Saturday, September 07, 2024

Mike Graham got a 67 GTX when he turned 16 (in 1985) as a birthday present from his uncle... with 2 five-gal buckets of bolts to put it back together with, and no idea where everything went.’




the car was in the middle of a rebuild – with the engine sitting calmly on the floor, the transmission scattered around the car, and a couple of large buckets’ worth of bolts to play ‘guess where this part goes.’ 

Mike’s love for the GTX began with a down-to-metal sanding of the body, which he did all by himself, after school and on weekends, all throughout the winter. Nonetheless, the satisfaction he got from putting the car back together with his own hands, made the GTX  his life-long addiction.


https://www.autoevolution.com/news/he-got-married-in-1997-and-forgot-all-about-his-heirloom-1967-belvedere-gtx-until-now-239448.html#

Caterham and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have joined forces to create a unique car built from components of a decommissioned Puma HC2 helicopter.


This special edition one-off Caterham Seven 360R aims to raise over $100,000 for injured service men and women through an online auction on Collecting Cars.

This special build incorporates the helicopter’s aluminum skin, interior quilted soundproofing and military-grade switchgear. A standout feature is the authentic three-stage ignition sequence, mimicking the helicopter’s start-up process. 

An ‘easter egg’ can be found under the bonnet, where an ammunition box now contains the car’s battery.

Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its unique nature and the importance of the causes it supports. 

Cpl McCreadie and Sqn Ldr Morley from RAF Benson, who contributed to the car’s assembly, emphasized the project’s role in promoting STEM within the RAF and showcasing engineering skills. 

The winning bidder of this auction will have the opportunity to attend a formal handover of the vehicle at Thruxton Circuit on 10 October 2024. This would take place as part of a special 'takeover' event hosted by Mission Motorsport, which is a multi-disciplinary day for beneficiaries, press and sponsors. It will also be a chance to meet members of the project team and beneficiary organisations, including those from Caterham, the RAF Benson build team, and The RAF Benevolent Fund. The buyer of the RAF Caterham 360R would of course also have the opportunity to drive the car on track there, should they wish.

The car will debut at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix and be displayed at various events over the summer, with bidding set to run from August 15 to September 12.

1966 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau that Carroll Shelby gave to the father of the company’s accountant, ordered by Shelby American with the full options package and modified with Shelby-Cragar wheels, to sell in some special promotion (nothing but rims upgraded from a factory car anyone could order)



one of 10 that were ordered by Shelby American, it was specified in Candyapple Red with black leather upholstery, a 428ci V8 with transistor ignition, power windows and seats, SelectAire air conditioning, a Stereosonic tape system, heavy-duty suspension, rear fender shields, and Highway Pilot Control (cruise control that was difficult, and too unique to have interchangeable parts with other FoMoCo systems, for example, the 66 Thunderbird and 66 Continental have completely different systems and they were built on the same assembly line)




full race '78 Mini 1000 (Mk IV) is up for sale at about 20k


It was shipped to Canada where it was sold and registered as a new road vehicle and eventually made its way to the U.S.A. 

 2007 Initial Conversion to a Race Car After almost 30 years on the road this Mini was then converted by a South West Motor Sports (SWMS) Formula Ford race team in Albuquerque, New Mexico from a street legal road car to a “1972 continuation” vintage race car

The original 998cc engine (38 hp) was modified with a Cooper head, Isky race cam, Mini Spares large core radiator and a Pertronix Flame-Thrower ignition.
Other modifications to the car included:
 • front disc brakes 
• Superfin alloy rear brake drums 
• Hi-Lo adjustable suspension 
• Fuel Safe fuel cell 
• Safety Devices roll cage 
• Sparco race seat 
• 5 point race harness 
• Lexan polycarbonate side and rear windows

Friday, September 06, 2024

The inspiration for a new children's book that hit number one on the New York Times Best Seller's list came from a rusty bus in a goat pen along a bike trail







When he was 12 years old, he learned that he was colorblind. In his work, he relies on strong lighting sources, color theory, and support from his family to overcome this obstacle. 

Loren Long grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. He pursued graduate-level studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago after graduating with a BA in Graphic Design/Art Studio from the University of Kentucky.

After graduation, Long worked as an illustrator for Gibson Greeting Cards in Cincinnati eventually moving on to freelance illustration which gave him national exposure for children's books illustrations. 

Since then, Long has received numerous accolades for his fluid WPA painting style. He has been awarded two gold medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York, and has been frequently selected for their annual exhibition and book. 

His work has also appeared in many other major annual exhibitions held by such prestigious journals and magazines as American Illustration, Communication Arts, Step-By-Step Graphics and Print. Long’s clients include Time, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Boy’s Life, Land’s End, Sports Illustrated, and HBO. He has also illustrated book covers for numerous publishers and has recently concentrated on illustrating books for young readers, where his work has garnered much recognition and praise.

1922 unusual advertising gadget, a Klitter Klatter, with Willys Overland. Of all the advertising I've ever seen, this is a first




 In 1922 Irving J. Halpern introduced the Klitter-Klatter from his House of Favors company in New York City

His note to the trade read: "We respectfully submit for your approval the latest fascinating novelty, a noise making device that has created such a sensation in New York that we are swamped with inquiries from all over the states.

 Klitter-Klatter is constructed purely of wood and is a great noise making device that produces a most pleasing yet loud noise. It serves a double purpose as a most unique favor. Klitter-Klatter takes the place of hand clapping. As an advertising medium it's extremely interesting and without competition."

what the hell was Goodyear French Talc? And why was it made in India?!?!





So... a dusty way to keep repaired inner tubes from sticking to the tire? 



French Talc is a platy type talc from France. Talc is a source of magnesium for glazes. It acts as a flux and reduces firing temperature in stoneware and porcelain clay. In low fired clay bodies, it helps with glaze fit and decreases moisture absorption.


French Talc is still being used, on aircraft tires

I wondered why this building in Rohr Park, on Sweetwater Rd has a vintage airplane painted on it, there used to be a company called Rohr aircraft, and this was the Rohr Employees Recreational Club.


Ron dropped a comment just now mentioning that Rohr Aircraft has a lot to do with it!

With Fred Rohr's experience as a factory manager and developing a punch-and-die "drop hammer" system at Solar Aircraft Company, working as a sheet metal engineer at Boeing, and working at Ryan Aircraft in San Diego, Rohr started his own company, Rohr Aircraft Company, August 6, 1940.

Rohr and two former engineers from Ryan Aircraft started the company out his garage. Their first contract was with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation building Sperry bombsights, and then one for building cowlings for Lockheed. This new business soon had to get new factory space - a 37,500 square foot building.

The Market Street project, a Federal housing project, opened in 1942 to house 500 families, workers at Solar and Rohr. The one story homes were demountable, and made of a pre-fabricated plywood type of material.

By the 1950's employment at Rohr had grown faster than recreation in the Chula Vista area so the Company purchased 23 acres of land in Bonita Valley and then leased it to the Rohr Employees Recreational Club. 

The property included the main club house, a pool, small buildings, and picnic grounds. Employees paid $1 per month for use of these facilities. However in the early 1960's employment at Rohr and club membership had both dropped. The community also now had beach access, new golf clubs, parks and picnic areas that employees took advantage of. The property was sold to the City of Chula Vista but Rohr still operated the Recreational Club providing athletic and picnic equipment, golf, bowling, and fishing activities for their employees.


Fred Rohr helped revolutionize the aerospace industry in the 1930s, when he developed the first drop hammer for shaping sheets of aluminum. The drop hammer would dramatically speed up the aircraft manufacturing process, which would be vital when the United States entered World War II.

Fred Rohr founded his company on the idea that the aircraft industry would benefit from a “feeder plant” that supplied parts and assemblies to aircraft manufacturers. He believed, and later proved, that his company could make specialized components at a lower cost than the prime contractor could produce them. Rohr’s gamble would pay off, and during World War II, his company became the world's largest producer of airplane propulsion packages, making units for such aircraft as the Consolidated B-24.



thank you Ron!