Monthly Archives: March 2014

Auto Factoids for Week of March 30, 2014

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Here is your weekly Auto Factoids for 3/30/2014.

 

April Fool’s Day back in 1964 the Plymouth Barracuda was introduced.

1964 Barracuda

1964 Barracuda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base price for a ’64 ‘Cuda was about $2,500.   The platform was the Valiant A-Body.  The engine choices were between two variations of the Chrysler I6 (slant 6), either the 170 (2.8L) rated at 101 hp or the 255 (3.7L) with 140 hp.  You could also get a V8, that was the 273 (4.5L) and with a two barrel carb it produced 180 hp.

 

Lot of Color Options!!!!

Lot of Color Options!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same date back in 1970 the AMC proudly  debuted what was perhaps the homeliest car of the era – the Gremlin.

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again on April 1st, what was a innovated car for its time the Amphicar in 1961 was all car and part boat, was introduced.  These babies are sought after aggressively.

Love the fins!!!

Love the fins!!!

Engine - 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

Engine – 1147 cc straight-4 (Triumph)

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between '61-'68

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Walter P. Chrysler who was born in 1875, on April 2nd.  Wonder what he would have to say about government bailouts and Fiat?

Walter Chrysler

Walter Chrysler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular production began of air-filled tires by Firestone on April 5, 1923.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Corvette Museum Sinkhole Update 3/31/2014

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Look as though they will be attempting to pull out the Corvette Spider from the Sinkhole.

 

 

Digging out the Spider

Digging out the Spider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The car was secured with straps attached to the other crane.  They attempted to pull it out, but still too much dirt on the car.

Shoveling it off with the huge shovel/backhole.

 

Stay tuned for more updates.

Tim

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of March 23, 2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week.

Back in 1863 Mr. Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, England on March 27th.

 

Mr. Royce

Mr. Royce

The Royce 10

The Royce 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royce 10 was a 10 horse powered car.  It was produced at the Trafford Park, Manchester plant in 1904 and sold fro 395 British pounds.  You could a variety of ‘power plants’ for this first offering.  Those included 15, 20 and 30 hp models.  (They were named the Royce 15, Royce 20 and Royce 30.

 

On March 29, 1980 Audi debuts the first all wheel drive (4 WD) Quattro.

1980 Quattro - Not a bad looking car at that!!!

1980 Quattro – Not a bad looking car at that!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor an Auto Factoid drop me a note and your ad appear weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 vs. Porsche 911 Turbo S vs. Nissan GT-R Comparison – Motor Trend

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Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 vs. Porsche 911 Turbo S vs. Nissan GT-R Comparison – Motor Trend.

So let’s see the Camaro got spanked at the drag strip.  I get it.  It wasn’t designed for straight stretch racing, so what’s the point Motor Trend?  Why not take a Prius and run it against the Lotus?  Oh….what?  The Prius isn’t a race car?  Huh…go figure!!

But I will say it wasn’t too shabby on the strip!!  The Z/28 ran 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 117.2 mph.   But it couldn’t compete with 2.7 to to 60 and 11 second @ 125 MPH (GTR) nor 2.6/10.9@ 123 MPH (911)

The Z28 and some other cars.

The Z28 and some other cars.

If you read further they complained about “racing’ tire peformance…wait for it….in 290 temps.  Seriously…read it yourself, it’s right there!!

I autocross my C6 here in beautiful…and HOT Arizona and you have to have meat that sticks (tires).  I don’t plan on taking the car up to the mountains and have it hang on to corners in the snow… much less  below freezing temps with the tires meant for track duty.

I agree with the conclusion that the Z/28 is “… a race car for the street. It’s got Recaro buckets, Pankl connecting rods, Mahle pistons, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes (co-developed and shared with the upcoming Z06), and Multimatic dynamic spool valve shocks. But it’s not just a name-brand collection of parts, and the Z/28 is no tuner. It stands as one of absolutely the best track-focused cars in the world.”…..except that last part – I say  it was 2nd best next to the Corvette.

 

While I love the nostalgia that comes to mind when I see this Camaro and the Z/28 badging, I don’t think I’d spend $75K on it.  I just jump up to the  C7 Corvette Sting Ray and be done with it.

What about you?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

z28 camaro

History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA

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History Cars: 1984 BUGATTI TYPE 105 CONCEPT ~ AUTOKAVLA.

 

Bugattii 105

Bugattii 105

The 1984 Bugatti Type 105 is a 4-wheeled what if, the car isn’t real of course and is the work of designer Nikita Bridan, though it has to be said, Nikita did a great job of capturing early-80s automotive design. His backstory for the Bugatti Type 105 is below in full:
The Bugatti type 105 was the last attempt to restart the company by Roland Bugatti and its road cars. An attempt to create the first digital super car, it featured extensive computer assists and software to keep the car in control. During early prototype road tests, feedback from reviewers was horrible.
Citing a huge lack of feedback and a lack of consistency in the assists, led to the car having horrible dynamics.This eventually sealed the fate of the type 105, Bugatti laid dormant until the 110 EB.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Timbugatti 105bugatti 105

North Country Corvettes – NCoCC Plastic Fantastic XXXVII

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NCoCC.

They have been holding this Plastic Fantastic  car show for 37 years (the oldest and largest Corvette show…ever!!!)

Looks like a blast!!!!!

Plastic Flyer 2014 - mailer 01-15-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The proceeds go to support the club charity, the San Diego USO.

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

Thanks To The International Viewers!!!

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Greetings.

I was sorting through the data on the AGCRMR site and took a look at the viewers for today.

It was very cool to see that car lovers from all over the world take time out of their busy day to stop by my blog and read some of the posts. So here’s a SHOUT OUT  all the international car junkies that stopped by today.

So a HUGE “THANKS” to registered viewers:

Thanks/Merci – Canada!!

Graças – Portugal!!

Tack – Sweden!!

Merci – France!!

Gracias – Brazil!!

Thanks – England!!

Dzięki – Poland!!

Dank – Germany (where my son some born)!!!

Feel free to post up a note and just say “Hey” or find me on Facebook – Average Guys Car Restoration Mods and Racing (AGCRMR) and send me a few pics of your ride!!!! Doesn’t even have to be your ride (Pls NO JOY RIDING Innocent !!!)

Question of the Day:  Is it a Joy Ride if you don’t smile while you are driving it?

BTW – these are registered viewers, not spam and we NEVER every share names nor personal data.

Regards

Tim

 

1984 C4

1984 C4

2007 C6

2007 C6

1970 Mustang

1970 Mustang

 

Auto Factoids for Week of 3/16/2014

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Another week gone and March Madness in upon us.  Nope you are going to find any brackets here, just your Auto Factoids for the week.

Big day on the 17th of March.  That’s when Geneva attendees were treated to the first of what would become world iconic car.   The Porsche debuted back in 1949. Volkswagen or not it is still going strong.

1949 Publicity shot

1949 Publicity shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Porsche was in production a few year before this debut.  Most of the first Porsche’s contained Volkswagen parts, as the Beetle was the first car the Porsche built.

 

A few years before the Porsche debut (about 115 –  1834) Gottlieb Daimler was born in Germany on the 17th of March.

 

Two more March birthdays show up on a search. Those are for Rudolf Diesel in Paris in 1858 and Andy Granatelli in Dallas, TX in 1923, whom just passed way on Dec 29, 2013.

 

RIP

RIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Andy Granatelli

Anthony “Andy” Granatelli (March 18, 1923 – December 29, 2013) was the CEO of STP (motor oil company) and a major figure in automobile …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parkinglot Spot Light – 1980 Firebird TA 4.9

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Head in to the store for my second time today (happens when you don’t  follow the list as close as you as should) and I spotted this iconic car, the one, the only Firebird Trans Am.

I’m not sure why I took the pics like this – maybe balancing the bag of groceries and my Android and an impact.

 

 

IMG_20140316_113144_404 IMG_20140316_113147_246 IMG_20140316_113155_988 IMG_20140316_113210_740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly this car is a driver and that is perfect in my book.   Love the original honeycomb wheels and that hood scoop!!!  That 4.9 on the scoop indicates there might be a turbo under that bird sticker!!!!

Should look something like this:

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

4.9L T/A Pontiac V8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The choices were the 4.9L T/A Pontiac V8, the Chevrolet 5.0L V8 and 1981 the highly desirable 4.9L Turbocharged Pontiac V8.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Corrections & Amplifications

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in the first “Smokey and the Bandit” movie was a 1977 model. An Arena article on Friday about car movies incorrectly said the car was a 1976 model. In the movie, it was intended to be a 1977, although car buffs …
“Smokey and The Bandit” Fans, NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart Is Bringing It Back

The six-part web series has Stewart channeling his inner Burt Reynolds complete with an enormous mustache that would make any man jealous. He’s also got the iconic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am to play with and the hat to make the transformation complete.