!!!

Goodyear Blimp.

Goodyear Blimp.

 

May 23, 1875  – Alfred Sloan was born in New Heaven Conn.   He headed up GM as President and guided it through some iconic car designs.

Alfred P. Sloan

Alfred P. Sloan

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

 

autofactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015

Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E – AACA …

Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015 – GM and Corvair

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Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids).

May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president.

They didn’t just pick from the streets.  He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.  That company eventually merged with a few other companies with United Motor Corporation.  Sloan became the president of that and shortly after that they were purchased by GM.

He served GM from 1923 to 1956 in some manner including board chairman.

Imagine the innovations he saw during his tenure!!!   The corporate mergers, the V8, the Corvette, lucky guy!!

Alfred P. Sloan

Alfred P. Sloan

 

May 12, 1969 (or 14th) – The last Chevy Corvair was produced.

Last Corvair build.  If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60’s and 70’s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader.  With a little Google’in you’ll find various search results linking him to the demise of the Chevy Corvair (and apple pie and America) – most are not flattering to Mr. Nader.   According to most accounts the last Corvair carried 6000 as the last 4 digits of it’s serial number.  The car was blanketed by the press when it rolled off the assemble, but then disappeared.   There are various stories as to the actual disposition of car #6000  but it remains a mystery.  We do know it was a two door, hard top,  Monza, Olympic Gold was the color and it likely had a Service 140 replacement engine.

I'm seeing the Corvair but can't help notice the Nova's on the rail car.

I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.

The last Corvair convertible was #5997 which was a Forest Green Monza that has come up for sale a few times.

If you are a Corvair fan you’ll enjoy this read:  1969 Corvair: Finger Tip Facts by Corvair historian Dave Newell.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

#Autofactoids

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015. March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive 1980.
Auto Factoids for the Week of Feb 8, 2015 – NY To Pairs 1908

As we run through the middle of the 2nd month of the year, here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids). A light week this week. Feb 10, 1942 – Pontiac stops car production for WWII. – As you know WWII took a lot of sacrifice …
Auto Factoids for the Week of April 5, 2015 – Lotus and Tires

It’s a light week for the automotive history. April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly.
Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and …

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015! Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan. Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.
 '69 Corvair Monza.jpg

It’s always a treat to see a Chevy Corvair

Bob and Carol Marsh, of Chesterfield, are the owners of the 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible shown on this page. And, believe it or not, this is the actual car Bob owned when he was in high school. He told me he “hot rodded” the car as a teenager. (Can …

Stuff Dreams are Made of – Entombed Cadillac collection finally sees light of day

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Stuff my dreams are made of.  I often dream of distant relative (one you never knew existed and therefore won’t really miss…but are still grateful for) passing on and leaving me an old barn.  As I walk to my new building I’m wondering how much reclaimed barn wood is bringing on the market and I swing the door open and “WOW” I see:

Chase the link: Entombed Cadillac collection finally sees light of day | Classic and Sports Car

 

Then I wake up and well….
Thanks for reading!!
Tim

 

 

Elvis’ rare BMW 507 roadster is a king among barn finds

In the years since it has been neglected but BMW has planned a complete restoration of the car after showing it in as-is condition in their museum in Munich. As the story goes, Elvis had his eyes on a Porsche Spyder but couldn’t get his hands on one …
Aston Martin in Barn With Mouse Nest May Fetch $300000

Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) — An Aston Martin DB5 discovered after three decades in an old garage with a mouse nest in its engine bay is estimated to sell for $300,000. The mice had moved out of the sports saloon before its cylinders were re-lubricated and it …
Aston Martin sets $6m price record

So called ”barn finds” – cars in untouched condition – are highly prized by collectors in a selective market for classic models that puts a premium on originality. With blue bodywork, the DB5 was bought by a bidder in the room against an estimate of …

Auto Factoids for the week of May 3rd 2015 – Willys, Packard and Le Mans

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first full week in May 2015.

 

Dateline May 3rd, 1948 – Willys Jeepster Phaeton debuts.

The production was only a 3 year run with a total units produced was  19,132.  The engines ranged from a  134.1 cu in (2.2 L) I4 and two I6, a 148.5 cu in (2.4 L) I6 and 161 cu in (2.6 L) I6.

1948 Jeepster Phatheon

1948 Jeepster Phatheon

 

Same day one year later (May 3rd, 1949 )  – Packard has its 50th Anniversary and to commemorate it they offered up 2,000 Gold Packard’s from Utica Proving Grounds. Yes that did happen.  They were painted in a special paint code of Gold.  Each were powered with 327 c.i.d., 150 hp engine.  Only 600 were convertibles.

This isn't, of course Gold, but only 600 Gold Convertibles were made.

This isn’t, of course, Gold, but only 600 Gold Convertibles were made with that special paint code.

 

Packard's Utica Proving Grounds.

Packard’s Utica Proving Grounds.

 

 May 4th 1923 – The first Le Mans 24 Hour race was held just outside Le Mans, France.  Initial the race was limited to ‘production’ cars  and  two drivers, now they require 3 drivers per car and the of course these cars aren’t in your dealers show rooms.  The race was won by one of the French teams  – André Lagache and Léonard driving a Chenard et Walcker  with  3.0L I4 engine.

This is an awesome looking car!!!

This is an awesome looking car!!!

 

May 6th and 7th, 1928– Chrysler debuts the De Soto for the 1929 model year and completes the purchase of Dodge, in part for its dealerships to sell the new De Soto.  In the course of the marque’s run (1929-1961) it set several sales records for Chrysler and the auto industry.  It’s first year (1929) saw 81,065 unit sold and it held the record unit 1960 when Ford beat it with the Falcon.

1928 Chrysler De Soto

1928-29 Chrysler De Soto

Thanks for reading.

Tim

(#AutoFactoids)

AGCarRestore

Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and Willys http://t.co/WYzhUBDaxE #AutoFactoids http://t.co/ajOpYWuAdW
Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and …

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015! Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan. Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and Willys

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Here are your Auto Factoids  (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015!

Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28,  1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.

From humble beginnings

From humble beginnings

to

the Legacy

The legacy continues

 

April 29, 1953 – Willys is purchased by Kaiser-Frasier

Willy (Willys-Overland) was purchased by Kaiser and the name was changed to Willys Motor Company and moved the plant from Michigan to Ohio.  That same year Willys established an assembly plant in Brazil and imported the cars back to the U.S.  When the U.S. curtailed the import of assembled cars, Willys shipped all the tooling for the Aero to Brazil and produce and sold the cars there and they were built from 1960 to 1962.  After a redesign in 1963 Ford bought the Willys factory and produced the Aero until the early 1970’s.

1955 Willys Aero

1955 Willys Aero

1971 Aero (Ford made)

1971 Aero (Ford made)

 

April 29, 1959 – Ford Motor Company produces it 50 millionth car!!!

That car was a 1959 Ford Galaxie that came out of the Dearborn factory.  It was a white 4 door sedan with the 292, engine.  It was actually a Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie and the first time Galaxie was used on a Ford car.  Fast forward – but not too far – and the Fairlanes, Fairlanes 500, and the Galaxies were to become monster muscle machines in the mid to late 60’s!!!

Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie - 50 Millionth Ford

Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie – 50 Millionth Ford

The 50 millionth looks a like the 1959 Mercury Montclair

The 50 millionth looks a lot like the 1959 Mercury Montclair

 

Thanks for reading #autofactoids.

Tim

lamborghini factory

willys factory toledo

Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – Some Oldies

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One of the great attributes this collection has is some of the first cars and other types of early transportation.  So let’s get right to them.

 

Let’s just start at the beginning.  That would be this beauty!!!!

1886 Benz

1886 Benz
1886 Motorwagen - engine

1886 Motorwagen – engine

Benz Motorwagen

Benz Motorwagen

 

 

Here is the next one in line.  It’s a 1905 Cadillac – in white!

1905 Caddy

1905 Caddy – It’s the 4 Door Touring Model AC-F.   6.5 HP is produced by the 98.2 cubic inch engine.

 

What something a little ‘racier’?  How about this 1914 Ford Model T Racer – knocking out 40 hp from it’s 4 cylinder Rajo over-head-value engine.

Burns Intake and Winfield Model S1 Cab get this 1000lbs car up a moving!

Burns Intake and Winfield Model S1 Cab get this 1000lbs car up a moving!

 

 Here a fly-by for you.

Let’s stick with the racing theme for a bit and take a look at this 1922 Chevy Sport Roadster, body by Mercury Body Company.  Mr. Martin purchased this and drove it in the 1999 Hemmings Motor News Great Race.

Called the "Superior Chassis"

Called the “Superior Chassis”

Looks Fast to me - 26HP!!!

Looks Fast to me – 26HP!!!

 

That cooper tubing is make-shift oil cooler.

That copper tubing is make-shift oil cooler.

Headers are nicely wrapped

Headers are nicely wrapped

Looks like pretty comfy cockpit vs. the 1917 Model T Racer

Looks like pretty comfy cockpit vs. the 1917 Model T Racer

 

 

I wanted to jump to couple more utilitarian transportation modes of a vintage nature.

 

 

This is a 1915 Depot Hack by Ford.

This is a 1915 Depot Hack by Ford.

Motometer intack

Motometer in tack

Back of the Hack!!!

Back of the Hack!!!

Hack Cockpit

Hack Cockpit

 

I want to wind this up something I’d never seen before. 

 

1917 Douglas Dump Truck

1917 Douglas Dump Truck

Dumptruck

Powering this 6000 lbs utility vehicle is a 60HP Buda engine.

 

Coming up some of my favorites at the Martin Museum.

Thanks for reading.  

Tim

 

Vintage cars for vintage pinstripes

Vintage cars for vintage pinstripes. NEW YORK (AP) — Some riders using New York City’s subway system to get to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day are also going to get a trip back in time. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says a four-car …
About 150 vintage cars, tractors up for grabs at auction near Burwell, Nebraska

About 150 vintage cars and tractors will be up for grabs at the auction. Some noteworthy items include an original 1967 Ford Mustang convertible that still drives, 1959 Ford Edsels and a 1961 Studebaker Lark. Wolf estimated more than 200 items will be …
69 Vintage Cars Once Owned By OC Plumber About To Go On Auction Block

He was 76 and a plumber by trade. He lived in Buena Park. He also loved vintage cars. He collected them. A lot of them. Sixty-nine of them to be exact. KCAL9’s Brittney Hopper previewed the collection which is about to go on the auction block. It might …

 

Ron Scott’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Has a Split-Window Personality

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Emulation is probably one of the most commons things in the car hobby. We see a car at a show or race and are instantly entranced by its siren song of looks, performance, and imagination-stimulating allure. And after enough exposure, commitment to building a duplicate becomes irresistible.

Ron Scott Jr. had always loved the vintage race look on classic Corvettes. Wide wheel flares, spoilers, race-style wheels and brakes, the growl of a powerful V-8 through headers and race exhaust, they all had him entranced to the point he wanted to build one of his own. He wanted a car he could not only show, but also take to track days and autocross events as well. After searching online, he found a suitable candidate on eBay to start his build with.

“I found the car on eBay for $35K. It was rough, with some bodywork completed and a second-gen LT1 out of an early fourth-gen Camaro sitting in the frame. It was pretty much a roller with no interior, wiring, or anything special. It was perfect for what I was looking to do, as we didn’t want to modify anything that was nice.”

See the rest of the images and store @  Ron Scott’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Has a Split-Window Personality.

 

1963-chevrolet-corvette-drivers-side-view

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

super chevy show 2015super chevy show 2015

Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – Corvettes

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Last week my wife had to sit for a certification exam for her profession.   It was conducted over multiple days and held in Phoenix, AZ.  That is about a 1.5 hours drive (unless I’m driving the Vette, just joking always, obey the speed limits kids!!) north of Tucson and it made sense to grab a hotel room and spend 3 days.  While she was enduring the slow torture that they cleverly called “taking the exam”, I was left with a very rare, continuous span of free time.

I don’t know about you, but when I end up with unappropriated time and I’m in a hotel room, I don’t spend it watching HBO. I’ll jump on the WiFi and find some car action.  This was a perfect time to find some local car shows or events.  Just so happens on the way to the hotel I saw a sign, a few exits before the one we exited to reach the hotel, that read “Auto Museum”.

I gave that a Google and found the exact address.  The museum was called Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – “Phoenix’s Largest Auto Museum” and it was only open from noon to five the next day and asked for a $5 donation. So I put that on my to do list and head there the next day.

The museum is on a one way frontage road.  The building looks to be an old self-storage place converted in to businesses.  The museum entrance looks unassuming and you wouldn’t think it large enough to house 60 cars and a ton of automobilia.

Here are some highlights:

 

What kind of car museum would you be without a Corvette or two?

 

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

Check out Corvette Row!!!

VetteRow-3 VetteRow-4
VetteRow-5

 Here is a Vette you don’t see anywhere!!!

ListerVette-1

The 1992 Lister Corvette

ListerVette-2

Great lines…barely resembles a C4.

ListerVette-3

Front end looks like a Jaguar’s

ListerVette-6

I think the 17″ wheels are great looking!!!

ListerVette-5

The hood has those breathing holes for a reason. The LT1 under the hood…yeah it’s Vortech Supercharged!!! 500HP and 454 LB-FT of torque!!! Only automatic produced.

ListerVette-7   ListerVette-10

It also included the 1978 25th Anniversary Indianapolis Pace car.

Only 15 miles on this well preserved beauty! (No I don't know why I took the pic this way.)

Only 15 miles on this well-preserved beauty! (No, I don’t know why I took the pic this way.)

 

Thanks for reading.  More coming up on Mel Martin’s Auto Museum.

Tim

 

mel martin auto museum

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015.

 

March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive

1980 Quattro - Not a bad looking car at that!!!

1980 Quattro – Not a bad-looking car at that!!!

Here are some specs for the Quattro:

Engine     2.1 L I5 SOHC 10v

Transmission     5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase     99.4 in
Length     173.4 in
Width     67.8 in
Height     53.0 in
Curb weight  2,844 to 2,976 lb

 

April 1, 1970 AMC debuts the Gremlin.

 

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back“

 

I bet AMC never envisioned this:

OH...MAN!!!!

OH…MAN!!!!

 

Or this:

BTW..this doesn't end well!!

BTW..this doesn’t end well for the suspension.

 

 

April 1, 1964 Plymouth shows off the Barracuda – There were 23,443 Barracuda produced (called Glassback) and was based on Plymouth’s Valiant platform.

1964 Barracuda - Glassback.

1964 Barracuda – Glassback.

 

April 1, 1961 the very collectable Amphicar debuted – I saw my first Amphicar when I was about 9 or 10.  Grew up on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack of upstate New York. The car drove down the beach and right into the water.  Coolest thing I’d seen up to then!!

 

 

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between '61-'68

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68

 

April 2, 1879   Walter P. Chrysler was Born in Kansas.

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

 

 

April 2, 1889  Charles Hall patent Aluminum.  –  It was actually a process made extracting Aluminum less expensive.  It involved passing an electric current through a bath of alumina dissolved in cryolite, which results in a puddle of aluminum forming in the bottom of the retort. (Come on…tell me you didn’t want to know that!!!!)  Unfortunately a French guy – Paul Héroult was working on the same process. (No way?!!?!   Way!!!) so the named the process after both “Hall-Heroult process’.

From a puddle in the bottom of a retort to the Ford F150….that’s progress!!!  Thanks Mr. Hall and French guy!!!

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

 

 

Thanks for reading.  If you like #AutoFactoids – share them!!

 

Tim

 

Jeffrey Faber · Top Commenter

Put on the top of the list the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hills, which houses three floors of classic and concept vehicles. Currently, it is open only to employees of Fiat-Chrysler, and occasional special events. The Piquette Plant in Detroit …

walter p chrysler museum