April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly depend and relied on Mr. Firestone’s improvement. It was a combination of cotton cords infused with rubber that allowed for long distance driving without punctures.
Pneuamtic Tire
Balloon tire ad.
April 9, 1957 – Lotus’ first single seat race car. As far as I’ve researched Lotus had a single seat race car concept either in 1954 or 1955. The 1956 Lotus was a two-seater but usually had a single roll cage on the right side (drivers side). It seems clear that the 1957 Lotus 11 (or Lotus 13 unofficially) race car didn’t actually race in a Grand Prix until 1958.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015.
March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive
1980 Quattro – Not a bad-looking car at that!!!
Here are some specs for the Quattro:
Engine 2.1 L I5 SOHC 10v
Transmission 5-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase 99.4 in Length 173.4 in Width 67.8 in Height 53.0 in Curb weight 2,844 to 2,976 lb
April 1, 1970 AMC debuts the Gremlin.
1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back“
I bet AMC never envisioned this:
OH…MAN!!!!
Or this:
BTW..this doesn’t end well for the suspension.
April 1, 1964 Plymouth shows off the Barracuda – There were 23,443 Barracuda produced (called Glassback) and was based on Plymouth’s Valiant platform.
1964 Barracuda – Glassback.
April 1, 1961 the very collectable Amphicar debuted – I saw my first Amphicar when I was about 9 or 10. Grew up on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack of upstate New York. The car drove down the beach and right into the water. Coolest thing I’d seen up to then!!
The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68
April 2, 1879 Walter P. Chrysler was Born in Kansas.
Walter P with a Chrysler Six
April 2, 1889 Charles Hall patent Aluminum. – It was actually a process made extracting Aluminum less expensive. It involved passing an electric current through a bath of alumina dissolved in cryolite, which results in a puddle of aluminum forming in the bottom of the retort. (Come on…tell me you didn’t want to know that!!!!) Unfortunately a French guy – Paul Héroult was working on the same process. (No way?!!?! Way!!!) so the named the process after both “Hall-Heroult process’.
From a puddle in the bottom of a retort to the Ford F150….that’s progress!!! Thanks Mr. Hall and French guy!!!
Inexpensive method for producing aluminum
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Put on the top of the list the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hills, which houses three floors of classic and concept vehicles. Currently, it is open only to employees of Fiat-Chrysler, and occasional special events. The Piquette Plant in Detroit …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the week. Actually, I’ve combined two weeks because I forgot last weeks and this week’s was limited. So let’s start off with the week of the 15th (’cause going in chronological orders just seemed appropriate).
March 15, 1960 – Mercury/Ford/Edsel debuted the Comet. The reality is that the Comet was to be a sub-model under Edsel. With the Edsel’s demise the Comet was parent-less so to speak. For the 1960-62 the car was simple badged as Comet. The images below are those I took of a Comet I was interested in purchasing as a project car.
1961 – you can just see the Comet badge
You can see the Edsel like instruments. Only badge is Comet.
March 17, 1834 – Mr. Gottlieb Daimler was born in Germany. He was an engineer and teamed up a guy named Karl Benz and together started a little car company. I can’t recall the name!!!!
March 17, 1949 Porsche was debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.
1949 Publicity shot
March 18, 1858 Rudolph Diesel born in Paris, France. In case you can’t guess he developed the diesel engine.
First Diesel Engine
The first production diesel-powered car was created by Citroen called the Rosalie in 1933. (I always thought it was Mercedes-Benz but that didn’t happen until 1936!!)
First production car diesel engine by Citroen.
1933 Citroen Rosalie – What a beautiful car!!!
March 18, 1923 Andy Granatelli 1923 Dallas, TX
Dude….It’s Andy!!! “nough said”
March 21, 1961 Jaguar E-type was deputed
One of the best styles of the 1960’s
March 27, 1863 Mr. Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, England. From aircraft engines to ultimate in high-end luxury iconic cars. You know the name Royce (as in Rolls Royce).
1933 Merlin – used in the Hawker Hurricane, de Havilland Mosquito and the famous Supermarine Spitfire
1933 Hooper Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Coupe
Thank to all the followers of #AutoFactoids. Special Twitter give-away so follow me @AGCarRestore.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#autofactoids) for the middle of Feb, 2015!! Feb 15, 1944 – Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) was formed. For those of you that don’t follow racing you need to check out what SCCA does.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week in Feb. 2015!!! I think we can call this Kaiser Week as 3 of our factoid are related to the Kaiser auto.
Got a few huge debuts this week’s Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids), so lets get started.
Feb 23, 1954 – Ford shows off the Thunderbird for the first time.
Although the Thunderbird wasn’t available until 1955 it was in design. Originally it was going to be called the Vega!!
1955 T-Bird
Feb 23, 1967 – Pontiac debuts the Firebird
The brain child of John Delorean the Firebird started out as the Banshee in two versions (XP 833 convertible or Hard top coupe). 1966 it was a two seater referred to as XP-798.
Look some what familar? Corvette maybe?
Pontiac brass thought so too and these concepts were not approved.
The XP 798 Firebird concept.
1967 Firebird
Feb 24, 1968 – American Motors debuts the AMX
1969 Hurst version…NICE!!!
Feb 25, 1905 – Jose Piquero crossed the Andes in a Caddy!!
Had to dig for this one. Found it on http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org. Back in 1905 a Cadillac was the first car to cross the Andes (the mountain range not Andes, New York) that happened on Feb 25th, but I don’t know why, nor does anyone else seem to know. I can tell you the Andes are in South American and average about 14,000 feet in altitude. The ’05 (that’s 1905 not 2005) Caddy was, well, let’s say “airy”. That ‘brave’ (pronounced ‘Crazy’) soul was Jose Piquero. But wait, some sources say it wasn’t a Caddy at all, but a Oldsmobile.
So I would imagine in either ride the trip was a tad bit chilly.
1905 Olds
1905 Caddy
Feb 27, 1934 – Ralph “Corvair Killer” Nader was born in Conn.
You can celebrate that (anyone? Bueller, Bueller…) if you absolutely can’t find another reason to have an adult beverage. I wonder if he fell out of a car seat when he was young?
1962 Lakewood
The last Corvair Vert.
I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.
Feb 28, 1940 – Mario Andretti born in Montona, Italy
Here are your Auto Factoids (#autofactoids) for the middle of Feb, 2015!!
Feb 15, 1944 – Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) was formed. For those of you that don’t follow racing you need to check out what SCCA does. It’s a great organization for local racing, as well as state/regional and even national. I’m a proud card-carrying member and attend the local chapter Arizona Border Region . I can attest that this chapter is well run and enjoyable.
Me and SCCA Solo instructor in my C7
Feb 16, 1951 – Nash-Healey debuts. The Healey Nash mash-up produced one of the most beautiful cars of the early 1950’s. They originally met the Queen Mary. Nash supplied the power train that consisted of the Ambassador’s straight six OHV 234.8 cu in (3.85 L) engine (minus the cast iron cylinder heads – they used their own design aluminum version) and three-speed manual transmission with Borg-Warner overdrive, plus torque tube and differential. Healey supplied the carbs – two SU and the body. Actually Healey designed the body to fit their frame, but aluminum body the supplied Panelcraft Sheet Metal.
Beautiful Aluminum bodied sport car!!!
2 SU twin 1.75-inch (44 mm) and lighter and higher compression cylinder head – boosting hp from 112 to 125 hp.
Feb 17, 1934 – First Drivers Ed Class – in State College, Pa.
Feb 18, 1952 – Studebaker 100 years
Studebaker started out with an electric car in 1902 (before that they produced wagons) and by 1904 began producing gas-powered.
Basically an electric wagon!!!
1904 gas-powered Studebaker.
1952 Studebaker. 2 years later money issues forced a merger with Packard.
1979 – Richard Petty wins Daytona 500 (Number 6 for him)
6th Daytona win 1979
The #43 Car for 1979
1898 – Enzo Ferrari born in Modena, Italy (Not sure what he is famous for!!!)
OH!!!!
Feb 20, 1954 – Dodge displays it’s Firearrow at the Chicago Auto Show (go on now for 2015)
One of the coolest concept cars!!! Agree?
Two convertible models
Clock in the steering wheel center? Crazy Cool!!
Awesome Interior
Thanks for reading! Let us know how you like the Auto Factoid segment!!!
As we run through the middle of the 2nd month of the year, here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids). A light week this week. Feb 10, 1942 – Pontiac.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week in Feb. 2015!!! I think we can call this Kaiser Week as 3 of our factoid are related to the Kaiser auto.
Wow it’s the end of January already. Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of January 2015. Jan 26th 1920 – Lincoln Motor Company.
As we run through the middle of the 2nd month of the year, here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids). A light week this week.
Feb 10, 1942 – Pontiac stops car production for WWII
– As you know WWII took a lot of sacrifice on many countries and their citizen and even corporations. A lot of resources were used in producing automobiles, in particular metals that could be used to produce planes and Liberty ships and ammo. That is why the U.S. government asked the car industry to halt production and assist in producing just about anything to support the war effort. Pontiac was one of the last to comply with the request. Pontiac’s main contribution? It was the 20-mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons. Check out what they could do!!!
Feb 11, 1932 – Ford announces new V8 engine
The Model A was history and the Model 18 ruled – with Ford’s new FlatHead V8 in 1932 (also referred to as the Ford Flathead or Flathead Ford or just Flatty). It lived on in the Model 40 in 1933 and 1934. It continued on the 1950’s.
1932 Flatty
Feb 12, 1908 – Start of the New York to Paris car race.
– The race route was from NYC, Albany, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Valdez Alaska, Japan, Vladivostok, Omsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin and finally Paris. It was sponsored by the New York Times and the LA MATIN (Paris news paper) and finished 169 days later.
Oczywiście, trójkołowe motocykle są świetnym rozwiązaniem dla wszystkich tych, którzy z jakiś powodów nie posiadają już pełnej swojej sprawności i nie mogą jeździć konwencjonalnym motocyklem. Skoro to stwierdzenie mamy z głowy, to co musi wydarzyć …
“The East Coast rod is a blood relation of the sports car,” the chairman said, “while the West Coast rod has the style of the dry-lakes roadster, of Bonneville and the whole Ford ‘flathead’ V8 scene, probably what most people envision when they hear …
Jay’s latest adventure takes a deep dive into hot-rodding history with this beautiful 1932 Ford Highboy roadster . But don’t pass this off as just another deuce coupe . No, this car is the deuce coupe. Jay has with him Bruce Meyer, the car’s restorer …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week in Feb. 2015!!!
I think we can call this Kaiser Week as 3 of our factoid are related to the Kaiser auto manufacturing. In fact the month starts right off with Kaiser factoid.
Feb 1, 1947 – Graham-Paige sold out to Kaiser.
Beautiful Supercharged car. 1937 Graham Custom Series 120
Feb. 2, 1899 – Renault Freres incorporates.
1899 Renault Type B Coupe
1900 Renault Type C
Feb 4, 1913 – Mr. Perlman patents a demountable auto tire-carrying wheel rim.
Feb 5th was a busy day in automotive history with:
Leaded gas available in 1923 (Ethyl)
Ethyl gas. Huge collectible these days.
AMC purchases Kaiser-Jeep Corp 1970.
This wouldn’t be the last move for Jeep, soon it would become part of Chrysler and then, as it is now, part of Fiat.
Mr. John Dunlop was born in Dreghorn, England in 1846. Of course he went on to start Dunlop tires. Here’s the beginning time line from History of Dunlop Tires :
– 1888 John Boyd Dunlop’s son is struggling to ride his tricycle. He is riding it because he has a heavy cold, for which a doctor has prescribed a very unusual cure: cycling. To make the child’s ride more comfortable, Boyd fits his tricycle with tires made of canvas bonded with liquid rubber. Boyd patents what turns out to be a very big idea.
– 1889 Cyclist Willie Hume is the first to adopt Boyd’s invention for racing, winning a slew of events. It’s the start of Dunlop’s legendary run of racing success.
– 1902 Dunlop wins the grueling Paris-Vienna race.
– 1922 First Dunlop tire using steel rods and canvas casing provides triple the service life of other tires used until then.
Feb 6 – One more time for Kaiser this week as they debuts their Sliver Dragon in 1951.
The Dragon was a series in 1951 and 1953 for Kaiser (There were no Dragon’s in 1951. This one has the Continental tire package.
The color was a Mariner Gray but dubbed “Silver Dragon”. The it was called the Dragon because of the padded vinyl top looked like dragon skin (at one point it was internally called the “Dinosaur”).
Feb 7 – There were a couple of happenings on Feb 7:
– Dutch introduced the first automatic transmission – the DAF 600 in 1958. DAF was a compact family car and the Variomatic was a continuously variable transmission.
– In 1942 the U.S. Government orders passenger car production stopped and converted to wartime purpose, which wasn’t immediately accepted by all car manufacturers.
The Kaiser cars were launched in 1947 and became the only new U.S. auto to achieve success after World War II. However, production stopped in 1955. After leaving Tucker, Brown had a long career in engineering, culminating with the manufacturing firm he …
Wow it’s the end of January already. Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of January 2015.
Jan 26th 1920 – Lincoln Motor Company formed.
Lincoln Motor Company was actually started in 1917 and produced Liberty engines with Ford parts for World War I. After the war they began producing luxury cars. By 1920 the company had financial issues and Ford bought the company in 1922. Ford allowed the company to operate separately until 1940.
1921 Lincoln Model ‘L’
Jan 27th 1974 – Not being able to drive 55 became against the law as President Nixon signed the national speed limit law in response to gas/oil issues.
Jan 28th 1950 – Preston Tucker was acquitted of mail fraud.
The history of the Tucker car is extremely interesting. The Tucker car was an innovation ahead of its time and offered an alternative (rear engine) to the typical cars being produced in that era. The car industry was a powerful and influential business entity generally were not interest in a start-up threatening their share of the industry. The car of the future (called the Tucker Torpedo – while under development) was produced in 1948 against insurmountable odds. Only 51 Tucker 48’s (Model 48) was produced in 1948, 47 still exist.
While dubbed “Tucker Torpedo” during production no ‘Torpedoes’ were produced.
Some Tucker Specs:
– Engine: H-6 (horizontally opposed), OHV, 335 ci (4.50 x 3.50 in. bore x stroke), 7.0:1 compression ratio, 166 bhp, 372 lbs/ft torque.
– Performance: 0-60 in 10 seconds, est. top speed 120 mph
Jan 29th 1886 – Benz developed the first gasoline (internal combustion) automobile.
Carl Benz’s Motorwagon.
The Motorwagon engine was actually built in 1885, 1886 was when Mr. Benz applied for the patent
Some specs on the Motorwagon’s power plant:
– Rear mounted horizontal engine with vertical crankshaft
– Belt primary drive and final transmission to the rear wheels by side chains
– Displaced 984cc and mustered up .9 horsepower
– Top speed was achieved at 8 mph
– Loud
– Smelly
It was a tubular chassis suspended in place by three large wheels.
Jan 30th 1958 – Rambler American debuts
This was the first car created by American Motors Company (AMC). The company was formed by the merger of Nash and Hudson. The American for 1958 was only built in a 2 door with one engine option, the 195.6 cu in (3.2 L) flathead, that producing 90 hp. There were a couple trim options the base or Deluxe and the Super.
The American was produced in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia and Iran.
Jan 31st was a big day in automotive history with the debut of Pontiac’s 2 door Custom Safari (1955)
Who doesn’t love a two door wagon?!?!?!?!
Rarer than the Chevy Nomad, the Safari was produced as the Star Chief Custom Safari with 3,760 made and as the Chieftan 860 “Colony” 2 door (two or three seats): 8,618 in 1955.
These sported the 287 V8 engine and were topped with 2 or 4 barrel carb.
Jan 31st Studebaker/Packard debuts the Clipper (1957)
Frankly this car was a mess! Actually it was just a Studebaker with Packard tail lights, bumper and instrument panel, fitted with stamped overlays for body panels. Referred to as Packardbaker, these were not well received. They did use the 289 (4.7 liter) engine from the Golden Hawk, which produced 275 hp. Also came in a wagon version.
The 1956-1957 Packard Clipper was the car that was supposed to mark out Clipper as a brand in itself, despite the fact that the manufacturer was going through a really rough spot that, one year later, would spell the end of …
I read a story at the time the Preston Tucker Movie was out that said they used a late 40s Studebaker as a “stand in” for the Tucker in the rollover stunt, modified to look like a Tucker. Dan Lyons says: February 23, 2013 at 8:03 …
[ ATTRIBUTE: Please check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66733752@N00/3532006434 to find out how to attribute this image ]
Turbocruiser, world’s first gas turbine bus, introduced GM Desert Proving Ground, Mesa, Ariz., established. 1961—Buick introduced first American V-6 passenger car engine. 1962—GM produced its 75,000,000th U.S.-made vehicle. Number of General Motors’ …
Today Volvo opened a new manufacturing plant and body shop at its production facility in Torslanda, Sweden, exactly 50 years after the original Volvo Torslanda plant opened on April 24, 1964. The new body shop will build the new 2015 Volvo XC90 SUV …
Here are your Auto Factoids for the last week of Dec 2014.
– Charles Goodyear was born Dec 29, 1800 in New Heaven, Conn. 39 years and 4 days later he developed vulcanization or rubber (Jan 2, 1839)
– Jan 1, 1942 was the date that the us Government banned the sale of all non-essential car and small trucks in an effort to save valuable resources for the war effort.
– Back in 1966 on Jan 1st, Dodge rolls out the Charger.
1966 Charger Love the lines!!!
But it has had some changes over the years.
1969 Charger – Nice!!!!!
1987 Shelby version of the Charger.
2010 Dodge Charger – not a great looking car.
2014 Charger – looks make you want to yawn…but it can move!!!!
– Chevy debuts its first air-cooled engine on Jan 2, 1923.
Copper/Air Cooled
– On Jan 2, 1957 Ghia announced the production of the Crown Imperial limo.
Here is an 1958 Chrysler-Imperial Limo example. That’s a nice looking car!!!
Thanks for reading this installment of #AutoFactoids.
Tim
NOTE: If you’d like to sponsor an Auto Factoid contact me. With thousands of views every day you will get noticed!!!!!
Dec 15, 1861 Charles Duryea was born in Canton, Ohio. He grew up to be an engineer and with his brother Frank, they began production bicycles. By 1893 they test driving the first U.S. gasoline powered vehicle. It was a …
Let’s get right to the glory and the tragic historical events of this weeks Auto Factoids. June 10, 1927 the Graham brothers purchased Paige-Detroit Motor.
If you thought last week was light…this week is weak!! Buick became a corporation back in 1903 back on May 19. It eventually became a major General Motors brand.
[ ATTRIBUTE: Please check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66733752@N00/3532006434 to find out how to attribute this image ]
