Drive-By in Jerome, Az ’69 Nova, ’71-’72 Mustang and 2016

Thought I’d end up the year with a Drive-By.

These little snippets are by chance photos of interesting cars.

During a trip to Jerome, AZ I was investigating this nicely cared for 1969 Chevy Nova.

Great Body Style

Great Body Style

Love the Poverty Caps

Love the Poverty Caps

Got the Camaro taillights.

Got the Camaro taillights.

 

The ’69 Nova was really just a pedestrian car and perhaps the worse evolution possible of the Chevelle, Chevy II of the early ’60. (Of course it got much worse in the late ’70s and early ’80s!!!)

These came in  3 main engine groups….4, 6 and 8 cylinders – yes 4 cylinders!!! There were 6,103 4 cylinders produced (make them a rather rare find in original condition), 157,400 6 cylinders and 88,400 V-8s ( 17,654 of those were in Super Sport trim).  The horse power ranged from a weak 90 hp to meager (by todays standards) 200 hp.

As I was standing back to get the little more distance on the shot I noticed something in the view finder:

In the background

In the background

Getting closer

Getting closer

Oh so nice!!!

Oh so nice!!!

And a wave!!!

And a wave!!!

Yes a very nice ’71 or ’72 Mustang.   One year later I’d own a 1973 Mustang, the last of the big ‘Stangs!!!

So this is my last post for 2015.

I wish all of my readers/followers and other fellow gear heads, car nuts, car peeps a super New Year and all the best in 2016!!

Coming up in 2016 I’ll be working straight out to finish the 1973 Mustang Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof) – got to get is show ready in the next year – so keep checking back for updates (floor pan, vacuum system and much more coming up next month).  We also will attempt to get pod-casts rolling but you’ll also be able to keep up on our hobby with C.N.N. (Car News Now), special pieces on the 351 Cleveland engine and more parking lot spotlights, AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids), Engine Line Ups and much more.

See you all in 2016 – maybe at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ Jan 23, 2016?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

www.agcarrestoration.com

#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Ford Ranchero For Sale

I don’t often post up cars on Craig’s list or elsewhere, but I happened to run to the owner filling up the Ranchero at the Shell station down the street.

The pics in this post are from the Craig’s list ad, but I can tell you body is in great shape and straight.   The wheels are awesome looking.  The engine sounds strong and the interior is in great shape.

Take a look at these pics and it looks even better in person.

73R-1 73R-2
73R-3 73R-4
73R-5 73R-6
73R-7

Has the 400 in it…very cool (only a 2bbl carb….needs 4bbl – easy)   Will need a transmission – easy to find a used one.

Wheels are great looking.  Engine was pretty clean.  Interior was great condition.   Sounded awesome!!!

Body was in great shape.  Originally delivered to DSO 74 (Seattle), so it’s a west coast car.

Check it out here:
http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5368828992.html

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 ranchero1973 ranchero

 

 

 

1973 Mustang -Project Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part II

Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof.  Progress is being made and I’d like to finish up these post on the install of the Mach 1 grille on this ‘plain old’ sports roof.

This was pretty much straight forward, with a small change.

If you recall on the last post we started with a NOS Mach 1 grille I acquired from Ebay…..SCORE!!!

NOS in original box

NOS in original box

Box label - so what? Hey it's cool!!!

Box label – so what? Hey it’s cool!!!

For now I’m using the signal lights from the old grille and a new proper pony badge.

New Pony Badge

New Pony Badge

The new badge is different from the original (that being just a large Mustang running), which I preferred.  Of course this new badge is made in Taiwan and not as sturdy as I would have liked.  In fact while tightening the one of the nuts provided the prong sheered off.  Luckily there were enough threads to make it secure.

Here it is installed:

GrilleEmblem-2

 

Here are a couple of videos on the install.

 

 

Now there are still a few thing I need to buy to finish up the grille:

GrilleNeeds

But it’s looking pretty good!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part II

This is the wrap up on the compression testing for the 1973 Mustang w/ a 1972 351 Cleveland power plant. You’ll might have notices that I referred to the remote tester, which is my code for remote starter…yeah…that’s it!!! All of these tests were dry test and I should have done a …

 

1973 Mustang -Project Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part I

As with most plastic exterior trim pieces on Arizona cars, the original grille in #ProjectSportsRoof has seen better days.  Although this one is still mostly intact, it is brittle with a few missing tabs.  Couple that with the look of the Mach I grille for the 1973 Mustang and I have to say I really like the look of it better than the standard.

Install is quick and easy….yeah…right!

 

 

More coming up on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

 

 

Restored ’65 Ford Fairlane Racer Reveals Texas Shop’s Talent at MCACN

Truly a worthwhile restoration.

Just out of the old warehouse

Just out of the old warehouse

Beautiful!!

Beautiful!!

 

 

 

Among the main attractions at this year’s Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals was the unveiling of 13 rare muscle cars, several with drag racing pedigrees. In this group, the freshly restored silver-blue Performance Associates 1965 Ford Fairlane revealed the talent of the crew at A&R Classic Restorations in Emory, Texas.

The car’s journey to the MCACN floor took more than 35 years.

Check our the entire story of this historic car at the source link below.

Source: Restored ’65 Ford Fairlane Racer Reveals Texas Shop’s Talent at MCACN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.
Tim

saralogan213

shannonstone7: The Benefits of Muscle Car Restoration https://t.co/1JCEWUVxWJ https://t.co/EQ3KvJsPmO

 

Ferrari Officially Separated From Fiat-Chrysler After Shareholders’ Vote Of Approval

Ferrari Divorce

Fiat Chrysler shareholders voted in favor of the separation of the Ferrari brand from FCA as part of Sergio Marchionne’s plan to raise cash and reduce debt of the Italo-American company.The shareholders’ meeting was held in Amsterdam where about 98 per cent of them approved the separation, with Fiat-Chrysler to distribute the remaining 80 per cent stake in Ferrari back to its own investors by early next year.This comes after FCA already sold 10 per cent of Ferrari in a public offering, raising around $1 billion. The whole company is burdened with a total of €10.9 billion in debt, with FCA raising about €3.8 billion from the divorce with Ferrari.This deal will reduce FCA’s debt by about €1.6 billion but at the same time, the seventh-largest automaker in the world loses its most valuable asset. Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s son still holds the remaining 10 per cent of Ferrari.“The separation will better enable Ferrari to realize its full potential,” Marchionne said at the shareholders’ meeting. “It will also allow Fiat investors to benefit directly from the substantial value inherent in Ferrari.”Ferrari had announced earlier on Monday that they are borrowing a total of €2.5 billion to finance their demerger from Fiat-Chrysler and help their former parent company in the funding of Sergio’s ambitious growth plan.

Source: Ferrari Officially Separated From Fiat-Chrysler After Shareholders’ Vote Of Approval

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Pertronix Ignitor Update

Well win some and you lose some.  If you’ve seen my other posts related the replacement of the points and condenser for the 351C you’ll notice that I gave conversion high marks.  This was all based on the years of use I got out of the conversion I did on the 1970 Mustang 302 engine.   One install and no problems.

As you know I had the heads rebuilt for the 351C and after re-installing them and all the components (intake, distributor…etc.) the car would not start.  Popping the distributor cap showed why:

Drop me a note if you’ve had a similar experience.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Nov 29, 2015 – Ford, De Soto, Front Wheel Drive

Here are your Auto Factoids for the end of Nov. 2o15.  (Yes only 24 shopping days left!!!)

Nov 30 1960 De Soto ceases production. The last De Soto produced were really the Chrysler Windsor, most did not sale, even though dealerships continued to received cars after the brand was terminated.

1961 Windsor

1961 Windsor

1961 DeSoto

1961 DeSoto

 

Nov 30, 1900 Germany patented an automobile front wheel drive. Although this is a common historic fact, there is some evidence that the first production car with front wheel drive was a French car. There exists a French Patent around 1898 or 1899. The manufacturer was Société Parisienne and the car was the Victoria Combination.

It was a lightweight two-seater trailer, known as a ‘Victoria’, combined with the back axle and mechanical components of a motor tricycle, but this axle was placed in front of the trailer and steered by a long tiller on which the controls were located. The first examples were powered by 1.75 or 2.5 horsepower De Dion Bouton engines geared directly to the differential, but larger engines of this make were fitted as they became available.

1900 Victoria Combination

1900 Victoria Combination

 

December 1, 1925 GM purchased Vauxhall. Vauxhall started out as engine manufacturer mainly for pumps and marine use (1857 – Alex Wilson). They began making cars in 1903. Here is a video of a 1903 Vauxhall. They are still producing cars using the Opel name under GM.

One more of it on a road test.

Dec 1, 1913  Ford fired up the first “continuous” assembly line.  (Olds is considered to be the inventor of the assembly line…maybe.)

Ford's Production Line

Ford’s Production Line

And just one day and 14 years later (Dec 2, 1927) Ford unveiled Models A which would soon be produced from this assembly line.  The Model A was announced on May 25, 1927 and sold as 1928 model.  Ford sold 607,592 units in 1928, nearly double that of the previous year.

1927 Model A

1928 Model A

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor a week of Auto Factoids contact me directly.

#AutoFactoids

Auto Factoids – Week of May 31, 2015 – Ford, Olds, Model T

Here are your Auto Factoids #AutoFactoids for the beginning of June, 2015. May 31, 1927 – Ford produced the last Model T.    There is some debate as to actual date and it’s said that the 15th million Model T rolled off the production line on May 26th, 1927 and the Henry …