Saturday, January 13, 2007
1 of 1 Shelby prototype, AC 3000 ME
One was made, http://www.polybushings.com/pages/3000.html for details. I first learned of it on the Peterson Auto Museum website that displayed the Shelby tribute.
Cragar makes special edition cars
For now the Mustang and the Challenger. Mustang can be seen on their website http://www.cragar.com/default.asp and the Cragar Challenger can be seen in the Feb 2007 Musclecar Enthusiast magazine (which I recommend you subscribe to as well, it's really good http://www.musclecarenthusiast.com/toc.pdf
Respects to the Landy family, friends and company
Dick Landy had terminal kidney failure, I'm sad to say.
http://jalopnik.com/cars/bydate/2007/01/ is a terrific website I recommend, and I found out there. A friend and co-worker, Mike, grew up with Dick's son, and had spent a little time at the Landy company garage and has a couple of stories about the wonderful time he had there.
Dick was also prominently featured in a late 60's Cragar full page rims ads. http://www.cragar.com/default.asp
This ad appeared in a 1986 issue of Muscle Car Review. It also was for sale on www.collectorcartraderonline.com more recently, but isn't there anymore.
Friday, January 12, 2007
The Scaglietti Corvettes
http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?DocID=1014&cat=Shelby&ExhibitID=264&index=15 Gives a brief description, and I'll get into this in more detail later, but briefly... the S.D. Auto Museum had a couple incredible Ferrari's on display awhile back, and a Scaglietti Corvette was there ( and forever on my camcorder tape, before I had a digi camera) and I learned that the racecar drivers / owners who were so far from the US source for parts in the 60's while racing in Italy, tried to get something happening as a collaborative effort that would achieve race cars that could be quickly and locally repaired.
The Ferrari that was at the 1st annual San Diego Speedfest
http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?DocID=1014&cat=Shelby&ExhibitID=264&index=2
He won at Torrey Pines in 1955 in this car, now the site of the PGA Masters tournament The Buick Open, no trace of the race track exists other than the photos on the website http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/TorreyPinesHome.html .
He won at Torrey Pines in 1955 in this car, now the site of the PGA Masters tournament The Buick Open, no trace of the race track exists other than the photos on the website http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/TorreyPinesHome.html .
Shelby, only person to work with each of the big 3, in developing performance cars
"A crowning achievement in Shelby’s life is the development of the Shelby Series I, powered by an Oldsmobile V-8. This association with GM and Oldsmobile made Shelby the first person ever to be involved in the development of performance cars for all of the Big Three automakers." That would be Ford, for the AC Cobra / Cobra Mustang GT 350/500 , Chrysler for the GLH / GLHS / Viper ( http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/goes-like-hell-shelby-glhs-cool.html#links ) , and GM for the Shelby Series 1 powered by Oldsmobile.
AMX-3 no longer resides in San Diego Museum
I talked to the director of the San Diego Auto Museum http://www.sdautomuseum.org/ in Balboa Park, and he took the position about 18 months ago. The AMX-3 wasn't in the museum's collection then or since. Damn. Love that design. He thinks it may be at the Peterson Auto Museum http://www.petersen.org/ in Pomona.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/beautiful-amx-3.html#links
The website for the Peterson Museum is especially nice, trust a guy who spends lots of time in front of the laptop, and you can browse through most of the cars on display in a slideshow style. Worth it! I was looking there to learn about it for this entry and just realized how much time I'd spent looking and reading. http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?DocID=1008&cat=The%20Bruce%20Meyer%20Hot%20Rod%20Gallery&ID=350&index=1
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/beautiful-amx-3.html#links
The website for the Peterson Museum is especially nice, trust a guy who spends lots of time in front of the laptop, and you can browse through most of the cars on display in a slideshow style. Worth it! I was looking there to learn about it for this entry and just realized how much time I'd spent looking and reading. http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?DocID=1008&cat=The%20Bruce%20Meyer%20Hot%20Rod%20Gallery&ID=350&index=1
Thursday, January 11, 2007
How men and women change the cars oil differently
Women
1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube.
2) Go next door for Starbucks.
3) 30 minutes later leave with a properly maintained vehicle, and Starbucks fix appeased.
Money spent:
Oil Change $20.00
Coffee $4.00
Total $24.00
I know this is true, girlfriends have always done things this way, smart, practical, and clean. Just like the one terrific girlfriend I've had, miss you Bev!
Men
1) Wait until the weekend and buy a case of oil and oil filter, (PH-8A) http://www.fram.com/partsCatalog/index.php Nice!
2) Buy a 12pk of beer for the garage minifridge.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Spend 10 minutes looking for floor jack and jack stands. Jack car up.
5) Find drain pan.
6) Place drain pan under engine.
7) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
8) Unscrew drain plug, dropping drain plug in pan of hot oil; splash hot oil on face and arms in process. Cuss.
9) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off face and arms. Throw cat litter on spilled oil.
10) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
11) Spend 5 minutes looking for cool toothed oil filter wrench.
(Forgot I loaned it out)
12) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
13) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Scatter more cat litter under car, drink a beer.
14) Buddy shows up; finish beers with him. Decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage door opener work.
15) Sunday: Drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car. Oil slops out of the pan all over the garage floor. Empty remains into 20lb cat litter jug.
16) Throw cat litter on oil, rub it in with a shorty 2x4.
17) Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
18) Install new oil filter properly applying a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
19) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
20) Remember drain plug from step 15.
21) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
22) Remember the used oil is in 20lb cat litter pouring jug with drain plug.
23) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now pooled on the floor. Throw more cat litter on oil spill.
24) Crawl under car getting oily cat litter on everything clean. Slip with wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.
25) Bang head on K-member in reaction to step 31, begin cussing fit.
26) Throw stupid wrench. Wrench carooms off wall, disappears out garage door.
27) Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench is now lost.
28) Clean up hands and forehead and bandages as required to stop blood flow.
29) Dump in eight fresh quarts of oil. (loving every drop that is going to stay in that deep pan that requires annual JB weld treatment 'cause it hangs so low.)
30) Lower car from jack stands.
31) Accidentally crush remaining 3 quarts of new motor oil.
32) Move car back to apply more cat litter to fresh oil spill.
33) Document my madness here on the website for posterity.
Money spent:
Parts $35.00
Beer $16.00
New 9/16 ths wrench $6.99
Total -- $58.00
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=129398&page=7 good website
1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube.
2) Go next door for Starbucks.
3) 30 minutes later leave with a properly maintained vehicle, and Starbucks fix appeased.
Money spent:
Oil Change $20.00
Coffee $4.00
Total $24.00
I know this is true, girlfriends have always done things this way, smart, practical, and clean. Just like the one terrific girlfriend I've had, miss you Bev!
Men
1) Wait until the weekend and buy a case of oil and oil filter, (PH-8A) http://www.fram.com/partsCatalog/index.php Nice!
2) Buy a 12pk of beer for the garage minifridge.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Spend 10 minutes looking for floor jack and jack stands. Jack car up.
5) Find drain pan.
6) Place drain pan under engine.
7) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
8) Unscrew drain plug, dropping drain plug in pan of hot oil; splash hot oil on face and arms in process. Cuss.
9) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off face and arms. Throw cat litter on spilled oil.
10) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
11) Spend 5 minutes looking for cool toothed oil filter wrench.
(Forgot I loaned it out)12) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
13) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Scatter more cat litter under car, drink a beer.
14) Buddy shows up; finish beers with him. Decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage door opener work.
15) Sunday: Drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car. Oil slops out of the pan all over the garage floor. Empty remains into 20lb cat litter jug.
16) Throw cat litter on oil, rub it in with a shorty 2x4.
17) Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
18) Install new oil filter properly applying a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
19) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
20) Remember drain plug from step 15.
21) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
22) Remember the used oil is in 20lb cat litter pouring jug with drain plug.
23) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now pooled on the floor. Throw more cat litter on oil spill.
24) Crawl under car getting oily cat litter on everything clean. Slip with wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.
25) Bang head on K-member in reaction to step 31, begin cussing fit.
26) Throw stupid wrench. Wrench carooms off wall, disappears out garage door.
27) Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench is now lost.
28) Clean up hands and forehead and bandages as required to stop blood flow.
29) Dump in eight fresh quarts of oil. (loving every drop that is going to stay in that deep pan that requires annual JB weld treatment 'cause it hangs so low.)
30) Lower car from jack stands.
31) Accidentally crush remaining 3 quarts of new motor oil.
32) Move car back to apply more cat litter to fresh oil spill.
33) Document my madness here on the website for posterity.
Money spent:
Parts $35.00
Beer $16.00
New 9/16 ths wrench $6.99
Total -- $58.00
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=129398&page=7 good website
TV show cars in a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn7I9OziEwo&eurl= for Barenaked Ladies video "One Week" that has both the Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino, and the General Lee.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Lambrghini's in San Diego
In San Diego's little Italy, around October, there is an annual Festival and though I've missed it many times, I'm gonna be there this year. Lambo's, Ferrari's, Maserati's, etc... filling streets. It's a unique car show for San Diego, of all the shows through the summer I haven't seen these makes of cars group up except at this festival. Streets full of great food, chalk art on the streets, and those marvelous sports cars. Reason enough for me to park a mile away and walk in. 'Cause the parking is not to be found for a long way on this occasion. http://www.littleitalysd.com/festa/ItalianMotorsport.asp Good website for an overview of last years event, I'll update closer to the show on specifics when they're set for the 2007 festival. For some great pics go here http://www.lamborghiniclub.com/sdpix06a.htm
Sunday, January 07, 2007
1954 Desoto Adventurer II, Body and style by Ghia
Located in the San Diego suburb of La Mesa, on El Cahon Blvd east of the 70th St intersection is a terrific car museum called "The San Diego Collection". Owned by the guy who owns Charco Construction, he really throughs a terrific show when he brings some cars to local public car shows. I saw a few he brought to the Coronado Car Show in the summer of '04.
7215 El Cahon Blvd 619 667-3136 to make sure you'll get there during business hours. Worth the trip! I've met a couple of the museum guys when they were at other San Diego car shows like the El Cahon wed night cruise. Great guys, and a terrific museum.
Sliding rear window... such a cool thing to have. In the 50's, Chyrsler was trying to wrench customers from the competition with Italian styled cars, like I mentioned in http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/12/1954-dodge-fire-arrows-up-for-auction.html#links and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/12/1958-prototype-ron-reagan-lost-his-in.html#links
For a better gallery, that I took of it outside, in 2008: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/04/desoto-concept-car-built-by-ghia-of.html
7215 El Cahon Blvd 619 667-3136 to make sure you'll get there during business hours. Worth the trip! I've met a couple of the museum guys when they were at other San Diego car shows like the El Cahon wed night cruise. Great guys, and a terrific museum.
Sliding rear window... such a cool thing to have. In the 50's, Chyrsler was trying to wrench customers from the competition with Italian styled cars, like I mentioned in http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/12/1954-dodge-fire-arrows-up-for-auction.html#links and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/12/1958-prototype-ron-reagan-lost-his-in.html#links
For a better gallery, that I took of it outside, in 2008: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/04/desoto-concept-car-built-by-ghia-of.html
Performance dealerships of the 60's
http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/general/musclecars-dealers.shtml has a good write up, I touched on this in the Mr. Norm's Hemi Dart entry, and forgot Berger Chevrolet, Royal Bobcat Pontiac, Dana Chevrolet, Saddleback Dodge, Berger Cherolet, Motion Performance, and Fred Gibb Chevrolet.
Gibb was in the know about the COPO ZL-1 camaro's and sold most of them, Royal Bobcat is mentioned in another entry for the GTO they brought to the Musclecar shootout of factory or dealership muscle. the link above has a complete description and is much better written than I could do.
Gibb was in the know about the COPO ZL-1 camaro's and sold most of them, Royal Bobcat is mentioned in another entry for the GTO they brought to the Musclecar shootout of factory or dealership muscle. the link above has a complete description and is much better written than I could do.
725 HP Dart for sale, not cheap. Mr Norm's back!
528 inch, by VanGordon racing engines. 725 Hp. Completely restored 68 Darts, the first is distinguished by the ram in the tail stripe facing backwards.
http://www.mrnorms.com/files/dealer.html is the website of the fanclub, and has the complete story and build specs for these. For anyone curious why this guy has a fan club? He had a dealership that specialized in hi-performance Mopars. He would install superchargers on 340 demons, he'd stuff 383's and 440's into darts, heck, he was the innovator that made Dodge realize that engines bigger than a 340 could sell in a dart!
His dealership was Gran Spaulding, and a special sticker would go into the window of the cars he sold, they worth about 30% more than the same car from another dealership to collectors. In the 60's there weren't many who could afford the best musclecars on the market, and there were few dealerships that catered to the few rich enough to order anything they wanted. Tasca Ford, Nickey's Chevrolet, Baldwin Motion Chevrolet, Gran Spaulding Dodge, Yenko Chevrolet.... these are off the top of my head, and not a complete list.
Most of the upgradeable parts were replaced with bigger and better, such as brakes, suspension, etc. The exhaust has electric switch cutouts
, http://www.mrnorms.com/files/sema6.jpg has a few good hi res pictures.
Fiberglass fenders, and hood, aluminum engine block and parts... this is as lightweight and best handling as they could design it.
American Chopper clips
http://turbo.discovery.com/beyond/player.html?playerId=245988601&categoryId=255529042&lineupId=14247162&clik=www_video
Good for a couple laughs, 'cause Mikey is such a goofball.
Good for a couple laughs, 'cause Mikey is such a goofball.
Best flame job in the hot rod world
Mike Lavallee in Everett Wa. invented and perfected the technique of the most realistic painted flames. I watched Mike paint a car on a Chip Foose show, "Rides" I think, or maybe "Overhaulin' " on the Discovery channel a couple of years ago, and was amazed.
The best description is here http://everything2.org/index.pl?node_id=1812342 , and Mike's website is here http://www.killerpaint.com/gallery/index.html