Chevrolet is more than a cornerstone of popular culture, it's a brand that has captured the nostalgia of the South Shore for 100 years, a symbol for the American Midwest. From Lansing to Valparaiso and Hammond to Lowell, Chevrolet has become synonymous with ingenuity, grace, speed and power. The vehicles produced under the Chevrolet name go far beyond their craftsmanship and connection to the world famous ‘bowtie.'
Like the industry and culture that stands the test of time and economic strain across our landscape, the Chevrolet brand has endured for a century. Many models of Chevrolet have become brands unto themselves, their names evoking nostalgic trips through yesteryear and a look ahead to tomorrow.
The classic sexy lines of the Corvette glimmering under the streetlights of a Lake County "Cruise Night," the brightly colored muscle of the Camaro rumbling across U.S. 30, the flashing lights of a racing Crown Point P.D. Impala, the comforting hum of the economy-slaying Volt pulling into a student parking lot at I.U.N., are all exquisite examples of automotive artistry across our Region.
Only love has been immortalized in popular song more the Chevrolet. It's said that Chevy pops up in the lyrics of more than 500 tunes recorded by performers as diverse as Dinah Shore ("See the USA in your Chevrolet"), The Beach Boys ("She's real fine, my 4-0-9"), Don McLean ("Drove my Chevy to the levy . . .") and - now that he once again goes by the name Prince - the artist formerly known as "the artist formerly known as Prince" ("Little red Corvette, baby, you're much too fast").
Inspired by such a cultural catalog, we decided to sing Chevy's praises ourselves, focusing on what the brand really is all about - great cars. Here are our nominees for the dozen greatest Chevy cars of all time.
1912 CHEVY SERIES C CLASSIC SIX: This is the car that started it all. And it arrived with a flourish. At the time, Henry Ford's Model T was chugging along with a 177 cubic-inch four-cylinder that made 20 hp, taking Henry's T to a top speed of 45 mph or so. Chevrolet arrived on the scene with its Classic Six boasting a 299 cubic-inch six-cylinder. Making 40 hp and reaching speeds as high as 65 mph - pretty heady stuff at the dawn of the last century - the Series C Classic Six was a force to be reckoned with. Known by the public simply as "the Chevrolet," the Classic Six got the bowtie brand off to a great start - even if the bowtie logo itself would not debut for another two years.
1932 CHEVY DELUXE SPORT ROADSTER: This is the car that identified Chevrolet as a styling leader. With its chrome accents, rakish twin spare tires (one conspicuously mounted on each front fender) and a sassy rumble seat out back, the Deluxe Sport Roadster must have cheered Depression-era car buffs who caught its handsome form motoring by. The Deluxe also was affordable, a fact that help Chevrolet retain its No. 1 sales position in the depths of the Great Depression. Ford's Model A coupe may be 1932's best-remembered car today, thanks mainly to the Beach Boys' tune "Little Deuce Coupe" ("deuce" standing for the "2" in " ‘32"), but - quoting Brian Wilson - we'd have say to those who've forgotten the '32 Chevy Deluxe Sport Roadster, "You don't know what I got."
1953 CHEVY CORVETTE: The GM Motorama opened on Saturday, Jan. 17, 1953, at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria, and the world has never been the same. That event saw the first Corvette unveiled as a "dream car," but it quickly went into production after the wildly enthusiastic response from the public. Its inaugural model year of 1953 saw only 300 of these fiberglass beauties built, each painted Polo White and boasted a red interior, a black canvas top and removable plastic side curtains in lieu of roll-up windows. From a performance standpoint, the '53 may have been an under-achiever, with its docile straight-six and two-speed automatic transmission, but it was soooo good-looking. Performance would improve in the future. GM's official history of Corvette states: "Since only 300 were produced in 1953, the Chevrolet Central Office in Detroit had to control their distribution. Among the first lucky owners? John Wayne." We would argue that, with the birth of Corvette, all car enthusiasts got lucky.
1955 CHEVY NOMAD: Even in pre-rock ‘n’ roll America, making a station wagon cool was a Herculean task. Chevy rose to the challenge with the 1955 Nomad, a two-door wagon that had its styling roots – particularly its roof and rear-end treatment – in the Corvette-based Nomad “Dream Car” concept, which wowed ‘em during the 1954 General Motors Motorama. In production form, Nomad shared the underpinnings of the all-new ’55 Chevy sedan, but aft of the A pillar went its own styling way. The forward-leaning roof pillars, wrap-around D-pillar glass and utterly unique tailgate treatment, complete with chrome ribs, made this the most head-turning wagon in suburbia. Marketed as a high-trim “halo” vehicle for Chevrolet, its 1955-57 versions remain passionately sought after by collectors.
1957 CHEVY BEL-AIR: With its grinning grille, sassy fins and overall styling audacity, the 1957 Chevy Bel-Air took what the ’55 had started and then elevated it to the next level. Sure, it was the ’55 – longer, lower and wider than its predecessor – that brought Chevrolet styling into the modern era. And it was the ’55 that introduced the “Turbo-Fire V-8” (gotta love that name), the first of the now-legendary Chevy small-block V-8s. But the ’57 took all those ingredients and added panache, not to mention a bigger small block. With its marvelous power-to-weight ratio in V-8 trim and its hey-look-at-me styling, the 1957 Chevy Bel-Air seemed to encapsulate in chrome, steel and rubber all the giddy optimism of Eisenhower-era America. More than half a century later, the ‘50s are still identified primarily by three American icons: Ike, Elvis and the ’57 Chevy.
1963 CHEVY CORVETTE STING RAY SPLIT-WINDOW COUPE: This knockout heralded the second generation of America’s Sports Car. Forty-eight years after its debut, the ‘63 Sting Ray split-window coupe remains one of the most visceral and beautiful automobiles ever to ride four tires. With styling inspired by the 1959 Stingray race car and 1961 Mako Shark show car, the all-new 1963 Corvette coupe marked the beginning of the glory years for Corvette. That, however, is not to say it didn’t cause controversy. The split-window rear styling was a subject of debate even within the GM styling studios. Though primary designer Larry Shinoda wanted the rear-window bar, luminaries as lofty as Zora Arkus-Duntov, “the father of the Corvette,” opposed it. In the end, it made the production cut, but lasted only one year. Automotive critics and Corvette buyers objected to the feature’s restriction of rear visibility. By 1964, a more conventional rear window was installed. Today, however, the split-window coupe of 1963 is among the most coveted Corvettes.
1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS CONVERTIBLE: This one’s a sentimental favorite of your humble correspondent. Back in the late ‘60s, when I attended McBride High School on North Kingshighway in St. Louis, there were two guys I knew who had awesome cars. (I can tell you, my ’59 VW was never in the running for the title “Awesome.”) One was a fellow McBride Mick, who owned a ’67 Pontiac GTO. The other was a neighborhood guy who attended Southwest High School. He had a canary-yellow ’64 Chevy Impala SS convertible. Most of my gang gave the nod to the GTO, but I always loved that Impala SS. The boxy body was marvelously clean, exhibiting no gratuitous doo-dads to imply power (its big block 409 cubic-inch V-8 was evidence enough of its power), and its retina-searing yellow paint job was just too cool for school. The blue car pictured here just doesn’t do it justice.
1965 CHEVY CORVAIR MONZA: To heck with Ralph Nader. We like the audacity behind the Corvair. With the first few imports trickling in as the 1950s wore on, Detroit realized there might be a market for small cars. While other domestic compacts were, essentially, slightly smaller versions of big cars, GM thought outside the box. The result in 1959 was revolutionary Detroit iron with a rear-mounted, air-cooled six-cylinder, a fully independent suspension, unibody construction and styling that just kept getting better every year. Alas, Nader’s 1965 book “Unsafe At Any Speed” doomed Corvair – and, it seemed, only Corvair, even though the Chevy was the subject of just the book’s first chapter! (We’re guessing nobody read beyond that.) The last Corvair model year was ‘69. Our favorite of the nameplate’s decade-long run is the ‘65 Corvair Monza pictured here. The grille-less face spoke of its unique drivetrain while its forward-leaning front-end styling and uncluttered flanks gave it a look of motion even at rest.
1969 CHEVY CAMARO: As part of Chevrolet’s 100th birthday celebration, General Motors conducted an online poll to determine “The Best Chevy of all Time.” The winner, announced in September, was the 1969 Camaro. It’s hard to argue with that result. Sixty-nine was the final model year of the first-generation Camaro, which debuted in 1967 to battle Ford’s Mustang. It was a memorable year for Camaro, for Chevrolet and for car buffs everywhere. Not only was the beautiful styling of the original Camaro still largely in evidence, but the car’s performance was second to none. A dizzying array of engines were offered, from a 155-hp I-6 to a 375-hp 396 V-8 to a race-prepped 430-hp 427 V-8. The ‘69 Camaro was so impressive it was invited to be the Indy 500 pace car, as evidenced by the Camaro shown here. And now, to its other laurels, the ’69 Camaro can add “Best Chevy of all Time.” A great car.
1970 CHEVY CHEVELLE SS: Back in the day when GM divisions were pretty much autonomous and actually saw each other as competitors, the keepers of the Chevrolet flame were not about to be outdone by Pontiac. So, as Chevy’s response to the original Pontiac GTO, 1964 saw the debut of the Chevelle SS. With a 300-hp 327 V-8, it was outclassed by the 348 hp produced by the ’64 Goat’s 389 cu.-in. V-8, but that wouldn’t last. By 1970, the Chevelle SS boasted the most powerful V-8 in classic muscle car history – a 450-hp, 454 cubic-inch thriller. The SS454’s 0-60 mph sprint was a blink over 6 seconds with a top speed of 108 miles per hour. The 1970 Chevelle SS remains one of the truly great muscle cars ever to come out of Detroit – and that’s saying something. It was a marvelous performance statement by Chevrolet.
2008 CHEVY MALIBU: This mass-production midsize family sedan may seem an odd choice to include on a list of the coolest Chevrolet cars ever, but it marked a turning point for the Bowtie brand, which at the end of the last century seemed to be focused heavily on trucks and SUVs – to the detriment of its passenger cars. (It’s notable that no Chevy from the ‘80s or ‘90s makes our Coolest Chevys list.) The all-new 2008 Malibu proved that Chevy, after slogging through the ‘90s with the Lumina and greeting the new century with the “good enough” 1997-07 Malibu, was back in the CAR business. The new Malibu – good looking, affordable and very well built – loudly proclaimed that, when it came to Chevy passenger cars, “good enough” no longer was good enough. Yep, Chevy is serious about passenger cars again, and that announcement came through loud and clear thanks to the 2008 Malibu.
2011 CHEVY VOLT: Tired of seeing Toyota wear the “technology crown” with its Prius hybrid, GM set out to claim that title for itself with the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt. Here’s a car that can run 25-50 miles on pure electric power, meaning that commuters who live within, say, 20 miles of where they work, can drive it daily to the job and charge it nightly at home and never use a drop of gasoline. At the same time, Volt boasts a backup gasoline engine that allows this “extended range electric car,” as GM calls it (we call it a hybrid), to travel cross-country, if the owner desires, just like any other automobile. When it debuted, there had never been anything like it. Still isn’t. The Chevy Volt is a marvel of engineering and a forward-thinking way to use less fossil fuels. And, unlike a pure electric car, it never induces the dreaded “range anxiety.”
Monday, October 31, 2011
CHEVY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS AND THE DOZEN COOLEST CHEVROLET CARS OF ALL TIME
From NWI.com: CHEVY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS AND THE DOZEN COOLEST CHEVROLET CARS OF ALL TIME
Welwyn Garden City couple named Classic Motor Show finalists
From Welwyn Times (UK): Welwyn Garden City couple named Classic Motor Show finalists
HE’S been to Egypt and back on a shoestring budget, while raising thousands for charity in the process.
But it seems the adventures are far from over for “Morris”, the 1961 Mini Minor owned by WGC couple Nicky West and Rob Stacey.
The WHT reported back in June how Rob and Nicky had driven Morris 11,000km to the Great Pyramids of Giza in support of Old Hatfield-based charity the Willow Foundation, which organises special days out for seriously ill 16 to 40-year-olds.
And now, the couple have learned that their 50-year-old pride and joy had been named as a finalist in the 2011 Classic Car of the Year Awards, to be held next month during the illustrious Classic Motor Show.
Morris was chosen from hundreds of entries to be selected for the final 20 cars, before a public vote whittled the selection down to just five.
The red 850cc Mini will go on display at the Birmingham NEC from November 11 to 13, where an overall winner will be picked, and awarded with a trophy and a year’s free comprehensive car insurance.
On Morris’ success, proud owner Nicky said: “It’s absolutely breathtaking. To get to the final 20 was amazing but to get to the final – we’re ecstatic.
“I think he deserves it. He’s not shiny, he’s a bit pink and a bit rusty now, but he’s a noble steed and it shows that these classic cars don’t have to be ornaments.
“They’re strong, rugged, reliable cars.”
Meanwhile, Nicky and Rob’s charity efforts were given a boost when they were handed £251 from Waitrose in WGC.
The supermarket raised the cash through its Community Matters initiative, which sees shoppers receive a green disc after every transaction and place it in the charity box of their choice.
Waitrose operation partner Loraine Gwyther said: “It was a great opportunity to help the Willow Foundation, to help them continue sending the children on those special days.”
HE’S been to Egypt and back on a shoestring budget, while raising thousands for charity in the process.
But it seems the adventures are far from over for “Morris”, the 1961 Mini Minor owned by WGC couple Nicky West and Rob Stacey.
The WHT reported back in June how Rob and Nicky had driven Morris 11,000km to the Great Pyramids of Giza in support of Old Hatfield-based charity the Willow Foundation, which organises special days out for seriously ill 16 to 40-year-olds.
And now, the couple have learned that their 50-year-old pride and joy had been named as a finalist in the 2011 Classic Car of the Year Awards, to be held next month during the illustrious Classic Motor Show.
Morris was chosen from hundreds of entries to be selected for the final 20 cars, before a public vote whittled the selection down to just five.
The red 850cc Mini will go on display at the Birmingham NEC from November 11 to 13, where an overall winner will be picked, and awarded with a trophy and a year’s free comprehensive car insurance.
On Morris’ success, proud owner Nicky said: “It’s absolutely breathtaking. To get to the final 20 was amazing but to get to the final – we’re ecstatic.
“I think he deserves it. He’s not shiny, he’s a bit pink and a bit rusty now, but he’s a noble steed and it shows that these classic cars don’t have to be ornaments.
“They’re strong, rugged, reliable cars.”
Meanwhile, Nicky and Rob’s charity efforts were given a boost when they were handed £251 from Waitrose in WGC.
The supermarket raised the cash through its Community Matters initiative, which sees shoppers receive a green disc after every transaction and place it in the charity box of their choice.
Waitrose operation partner Loraine Gwyther said: “It was a great opportunity to help the Willow Foundation, to help them continue sending the children on those special days.”
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Nevada puts prisoners to work restoring classic cars
Another article on the same topic.
From Jalopnik: Nevada puts prisoners to work restoring classic cars
The Wall Street Journal published an article this past week showcasing one of the most innovative and interesting uses of prison labor we've ever heard about—restoring classic cars.
Outside Las Vegas at Nevada's Southern Desert Correctional Center, medium security inmates are given the option to work at a body shop at the prison restoring old cars. Currently the shop has 32 cars in various stages of restoration including Mustangs and Corvettes from the 1960s, a 1959 Thunderbird and two 1969 GTOs.
The prison body shop, known for their advertising motto "We Have the Time to Do It Right", made the Nevada Department of Corrections $130,000 last year while teaching inmates valuable job skills and bringing old cars such as the 1967 Mustang shown above back to life.
Nevada Prisoners are Bringing Classic Cars Back to Life
From Carbuzz.com: Nevada Prisoners are Bringing Classic Cars Back to Life
A Nevada prison is giving their inmates the chance to restore vintage cars. Don’t use this as an excuse to go out and get arrested.
This past week The Wall Street Journal reported on an innovative operation that is perhaps one of the most creative uses of captive labor in the correctional institution's history.Diversifying from the production of license plates, Nevada's Southern Desert Correctional Center has set up a body shop from where medium security inmates work restoring old cars, whose mantras include: "Built with Conviction" and "We Have the Time to Do it Right."
The auto job "is not like any old prison job," says inmate Mr. Michael Levi Fuller, five years into a 12-year stretch. From 1960s Corvettes through a 1959 Thunderbird to a 1935 Chevy pickup, there are 32 cars currently in the auto shop's inventory and those fortunate enough to be on the program, including murderers and lifers, are picking up some great skills and putting their time to good use."Just being involved in a program like this in prison, well it's amazing," said Mr. Fuller. We couldn't agree more.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Old capital hosts timeless ‘beauties’
From Times of Malta: Old capital hosts timeless ‘beauties’
The silent city was awakened by the roar of finely-tuned vintage engines yesterday (Oct 24, Sunday) on the final day of the third classic car grand prix.
A range of historic and classic cars, from Aston Martins to Mini Minors, purred around the streets outside Mdina, starting at Għajn Ħamiem Street and ending at Għarriqin Street.
The event is usually held in Valletta but was this year moved to the old capital due to road works in and around Valletta. It is the only street race of its kind in this part of the Mediterranean.
For the first time, this year’s event included a limited guest class of post-1976 cars.
The event began on Friday with the public admiring the glistening cars as they sat on display in St Paul Square, Mdina. The participating vehicles performed timed runs on Saturday when Steve Borg, driving a 1972 Morris Mini Minor, clocked the fastest time.
As the warm October sunshine slicked up drops of rainfall that had fallen earlier that morning, the cars yesterday cruised around the circuit in a series of demonstration runs.
The grand prix was organised by the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation with help from the Mdina, Rabat and Mtarfa local councils. The foundation is in the process of joining the Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens.
66-year-old Corning outsmarts Pro-Stock field at Cocopah Speedway Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/sports/yuma-73956-car-corning.html#ixzz1boCkqP4m
From the Yuma Sun: 66-year-old Corning outsmarts Pro-Stock field at Cocopah Speedway
arry Corning isn't a chip off the ‘ol block.
That's because he IS the ol' block.
The 66-year-old racing veteran from San Diego brought a new car to Cocopah Speedway to test for his son during Saturday night's Round 4 of the Cocopah Racing Series, put his experience to work, and drove off with the feature event win in the Pro-Stock Division.
“The car did most of it,” explained Corning afterward. “I haven't lost everything. This is my 45th year driving so you start using this after a while,” he said, pointing to his head.
“You don't use any natural talent, you just start using (your head) and saying, ‘Well, if I do this and do this, then they are going to have to try to beat me.'”
Corning started from the pole of the eight-car feature event and led every lap. It was the first night of racing on the new clay recently added to the racing surface, and Corning said the rough conditions partially contributed to his win.
“I would have hated to start farther back. The track was just way too rough. There was one smooth line around it and if you got out of that line, boy it was, ‘Hold on!'
“I stayed on the bottom and if anybody was going to beat me, they were going to have to go through them holes, and I didn't figure they were going to go through them.”
Corning said his trip to the track Saturday night was meant to put laps on a new car he finished building on Friday. He built the car for his son, Mike, who now lives in Iowa and is known for his own racing talent and success, to drive in the upcoming two-day Turkey Classic on Nov. 25 and 26 at Cocopah Speedway.
“That's the reason we wanted to run it tonight, to get a few laps on it, find out what the bad things are,” said Corning.
Judging by the results, the list of “bad things” is a short one.
Corning's trip to victory lane ended the two-race win streak put together by Yuma's Ryan Hancock, who settled for third place in Saturday's feature. Second place went to Brawley's Brent Ashurst, with Yuma's Brett Simala finishing fourth and Steve Jonas, from San Diego, rounding out the top five.
Corning and Simala won the two preliminary division heat races.
In other racing action Saturday night Imperial's Lance Mari notched his second IMCA Modified Division feature event win of the season; Yuma's Adolfo Noriega made it two Street Stock Division feature event wins in a row; and Yuma's Oscar Duarte won his first Factory Stock Division feature event of the season.
Mari, like Corning, said the track conditions played a role in his feature event win, but from a different perspective. Mari said he tried to run in the bottom line, like Corning, but it wasn't working out for him because, “I was about two clicks of an adjustment off on the bottom.”
That meant trying the top line, which he had tried earlier, “but it seemed a little choppy. I went up there a couple of times, and I didn't trust it.
“So I figured it was either going to go in the fence or go forward and luckily enough it went forward.”
The top line worked so well that he was able to get past Yuma's Kent Rosevear, who, in a new car, was running the bottom line and putting distance between himself and the field.
“I had to go to the top because it was the only thing I had,” said Mari. “The track wasn't easy on a whole lot of folks, so we just did what we could.”
His Imperial Valley neighbor, Duane Rogers, finished second, Rosevear settled for third, Holtville's Chris Toth was fourth and Yuma's Johnny Swenson finished fifth.
The heat race wins went to Swenson and Yuma's Jared Hall.
Noriega said his drive to victory lane in the Street Stock feature event “was a tough win,” also alluding to the track conditions.
“The car's setup was really good and when the track allowed us the car was fast and predictable,” said Noriega. “But when we got into those rough or loose dry patches, the car wanted to get away from me, so it was all I could do to keep it together.”
In what has become a Noriega trademark, the defending track champion started from inside the sixth row of the 15-car field and steadily made his way through traffic to get to the front.
Once there he found Yuma's Timmy Reese leading the pack and the two waged a bumper-to-bumper battle for a few laps, passing lapped cars in the process, before making contact while exiting Turn 2. After the contact Noriega was able to recover in time to take over the front position and never looked back while Reese, who appeared to suffer a flat tire, faded to eighth place.
Second place went to Yuma's Leonard Jones, Brawley's Sean Callens was third, Yuma's Scott Jeffery was fourth and Yuma's Joey Essary was fifth.
The heat race wins went to Brawley's Joey Teague and Reese.
Oddly enough, in the Factory Stock finale Duarte said he got signals from Mari, who was standing outside Turn 4, to move up and use the high line, which Mari said he was afraid to do initially in the Modified feature.
But the move worked out for Duarte who was able to take over the lead and pull away from the nine-car field to win by a sizable margin.
“After that yellow (flag) I moved up to the high side,” said Duarte. “Lance kept pointing for me go to up, so I went up and I just flat-footed it around the track.
“I was doing the best that I could, driving the heck out of that car. I just put it on the floor and didn't lift.”
Yuma's Steve Anthony finished second behind Duarte, Yuma's Jimmy Davy was third, Brawley's Amy Teague finished fourth and Yuma's Justin Jones was fifth.
The race also included a rollover between Turns 3 and 4 when defending champion Matthew Sharrar went for a wild ride, ending up on his roof, partially on top of the car driven by Jordan White. Neither driver was injured in the mishap, which also collected Rick Hibbard. None of the three was able to continue, however.
The heat race wins went to Duarte and Yuma's James Dupre
arry Corning isn't a chip off the ‘ol block.
That's because he IS the ol' block.
The 66-year-old racing veteran from San Diego brought a new car to Cocopah Speedway to test for his son during Saturday night's Round 4 of the Cocopah Racing Series, put his experience to work, and drove off with the feature event win in the Pro-Stock Division.
“The car did most of it,” explained Corning afterward. “I haven't lost everything. This is my 45th year driving so you start using this after a while,” he said, pointing to his head.
“You don't use any natural talent, you just start using (your head) and saying, ‘Well, if I do this and do this, then they are going to have to try to beat me.'”
Corning started from the pole of the eight-car feature event and led every lap. It was the first night of racing on the new clay recently added to the racing surface, and Corning said the rough conditions partially contributed to his win.
“I would have hated to start farther back. The track was just way too rough. There was one smooth line around it and if you got out of that line, boy it was, ‘Hold on!'
“I stayed on the bottom and if anybody was going to beat me, they were going to have to go through them holes, and I didn't figure they were going to go through them.”
Corning said his trip to the track Saturday night was meant to put laps on a new car he finished building on Friday. He built the car for his son, Mike, who now lives in Iowa and is known for his own racing talent and success, to drive in the upcoming two-day Turkey Classic on Nov. 25 and 26 at Cocopah Speedway.
“That's the reason we wanted to run it tonight, to get a few laps on it, find out what the bad things are,” said Corning.
Judging by the results, the list of “bad things” is a short one.
Corning's trip to victory lane ended the two-race win streak put together by Yuma's Ryan Hancock, who settled for third place in Saturday's feature. Second place went to Brawley's Brent Ashurst, with Yuma's Brett Simala finishing fourth and Steve Jonas, from San Diego, rounding out the top five.
Corning and Simala won the two preliminary division heat races.
In other racing action Saturday night Imperial's Lance Mari notched his second IMCA Modified Division feature event win of the season; Yuma's Adolfo Noriega made it two Street Stock Division feature event wins in a row; and Yuma's Oscar Duarte won his first Factory Stock Division feature event of the season.
Mari, like Corning, said the track conditions played a role in his feature event win, but from a different perspective. Mari said he tried to run in the bottom line, like Corning, but it wasn't working out for him because, “I was about two clicks of an adjustment off on the bottom.”
That meant trying the top line, which he had tried earlier, “but it seemed a little choppy. I went up there a couple of times, and I didn't trust it.
“So I figured it was either going to go in the fence or go forward and luckily enough it went forward.”
The top line worked so well that he was able to get past Yuma's Kent Rosevear, who, in a new car, was running the bottom line and putting distance between himself and the field.
“I had to go to the top because it was the only thing I had,” said Mari. “The track wasn't easy on a whole lot of folks, so we just did what we could.”
His Imperial Valley neighbor, Duane Rogers, finished second, Rosevear settled for third, Holtville's Chris Toth was fourth and Yuma's Johnny Swenson finished fifth.
The heat race wins went to Swenson and Yuma's Jared Hall.
Noriega said his drive to victory lane in the Street Stock feature event “was a tough win,” also alluding to the track conditions.
“The car's setup was really good and when the track allowed us the car was fast and predictable,” said Noriega. “But when we got into those rough or loose dry patches, the car wanted to get away from me, so it was all I could do to keep it together.”
In what has become a Noriega trademark, the defending track champion started from inside the sixth row of the 15-car field and steadily made his way through traffic to get to the front.
Once there he found Yuma's Timmy Reese leading the pack and the two waged a bumper-to-bumper battle for a few laps, passing lapped cars in the process, before making contact while exiting Turn 2. After the contact Noriega was able to recover in time to take over the front position and never looked back while Reese, who appeared to suffer a flat tire, faded to eighth place.
Second place went to Yuma's Leonard Jones, Brawley's Sean Callens was third, Yuma's Scott Jeffery was fourth and Yuma's Joey Essary was fifth.
The heat race wins went to Brawley's Joey Teague and Reese.
Oddly enough, in the Factory Stock finale Duarte said he got signals from Mari, who was standing outside Turn 4, to move up and use the high line, which Mari said he was afraid to do initially in the Modified feature.
But the move worked out for Duarte who was able to take over the lead and pull away from the nine-car field to win by a sizable margin.
“After that yellow (flag) I moved up to the high side,” said Duarte. “Lance kept pointing for me go to up, so I went up and I just flat-footed it around the track.
“I was doing the best that I could, driving the heck out of that car. I just put it on the floor and didn't lift.”
Yuma's Steve Anthony finished second behind Duarte, Yuma's Jimmy Davy was third, Brawley's Amy Teague finished fourth and Yuma's Justin Jones was fifth.
The race also included a rollover between Turns 3 and 4 when defending champion Matthew Sharrar went for a wild ride, ending up on his roof, partially on top of the car driven by Jordan White. Neither driver was injured in the mishap, which also collected Rick Hibbard. None of the three was able to continue, however.
The heat race wins went to Duarte and Yuma's James Dupre
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Cheapestcarinsurer.com makes obtaining classic car insurance quotes easy and quick
Press Release: Cheapestcarinsurer.com makes obtaining classic car insurance quotes easy and quick
Market Press Release – October 24, 2011 11:24 am – October 24, 2011 - If you possess a classic, a collector or an antique car, it is absolutely vital for you to get adequate car insurance as soon as possible. The values of these cars are higher than everyday cars. So, insurance is even more essential. However, not all insurance companies provide coverage for such special cars. Even if you find a company which does provide them, you should get quotes from more than one to ensure that you get the best rates. Do not think that just because far fewer companies provide antique car insurance, classic car insurance and cheap sports car insurance, you will have to accept the first offer.
Cheapestcarinsurer.com has made it possible to get classic car insurance quotes online. If you have an classic car from 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and it is in good condition, you can simply log on to this website and get more than one classic car insurance quotes online by filling up a simple form and a few clicks. Before that, the website will guide you in detail about the different norms of obtaining classic car insurance. You will learn valuable tips on how to save money on insurance premiums without putting your car at risk.
The information begins with the definition of an antique, classic or luxury car and you learn to clearly distinguish among these three categories. One of the most important things on which this website draws your attention is the Specialty insurance program such as no down payment auto insurance. You may be coming to know for the first time that there exist auto insurance companies which specialize in providing classic car insurance, antique car insurance and collector car insurance. The niche may be small, but no less competitive than the general auto insurance market. You will get the best of deals by getting antique car insurance online quote even from this small segment.
“It is difficult for people to search individually exactly which auto insurance companies offer classic car insurance, antique car insurance and cheap sports car insurance. You may probably find out the names of only a few and forced to accept the rates that the best one of them is offering. We feel that there is a gap here between the owners and these specialized insurance companies. The aim of this website is to get you the cheapest and the best suited quotes for your antique or classic car,” says site founder George Rider. “You should not have to pay exorbitant premiums where there are ways to avoid them and we aim to educate everyone
about these simple steps”.
Not only has cheapestcarinsurer.com made it simple to get antique car insurance online quote, but also it outlines the different ways to save on your premium. It has described in detail the importance of the appraisal of your antique car by the insurance company before a final premium amount is decided.
If you are thinking of get classic car insurance, you can now visit this website and get car insurance online quote to compare and find what suits you best.
website : http://cheapestcarinsurer.com
For more information, visit: http://cheapestcarinsurer.com
Market Press Release – October 24, 2011 11:24 am – October 24, 2011 - If you possess a classic, a collector or an antique car, it is absolutely vital for you to get adequate car insurance as soon as possible. The values of these cars are higher than everyday cars. So, insurance is even more essential. However, not all insurance companies provide coverage for such special cars. Even if you find a company which does provide them, you should get quotes from more than one to ensure that you get the best rates. Do not think that just because far fewer companies provide antique car insurance, classic car insurance and cheap sports car insurance, you will have to accept the first offer.
Cheapestcarinsurer.com has made it possible to get classic car insurance quotes online. If you have an classic car from 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and it is in good condition, you can simply log on to this website and get more than one classic car insurance quotes online by filling up a simple form and a few clicks. Before that, the website will guide you in detail about the different norms of obtaining classic car insurance. You will learn valuable tips on how to save money on insurance premiums without putting your car at risk.
The information begins with the definition of an antique, classic or luxury car and you learn to clearly distinguish among these three categories. One of the most important things on which this website draws your attention is the Specialty insurance program such as no down payment auto insurance. You may be coming to know for the first time that there exist auto insurance companies which specialize in providing classic car insurance, antique car insurance and collector car insurance. The niche may be small, but no less competitive than the general auto insurance market. You will get the best of deals by getting antique car insurance online quote even from this small segment.
“It is difficult for people to search individually exactly which auto insurance companies offer classic car insurance, antique car insurance and cheap sports car insurance. You may probably find out the names of only a few and forced to accept the rates that the best one of them is offering. We feel that there is a gap here between the owners and these specialized insurance companies. The aim of this website is to get you the cheapest and the best suited quotes for your antique or classic car,” says site founder George Rider. “You should not have to pay exorbitant premiums where there are ways to avoid them and we aim to educate everyone
about these simple steps”.
Not only has cheapestcarinsurer.com made it simple to get antique car insurance online quote, but also it outlines the different ways to save on your premium. It has described in detail the importance of the appraisal of your antique car by the insurance company before a final premium amount is decided.
If you are thinking of get classic car insurance, you can now visit this website and get car insurance online quote to compare and find what suits you best.
website : http://cheapestcarinsurer.com
For more information, visit: http://cheapestcarinsurer.com
Pre-Sixties Classic Cars Going Strong in Cuba
From CarBuzz: Pre-Sixties Classic Cars Going Strong in Cuba
If you've ever wondered where all our pre-1960's classics have gone to, then wonder no more as this video provides clear evidence that over the past half-a-century they have slowly and surely been making their way to our Cuban neighbors.Under current legislation, Cubans can only freely buy and sell cars that were on the road before Fidel Castro's 1959 Revolution. However, if a new law is introduced allowing Cubans to own modern cars, the roads may take on a new guise.
Thankfully, tourists often visit the island simply to cruise down the boulevards and country roads in Fords, Buicks, Chevys, Pontiacs, Cadillacs and the like, with mint condition models going wheel-to-wheel with those on the verge of collapse. So there's every chance these built-to-last beauties will go strong for many years to come.Vamos!
There are several full color photos of these beautiful cars, plus a video, at the original link, which you need to visit via your computer.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Chrysler Targets a More Tempting Interior
From The Wall Street Journal: Chrysler Targets a More Tempting Interior
Most new cars today offer decent power, competitive fuel economy and plenty of safety features. But it's design and comfort that can reel in the most demanding car buyers.
The overall design of the previous Chrysler 300, especially the exterior, stood out from the pack when it debuted in 2005. But customers, critics and the company's own design leaders gave the interior poor marks, and Chrysler's management decided in 2007 that it needed a thorough redo. And when Fiat SpA took control two years later as part of the company's U.S. government-financed restructuring, Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne backed spending more than $1 billion to improve the design of the company's vehicles.
Klaus Busse, a former Mercedes-Benz designer who is now head of Chrysler's interior design studio, says the goal of revamping the 300's interior was attainable because the premium materials used on the German cars circa 2007-2008—high-grade plastics, leathers and fabrics—would likely be lower-priced commodities by 2011 and 2012.
A team led by Jon Gaudreau, 36, was charged with the redesign of the 300's interior. Mr. Gaudreau had worked on the interiors and exteriors of a series of cars and trucks since starting at Chrysler in 1997. The 300's interior was the first in which he took the lead and stayed with from start to finish. The exterior redesign was led by Lou Gasevski, 29, whose portfolio includes the futuristic interior of the all-electric 2008 show car, the Dodge Zeo.
Sales of the revamped 300 were up 50% in September from a year earlier. While the No. 1 car against which the new 300 is compared isn't a BMW, but the smaller, redesigned Chrysler 200 sedan, a few more shoppers are gauging the 300 against German cars, according to data from auto-shopping site Edmunds.com.
Here are a few design tricks Chrysler's teams employed.
Tricking the Eye
Many customers told Chrysler that they wanted the 300 to be roomier inside. Mr. Gaudreau's team couldn't make the car bigger. So they designed a dashboard that slopes away from the driver—a trick that makes the new 300 feel less like a rolling bank vault.
The latest model's new, 8.4-inch navigation screen presented a problem, too. On its own, the touch screen looked like a vertical slab of grey glass. So designers framed it with air vents to give the array a more horizontal look, tied into the arc of the dash.
Faux Versus Real
To keep costs down, the Chrysler 300's designers couldn't specify hand-crafted leather or rare woods throughout the cabin. But they could opt for better looking plastics.
To give a high-tech look to the new 300S—a variant of the 300 line aimed at younger, urban consumers—designers wanted to replace traditional wood grain in the center console with carbon fiber. Real carbon fiber is too expensive, so they used a so-called hydrographic finish that mimics the three-dimensional checkerboard look of carbon fiber.
One part of the car where designers pushed for spending extra was the steering wheel, where the 2012 300C and 300S models have shift paddles.
The "default" choice would have been to make these of plastic, Mr. Gaudreau says. Designers wanted them made out of real metal to give a more substantial feel to a part of the car customers would likely touch every day.
Real metal and leather on the wheel cost extra, but the luxurious feel was worth it, says Mr. Busse.
Balancing Retro and Modern
Most new cars are purchased by older people, so designers juggle elements, searching for a balance between what's hip and what's reassuring. The Chrysler 300 has a clock with minute and second hands in the center of the dashboard. It also has old-school gauges with needle indicators set inside chrome cylinders—a look right out of Detroit's 1950s handbook.
But at night these gauges are bathed in an icy, blue light generated by light-emitting diodes. Mr. Gaudreau says LEDs allow lighting to be used more easily throughout the interior as a design feature because they are cool and don't require the sockets and fixtures needed for incandescent bulbs.
The 'Catwalk'
Auto designers have a unique vocabulary to identify parts of a car that most of us don't think about.
The 2012 Chrysler 300 has a narrow, horizontal plane on top of the rear fenders that Mr. Gasevski calls "the catwalk." The sharply defined shoulder makes the 300 distinct in a crowd of rounded off sedans.
To accentuate the line, the new tail lights have a thin, chrome-outlined, vertical strip down the middle that functions as an extension of the "catwalk." What do they call it? A "light pipe."
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Proper appraisal will aid in repairs
From The Province: Proper appraisal will aid in repairs
by David Grainger
by David Grainger
In the last article, I pointed out why standard vehicle insurance is not a good fit for an antique or classic car. Now, I want to point out some of the very serious mistakes owners make after their collector car is damaged in an accident.
Insurance companies, even the ones who carry policies specifically designed for old cars, are not in the business of restoration. Despite this, after an accident, many owners try to persuade adjusters or the shops doing the repairs that the accident caused damage that in fact may have been pre-existing due to previous accidents, large or small, poor restoration work or just plain age.
This may have the effect of souring the adjuster or shop and can result in the insurance company contesting how much damage was due to the accident and how much was pre-existing. The end result is a minimal repair, which may not get all the damage properly repaired and cause a lot of aggravation for all parties. I have even seen an insurance company refuse a repair because of the car's poor prior condition.
Shoddy restoration work or a car's age can make an old car susceptible to more damage in an accident than would normally occur. This leaves the owner and the insurance company in a quandary. How much responsibility does each have? If the car needed frame and panel work before the accident, how does the shop fix the damage without having to repair the foundation on which it must rest? In a case like this, and as much as we think the insurance company should fix it all, it can certainly balk and you can't blame it. If the front fender and bumper are damaged in an accident, it really isn't from the accident that the frame and firewall are so corroded the new parts cannot be remounted. In a case like this, the owner has to pay for part of the repair. Everyone needs to know their responsibilities before the repairs start.
A really good appraisal in which a car's entire condition is listed is a godsend when there is an accident. Too many appraisals go on about the colour and condition of the carpets, how polished the stainless trim is and yet they ignore the condition of the frame, interior bracing and structure. This is a critical mistake because a reliable report on the structural integrity of your car will have a lot more to say about the damage that occurs during an accident than your shiny trim.
I generally refuse insurance work in my shop; the reasons are twofold. The first is that the insurance companies usually don't understand the complexity of repairing old cars in which parts are not easily obtainable or easily priced and where there are no flat rate times available.
Second, owners too often want us to claim damage that has little to do with the accident. Most commonly, they try for complete paint jobs instead of being content with a repaint to the afflicted area.
So, if you have an old car, make sure you know its condition and have photographs and an accurate appraisal to back up the car's pre-accident condition. If you work with the adjuster and the shop for the best repair possible and not for repairs on things that were not part of the damage, then things will usually work out the best.
Classic cars make a splash at Georgia Aquarium
From CBSAtlanta: Classic cars make a splash at Georgia Aquarium
ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) - Car enthusiasts will want to make their way to the Georgia Aquarium for the second annual "Oceans & Autos" display this weekend.
The classic car show will feature some amazing museum quality cars spanning from the 1930s to today.
While the kiddies are in awe of the magnificent whale sharks, Dad will want to check out the 1961 Mako Shark concept vehicle. It's one of the rarest and most extraordinary examples of American automobile design.
Resembling a species of sea life habitants, organizers say the Mako Shark is regarded as one of the most influential in history. It actually inspired the 1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Usually this car is on display at the General Motors Heritage Museum in Michigan but is on loan to the aquarium for this weekend's event.
Also on display will be the 1969 Ford Shelby Mustang Prototype, the one remaining car of five ever built. It has a 4-speed transmission and a Holman-Moody 427 port side oiler.
Collectors from across the Southeast will bring nearly 40 other rare classic cars to display at the aquarium including a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428, 1930 Packard Roadster 745, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster, and many others.
The "Oceans & Autos" classic car show will be open Oct. 22 and 23 and is free with general admission to the aquarium.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Classic Cars Cruise Into Palm Springs
An annual event. Reporting after the fact this year, will have it announced before hand next year so people can attend it!
From KESQ.com: Classic Cars Cruise Into Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Dozens of classic cars rolled into Palm Springs Saturday, all part of the annual "Casual Concours" car show.
This is the 3rd year for the show in the desert. It took place at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort South.
The Great Autos of Yesteryear car club organizes the showcase to help local charities.
Money raised will benefit 3 groups this year: the Desert AIDS project, Desert Outreach Foundation, and the Golden Rainbow Center.
From KESQ.com: Classic Cars Cruise Into Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Dozens of classic cars rolled into Palm Springs Saturday, all part of the annual "Casual Concours" car show.
This is the 3rd year for the show in the desert. It took place at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort South.
The Great Autos of Yesteryear car club organizes the showcase to help local charities.
Money raised will benefit 3 groups this year: the Desert AIDS project, Desert Outreach Foundation, and the Golden Rainbow Center.
Spartanburg, SC: Classic cars draw crowds to BMW Zentrum
From GO UPstate.com: Classic cars draw crowds to BMW Zentrum
By JOEY MILLWOOD
By JOEY MILLWOOD
Terry Jones loves his car.
The Moore resident beamed every time someone asked him a question. There's a reason he loves his car. He spent five years, working only on Saturdays, to restore his 1976 Triumph TR6.
The car sat in a friend's car lot in Cincinnati, covered in rust and weather wear before Jones finally got his chance to buy it.
That was 21 years ago. On Saturday, his car sat out front of the BMW Zentrum, and Jones was a proud owner as thousands poured into the Euro Auto Festival on the grounds of the BMW manufacturing plant to gaze upon hundreds of European cars, including his.
The lawn was filled with Audis, BMWs, Porsches, Ferraris, Mercedes, Volkswagens, Triumphs and all sorts of cars. Surrounding the cars were festival-goers with cameras and inquiring eyes, throwing out questions to car owners who sat in camping chairs, beneath tents or hovering around their prized possessions.
Jones, whose car is a 40th Anniversary Corvette Red, was just one of hundreds, but his Triumph won first place the first seven years of the festival. It is now in its 16th year, and the proceeds support the American Red Cross.
Ben Rogers, an Inman resident, was attending for the first time this year.
“I wanted to see some of the motorsport stuff,” he said.
But Rogers was there for the same reason that thousands of people were.
“I like everything as far as cars are concerned,” he said. “I knew there was going to be a lot of nice cars here.”
One of those cars belonged to Marilyn McNamara, another Inman resident. Her 1971 Triumph Spitfire MK IV was bought in 1985 by her son Tim. The McNamaras were living in New Jersey at the time, and Tim was going to college at Rutgers University. He drove the car for two years, “replacing lots of starters,” he said.
“They inherited it from me,” Tim said. “It sat in their garage until they moved down here and it came with them.”
The McNamaras moved to Inman in 1991. Marilyn and her husband, Ray, became members of the Southeast British Motorcar Club in Spartanburg and began doing the festival in 1996. Their Triumph won top prize in their category in 2000 and again in 2005.
Festival-goers could also do other things besides look at cars Saturday. There were art galleries with car pictures, barbecue for sale, tours of the BMW museum and all sorts of vendors.
But the cars were the main attraction, and it wasn't easy to pick a favorite.
Arlene Hoffman came to the festival from Ninety-Six. She attended with her grandson Austin Papp. When asked what his favorite car was, Papp pointed to Jones' Triumph.
His grandmother smiled and was quick to note, “The last car you see is always your favorite car.”
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Classic Cars Selling Better Than Today's
From Easier Cars: Classic car attraction
Britain’s motorists are increasingly enjoying a love-in with the days of old, with booming interest in getting behind the wheel of a classic car.
Whilst private new car sales are floundering*, specialist classic car auction company Historics at Brooklands reports a bullish market, particularly amongst first-time buyers of a retro set of wheels.
“There is an undisputable financial argument against buying even a modest newish car if it’s not driven a great deal, as it can suffer high insurance and maintenance costs and continuing depreciation,” says Historics’ Auction Director, Edward Bridger-Stille.
“In contrast, for around £5,000 you could drive from our auction an original 1970’s British sports car that will give you immense fun and low running costs, and relax in the knowledge that a good cared for car is likely to appreciate in value.”
Marcus Atkinson of classic car insurers, Hagerty International, agrees: “We have a high level of interest from first-time classic car buyers. They are attracted by the sheer enjoyment of ownership, and discover it’s a far better way of looking after a few thousand pounds than leaving it in the bank. And we can comprehensively insure a well-looked after first-time classic for under £100 per year on a limited mileage policy,” he added.
Amongst 100 fascinating classic cars and motorcycles of all ages and values lined up at Historics’ next auction on Saturday October 22nd, are a selection of perfect first-time classic buys, including a 1974 MGB GT V8 (£5,000 - £8,000), a 1976 Triumph Stag Mk. II (£4,000 - £6,000), a 1977 Jaguar XJ6 Coupé (£4,000 - £6,000) and a 1977 Reliant Scimitar GTE (£4,000 - £6,000).
And for those to whom classic car ownership also means rolled-up sleeves and spanners, the Historics’ auction provides the ideal hunting ground for a classic car requiring DIY input, from modest repairs to full restoration.
The 18-strong project car offering at the sale includes no fewer than five Bristol saloons and coupés, a 1965 MGB Roadster, a 1963 Jaguar Mk. II Saloon 3.4L Manual Overdrive and a 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series IV, all with no reserve, as well as a 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint (£8,000 - £10,000), a 1957 Wolesley 6/90 Series II (£3,000 - £5,000) and a 1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé (£15,000 - £20,000).
“Most classic car owners enjoy a level of self-maintenance of their pride and joy, from simple tinkering to major sessions burning the midnight oil,” says Bridger-Stille. “And unlike modern-day cars festooned with electronic systems, they are generally very simple and rewarding to work on,” he concluded.
For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction, visit historics.co.uk. Viewing of all Lots is possible on Friday October 21st between 10.00am – 8.00pm and on the day of sale prior to the auction commencing with automobilia at 11.30am and cars at 14:00pm. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the day of the auction.
Britain’s motorists are increasingly enjoying a love-in with the days of old, with booming interest in getting behind the wheel of a classic car.
Whilst private new car sales are floundering*, specialist classic car auction company Historics at Brooklands reports a bullish market, particularly amongst first-time buyers of a retro set of wheels.
“There is an undisputable financial argument against buying even a modest newish car if it’s not driven a great deal, as it can suffer high insurance and maintenance costs and continuing depreciation,” says Historics’ Auction Director, Edward Bridger-Stille.
“In contrast, for around £5,000 you could drive from our auction an original 1970’s British sports car that will give you immense fun and low running costs, and relax in the knowledge that a good cared for car is likely to appreciate in value.”
Marcus Atkinson of classic car insurers, Hagerty International, agrees: “We have a high level of interest from first-time classic car buyers. They are attracted by the sheer enjoyment of ownership, and discover it’s a far better way of looking after a few thousand pounds than leaving it in the bank. And we can comprehensively insure a well-looked after first-time classic for under £100 per year on a limited mileage policy,” he added.
Amongst 100 fascinating classic cars and motorcycles of all ages and values lined up at Historics’ next auction on Saturday October 22nd, are a selection of perfect first-time classic buys, including a 1974 MGB GT V8 (£5,000 - £8,000), a 1976 Triumph Stag Mk. II (£4,000 - £6,000), a 1977 Jaguar XJ6 Coupé (£4,000 - £6,000) and a 1977 Reliant Scimitar GTE (£4,000 - £6,000).
And for those to whom classic car ownership also means rolled-up sleeves and spanners, the Historics’ auction provides the ideal hunting ground for a classic car requiring DIY input, from modest repairs to full restoration.
The 18-strong project car offering at the sale includes no fewer than five Bristol saloons and coupés, a 1965 MGB Roadster, a 1963 Jaguar Mk. II Saloon 3.4L Manual Overdrive and a 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series IV, all with no reserve, as well as a 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint (£8,000 - £10,000), a 1957 Wolesley 6/90 Series II (£3,000 - £5,000) and a 1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé (£15,000 - £20,000).
“Most classic car owners enjoy a level of self-maintenance of their pride and joy, from simple tinkering to major sessions burning the midnight oil,” says Bridger-Stille. “And unlike modern-day cars festooned with electronic systems, they are generally very simple and rewarding to work on,” he concluded.
For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction, visit historics.co.uk. Viewing of all Lots is possible on Friday October 21st between 10.00am – 8.00pm and on the day of sale prior to the auction commencing with automobilia at 11.30am and cars at 14:00pm. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the day of the auction.
Nov 12, 2011, Edgewood, TX: Classic Cars Shine at Heritage Festival
From Grand Saline Sun: Classic Cars Shine at Heritage Festival
An annual highlight of the Edgewood Heritage Festival for nearly 10 years, the Classic Car Show will be the dramatic welcome entrance for visitors coming down Highway 80 on Saturday, November 12. Once visitors turn on to FM 859 they suddenly become wide-eyed at the array of shiny cars ranging from 1917 to 1982.
Antique cars, classic cars, newer models – all with the shiniest paint, most elaborate interiors and cleanest engines one could ever hope to see will be lined up for visitors to dream about and drool over. Everything from diminutive Model-T Fords to long, long Cadillacs will be on display with their owners standing by to answer questions and “talk cars.”
The show draws entries from Dallas and Fort Worth, the Metroplex cities, Paris, Kilgore, Athens, even The Woodlands near Houston. The first year 34 cars entered, and in 2009 the highest number – 160 cars -- lined up for a day of car talk.
On-site registration lineup begins at 9 am when the Festival opens for its 35th year. Early registration of car entries costs $20, and after November 10 the price goes to $25.
Active Edgewood residents and volunteers, Stephen and Marianne Goode, were asked to start the car show eight years ago, partly because of Stephen’s ownership of the auto parts store in Edgewood at that time, partly because of his passion for drag racing, and partly for his leadership in the Road Rebels Car Club.
He says, “Marianne and I do the behind-the-scenes work to get ready, but for the Festival the Road Rebels come and help everywhere. Every year we build on experience and suggestions to make it a better experience for visitors.
“People love our show. It is a day when the wives who want can shop all day long, we eat delicious food together, and the men can talk shop. We have a lot of fun!”
Prizes are awarded at 2 pm with participants serving as judges. Best of Show Car and Best of Show Truck awards will be given and plaques awarded to the Top 20 cars of the show. Door prizes will be won as well as a 50/50 raffle by the Road Rebels. Other awards include best paint job, best interior, best engine – those that are detailed and have clean chrome.
Goode notes that most of the cars have been made more road-worthy by modifications with fuel-injected engines, front suspensions, rack-and-pinion steering and rear disk brakes. Those modifications are all acceptable in the show.
Goode will not have his ’65 Mustang fastback ready for the show. It is stripped down to the bare, although it has a beautiful, brand-new engine sitting in place that he built during the time he owned the parts store. He has planned that the body will be painted some shade of red and will feature a custom black leather interior.
No longer able to race because of a severe should injury, Goode says he doesn’t have a target date for completion, “It’s a hobby and mental therapy to go along with all the physical therapy I have for my shoulder.”
One of these years that Mustang will be lined up with all the other vehicular beauties in the Edgewood Heritage Festival. Be there this year to see what drives in!
An annual highlight of the Edgewood Heritage Festival for nearly 10 years, the Classic Car Show will be the dramatic welcome entrance for visitors coming down Highway 80 on Saturday, November 12. Once visitors turn on to FM 859 they suddenly become wide-eyed at the array of shiny cars ranging from 1917 to 1982.
Antique cars, classic cars, newer models – all with the shiniest paint, most elaborate interiors and cleanest engines one could ever hope to see will be lined up for visitors to dream about and drool over. Everything from diminutive Model-T Fords to long, long Cadillacs will be on display with their owners standing by to answer questions and “talk cars.”
The show draws entries from Dallas and Fort Worth, the Metroplex cities, Paris, Kilgore, Athens, even The Woodlands near Houston. The first year 34 cars entered, and in 2009 the highest number – 160 cars -- lined up for a day of car talk.
On-site registration lineup begins at 9 am when the Festival opens for its 35th year. Early registration of car entries costs $20, and after November 10 the price goes to $25.
Active Edgewood residents and volunteers, Stephen and Marianne Goode, were asked to start the car show eight years ago, partly because of Stephen’s ownership of the auto parts store in Edgewood at that time, partly because of his passion for drag racing, and partly for his leadership in the Road Rebels Car Club.
He says, “Marianne and I do the behind-the-scenes work to get ready, but for the Festival the Road Rebels come and help everywhere. Every year we build on experience and suggestions to make it a better experience for visitors.
“People love our show. It is a day when the wives who want can shop all day long, we eat delicious food together, and the men can talk shop. We have a lot of fun!”
Prizes are awarded at 2 pm with participants serving as judges. Best of Show Car and Best of Show Truck awards will be given and plaques awarded to the Top 20 cars of the show. Door prizes will be won as well as a 50/50 raffle by the Road Rebels. Other awards include best paint job, best interior, best engine – those that are detailed and have clean chrome.
Goode notes that most of the cars have been made more road-worthy by modifications with fuel-injected engines, front suspensions, rack-and-pinion steering and rear disk brakes. Those modifications are all acceptable in the show.
Goode will not have his ’65 Mustang fastback ready for the show. It is stripped down to the bare, although it has a beautiful, brand-new engine sitting in place that he built during the time he owned the parts store. He has planned that the body will be painted some shade of red and will feature a custom black leather interior.
No longer able to race because of a severe should injury, Goode says he doesn’t have a target date for completion, “It’s a hobby and mental therapy to go along with all the physical therapy I have for my shoulder.”
One of these years that Mustang will be lined up with all the other vehicular beauties in the Edgewood Heritage Festival. Be there this year to see what drives in!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
On travel til Wednesday
I'm visiting elderly relatives in Box Elder, SD who do not have internet.
Will try to sneak out now and again to an internet cafe to post, but more than likely will not be posting until Wedneday.
Will try to sneak out now and again to an internet cafe to post, but more than likely will not be posting until Wedneday.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Charleston, SC: Classic cars rolling into capital
A yearly event in Charleston, SC. You've missed it this year, but mark it on your calendar for next year!
From DailyMail.com: Classic cars rolling into capital
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Charleston Boulevard Rod Run & Doo Wop will roar into town today, and city officials and event organizers are expecting the car show to grow significantly over last year's numbers.
At the start of this week, about 500 people had pre-registered their cars for the show, said Mark Wolford, vice president of the West Virginia Motorsports Festival. The organization is responsible for organizing the event.
Last year about 400 cars were pre-registered for the show, he said. Organizers are expecting about 1,000 cars this year, Charleston Assistant Mayor Rod Blackstone said.
Wolford said the growth of the classic car show has surpassed his expectations.
"Our goal was to get to 1,000 cars in 10 years," he said. "It's just really taken off."
This is the sixth year for the event.
Organizers can still pre-register at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort at the cruise-in that starts at 6 p.m. today, Wolford said.
Those who don't sign up today can still do so starting at 8 a.m. Thursday on Kanawha Boulevard near Haddad Riverfront Park. The registration fee is $25 a car.
But Wolford said organizers hope people will register their vehicles tonight to reduce congestion on Kanawha Boulevard on Thursday morning.
"The people that are pre-registered can pull right in and get a spot," he said.
Parking spots for cars in the show are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Rod Run & Doo Wop is the brainchild of Mayor Danny Jones. Jones, a well-known car enthusiast, said he was no longer surprised that the event continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
"I was surprised the first couple of years, but not any more," Jones said.
Jones said the idea to have the Rod Run & Doo Wop was based on nostalgia. He has been a car enthusiast since he was a teenager, he said.
"And I guess the idea for the Rod Run & Doo Wop came from my teenage years," Jones said. "I was hooked on cars then, and I'm hooked on cars now."
Jones believes the car show and events that surround it fill an entertainment vacuum in the area. There are few shows as large as the Rod Run & Doo Wop in the state or in the country, he said.
"As far as I know, we're the only city in the country that shuts down a four-lane road for a car show," he said.
Kanawha Boulevard will be closed to through traffic from Capitol Street to Clendenin Street starting at 6 p.m. today, Blackstone said.
The boulevard will be closed from Capitol Street to Ohio Avenue on the city's West Side beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Blackstone said.
One lane of westbound traffic will be open between Clendenin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue to allow people to access businesses in the area, he said.
The traffic closure will include the southbound right lane and sidewalk of the South Side Bridge at 10 a.m. Saturday. This will allow workers to prepare for the fireworks display.
At 5 p.m., the entire South Side Bridge will be closed to traffic, Blackstone said.
At 6 p.m., MacCorkle Avenue from Porter Road to U.S. 119 will be closed for the fireworks show.
Eastbound traffic from U.S. 119 will be allowed to get to Thayer and Ferry streets and up the ramp to the intersection of Bridge Road, Loudon Heights Road and the South Side Bridge until 9 p.m., Blackstone said.
However, traffic at that intersection will be permitted only to turn toward South Hills, he said.
At 9 p.m., Loudon Heights Road will be closed between Grosscup Road and the South Side Bridge. Thayer and Ferry streets will be closed to traffic in conjunction with the fireworks show, which will begin at 9:15 p.m.
Kanawha Boulevard should reopen to normal traffic sometime Sunday evening, Blackstone said.
"It really just depends on how long it takes to get all the vendors and people off the Boulevard," he said.
Blackstone said this marks the last time in 2011 that the boulevard will be shut down for an event of this magnitude.
Jones said he had heard complaints about closing the boulevard for the event.
"I know it's inconvenient, but there are alternative routes to take," he said. "And it's worth it because this brings a lot of people to our town."
From DailyMail.com: Classic cars rolling into capital
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Charleston Boulevard Rod Run & Doo Wop will roar into town today, and city officials and event organizers are expecting the car show to grow significantly over last year's numbers.
At the start of this week, about 500 people had pre-registered their cars for the show, said Mark Wolford, vice president of the West Virginia Motorsports Festival. The organization is responsible for organizing the event.
Last year about 400 cars were pre-registered for the show, he said. Organizers are expecting about 1,000 cars this year, Charleston Assistant Mayor Rod Blackstone said.
Wolford said the growth of the classic car show has surpassed his expectations.
"Our goal was to get to 1,000 cars in 10 years," he said. "It's just really taken off."
This is the sixth year for the event.
Organizers can still pre-register at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort at the cruise-in that starts at 6 p.m. today, Wolford said.
Those who don't sign up today can still do so starting at 8 a.m. Thursday on Kanawha Boulevard near Haddad Riverfront Park. The registration fee is $25 a car.
But Wolford said organizers hope people will register their vehicles tonight to reduce congestion on Kanawha Boulevard on Thursday morning.
"The people that are pre-registered can pull right in and get a spot," he said.
Parking spots for cars in the show are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Rod Run & Doo Wop is the brainchild of Mayor Danny Jones. Jones, a well-known car enthusiast, said he was no longer surprised that the event continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
"I was surprised the first couple of years, but not any more," Jones said.
Jones said the idea to have the Rod Run & Doo Wop was based on nostalgia. He has been a car enthusiast since he was a teenager, he said.
"And I guess the idea for the Rod Run & Doo Wop came from my teenage years," Jones said. "I was hooked on cars then, and I'm hooked on cars now."
Jones believes the car show and events that surround it fill an entertainment vacuum in the area. There are few shows as large as the Rod Run & Doo Wop in the state or in the country, he said.
"As far as I know, we're the only city in the country that shuts down a four-lane road for a car show," he said.
Kanawha Boulevard will be closed to through traffic from Capitol Street to Clendenin Street starting at 6 p.m. today, Blackstone said.
The boulevard will be closed from Capitol Street to Ohio Avenue on the city's West Side beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Blackstone said.
One lane of westbound traffic will be open between Clendenin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue to allow people to access businesses in the area, he said.
The traffic closure will include the southbound right lane and sidewalk of the South Side Bridge at 10 a.m. Saturday. This will allow workers to prepare for the fireworks display.
At 5 p.m., the entire South Side Bridge will be closed to traffic, Blackstone said.
At 6 p.m., MacCorkle Avenue from Porter Road to U.S. 119 will be closed for the fireworks show.
Eastbound traffic from U.S. 119 will be allowed to get to Thayer and Ferry streets and up the ramp to the intersection of Bridge Road, Loudon Heights Road and the South Side Bridge until 9 p.m., Blackstone said.
However, traffic at that intersection will be permitted only to turn toward South Hills, he said.
At 9 p.m., Loudon Heights Road will be closed between Grosscup Road and the South Side Bridge. Thayer and Ferry streets will be closed to traffic in conjunction with the fireworks show, which will begin at 9:15 p.m.
Kanawha Boulevard should reopen to normal traffic sometime Sunday evening, Blackstone said.
"It really just depends on how long it takes to get all the vendors and people off the Boulevard," he said.
Blackstone said this marks the last time in 2011 that the boulevard will be shut down for an event of this magnitude.
Jones said he had heard complaints about closing the boulevard for the event.
"I know it's inconvenient, but there are alternative routes to take," he said. "And it's worth it because this brings a lot of people to our town."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Anderson, SC, N ov 4-5, Car Show at Southern Wesleyan
From Independent Mail.com: Southern Wesleyan seeks classic cars, vendors for homecoming
CENTRAL — SWU Happy Days will be the 1950s-related theme of homecoming this year at Southern Wesleyan University.
Classic cars along with arts and craft vendors are being solicited to participate in the activities at the school's campus in Central, said Joy Bright, executive director of alumni and constituent relations.
“We are planning a large festival to celebrate with our alumni, friends and students,” she said. “We will have events on Friday and Saturday Nov. 4-5, and we invite the community's participation.”
Arts, crafts and food vendors are invited to participate by paying a $20 fee to preregister and will receive a $5 refund following setup, she said. Booths and tents must be provided by the vendor.
Along with antique cars, trucks and tractors will also be shown. Registration is also required. Check in is scheduled to happen Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to noon.
Those interested in setting up a vendor booth or participating in the car show should call Rica Rose Conover at (864) 243-4652 as soon as possible, Bright said.
“We are also having a 5K run sponsored by the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society and a free one-mile fun run for children age 10 and under,” she said. “There is a $20 per person fee for the 5K with a $15 fee for students, and T-shirts are guaranteed to preregistrants who sign up before Oct. 7.”
Proceeds from homecoming events will support Southern Wesleyan scholarships and local charities, Bright said.
“We will also have rides and inflatables for children, as our goal is to provide something for all family members,” she said.
Other events planned for Nov. 4 include a meeting of the school's national alumni board, followed by a concert by music majors at 4:30 p.m. in the Newton-Hobson Chapel on the school's campus.
Activities planned for Saturday include the 5K and fun run at 8 a.m.; a tour of the home of Southern Wesleyan President Todd Voss from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; a 10 a.m. organ recital; and a homecoming chapel service at 10:30 a.m. Reunion luncheons also are planned.
Athletic events Saturday afternoon will include a women's volleyball match with Barber Scotia College in North Carolina at 2 p.m. followed by a men's volleyball match.
A “movie on the lawn” in the evening will conclude the day's activities.
For more information about homecoming, call (864) 644-5384.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Car Collector Corner: Well preserved 1947 Pontiac Silver Streak
From The Daily Review: Car Collector Corner: Well preserved 1947 Pontiac Silver Streak
Q: Greg, I have a 1947 Silver Streak Pontiac with only 24,000 miles showing on the speedometer, but it's broken. My Pontiac has the "Straight-8" with a 3-speed manual and it runs great. You can see from the pictures I sent that all is in good shape. Could you please tell me what a fair price would be for this car? Any help you can give we be appreciated. Thanks very much, Gene Carothers.
A: Gene, from the pictures you have sent, it looks like you have a 1947 Pontiac that is in good condition considering its age. The paint, which is faded, looks original, as does the interior, which is protected by seat covers. Although the speedometer, which you admit is broken, says 24,000 miles your brake and clutch pedals show 124,000 miles to me.
The originality of your car is a main selling point, as I didn't see any major rust problems at all from your photos. The Staight-8 is known to last a long time, so mechanically you seem in good shape. For the first time in Pontiac history, 8-cylinder production exceeded 6-cylinder models in 1947. The Straight-8 came in a size of 248 cubic-inches and delivered 103-horsepower.
In doing research on the 1947 Silver Streak 4-door sedan, I checked some prices in Auto Roundup, Hemmings and the NADA Classic Car Price Guide. There are a few models like yours with better paint selling for $9,500, while the NADA Classic Car guide lists your Pontiac at between $7,900 and $12,300, which is a low retail to an average retail. I'd say your Pontiac lies in between somewhere, but remember it will be the buyer-seller agreement that determines the final price. If you are selling, I'd start at $9,000 and go from there. The high retail, which is for excellent or restored 1947s, lists at $18,900.
Overall, you have a fine condition, 100-percent original Pontiac on your hands, and I'm sure there's a Pontiac collector out there who would love to see it. You also may want to contemplate a new paint job, as the monies invested might come back to you in a higher selling price, but remember there are no guarantees in this hobby.
Let our readers know if you sell, and thanks for the photos.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Topeka, KS: Building to house classic cars
From CJOnline.com: Building to house classic cars
Two local businessmen have joined forces to give classic car enthusiasts a place to store their vehicles and bond.
Daryl Craft and Mike Fox recently opened M&D Classics Storage at 129 N. Kansas Ave.
For a fee, users can have 24-hour access to a secure, climate-controlled automobile and motorcycle storage facility.
“This is a place you can come and store your classics,” Fox said. “I have seen this in other parts of the country, but not here. I thought it would be a great fit.”
Fox contacted Craft about the idea, and the two pooled their resources to purchase the Lux Building, which was built in 1919 and used for many years as a produce company.
“This seems like a perfect use for this old building,” Craft said. “There isn’t anything else like this in Topeka.”
Besides a large space that has been airbrushed with several pin-up girls and signs to resemble an old garage, there also is a comfortable lounge featuring overstuffed chairs, a couch and a large-screen television; a room where people can play cards; and areas for light mechanical work and cars that are for sale.
The storage area has room for about 35 vehicles and 20 motorcycles, the duo said.
Fox said the two put a “substantial amount of money” into the facility, which features state-of-the-art security and Internet video, but the venture is well worth it.
“We have added something to the community, and it’s fun,” said Craft, who owns a 2005 Corvette.
“We have taken an old building and given it a use again,” said Fox, who started his collection with a 1964 Corvette in 1982.
Prices for storage start at $75 for motorcycles and $125 for vehicles.
On Tuesday, Fox and Craft watched as the finishing touches on a mural were being added by Jeff Hisey, of Air Attitude. Hisey has painted several small murals throughout the garage area. Fox knew of Hisey’s talents because he was responsible for the murals at the Celtic Fox, 118 S.W. 8th, which Fox owns. Fox also owns Fox Builders.
So far, the building serves as a storage facility for four Corvettes, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 1958 Chevrolet Impala and a Harley Davidson Road King.
Fox and Craft hope the storage area will allow for car shows in the cold, winter months. They have plans for other activities in the future.
Craft, president of GTRUST Financial Partners, and Fox also worked together to complete a $3.2 million renovation project at 900 S. Kansas Ave. The building, which was renovated into executive suites, was approved for the National Register of Historic Places.
To renovate the Lux Building, Craft and Fox added fresh paint, new lighting, leveled floors and removed blocks from windows to allow more light to flow into the storage area.
After serving as a produce company, the building also has been home to a liquor distributor and a fastener company, Fox said.
For information on M&D Classics Storage, call (785) 806-3803.
How To Cheat The Classic Car Market
Sabotage Times: How To Cheat The Classic Car Market
Everyone would like the Porsche that James Dean drove, or a classic C Type Jaguar, but unless you're a very rich man then there is no chance. So why not get an exact replica for a fraction of the price? Go on, you know it makes sense...
Talk to a car dealer with half a brain and a nice line in sales patter for long enough and he’ll tell you a car “is an extension of your personality”. Sounds like bollocks but the sentiment makes sense. We all know that the next big purchase after a house is a jam jar so it’s a serious commitment. As such it needs to say something about you.
Motoring marketing is all about image. Not the same image but image nevertheless. Safe and sound is an image, the same way cool and smooth is an image. Not having an image is even an image.
Having worked with a bunch of car brands (as an Ad man) I’ve experienced, first hand, their thoughts and shared their vision. Sometimes it’s inspiring. Other times it’s difficult to keep a straight face. Often you wonder what planet they’re on.
In my experience genuinely “cool” people don’t drive a shiny new MINI or Fiat 500. Or a BMW convertible or a Jaguar XKR. They drive an old Volvo or Mercedes estate. Or some thing dirty and different, with personality.
After all who wants to look like everyone else?
I guess this is one of the reasons the Classic Car market is going Radio Rental. Business has never been so brisk. 18 months ago, when the interest rates crashed to sod all and there was no point keeping money in a bank (which might go bust itself) the smart money moved to automotive investment. For a fraction of the price of a new Ford Mondeo you can find yourself sitting in a Mercedes 300SL (like one Richard Gere drives in American Gigolo) or a very classy Bentley T2 or a super stylish Jaguar XJS.
Given that so many people spend so much time at work (and don’t use their cars for much of the week) it makes little difference that a weekend indulgence might do 15mpg instead of 40mpg. Across a year it might add up to a just a few hundred quid more, so who gives a Monkey’s? Insurance is cheap and running costs shouldn’t crucify you if you’re careful.
What if you fancy making a statement that screams so much more than simply “Look at me” but you haven’t got the mega-bucks to back up the claim?
There is an answer.
Some classic cars that have soared in value so much their cost has entered the realm of surrealism. Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay might think little of dropping half a bar on a Gullwing Mercedes or 60s Bentley Continental convertible but even his indulgence is put to shame by the likes of Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who reputedly spent over £20M on one of the Ferraris in his collection…and he’s got several garages full of them, most resprayed arctic white and retrimmed in baby blue leather. Nice.
£20M for a car sounds crazy but it might not be. It could be a shrewd buy. Analyse classic car prices and you’ll spot trends. What’s in an and out of fashion. It has a lot to do with the age of people with money to burn (or invest). If a minted 50-year-old Investment Banker or Captain of Industry fancies a flutter, odds are he’s going to remember what excited him as a kid. Maybe this is why so many supercars from the 60s and 70s are so sought after.
Back to reality and the man on the street.
If you are intent on making a big impression and don’t have the millions it’ll take, cheat. You won’t be hurting anyone but you will be laughing to yourself. And having furious fun. Here’s what you do. You find a classic car that you love, adore and lust after but can’t afford. Then you find an exact recreation of that same car. We’ve all seem the Porsche 550 Spyder James Dean died in. An original will be way out of reach, even if you can find one, but a replica will cost between £12K and £20K depending on specification. It’s the same shape and a similar driving sensation to the real thing. Similarly a replica of the iconic Porsche 356 Speedster is a jaw-dropping piece of pure excitement.
In 1953 Duncan Hamilton averaged over 100mph for 24 hours in a C Type Jaguar to set a new world record. This is an absolutely amazing car with no roof and tiny aero-screens. Only a few C Types were built and only a handful of those constructed have survived. As a result, today a genuine C Type will fetch around £2M at auction. Buy a Proteus recreation and it’s most likely you’ll have everyone fooled as it’s pretty much identical to an original. A second hand GRP Proteus C Type is hand built and will cost you around £40K.
Admittedly not loose change, but worth every penny when you get behind the wheel, put your goggles on and slam your foot on the floor. The beautiful burble of the exhaust. The blast of wind in your face. The sharp kick in your back.
The most quintessential British Sports car must be an AC Ace. Discreet. Subtle. Oozing with style and panache these magical machines are currently achieving around £250K if you can find one! Find yourself a Hawk AC Ace and you’ll be saving yourself well over £200K and fooling everyone. Their attention to detail is hugely deceptive. They look just like an original and drive very much like the real thing too.
Over the past 20 years Frant based Hawk have built themselves an international reputation as the best in the business when it comes to AC replicas. Their AC Ace, 289 Cobra and 427 Cobra reproductions are the bees. Founder Gerry Hawkridge is acknowledged as a global guru. So much so that when you visit the collection of outbuildings loosed described as his “factory” there’ll probably be a genuine Cobra being worked on. This is where authenticity meets anorak.
Gerry’s cars are exactly the same as the cars built 50 years ago. A genuine 427 will set you back the best part of £1M. Gerry’s Hawk Cobra 427 will cost anything from £50K to £100K depending on the specification and engine set up. These monsters are so pumped up they look like Al Capone with a facelift. Low, fat, bulbous and achingly beautiful. Menacing and oh so macho.
Hawk’s 289 Cobra is a little less flashy and a lot more understated than a 427. Identical to an original that you’ll find (if you look hard enough) for around £350K this beauty will set you back around around £50K.
Talking of flashy…
Ferrari’s drop dead Daytona from the early 70s is a joy to behold.
Sleek and sexy like only a Ferrari can be. A real Daytona convertible will be well over £500K yet there’s (near) rivet perfect replicas out there for less than £50K. It’ll look like it’s off the set of Miami Vice. In fact the Daytona they used in Miami Vice was a fake. They look that convincing.
One of my favourite fakes is Teal’s hand made, aluminium version of the Type 35 Bugatti from the 1920s. For many this epitomises what a vintage Racing car should look like. Around a hundred of these were made by car mad maniacs at home in their garages. All hand crafted. A real Type 35 is well over £2M. A Teal Type 35 will cost around £40K. Google them. Compare the two. Try and tell the difference.
So there’s your answer.
Create a big splash. Make a loud noise. Look very, very rich. Have bundles of fun. Fake it. Cheat.
Consider it an extension of your personality.
Everyone would like the Porsche that James Dean drove, or a classic C Type Jaguar, but unless you're a very rich man then there is no chance. So why not get an exact replica for a fraction of the price? Go on, you know it makes sense...
Talk to a car dealer with half a brain and a nice line in sales patter for long enough and he’ll tell you a car “is an extension of your personality”. Sounds like bollocks but the sentiment makes sense. We all know that the next big purchase after a house is a jam jar so it’s a serious commitment. As such it needs to say something about you.
Motoring marketing is all about image. Not the same image but image nevertheless. Safe and sound is an image, the same way cool and smooth is an image. Not having an image is even an image.
Having worked with a bunch of car brands (as an Ad man) I’ve experienced, first hand, their thoughts and shared their vision. Sometimes it’s inspiring. Other times it’s difficult to keep a straight face. Often you wonder what planet they’re on.
In my experience genuinely “cool” people don’t drive a shiny new MINI or Fiat 500. Or a BMW convertible or a Jaguar XKR. They drive an old Volvo or Mercedes estate. Or some thing dirty and different, with personality.
After all who wants to look like everyone else?
I guess this is one of the reasons the Classic Car market is going Radio Rental. Business has never been so brisk. 18 months ago, when the interest rates crashed to sod all and there was no point keeping money in a bank (which might go bust itself) the smart money moved to automotive investment. For a fraction of the price of a new Ford Mondeo you can find yourself sitting in a Mercedes 300SL (like one Richard Gere drives in American Gigolo) or a very classy Bentley T2 or a super stylish Jaguar XJS.
Given that so many people spend so much time at work (and don’t use their cars for much of the week) it makes little difference that a weekend indulgence might do 15mpg instead of 40mpg. Across a year it might add up to a just a few hundred quid more, so who gives a Monkey’s? Insurance is cheap and running costs shouldn’t crucify you if you’re careful.
DJ Chris Evans reputedly spent over £20M on one of the Ferraris in his collection…and he’s got several garages full of them, most resprayed arctic white and retrimmed in baby blue leather. Nice.
What if you fancy making a statement that screams so much more than simply “Look at me” but you haven’t got the mega-bucks to back up the claim?
There is an answer.
Some classic cars that have soared in value so much their cost has entered the realm of surrealism. Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay might think little of dropping half a bar on a Gullwing Mercedes or 60s Bentley Continental convertible but even his indulgence is put to shame by the likes of Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who reputedly spent over £20M on one of the Ferraris in his collection…and he’s got several garages full of them, most resprayed arctic white and retrimmed in baby blue leather. Nice.
£20M for a car sounds crazy but it might not be. It could be a shrewd buy. Analyse classic car prices and you’ll spot trends. What’s in an and out of fashion. It has a lot to do with the age of people with money to burn (or invest). If a minted 50-year-old Investment Banker or Captain of Industry fancies a flutter, odds are he’s going to remember what excited him as a kid. Maybe this is why so many supercars from the 60s and 70s are so sought after.
Back to reality and the man on the street.
If you are intent on making a big impression and don’t have the millions it’ll take, cheat. You won’t be hurting anyone but you will be laughing to yourself. And having furious fun. Here’s what you do. You find a classic car that you love, adore and lust after but can’t afford. Then you find an exact recreation of that same car. We’ve all seem the Porsche 550 Spyder James Dean died in. An original will be way out of reach, even if you can find one, but a replica will cost between £12K and £20K depending on specification. It’s the same shape and a similar driving sensation to the real thing. Similarly a replica of the iconic Porsche 356 Speedster is a jaw-dropping piece of pure excitement.
Find yourself a Hawk AC Ace and you’ll be saving yourself well over £200K and fooling everyone. Their attention to detail is hugely deceptive. They look just like an original and drive very much like the real thing too.
In 1953 Duncan Hamilton averaged over 100mph for 24 hours in a C Type Jaguar to set a new world record. This is an absolutely amazing car with no roof and tiny aero-screens. Only a few C Types were built and only a handful of those constructed have survived. As a result, today a genuine C Type will fetch around £2M at auction. Buy a Proteus recreation and it’s most likely you’ll have everyone fooled as it’s pretty much identical to an original. A second hand GRP Proteus C Type is hand built and will cost you around £40K.
Admittedly not loose change, but worth every penny when you get behind the wheel, put your goggles on and slam your foot on the floor. The beautiful burble of the exhaust. The blast of wind in your face. The sharp kick in your back.
The most quintessential British Sports car must be an AC Ace. Discreet. Subtle. Oozing with style and panache these magical machines are currently achieving around £250K if you can find one! Find yourself a Hawk AC Ace and you’ll be saving yourself well over £200K and fooling everyone. Their attention to detail is hugely deceptive. They look just like an original and drive very much like the real thing too.
Over the past 20 years Frant based Hawk have built themselves an international reputation as the best in the business when it comes to AC replicas. Their AC Ace, 289 Cobra and 427 Cobra reproductions are the bees. Founder Gerry Hawkridge is acknowledged as a global guru. So much so that when you visit the collection of outbuildings loosed described as his “factory” there’ll probably be a genuine Cobra being worked on. This is where authenticity meets anorak.
Gerry’s cars are exactly the same as the cars built 50 years ago. A genuine 427 will set you back the best part of £1M. Gerry’s Hawk Cobra 427 will cost anything from £50K to £100K depending on the specification and engine set up. These monsters are so pumped up they look like Al Capone with a facelift. Low, fat, bulbous and achingly beautiful. Menacing and oh so macho.
A real Daytona convertible will be well over £500K yet there’s (near) rivet perfect replicas out there for less than £50K. It’ll look like it’s off the set of Miami Vice. In fact the Daytona they used in Miami Vice was a fake. They look that convincing.
Hawk’s 289 Cobra is a little less flashy and a lot more understated than a 427. Identical to an original that you’ll find (if you look hard enough) for around £350K this beauty will set you back around around £50K.
Talking of flashy…
Ferrari’s drop dead Daytona from the early 70s is a joy to behold.
Sleek and sexy like only a Ferrari can be. A real Daytona convertible will be well over £500K yet there’s (near) rivet perfect replicas out there for less than £50K. It’ll look like it’s off the set of Miami Vice. In fact the Daytona they used in Miami Vice was a fake. They look that convincing.
One of my favourite fakes is Teal’s hand made, aluminium version of the Type 35 Bugatti from the 1920s. For many this epitomises what a vintage Racing car should look like. Around a hundred of these were made by car mad maniacs at home in their garages. All hand crafted. A real Type 35 is well over £2M. A Teal Type 35 will cost around £40K. Google them. Compare the two. Try and tell the difference.
So there’s your answer.
Create a big splash. Make a loud noise. Look very, very rich. Have bundles of fun. Fake it. Cheat.
Consider it an extension of your personality.
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