Monday, December 30, 2013

Vintage Fords

Vintage Ford Country Sedan car, Greene Street, Manhattan, New York
Ford Country Sedan
http://www.transportcafe.co.uk/vintage_car_photographs/classic_ford_customline_blue.jpg
Ford Customline 1956
http://www.vintageford.com/images/priest_outside_375.jpg
V12 Lincoln Zephyr
http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/featuredvehicles/ford_powered/mdmp_0504_most_popular_fords_of_the_hula_hoop/35006703/mdmp_0504_11_z%2Bmost_popular_fords_of_the_hula_hoop%2Bvintage_ford.jpg
Hula Hoop Vintage Fords
http://www.io-network.net/fredscars/images/home_1940.jpg
1940 Ford Convertible Coupe
http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/drive-on/2012/06/09/dingx-large.jpg
Ford Woody Wagon
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/vintage-black-ford-starliner--5d16711-wingsdomain-art-and-photography.jpg1960 Ford Starliner 2 door Coupe
http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/ford/ford-00236-2.jpg
1942 Ford Super Deluxe Coupe
http://neatdesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1615.jpg
1961 Ford Pinto Two-Toned Edition
Vintage Ford Motor Co. Sales Promotion Films and Ads on DVD - Click Image to Close
1960 Ford Thunderbird
http://image.streetrodderweb.com/f/events/1006sr_grand_national_roadster_show_outdoors/29164045/1006sr_05_o%2B1931_ford_model_a_sedan%2Bvintage_truck.jpg
1931 Ford Truck
http://wandrlymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/econoline-ford-420x315.jpg
Ford Econoline Van
http://www.jims59.com/FordsChryslersForeign/images/Rochester%2007%20Ford%20retractable%201957.jpg
1957 Ford "SKYLINER" Retractable Hardtop
http://pzrservices.typepad.com/vintageadvertising/images/2008/04/02/50f1big.gif
1950 Ford Ad
http://seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1955-Ford-Fairlane-Sunliner-ora-wh-le.jpg
1955 Ford Sunliner
http://image.classictrucks.com/f/events/10307168+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/0810clt_03_z%2B30th_ford_f100_supernationals%2B1960_and_1965_ford_f100.jpg
F-100 Ford Trucks
http://oldcarhaven.co.za/images/logo/logo_57fords.jpg
1957 Ford 500 and 1957 Ford Thunderbird

Source: Internet

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Car Made Completely From Bamboo


Jose Mauricio Pardo drives his bamboo vehicle through the streets of Bogota, Colombia on September 28, 2012. The vehicle, composed almost entirely of bamboo, was designed by Pardo, a Colombian plastic artist.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

The "Shoebox" Ford



Alright, many guesses, and some figured out it was a 1949 Ford, so here is the custom '49 Ford we were showing you in the previous two photos, it is known as “The Foose Ford.”

The original design for this “shoebox” Ford was published by noted custom car and Hot Wheels designer Harry Bentley Bradley, creator of the infamous Deora, in a 1983 edition of Street Rodder magazine. They caught the eye of Donn Lowe, who began in 1996 to build the car that Bradley had dreamed. The project was eventually sold to Jack Barnard and completed by the legendary Sam Foose who is the Father of Chip Foose, giving rise to the name of “The Foose Ford,” by which the car has been known ever since.

Under the hood is a 302-cubic inch GT40 crate engine from Ford Motorsports with a 1950s Cadillac-style air cleaner and Edelbrock intake, as well as Ford Racing headers. The frame incorporates a 1972 Nova front clip with Fat Man control arms and a stout Ford nine-inch rear assembly with 3.00:1 gears. The result is a car with modern engineering under classic design, which has been featured on the cover of the February 1999 issue of Rod & Custom magazine, and in 2002, it was selected to take part in the Ford Motor Company display at the world-renowned Woodward Dream Cruise.

Now THAT"S A Side Car

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Merry Christmas

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The Wreath Is On The Door

The wreath is on the door
And the snow is on the tree
God has laid His holy hands
On all that we can see.

Be quick to raise your voice
And praise what He has brought.
Keep now His love in every choice
And Christmas in every thought.

Merry Christmas

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Forbes Life Portfolio Jay Leno

Jay Leno

Jay Leno

Leno prefers the classics - like this 1932 Duesenberg SJ - to the vintage Ferraris and Lamborghinis that fetch million-dollar prices at auction. "It didn't start out to be a collection," he says. "I just bought stuff that I liked."
Jay Leno

I like cars that are interesting," Leno says. "Not all rare cars are expensive. Not all expensive cars are rare. But it's fun to be able to save them, and there are a few people around who appreciate that kind of thing."

Jay Leno
A 1965 Ford GT 350, a 427 Cobra, a 2005 Ford GT, and a 1989 Ford Festiva ("heavily modified," Jay says proudly). 
Jay Leno
From left: A 1953 Hudson Hornet coupe, a 1951 Hudson Hornet, and a 1955 Buick Roadmaster.
Jay Leno
No expense is spared to perfect the collection, Leno says. "I don't put a value on it. It's invaluable, and I maintain it as such."

"It's just a lot of work, a lot of tinkering," Leno says. "There's always something to do, so that's why they're great fun." This car is a 1950 Hispano-Suiza.
Jay Leno
"A lot of stuff I have here, it's from guys like me: guys without kids," Leno says. "This is their baby." From left: A modified Jaguar XKE, a 1954 Jaguar XKE 120M coupe, a 1954 Jaguar XKE 120 Roadster, a 1960 Triumph TR3, and a 1971 MG Midget.

"Vintage cars tend to make people happy," Leno says. "They smile. They wave. Kids point."

Front: A 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Cup Racer.
Jay Leno
A 1906 Advance tractor.  

Source: forbes.com

Pro Drivers, Jay Leno Also Struggled With The Porsche That Killed Paul Walker



By now details surrounding the death of Fast and Furious star Paul Walker last week in a Los Angeles car crash are well-known.

But what the speed freaks and pro drivers have known for years is that the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that killed Walker is notoriously difficult to drive—“dangerous” even, according to some higher-ups who work at the German automaker.

It’s “the first car in my life that I drive and I feel scared,” world rally champion and Porsche test driver Walter Rohrl told Drive magazine just before it went on sale in 2003. The concept had been unveiled at the Paris motor show in 2000 but was delayed because Rohrl, one of Porsche’s most experienced drivers, said its then-current power level was unmanageable for most ordinary drivers.
“I came back into the pits and I was white,” Rohrl said after one particularly harrowing lap on a rain-wet track.

Even when Porsche released the Carrera GT, it proved a challenging drive. Jay Leno–an acclaimed driver and expert mechanic who frequents racetracks and road rallies nationwide–spun out of control in a Carrera GT on the track at Talladega in 2005, no small thing for such an experienced driver. Leno was unavailable for comment.

A spokesman for Porsche declined to comment on the specifics of Walker’s death and on whether mechanical or driver error caused the crash. (There was another fatal Carrera GT crash at California Speedway in 2006. That case was settled out of court for $4.5 million, but it served to generate discussion that blamed Porsche for designing an especially lethal vehicle because the car does not offer electronic stability control.)

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident,” the spokesman said, noting that no Porsche employee was in the car or near it at the time of the accident. “We will cooperate fully with any investigation and any authorities who contact us.”

According to preliminary reports, Walker’s longtime friend and financial manager, Roger Rodas, was at the wheel when he apparently lost control and hit a tree with the car, which then set on fire. The crash happened at the end of a charity event organized by Rodas’s automotive tuning and racing company, Always Evolving.

Rodas reportedly acquired the red Porsche last spring and often took it to car shows. He had good reason to show it off: Porsche made the Carrera GT to rival the multi-million-dollar Ferrari Enzo for the title of the world’s fastest car. The V10 supercar produced 610 horsepower and cost $450,000 new. Fewer than 1,300 of them were made.

Source: forbes.com

Monday, December 2, 2013

1970 Plymouth Satellite Chrome

Pinned Image
Superbird Look-alike

Source: legendaryfind.com

1946 Packard Custom Super Clipper Limousine

Pinned Image
Source: legendaryfind.com

ECURIE ECOSSE GLORIES AGAIN AS BONHAMS SELLS SCOTTISH TEAM COLLECTION FOR £8.8M


ECURIE-ECOSSE-GLORIES-AGAIN-AS-BONHAMS-SELLS-SCOTTISH-TEAM-COLLECTION-FOR-£88M  All eight cars in British connoisseur Dick Skipworth's collection from the legendary Scottish team that won two consecutive Le Mans 24-Hour races in 1956 and 1957, sold at Bonhams today (1 December) for record prices.Just as they did in the 1950s, four of the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars raced ahead of their rivals.The team's 1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for no less than £2,900,000, amid auction-room applause, while their 1956 Jaguar 'Shortnose' D-Type sold for £2,600,000. Both went to a buyer in the United States.Meanwhile, the packed saleroom resounded to further applause as the Collection's Jaguar XK120 Roadster made a record £707,000.ECURIE-ECOSSE-GLORIES-AGAIN-AS-BONHAMS-SELLS-SCOTTISH-TEAM-COLLECTION-FOR-£88M  Million-pound mark-up for two-stroke truckHowever, it was the Ecurie Ecosse three-car Transporter, their unique 1960 Commer TS3 immortalized for many by the Corgi toy, which exceeded all expectations as it was sold to the same US buyer for £1,800,000 after a telephone bidding war that lasted almost 20 minutes.The 800-strong crowd in Bonhams' £30-million New Bond Street headquarters – opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson on October 24 - erupted as auctioneer Robert Brooks' hammer sealed this sale of the most valuable historic commercial vehicle ever sold at auction.Following the Ecurie Ecosse Collection's sale excitement, the spotlight turned to Ringo Starr's Facel Vega, which sold for £337,500 while seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher's Benetton-Cosworth Ford B194 went to a German museum in Boeblingen for £617,500, bringing the auction total to £16,861,630.James Knight, Bonhams' Group Motoring Director, said: 'We always knew that today's Sale had the potential to be a roaring success, but nobody quite anticipated the incredible atmosphere in the saleroom that saw so many truly historic cars go for such astounding prices.'The Jaguars especially were exceptionally popular, and I am delighted that the Transporter will still be carrying two of its original Ecurie Ecosse racing cars.'
Jaguar XK120Jaguar XK1201959 Tojeiro-Jaguar Sports-Racing Prototype1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar Sports-Racing PrototypeLe Mans SpriteLe Mans Sprite1960 Cooper Monaco-Climax ^Mark II^ Type 57 Rear-Engined Sports-Racing Prototype1960 Cooper Monaco-Climax ^Mark II^ Type 57 Rear-Engined Sports-Racing Prototype1962-63 Tojeiro EE-Buick Endurance Racing Coupe1962-63 Tojeiro EE-Buick Endurance Racing Coupe1960 Commer TS3 Three-Car Transporter1960 Commer TS3 Three-Car Transporter
 
Source:  conceptcarz.com

1914 American Underslung


The American Motor Car Company opened its showroom doors in 1905 with several different models on offer. The Underslung, with an innovative chassis riding below the axles as designed by Fred Tone and Harry Stutz, was introduced in 1907. By 1911 the company offered only the Underslung-type chassis and utilized the team as a model name with seven different body and engine configurations.



The American Underslung rode on huge 40-inch wheels, giving it a sporty appearance. And with its engine and transmission - and center of gravity - quite close to the ground, the cars handle beautifully. By 1913 the company's marketing slogan was 'The Car for the Discriminating Few,' and sadly that proved rather too true as there were few customers for it. Although new models were introduced for 1914, including this very rare Model 642, the company was in financial trouble and closed its doors after only nine years of building motorcars.





2016 Chevrolet Camaro: Smaller And Lighter? Look Out, Next-Gen Mustang



What It Is: The classic all-American four-seat performance coupe. A convertible is also a certainty. The sixth-generation model will draw inspiration from the Euro-styled second-gen Camaro RS (1970–1981).

Why It Matters: Today's model has thrived as a roomier, more affordable alternative to the Corvette, and as a source of pride to the haters of  Ford, Dodge, and imported rear-drive coupes.

Platform: The Camaro moves to GM's Alpha component set (Cadillac ATS and other future GM models) to save significant weight and cost.

Powertrain: Expect eight-, six-, and four-cylinder offerings, the last to fulfill rising mpg obligations while fighting a growing list of four-cylinder-equipped foes, including the SRT Barracuda, Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, Ford Mustang, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Competition: See above.

What Might Go Wrong: GM designers could misinterpret Camaro's thin sales lead over Mustang and neglect critically needed interior upgrades.

Estimated Arrival and Price: Late 2015 as a 2016 model, with a base price in the mid-$20,000 range. 

Source:  caranddriver.com  

2015 Buick Grand National And GNX: Two Storied Nameplates Return











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Buick wasn't always synonymous with retirement and long naps. During the dark days of the mid-1980s, Buick was GM's sunny spot for quick cars, racing prowess, and advanced technology such as in-car cell phones and touch screens. To turn fundamentally bad V-6s into viable V-8 alternatives, Buick engineers developed sequential electronic fuel injection, distributor-less ignition, and ceramic-impeller-wheel turbos.

Feeling its oats in 1984, Buick created "We Brake for Corvettes" bumper stickers celebrating an epic intramural victory: Buick's Regal Grand National could outgun Chevy's two-seater in the quarter-mile. In 1985, Indy cars powered by turbocharged Buick V-6s qualified 1-2 at the Brickyard. To seal the deal, Buick built a run of 1987-model turbocharged and intercooled GNXs; in our May 1987 issue, one proved capable of a 4.7-second 0-to-60-mph sprint and ran the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 102 mph. (C/D's test results for a 1988 Corvette: zero to 60 in 5.6 seconds, the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 95 mph.)

To put an end to the long, dull interlude that followed that era, Buick is resuscitating its two revered nameplates. The 2015 Grand National and GNX sedans will ride on GM's new rear-drive Alpha platform, which was introduced with the Cadillac ATS and is earmarked for the sixth-generation Camaro and the third-generation Cadillac CTS.

Like the ATS, Buick's GN will offer the choice of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four (currently rated at 272 horsepower) or a 3.6-liter V-6 that makes 321 horses in the ATS. The wicked GNX, available only in the official shade of evil (black), will be powered by a twin-turbo ­3.6-liter V-6 that should be good for 400 horsepower. The transmission roster will include manuals for the turbo engines and automatics across the board. The eight-speed Hydra-Matic due in 2014 should serve nicely here.

Even without the V-8 engines that are reserved for Camaros and Cadillacs, these Buick sports sedans should be capable of serious performance. By that we mean tire smoke on demand, near-neutral throttle-down handling, and acceleration figures that raise eyebrows in Bavaria. In the likely event Buick throws all-wheel drive into the mix, its new warriors will take the fight to Audi.

Family dynasties in the GM org chart reveal why Buick's hot rods easily won approval: Lloyd Reuss was Buick's general manager in the early 1980s when the Grand National and GNX seeds were planted. His son, Mark Reuss, a teenager back when Buicks ruled, is now the current president of GM North America. That infusion of fresh Reuss blood is bound to revive the brand's performance arm. 


Source:   caranddriver.com

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Classic Recreations Shelby GT350CR


Classic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick SpinClassic Recreations Shelby GT350CR: Quick Spin

Vital Stats

Engine:
7.0L V8
Power:
545 HP / 530 LB-FT
Transmission:
5-Speed Manual
0-60 Time:
3.7 Seconds
Drivetrain:
Rear-Wheel Drive
Curb Weight:
3,420 LBS
Seating:
2
Base Price:
$119,000
If you've got an itch for a classic Mustang Fastback, you may want to give Classic Recreations a call. The Oklahoma-based company, which has made a name for itself building award-winning muscle cars licensed by Shelby, recently handed me the keys to its latest creation – a prototype 1966 Shelby GT350CR (serial number SCR350-00P) with a nitrous-injected 427-cubic-inch small-block Ford Racing engine sending power to its rear wheels through a Tremec five-speed manual gearbox. Yeah, it's the sort of machinery that whets my appetite.

As you might suspect by looking at the company's name, the team starts with a standard stock 1966 Mustang Fastback and then tears it down to the chassis in preparation for a full rebuild into what they call a Shelby GT350CR. This particular restoration includes the fitment of the aforementioned 7.0-liter V8 with BBK Long Tube ceramic-coated headers, Magnaflow mufflers, coil-over suspension and rack-and-pinion power steering. Stopping power is provided by Wilwood brakes, in the form of four-piston calipers over ventilated and cross-drilled iron rotors, and the mechanical upgrades are finished off with four brightly polished 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich g-Force T/A tires (245/45ZR18 front and 275/35ZR18 rear).

Inside the passenger compartment, occupants are treated to Carroll Shelby Scat Rally Series 1000 seats, five-point Camlock belts, three-spoke aluminum woodgrain steering wheel with tilt column, a full complement of gauges and full carpeting. An Old Air Products air conditioning system blows ice-cold breezes, and a powerful audio system with external amp and subwoofer ensure a sweet background track to the V8's wild bellow.

Classic Recreations met us with its beauty in Southern California, so we turned its striped nose toward Los Angeles' classic Mulholland Highway for an evening run.

Driving Notes:
  • A brief walk-around of the Mustang before the drive reveals an attention to detail that will leave countless onlookers waving and asking questions. The metallic blue paintwork is excellent and the craftsmanship inside the engine bay, passenger cabin and trunk are show-worthy. In particular, I really like the epoxy-coated sheetmetal and satin-polished aluminum components under the hood, the functional and easy-to-read Shelby gauge cluster and the lightweight HRE wheels, which provided a nice compromise between classic and modern design.
  • It's hard not to be intimidated by the Shelby GT350CR. Its purpose-built seats, polished metal shifter and competition harnesses have me looking around for my helmet moments after buckling in (in truth, the harness really needs a pass-through in the lower cushion to fit properly). The mechanical feel of the manual lever and clutch mechanism drives the racing message home. That said, the cockpit is comfortable and spacious. Thin A-pillars provide excellent forward visibility, and the view out back is clear, but sightlines over the shoulders into the rear quarters are challenged by the blocked windows.
  • The controls are 1960s-era simple, primarily consisting of a few polished knobs that require a simple push-pull to operate and the windows manually crank. The optional NOS system, fitted to the test car, automatically engages if enabled by its red dash-mounted switch (the tank is full, but sadly I will never have an open opportunity to use it).
  • The 427-cubic-inch V8 drives and sounds every bit as good as it looks. It idles with an angry demeanor and then backs up its bark with a ferocious bite. There is plenty of power in each of the lower gears to initiate immediate wheelspin, leaving rear tire life completely up to the operator (the company quotes a 0-60 sprint of 3.7 seconds, but based on available grip, I feel that number is a bit optimistic). Kudos to Classic Recreations for putting an open side pipe on both the passenger and driver side of the car, as the two provide stereophonic rumbles and backfires reverberating throughout the cabin. While the climate control works perfectly, I would never roll up the windows for fear of suppressing the exhaust noise - it's addictive.
  • Despite the upgraded and modernized coil-over suspension with oversized sway bars and race-tuned ride on sticky BF Goodrich rubber, this Mustang is still more of a cruiser than a carver. Initial turn-in is on the slow side and the coupe drives with a large demeanor that requires plenty of anticipation in the corners. When compared to other ungainly muscle cars of its era, its handling would certainly be considered impressive, but today's multi-talented sports cars would run circles around this Pony in the canyons.
  • Classic Recreations is making only 10 of the legacy cars each year, and buyers are offered a grocery list of options to customize each to their specifications. While it wouldn't be my first choice in a canyon or race track, bring this muscle car to a drag strip, crowded boulevard, summer beach or car show and it will simply shine – we had to pull impressed gawkers away in order to leave a Mulholland overlook.