We begin creating the list of thing that need attention on the 1976 Stingray. We start by inspecting the car. This video the interior.
Now you might have go to back ways in the list of posts and videos to find those showing the condition of my last project 1973 Mustang (#ProejctSR73) and the Vette is in much better shape the than the Stang. Vette is 90% better mechanically and 80% better interior wise then the 1973.
I grew up loving the C3 body styles. I share the same birth as the Corvette (although the brand is a bit older than I am) and 1976 was the year I graduated high school.
So take a look at the interior.
Thanks for checking and there’s lot more coming up.
The search goes on for my next project car. I’m searching for a third generation Corvette built between 1967 to 1982. There were a few body changes and some suspension changes between those dates. But mostly stayed the same. In 1981 a engine computer was added.
I came across this 1981 Corvette locally. Still owned by the original owner although he’s no longer able to drive.
I normally try to record as much of the inspection as I can. That’s difficult to do because you don’t want to capture the owners or any family member nor the sales person. So this video is a bit choppy in spots and I had to edited out a 4 year old that really wanted to help.
Normally, I’d like to capture the car running, for no other reason than to refresh my memory after looking at several cars in one day or long delays during between offers. In this case I was pouring gas into the carb and couldn’t.
I’ve made two offers on the car the first was turned down and I yet to get a response on the second.
Check out the video.
I love this car…the stories helped, but I have 1977 Stingray to look at on Saturday.
When I added the Delta 45’s to #ProjectSportRoof – #SR73, the tailpipes came up short. I’m not sure why that happened and I’m not sure why I didn’t notice it. But hey it gave me a quick project while I’m on our fall break.
I was going to polish up the ends but I’m going to shop for some chrome ends. Drop Me some suggestions.
Welcome to Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for April 14, 2020
April 14th, 1927 Jakob’s Birthday
Jakob’s parents were Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, oh and Jakob was a car. Specifically, the Volvo produced.
It was produced in the Gothenburg factory as designated as OV4 and then properly named Jakob.
It was constructed of a wooden frame made of ash and beech wood. The body was sheet metal and you could it only in dark blue. I was powered by 28 hp inline 4 cylinder with side valves displacing 1,944 cc, with 275 produced from 1927 to 1929.
You could also get the truck version.
On a sad note!
William Ernest Carter bought his 1912 luxury Type CB Coupe de Ville Renault during his Grand Tour in Europe to ship back to the US. Unfortunately, he chose to book the car a place on the Titanic’s fateful trip. The doomed car was powered by 12 CV, 2,614 cc L-head four-cylinder engine 12 French horsepower (about 40-50 hp today), four-speed manual transmission, solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, driveshaft brake and two-wheel mechanical brakes. It was almost 12 feet long – wheelbase: 143″
On this date the Cadillac company (not part of GM/Chevrolet) was heavily damaged by a fire.
1904 Caddy
Caddy Assembly Plant
Cadillac produced 2457 cars that year of the Model B variety. It used a one cylinder “Little Hercules” Leland & Faulconer engine and two speed transmission. It made 8.25 hp and displaced 98 cubic inches.
In 1965 Pontiac produced it’s 10-millionth on this day.
June 3, 1864 – Ransom Olds was born in Genvea, Ohio – Founder of the now defunct Oldsmobile car manufacturer. Although Henry Ford often get credit for inventing the assembly line production – Ransom was the first to use the assembly line. (Ford gets credit for improving it and adding universal parts.)
1905 Olds
June 7, 1928 – First Plymouth is produced. Some research suggest that it was actually built on June 11, 1928.
1928 Q Code Plymouth
It had engineering code (or model) Q and had a 4 cylinder engine.
Check out the video on YouTube:
Thanks for reading.
Tim
#Autofactoids
#ProjectSportsRoof
#ProjectBeepBeep
#AutoFactoids are back!!! I will be changing them up a bit but they’ll still be fun.
Factoid – The Datsun 510 in the late 1960s it competed with the likes of BMW on the front lines of the then-new sports sedan category. Paul Newman use to race one.
Factoid – Lexus SC300 shared a lot of important parts with the now-legendary Toyota Supra, including the same straight six engine.
Factoid – Ford Probe was basically a Mazda 626, and was originally intended to become the new Mustang. Thankfully, those plans were scrapped because Ford was concerned of the back-lash.
Auto Factoids are back!!!! Lets just get started. Happy Birthday (Sept. 8, 1903) Preston Tucker – nice cars!!! On Sept 9th 1935 Studebaker put the first car on a Pennsylvania RR rail car headed to NYC but the final destination was London. (Actually there were 163 cars in that shipment.) These are …
Here some interesting facts for the new in 2008 LS9 engine. – It was a combination of upgraded LS3 and LS7 components and took 3 years to develop – All 2000 units were hand-assembled in GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan -It displaced 6.2 liters – Bore and stroke 4.06×3.62 with a compression ratio of 9.1:1 – …
THE SLOW DEATH OF AN INDUSTRY Opinion by Darrell Sitarz
In the 1990s, the American fun kart industry was churning out nearly 200,000 units annually by nearly 3 dozen manufacturers. Today, there are only a handful of fun kart makers still remaining.
So, what has caused the downfall of what was one of the largest portions of the go-kart industry? Some cite the high cost of liability insurance, some say it’s the imported karts or the ATVs while others think it’s because of cost of mandated safety features which added to the overall cost. It may be one or two, or it may be all of the above; so let’s look at it item by item.
COSTS
In the mid-1990s, the US Consumer Products Safety Commission targeted the fun kart industry and asked it to look into setting manufacturing guidelines and to increase and standardize safety features. With those as goals, the American Fun Kart Association (AFKA) was formed by the manufacturers and suppliers and standards were subsequently set. The AFKA was commended by the CPSC on their ability to take on the problem and do what was necessary to help insure public safety. The solution to the safety problem however led to another, that of increasing the cost of manufacturing a kart, the cost of which was, of course, passed onto the consumer. At that time, a few manufacturers decided to cease production feeling they could not compete in the marketplace due to the increased manufacturing costs.
IMPORTED KARTS
With costs rising, some manufacturers went overseas with an eye to reduce costs by importing karts.
“The problem was that the overseas manufacturer would make three vehicles. One was for their customer in the states and two for them to bring over here and sell under a different brand name,” an industry source said. “This would give them a foot hold in the US with a proven design that had historically sold. They could sell it cheaper because it came with their own engine that looks very much like a proven US motor and they don’t pay product liability insurance.”
So in essence, the manufacturers that went overseas were now competing with themselves. The results: more manufacturers went down the tubes.
ATVs
And here’s a strange twist of fate. Back in the late 1980s three-wheel ATVs were banned because of safety concerns in the US. Suddenly wham!, the fun kart industry began it’s upsurge in sales again topping out at nearly 200,000 units annually. So now what’s happened? The resurgence of the “new” ATV, a four wheeled version with more features and major off-road capabilities has also had a hand in the downfall of the fun kart industry. In 2004 for example, 817,000 ATVs were sold which is 4 times the amount of go karts in the industry’s best year.
PRODUCT LIABILITY INSURANCE
The slow death in the industry was caused by several factors, the main one may have been the tremendous cost of product liability insurance. It got to the point that most of the kart makers could not afford it.
“The manufacturers were not supported by the insurance companies that would accept premiums and not fight the cases but would make settlements and in turn would raise the rates for all kart manufacturers,” a reliable industry source told e-KMI. “Lawyers would represent the karts owners because they knew there would be a settlement and they would get paid. Getting hurt today is like winning the lotto but even better because it is tax free! People don’t have to accept responsibility for their actions because there are lawyers that will represent you know matter how stupid your action was because “we will get you something”.”
One or a combination of all of the above have taken their toll with the fun kart industry. But whatever the case may be, the industry appears to be in serious difficulty and is looking for answers, if there are any?
The following is a partial list of US fun kart manufacturers which have gone out of business or have ceased fun kart production since 1990.
Action Fun Karts
Avenger
Bird
BKS
Brister’s Design and Manufacturing*
Brister’s Thunder Karts
Clark Karts
Chief Karts
FKL
Fun Karts LA
Hamilton Brothers
Hang 10
Hoffco
Karts International
K-C Manufacturing C., Inc.
Klipper (not producing fun karts but still making promotional go-karts)
Midwestern Industries (acquired by T & D and now producing promo karts)
Minati (Brave Industries)
Murray*
Moto Machine
Performance Industries
Polaris (never made karts but had Brister make karts to test the market)
Robron
Simplex
Scat Fun
Tiger Industries
Trampolking
USA Industries
Yerf-Dog*
