Tag Archives: Classic Cars

Engine Line Up – 1949 Chevrolet

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1949 was the first year after World War II where Chevrolet did a complete maker-over of its offerings, meager in terms of variations as compared to what they would become in the next decade. With only the Special Series 1500 GJ, Deluxe Series GK, each with a Fleetline and Styleline Sub-Series you can bet that the engines were limited.  In fact there was one.

 

All units were powered by a six cylinder engine, even the 8 passenger wood and steel stations wagons.

 

1949 Chevy Woody Station Wagon.

1949 Chevy Woody Station Wagon.

 

The in-line 216.5 CID was the only option.  It was a cast iron blocked, overhead valved, straight six cylinder engine. Bore and stroke were 3.5″ x 3.75″with a compression ratio of 6.5:1. Add in solid lifters and four main bearings and topping off with a Carter downdraft single barrel carb (W1-684) it produced about 90 hp. That’s not a lot of power when you consider the lightest of the Series was about 3,015 pounds and the heaviest was 3,485 pounds.

 

216.5 CID

216.5 CID the “Thrift-Master”

 

We love seeing your pictures.  Post them up on Facebook  Average Guy’s Car Restoration and Mods, or twitter (@agcarrestore) or via email agcarrestoration@cox.net

Thanks for reading.
Tim

 

1949 chevrolet

 

1949 Chevrolet 3100 – True Blue

Sometimes our readers get frustrated because they feel the trucks we feature are too far away from what they were originally. While we do like to feature some stock restorations as we come upon them, we also like to show you how versatile these trucks …

ABANDONED!!! 1939 Packard Henny Hearse – Update 6/24/20

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Five years later this car is now spruced up and sits outside the Boot Hill Gift Shop in the “Town too Tough to Die”  Tombstone, AZ. !

 

I don’t know too many car peeps that don’t have a soft spot for abandoned cars.  Either they stir up distant memories of years gone by or inspire you to think of all the possibilities for that misused piece of iron.  One of my hobbies is to photograph abandoned car when I get the chance.  Whether they are just sitting in a junk yard, or field or even being used as advertising they mark the passage of time.

On the outskirts of Tombstone, AZ. is where you’ll find this car.  It’s easy to spot as it is the ‘landmark’ advertising car to get you to stop at the Boot Hill gift shop.  Clearing abandoned at some point, it was dragged to its current post many years ago and is a bit of a tourist attraction.

 

Greeting you at the edge of the town "that's too tough to die" Tombstone, AZ is this 1939 Packard.

Greeting you at the edge of the town “that’s too tough to die” Tombstone, AZ is this 1939 Packard.

 

 

As you can tell it purely used as prop now.

As you can tell it purely used as prop now.

 

This Packard 120 still retains it 288 Straight Eight engine. Look like with a little TLC it will roar to life.

This Packard 120 still retains it 288 Straight Eight engine. Look like with a little TLC it will roar to life.

 

The 288 (sometime called the Super Eight) produced 150 hps. Not a lot for all that American Steel.

The 288 (sometime called the Super Eight) produced 150 HP. Not a lot for all that American steel.  But speed wasn’t a factor when you are headed to the local ‘boot hill’.

 

It's a fair piece to bring a body to Tombstone, AZ from Texas.

It’s a fair piece to bring a body to Tombstone, AZ from Texas.

 

Although the Arizona heat is tough on car interiors this one still retains all of its details.

Although the Arizona heat is tough on car interiors this one still retains all of its details.  Has the shift column and I’m betting the new for 1939 Overdrive.

 

Henny began using the Packard chassis 1937 replacing the stretched Model A chassis.

Henny began using the Packard chassis 1937 replacing the stretched Model A chassis.

 

This old hearse has a ton of character and prominent place at the edge of town.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

On The Road To Pebble Beach In A 1939 Packard

One by one, the engines of 22 classic cars come alive. Some cough with a wheeze, some need coaxing and some hum with precision. Whatever their personality, they all start. This is the first miracle of the road trip. Gathered in a semi-circle around …

Powers, beloved journalist, dies at 93

Murphy owns a 1939 Packard Super 8 Henney Hearse and Powers always wanted a ride in it. Murphy was willing, but somehow it never worked out. A funeral has yet to be scheduled at St. John’s Cathedral, but Murphy vows that when it happens, Powers will …

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Dec. 28, 2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the last week of Dec 2014.

 

–  Charles Goodyear was born Dec 29, 1800 in New Heaven, Conn.   39 years and 4 days later he developed vulcanization or rubber (Jan 2, 1839)

– Jan 1, 1942 was the date that the us Government banned the sale of all non-essential car and small trucks in an effort to save valuable resources for the war effort.

– Back in 1966 on Jan 1st, Dodge rolls out the Charger.

1966 Charger Love the lines!!!

1966 Charger Love the lines!!!

But it has had some changes over the years.

 

1969 Charger

1969 Charger – Nice!!!!!

 

1987 Shelby version of the Charger.

1987 Shelby version of the Charger.

 

2010 Dodge Charger - not a great looking car.

2010 Dodge Charger – not a great looking car.

 

2014 Charger - looks make you want to yawn...but it can move!!!!

2014 Charger – looks make you want to yawn…but it can move!!!!

 

 

– Chevy debuts its first air-cooled engine on Jan 2, 1923.

Copper/Air Cooled

Copper/Air Cooled

 

– On Jan 2, 1957 Ghia announced the production of the Crown Imperial limo.

 

Here is an 1958 Chrysler-Imperial Limo example.

Here is an 1958 Chrysler-Imperial Limo example.  That’s a nice looking car!!!

Thanks for reading this installment of #AutoFactoids.  

 

Tim

 

 

NOTE:  If you’d like to sponsor an Auto Factoid contact me.  With thousands of views every day you will get noticed!!!!!

 

1984 C4

1984 C4

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Dec 14, 2014

Dec 15, 1861 Charles Duryea was born in Canton, Ohio. He grew up to be an engineer and with his brother Frank, they began production bicycles. By 1893 they test driving the first U.S. gasoline powered vehicle. It was a …
Auto Factoids for Week of June 8, 2014

Let’s get right to the glory and the tragic historical events of this weeks Auto Factoids. June 10, 1927 the Graham brothers purchased Paige-Detroit Motor.
Auto Factoids for Week of May 18, 2014

If you thought last week was light…this week is weak!! Buick became a corporation back in 1903 back on May 19. It eventually became a major General Motors brand.

Auto Factoids for Week of Dec 14, 2014

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Dec 15, 1861  Charles Duryea was born in Canton, Ohio.  He grew up to be an engineer and with his brother Frank, they began production bicycles.  By 1893 they test driving the first U.S. gasoline powered vehicle.  It was a used horse drawn buggy they purchased fro $70.00.  It sported a single cylinder 4HP engine with friction transmission, spray carburetor and low tension ignition.  The car was then stored in 1894 and found and given to a museum.

Charles and Frank - left to right in there first car.

Charles and Frank – left to right in there first car.

1994 Duryea

1894 Duryea

 

These brother went on to create Duryea “Motor Wagon Company” and produced 13 hand-made cars out of their garage.  These were the first commercially produced automobiles in the U.S.   This wasn’t their only ‘first’.   The Duryea car won the first American car race and was involved in the first traffic accident.   Charles and Frank parted ways in 1898 and Charles died in 1938.  Frank formed the Hampden Car company. To actually produce the cars brother Frank sought out the services of J. Stevens of J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company.  This eventually lead to the Stevens-Duryea cars being produced.

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

 

 

New York City creates the first one way street Dec 17th 1791.

 

Ford names Lee Iacocca as president 10/18/1970.

 

Dec 20, 1892 Pneumatic automobile tire patented.  The original patented was by Robert William Thomson who invented the first pneumatic tire but apparently never caught on, however, John Dunlap’s did.

Harvey Firestone was born in Columbia County, Ohio on Dec 20, 1868.    After high school Harvey  worked for the Columbus Buggy Company .  In 1890 before starting his own company making rubber tires for carriages.  By 1900 he began marketing tires for automobiles and then founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, a pioneer in the mass production of tires. In 1926 he published a book, Men and Rubber:

Sears, Roebuck & Co show off the Kaiser built Allstate, Dec 20, 1951.  The Allstate was built on Kaiser-Frazer platform and marketed by Sears.   It was a 2 door, fastback and came in a Series 4 and Series 6 with several different trim levels.

The Allstate

The Allstate

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

 

Auto Factoids for Week of June 8, 2014

Let’s get right to the glory and the tragic historical events of this weeks Auto Factoids. June 10, 1927 the Graham brothers purchased Paige-Detroit Motor.
 
Auto Factoids – 1970 Mustang – Ford Assembly Line …

Auto Factoids – 1970 Mustang – Ford Assembly Line http://timsweet.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/auto-factoids-1970-mustang-ford-assembly-line/ December 1, 2010. Today is the anniversary of the assembly line created by …
 

Buy the only pre-production SSP Mustangs in the world

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In the pantheon of lust-worthy Mustangs, the Special Service Package cars tend to hang out at the tip-top of the mountain. Fitted for police pursuit duty, the cars came from the factory with a bushel of parts to go faster and stop shorter. The two cars pictured here are reportedly the first SSP Mustangs ever built. Ford whipped them up in December of 1981 as test cars for the California Highway Patrol and the State of Texas. Of the machines CHP tested that year, these two were the only cars to pass the department’s performance tests. California ordered 400, and the SSP program was officially under way.

via Buy the only pre-production SSP Mustangs in the world.

Fox body cop cars!!!

Fox body cop cars!!!

 

Owning one of these cars or any former police car is a great part of the car collecting/restoration hobby.  But keep in mind there are rules for what equipment/logos, etc. that can be on these cars while they are driven on public streets.  Each U.S. state has different rules, research those.

 

CHP, I met a few of those guys driving the roads of Southern Cal.

CHiPs, I met a few of those guys driving the roads of Southern Cal.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

Shout Out to All Overseas Readers

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I never want to take readers for granted.  They are the life’s blood for a blogger and I appreciate all of them.

Here in the U.S. we sometimes think – just by volume of publications that we are the “hub” of the automotive  hobby, but there is so much more in all the countries listed below. Innovation from the land down-under to some cool retro stuff in Japan and some very awesome car shows in Switzerland and all those British cars!!!!

Thanks to all readers in each of the countries below!!!!!  You folks ROCK!!!!!  Keep up the great work.

UK
Canada                          Australia
France                           Mexico
Germany                      Brazil
Italy                              Portugal
Turkey                          Russian Federation
Spain                            Puerto Rico
Switzerland                 Belgium
Japan                           Ireland
Philippines                Malaysia

 

Tim

australian cars

classic japanese cars[ ATTRIBUTE: Please check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/76492175@N08/10151221815 to find out how to attribute this image ]

mustang1

Peter Max Corvette Collection – Ultimate Barn Find? – Road & Track

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The long and twisted tale of the so-called VH1 MAX

Artist Peter Max’s Corvette collection headed to auction [w/video]

Sometimes, the stories that lead to cars turning up at auction are as interesting as the vehicles themselves. That’s absolutely the case with the Peter Max (pictured above) collection of vintage Chevrolet Corvette models that are scheduled to cross the …

, after sitting for nearly twenty-five years in a series of New York parking garages, has finally come to a close. According to a report in the New York Times, the thirty-six-car collection, which began as a grand prize in a television contest before finding its way into the hands of psychedelic graphic designer Peter Max, was recently purchased by a group of investors with the intent of returning the cars to their pre-infamy status.

via Peter Max Corvette Collection – Ultimate Barn Find? – Road & Track.

DAMN!!!

DAMN!!!

 

That’s an amazing find!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show 2014 – Prt III

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Of course I can’t show you all the cars but here are a few that caught my eye.

 

This was a very nicely done '72 Karmann Ghia

This was a very nicely done ’72 Karmann Ghia

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I'd vote this one "BEST INTERIOR" it was so well done!!!!

I’d vote this one “BEST INTERIOR” it was so well done!!!!

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Maybe my favorite Mustang at this show.

Maybe my favorite Mustang at this show.

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Engine compartment was fantastic

Engine compartment was fantastic

I loved this Stang with it's 'come as you are' attitude.

I loved this Stang with its “come as you are” attitude.

Paint job is priceless.

Paint job is priceless.

Can't beat an original 289 HP engine.

Can’t beat an original 289 HP engine.

The sign says "Please Touch"

The sign says “Please Touch”

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British cars were well represented with these two well maintained specimens.

This is a well restored and maintained Spitfire 1500.

This is a well restored and maintained Spitfire 1500.

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Check out all that wood!!!

Check out all that wood!!!

Sharp little car.

Sharp little car.

This TR6 was a highlight.

This TR6 was a highlight.

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More wood!!!!

More wood!!!!

 

I’ve always said that sometime there’s even a mini-car show in the parking lot of  any car show.  Often folks will drive their classic to a car show,  thinking theirs is good enough to enter (Dude, just check out the Mustang above!!!) so they keep it out side.  So don’t forget to looking around after you park, you might even find a good deal.  Check these two:

This Firebird was there and parked outside.

This Firebird was there and parked outside.

Need some work but....!!!

Needs some work but….!!!

Here's the number.

Here’s the number.

You can't see it from this shot but it a Covair Wagon

You can’t see it from this shot but it a Covair Wagon

 

Thanks for reading.  Coming up the main attraction for this car show – 1911 Pierce Arrow Touring Car!!

Tim

 

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show 2014

This weekend I attended the 8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show put on by the Rotary Club of Tucson. I’ve attend the last 5 of these shows, twice as a participant (once.
8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show – Garagistry Blog

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show – Real stories about Classic Cars and the people who own them.

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show 2014 – Prt II

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I could spend all day taking pictures of every car at any car show I attend, but that’s crazy (or so I’ve been told…whatever!!!). So here are some highlights.

Some Corvettes:

C3 and C4 arriving...there was only 1 C4 in the field!!!

C3 and C4 arriving…there was only 1 C4 in the field!!!

One of the beautiful 60's vettes - this one a 1967

One of the beautiful 60’s vettes – this one a 1967

One of the beautiful 60's vettes - this one a 1967

One of the beautiful 60’s vettes – this one a 1967

One of the beautiful 60's vettes - this one a 1967

One of the beautiful 60’s vettes – this one a 1967

Got to love those PIPES!!!!

Got to love those PIPES!!!!

StingRay

StingRay

There were multiple row of corvettes, here's just one.

There were multiple row of corvettes, here’s just one.

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Oh..and there was this other ...Sting Ray

Oh..and there was this other …Sting Ray

Oh..and there was this other ...Sting Ray

Oh..and there was this other …Sting Ray

 

More coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show – Garagistry Blog

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show – Real stories about Classic Cars and the people who own them.
Tucson Classic Car Show – N2HotRods

Taken in Tucson, Arizona Oct. 19, 2013. Beautiful day in Tucson, AZ. Over 600 cars! 1383526_10202333085394786_257906437_n. Tucson Classic Car Show – Oct. 19, 2013. N2HotRods, LLC. Design By yesimarobot.com.
Tucson Classic Car Show October 22nd » Blue Knights AZ IX

Tucson Classic is having their 5th Annual Car Show on Saturday October 22nd from 10:00 – 4:00 pm. Location is the St. Gregory Preparatory School @ 3231 N. Craycroft Rd.

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show 2014

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This weekend I attended the 8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show put on by the Rotary Club of Tucson.  I’ve attend the last 5 of these shows, twice as a participant (once with my ’84 Vette and ’70 Mustang and then once again with just the Mustang) and it has never disappointed and it’s on GRASS!!! Yes!!! No hot sticky black top parking lot or weed ridden field, but an actual grassy sports field, it’s fantastic!!!!

This year was no different and in fact it exceeded the past two years by the number of cars, value of cars and in two other aspects.  This year the show was opened up to motorcycles (way cool!!) and toss in the display of one of the rarest early and privately owned cars that hasn’t been seen in public in many years (more on that in next post).

The cars were outstanding as always and covered just about any era, from the 1911 to 2014 Corvette Sting Ray (classic from day one).  I’ll show a few of those in the a later post.

For this post I want to extol the motorcycle corral, it was small – but awesome!

I love getting to a car show early – before all the exhibitors arrive.  Getting my car set up and then watching the other participants bring their cars in.  It’s a great what to select the ‘gotta see first’ cars.  I didn’t make it that early to this year’s event, but was early enough to see the a few of the motorcycles show up and there were some fantastic bikes.   It’s a treat to see someone ride up in one of the first Indian motorcycles or a Royal Enfield…yes….they were ridden in!!!

One of the oldest Indians I've every seen running!!!

One of the oldest Indians I’ve every seen running!!!

Very Cool Bike!!!

Very Cool Bike!!!

There were some other great bikes there, like the Triumph and Norton.

Norton Commando 750 - Awesome bike!!!

Norton Commando 750 – Awesome bike!!!

1976 BMW - Norton in the background

1976 BMW – Norton in the background

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Another great looking Indian

Another great looking Indian

Classic Indian - love the fenders.

Classic Indian – love the fenders.

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So my goal is to get my 1966 Bridgestone Dual Twin ready for next year!!   Fingers Crossed!!!!

Thanks for reading more coming up on the 8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show!!!

Tim

 

DTtucson

2014 Rotary Club Tucson Classic Car Show: http://t.co/XiRYrf8Agq via @YouTube
VeroAmoreAZ

Catch the Vero Amore Fire Truck at Tucson Classic Car Show at the Gregory School today till 4pm!
garagistry

8th Annual Tucson Classic Car Show A WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND A FALL SATURDAY GREAT WEATHER IS IN THE FORECAST TOO! http://t.co/yrVEEPu6YK