“Christine” 30th anniversary celebration coming to Carlisle | Hemmings Blog

I love book and the movie, and I even started considering collecting one.  When I was a kid (back in the early 70’s) across the road from our house, in a field, sat an old Plymouth Fury – can’t recall cars year but it did have fins.

I remember asking my Dad why we didn’t drive it and he said it needed a carburetor.  It seemed in my young mind’s eye that the carburetor wasn’t much more than a can looking thing with a butterfly looking think in the middle.  So I fashioned one out of a soup can and the metal dividers in an ice cube maker – yes kids it was before ice fell from a frig with a push of a button.

Stephen King said he chose a 1958 Plymouth Fury to play the inhuman title character in his book from the year prior because Furys “were the most mundane Fifties car that I could remember. I didn’t want a car that already had a legend attached to it like the fifties Thunderbird, the Ford Galaxies etc… Nobody ever talked about the Plymouth products.”

Enjoy this article at the link below (and go pick up a Hemmings periodical).  You’ll love them.

Christine_900

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of March 31st 2013

Let’s start with April 1st:

1961 the Amphicar debuted.

Amphicar - a flip of a lever and two propellers kicked in and made water-crossing a breeze.

Amphicar – a flip of a lever and two propellers kicked in and made water-crossing a breeze.

It was powered by an iron block and iron head  Inline 4 engine with 2 valves per  cylinder. It  displaced 1147 cc and had  2.72 x 2.99 bore and stroke with  8.0:1 compression produced 47 hp and 61 ft lbs of torque.

For years later one of the most important cars (although not this particular version) was introduced – the 1964 Plymouth Barracuda.  Little did Plymouth know at the time 6 to 8 years later the version of the ‘Cuda’ would break collector car value records.

1964 Barracuda - Glassback.

1964 Barracuda – Glassback.

Not the powerhouse that the 70’s versions were but it did have a V8 available that net you 180 hp.  Dubbed the “Glassback” because most of the slanted back was class (not unlike my 07 Corvette).

A few years later in 1970  AMC showed off their oddest car yet – the Gremlin. (Although the Pacer was arguably the worse.)  Ugly or not it was a good seller and it’s standard 6 cylinder was economical and produced 128 hp.  There were  872 2 passenger and 27,688 4 passenger made that year.

1970 Gremlin.  Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back”

 

Also this week Mr. Walter Chrysler was born in 1875 on April 2 and Charles Hall patented Aluminum in 1889 on the same day.

In 1923 on April 5th, Firestone produced the first balloon tire.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engine Line Up for the 1946 Chryslers

I really enjoy doing the engine line up series.  I love engines.  If I had the $$$ and the space I’d collect them.  Wouldn’t it be cool to have a straight eight, or twelve cylinder sitting on a stand, all clean and shiny?

For 1946 Chrysler had the Royal, the Windsor, The Saratoga and the New Yorker series, 2 more series than they had engines.

One of the coolest models was the Windsor two-door three passenger coupe.

1946 Two door, 3 passenger

1946 Two door, 3 passenger

Let’s get to the engines.

If you can’t guess there were one 6 cylinder and one 8 cylinder.  They were split by series.  One was the Royal/Windsor engine and the other was Saratoga/New Yorker engine.  If you know anything about Chryslers you might know that the New  Yorker named cars were large cars and traditionally had larger engines.  In this case the Saratoga/New Yorker carried the V8.

It was an L-Head, cast iron block V8.  It displaced 323.5 cubic inches with a bore and stroke of 3.25″ x 4.875″. With a compression ratio of 6.7:1 the engine put out about 135 horsepower.  It had five main bearing and solid lifters and was topped with a B-B E7A1 carb.

1946 Chrysler 323.7 Straight Eight.

1946 Chrysler 323.7 Straight Eight.

 

The other engine was a 6 cylinder or the Royal/Windsor engine, smaller cars (like the 2 door 3 passenger).

It two was an L-Head and cast iron block engine.  It displaced 250.6 cid and the bore and stroke were 3.438″ x 4.50″.  The compression ratio was 6.6:1  and it had solid lifters and 4 main bearings which combined generates 114 horsepower.  It was topped either B-B EV1-EV2 j or E7L4 (for the Fluid Drive and Vacumatic) or B-BEX1, 2 or 3 (for the standard transmission).

The 1946 Chrysler 250 straight 6

The 1946 Chrysler 250 straight 6

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

Old Garage Pics.

Old Gas Stations pics from http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html
Send to me by Florida Joe!!! Thanks Joe.

 

Thanks for Reading.
Tim

Drive By 1938 Chrysler Royal

Here is another drive by.  As you know these are in fact drive by – but shooting with a camera!!!!

We saw this on near down town Tucson, Az.

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She needs a little work but it seems the owner drives it.  I love the suicide door and the 9 windows!!

The Chrysler Royal was an automobile produced by the Chrysler division of the Chrysler Corporation between 1937 to 1942 and 1946 to 1950. The Royal represented the entry-level Chrysler during its production,[1] making it the most affordable Chrysler model. The Royal was replaced at the end of 1950 model year by the Chrysler Windsor.

Own one of these?  Drop me a note.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Highlight Car – Jensen Interceptor

Call me crazy, but I love these cars.  I have only seen one in running condition and it was well restored.  I’d love to own one.

The Jensen Interceptor debuted in 1966, but not originally – that was back in 1950 (I’ll cover those in a separate post.).  These hand-built in Kelvin Way Factory, West Bromwich  in the England from 1966 – 1976.   The body style designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Italy and changed from fiber glass bodies to steel.

1966 Jensen Interceptor

1967 Interceptor

So what was this car made of?   Let’s take a look.

Engines:

These cars were by….wait for it…………………..Mother MOPAR!!!

Yup these cars sported a Chrysler V8.  The Mks I – III  used either the 6.3 or 7.2 liter engines.

The 1966 started with the 383 CID which continued through 1970 knocked out 335 hp.  The 383 was nurtured in 1971 dropping down to 250 hp.  So Jensen decided to use the 440.  They offered to versions, one had a 4bbl  Carter carb making about 305 hp.  The second  was topped with three 2 barrel Carters and pushed 330 hps out of the block – we know this engine as the 440 Six Pack – only 232 of these were produced.!!!

In 1972 the 440 suffered the same fate as the 383 – the Six Pack was no longer available and the 4 barrel was de-tuned to 280 hp and again in 1976 dropped to 255.  Jensen continued to use the engines.

Transmission:

The Jensen team selected the Chrysler’s TorqueFlite 727 automatic (3 speed) and 4 speed manual.

The curb weight was between 3500 – 3600 hundred pounds (about the same as a 1969 Cuda).

Other features:

Electric windows

Reclining front seats

Wood rimmed steering wheel

Radio with twin speakers

Reversing lights

Electric clock

Power steering  (after Sept ’68)
Jensen produced the Mk I, MK II and MK III from 1966-1974.  They came in 2 door convertible, hatch back and coupe.

Jensen Interceptor ‘Vert

 

Power specs:  0-60 in 6.4 seconds and top speed 137 mph (oh…I’m betting it would do better than that).

 

From Wikipedia:

Variants

A convertible with powered soft top was introduced in 1974 mainly intended for the American market but also sold in Europe. 267 convertibles were made.[3]

Rarer still is the Coupé version with just 60 made,[3] derived from the convertible and therefore without the distinctive rear window of the regular car that was introduced in 1975, a year before the company’s demise.

Jensen FF

Main article: Jensen FF

Jensen were one of the first manufacturers to equip a production car with four-wheel drive, in the 1967 Jensen FF (Ferguson Formula). At the time it was hailed as a remarkable development, coming also with Dunlop Maxarat mechanical anti-lock brakes and traction control. The car is five inches (127 mm) longer than the Interceptor, and although looking virtually the same the extra length is identified by an additional side vent ahead of the doors on the front flanks, an extension to and additional swage line in the leading edge of the front wing (fender). Press articles from the time quote “drag-strip” performance when describing the car. In total 320 FFs were produced; 195 Mark I, 110 Mark II and 15 Mark III. [4]

The Jensen Interceptor R

A Jensen specialist based at Cropredy Bridge rebuilds original Interceptors using modern components.

In May 2010, Jensen International Automotive was set up, with the financial backing and know-how of Carphone Warehouse founder and chairman Charles Dunstone who joined its board of directors. A small number of Jensen Interceptor Ss, which had started production under a previous company, are being completed by Jensen International Automotive (JIA), in parallel with JIA’s own production of the new Jensen Interceptor R; deliveries of the latter have started (beginning of 2011) at the Oxfordshire-based manufacturer and restorer. Tony Banham is JIA’s Managing Director.

 

The New Interceptor? Jensen Interceptor XL concept!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim.

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for the week of Sept 23

We have a couple of debuts’ this week and a couple of Birthdays.

First up on Sept. 23 in 1969 the iconic and now recreated Dodge Challenger.

From this:

1969 Challenger

And this:

The Iconic General Lee

To this:

The 2012 version.

Virgil Exner was born on the 24th of Sept in 1909.  Who was “Ex”?    A car designer.  Oh…ok…of what?  Just a couple of designs, like all of these:

Studebaker Champion
Studebaker Starlight
Chrysler C-200
Chrysler 300 letter series
Chrysler 300 non-letter series
Chrysler New Yorker
Imperial 1955-1961
Chrysler Diablo Concept with Ghia
Plymouth Savoy
Plymouth Belvedere
Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Suburban
Plymouth Valiant
Dodge Coronet
Dodge Firearrow Concept
Desoto 1961
Desoto Adventurer
Bugatti 1965 concept with Ghia
Mercer-Cobra 1965 concept
Duesenberg 1966 prototype with Ghia
Stutz Blackhawk

 
Bill France was born on the 26th in 1909 in our nations capital.  Mr. France was an American race car driver. He is best known for co-founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing.
The final debuts was on Sept. 26, 1967 when AMC released the Javelin.

1967 Javelin

Thanks for reading

Tim

Hemmings Find of the Day – 1972 Dodge Demon | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

Hemmings Find of the Day – 1972 Dodge Demon | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts.

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Aug 12, 2012

Back by popular demand (Ok, not really, I just like doing them.)

But I’m going to add a  give-away on the end of each one.

On Aug 14 in 1877, Nicholas Otto gets a patented for his 4 cycle combustion engine.

From the ZweiRad Museum Otto’s 4 cycle engine.

On the same day Paris, France creates the first every license plate in 1893.  Or was it?  Sources agree that it in fact Paris, France but the date isn’t clear as some sources say it was Leon Serpollet of Paris, France, who obtained the first license plate in 1889.

License plates were first required in the United States by New York State in 1901.

There ya go.

A sad note on the very next day (Aug 15) in 1956 an early car manufacture ceased production.  Packard closed its doors.

It was a Packard Caribbean

In 1984 on Aug 16, John DeLorean was acquitted of cocaine charges stemming from an alleged deal to help raise funds for the car company. He worked at Chrysler, Packard, GM (responsible for the GTO) and then his company producing the now famous Delorean DMC-12.


Back to the Future.The company still exist – original parts were purchased and now lives in Humble, Tx. Find them here on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/deloreanmotorcompany

Finally, in 1905 on Aug 18, Cadillac got it’s crest trademarked.

Caddy Crest Chart from http://www.cartype.com/pages/1051/cadillac

GIVE-AWAY:

Add a relevant comment to this Auto Factoid and you be entered in the monthly Auto Factoid Give Away.

This month:

1/32 scale 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee (new in the box)

1/32 Scale 69 Super Bee.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Dodging Bankruptcy and the Crusher

Dodging Bankruptcy and the Crusher.

Joe Greeves – July 05, 2012 10:00 AM

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(Editor’s note: Shortly after this article was written and printed in Auto Enthusiast (July issue), John Guarnieri was killed in a traffic accident en route to a show with his Dodge in tow. Our sympathies are extended to the friends and family in the loss and it was our privilege to share John’s car and passion with our readers).

Financial bailouts of automobile companies have been in the news but shoring up the auto industry is not something limited to recent times.

This beautiful 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer is proof that sometimes the infusion of extra cash can produce striking results. Almost driven to bankruptcy because of poor sales in 1953 and 1954, Chrysler was saved from collapse by a $250 million loan from Prudential and the talents of automotive designer Virgil Exner. In 1955, a beautiful collection of cars across the board became the result that put Chrysler solidly back into the Big Three.

The redesigned 1955 Dodge emerged from the makeover as a truly representative car of the ’50s. Positioned between Plymouth andDe Soto in the Chrysler lineup, the Dodge sported a six-volt electrical system, kingpin/leaf spring suspension, and 15-inch wheels. Six adults could ride in comfort and the trunk could hold their luggage.

Over-engineered with 20-quart cooling systems and six-quart oil capacities (sixes as well as V-8s) the engines ran on low octane gas and were trouble free. They were good looking cars then and still are today.

Enter John Guarnieri, a retired police officer and lifelong Mopar enthusiast living in St. Augustine, Florida. John is an active member of the Ancient City Auto Club and has owned 64 vehicles over the years. His involvement with this beautiful example began moments before it was headed to the crusher!

In February 2004, he and a friend were on a parts run when they drove past a junkyard in Lake City, South Carolina, surprised to see a distinctive tri-colored Dodge being pushed inside the fence. Except for rusted floorboards from a failed heater core, the car was complete and the body was pristine. A six-volt battery and a gallon of fresh gas brought the 270 Hemi V-8 to life, convincing John that the car had potential.

He learned that the car had been carefully stored for more than 25 years by the grandfather and his son, but the grandson got involved with drugs and never paid the storage fees. Knowing that the Custom Royal Lancer was the flagship car of the Dodge line, John stepped up like Prudential a half century before, intent on saving the car. He wrote a check for the storage fee, paid for a South Carolina title, and took the car home. As an unexpected bonus, the dealer threw in a second ’55 Dodge as a parts car. In all, John acquired five parts cars during the almost four year restoration.

After trailering the car back to St. Augustine, John’s first step was to get the brakes working properly and exercising the engine. Several trips up and down the highway and two oil changes later, the engine stopped spewing black smoke, a sign that it was time for the full restoration to begin.

Recalling the process with a smile, John says, “It only took two days to tear the car apart and 3½ years to put it back together!” The five parts cars and new old stock items located on eBay gave John everything he needed to complete the project. He accomplished much of the work himself, overhauling the engine on his own and rebuilding the transmission with help from Danny Novello at American Transmission in St. Augustine.

John also redid the brake system, refurbished the gas tank, added a new YnZ wiring harness, and located five Goodyear 7.10 x 15 tires with 2¾ inch whitewalls. The correct combination of Jacquard fabric and Cordagrain vinyl was sourced in Canada and installed by Old City Upholstery in St. Augustine. Several other local experts added their talents, like Tony Puleo at A&R Auto Electrics, along with staff members Jimmy and Charlie, who handled the rebuild of the car’s electrical components.

Boyd’s Glass located and installed new tinted glass and Rick’s Mufflers fabricated the new exhaust system. Tony Castellano polished the stainless steel and Space Coast Plating of Melbourne, Florida, did the chrome. John’s good friend, Hamlet Smith from Palm Coast, Florida, helped in reassembling the car and John’s wife Lynda hand-painted the hubcap spinners, gauges and related pieces.

The refurbished 270 Super Red Ram V-8 came equipped with Hemi heads and a two-barrel carb, producing 183hp. A rare Power Pack option was available from the factory that added a four-barrel Carter carb and dual exhausts, good for an additional 10hp. John’s car is equipped with a two-speed PowerFlite transmission, complete with a unique dash-mounted shift lever. (Those famous Chrysler pushbuttons appeared the following year.) Chrome trim separated the colors on the door panels. Gauges span the width of the dash and on John’s car. The eight-tube pushbutton radio has an optional rear speaker.

Unique colors were part of the mid-’50s experience and Dodge certainly brightened the landscape, taking 13 basic colors and expanding the choices with 16 two-tone combinations. Newly introduced in 1955 were 16 more three-tone combinations. If 45 choices still weren’t enough for you, upper colors, insert colors, and lower colors could be switched, providing a staggering 76-choice color palette. John’s colors of Regal Burgundy Metallic, white, and black were colors that often appeared in Dodge brochures, making them a sought after combination. Handling the spray gun, Billy Walters from Jacksonville, Florida, shot the chassis and accomplished the unique tri-color paint job.

Saved from bankruptcy by Prudential and the crusher by Guarnieri, the Dodge justified their faith beginning in December 2008 when the car was presented to the judges. The hard work and long hours were rewarded with a Junior Award at AACA’s ’08 Winter Meet in Lakeland, Florida. The Senior Award followed at the 2009 AACA Spring Meet in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The following year, John trailered the car to New Bern, North Carolina where it won again, taking home an AACA Grand National Award. John hopes the car will obtain its Senior Grand National Award at the 2012 Grand National Meet in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

When that happens, it will be a genuinely happy ending for an almost bankrupt car once headed to the crusher.