Tag Archives: Henry Ford

AUTO FACTOIDS & C.N.N for Week of 7/26/2015 – Studebaker to Viper

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Kaiser-Fraser formed July 26, 1945 – The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was the result of a partnership between automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer and business man Henry  J. Kaiser. In 1947, the company acquired the automotive assets of Graham-Paige.  Interesting enough, Kaiser had no automotive business experience.   In 1953 the company became just Kaiser and a few years later acquired Willy-Overland company.

This how Henry J's originally appeared

This how Henry J’s originally appeared

This often how you see them today!!

This often how you see them today!!

Studebaker-Packard and Curtis-Wright management agreement on  July 27,  1956 – Found this tidbit and wonder if maybe Studebaker/Packard in an attempt save a sinking ship wanted to use Curtis-Wright’s rotor engine.

Nash Motors incorporated on July 29, 1916 – Nash Motor Company as founded by Charles Nash when he purchased a company called Jeffery Company which made a car called the Rambler.  I bet you can guess what came eventually  American Motors and their Rambler.  Shots below are from ones I took at the Good Guys Regional here in AZ

Nash American Rambler

Nash American Rambler

Engine Bay

Engine Bay
GG15NashRam-2

Great looking interior

Great looking interior

The "N"

The “N”

Buick buys Caddy  on  July 29, 1909 – In what was the early formation of General Motors, Buick Motor Company purchased Cadillac.  Under the tutelage of  William C. Durant Cadillac was the only brand that allowed to carry GM’s luxury car title, the others would share platform and be given “economic class” designations.

Henry Ford Born on July 30, 1863 – He was born in Greenfield Township, Michigan.  His dad (William) was English, but born in Ireland and his mother (Mary)was born in Michigan. Commonly thought of as inventor of the assembly line, which in truth was Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile fame), but was the first to mass produce affordable cars for the public.  He didn’t start out as a car guy, but a farmer and ran a lumber mill.  After that he became an engineer for Edison Illumination Company.

henry ford

July 31, 1911 GM shares go on sale.

 

 CNN – Car News Now

The new 2016 Scion is news.  Looking a lot like a Ford the iA and iM are both under $20k.   The iA has a 1.5 liter engine with 106 hp and the iM has 1.8 liter power plant with 137 hp.  Both have 6 speed transmissions.  While under 3ooo lbs (iM just under at 2943lb curb weight) they but down 0-60 number you would expect – 10 seconds and 9.5 seconds respectively.

Scion iM

Scion iM

 

Have you seen the new Dodge Viper?   The ARC is going to top the pricing scale at near $120k. With that you’ll get the V10 power plant and a mere 645 hp.

The ACR

The ACR

Thanks for reading.

Tim

You can find all the Auto Factoids by search on #AutoFactoids.

Dodge’s most extreme Viper, the 2016 ACR, is here

Dodge isn’t sitting on its laurels with the two Hellcats in its stable. In fact, the brand is doubling down on speed with the 2016 Viper ACR. ACR stands for American Club Racing, and it means the most extreme Viper built for public roads is slithering …

Mustang 50 Years Old and Back On Top of the Empire State Building

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Mustang turn 50 years old this year and is one of the best-selling sports cars in the U.S.  It’s now back on top as Ford re-enacts the publicity stunt that they use to help launch the model.

 

As you might expect the building has changed a bit in 50 years so it was a bit more challenging to get the car to the top.

 

Here is how they did it.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

mustang empire state building

Ford Put A Mustang On The Empire State Building

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, the auto giant planned a photo opportunity that would appear to stretch the limits of possibility — placing the 2015 edition of the iconic vehicle on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire …

Auto Factoids for Week of Sept 2nd

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What went on in history this week in the world automobiles?

Frank Duryea drove the first car he built back in 1893 and just two years later almost to the day Duyrea Motor Co. Incorporated in 1895.

What was Frank driving?

a one-cylinder “Phaeton”

One year later in March 1896, Charles and Frank Duryea offered for sale the first commercial automobile, the Duryea motor wagon. Two months later, New York City motorist Henry Wells hit a bicyclist with his new Duryea. The rider suffered a broken leg, Wells spent a night in jail and the nation’s first traffic accident was recorded.
Frank went on to win the first car race.  A 54 mile event with the winner earning $2000.00.

The racing version!!!

 

The Duryea brother’s car evolved much like the rest of the cars of the era.

1905 Duryea Tourer

and

The 1913 Model C

Sept 4 was a big day for Ford.

First the founder Henry Ford was born in 1917 and 40 years later (1957) the Edsel when on sale.

1958 Edsel Corsair – Really..I don’t think they’re ugly.

 

Just few days later in 1954 Ford began producing the Thunderbird.

 

1954 T-bird

 

And finally for this week Sept 8 (or the 21st???)1903 was the day Preston Tucker was born in Michigan.  Best known for his car:

Way Kool!!!

But little known for his:

 

Armored Car and………….

 

…this fighter plan – The Tucker XP-57

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Retrobuilt 2010 Mustang Turned Old-School Boss 302

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by on June 13, 2012


This whole custom Retrobuilt seems to be all the rage lately from the Reversion Mustang at SEMA to the new GT500 CS convertible conversion. If you don’t know who Retrobuilt is, it’s a Official Licensee of Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. They specialize in S197 Mustangs from 2005-2011 and turn them into a modern classic by using custom fiberglass panels, true steel bumpers, door handles, rear window louvers, Shelby wheels, custom exhaust and retro tail covers. Every car built by Retrobuilt includes a serial number, dash plaque and Certificate of Authenticity.

However, another one just made an appearance on eBay motors in the form of a 2010 Mustang turned old school Boss 302. From the front it may seem to be an old school Boss 302, until you realize that the body is a bit different and then get a glance of that rear. Body panels added to this car go over the doors but replace the front hood and fenders. The rear deck lid panel is new and you can see that it also features the black hockey stick Boss stripes. The front and rear chrome bumpers are both from a 1969 Mustang. A good 58 lbs. have been lost and some of the weight has been transferred to the rear.

The interior features red leather seats and the same pattern is also on the door panels. The seats supposedly have no wear or tear and are in good condition, as well as the headliner and carpeting. Under the hood is the stock V8 complete with shaker hood with 34,973 miles logged on the odometer. This car is still under warranty until the end of September and the title obviously states that this is a 2010 Mustang.

What do you think of this retro Boss?  Drop me a note.

I, personally, like it, in an odd sort of way.  I’d have to see in it person.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Ford’s Windsor and Cleveland Engines

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I have a Ford and as I’ve said before, though the years (ok….40’s, 50’s and 60’s) they produced some of the more interesting cars with  some of the most powerful engines.  Of those engines the Cleveland and the Windsor were major players.

I’m not alone thinking that the only real difference between the two were the names each being made in the plant they were named after.  The Windsor was named after the Essex Engine plant in Windsor,  Ontario and the Cleveland Engine Plant in Ohio.

 

1914 Photo of the Essex Engine plant in Windsor, Ontario

 

Totally different plants  and countries about the only they had in common was displacement.

What were the differences?   That’s coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Happy Birthday Mr. Shelby

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Thanks for all your ingenuity. Enjoy your day.

Mr. Shelby

His legacy

Thanks for reading.

Tim

The rebuilding of a Ford 3 speed manual Transmission

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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m going to rebuild the old 3 speed transmission that I took out of my ’70 Mustang coup and I’ll do it in stages (average guy, average time to spend on a project…especially one that isn’t going to benefit my cars).  The rebuild kit is on it’s way.

This the first time I’ve attempted this, so who knows how it’s going to go.

First I’m going to give myself a transmission anatomy lesson, which I’ll share here.

In the mean time here are couple of videos.

[vodpod id=Video.15939015&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fvid299.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fmm296%252Ftimsweet2200%252FVIDEO0086.mp4]

[vodpod id=Video.15939022&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fvid299.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fmm296%252Ftimsweet2200%252FVIDEO0085.mp4]

[vodpod id=Video.15751050&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fvid299.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fmm296%252Ftimsweet2200%252FMVI_9345.mp4]

Exciting..HuH?

Thanks for reading

Tim

Last U.S.-built Ford Ranger built in St. Paul assembly plant

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Dec 16, 2011 the last produced Ford Ranger.  This isn’t just the end of the Ford Ranger, its the end of the Cologne V6 and the closing of a plant that has been producing car since 1925 – over 25 million.  The last Ranger was a fleet car going to Orkin Pest Control – yawn – couldn’t have been a Raptor or and F150 Harley Davison version.

2012 V6 Ford Ranger - The last one.

The plant produced armored cars during WW II and  50’s Fords, early Crown Vics and Galazies. It also produced one of my favorite cars the Ford Sunliner.

1955 Ford Sunliner

 

Sunliner

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim