From the Leader Info: CUSTOMS AND CLASSICS DRIVING FORWARD
The Classic and Custom car scene is buoyant on the Costa Blanca. With three local International Car Clubs, more than a dozen Specialist clubs, two regular monthly winter events and four in the summer months, the classic car scene is booming. From humble beginnings in 2006 when Club Torrevieja first started, if you have the desire, space and funds, there are now plenty of good reasons to own a second car to have some fun in the sun.
Events around the Costa Blanca
The first event of the new year is just that as on Sunday 01 January 2012, there is the Ace Cafe Meeting at Hotel La Torre, Los Montesinos, where from 11.00 onwards you can have a drink and a chat with friends whilst showing off your car. An open and informal event where the organisers, the Phoenix Car Club welcome anyone with a classic car or just an interest, to drop in and browse around the cars. http://www.phoenixcarclub.com
The Ace Café event is held on the first Sunday of every month at the same venue.
On the last Sunday of every month attention turns to Torrevieja and the Sunday Drivers Club, which takes place outside St. James's Gate Pub, located close to the heart of Torrevieja in the Torreta II commercial centre. The next event is January 29 and what an event it will be. The first 20 cars or bikes will all be receiving a complimentary T-shirt with all cars and drivers given raffle tickets with the possibility of winning a Weekend Away for two, thanks to Alicante Hotels, photo mugs, car/bike tracker system to name but a few. For early arrivals there is a Sunday Drivers Breakfast for just €2.50 and free BBQ Baguettes for all drivers and their guests. The event starts around 10.00 and finishes at 15.00. For more information visit www.MostOnTheCoast.com or call Dave 603142786.
During the longer days and warmer evenings, Noche del Coche returns on the last Friday of every month and the Custom and Classic Nites will happen on the first Saturday of each month with the local car clubs generally organising their monthly runs and outings on the weekends during the middle of the month.
There are three International Classic Car Clubs that all have local monthly meetings. Club Torrevieja Classics and Specialists Cars are the Southern Costa Blanca's original International Car Club and invite all owners and aficionados of Classics, Future Classics, Specialist, Exotic, Kit plus interesting cars, trikes, vans and fun vehicles to join them for their monthly meetings and activities. Meetings are in English but they have members from Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia, Italy and even Spain, to mention but a few. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30 pm (1930 hrs) at the Cafeteria Club Marina, inside Torrevieja's International Harbour and everyone is welcome. In January, because of the Three Kings Celebrations, their meeting will take place on January 18, 2012. More information on www.ClubTorrevieja.com or by calling Ron on 622381242.
Phoenix Car Club’s home base is the Castillo de Conesa at San Miguel de Salinas and Club nights are held on the second Wednesday every month, which these are a mix of informal meetings, social activities and information sharing. They organise the Ace Café meeting every month plus have regular outings and social events. More info from
www.phoenixcarclub.com/
The Costa Blanca’s newest club is the American Car Club Costa Blanca, This club was started for everybody who has, had, or maybe will have an American car, or just likes them. Their web site says “It is like a virus; once you have it you can’t recover and then your blood turns to fuel and your brain is rumbling like a V8!” The club meets on the second Saturday of each month at The Kiosko in Daya Neuva. For more information contact Kristof, www.amcccb.com, email: acccb01@gmail.com, Tel: 672-287-040 and on Facebook at: Costablanca Americancarclub
Not a club but just a group of likeminded enthusiasts who enjoy going on runs, attending shows and driving their cars, they are the Freewheelers. Their web site is www.torreviejainformation.com/freewheelers and to find out more about them, if you would like to help organise a trip or just wish to join this happy band, contact Derek by email: freewheelers08@yahoo.co.uk, mobile 686 765 297 or 965 971 433.
Last but not least we have Hot Rod Espana who have a number of custom and classic nights and exhibition in the planning stages for 2012. They are a Hot Rod, Custom and American Car specialist who also buy, sell, rebuild, source and customise classic and American cars. Visit www.HotRodEspana.com.
For more information about custom and classic car clubs and events, please check out;
Club Torrevieja Classics and Specialists Cars: www.ClubTorrevieja.com or Ron 966791212, American Car Club Costa Blanca: www.amcccb.com, or Kristof 672287040 Jaguar Enthusiasts Club through Eric 609931647, Freewheelers email freewheelers@yahoo.co.uk, Catral Custom and Classic email hotrodspain@gmail.com, oval racing at www.velocity-racing.eu, Phoenix Car Club, www.phoenixcarclub.com plus Sunday Drivers Club and Noche el Coche at www.MostOnTheCoast.com.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Collectible Classic: 1935-1936 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe
From Automobile Magazine: Collectible Classic: 1935-1936 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe
You'd probably never expect this pretty green 1936 Chevy to have a horn that sounds like that of a diesel train locomotive. Tap the button at the center of the steering wheel, however, and the thundering noise startles just about everyone within earshot. When the double-hinged, passenger-side hood panels are raised, the source of the sound becomes obvious: two huge trumpetlike horns hang prominently above the six-cylinder engine, which isn't much longer than the horns themselves.
Chevrolet was justified in building cars with such swagger in 1936. America had begun to recover from the worst of the crippling Great Depression, and the automaker would sell 930,250 cars that year, besting its previous top performance, in 1929, by more than 150,000 units and marking the seventh time in ten years that the bow-tie brand outsold the once-untouchable Ford.
Despite all the cars that were sold in that very good year, it's difficult today to find a 1936 Chevy -- or any domestic car from the 1930s, for that matter -- that hasn't been heavily hot-rodded. That's why Johnny Capps's '36 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe coupe stood out among dozens of prewar automobiles at a recent car show in Clinton, Michigan. Its clean lines, green and yellow paint combo, and great condition didn't hurt, either.
When Capps bought this car in 1997, it had already been restored to the original condition that you see here. The "five-window" body style (with small side windows behind the doors) and the willow green color are what initially attracted Capps, since most of the older cars he saw while growing up in western Virginia in the late 1940s and '50s were black or maroon. Capps has owned numerous vintage cars, and his fleet currently includes a '37 Chevy and a '39 Oldsmobile, also five-window coupes. Why own multiple General Motors coupes that were built several years before he was born? "My dad always drove cars that were ten or fifteen years old -- mostly Chevys -- so that's what I rode in," Capps shrugs. He hasn't done much to the '36 since he bought it, other than adding some 15,000 miles to its odometer. That distance equates to a lot of time, since Capps has never driven it faster than about 50 mph. "Back then, the roads wouldn't really allow you to go that fast, anyway," he notes.
When we took our turn at the controls of the Master DeLuxe, we got it up to maybe 45 mph. You don't pay too much attention to the speedometer when the huge steering wheel has a few inches of slop before affecting the car's direction of travel and when the manual drum brakes are so inferior to the binders on modern cars. Chevy fitted its vehicles with hydraulic brakes for the first time in 1936, though, so we're thankful for that.
Capps's green coupe also features GM's Knee-Action independent front suspension, a leading-arm Dubonnet setup that debuted on Chevrolet and Pontiac models in 1934 and required less maintenance than the control-arm systems on Buick, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile products. The brochure for the 1936 Chevrolet lineup claimed that "Knee-Action is the most important single factor employed to give Chevrolet its gentle, gliding ride," which is actually a pretty accurate description of our experience over imperfect back roads. Still, Capps notes that Knee-Action -- an expensive $20 option -- was very unreliable. "They didn't last more than six months when they were new," he says.
The cabin heats up quickly on this warm morning, so Capps opens the cowl vent and the vent windows, creating a pleasant driving atmosphere. The five-window design offers good visibility. The wool upholstery is a bit scratchy, and the seat cushions are springy. From inside, the long, winged hood ornament looks like a bayonet on top of the slender upper portion of the hood. Red jewels on top of the headlight lids tell you if the lights are on and whether the low or high beams are shining. Other unexpectedly modern features include a dome light, door locks, an electric starter (albeit activated by a button at the bottom of the accelerator pedal's travel), and a radio -- AM only, of course. The first radios specially built for cars appeared in 1929, but the one in Capps's Chevy is just for looks. "I disconnected it because I was afraid it'd start a fire," he says.
Although not as silent as the inoperative radio, the 207-cubic-inch straight six sounds quiet, if somewhat agricultural. It produces only 79 hp yet is torquey and responsive. It's mated to a three-speed manual transmission actuated by a two-foot-long lever. First gear is only to start the Master Deluxe coupe's 3000 pounds moving, and the vague shift action is rewarding when you find your gear. Second and third are synchronized, so gear grinding isn't much of a concern, as it is in many prewar cars. Still, the lack of seatbelts and turn signals constantly reminds you that you're driving a seventy-six-year-old car that's pretty slow compared with today's traffic.
It's easy to see why so many people have decided to modify and drastically improve the performance of cars such as this '36 Chevy, but it's incredibly refreshing to drive an example that remains true to its original specifications. It gives an idea of how satisfying it must have been to own a new car in the years of Depression-era austerity. It must have been pretty amusing to scare the hell out of unsuspecting pedestrians, too.
THE SPECS
ENGINE
3.4L OHV I-6, 79-80 hp, 155-156 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION
3-speed manual drive
Rear-wheel
SUSPENSION, FRONT
Leading arm, coil springs or rigid axle, leaf springs
SUSPENSION, REAR
Live axle, leaf springs
BRAKES
Drums
WEIGHT
3000-3250 lb
THE INFO
YEARS PRODUCED
1935-1936
NUMBER PRODUCED
846,300
ORIGINAL PRICE
$560 (five-window coupe)
VALUE TODAY
$15,000-$35,000 (three-window "sport coupes" are worth the most, two-door "coach" sedans the least)
WHY BUY?
Unmodified cars from the 1930s are amazing timepieces that are drivable on modern roads. 1935 Master DeLuxe models were the first Chevys to sport a two-piece, V-shaped windshield and the streamlined "Turret Top" roof panel. The base-level Standard models received these advancements in 1936 and were basically the same as '36 Masters except that they lacked decorative chrome and a second taillight, had a four-inch-shorter wheelbase, and offered a rumble-seat cabriolet model instead of a three-window coupe (the only Master with a rumble seat). 1935 Masters had suicide doors; '36s switched back to front-hinged doors. A full range of body styles includes two- and four-door sedans with or without enclosed trunks as well as coupes with or without rear-three-quarter windows.
What makes a classic car?
Minneapolis Star Tribune: What makes a classic car?
Seventeen models will be retired at the end of 2011. All of them have a shot at becoming classic collectibles.
Seventeen vehicle models have un-met their maker this year. From the locally familiar (Ford Ranger) to the universally obscure (Nissan Altima Hybrid), from commercial duds (Buick Lucerne) to hugely popular lines (Mitsubishi Eclipse), these cars and trucks have come to the end of the assembly line in 2011.
And every last one of them might be considered a "classic" a few decades from now.
But what makes a classic?
"If someone wants one because they had one as a kid, that's what makes it a classic," said Dan Wilkin, owner of Dan's Old Cars in Miltona, Minn. "If it was their grandpa's car and they loved it, that's all it takes."
Unless laws change, any of these wheels can have a "Collectors" license plate slapped on them 20 years after their model year. But those who are serious about these matters tend to use a different gauge.
"I don't feel a '91 [Ford] Taurus is a true collector," said Scott Ellingson, owner of the Ellingson Car Museum in Rogers. "Thirty [years] is generally what I've always worked on, and even then, what 1981 cars are classics now?"
Good question. Compared with the big fins, chrome grilles and other "looky"details of mid-century cars, the past 30-plus years have seen fewer flourishes and more homogenization from producers.
"Most of newer cars are considered throwaway cars," Wilkin said. "But 30 years ago, people thought the 1950s cars were throwaway cars."
At local "classic car" gatherings, the benchmark goes beyond three decades, said Cavan Lasch, who has helped run West St. Paul's Downtown Beat Classics and other shows. "Most hot-rodders believe in 1975 on down [in years]," Lasch said. "If you have a car that's 1975 and older, you can go to all shows except for 'Back to the '50s,' which is 1964 and older.
"But you're going to get different opinions, absolutely."
The same goes for surmising which of the models being phased out now might become coveted items when somebody's grandkid gets nostalgic. The closest thing to a consensus for a future classic was the Ford Crown Victoria, which has been around so long that an earlier model already is a classic.
Also in its favor: widespread use by local law enforcement: "You see a lot of old police cars at our shows," Lasch said. That's especially true at an annual confab called (wait for it) "Cops and Rodders."
Local car buff Ken Goff said the rear-drive Crown Vic also has "a popular platform," which it shared with the Mercury Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. "This is not just the end of a model, but the end of an era," Goff said.
Those assets could help overcome one drawback -- massive production, which Ellingson said would relegate the Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger to non-classic status, at least for a half-century or so. "They made too many of them," he said. "Rarity does mean value."
There are a lot of Mazda RX-8s out there, too, but that import has a shot at being a collectible, Goff said, because it is "the only Wankel [rotary engine] car around. Some thought 30 or 40 years ago that this might be the future."
He and Ellingson differed on the sportiest of the models meeting its demise this year, the lightweight Lotus Elise. Ellingson said it "just doesn't have enough exposure. Classics have to be something people see."
But Goff said that could work to its advantage. The Elise will become a classic "because it's a Lotus, and there are very few, relatively speaking, compared to anything else in the under $50K range.
"Of course this is just my take. The others will not much be missed, though the [Honda] Element was a fine vehicle, practical in the extreme."
"Practical" might not be high on the list of attributes for classic-seekers come the middle of this century. The safest prediction: One man's classic will be another man's clunker.
Seventeen models will be retired at the end of 2011. All of them have a shot at becoming classic collectibles.
Seventeen vehicle models have un-met their maker this year. From the locally familiar (Ford Ranger) to the universally obscure (Nissan Altima Hybrid), from commercial duds (Buick Lucerne) to hugely popular lines (Mitsubishi Eclipse), these cars and trucks have come to the end of the assembly line in 2011.
And every last one of them might be considered a "classic" a few decades from now.
But what makes a classic?
"If someone wants one because they had one as a kid, that's what makes it a classic," said Dan Wilkin, owner of Dan's Old Cars in Miltona, Minn. "If it was their grandpa's car and they loved it, that's all it takes."
Unless laws change, any of these wheels can have a "Collectors" license plate slapped on them 20 years after their model year. But those who are serious about these matters tend to use a different gauge.
"I don't feel a '91 [Ford] Taurus is a true collector," said Scott Ellingson, owner of the Ellingson Car Museum in Rogers. "Thirty [years] is generally what I've always worked on, and even then, what 1981 cars are classics now?"
Good question. Compared with the big fins, chrome grilles and other "looky"details of mid-century cars, the past 30-plus years have seen fewer flourishes and more homogenization from producers.
"Most of newer cars are considered throwaway cars," Wilkin said. "But 30 years ago, people thought the 1950s cars were throwaway cars."
At local "classic car" gatherings, the benchmark goes beyond three decades, said Cavan Lasch, who has helped run West St. Paul's Downtown Beat Classics and other shows. "Most hot-rodders believe in 1975 on down [in years]," Lasch said. "If you have a car that's 1975 and older, you can go to all shows except for 'Back to the '50s,' which is 1964 and older.
"But you're going to get different opinions, absolutely."
The same goes for surmising which of the models being phased out now might become coveted items when somebody's grandkid gets nostalgic. The closest thing to a consensus for a future classic was the Ford Crown Victoria, which has been around so long that an earlier model already is a classic.
Also in its favor: widespread use by local law enforcement: "You see a lot of old police cars at our shows," Lasch said. That's especially true at an annual confab called (wait for it) "Cops and Rodders."
Local car buff Ken Goff said the rear-drive Crown Vic also has "a popular platform," which it shared with the Mercury Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. "This is not just the end of a model, but the end of an era," Goff said.
Those assets could help overcome one drawback -- massive production, which Ellingson said would relegate the Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger to non-classic status, at least for a half-century or so. "They made too many of them," he said. "Rarity does mean value."
There are a lot of Mazda RX-8s out there, too, but that import has a shot at being a collectible, Goff said, because it is "the only Wankel [rotary engine] car around. Some thought 30 or 40 years ago that this might be the future."
He and Ellingson differed on the sportiest of the models meeting its demise this year, the lightweight Lotus Elise. Ellingson said it "just doesn't have enough exposure. Classics have to be something people see."
But Goff said that could work to its advantage. The Elise will become a classic "because it's a Lotus, and there are very few, relatively speaking, compared to anything else in the under $50K range.
"Of course this is just my take. The others will not much be missed, though the [Honda] Element was a fine vehicle, practical in the extreme."
"Practical" might not be high on the list of attributes for classic-seekers come the middle of this century. The safest prediction: One man's classic will be another man's clunker.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Scores of local car fans own Chevrolets built decades ago and cared for since
From The Post and Courier: Scores of local car fans own Chevrolets built decades ago and cared for since
Chevrolet rightly chose to look forward in celebrating its 100th anniversary last month. But the carmaker also took time to focus on its loyal customers.
That’s a good thing, at least judging from greater Charleston. Local enthusiasts own Chevys dating back to pre-Depression days. They’re owned them as long as 58 years. Some were birthday presents, others bought for as little as $250. There are Chevelles, Malibus and Impalas; Corvairs and Bel Airs, and, don’t forget, Corvette.
In all these cases, the owners still possess the vehicles. They’ve tenderly restored the models and some of them are driven to this day.
Earlier this fall, The Post and Courier invited readers to tell their stories and send pictures of their classic Chevrolets in a bid to find who has held the same Chevy the longest.
To tell the truth, there’s no single winner, each writeup and photo tells a unique story. The email and penned comments from enthusiasts were edited slightly but kept as close to the original as possible.
So here they are, in order of the vehicle’s age. As it turns out that owner, Tom Jameson of West Ashley, is renowned in local circles for heading up the monthly car show at Bessinger’s Bar-B-Q. Not as well known is the story of his 83-year-old Chevrolet.
1928 Chevrolet
Owner since ’53: Tom Jameson, West Ashley.
The car was bought new and ran for 5 years and then placed in a barn for 20 years by original owner. I am 76-years-old and still have the first car I ever bought. I paid $75 in West Virginia. I drove to high school and was in many parades. My late wife, Alice, and I would go to drive-in movies and go on double dates.
In 1953, General Motors had a convention at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; they offered me any Corvette for my car. Needless to say, I turned it down. I felt having a sports car that would go 120-plus miles per hour in the mountains of W.Va., that I probably wouldn’t live very long. After driving for two years, it was stored at my in law’s barn for 30 years. In 1985 I had the car restored from the ground up. After the restoration it was delivered to my home in Charleston.
I contacted General Motors; they researched the car and thought it was built in Atlanta, but upon further research it was built in Norwood, Ohio. They asked me to bring the car to Atlanta for the celebration of the 1 millionth car built in Atlanta. We showed the car at many local shows and won four National AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) awards.
1953 Chevrolet 210
Owner since ’80: Joseph “Pete” Kinloch, Hanahan
I purchased this car from its original owner, 21 years ago. The price was $250 “as is.” The Chevy was running and had all of its original parts.
In need of restoration, I drove the original six-cylinder around for five years, restoring her inch by inch. Exterior looks original, but under the hood she can run with “Vetts.” Open her up and you will see a 350 (cubic inch) Chevy V-8, 400 (hp) Turbo automatic transmission, ’69 Nova rear end, dash odometer 160 mph, AC, power seats and radio/CD player with little BOOM.
All modification was done with my tender loving hands to this U.S.A. icon (what … a baby), only in America. The gorgeous paint was done by a friend.
I can drive her anywhere, so if you see me on the road honk, for America. Made in America 58 years ago and still humming.
(Kinloch signed it, ’53 Chevy Enthusiasts).
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since ’74: Robert Newman, Mount Pleasant
I purchased the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible in 1974. I have owned and driven the car for almost 38 years. This Chevy was used as our family car for several years. Today we drive it for fun, to car shows and for weddings.
My daughter was born the year I bought it, and now her children love to ride in it.
The car was originally sold new by Wannamaker Motors, which was a Chevrolet dealer in Orangeburg. The original Wannamaker Motors license plate frame from 56 years ago is still on the car, and a picture of the license plate frame is attached. Many people from the Low Country drove to Orangeburg to purchase their Chevys at Wannamaker Motors over the years.
The car has not been restored, but it was repainted 25 years ago. We live in Mount Pleasant, and we take our Chevy to the Bessinger’s Bar-B-Q car show and the Anchors Away car show several times per year.
The Chevy has 98,000 original miles on it. I purchased the car from Mr. Fred Felder Sr., who is the founder of The Orangeburg Pecan Company. Mr. Felder was in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII, and wrote a book about his experience there. Mr. Felder now lives in a nursing home, and Fred Felder Jr. and I took Fred Felder Senior for a ride in “his” car a couple of years ago. He had not seen the car for 37 years, and it was a thrill for us all.
The car has spent a lot of its years in the Low Country with our family and at the Felders' vacation home in the early ’70s on Sullivan’s Island.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since ’77: Clarence Cherry, Georgetown
This 1955 Bel Air two door hardtop has been garaged since 1977. Two years ago (underwent) complete restoration. It’s beautiful yellow, off white top.
The way I got the car, I started working on the dredge in Jacksonville, (Fla.) I always wanted a ’55, that’s the year I was born. I saw (one) at a race car body shop. I (paid) $300. Work since 1978 (includes) total restoration of the chassis. (The recent restoration) finished April 25 on my birthday. In the middle of all that, got married and raised a family. This car has really meant a lot to me. Never been outside, always in a garage.
I want to take it out, “so it can be in a show;” go to drive in movie theaters in Beaufort, Monetta and Greenwood and drive up restaurants; and make “a pilgrimage to Jacksonville.”
1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Owner since 1971: Rev. Donald O. Clendaniel, West Ashley
My wife bought the car for $900 and gave it to me for my birthday 40 years ago. It has a 283 cubic inch (engine), 3 speed (transmission). There are 123,000 miles on the car. Most of the chrome is original and has been triple chrome-plated. I drive the car to Bessinger’s the first Wednesday of each month for their car show.
1958 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner since 1982: Myles Glick, Charleston.
I have had my 1958 Corvette for 29 years.
1960 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since 1960: Glenn Horne, Hanahan
This 1960 Chevrolet two-door hardtop Bel Air was purchased Nov. 1960 (new) from Fort Sumter (Chevrolet), Charleston.
Picked up the car on Nov. 11, 1960 — also picked wife and first baby from hospital. Parked the car after driving for 13 years. I restored the Chevy about seven years ago and now show the car. It has 88,000 miles; and a 283 (cubic inch) engine.
I have all the original registration, title, cover protection and owners guide.
1964 Chevrolet Corvair
Owner since 1971: Frank Lux, Ladson
Regarding my 1964 Chevrolet Corvair … It’s a four-door Monza. They made just under 2 million of them starting in 1960 thru 1969. The cheaper model was the 500, then the 700 and finally the 900 (Monza).
I bought it with 112,000 miles on it and now have 379,000 on it. I overhauled it in 2007 (2nd time) and painted it several times over the years. It gets driven almost daily and runs great. Corvairs did get some negative publicity in earlier years and the claims were proved wrong.
MAACO of Summerville recently painted it. About 12 years ago, we found it (upside down) one Sunday morning in my front yard. A friend told me that was the new fad for bored kids. I added 4 quarts of oil, pushed the roof up enough to drive and went to work.
We Corvair owners have a club and meet on the 2nd Thursday each month at Ryan’s on Rivers Avenue.
1965 Chevrolet Impala
Owner since ’65: Frank Metzger, Summerville
This is my 1965 Impala Super Sport 327 with four-speed and factory air. I bought it new on April 4, 1965 from Black Chevrolet in Walterboro.
1966 Chevrolet Malibu
Owned since ’70: Reese Ward and father
I recently bought my 1966 Malibu Chevelle back from a neighbor after 20 years.
This nice Malibu was originally purchased by Dr. Harper in Atlanta. He moved next door to my parents on James Island around 1969. Around 1970 my father, Gerald Ward, purchased this car for him to be a daily driver. My father drove the car for many years before opening L & W Auto Sales. As I was growing up I admired the car and my father asked me if I wanted it to be “my first car.” I wasted no time in answering yes.
In 1983 the car was repainted with the original color, some upholstery was repaired, new trim parts were ordered and the engine was painted and worked on as well. I got my license and began to drive the car. Unfortunately, since my father owned a used car lot, I began to see other cars with AC, electric windows and nice stereos that caught my eye. I only drove the Chevelle for 1-2 months before moving on to a newer car. The Chevelle sat in our driveway with little use for many years.
Our neighbor, Gary Whitehead, would knock on our front door about every six months to see if we wanted to sell the car. Our answer was always the same, no not interested. Well, when I graduated Winthrop College the Chevelle was looking pretty bad. Rust, cobwebs, water on the floor board, flat tires … you get the picture. So, one day in 1991 Mr. Whitehead knocked on the door at the right time and we agreed to sell the Chevelle to him.
We have seen many other cars he had restored and we knew it was in good hands. Most importantly, he also agreed to sell the car back to my father or myself if he ever decided to sell, which he said he never would.
For 20 years, I would drive by to visit my parents and see the Chevelle being restored and finally being completed. I would stop by Mr. Whitehead’s home and look at the Chevelle, take pictures and listen to the engine just purr. I always said I wanted to be able to get the car back some day.
Well, in May 2011 the day came that Mr. Whitehead gave me a call and was ready to sell. My father passed away in 2006 and there was no way I was going to let this car slip through my hands. This car was just too sentimental to me!
I felt bad that I never really appreciated the car like I should have at first and like I do now. When I made the purchase and picked the car up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my wife, two children and my mother made a short trip to Holy Cross Cemetery to show my father that we finally got it back. Dad, it’s back in the family!
My 1966 Chevelle MaliBlu (my Dad used to call me Blue).
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
Owner since 1968: John Stewart, James Island
May 23, 1968 (bought) 1968 Chevelle SS (from) Dick Flick Chevrolet. Sales person (was) Mickey Livingston.
Special order, 396 (cubic inch) special high performance - 375 hp. Four-speed close ratio, 3:73 post tract rear axle. Butternut yellow, black vinyl top and interior, rear antenna AM radio, tinted windows.
No power steering, power brakes or AC. All original documents (including) owners manual, buyers order, bill of sale, warranty, Protect-o plate and key knockouts.
1969 Chevrolet Impala
Owner since 1969: Wayne Howard, Hanahan
I bought my 1969 Chevrolet Impala, new, in Moncks Corner, and have owned it ever since. It still looks pretty good and runs well, including the air conditioner and has only a little over 200,000 miles on it.
Chevrolet rightly chose to look forward in celebrating its 100th anniversary last month. But the carmaker also took time to focus on its loyal customers.
That’s a good thing, at least judging from greater Charleston. Local enthusiasts own Chevys dating back to pre-Depression days. They’re owned them as long as 58 years. Some were birthday presents, others bought for as little as $250. There are Chevelles, Malibus and Impalas; Corvairs and Bel Airs, and, don’t forget, Corvette.
In all these cases, the owners still possess the vehicles. They’ve tenderly restored the models and some of them are driven to this day.
Earlier this fall, The Post and Courier invited readers to tell their stories and send pictures of their classic Chevrolets in a bid to find who has held the same Chevy the longest.
To tell the truth, there’s no single winner, each writeup and photo tells a unique story. The email and penned comments from enthusiasts were edited slightly but kept as close to the original as possible.
So here they are, in order of the vehicle’s age. As it turns out that owner, Tom Jameson of West Ashley, is renowned in local circles for heading up the monthly car show at Bessinger’s Bar-B-Q. Not as well known is the story of his 83-year-old Chevrolet.
1928 Chevrolet
Owner since ’53: Tom Jameson, West Ashley.
The car was bought new and ran for 5 years and then placed in a barn for 20 years by original owner. I am 76-years-old and still have the first car I ever bought. I paid $75 in West Virginia. I drove to high school and was in many parades. My late wife, Alice, and I would go to drive-in movies and go on double dates.
In 1953, General Motors had a convention at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; they offered me any Corvette for my car. Needless to say, I turned it down. I felt having a sports car that would go 120-plus miles per hour in the mountains of W.Va., that I probably wouldn’t live very long. After driving for two years, it was stored at my in law’s barn for 30 years. In 1985 I had the car restored from the ground up. After the restoration it was delivered to my home in Charleston.
I contacted General Motors; they researched the car and thought it was built in Atlanta, but upon further research it was built in Norwood, Ohio. They asked me to bring the car to Atlanta for the celebration of the 1 millionth car built in Atlanta. We showed the car at many local shows and won four National AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) awards.
1953 Chevrolet 210
Owner since ’80: Joseph “Pete” Kinloch, Hanahan
I purchased this car from its original owner, 21 years ago. The price was $250 “as is.” The Chevy was running and had all of its original parts.
In need of restoration, I drove the original six-cylinder around for five years, restoring her inch by inch. Exterior looks original, but under the hood she can run with “Vetts.” Open her up and you will see a 350 (cubic inch) Chevy V-8, 400 (hp) Turbo automatic transmission, ’69 Nova rear end, dash odometer 160 mph, AC, power seats and radio/CD player with little BOOM.
All modification was done with my tender loving hands to this U.S.A. icon (what … a baby), only in America. The gorgeous paint was done by a friend.
I can drive her anywhere, so if you see me on the road honk, for America. Made in America 58 years ago and still humming.
(Kinloch signed it, ’53 Chevy Enthusiasts).
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since ’74: Robert Newman, Mount Pleasant
I purchased the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible in 1974. I have owned and driven the car for almost 38 years. This Chevy was used as our family car for several years. Today we drive it for fun, to car shows and for weddings.
My daughter was born the year I bought it, and now her children love to ride in it.
The car was originally sold new by Wannamaker Motors, which was a Chevrolet dealer in Orangeburg. The original Wannamaker Motors license plate frame from 56 years ago is still on the car, and a picture of the license plate frame is attached. Many people from the Low Country drove to Orangeburg to purchase their Chevys at Wannamaker Motors over the years.
The car has not been restored, but it was repainted 25 years ago. We live in Mount Pleasant, and we take our Chevy to the Bessinger’s Bar-B-Q car show and the Anchors Away car show several times per year.
The Chevy has 98,000 original miles on it. I purchased the car from Mr. Fred Felder Sr., who is the founder of The Orangeburg Pecan Company. Mr. Felder was in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII, and wrote a book about his experience there. Mr. Felder now lives in a nursing home, and Fred Felder Jr. and I took Fred Felder Senior for a ride in “his” car a couple of years ago. He had not seen the car for 37 years, and it was a thrill for us all.
The car has spent a lot of its years in the Low Country with our family and at the Felders' vacation home in the early ’70s on Sullivan’s Island.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since ’77: Clarence Cherry, Georgetown
This 1955 Bel Air two door hardtop has been garaged since 1977. Two years ago (underwent) complete restoration. It’s beautiful yellow, off white top.
The way I got the car, I started working on the dredge in Jacksonville, (Fla.) I always wanted a ’55, that’s the year I was born. I saw (one) at a race car body shop. I (paid) $300. Work since 1978 (includes) total restoration of the chassis. (The recent restoration) finished April 25 on my birthday. In the middle of all that, got married and raised a family. This car has really meant a lot to me. Never been outside, always in a garage.
I want to take it out, “so it can be in a show;” go to drive in movie theaters in Beaufort, Monetta and Greenwood and drive up restaurants; and make “a pilgrimage to Jacksonville.”
1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Owner since 1971: Rev. Donald O. Clendaniel, West Ashley
My wife bought the car for $900 and gave it to me for my birthday 40 years ago. It has a 283 cubic inch (engine), 3 speed (transmission). There are 123,000 miles on the car. Most of the chrome is original and has been triple chrome-plated. I drive the car to Bessinger’s the first Wednesday of each month for their car show.
1958 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner since 1982: Myles Glick, Charleston.
I have had my 1958 Corvette for 29 years.
1960 Chevrolet Bel Air
Owner since 1960: Glenn Horne, Hanahan
This 1960 Chevrolet two-door hardtop Bel Air was purchased Nov. 1960 (new) from Fort Sumter (Chevrolet), Charleston.
Picked up the car on Nov. 11, 1960 — also picked wife and first baby from hospital. Parked the car after driving for 13 years. I restored the Chevy about seven years ago and now show the car. It has 88,000 miles; and a 283 (cubic inch) engine.
I have all the original registration, title, cover protection and owners guide.
1964 Chevrolet Corvair
Owner since 1971: Frank Lux, Ladson
Regarding my 1964 Chevrolet Corvair … It’s a four-door Monza. They made just under 2 million of them starting in 1960 thru 1969. The cheaper model was the 500, then the 700 and finally the 900 (Monza).
I bought it with 112,000 miles on it and now have 379,000 on it. I overhauled it in 2007 (2nd time) and painted it several times over the years. It gets driven almost daily and runs great. Corvairs did get some negative publicity in earlier years and the claims were proved wrong.
MAACO of Summerville recently painted it. About 12 years ago, we found it (upside down) one Sunday morning in my front yard. A friend told me that was the new fad for bored kids. I added 4 quarts of oil, pushed the roof up enough to drive and went to work.
We Corvair owners have a club and meet on the 2nd Thursday each month at Ryan’s on Rivers Avenue.
1965 Chevrolet Impala
Owner since ’65: Frank Metzger, Summerville
This is my 1965 Impala Super Sport 327 with four-speed and factory air. I bought it new on April 4, 1965 from Black Chevrolet in Walterboro.
1966 Chevrolet Malibu
Owned since ’70: Reese Ward and father
I recently bought my 1966 Malibu Chevelle back from a neighbor after 20 years.
This nice Malibu was originally purchased by Dr. Harper in Atlanta. He moved next door to my parents on James Island around 1969. Around 1970 my father, Gerald Ward, purchased this car for him to be a daily driver. My father drove the car for many years before opening L & W Auto Sales. As I was growing up I admired the car and my father asked me if I wanted it to be “my first car.” I wasted no time in answering yes.
In 1983 the car was repainted with the original color, some upholstery was repaired, new trim parts were ordered and the engine was painted and worked on as well. I got my license and began to drive the car. Unfortunately, since my father owned a used car lot, I began to see other cars with AC, electric windows and nice stereos that caught my eye. I only drove the Chevelle for 1-2 months before moving on to a newer car. The Chevelle sat in our driveway with little use for many years.
Our neighbor, Gary Whitehead, would knock on our front door about every six months to see if we wanted to sell the car. Our answer was always the same, no not interested. Well, when I graduated Winthrop College the Chevelle was looking pretty bad. Rust, cobwebs, water on the floor board, flat tires … you get the picture. So, one day in 1991 Mr. Whitehead knocked on the door at the right time and we agreed to sell the Chevelle to him.
We have seen many other cars he had restored and we knew it was in good hands. Most importantly, he also agreed to sell the car back to my father or myself if he ever decided to sell, which he said he never would.
For 20 years, I would drive by to visit my parents and see the Chevelle being restored and finally being completed. I would stop by Mr. Whitehead’s home and look at the Chevelle, take pictures and listen to the engine just purr. I always said I wanted to be able to get the car back some day.
Well, in May 2011 the day came that Mr. Whitehead gave me a call and was ready to sell. My father passed away in 2006 and there was no way I was going to let this car slip through my hands. This car was just too sentimental to me!
I felt bad that I never really appreciated the car like I should have at first and like I do now. When I made the purchase and picked the car up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my wife, two children and my mother made a short trip to Holy Cross Cemetery to show my father that we finally got it back. Dad, it’s back in the family!
My 1966 Chevelle MaliBlu (my Dad used to call me Blue).
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
Owner since 1968: John Stewart, James Island
May 23, 1968 (bought) 1968 Chevelle SS (from) Dick Flick Chevrolet. Sales person (was) Mickey Livingston.
Special order, 396 (cubic inch) special high performance - 375 hp. Four-speed close ratio, 3:73 post tract rear axle. Butternut yellow, black vinyl top and interior, rear antenna AM radio, tinted windows.
No power steering, power brakes or AC. All original documents (including) owners manual, buyers order, bill of sale, warranty, Protect-o plate and key knockouts.
1969 Chevrolet Impala
Owner since 1969: Wayne Howard, Hanahan
I bought my 1969 Chevrolet Impala, new, in Moncks Corner, and have owned it ever since. It still looks pretty good and runs well, including the air conditioner and has only a little over 200,000 miles on it.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Review: McKlein Motorsport Classic calendar
From MaxRally: Review: McKlein Motorsport Classic calendar
Do you hanker after the good old days of motorsport, when sex was safe and racing was dangerous, as the legendary Sir Stirling Moss inimitably put it? Do you believe that the two biggest evils facing society at the moment are the terrible twins of 'health' and 'safety'? If so, the McKlein Motorsport Classic calendar is for you. In fact, it's for you even if you just like looking at beautiful old racing cars and don't particularly care about the nanny state.
Rather than purely a rally calendar, this collection of photographs harks back to the golden era of circuit racing as well. Reinhard Klein has been around for quite a while, but even he will gratefully admit that he wasn't there to photograph Fangio in his prime, so this is instead a calendar that mostly uses shots from McKlein's extensive photographic racing archive: an important element to the Cologne-based business that many people don't even know exists. Well, they do now.
What strikes you about this collection is the sheer variety of the images, having been taken by a number of different photographers and assembled through a wide range of sources.
An overriding theme is the fragility of life at the time: the drivers are piloting volatile, but achingly beautiful, death traps – while an essential accessory for refuelling, for example, seems to be a cigarette. There are some rally images too; from the happy era of motoring when speed and drink-drive limits were a figment of the imagination. Some rallies even ended on Fridays, to give the hard-working teams and media the weekend off.
Yes, those were the days. And now you can relive them whenever you like by perusing the 25 images that form the calendar. In typical McKlein fashion, you can choose which images you'd like displayed. Free up your wall space now – Patrick Depailler is coming through in a six-wheeled Tyrrell.
That's just one of the images: you can also see how a Lancia Stratos copes with the mud on the East African Safari Rally (badly, we suspect) and find out what a pit stop on the 1952 Carrera Panamericana was like (fraught with risk, essentially).
Underneath each image, there's a brief explanation of what is going on, allowing the reader to really get under the skin of each photograph. It's astonishing, provocative, and unashamedly sentimental. Get it while you can.
The calendar costs €39.90 or £34.90 and it's available from the Rallywebshop: McKlein's official outlet. Visit http://www.rallywebshop.com or call +44 (0)20 81 33 0605 in the UK or +49 (0)2203-9242570 in Germany.
Do you hanker after the good old days of motorsport, when sex was safe and racing was dangerous, as the legendary Sir Stirling Moss inimitably put it? Do you believe that the two biggest evils facing society at the moment are the terrible twins of 'health' and 'safety'? If so, the McKlein Motorsport Classic calendar is for you. In fact, it's for you even if you just like looking at beautiful old racing cars and don't particularly care about the nanny state.
Rather than purely a rally calendar, this collection of photographs harks back to the golden era of circuit racing as well. Reinhard Klein has been around for quite a while, but even he will gratefully admit that he wasn't there to photograph Fangio in his prime, so this is instead a calendar that mostly uses shots from McKlein's extensive photographic racing archive: an important element to the Cologne-based business that many people don't even know exists. Well, they do now.
What strikes you about this collection is the sheer variety of the images, having been taken by a number of different photographers and assembled through a wide range of sources.
An overriding theme is the fragility of life at the time: the drivers are piloting volatile, but achingly beautiful, death traps – while an essential accessory for refuelling, for example, seems to be a cigarette. There are some rally images too; from the happy era of motoring when speed and drink-drive limits were a figment of the imagination. Some rallies even ended on Fridays, to give the hard-working teams and media the weekend off.
Yes, those were the days. And now you can relive them whenever you like by perusing the 25 images that form the calendar. In typical McKlein fashion, you can choose which images you'd like displayed. Free up your wall space now – Patrick Depailler is coming through in a six-wheeled Tyrrell.
That's just one of the images: you can also see how a Lancia Stratos copes with the mud on the East African Safari Rally (badly, we suspect) and find out what a pit stop on the 1952 Carrera Panamericana was like (fraught with risk, essentially).
Underneath each image, there's a brief explanation of what is going on, allowing the reader to really get under the skin of each photograph. It's astonishing, provocative, and unashamedly sentimental. Get it while you can.
The calendar costs €39.90 or £34.90 and it's available from the Rallywebshop: McKlein's official outlet. Visit http://www.rallywebshop.com or call +44 (0)20 81 33 0605 in the UK or +49 (0)2203-9242570 in Germany.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Car from comedy flick "The Hangover" on sale
From 680 News: Car from comedy flick "The Hangover" on sale
You can now be a member of the 'wolf pack' too, for about $100,000, that is.
The 1965 Mercedes-Benz used in the 2009 comedy, The Hangover, is now up for sale on eBay.
The classic car is being auctioned for charity. The Mercedes is one of five cars during the filming process.
It currently has a "buy-it-now" price of $95,000 USD, with a minimum starting bid of $85,000.
The convertible is in great condition, according to the owner, who said the interior was refurbished after the filming of the movie.
You can now be a member of the 'wolf pack' too, for about $100,000, that is.
The 1965 Mercedes-Benz used in the 2009 comedy, The Hangover, is now up for sale on eBay.
The classic car is being auctioned for charity. The Mercedes is one of five cars during the filming process.
It currently has a "buy-it-now" price of $95,000 USD, with a minimum starting bid of $85,000.
The convertible is in great condition, according to the owner, who said the interior was refurbished after the filming of the movie.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Me and My Car: It's a woodie like no other
From Mercury.news: Me and My Car: It's a woodie like no other
Is there a car more elegant than an old woodie? There is something about woodie convertibles and station wagons that car enthusiasts covet.
Partly, I suppose, it's because real woodie cars are not available anymore, or maybe it is the special craftsmanship that went into building them and the beauty of the wood used. Today's woodies don't use real wood.
That may be part of the reason why Danville resident Jim Ashworth is into woodies. He offered another possible reason, "When my brother and I were growing up, we wanted a woodie station wagon, but our parents would never buy one."
Ashworth has become an expert on classic cars, including woodies, even teaching classes on investing in and restoring classic cars at UCLA and UC Berkeley. A collector since the 1970s, he has owned some great woodies, including a 1940 Buick wagon that was once owned by Bette Davis, a 1947 Chevrolet wagon, a 1953 Buick wagon and a 1947 Ford Sportsman, in addition to this beautiful baby blue 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Country Club convertible.
Here's the surprise. Chevrolet didn't make a woodie convertible in 1947-48. Not good for Chevy. Ford and Chevrolet have always been like the Hatfields and McCoys, fighting for sales leadership and trying to outdo each other. Ford had the Sportsman, a popular model, but Chevrolet only had the ordinary metal convertible.
As Henry J. Kaiser said, "Find a need and fill it." So it was that Engineering Enterprises Inc. in Detroit noted the need to produce wood panels to make the Chevrolet Fleetmaster convertible into the woodie they called the Country Club convertible. The kit was an aftermarket product to be installed by local Chevy dealers and sold for $149.50 plus an installation fee.
Ashworth bought his 1947 Chevrolet in 1989 from a homebuilder in Stockton who was having financial challenges. It was already restored and parked in a warehouse, but it did not have the wood paneling. Ashworth had some paneling from other restoration projects plus two original pieces that came from Engineering Enterprises. Using those two pieces and a Chevrolet advertising picture postcard, Ashworth's father, a retired engineer, was able to calculate the exact specifications and build the Country Club woodie kit. The completed kit was then installed by Ashland Wood Products in San Leandro.
Ashworth believes his Chevy is the only stock 1947 Chevy convertible with the Country Club woodie package in the United States. Two years ago, he was invited to bring his rare Chevy to The Woodie Show in Pebble Beach, a significant honor.
Back in 1947, the country was just recovering from World War II, and the population was starving for new cars. Chevrolets (and others) were basically carry-over models from 1942. Chevy offered two trim levels. The standard series was Stylemaster, and the deluxe series was called Fleetline.
There was no need for an engine option, as they sold everything they could build and couldn't keep up with demand. Chevy used the tried-and-true overhead valve, 216.5 cubic inch, straight six-cylinder engine rated at 90 horsepower.
A unique feature of the car was the manual three-speed vacuum booster transmission. According to Ashworth, "One could shift the transmission with (his) fingertips, and the vacuum shift would suck up the transmission from one gear to the next."
According to a Hemming Motor News publication, the 1947 Chevy convertible had a top speed of 90 mph and could go from 0 to 60 mph in 20 seconds. Gas mileage for the 3,340-pound car would probably average about 14 miles per gallon.
This 1947 Chevy is one of Ashworth's all-time favorites. He's down to two collector cars, the other being a 1988 Ford Mustang used as a trainer car for the California Highway Patrol. But, alas, Ashworth and his wife, Mary, are empty nesters and are thinking of downsizing. That could mean selling off his last two prizes, but at what price?
"I never reveal what I pay for a car or what I sell it for," he told me.
But I suspect the beautifully restored 1947 Chevrolet Country Club convertible's value is more than the original selling price of $1,628.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Motor-Sport - Mdina Classic Grand Prix 2012 between 11 and 14 October
The Malta Independent Online: Motor-Sport - Mdina Classic Grand Prix 2012 between 11 and 14 October
The 2012 Mdina Grand Prix is to be held between 11 and 14 October.
This was announced last week by the organisers after the success achieved this year.
Throngs of people lined up the streets to watch the 60 participants including stunning classic cars and their international celebrity drivers, glamorous stars and global brand owners.
The Valletta Grand Prix Foundation announced that the two days of racing will now be extended to four days of activities given the quality of the Mdina venue and racetrack, culminating on Sunday October 14, 2012.
The 2012 Mdina Grand Prix and Classic Car Event organised by the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation will feature races and exhibitions of historic and classic cars and incorporates a racetrack stretching from Mdina through Mtarfa and into Rabat, over a distance of 2.2 kilometres. This race circuit gives the public many good spots in Mdina, Mtarfa and Rabat from which to follow the race. This street race is the only one of its kind in this part of the Mediterranean and attracted huge crowds of local and international visitors in 2011 to the racing heart of Malta. The 2011 Mdina Grand Prix, was a classic car event like no other with action, drama and full speed to thrill the large crowds.
The main event is a street race, with Malta increasingly seen as the Monaco of the Southern Mediterranean. Past entries have included sports cars, two-seater racers and other classic cars built between 1910 and 1975 as well as single-seater racing cars dating between 1930 and 1960. Several celebrities are expected to attend after the success of the 2011 event. Some of the 2011 celebrities were Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ grandson, Michael Quinn, along with fellow racers John Burton in a beautiful E-Type and Guy Broad in his world-beating “bubble” XK, the fastest XK in history. They were joined by Gemma Hunt from the BBC who hosted the race and performed the duties of master of ceremonies for the official prize-giving, actress Nathalie Pownall who breezed in for race weekend to add an extra touch of glamour and objectivity as a judge for the Concours D’Elegance. There was also swashbuckling global luxury brand owner of Bremont, Giles English, as well as Mark Dixon, from cult UK motoring magazine Octane, and Kari Hautala and Mikkonen Ilpo from Moottori, the oldest automobile magazine in Finland, indeed a heady mix.
The 2012 Mdina Grand Prix is to be held between 11 and 14 October.
This was announced last week by the organisers after the success achieved this year.
Throngs of people lined up the streets to watch the 60 participants including stunning classic cars and their international celebrity drivers, glamorous stars and global brand owners.
The Valletta Grand Prix Foundation announced that the two days of racing will now be extended to four days of activities given the quality of the Mdina venue and racetrack, culminating on Sunday October 14, 2012.
The 2012 Mdina Grand Prix and Classic Car Event organised by the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation will feature races and exhibitions of historic and classic cars and incorporates a racetrack stretching from Mdina through Mtarfa and into Rabat, over a distance of 2.2 kilometres. This race circuit gives the public many good spots in Mdina, Mtarfa and Rabat from which to follow the race. This street race is the only one of its kind in this part of the Mediterranean and attracted huge crowds of local and international visitors in 2011 to the racing heart of Malta. The 2011 Mdina Grand Prix, was a classic car event like no other with action, drama and full speed to thrill the large crowds.
The main event is a street race, with Malta increasingly seen as the Monaco of the Southern Mediterranean. Past entries have included sports cars, two-seater racers and other classic cars built between 1910 and 1975 as well as single-seater racing cars dating between 1930 and 1960. Several celebrities are expected to attend after the success of the 2011 event. Some of the 2011 celebrities were Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ grandson, Michael Quinn, along with fellow racers John Burton in a beautiful E-Type and Guy Broad in his world-beating “bubble” XK, the fastest XK in history. They were joined by Gemma Hunt from the BBC who hosted the race and performed the duties of master of ceremonies for the official prize-giving, actress Nathalie Pownall who breezed in for race weekend to add an extra touch of glamour and objectivity as a judge for the Concours D’Elegance. There was also swashbuckling global luxury brand owner of Bremont, Giles English, as well as Mark Dixon, from cult UK motoring magazine Octane, and Kari Hautala and Mikkonen Ilpo from Moottori, the oldest automobile magazine in Finland, indeed a heady mix.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Time Keeps On Slipping Into the Future
Sorry for the dearth of posts recently...I've been working on a project, wanted to devote all my time to it, and kept telling myself...it'll be done today so I can get back to blogging here tomorrow.
The next day it was... okay, it's definitely going to get done today....
Well, today it is done... so back to posting here on a daily basis tomorrow. (With the first post appearing tomorrow afternoon while I'm watching football!)
Thanks for your patience.
The next day it was... okay, it's definitely going to get done today....
Well, today it is done... so back to posting here on a daily basis tomorrow. (With the first post appearing tomorrow afternoon while I'm watching football!)
Thanks for your patience.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Dec 7, UK: Classic cars going under the hammer
From Carloan 4U.UK: Classic cars going under the hammer
A total of 36 classic cars are to be put up auction at an event in London next week, with the motors said to be valued at a combined sum in excess of £6 million.
Coys has announced that its True Greats auction has attracted a high-quality list of lots.
Among the vehicles set to go under the hammer on Wednesday (December 7th) are an Aston Martin DB5 owned by former Beatle George Harrison and a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster.
Other lots will include a Cord 810 Phaeton owned by Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne and Jimmy Page.
Managing director of Coys Chris Routledge said: "We are delighted to offer for sale George Harrison's first "important" car, bought new and delivered to him personally in 1965 at his Kinfauns estate in Esher, Surrey, England."
When it comes to selling a car at auction, its value could be affected by whether a previous owner has smoked in it, Autorola recently warned.
A total of 36 classic cars are to be put up auction at an event in London next week, with the motors said to be valued at a combined sum in excess of £6 million.
Coys has announced that its True Greats auction has attracted a high-quality list of lots.
Among the vehicles set to go under the hammer on Wednesday (December 7th) are an Aston Martin DB5 owned by former Beatle George Harrison and a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster.
Other lots will include a Cord 810 Phaeton owned by Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne and Jimmy Page.
Managing director of Coys Chris Routledge said: "We are delighted to offer for sale George Harrison's first "important" car, bought new and delivered to him personally in 1965 at his Kinfauns estate in Esher, Surrey, England."
When it comes to selling a car at auction, its value could be affected by whether a previous owner has smoked in it, Autorola recently warned.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Sergio Scaglietti, Sculptor of Sleekly Tailored Ferraris, Dies at 91
From the New York Times, Nov 26: Sergio Scaglietti, Sculptor of Sleekly Tailored Ferraris, Dies at 91
Sergio Scaglietti, who used intuitive genius and a hammer — seldom blueprints or sketches — to sculpture elegant Ferraris that won Grand Prix races in the 1950s and ’60s and now sell for millions of dollars, died on Nov. 20 at his home in Modena, Italy. He was 91.
Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s chairman, announced the death.
Ferraris, with their hair-raising acceleration and sleek lines, bespoke postwar modernity in the manner of the Color Field paintings of Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko or the architecture of Eero Saarinen. Mr. Scaglietti in the 1950s designed the blood-red skin of the 375MM sports car that the film director Roberto Rossellini, the master of neo-realist cinema, gave to his wife, Ingrid Bergman.
In August, Mr. Scaglietti’s 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $16.4 million, said to be the most ever paid for an automobile at auction. His 250 GT California Spyder was the vehicle in which the teenage heroes of the 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” cavorted. (The Ferrari in the movie was actually a fake: the producers couldn’t afford a real one.)
Mr. Scaglietti (pronounced skahl-YET-tee — the “g” is silent) lacked the kind of formal education acquired by his patron and best friend, Enzo Ferrari, the race driver-turned-automotive-impresario. Both believed in speed, power, utility, superb craftsmanship and sleek, sensuous beauty, and they abhorred mass production. By craft Mr. Scaglietti was a “coachbuilder,” but others use loftier descriptions.
Leslie Kendall, curator of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, compared his cars to couture clothing. “They were individually tailored, and achingly beautiful,” he said in an interview after Mr. Scaglietti’s death.
Mr. Scaglietti’s method was to receive a prototype from the legendary designer Battista Farina or one of his associates and “interpret” it in aluminum, rarely using a drawing. He made a wire frame, then hammered the metal into the shape he envisioned. He did this on bags of sand, because wood proved too hard. He did everything, he said, “by the eye.”
He followed the designers’ concepts to varying degrees. Many sources give him considerable personal credit for the overall look of the 250 GTO in 1962-63. Just three dozen were made, and Mr. Ferrari, who died in 1988, approved every sale personally. The car was one of the last front-engine cars to remain competitive at the top levels of sports car racing. (Most racing cars today have the engine behind the driver.)
Motor Trend Classic in 2010 called the car the greatest Ferrari of all time, and some people consider it the most beautiful automobile ever made. There have been reports that one sold for $50 million during the classic car boom of the 1980s, and the Web site Supercars.net called that figure not “entirely unrealistic.”
In their 2007 book, Ferrari: Stories From Those Who Lived the Legend, John Lamm and Chuck Queener said Mr. Scaglietti got his inspiration for the GTO by “looking at cars.” Mr. Scaglietti said, “If you use your head, knowing the car has to go fast, you make it smaller and lighter.”
Sergio Scaglietti was born into the family of a poor carpenter on Jan. 9, 1920, in Modena. Four of his five brothers became carpenters, but Sergio aspired to work with metal. When he was 13, his father died, and he dropped out of school to work in a local garage specializing in damaged cars. His brother had gotten him the job, and four years later, the brother and a partner bought the business. At 17, Sergio became one of their first employees. He met Mr. Ferrari when Mr. Ferrari asked him to fix a mud flap on a racing car.
After World War II, Mr. Scaglietti opened his own shop. Mr. Ferrari, who had also started his own business, noticed Mr. Scaglietti’s work repairing a bashed-up racing car and told him he had done a good job. By the mid-1950s, he was doing much of Ferrari’s bodywork at a business he named Carrozzeria Scaglietti. He is credited with coming up with the design for headrests on Ferrari racing cars.
He drew broad praise for the pontoon fenders on the 250 Testa Rossa, of which 34 were built from 1956 to 1961. The fenders’ design allowed cool air to flow into the brake area to prevent overheating. On a visit to Allentown, Pa., in 2000, Mr. Scaglietti told the newspaper The Morning Call that the Testa Rossa got its name almost by accident.
“The chief of production came to Mr. Ferrari and said, ‘We have to stop production because we have no black paint to paint the engines,’ ” he said.
Mr. Ferrari asked what color paint they did have. The answer was red. Mr. Ferrari said, “Paint the engines red and we’ll call it the Testa Rossa,” which means redhead in Italian.
Mr. Scaglietti greatly expanded his business in the 1950s after Mr. Ferrari co-signed a loan. He sold the business to Fiat in the late 1960s, then continued to manage it until his retirement in the mid-1980s. In 2004, Ferrari named a four-seat sports car the 612 Scaglietti.
Information on survivors was unavailable.
Mr. Scaglietti owned only one of his own cars, a California Spyder, which he bought after a friend told him he could make money on it. He lost $1,000 when he sold it.
Sergio Scaglietti, who used intuitive genius and a hammer — seldom blueprints or sketches — to sculpture elegant Ferraris that won Grand Prix races in the 1950s and ’60s and now sell for millions of dollars, died on Nov. 20 at his home in Modena, Italy. He was 91.
Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s chairman, announced the death.
Ferraris, with their hair-raising acceleration and sleek lines, bespoke postwar modernity in the manner of the Color Field paintings of Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko or the architecture of Eero Saarinen. Mr. Scaglietti in the 1950s designed the blood-red skin of the 375MM sports car that the film director Roberto Rossellini, the master of neo-realist cinema, gave to his wife, Ingrid Bergman.
In August, Mr. Scaglietti’s 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $16.4 million, said to be the most ever paid for an automobile at auction. His 250 GT California Spyder was the vehicle in which the teenage heroes of the 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” cavorted. (The Ferrari in the movie was actually a fake: the producers couldn’t afford a real one.)
Mr. Scaglietti (pronounced skahl-YET-tee — the “g” is silent) lacked the kind of formal education acquired by his patron and best friend, Enzo Ferrari, the race driver-turned-automotive-impresario. Both believed in speed, power, utility, superb craftsmanship and sleek, sensuous beauty, and they abhorred mass production. By craft Mr. Scaglietti was a “coachbuilder,” but others use loftier descriptions.
Leslie Kendall, curator of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, compared his cars to couture clothing. “They were individually tailored, and achingly beautiful,” he said in an interview after Mr. Scaglietti’s death.
Mr. Scaglietti’s method was to receive a prototype from the legendary designer Battista Farina or one of his associates and “interpret” it in aluminum, rarely using a drawing. He made a wire frame, then hammered the metal into the shape he envisioned. He did this on bags of sand, because wood proved too hard. He did everything, he said, “by the eye.”
He followed the designers’ concepts to varying degrees. Many sources give him considerable personal credit for the overall look of the 250 GTO in 1962-63. Just three dozen were made, and Mr. Ferrari, who died in 1988, approved every sale personally. The car was one of the last front-engine cars to remain competitive at the top levels of sports car racing. (Most racing cars today have the engine behind the driver.)
Motor Trend Classic in 2010 called the car the greatest Ferrari of all time, and some people consider it the most beautiful automobile ever made. There have been reports that one sold for $50 million during the classic car boom of the 1980s, and the Web site Supercars.net called that figure not “entirely unrealistic.”
In their 2007 book, Ferrari: Stories From Those Who Lived the Legend, John Lamm and Chuck Queener said Mr. Scaglietti got his inspiration for the GTO by “looking at cars.” Mr. Scaglietti said, “If you use your head, knowing the car has to go fast, you make it smaller and lighter.”
Sergio Scaglietti was born into the family of a poor carpenter on Jan. 9, 1920, in Modena. Four of his five brothers became carpenters, but Sergio aspired to work with metal. When he was 13, his father died, and he dropped out of school to work in a local garage specializing in damaged cars. His brother had gotten him the job, and four years later, the brother and a partner bought the business. At 17, Sergio became one of their first employees. He met Mr. Ferrari when Mr. Ferrari asked him to fix a mud flap on a racing car.
After World War II, Mr. Scaglietti opened his own shop. Mr. Ferrari, who had also started his own business, noticed Mr. Scaglietti’s work repairing a bashed-up racing car and told him he had done a good job. By the mid-1950s, he was doing much of Ferrari’s bodywork at a business he named Carrozzeria Scaglietti. He is credited with coming up with the design for headrests on Ferrari racing cars.
He drew broad praise for the pontoon fenders on the 250 Testa Rossa, of which 34 were built from 1956 to 1961. The fenders’ design allowed cool air to flow into the brake area to prevent overheating. On a visit to Allentown, Pa., in 2000, Mr. Scaglietti told the newspaper The Morning Call that the Testa Rossa got its name almost by accident.
“The chief of production came to Mr. Ferrari and said, ‘We have to stop production because we have no black paint to paint the engines,’ ” he said.
Mr. Ferrari asked what color paint they did have. The answer was red. Mr. Ferrari said, “Paint the engines red and we’ll call it the Testa Rossa,” which means redhead in Italian.
Mr. Scaglietti greatly expanded his business in the 1950s after Mr. Ferrari co-signed a loan. He sold the business to Fiat in the late 1960s, then continued to manage it until his retirement in the mid-1980s. In 2004, Ferrari named a four-seat sports car the 612 Scaglietti.
Information on survivors was unavailable.
Mr. Scaglietti owned only one of his own cars, a California Spyder, which he bought after a friend told him he could make money on it. He lost $1,000 when he sold it.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Cruise-in aims to raise awareness of DUI dangers
This event took place last weekend, but it will doubtless be an annual thing. Mark it on your calendars.
From : Cruise-in aims to raise awareness of DUI dangers
GULFPORT -- Sponsors of the Tie One On Cruise-In and Candlelight Memorial on Saturday expect to draw hundreds of classic cars, street rods, muscle cars and vintage vehicles for an event aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The free cruise-in will be at Gulfport Premium Outlets from 4 to 8 p.m. The mall is at 10000 Factory Shops Boulevard, off Creosote Road just south of Interstate 10.
The cruise-in will feature an array of antique and collectible cars, live entertainment by the Doin’ Time Band, and drawings for prizes. The cruise-in will pause for a candlelight service to remember those who have lost their lives or been injured by drunken drivers.
The sponsors are Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Gulfport Police Department, Waffle House and Gulf Coast Motorsports magazine.
Prizes include $50 and $100 gift certificates from Coast stores and restaurants -- but there’s a catch. You must be present to win, and you must sign a pledge card vowing to drive sober through 2012. Entry slips must be turned in by 7 p.m.
There’s also a 50/50 cash drawing. The winner of that prize splits the cash with the local MADD chapter.
MADD will hold its ceremony at 6 p.m. and will set up a “remembrance circle” to display pictures and memorabilia of victims of drunken drivers.
Bill Downs, who leads the MADD chapter of Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties, said several people have contacted him who want to honor their dead or injured loved ones at the ceremony.
“I’ve also heard from people who have been injured and want to light a candle for themselves,” Downs said.
Downs lost his son, daughter-in-law and a family friend in a 2007 collision with a drunken driver, who also died.
Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford said his department is a co-sponsor because of its long working relationship with MADD.
Weatherford’s daughter was killed by a suspected drunken driver in March, but Weatherford said his department’s participation has nothing to do with his personal tragedy.
“We are proud to support this effort to raise public awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving and to encourage drivers to plan ahead to designate a sober driver or arrange for another safe ride home before they drink alcohol,” he said.
Gulf Coast Motorsports is calling on car buffs from near and far to turn out. The magazine is promoting the cruise-in on its calendar of events.
From : Cruise-in aims to raise awareness of DUI dangers
GULFPORT -- Sponsors of the Tie One On Cruise-In and Candlelight Memorial on Saturday expect to draw hundreds of classic cars, street rods, muscle cars and vintage vehicles for an event aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The free cruise-in will be at Gulfport Premium Outlets from 4 to 8 p.m. The mall is at 10000 Factory Shops Boulevard, off Creosote Road just south of Interstate 10.
The cruise-in will feature an array of antique and collectible cars, live entertainment by the Doin’ Time Band, and drawings for prizes. The cruise-in will pause for a candlelight service to remember those who have lost their lives or been injured by drunken drivers.
The sponsors are Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Gulfport Police Department, Waffle House and Gulf Coast Motorsports magazine.
Prizes include $50 and $100 gift certificates from Coast stores and restaurants -- but there’s a catch. You must be present to win, and you must sign a pledge card vowing to drive sober through 2012. Entry slips must be turned in by 7 p.m.
There’s also a 50/50 cash drawing. The winner of that prize splits the cash with the local MADD chapter.
MADD will hold its ceremony at 6 p.m. and will set up a “remembrance circle” to display pictures and memorabilia of victims of drunken drivers.
Bill Downs, who leads the MADD chapter of Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties, said several people have contacted him who want to honor their dead or injured loved ones at the ceremony.
“I’ve also heard from people who have been injured and want to light a candle for themselves,” Downs said.
Downs lost his son, daughter-in-law and a family friend in a 2007 collision with a drunken driver, who also died.
Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford said his department is a co-sponsor because of its long working relationship with MADD.
Weatherford’s daughter was killed by a suspected drunken driver in March, but Weatherford said his department’s participation has nothing to do with his personal tragedy.
“We are proud to support this effort to raise public awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving and to encourage drivers to plan ahead to designate a sober driver or arrange for another safe ride home before they drink alcohol,” he said.
Gulf Coast Motorsports is calling on car buffs from near and far to turn out. The magazine is promoting the cruise-in on its calendar of events.
A Proud Owner Of Classic Car Doesn't Mind To Spent RM50K For Modification
From Bernana.com: A Proud Owner Of Classic Car Doesn't Mind To Spent RM50K For Modification
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Syed Ibrahim Al-Sagoff, a proud owner of a 1966 Dodge Dart 270 convertible 2.8 litre car, does not mind to forking out nearly RM50,000 just to modify the car including its interior design.
The former aviation engineer designer said the car had high sentimental value to him and his family as he inherited it from his late grandfather who died in 1984.
"Although many people have come to me and offered to buy this car at a high price, I keep on rejecting them because my passion for vintage cars is very strong," he told Bernama when met at the Royal Selangor Club's (RSC) annual motorsports carnival and charity drive at Dataran Merdeka, here Sunday.
The event was launched Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) president Tunku Mudzaffar Tunku Mustafa.
More than 80 vintage, classic and exotic cars as well as superbikes were displayed at the annual event organised by the RSC.
Prior to the launching, 15 ultra-modern or fast cars, including Lamborghinis and Ferraris and 15 superbikes were also paraded up to the Sungai Besi Camp where the organiser also brought along 100 children from four selected shelter homes.
The event, which entered its fifth year, was also supported by several non profit organisations from around the Klang Valley.
At the event, Tunku Mudzaffar also handed over contribution of RM2,500 each to four shelter homes.
Trophies and certificates will be awarded to the winners of the vintage, classic and modern categories segment at a dinner at RSC tonight.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Syed Ibrahim Al-Sagoff, a proud owner of a 1966 Dodge Dart 270 convertible 2.8 litre car, does not mind to forking out nearly RM50,000 just to modify the car including its interior design.
The former aviation engineer designer said the car had high sentimental value to him and his family as he inherited it from his late grandfather who died in 1984.
"Although many people have come to me and offered to buy this car at a high price, I keep on rejecting them because my passion for vintage cars is very strong," he told Bernama when met at the Royal Selangor Club's (RSC) annual motorsports carnival and charity drive at Dataran Merdeka, here Sunday.
The event was launched Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) president Tunku Mudzaffar Tunku Mustafa.
More than 80 vintage, classic and exotic cars as well as superbikes were displayed at the annual event organised by the RSC.
Prior to the launching, 15 ultra-modern or fast cars, including Lamborghinis and Ferraris and 15 superbikes were also paraded up to the Sungai Besi Camp where the organiser also brought along 100 children from four selected shelter homes.
The event, which entered its fifth year, was also supported by several non profit organisations from around the Klang Valley.
At the event, Tunku Mudzaffar also handed over contribution of RM2,500 each to four shelter homes.
Trophies and certificates will be awarded to the winners of the vintage, classic and modern categories segment at a dinner at RSC tonight.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Beloved Classic French Car Goes Electric
From Spiegel Online: Beloved Classic French Car Goes ElectricThe development order was issued in the fall of 1935 and was the culmination of a vast wealth of experience. The Great Depression had been surmounted, and Europe's economy resembled a field fresh for the tilling. Pierre-Jules Boulanger, then vice-president and head of engineering and design at the French carmaker Citroën, tasked his engineers with developing the practical vehicle.
Boulanger wanted "a car for two people and a sack of potatoes that could drive straight across fields using just three liters per 100 kilometers (0.8 gallons/62 miles) while not breaking any of the eggs in the basket on board." In the years to come, the fact that the engineers didn't succeed in fulfilling all of these conditions did little to reduce the renown of the product that arose out of the legendary specifications sheet.
World War II delayed the car's development for six years. But October 1948 saw the debut of the Citroën 2CV, a bare-bones vehicle that initially boasted a two-cylinder, 9-horse-power engine that made a tinny, clattering sound as well as a retractable roof that opened like a sardine can. In fact, at the car's unveiling in Paris, someone is said to have asked: "Does it come with a can opener?"
In Germany, the Citroën CV2 is fondly known as the "Ente," or "duck." Despite its initial derision, the somewhat anemic vehicle would go on to achieve cult status among the gentle-souled refuseniks of automotive performance. Over 5 million models have been produced and, strictly speaking, its manufacture has yet to be completely disrupted.
Dressed-Up Ducks
In the southwestern Bavarian town of Hohenfurch, two body-shop workers operate a recycling station for dilapidated 2CV models that has become something resembling a factory for new cars. There, Wolfgang Hoffman, the former owner of a Citroën dealership, and his son Felix produce entirely new frames for the vehicles with the official approval of both the manufacturer and the TÜV, a safety-certification organization. Indeed, they enjoy a government-issued license to solder, so to speak.
Wolfgang describes the discarded vehicles as "donor ducks," which primarily supply parts for the new vehicles' exteriors and interiors, whether they are windows, dashboards, interior panels or the like. Since most of the vehicle bodies are custom-built out of plastic, the restorers enjoy ample leeway when it comes to making variations. Indeed, they plan on making convertibles, flatbed trucks and even stretch limousine models. With so many alterations, though, it's fair to ask whether they are resurrecting old ducks or disturbing their eternal slumber in automotive-engineering paradise.
Felix assures that the duck is "absolutely customizable" and points toward his latest creation, which he claims would be the "ideal advertising vehicle." It's a bright-yellow pickup prototype. While its wooden cargo bed gives a nod to the rural roots of the duck's original incarnation, its electric drive train is a look to the future.
The e-Duck
Andreas Mück and Christian Kühnhauser, two engineers from the nearby town of Oberammergau, executed the drive-train conversion. The two make their living for a range of clients, including those in the armaments and aerospace industries, but for them converting the cult vehicle is the engineering analogue of a religious experience.
With his nostalgic high-tech offensive, Mück is doggedly pursuing a mission. More than anything, he would like the prototype to serve as proof that it's possible to have a functional and affordable electric automobile with the right approach. "The duck is the ideal electric car because it's light," he says.
Indeed, together with its battery, the demonstration vehicle weighs less than 700 kilograms (1,500 pounds). This allows its designer to travel reasonable distances with only a small battery, which lowers his expenses even further. Mück and Kühnhauser have settled on a small, box-shaped lithium battery manufactured in China, which sits comfortably behind the passenger seat and stores just under 10 kilowatt hours of energy.
With this and its rather modest 20-horsepower engine, the e-duck can reportedly travel about 100 kilometers. Indeed, what Mück calls the "classic car with electric drive fit for everyday use" is just about as anemic as the original. If it ever went into mass production, it probably wouldn't cost much more, either.
Sluggish Safety
It seems simple enough, but it's only a good fit for those who aren't particularly concerned about surviving serious car accidents. Indeed, the passive security of the duck is hardly better than that of a motorcycle. And, given the importance of avoiding extra weight, it's unlikely to improve in the course of its conversion into an electric vehicle.
This issue of crash safety touches upon a dilemma in automotive technology that troubles more than just the engineers in Oberammergau: If a car body is going to be safe and reasonably priced, it has to be heavy, but if it's going to be safe and light, it's expensive.
The duck is light and inexpensive, but the only protection it can offer passengers is its sluggishness. But, as Wolfgang Hoffmann says: "People already understand that a car is safer when it doesn't go very fast."
Saturday, November 26, 2011
CarWale.com & Inorbit Mall unveil 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’
From IndiaInfo Online: CarWale.com & Inorbit Mall unveil 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’
This exclusive vintage car exhibit will showcase over classics such as Lancia Racer, Dodge Custom Royal Coupe, Packard Clipper 6, Cadillac Series 6 and Ford Model-A to name a few for a period of two weeks.
Many of us adorn vintage and when it comes to vintage cars they are nothing less than prized possession. A handful of people who are vintage car lovers spend money and time to preserve their passion for these cars while the others enjoy strolling down memory lane while gazing at these cars. For many such people, Inorbit Malls and CarWale.com unveiled the 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’ – a vintage and classic car’s annual exhibit at Inorbit Mall, Malad starting Nov 21st – Nov 27th, 2011 and at Inorbit, Vashi from Nov 24th – Dec 2nd, 2011.
This exclusive vintage car exhibit will showcase over classics such as Lancia Racer, Dodge Custom Royal Coupe, Packard Clipper 6, Cadillac Series 6 and Ford Model-A to name a few for a period of two weeks.
The exhibition will culminate with a car drive that will be flagged off from Inorbit Mall, Vashi on 4th December at 8.30 am, and from there the proud owners will drive these cars on a challenging route up the ghats to the Duke’s Retreat, Khandala. CarWale, India’s leading online car portal organises this annual gathering of vintage and classic cars each year.
Monday, November 21, 2011
New posting schedule
Sorry for the long delay in posting - had some family issues.
The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Thanks for your patience!
The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Thanks for your patience!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Buffalo,NY: Great Race to bring lovers of classic cars
From Buffalo News.com: Great Race to bring lovers of classic cars
One of the premiere vintage car rallies will make a pit stop in Buffalo.
Organizers of “The Great Race” announced Friday that Buffalo will be an overnight stop at next year’s annual antique automobile trek, as the route winds around the Great Lakes in June.
As many as 100 old automobiles are expected to participate, attracting hundreds — if not thousands — of antique car enthusiasts to Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow Museum on June 28, 2012.
“When the Great Race pulls into a city, it becomes an instant festival,” said Jeff Stumb, the race director based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Started in 1983, the Great Race takes its name from the 1965 Tony Curtis-Jack Lemmon movie, but the event is more about staying on time than speed.
The driver and navigator in each vehicle are given precise instructions each day of the nine-day race. They are scored at check points along the way and penalized each second they are early or late.
The lowest score wins the race.
The cars — built between 1911 and 1969 — are staggered a minute apart, so the first car should roll into Buffalo at about 5 p.m. with the rest of the racers crossing the finish line over the next hour and a half.
“It’s quite a show,” said James T. Sandoro, owner of the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum. “And if they get the number of cars they’re predicting, there’s going to be 100 automobiles in the race. We anticipate 4,000 to 5,000 people at the event that day.”
Sandoro lured the race to Buffalo, which will tie in with next year’s opening of his museum’s 45,000-square-foot addition at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street.
“He is the sole reason we’re coming to Buffalo,” Stumb said. “His museum is world-class and the expansion he’s doing there is phenomenal. It’s going to be a showpiece for Buffalo, and we wanted to be a part of that.”
One of the premiere vintage car rallies will make a pit stop in Buffalo.
Organizers of “The Great Race” announced Friday that Buffalo will be an overnight stop at next year’s annual antique automobile trek, as the route winds around the Great Lakes in June.
As many as 100 old automobiles are expected to participate, attracting hundreds — if not thousands — of antique car enthusiasts to Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow Museum on June 28, 2012.
“When the Great Race pulls into a city, it becomes an instant festival,” said Jeff Stumb, the race director based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Started in 1983, the Great Race takes its name from the 1965 Tony Curtis-Jack Lemmon movie, but the event is more about staying on time than speed.
The driver and navigator in each vehicle are given precise instructions each day of the nine-day race. They are scored at check points along the way and penalized each second they are early or late.
The lowest score wins the race.
The cars — built between 1911 and 1969 — are staggered a minute apart, so the first car should roll into Buffalo at about 5 p.m. with the rest of the racers crossing the finish line over the next hour and a half.
“It’s quite a show,” said James T. Sandoro, owner of the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum. “And if they get the number of cars they’re predicting, there’s going to be 100 automobiles in the race. We anticipate 4,000 to 5,000 people at the event that day.”
Sandoro lured the race to Buffalo, which will tie in with next year’s opening of his museum’s 45,000-square-foot addition at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street.
“He is the sole reason we’re coming to Buffalo,” Stumb said. “His museum is world-class and the expansion he’s doing there is phenomenal. It’s going to be a showpiece for Buffalo, and we wanted to be a part of that.”
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Info on The Great Race
Here's their website: http://www.greatrace.com/
WHAT:
The Great Race is a cross-country rally that pits driver/navigator teams against the clock and against each other. This year’s event (2012) will be around the Great Lakes, covering 19 cities, 2 countries and 4 states. Entrants will participate in a timed, controlled-speed, endurance competition over scenic public highways and roads. The scores for each team are the result of a team’s ability to follow all designated course instructions precisely.
Following specific course instructions, teams navigate through 4 to 7 timed checkpoints each day. Their arrival time at each checkpoint is recorded and compared against the perfectly driven route, with each second off the perfect time, (either early or late) counted as penalty points. The winning team is the one with the lowest overall score (the most accurately driven route) at the end of the event.
DIVISIONS:
• Grand Championship – past Grand Champions;
• Expert – previous top finishers;
• Sportsman – just getting the hang of it;
• Rookie – both driver and navigator must have less than 2 days’ Great Racing experience;
• X-Cup – Student Teams
VEHICLES:
Antique Vintage Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles with body and drive train built 1969 and earlier
COST:
• Business/Corporate Entry – $5,000
• Private Entry – $4,000
• X-Cup Entry – Contact us
PRIZES:
Prize fund is determined by the number of entrants; bragging rights and trophies for the Top Finishers in each Division and Top Rookies with additional prizes to be announced.
Click for the full 2012 Schedule. If you haven’t registered yet, make sure to head over to our registration page to get your entry in for 2012, we’re going to have a race like never before.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Start: Downtown Traverse City, Mich.
Lunch: Shore of Lake Huron in St. Ignace, Mich.
Finish: At the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Start: Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Lunch: Downtown Elliott Lake, Ontario
Finish: Downtown Sudbury, Ontario
Monday, June 25, 2012
Start: Sudbury, Ontario
Lunch: Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound, Ontario
Finish: Heritage Park in Barrie, Ontario
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Start: Barrie, Ontario
Lunch: Zurakowski Park in Barry’s Bay, Ontario
Finish: Hazeldean Mall in Kanata (Ottawa), Ontario
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Start: Kanata, Ontario
Lunch: Confederation Park in downtown Kingston, Ontario
Finish: The Fairgrounds in Watertown, N.Y.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Start: Watertown, N.Y.
Lunch: Erie Canal in downtown Fairport, N.Y.
Finish: Pierce-Arrow Museum in downtown Buffalo, N.Y.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Start: Buffalo, N.Y.
Lunch: Downtown Franklin, Pa.
Finish: National Packard Museum in Warren, Ohio
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Start: Warren, Ohio
Lunch: The Carousel in downtown Mansfield, Ohio
Finish: Downtown Findlay, Ohio
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Start: Findlay, Ohio
Lunch: Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Grand Finish: The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Mich.
Classic Car Museum, with 86 of 131 vehicles, drives toward late November opening
From Kearney, Nebraska: Classic Car Museum, with 86 of 131 vehicles, drives toward late November opening
KEARNEY — Cars have been on their way to Kearney for the past two weeks, and the Classic Car Museum now has 86 of its 131 vehicles.
The museum should open in late November, according to Director J.L. Schmidt.
The collection, valued at $3.5 million, has been arriving in special trucks. Each vehicle is chronicled with digital photography that will eventually be posted on iPads for tourists. Each photo will be published in a coffee table book.
The collection will be on display on the east side of Cabela’s at 3600 E. Highway 30.
The renovations to the museum building are almost complete, Schmidt said. The building was a Rockwell Manufacturing plant before Cabela’s came to Kearney.
The collection belonged to construction and real estate businessman Bernie Taulborg and his wife, Janice, of Elkhorn. The Taulborgs have have 157 cars and have been collecting them since 1970.
The Taulborgs donated the collection through the Kearney Area Community Foundation. In a ceremony May 11, the Taulborgs presented the collection to the foundation.
The Kearney Visitors Bureau paid to remodel 50,000 square feet of Cabela’s space to hold the collection and a small gift shop.
Projectors will show documentaries about automobiles. There will be three rotating turntables large enough to hold a vehicle and giant artwork and photographs will decorate the 28-foot walls.
A gas station and drive-in theater are being replicated.
In addition, the mueseum plans to open a concession stand where visitors may buy snacks and refreshments while oldies music plays.
KEARNEY — Cars have been on their way to Kearney for the past two weeks, and the Classic Car Museum now has 86 of its 131 vehicles.
The museum should open in late November, according to Director J.L. Schmidt.
The collection, valued at $3.5 million, has been arriving in special trucks. Each vehicle is chronicled with digital photography that will eventually be posted on iPads for tourists. Each photo will be published in a coffee table book.
The collection will be on display on the east side of Cabela’s at 3600 E. Highway 30.
The renovations to the museum building are almost complete, Schmidt said. The building was a Rockwell Manufacturing plant before Cabela’s came to Kearney.
The collection belonged to construction and real estate businessman Bernie Taulborg and his wife, Janice, of Elkhorn. The Taulborgs have have 157 cars and have been collecting them since 1970.
The Taulborgs donated the collection through the Kearney Area Community Foundation. In a ceremony May 11, the Taulborgs presented the collection to the foundation.
The Kearney Visitors Bureau paid to remodel 50,000 square feet of Cabela’s space to hold the collection and a small gift shop.
Projectors will show documentaries about automobiles. There will be three rotating turntables large enough to hold a vehicle and giant artwork and photographs will decorate the 28-foot walls.
A gas station and drive-in theater are being replicated.
In addition, the mueseum plans to open a concession stand where visitors may buy snacks and refreshments while oldies music plays.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Classic Car Clubs: Texas
The website Old Cars Weekly News (http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/clubdirectory) has a club directory.
Here's what they've got for Texas.
Alamo City Historical Car Club, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
American Motors Owners Association — Alamo AMC, 30115 Hwy. 281 N. #126, Bulverde, TX 78163. Andre Jacobs, 830-980-3165.
American Motors Owners Association — North Texas AMC, 3802 Old Faithful Court, Irving, TX 75062. Craig Caudle, 972-252-6876.
American Motors Club of Houston, 1902 Wycliffe, Houston, TX 77043. Eddie Stakes, 713-464-8825.
American Pontiac Association of Houston, 360 Dickinson Road, Alvin, TX 77511. Vince Welling, 281-331-0304.
ATHS — Hi-Plains Chapter, 5115 Pico Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79110. John Plank, 806-355-4394.
ATHS — Yellow Rose Chapter, 741 W. Zipp Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130-9048. Lloyd Holden, 830-608-1114.
AACA — Gulf Coast Region, 9007 Langdon Lane, Houston, TX 77036. Ferrell Moore, 713-771-4062.
AACA — Texas Region, Box 149, Decatur, TX 76234. Roy Eaton, 940-627-5987.
Brazoria County Car Club, 135 Dewberry, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. Walter Watts, 409-297-7464.
Buick Club of America — Alamo, 14314 Brangus St., San Antonio, TX 78247. Ed Brandt, 210-657-4872.
Buick Club of America — Lone Star, 5106 Smokeley River Drive, Katy, TX 77449. Bill Stoneberg, 281-859-6637, bstoneberg@ev1.net.
Buick Club of America — North Texas, 322 Canyon Ridge Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Dale Sherman, 972-644-1039.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Alamo Region, 3372 Rio Cordillera, Boerne, TX 78006. Lance Hirsch, lhirsch@attglobal.net.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Gulf Coast Region, 15302 Hillside Pkwy., Cypress, TX 77433, www.gcrcadillaclasalleclub.com. Kent Rowald, 281-373-9332, krowald@patentlawyers.com.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — North Texas Region. Johnnie Bills, 972-878-0438.
Chrysler Club — North Texas Region, 2905 Natches Drive, Arlington, TX 76014-2410. Ken Angyal, 817-465-4344.
Chrylser Product Restorers Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.
Chrysler Product Restorers Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.
CCCA — Lone Star Region, 314 Beverly Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228. Jay McClure III, 210-735-8450.
CCCA — North Texas Region, 13109 Halwin Circle, Dallas, TX 75243. Bill Mott, 972-644-5425.
Classic Chevy International — Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 6803 Cloverbend, San Antonio, TX 78238-1312. Sue Watson, 210-684-5399.
Classic Thunderbird Club International — Classic Thunderbirds of Houston, Box 1478, Bellaire, TX 77402. Hugh Jackson, 713-613-4383.
CORSA — Alamo City Corvair Association, Box 2125, Seguin, TX 78155.
CORSA — Corvair Houston, 20755 Vanderwick Drive, Katy, TX 77450.
CORSA — Desert Corvair Club, Box 220108, El Paso, TX 79913-2108.
CORSA — Lone Star Corvair Club, 456 Paint Creek Road, McDade, TX 78650.
CORSA — North Texas Corvair Association, 2701 W. 15th St., Box 153, Plano, TX 75075.
Cougar Club of America — Lone Star Cougar Club, 4205 Trailridge Drive, Frisco, TX 75035. Logan McLeod, Iscc@mercurycougars.com.
Cruisers of Conroe, 1088 Blake Road, Conroe, TX 77304. Roy Liles, 409-756-5139.
Falcon Club of America — Alamo Chapter, 112 Armour Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Rolf Kargl, 210-732-5843.
Falcon Club of America — Capital City Chapter, 9009 North Plaza #124, Austin, TX 78753. Dennis Lebo, 512-832-0544.
Falcon Club of America — Heart of Texas Chapter, 420 Old Hwy. 1187, Burleson, TX 76028. Danny Rosewell, 817-551-5773.
Falcon Club of America — Lone Star Chapter, 112 Denman, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455. Mickey Rosewell, 903-572-9593.
Falcon Club of America — Northeast Texas Chapter, Route 2, Box 149-B, Gladewater, TX 75647-9408. David Gunnels, 903-759-6850.
Falcon Club of America — Space City Chapter, 247 Blackwater Lane, Houston, TX 77015. Dan Naramore, 713-455-7100.
(’55-’57) Houston Classic Chevy Club, Box 2848, Sugarland, TX 77487. Andy McCloskey, 281-565-2675, bstone55@aol.com.
(’55-’57) Central Texas Classic Chevy Club, 2200 Trede Drive, Austin, TX 78745, www.geocities.com/centraltexaschevyclub. Dan Bowen, 512-441-5656, bowen96@aol.com.
(’55-’57) Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 11496 Old Corpus Christi Road, San Antonio, TX 78223. Bryan Stensrud, 210-633-0531.
(’55-’57) Heart of Texas Classic Chevy Club, Box 1392, Waco, TX 76703. Sammy McMahan, 254-754-8122, theos.ab@netzero.net.
(’55-’57) Corpus Christi Classic Chevy Club, 7101 Brezina Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78413. Pam Sutherland, 361-853-0582, patty@cctransfer.com.
(’58-’72) Late Great Chevy of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75083. John Thomas, 972-843-2126, chevellejohn@bigfoot.com.
(’55-’72) Houston Area Chevrolet Club, Box 800222, Houston, TX 77280. Jimmy Simpson, 713-464-5984.
GTO Association of America — Gulf Coast GTOs, 7511 Antoine, Houston, TX 77088. Ted Wisnoski, 281-999-2052.
Gull Wing Group International — South Western, 3303 Wendy Lane, Dallas, TX 75214. Will Samples, 214-826-5977.
Heartland Vintage Thunderbird Club — Lone Star Club, 324 Crestview, San Antonio, TX 78201. Bill Olsen, 210-735-3563.
The High Plains Cruisers, 521 W. 18th St., Pampa, TX 79065. Denver Bruner, 806-665-8844, bruner@cableone.com.
Hill Country Auto Club, Box 293002, Kerrville, TX 78029. David Staggs, 830-238-3746, cmmdrzap@aol.com.
HCCA — El Paso, 10104 Monaco, El Paso, TX 79925-6225. Hershel Honea, 915-598-4476.
HCCA — Heart O’ Texas, 715 W. Karnes, Waco, TX 76706. Bill Taylor, 817-662-1528.
HCCA — North Texas, 7735 C.R. 302, Terrall, TX 75160-7843. Dale Roberts, 972-686-8074.
Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — North Texas, 5603 Hudson St., Dallas, TX 75206. Mike Harrel, 214-821-4526.
Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — South Texas Chapter, 6401 Rusty Ridge Drive, Austin, TX 78731-3927. Steve Brookins, 512-323-6212.
International Thunderbird Club — Thunderbirds of Central Texas, 439 Brookwood Drive, Woodway, TX 76712-3210. Luke Ober, 254-772-2908.
Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club International — Kaiser-Frazer Connection, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.
Lambda Car Club International — Dallas Region, P.O. Box 225463, Dallas, TX 75222.
Lambda Car Club International — San Antonio Region, P.O. Box 792371, San Antonio, TX 78279.
Late Great Chevys of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75218. John Thomas, 972-843-2126.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 1180 Kings Point Drive, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Hank Henley, 830-935-2794.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — North Texas Region, 9625 Viewside Drive, Dallas, TX 75231. John McNabb, 214-503-1601.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Rio Grande Valley Region, 1300 W. Jay St. #5, McAllen, TX 78504. Richard Mackintosh, 956-687-4431.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Texas Gulf Coast Region, 15710 Clearcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77059. Thom Liston, 281-277-9595.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Alamo, 1251 Abbotsbury, Universal City, TX 78148-3501. Chuck Luther, 210-658-8665.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Fort Worth, 2609 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Gerry Goodman, 817-820-0360.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Houston, 3522 Alhlock Drive, Houston, TX 77082. David Cole, 713-294-0689.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Lone Star, 10507 Ronwood Drive, Austin, TX 78750-3328. 512-331-9747.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — North Texas, 305 N. Waterford Oaks Drive, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. Kurt Schindler, 972-293-7120.
Model A Ford Club of America — Texoma Model A Ford Club, Box 1055, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. C. Edwards, 940-322-7312.
MARC — Almo A’s, Box 700156, San Antonio, TX 78270-0156.
MARC — Capitol City A’s, Longwood, Austin, TX 78734. Ron Harris.
MARC — Dallas Region, Box 1028, Addison, TX 75001-1028. Don Park.
MARC — Fort Worth Region, 4401 Starlight, Fort Worth, TX 76117. Randy Mayfield.
MARC — Greater Houston Region, 11318 Brandy Lane, Houston, TX 77044. Bill Coleman.
MARC — Piney Wood Region, 1718 E. Strack, Spring, TX 77379-8877. Bob Hitchcock.
MARC — Victoria Region, Box 441, Victoria, TX 77902. Richard Tumlins.
Model T Ford Club International — Cowtown T’s, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116-7611. R.W. Grunewald, 817-244-2340, rggrunewald@juno.com.
Model T Ford Club International — Texas Hill Country, 2505 Lower Turtle Creek Road, Kerville, TX 78028. Julius Neunhoffer.
Model T Ford Club International — Texas Tin Lizzies, Box 669, Dickinson, TX 77539. Ralph Reeder.
Model T Ford Club International — T Fords of Texas, 606 River Springs Drive, Seguin, TX 78155. James Deatherage.
Model T Ford Club of America — Brazos Valley Ts, 1820 Gray Stone Drive, Bryan, TX 77807.
Model T Ford Club of America — Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies, Box 70, Manchaca, TX 78652.
Model T Ford Club of America — Cowtown Model T Ford Club, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116. R. Grunewald, 817-244-2340,
rggrunewald@juno.com.
Model T Ford Club of America — Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, 1214 Bow Creek Drive, Duncancille, TX 75116. Gary Page.
Model T Ford Club of America — Paso Del Norte Model T Ford Club, 10104 Maonaco Drive, El Paso, TX 79925.
Model T Ford Club of America — Space City T’s Chapter, 6430 Neff St., Houston, TX 77074. Dan McDonald.
Model T Ford Club of America — Texas Model T Speedster Club, 6471 Stichte, Dallas, TX 75230. Royce Peterson.
National Chevy/GMC Truck Club — Just Old Trucks, 5209 Fort Mason Drive, Austin, TX 78745-2314. Terry Stepan, 512-447-1446.
National Corvette Restorers Society — Texas Chapter, 4700 W. Wedgefield Road, Granbury, TX 76049. Gary Chesnut, 817-925-6176.
National Firebird & T/A Club — T/A Club of Houston. Frank Johengen, 713-773-4370.
Nifty Fifties Car Club of West Texas, Box 16711, Lubbock, TX 79490. Jim Ronzo, 806-783-9133.
Oldsmobile Club of America — North Texas, Box 38524, Dallas, TX 75238.
Oldsmobile Club of America — South Texas, 9826 Balanced Rock, Converse, TX 78109.
Oldsmobile Club of America — Texas Gulf Coast, 21034 Settlers Valley Drive, Katy, TX 77449-4211. Kathy Wood, 281-463-1588.
Orphan Car Club of Houston, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.
The Packard Club — Arklatex Packards, 7437 E. Hwy. 21, Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Wendell Spreadbury, 936-564-0620.
The Packard Club — Heart of Texas Packards, 735 Ware St., San Antonio, TX 78221. James George, 210-922-1300, bclark@stic.net.
The Packard Club — Lone Star Packards, 16014 Mill Point Drive, Houston, TX 77493-1777. Dale Musgrove, 281-344-9653, email: supina@hal-pc.org. Web site: www.lonestarpackards.com
The Packard Club – North Texas. David Flack, Directorolecarz@clear.net.nz
Plymouth Owners Club — High Plains Region, 1305 Lapaloma St., Amarillo, TX 79106. Roland Keenan, 806-463-2172, irkeenan@nts-online.net.
Plymouth Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 19506 Oak Briar Drive, Humble, TX 77346. Thomas Heidorf.
Porsche 356 Registry — Lone Star 356 Club, 4915 S. Main, Suite 114, Stafford, TX 74477. Mark Roth, 281-277-9595.
Porsche 356 Registry — Tub Club, 397 Creedwood Drive, Lancaster, TX. Bob Morris, 972-227-8357.
Riviera Owners Association– North Texas Region, 2902 Echo Ct., Carrollton, TX 75007, Jayson Pruitt 972-242-7761.
San Antionio Antique — Classic Car Association, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — East Texas Chapter, 8224 Baylor Drive, Tyler, TX 75703-5100.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — North Texas Chapter, 2600 Chalk Hill Road, Dallas, TX 75212-4506.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, Box 697, Bellaire, TX 77402-0697.
Special Interest Fords of the ’50s Club, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. Sally Wisdom, 214-321-4895.
Texas Fords — Alamo Chapter, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
Texas Vehicle Club Council, 604 Evans Dr., Euless, TX 76040. Troy Mennis, 817-283-6942.
VMCCA — Bexar Touring Club, 6631 Grist Mill, San Antonio, TX 78238. George Dickerson, 210-681-1439.
VMCCA — Cowtown Touring Club, Box 100397, Fort Worth, TX 76185. Mike Jones, 817-738-4699.
VMCCA — Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club, 662 Country Creek Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Harold Coates, 830-990-1200.
VMCCA — Key to the Hills Chapter, 25615 Dull Knife Terrace, San Antonio, TX 78255. James George, 210-755-4633.
VMCCA — Permian Basin Oil Burners, Box 12125, Odessa, TX 79768. T.J. Smith, 915-381-2266.
VCCA — Bluebonnet Region, 768 Carls Drive, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Maurice Ward.
VCCA — Lone Star Region, LoneStarChevyClub.org; Elmer Anderson 817-457-6225
VCCA — San Jacinto Region, 1109 Chelsea Lane, Pearland, TX 77581. Marcia Kaska, 281-992-1745.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Capitol City Thunderbird Club, 17805 N. Rim Drive, Leander, TX 78641. Gary Smith, 512-267-7307.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — North Texas Vintage Thunderbird Club, 606 Cliffside Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Charlotte Schubert, 972-231-0090.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — South Texas Thunderbird Club, 12918 Hunters Moon, San Antonio, TX 78249. Kevin Bois, 210-690-3580.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Vintage Thunderbirds of Houston, 615 E. 10-1/2 St., Houston, TX 77008. Bill Pastor, 713-862-3556.
Vintage Triumph Register — Hill Country Triumph Club, 8006 Bernard St., Volente, TX 78641. Bob Kramer.
Vintage Triumph Register — Red River Triumph Club, 2915 Lakeside Circle, Grapevine, TX 76051. Duncan Wood.
Vintage Triumph Register — South Texas Triumph Association, 5306 La Cieniga, San Antonio, TX 78233. Katie Hulka, 210-650-4660.
Vintage Triumph Register — Texas Triumph Register, Box 40847, Houston, TX 77240-0847. Mike Hado, 713-937-9042.
Willys-Overland-Knight Registry, — Southwest Chapter, 1425 Florence Drive, Azle, TX 76020. Vicky Gray, 817-237-9950.
Walter P. Chrysler Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.
Walter P. Chrysler Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.
Here's what they've got for Texas.
Alamo City Historical Car Club, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
American Motors Owners Association — Alamo AMC, 30115 Hwy. 281 N. #126, Bulverde, TX 78163. Andre Jacobs, 830-980-3165.
American Motors Owners Association — North Texas AMC, 3802 Old Faithful Court, Irving, TX 75062. Craig Caudle, 972-252-6876.
American Motors Club of Houston, 1902 Wycliffe, Houston, TX 77043. Eddie Stakes, 713-464-8825.
American Pontiac Association of Houston, 360 Dickinson Road, Alvin, TX 77511. Vince Welling, 281-331-0304.
ATHS — Hi-Plains Chapter, 5115 Pico Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79110. John Plank, 806-355-4394.
ATHS — Yellow Rose Chapter, 741 W. Zipp Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130-9048. Lloyd Holden, 830-608-1114.
AACA — Gulf Coast Region, 9007 Langdon Lane, Houston, TX 77036. Ferrell Moore, 713-771-4062.
AACA — Texas Region, Box 149, Decatur, TX 76234. Roy Eaton, 940-627-5987.
Brazoria County Car Club, 135 Dewberry, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. Walter Watts, 409-297-7464.
Buick Club of America — Alamo, 14314 Brangus St., San Antonio, TX 78247. Ed Brandt, 210-657-4872.
Buick Club of America — Lone Star, 5106 Smokeley River Drive, Katy, TX 77449. Bill Stoneberg, 281-859-6637, bstoneberg@ev1.net.
Buick Club of America — North Texas, 322 Canyon Ridge Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Dale Sherman, 972-644-1039.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Alamo Region, 3372 Rio Cordillera, Boerne, TX 78006. Lance Hirsch, lhirsch@attglobal.net.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Gulf Coast Region, 15302 Hillside Pkwy., Cypress, TX 77433, www.gcrcadillaclasalleclub.com. Kent Rowald, 281-373-9332, krowald@patentlawyers.com.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club — North Texas Region. Johnnie Bills, 972-878-0438.
Chrysler Club — North Texas Region, 2905 Natches Drive, Arlington, TX 76014-2410. Ken Angyal, 817-465-4344.
Chrylser Product Restorers Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.
Chrysler Product Restorers Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.
CCCA — Lone Star Region, 314 Beverly Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228. Jay McClure III, 210-735-8450.
CCCA — North Texas Region, 13109 Halwin Circle, Dallas, TX 75243. Bill Mott, 972-644-5425.
Classic Chevy International — Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 6803 Cloverbend, San Antonio, TX 78238-1312. Sue Watson, 210-684-5399.
Classic Thunderbird Club International — Classic Thunderbirds of Houston, Box 1478, Bellaire, TX 77402. Hugh Jackson, 713-613-4383.
CORSA — Alamo City Corvair Association, Box 2125, Seguin, TX 78155.
CORSA — Corvair Houston, 20755 Vanderwick Drive, Katy, TX 77450.
CORSA — Desert Corvair Club, Box 220108, El Paso, TX 79913-2108.
CORSA — Lone Star Corvair Club, 456 Paint Creek Road, McDade, TX 78650.
CORSA — North Texas Corvair Association, 2701 W. 15th St., Box 153, Plano, TX 75075.
Cougar Club of America — Lone Star Cougar Club, 4205 Trailridge Drive, Frisco, TX 75035. Logan McLeod, Iscc@mercurycougars.com.
Cruisers of Conroe, 1088 Blake Road, Conroe, TX 77304. Roy Liles, 409-756-5139.
Falcon Club of America — Alamo Chapter, 112 Armour Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Rolf Kargl, 210-732-5843.
Falcon Club of America — Capital City Chapter, 9009 North Plaza #124, Austin, TX 78753. Dennis Lebo, 512-832-0544.
Falcon Club of America — Heart of Texas Chapter, 420 Old Hwy. 1187, Burleson, TX 76028. Danny Rosewell, 817-551-5773.
Falcon Club of America — Lone Star Chapter, 112 Denman, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455. Mickey Rosewell, 903-572-9593.
Falcon Club of America — Northeast Texas Chapter, Route 2, Box 149-B, Gladewater, TX 75647-9408. David Gunnels, 903-759-6850.
Falcon Club of America — Space City Chapter, 247 Blackwater Lane, Houston, TX 77015. Dan Naramore, 713-455-7100.
(’55-’57) Houston Classic Chevy Club, Box 2848, Sugarland, TX 77487. Andy McCloskey, 281-565-2675, bstone55@aol.com.
(’55-’57) Central Texas Classic Chevy Club, 2200 Trede Drive, Austin, TX 78745, www.geocities.com/centraltexaschevyclub. Dan Bowen, 512-441-5656, bowen96@aol.com.
(’55-’57) Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 11496 Old Corpus Christi Road, San Antonio, TX 78223. Bryan Stensrud, 210-633-0531.
(’55-’57) Heart of Texas Classic Chevy Club, Box 1392, Waco, TX 76703. Sammy McMahan, 254-754-8122, theos.ab@netzero.net.
(’55-’57) Corpus Christi Classic Chevy Club, 7101 Brezina Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78413. Pam Sutherland, 361-853-0582, patty@cctransfer.com.
(’58-’72) Late Great Chevy of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75083. John Thomas, 972-843-2126, chevellejohn@bigfoot.com.
(’55-’72) Houston Area Chevrolet Club, Box 800222, Houston, TX 77280. Jimmy Simpson, 713-464-5984.
GTO Association of America — Gulf Coast GTOs, 7511 Antoine, Houston, TX 77088. Ted Wisnoski, 281-999-2052.
Gull Wing Group International — South Western, 3303 Wendy Lane, Dallas, TX 75214. Will Samples, 214-826-5977.
Heartland Vintage Thunderbird Club — Lone Star Club, 324 Crestview, San Antonio, TX 78201. Bill Olsen, 210-735-3563.
The High Plains Cruisers, 521 W. 18th St., Pampa, TX 79065. Denver Bruner, 806-665-8844, bruner@cableone.com.
Hill Country Auto Club, Box 293002, Kerrville, TX 78029. David Staggs, 830-238-3746, cmmdrzap@aol.com.
HCCA — El Paso, 10104 Monaco, El Paso, TX 79925-6225. Hershel Honea, 915-598-4476.
HCCA — Heart O’ Texas, 715 W. Karnes, Waco, TX 76706. Bill Taylor, 817-662-1528.
HCCA — North Texas, 7735 C.R. 302, Terrall, TX 75160-7843. Dale Roberts, 972-686-8074.
Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — North Texas, 5603 Hudson St., Dallas, TX 75206. Mike Harrel, 214-821-4526.
Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — South Texas Chapter, 6401 Rusty Ridge Drive, Austin, TX 78731-3927. Steve Brookins, 512-323-6212.
International Thunderbird Club — Thunderbirds of Central Texas, 439 Brookwood Drive, Woodway, TX 76712-3210. Luke Ober, 254-772-2908.
Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club International — Kaiser-Frazer Connection, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.
Lambda Car Club International — Dallas Region, P.O. Box 225463, Dallas, TX 75222.
Lambda Car Club International — San Antonio Region, P.O. Box 792371, San Antonio, TX 78279.
Late Great Chevys of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75218. John Thomas, 972-843-2126.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 1180 Kings Point Drive, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Hank Henley, 830-935-2794.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — North Texas Region, 9625 Viewside Drive, Dallas, TX 75231. John McNabb, 214-503-1601.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Rio Grande Valley Region, 1300 W. Jay St. #5, McAllen, TX 78504. Richard Mackintosh, 956-687-4431.
Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Texas Gulf Coast Region, 15710 Clearcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77059. Thom Liston, 281-277-9595.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Alamo, 1251 Abbotsbury, Universal City, TX 78148-3501. Chuck Luther, 210-658-8665.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Fort Worth, 2609 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Gerry Goodman, 817-820-0360.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Houston, 3522 Alhlock Drive, Houston, TX 77082. David Cole, 713-294-0689.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Lone Star, 10507 Ronwood Drive, Austin, TX 78750-3328. 512-331-9747.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America — North Texas, 305 N. Waterford Oaks Drive, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. Kurt Schindler, 972-293-7120.
Model A Ford Club of America — Texoma Model A Ford Club, Box 1055, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. C. Edwards, 940-322-7312.
MARC — Almo A’s, Box 700156, San Antonio, TX 78270-0156.
MARC — Capitol City A’s, Longwood, Austin, TX 78734. Ron Harris.
MARC — Dallas Region, Box 1028, Addison, TX 75001-1028. Don Park.
MARC — Fort Worth Region, 4401 Starlight, Fort Worth, TX 76117. Randy Mayfield.
MARC — Greater Houston Region, 11318 Brandy Lane, Houston, TX 77044. Bill Coleman.
MARC — Piney Wood Region, 1718 E. Strack, Spring, TX 77379-8877. Bob Hitchcock.
MARC — Victoria Region, Box 441, Victoria, TX 77902. Richard Tumlins.
Model T Ford Club International — Cowtown T’s, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116-7611. R.W. Grunewald, 817-244-2340, rggrunewald@juno.com.
Model T Ford Club International — Texas Hill Country, 2505 Lower Turtle Creek Road, Kerville, TX 78028. Julius Neunhoffer.
Model T Ford Club International — Texas Tin Lizzies, Box 669, Dickinson, TX 77539. Ralph Reeder.
Model T Ford Club International — T Fords of Texas, 606 River Springs Drive, Seguin, TX 78155. James Deatherage.
Model T Ford Club of America — Brazos Valley Ts, 1820 Gray Stone Drive, Bryan, TX 77807.
Model T Ford Club of America — Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies, Box 70, Manchaca, TX 78652.
Model T Ford Club of America — Cowtown Model T Ford Club, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116. R. Grunewald, 817-244-2340,
rggrunewald@juno.com.
Model T Ford Club of America — Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, 1214 Bow Creek Drive, Duncancille, TX 75116. Gary Page.
Model T Ford Club of America — Paso Del Norte Model T Ford Club, 10104 Maonaco Drive, El Paso, TX 79925.
Model T Ford Club of America — Space City T’s Chapter, 6430 Neff St., Houston, TX 77074. Dan McDonald.
Model T Ford Club of America — Texas Model T Speedster Club, 6471 Stichte, Dallas, TX 75230. Royce Peterson.
National Chevy/GMC Truck Club — Just Old Trucks, 5209 Fort Mason Drive, Austin, TX 78745-2314. Terry Stepan, 512-447-1446.
National Corvette Restorers Society — Texas Chapter, 4700 W. Wedgefield Road, Granbury, TX 76049. Gary Chesnut, 817-925-6176.
National Firebird & T/A Club — T/A Club of Houston. Frank Johengen, 713-773-4370.
Nifty Fifties Car Club of West Texas, Box 16711, Lubbock, TX 79490. Jim Ronzo, 806-783-9133.
Oldsmobile Club of America — North Texas, Box 38524, Dallas, TX 75238.
Oldsmobile Club of America — South Texas, 9826 Balanced Rock, Converse, TX 78109.
Oldsmobile Club of America — Texas Gulf Coast, 21034 Settlers Valley Drive, Katy, TX 77449-4211. Kathy Wood, 281-463-1588.
Orphan Car Club of Houston, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.
The Packard Club — Arklatex Packards, 7437 E. Hwy. 21, Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Wendell Spreadbury, 936-564-0620.
The Packard Club — Heart of Texas Packards, 735 Ware St., San Antonio, TX 78221. James George, 210-922-1300, bclark@stic.net.
The Packard Club — Lone Star Packards, 16014 Mill Point Drive, Houston, TX 77493-1777. Dale Musgrove, 281-344-9653, email: supina@hal-pc.org. Web site: www.lonestarpackards.com
The Packard Club – North Texas. David Flack, Directorolecarz@clear.net.nz
Plymouth Owners Club — High Plains Region, 1305 Lapaloma St., Amarillo, TX 79106. Roland Keenan, 806-463-2172, irkeenan@nts-online.net.
Plymouth Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 19506 Oak Briar Drive, Humble, TX 77346. Thomas Heidorf.
Porsche 356 Registry — Lone Star 356 Club, 4915 S. Main, Suite 114, Stafford, TX 74477. Mark Roth, 281-277-9595.
Porsche 356 Registry — Tub Club, 397 Creedwood Drive, Lancaster, TX. Bob Morris, 972-227-8357.
Riviera Owners Association– North Texas Region, 2902 Echo Ct., Carrollton, TX 75007, Jayson Pruitt 972-242-7761.
San Antionio Antique — Classic Car Association, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — East Texas Chapter, 8224 Baylor Drive, Tyler, TX 75703-5100.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — North Texas Chapter, 2600 Chalk Hill Road, Dallas, TX 75212-4506.
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, Box 697, Bellaire, TX 77402-0697.
Special Interest Fords of the ’50s Club, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. Sally Wisdom, 214-321-4895.
Texas Fords — Alamo Chapter, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.
Texas Vehicle Club Council, 604 Evans Dr., Euless, TX 76040. Troy Mennis, 817-283-6942.
VMCCA — Bexar Touring Club, 6631 Grist Mill, San Antonio, TX 78238. George Dickerson, 210-681-1439.
VMCCA — Cowtown Touring Club, Box 100397, Fort Worth, TX 76185. Mike Jones, 817-738-4699.
VMCCA — Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club, 662 Country Creek Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Harold Coates, 830-990-1200.
VMCCA — Key to the Hills Chapter, 25615 Dull Knife Terrace, San Antonio, TX 78255. James George, 210-755-4633.
VMCCA — Permian Basin Oil Burners, Box 12125, Odessa, TX 79768. T.J. Smith, 915-381-2266.
VCCA — Bluebonnet Region, 768 Carls Drive, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Maurice Ward.
VCCA — Lone Star Region, LoneStarChevyClub.org; Elmer Anderson 817-457-6225
VCCA — San Jacinto Region, 1109 Chelsea Lane, Pearland, TX 77581. Marcia Kaska, 281-992-1745.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Capitol City Thunderbird Club, 17805 N. Rim Drive, Leander, TX 78641. Gary Smith, 512-267-7307.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — North Texas Vintage Thunderbird Club, 606 Cliffside Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Charlotte Schubert, 972-231-0090.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — South Texas Thunderbird Club, 12918 Hunters Moon, San Antonio, TX 78249. Kevin Bois, 210-690-3580.
Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Vintage Thunderbirds of Houston, 615 E. 10-1/2 St., Houston, TX 77008. Bill Pastor, 713-862-3556.
Vintage Triumph Register — Hill Country Triumph Club, 8006 Bernard St., Volente, TX 78641. Bob Kramer.
Vintage Triumph Register — Red River Triumph Club, 2915 Lakeside Circle, Grapevine, TX 76051. Duncan Wood.
Vintage Triumph Register — South Texas Triumph Association, 5306 La Cieniga, San Antonio, TX 78233. Katie Hulka, 210-650-4660.
Vintage Triumph Register — Texas Triumph Register, Box 40847, Houston, TX 77240-0847. Mike Hado, 713-937-9042.
Willys-Overland-Knight Registry, — Southwest Chapter, 1425 Florence Drive, Azle, TX 76020. Vicky Gray, 817-237-9950.
Walter P. Chrysler Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.
Walter P. Chrysler Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.
Classic cars cruise Abilene
An event from Oct 22. It's on my calendar and will be reported early enough next year for people to attend if they so desire!
From Report News: Classic cars cruise Abilene
There may have been hundreds of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles entered in the 29th annual Cruise Night on Saturday, but behind almost each one of them was a similar tale, said Lynn Maxwell.
"There's one of three stories," said Maxwell, a retired teacher and coach who had a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport. "You either had one as a kid, you always wanted one, or a friend had one."
In this case, Maxwell drove a '66 Chevelle that he kept until 1973 when the needs of a young family trumped owning a coupe that could go really fast.
The one he had at Cruise Night was similar to the one of his youth, except for the color. This one was fire engine red; his first Chevelle was yellow.
"You can't find the yellow ones," said Maxwell, who retired to Abilene in 2004 after a 33-year teaching career in West Texas. "I should have kept it."
The cars have the same 375-horsepower engine, which isn't great on fuel economy but performs impressively. They have the same four-speed transmission. And like his first one, this car has no air conditioning, an omission that keeps Maxwell from driving the car on trips longer than across town.
Funny, the lack of an air conditioner didn't bother him before.
"I was 18 then," Maxwell said.
Maxwell bought the car a couple of years ago from a doctor in Lewisville. He's done little to it other than change the wheels and hubcaps and make a few minor cosmetic changes in the interior.
"I figured he must have been going through a lawsuit or a divorce," Maxwell said of the previous owner.
Regardless, Maxwell was happy to buy a car that needed little restoration. He once restored a 1972 Ford pickup that belonged to his family, and that turned into more work than he wanted.
Although he's not particularly looking to sell, Maxwell said he would be willing to part with it and would like to get a convertible. If that's the case, he might was to talk to Bob Rose, who had a pretty nifty little 1952 MG-TD. However, considering how long it took him to get it, Rose might not ever want to part with it.
"I had wanted one since I was a junior in high school," Rose said. "It took me 60 years to get one."
The drivers cruised North First from the old Kmart shopping center to Shelton for a couple of hours before returning. Twenty cars were selected from the cruise to be displayed in the new Kmart parking lot on South First Street. The Kirk House Band performed at 8 p.m.
Car owners don't need much of an excuse to show their cars, Maxwell said, and it surely isn't because it's financially rewarding.
"Somebody asked me if you could make money doing this," he said. "I told them you have a $35,000 show car that you put in a $10,000 and pull with a $40,000 truck all over the country on $4 a gallon gas to try to win a $10 plaque. But, it's a lot of fun."
From Report News: Classic cars cruise Abilene
There may have been hundreds of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles entered in the 29th annual Cruise Night on Saturday, but behind almost each one of them was a similar tale, said Lynn Maxwell.
"There's one of three stories," said Maxwell, a retired teacher and coach who had a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport. "You either had one as a kid, you always wanted one, or a friend had one."
In this case, Maxwell drove a '66 Chevelle that he kept until 1973 when the needs of a young family trumped owning a coupe that could go really fast.
The one he had at Cruise Night was similar to the one of his youth, except for the color. This one was fire engine red; his first Chevelle was yellow.
"You can't find the yellow ones," said Maxwell, who retired to Abilene in 2004 after a 33-year teaching career in West Texas. "I should have kept it."
The cars have the same 375-horsepower engine, which isn't great on fuel economy but performs impressively. They have the same four-speed transmission. And like his first one, this car has no air conditioning, an omission that keeps Maxwell from driving the car on trips longer than across town.
Funny, the lack of an air conditioner didn't bother him before.
"I was 18 then," Maxwell said.
Maxwell bought the car a couple of years ago from a doctor in Lewisville. He's done little to it other than change the wheels and hubcaps and make a few minor cosmetic changes in the interior.
"I figured he must have been going through a lawsuit or a divorce," Maxwell said of the previous owner.
Regardless, Maxwell was happy to buy a car that needed little restoration. He once restored a 1972 Ford pickup that belonged to his family, and that turned into more work than he wanted.
Although he's not particularly looking to sell, Maxwell said he would be willing to part with it and would like to get a convertible. If that's the case, he might was to talk to Bob Rose, who had a pretty nifty little 1952 MG-TD. However, considering how long it took him to get it, Rose might not ever want to part with it.
"I had wanted one since I was a junior in high school," Rose said. "It took me 60 years to get one."
The drivers cruised North First from the old Kmart shopping center to Shelton for a couple of hours before returning. Twenty cars were selected from the cruise to be displayed in the new Kmart parking lot on South First Street. The Kirk House Band performed at 8 p.m.
Car owners don't need much of an excuse to show their cars, Maxwell said, and it surely isn't because it's financially rewarding.
"Somebody asked me if you could make money doing this," he said. "I told them you have a $35,000 show car that you put in a $10,000 and pull with a $40,000 truck all over the country on $4 a gallon gas to try to win a $10 plaque. But, it's a lot of fun."
Monday, November 7, 2011
Classic cars: Porsche 356
From Wheels: Classic cars: Porsche 356
With a history steeped in motorsport, the 911 range has become a modern-day icon. But the humble 356 was where it all started
In 1948 a German engineer by the name of Ferdinand Porsche launched the 356. Known to his friends as “Ferry”, the son of Dr Ing Ferdinand Porsche (the founder of the famous marque) was keen to create a sporty model for the fledgling company.
Using Volkswagen’s popular Beetle chassis, Ferry replaced the body with a smoother, racy exterior, designed by Erwin Komenda. The engine and suspension were also derived from the Beetle, pushing out just 40bhp.
Unbeknown to Ferry, the 356 would go on to be one of the most recognisable classic sportscars in history and would eventually give birth to the iconic 911 range.
Despite its glittering history, the car’s launch went by almost unnoticed and only a few models were sold, mainly in Germany and Austria. Just 50 examples would leave the factory over the first two years. But the 356’s popularity then started to gain momentum, selling on both sides of the Atlantic, due to its sporty handling and typically German build quality.
Article continues below
The 356 was also successful on the track, gaining glory at Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and the infamous Carrera Panamericana. Porsche would later celebrate that race by adopting the Carrera name on its 911s.
Over the years, the tiny four-cylinder engine would grow from 1.1 litres and 40bhp to a 130bhp 2.0-litre motor. However, the original flat-four layout would remain throughout its life.
Unlike many other manufacturers, Porsche built a cabrio version from day one, running alongside coupé production. Soft-top sales often accounted for 50 per cent of sales, especially in the US.
The company produced a few special versions of the 356, including the 356 Carrera, which boasted a special race-tuned engine. The company also built a Super 90 and a Speedster model, which are now extremely rare and much sought after by enthusiasts. The Speedster was built following a suggestion by the US importer that a stripped-out version with a cut-down windscreen would sell well on the west coast.
Such was the popularity of the 356 that it ran alongside its 911 replacement for more than a year. By the time production ended in 1965 more than 76,000 had rolled out of the factory. It is thought that around half of these cars still exist today, with fully restored cars fetching up to an incredible $100,000 (Dh367,000) at auction. Not bad for a car that cost $4,000 when new.
Despite having a tiny engine and a simple layout, the 356 directly brought about one of the world’s most loved sportscars. So the next time you see a 911 GT3 winning its class at Le Mans, just remember it all started with the humble 356.
A history of the automobile drives around
From Taunton Gazette: A history of the automobile drives around Taunton
Taunton — Antique car enthusiasts hailing from as far as New Jersey and Maine converged on Saturday for a 60-mile tour around the Taunton area.
There were 17 vehicles as part of Saturday’s convoy, in what has been dubbed the “frostbite tour” for the Autoneers, a regional faction of the Horseless Carriage Club, which boasts 4,500 members worldwide.
The annual frostbite tour is the final ride of the season for the Autoneers, which is composed of only riders of brass era automobiles from 1915 and earlier. The tour started at the Holiday Inn in Taunton, then to the Old Colony Historical Society, and then through the country roads of Dighton, Rehoboth and Seekonk before returning to the Silver City.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sri Lanka: Stamps depict vintage classics
From Sri Lanka Daily News: Stamps depict vintage classics
The Philatelic Bureau of the Postal Department issued four new black and white stamps for the first time in the history of the postal service to mark World Post day.
These stamps come with images of four vintage and classic motor cars, in the denomination of Rs 5.00. The four vintage cars are, Austin 12, which came out of the production line in 1928, Rolls-Royce 20 manufactured in 1934, Jaguar SS 100 manufactured in 1937 and Morris Minor (1949).
"The four new stamps will fulfil the aims of worldwide stamp collectors, especially those who are interested in classic motor cars.
It is interesting to note that these cars are in good working condition even today.
It is expected that the aesthetic beauty of early years will induce many visitors to the hobby of stamp collecting" Postal Services Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said.
The Postal Department will print 500,000 stamps from each stamp amounting to two million stamps.
However, certain parties point out that, fraudsters can easily print these stamps.
They further note that no country prints black and white stamps so far.
The Philatelic Bureau of the Postal Department issued four new black and white stamps for the first time in the history of the postal service to mark World Post day.
These stamps come with images of four vintage and classic motor cars, in the denomination of Rs 5.00. The four vintage cars are, Austin 12, which came out of the production line in 1928, Rolls-Royce 20 manufactured in 1934, Jaguar SS 100 manufactured in 1937 and Morris Minor (1949).
"The four new stamps will fulfil the aims of worldwide stamp collectors, especially those who are interested in classic motor cars.
It is interesting to note that these cars are in good working condition even today.
It is expected that the aesthetic beauty of early years will induce many visitors to the hobby of stamp collecting" Postal Services Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said.
The Postal Department will print 500,000 stamps from each stamp amounting to two million stamps.
However, certain parties point out that, fraudsters can easily print these stamps.
They further note that no country prints black and white stamps so far.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Marysville car enthusiast recalls driving the famous and powerful
From Heraldville Net: Marysville car enthusiast recalls driving the famous and powerful
Barry Hilbert remembers driving cars in Everett's parades in the late 1970s.
He had the honor of driving Sen. Henry "Scoop" M. Jackson and his family, the star among the local dignitaries.
"Young people (today) don't know who Senator Jackson was," Hilbert said. "He was so key to this state, to the Navy base."
When he met Jackson, he was the most powerful senator in the world, Hilbert said.
His memories of those times came back again this summer, after his wife, Shirley, died in June. They were married 32 years. Hilbert is slowly pulling his life together.
Sorting through photographs, he asked if I would see that historical parade shots be shared with the community, to show a bit of how Everett matters to history.
Jackson's son, Peter, who was about 10 years old in the photographs, recalls motorcades down Colby Avenue.
"I remember sitting in Mr. Hilbert's 1959 T-Bird which felt like the stern of a mid-sized motor boat," Jackson said. "All I remember is that, as a result of multiple death threats, my dad wore an FBI-issue bulletproof vest."
His father told him, "They'll be aiming at me, so chances are you won't get hit."
As a result, Peter Jackson said he made a point of trying to scoot as far away from his father as possible during parades.
Hilbert still has his 1959 T-Bird.
It's one of his many classic automobiles that chauffeured celebrities and politicians, including Rep. Lloyd Meeds. Meeds served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1979. He represented the 2nd Congressional District.
In a story I wrote about Hilbert in 2006, he told me he was lost in 1959. He pines for the good old days, made easier by his museum-style Marysville home. There are old Philco TVs, Popular Science magazines from the 1940s and '50s, a movie projector and a Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon book.
The back bedroom is dedicated to a model Lionel railroad layout with teensy Breck shampoo billboards. I used Breck back when I had a ducktail haircut.
Hilbert's father, Faye Hilbert, was a World War II B-29 bomber pilot. He lived in Spokane and was a director of the Lilac Festival. One of Hilbert's photos shows singer Teresa Brewer ("Til I Waltz Again With You") riding, and smoking, in a Spokane parade.
Entertainer Julie Miller, who sang on the Lawrence Welk show, rode in a parade in 1975 in Everett. She rode in Barry Hilbert's friend's 1960 Continental Mark IV.
She gave Hilbert tickets to her concert that night in town.
Two of the cars Hilbert owns are King Midgets, kit cars known through advertisements in Popular Science magazines.
To see videos of cars Hilbert owns, visit the Vintage Vehicle Show by Lance Lambert. The video about the 1959 T-Bird is at http://tinyurl.com/3w25tow. There are three illuminating interviews on YouTube showing Hilbert's expansive knowledge about Kit Cars, his 1959 Continental Mark IV convertible, and the Ford.
Hilbert, who works at the Tulalip Casino in the upholstery department, drives a 1995 Ford Taurus station wagon day to day.
"I call it the silver slug," Hilbert said. "On nice days, I ride my bike to work."
When he drove Sen. Jackson in the T-Bird, the senator wanted to know everything about the car, Hilbert said. When the senator died, Barry and Shirley Hilbert quietly knocked on his widow's door in Everett.
"We wanted to leave a photo," he said. "Her secretary came to the door and said, 'Please come in'."
There was a table top covered with food.
"We saw Helen Jackson and her daughter," Hilbert said. He handed Helen Jackson the parade photograph of her husband.
She looked at the photograph and said that her husband looked like he owned the T-Bird.
"I'll never forget that," Hilbert said.
Barry Hilbert remembers driving cars in Everett's parades in the late 1970s.
He had the honor of driving Sen. Henry "Scoop" M. Jackson and his family, the star among the local dignitaries.
"Young people (today) don't know who Senator Jackson was," Hilbert said. "He was so key to this state, to the Navy base."
When he met Jackson, he was the most powerful senator in the world, Hilbert said.
His memories of those times came back again this summer, after his wife, Shirley, died in June. They were married 32 years. Hilbert is slowly pulling his life together.
Sorting through photographs, he asked if I would see that historical parade shots be shared with the community, to show a bit of how Everett matters to history.
Jackson's son, Peter, who was about 10 years old in the photographs, recalls motorcades down Colby Avenue.
"I remember sitting in Mr. Hilbert's 1959 T-Bird which felt like the stern of a mid-sized motor boat," Jackson said. "All I remember is that, as a result of multiple death threats, my dad wore an FBI-issue bulletproof vest."
His father told him, "They'll be aiming at me, so chances are you won't get hit."
As a result, Peter Jackson said he made a point of trying to scoot as far away from his father as possible during parades.
Hilbert still has his 1959 T-Bird.
It's one of his many classic automobiles that chauffeured celebrities and politicians, including Rep. Lloyd Meeds. Meeds served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1979. He represented the 2nd Congressional District.
In a story I wrote about Hilbert in 2006, he told me he was lost in 1959. He pines for the good old days, made easier by his museum-style Marysville home. There are old Philco TVs, Popular Science magazines from the 1940s and '50s, a movie projector and a Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon book.
The back bedroom is dedicated to a model Lionel railroad layout with teensy Breck shampoo billboards. I used Breck back when I had a ducktail haircut.
Hilbert's father, Faye Hilbert, was a World War II B-29 bomber pilot. He lived in Spokane and was a director of the Lilac Festival. One of Hilbert's photos shows singer Teresa Brewer ("Til I Waltz Again With You") riding, and smoking, in a Spokane parade.
Entertainer Julie Miller, who sang on the Lawrence Welk show, rode in a parade in 1975 in Everett. She rode in Barry Hilbert's friend's 1960 Continental Mark IV.
She gave Hilbert tickets to her concert that night in town.
Two of the cars Hilbert owns are King Midgets, kit cars known through advertisements in Popular Science magazines.
To see videos of cars Hilbert owns, visit the Vintage Vehicle Show by Lance Lambert. The video about the 1959 T-Bird is at http://tinyurl.com/3w25tow. There are three illuminating interviews on YouTube showing Hilbert's expansive knowledge about Kit Cars, his 1959 Continental Mark IV convertible, and the Ford.
Hilbert, who works at the Tulalip Casino in the upholstery department, drives a 1995 Ford Taurus station wagon day to day.
"I call it the silver slug," Hilbert said. "On nice days, I ride my bike to work."
When he drove Sen. Jackson in the T-Bird, the senator wanted to know everything about the car, Hilbert said. When the senator died, Barry and Shirley Hilbert quietly knocked on his widow's door in Everett.
"We wanted to leave a photo," he said. "Her secretary came to the door and said, 'Please come in'."
There was a table top covered with food.
"We saw Helen Jackson and her daughter," Hilbert said. He handed Helen Jackson the parade photograph of her husband.
She looked at the photograph and said that her husband looked like he owned the T-Bird.
"I'll never forget that," Hilbert said.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Footman James Bristol Classic vehicle Restoration Show
From Classic Cars for Sale.co.uk: The Footman James Bristol Classic vehicle Restoration Show
A few weeks ago you will have noticed I ended the ‘Events Newsletter’ - this was done for a very good reason; I was struggling to find anything worth writing about.
October is probably the most depressing month for any classic car lover in the UK, as it is usually the month when we accept the weather is going to have an adverse effect on our cars, and so pack them away for the winter. Then as if to really rub salt into the wound Christmas decorations start appearing in shops and you realise your one excuse for not spending time with your family has now been taken away.
Fortunately the gods of motorised vehicles realised what a raw deal we were getting and held a meeting that dictated that November had to be pretty good. This weekend coming up we have the Bristol Classic Vehicle Restoration Show and next weekend we’ve got the NEC Classic Car Show. They appear to both be called the Footman James Show now so try not to get confused by this!
I’ll cover off the NEC next Tuesday but with the Bristol show this weekend I’m dedicating this week’s update to this. As the name suggests it focuses on restoration and if you have an ongoing project this is a great place to go for some ideas. Below is a list of some of the more interesting club stands that will be on display.
• The Atwell Wilson Motor Museum is displaying a museum theme
• 2CVGB’s display will focus on the restoration of seemingly un-restorable dire projects.
• Exeter Motorcycle & Light Car Club will focus on chassis restoration, the cleaning of soft tops and seats.
• The Imp Club will have engines in various stages of restoration, showing how they are actually put together.
• Riley Motor Club will demonstrate the overhaul of front suspension and hubs.
• The Singer Owners Club will provide answers to questions on all aspects of restoration.
• The Somerset area of the Triumph Sports Six Club will have a drag strip display.
• The Volvo Enthusiasts Club will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the P1800
• The Wolseley Register will have an example of aluminium bodywork in the process of reconstruction.
For more details on the show please visit their website at www.bccsl.co.uk
Phil
philcooper@classiccarsforsale.co.uk
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