Studebaker Avanti Coupe – In the Paint Booth

Ok…so it’s not a full-size Studebaker Avanti, but it was affordable.    This is a 1960’s model kit which I picked up on the Internet.

This was partially complete.

This was partly complete.

This is a motorized model, which is unique.  It was a complete kit and was partly assembled  when I purchased it.

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The bottom half of the car (rocker panels, etc.) was glued on and the electric motor was installed by a previous owner.

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A little motorized action – just add a fresh AA battery.

 

I decided to paint the body and top first before continuing with the build.  These are being sprayed painted.

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I masked off the chrome (way harder than on a full size car) and any excess paint will come of with an exacto knife.   I masked off the interior opening as that will get hand painted.

After looking at the second coat, I can see there’s going to be the need for a bit more sanding and  another coat of paint applied.

More to come this model project.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

We Want These Mad Max: Fury Road Model Cars So Badly – Photo Gallery

I’ve said it before; the Doof Wagon does it for me; I’m a music maniac, and I am a sucker for the repurposed 8 x 8 MAN Missile-Carrier packing heavy Watts cabinets. As if that wasn’t pure madness already, they also had a musician from Hell playing a
‘Dukes of Hazzard’ model cars shut down due to Confederate flag

As the debate over the Charlestown shooter spirals into a tangent on displaying the Confederate flag, private companies are beginning to stop selling it. A few days ago, Walmart and other retailers announced they would stop selling Confederate flags.

The World’s Only Jet-Powered Lakester Is For Sale

Awesome piece of speed history!!!!

 

Inspired by the German V-1 rocket.

 

Recently we told you that the fastest car ever produced is up for sale. Now, one of the most interesting looking cars in the world just hit eBay. It’s a Drop Tank Lakester and it’s 100 percent jet-powered.

The Lakester is 16 feet long and was inspired by the world’s first cruise missile, the German V-1. While it looks like it used to set records, it was built to be a show car—a driving work of art—but it can shoot six-foot flames out its tailpipe.

Here are a couple of links to another lakester I wrote about previously:

1917 Crow Lakester Custom headed to Barrett-Jackson
http://wp.me/p2YxYx-QF

The Lakester at Barrett-Jackson – The Rest of the Story
http://wp.me/p2YxYx-Vr

Thanks for reading.

Tim

lakester

Barrett-Jackson 2012: Lockheed Lakester Custom Roadster

In the sea of muscle cars and hot rods here at Barrett-Jackson, this streamlined chrome roadster really stood out as being truly unique. Constructed from the wing tip tank of a Lockheed Super Constellation airplane, the “Lockheed Lakester” is built to

Stereo Swap on A C6 Vette – Part I

Even at my age I still love cranking the music while I’m driving.  When you have a long commute, you don’t mind it as much when your tunes are on.   A couple of months ago my CD player in my 2007 C6 Vette decided to toss error message rather than belting out music.  I thought perhaps the CD was bad and changed it out.   Nope…still only read errors.  Ejected that one and tried a third and got the same result.

Ya know, radio ain’t what it use to be, it’s sad when you can go nearly half your drive hearing only one track and the rest of the trip is listen to a couple of voices attempt to entertain you and fill the ‘dead air” with totally horrible local commercials.  After programming the buttons on the receiver and about a month of actually mashing the buttons on the radio, 40 times a each way,  I decided to pick up a used stereo online and swap them out.  It only took a few minutes to find a used stereo (receiver and CD player) that coincidentally came from a 2007 Corvette and of course you trust that it works and this one did.

I hadn’t up to this date spend any time taking the dash apart on the C6 -unlike my 1970 Mustang and 1984 Corvette where I visited behind their dashboards a lot.  So I reached out across the nation, via Google to find instructions.   Needless to say there are a lot of videos out there and after the first time pulling the center dash off it’s pretty easy (yeah…I had to do that more than once).

Caution:  As with most tech laden cars, be careful of all wire connections. Highly unusual for me, I avoided all those fit falls.

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This is the lower part of the dash (ashtray cig lighter areas) opened up.  You can clearly see the back side of the cigarette lighter (maybe we should call them – power port – whole generation out there that don’t know that this luxury item is).  Additionally, there is the connection to the to a second power port and at least in most models the traction control.  Just highlighting the necessity to be careful.

In short you have to remove the consul storage lid (a few hex drivers are required for that) and the unsnap the cover for the emergency brake as well as remove the shift knob.  The rest pulls off easily…BUT…first disconnect the power ports.

There are a few screws for pulling out the cd player and receiver and you’ll need to disconnect the power and antenna.

You can find that all out on one of the online video or you tube and since this isn’t the subject matter of the post I’ll let you find the one you like.

Dropping in the replace stereo is just as easy….piece of cake!   Just before putting all the trim pieces back in I rested the CD/Receiver units and tested it.  It played for a few seconds and then “LOCKED”.   Clearly a bad sign.

Stay tuned for how the options and how I handled it.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

c6 corvette stereo replacement

Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS – Jay Leno’s Garage

The first time I understood Steve McQueen was a car guy was when I saw an image (poster I think) of him and a Jaguar with fantastic lines.

Steve McQueen’s Jaguar: Steve McQueen bought it twice – and twice had his license suspended for driving it! Jay gets an in-depth tour of the King of Cool’s “Green Rat.”

» Subscribe: http://bit.ly/JLGSubscribe
» Visit the Official Site: http://bit.ly/JLGOfficialSite

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Jaguar XKSS could be revived for limited production run

Last year, Jaguar brought one of its most legendary models back from the dead with a limited production run of the Lightweight E-Type. These were brand-new cars built to the exact specifications of the 1960s originals by Jaguar Land River’s Special …

jaguar xkss

Steve McQueen’s – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

Sticking with the Steve McQueen theme (his cars seem to be popping up all over the Internet) here is a video on his 275 GTB/4.  Great looking car!!!

This is one of Steve McQueen’s own personal cars which he bought during his time working on BULLITT. Steve absolutely loved his NART spyder until it was totaled only a couple days after purchase. So when there weren’t any more available he bought the hard top version.

 

The guy great taste in check out his 1956 Jag in the next posting.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

ferrari 275 gtb 4
Peter Klutt Collection at Gooding Pebble Beach 2015

The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Estimate Available Upon Request) will be offered without reserve. With an approximate 10,000 miles from new, this 275 GTB/4 is an original four-cam model. After being held by one family for more than 40 years, the four-cam

Steve McQueen’s Last Special Order Porsche to be Auctioned at Mecum Auctions

I admire the Porsche cars, but never felt a desire to own one.  However, if I were to pick one up to restore, I think one of these would do just fine!  Of course not the one below.

Porsche 930 Turbo Carrea

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

porsche 911 turbo 1976

Insolite : la Porsche 911 Turbo de Steve McQueen à vendre aux enchères

La Porsche 911 Turbo 1976 de Steve McQueen fera partie des lots proposés par la maison de vente aux enchères américaine Mecum Auctions, à Monterey, du 13 au 15 août. C’est dans la petite ville californienne de Monterey, aux Etats-Unis, que se …
【ビデオ】”ナロー”の超コレクター、ウォーカー氏が語る空冷「911ターボ」の魅力

ポルシェ「911」の初期型モデル、いわゆる”ナロー”のコレクターで、1964年型から73年型までの全てのモデルを最低でも1台は所有しているというマグナス・ウォーカー氏。今回は、ポルシェに目がないウォーカー氏が、最近のターゲットは「911ターボ」(930型)の初期型モデルだ、と …

 

Parking Lot Spotlight: AMC Matador Drag Car

Yes you read it correct!!!  What you see below is a rare sight.  An extremely well preserved ProStreet/Drag AMC Matador.

Sure I’ve seen AMX as a drag car and I’ve even seen a Gremblin and a Pacer with V8 shoved between the fenders, but I’ve never seen a Matador with a drag set up.  And the condition is amazing.

See for yourself.



This is the Matador X

This is the Matador X

Also referred to as Matador Series 10

Also referred to as Matador Series 10

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Control Freak Suspension specializes in AMC suspensions (and other makes).

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The Matador X was a true sub-model not just a option package.

The Matador X had only a two year run 1974 and 1975.

As best as I can tell this is a 1975 and if the 401 badge on the side is correct, the is one of four cars (two door coupes) that left the factory with those engines that year (rest of the 84 cars with that engine were 4 door…hiss….boo!!!)

I would seriously consider doing up a Matador like this!!!

Got an interesting AMC?   Drop me a note, we can get it published.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Friday Afternoon Challenge: Find A Car Name From Two Other Cars

I realized that the name, Tempo Matador, could be formed from the model names of two other notable cars, the Ford Tempo and the AMC Matador. Realizing this, I screamed like a banshee and flipped over the table at the soft-serve frogurt shop I steal my

Friday Afternoon Challenge: Find A Car Name From Two Other Cars

I realized that the name, Tempo Matador, could be formed from the model names of two other notable cars, the Ford Tempo and the AMC Matador. Realizing this, I screamed like a banshee and flipped over the table at the soft-serve frogurt shop I steal my

Scale Model Kit of the Week: Wild Custom AMC

Today, however, we’re going back in time and to Detroit — actually, to Kenosha — for a long-out-of-production AMT kit that has us cranking up the Frijid Pink and catching a buzz off the Testors fumes: this AMC Matador Coupe. Yes, the seller hopes to

1 Millionth Corvette Restoration

Craftspeople and technicians at the General Motors Design Center are painstakingly restoring the historic 1 millionth Chevrolet Corvette damaged nearly 16 months ago when a sinkhole opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.

The restoration crew is part of GM’s Mechanical Assembly group at the Design Center, which typically spends its time building prototype and concept vehicles. The white 1992 Corvette is a challenge because rather than build an all-new vehicle from the ground up, the workers are trying to preserve the original appearance of a production vehicle.

It is the second of three sinkhole-damaged Corvettes that Chevrolet has pledged to restore. The first, a 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype known as the Blue Devil, was only lightly damaged and was returned to its original condition last fall. The National Corvette Museum will oversee the restoration of the third car, a 1962 Corvette.

Five other Corvettes swallowed by the sinkhole will remain in their as-recovered state to preserve the historical significance of the cars. They will become part of a future sinkhole-themed display at the museum.

Shared from: http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/06/sinkhole-swallowed-1-millionth-corvette.html

If you are wondering  about all those signature they are original to the car when it first rolled through the assembly line.  This forced the restorers to fix parts that were originally set to be replaced completely.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#Corvette

 

Surprise discovery shifts strategy to save sinkhole Corvette

(CNN) For Corvette lovers it’s sort of like a painter being asked to touch up the “Mona Lisa.” Because — like Leonardo da Vinci’s painting — there’s only one 1 millionth Corvette. Restoring the white, 1992 LT1 convertible roadster doesn’t really come

Auto Factoids for the Week of June 7, 2015 – Plymouth and Racing Tragedy

Busy week this week this week for #AutoFactoids…. So here we go!

June 7, 1928 – First Plymouth is produced.   Some research suggest that it was actually  built on June 11, 1928.

1928 Q Code Plymouth

1928 Q Code Plymouth

It had  engineering code (or model) Q and had a 4 cylinder engine.  Check out the video on YouTube:

June 10, 1927 The Graham boys purchased what was Paige_Detroit Motor Cars.  The Grahams started out as farmers and glass bottle makers.  One of  the brothers invented a rear axle that would allow converting Ford car platforms in to light duty trucks.  Oh they are still in business – owning/running Madison Square Gardens and hosting sporting events.

Graham Page

Graham Page

June 10, 1951 Jaguar won it’s first Le Mans.  It was a C-type version of XK120

C-type  XK120

C-type XK120

June 11, 1955 Tragic day in racing history –  over 80 spectators were killed.

Here are the details from History.com

Prior to the race, Levegh complained that the course was too narrow near the pit-stop area and the grandstand. This observation proved prescient. As Levegh was racing for the lead near the pit-stop area, he swerved to avoid fellow racer Mike Hawthorn s Jaguar as it moved toward the pits. Levegh s car, going about 150 miles per hour, came up too fast on Lance Macklin s Austin-Healey and was catapulted upward. The car crashed into the grandstand and its exploding parts went straight into the crowd. Levegh and more than 80 spectators, packed into the grandstand, lost their lives in the fiery crash.

 

June 12, 1954 Packard cars are sporting tubeless tires.

1954 Packard

1954 Packard

June 12, 1975 Chrysler stops producing the Imperial.

1975 Chrysler Imperial - yes it's on the drag strip.

1975 Chrysler Imperial – yes it’s on the drag strip.

Jun 14, 1832 Nikolaus Otto is born in Holzhausen, Germany.  Famous for his patent for his 4 cycle combustion engine.

From the ZweiRad Museum Otto's 4 cycle engine.

From the ZweiRad Museum Otto’s 4 cycle engine.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

 

1957 Mini Moke at the 2015 Boca Raton Concours | Mind over Motor

Anybody want to go fishing? Well, I’m no fisherman, but I think that with this thing, it’s be difficult to justify parking it near a dock–the metal’s so thin it might just rust within a foot of the ocean. This is a 1957 Mini Moke, but it’s not just any Moke–this one’s a beach car. When it comes to beach cars, I’m used to seeing Fiat 600s with basket-weave seats and doily trim hanging off the cloth roof. This is only the second Moke I’ve seen made into a beach car (the other one was at an auction near the Quail in August of last year).

Source: 1957 Mini Moke at the 2015 Boca Raton Concours | Mind over Motor

Thanks for reading.
Tim
mini moke

British motoring get-together, planned as monthly event, enjoys regal debut

The first British Car Club monthly motoring get-together took place May 9 at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. Among the cars on hand was this Mini Moke belonging to Gordon King (second from right). He’s with (from left) fellow British car

Classic cars to take part in Hagley to Ludlow Scenic Tour

Other county drivers taking part include Maggie Blankstone of Bridgnorth with her MG RV8, Thomas Taylor and Gail Alger, of Longville, Much Wenlock, in their Mini Moke, Richard and Lindsay Summers of Tenbury Wells in an Austin Healey 100/4 and Jim and …