Category Archives: Auto Factoids

Parking Lot Spotlight – 1969 Mercury Cougar – Awesome!

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I haven’t done a Parking Lot Spotlight in a while and this is a great car to pick the series back up with.  Check this one out!!!!!

1969MCourgar-1

Wheels look great!!!!

1969MCourgar-2

Love the chrome work and the wrap around backup lights. That two tone paint is pretty good looking too!!!

I find these to be such a great looking vehicles and dare I say in some cases even better than some of their Mustang cousins.  The hidden headlights and the full (nearly full) length tail lights make these so distinct and much more difficult to restore then the Mustang – as far as getting NOS parts.

I’m not alone in thinking that the new for 1967 Cougar was unique and that first year through 1970 were the best years.  After that they became cross-bred with a Marauder and then by the mid 70’s virtually indistinguishable from the squared off T-bird not to mention it’s overtly plushiness.

In 1969 you could get the Cougar with a 302, 351W  in either a V2 or V4 configuration or Boss 302.  Previous years a 289 was available and in early 70’s  the 351C, 351 CJ, and  351 Boss were options.  Those are the best engine Ford had to offer at the time!!! (May be ever!!)

For 1969 you could get the Cougar in the Coupe, Convertible with a standard trim, Eliminator or XR-7  packages. Production numbers totaled just over 100k units broken down like this:

 

Coupe –  66,331 Convertible – 5,796
XR-7 Coupe – 23,918 XR-7 Convertible – 4,024

 

Got a Cougar?  Let’s see it!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang Sports Roof

 

Readers Cars 01/03/2010

I enjoy seeing readers’ cars.  Here is a 1982 Mercury Cougar Stationwagon…..YES!!!  That’s what I said…”They did what????” Submitted by Steve Sears. There were 19,254 Cougar wagons built, in GS and Villager trim, in 1982. The only other year there were Cougar wagons was 1977 when 9,700+ built. I’d be willing to bet that …

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Jan 17, 2016 – Corvette, Cadillac and Gas Turbines

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Here are your #AutoFactoids for the week up Jan 17, 2016.

 

Jan 17, 1903 Cadillac introduces its first car at Madison Square Garden

1903 Cadillac

1903 Cadillac

I say ‘car’, some say ‘horseless carriage’.  Regardless it was a high-end run-about powered by 1.6 liter, 1 cylinder/2 value engine – producing 6.5 hp to haul around it’s 1300 plus lbs.

Jan 17, 1953 Chevy introduces the Corvette at a Motorama show in NYC

From the 1953 Motorams - Corvette Display

From the 1953 Motorama – Corvette Display

Jan 17, 1956 Ford becomes a public company

They offered 10.2 million shares of stock at $63.00 each – shares opened at $64.50 and closed at $69.50.  Today Ford stock is running around $12.00.

Jan 20, 1942 Chevy ceases car production to help support war effort.

As United States as drawn into WWII the Federal government asked the car companies to stop production new cars.  The metals and rubber were in short supply and providing the military with these items was the first priority.   Most of the car manufacturers retooled to help the war effort.  Chevy produced the T-17 Staghound armored scout cars in Flint, Mich.  These cars were armed with 37 mm Cannon.  Production began in Oct. of 1942 and 3,800 were produced through April 1944.

ChevyWWII

 

Jan 21, 1954 Turbo Cruiser Bus produced –  the 1st gas turbine engine vehicle

 

http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/trueauto55/trueauto55.htm

http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/trueauto55/trueauto55.htm

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

cool and old cars on Pinterest | Cadillac, Chevy and Buick

Auto Factoids for the week of Aug 26, 2012. Cadillac Runabout, 1902. 1902 Cadillac Runabout. 1902 Cadillac. 1. Pinned from. Uploaded by user. Pin it. Like.
Cascadia Classic – Vintage cars in Portland Oregon: 1973 Volvo …

I seriously like the lines of this car!! Auto Factoids for the Week of Jan 18, 2014 http://wp.me/p2YxYx-3d4. my Mum had one of these in dark green.. this one from  …

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

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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

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#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 …

 

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 15, 2015 – Buick, Ford and Edsel

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Welcome to this weeks Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)!!!!

Back in 1977 on Nov. 15 Ford produced it’s 100,000,000.  It was a 1978 Ford Fairmont and rolled out of the Mahwah assembly plant in New Jersey.

1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant

1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

This car was in fact, a fox body, but gets as much respect as a K-Car.

1978-Ford-Fairmont

You can understand why that is when you see it  in the 4 door configuration

78Fairmont2Dr

Now the two door wasn’t too bad – still not great!

But, you know me, I think any two door car can be made to look awesome…..

 

YES!!!!

YES!!!!

AND YES!!!

AND YES!!!

Back in 1906 the man who started one of the largest global car (and motorcycle) companies was born on Nov 17 in Iwata-gun, Japan:

Soichrio

Soichrio

Another millionth for the month of Nov.   Back in 1940 Buick produced 278,784 cars (about 70k more than in 1939) one of those was the  4 millionth Buick and it rolled off the line Nov. 17th.

That car was a Buick Super Coupe like this one:

1940 Buick Super Coupe

1940 Buick Super Coupe

 

I’ve been doing these Auto Factoids for years and this next event never fails to  make me scratch my head.  Yup it’s the death of the Edsel.   Killed by Ford on 11/19/1959  BOO  HISS

One of last Edsels - 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan

One of the last Edsels – 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan  🙁

Thanks for reading.

Tim

autofactoidsautofactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 1, 2015 – Packard Week

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!! Here is.

Keep up with this and #ProjectSportsRoof – get the feed.

 

 

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 1, 2015 – Packard Week

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!!   Here is why:

Starting right off on the Nov. 1st 1955 Studebaker’s Hawk showed up on the car scene.

  • They when on sale in 1956 and came in the Flight Hawk, Golden Hawk and Power Hawk and Sky Hawk. As you may know these were tough time for Studebaker/Packard so the Flight, Power and Sky Hawk models were only available in 1956.   The power plants for these cars ranged from Studebaker’s old straight 6 cylinder bored and stoked to displace 185 CIDs for the Flight Hawk, and their OHV 259″ V8, which came in a 2bbl and 4bbl configuration (180 HP and 195 HP ) for the Power Hawk to the Sky Hawk’s OHV 289 CID with the Golden Hawk sporting Packard’s 352 CID (5.8 L – V8) that managed to produce 275 BHP. That is pretty good power in fairly light car.

Sky Hawk

Sky Hawk

Flight Hawk

Flight Hawk

Golden Hawk

Golden Hawk

Power Hawk

Power Hawk

On Nov. 2, 1935 we have two events.

  • Cord’s 810 debuted as did the Fords’ (Lincoln’s) Zephyr. Cord 810 was a beautiful and advanced car. It was the first US designed and built front wheel drive car with independent suspension and sported a set of very cool hidden headlights (operated with a crank on the dash-board) – another US first!! It was power by a Lycoming 289 V8 (125HP) and had a 4 speed overdrive transmission.
1935 Cord 810. This the Sportsmen Convertible

1935 Cord 810. This is the Sportsmen Convertible

  • The Zephyr was produced under the Lincoln sub-brand and was powered by 267 cu in (4.4 L) L-Head with 110 HP. It sold 15,000 units in its first with was over 50% of all Lincoln sales for 1936.
1936 Zephyr

1936 Zephyr

Continuing on with Packard Week, on Nov. 5, 1863 John Ward Package was born.

  • Before building his first automobile in 1899, he successfully operated his own business, Packard Electric
John Ward Packard

John Ward Packard

On Nov. 6 is a very busy day in Automotive history we have 3 major mile stones.

  • On this day in Carlo (a.k.a. Karl) Abarth was born in Austria in 1908. He was ultimate gear-headed business man!!! Started out designing bicycle and motorcycle frames in Italy as a teenager for Castanga, then back to Austria and motorcycle racing where he managed to become 5 times European champion. After begin seriously injured in a racing accident he gave up racing, designed a sidecar and started a company with Ferry Porsche (and couple other guys) that was eventually called Cisitalia. They produced the Tipo 360 F1 prototype – which was a flop. Later on he founded the Abarth & C company that eventually produced racing cars with the scorpion logo then moved into the production of performance exhaust now called Abarth. He should the company to Fiat and they named a car after him.

Abarth Race Car

Abarth Race Car

Logo

Logo
  • Edsel Ford was born in 1883 in Detroit, MI on this same day. Often only known for the Edsel sub brand he was instrumental in design and development of the Lincoln as well. But we all love the Edsel.

1959EdselCorsair

  • To finish up Packard Week the first Packard car was test driven on Nov. 6, 1899.
The first Packard

The first Packard

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015 – GM and Corvair

Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.

Auto Factoids for the Weeks of March 15 and March 22 2015

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 …

Top Country Visitors – Thanks all!!!

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Just a quick howdy to all my readers from outside the U.S.

Love to hear from you – in any language!

Thanks – Canada
Danke  – Germany
Good Day Mate – Thanks Australia
Thanks UK folks!!
Благодарности Люди –  Russian Federation
Merci Folks – French
gracias amigos – Brazil
Tack Folks – Sweden
Folks Grazie . Ci vediamo tra qualche giorno  Italy
Bedankt mensen – Netherlands

 

100_0303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep the shinny side up!!!!

 

Tim

AGCarRestoration@cox.net

#ProjectSportsRoof

agcarrestoration

Action Shot Contest – Average Guys Muscle, Classic …

Get you pics or videos to us either on our FB page https://www.facebook.com/AGCarRestoration or email them to AGCarRestoration@cox.net or timsweet@cox.net. This should be fun!!!! Tim Sweet. AGCarRestoration@cox.net …

Auto Factoids and C.N.N for week of Sept 6th 2015 – TBird and Studebaker

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Here is your #AutoFactoids and Car News Now for this first full week of September 2015.

Auto Factoids

Sept. 7, 1954 – Production of Ford Thunderbird begins

1955 T-Bird

1955 T-Bird

2002 Thunderbird

2002 Thunderbird

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 8, 1903   Preston Tucker was born in Capac, MI.

While dubbed "Tucker Torpedo" during production no 'Torpedoes' were produced.

While dubbed “Tucker Torpedo” during production no ‘Torpedoes’ were produced.

tucker_car

Beautiful Cars!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 9, 1935 – Studebaker exports 163 Presidents to England.

These are what were shipped

These are what were shipped

All Aboard!!

All Aboard!!

 

Car News Now (C.N.N.)

Automobile reports that the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S get Turbocharged!!!

  • That’s the 3.0 liter flat six engine.  The twin turbo will produce 379 hp w/ 331 lb-ft fo torque in the Carrera and Carrera S will have 420 hp with 368 lb-ft.   That is 20 more horses the current 3.8 liter produces for Porsches.
2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 - smoking hot!!

2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 – smoking hot!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Buzz took a look at Audi’s A8 with Armor – it will be bullet and bomb proof – meeting VR 9 ballistics protection standards.

  • You are gonna need some extra punch to get these moving so there are two engines available. The are the 4.o liter V8 with 429 hp and a 6.0 liter W12 with 495 hp.
Armored Audi

Armored Audi

 

 

Check out the doors!!!

armored cars for sale 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

2017 porsche 911 carrera

The 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera Launched at IAA Frankfurt

With its world premiere headed for the IAA Frankfurt, the refreshed seventh generation Porsche 911 Carrera (991 series) should represent an epic showcase of efficiency, technological advancement, engine development and design curation. Innovative …

2015 Mercedes C63 Details, Armored Audi A8, Detroit Show Highlights: Today’s …

Mercedes-Benz’s next C63 AMG is due in about a year and we have some fresh details on the car straight from the head of AMG. The good news is that the car will continue to offer a V-8 and rear-wheel drive, but this time around it will be turbocharged.

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – The Little Things

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During the course of a restoration that are the major processes that need to be tended too, like body work, engine rebuild or interior work that takes the lime light and a the bulk of the time spend on the project.  There are often small gaps when there’s a some free time, like waiting for parts, etc. or just a break for the big stuff to take care of some of the little.

For example:  If you’ve watched the videos, in particular the engine walk through post (Link it) you’ve seen the radiator reservoir was….um…a little lower than what would be considered normal.

A tad bit low.

A tad bit low.

Broken!

Broken!

Here’s a little clip on the repair.

 

It’s always great to accomplish something on a project, even the little things.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through.

There is a quick walk-through of the 351C tucked between the fenders of the 1973 Mustang Sportsroof. (It took about 5 takes to get this video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

Continuing on with the leaks and Pertronix install on the 351C, below you’ll see the cleaned up valve covers (BTW – only the right side was leaking – which may explain.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …

 

 

 

 

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 …

AUTO FACTOIDS for the Week Of 7/12/15 – Karmann Ghia, CNN, Checker Cabs

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Welcome to the expanded version of #AutoFactoids!!!   Checkout the milestones in automotive history, CNN (Car News Now) and don’t for get the Trivia.

July 12, 1922 – First Checker built – 60 years later the same day the last Checker was built.

–   It was a merger of sorts between Commonwealth Motors (making bodies for cab companies as ‘Mogul’) and Morris Markin’s  Markin Autobody.

–  The engine is a 4 cylinder Buda Model Q with 27 hp.

–   1935 Checker used the Y-8 engine (Lycoming engine) and the Y-6 engine ( a Continental six-cylinder).

1922 Checker Cab

1922 Checker Cab

1982 Checker

1982 Checker

–   The last Checker autos were produced in 1982 with  a 229-cubic-inch (3.8 liter) V-6 engine and automatic 3-speed transmission.

July 14 – VW debuts the Karmann Ghia in 1955

–   360,000 coupes and about 80,000 convertibles we made between 1955 and 1974.

1958 Karmann Ghia

1958 Karmann Ghia

 

 

1600 Karmann Ghia

1600 Karmann Ghia

 

Car News Now  (CNN)

Speaking of VW, the company announced that they are developing a new brand specifically for the China market.

Ford let us know that we will soon see the Ford Focus RS here in the U.S. – that 315 hp stuffed in that little car.  It will sport a six-speed manual transmission and have all-wheel drive.

Restoration is becoming easier for your Porsche 911.  Porsche Classic is now reproduction dashboards for 1969 – 1975 911s. Chase the link:   www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservices/classic/

Auto Factoid Trivia*

What was the first model to where the name Maserati?

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

*Trivia – Submit the correct answer via email, Facebook, Twitter or a comment to this post and you’ll be entered to win a monthly give away.  It’s that easy!!

 

checker cab for sale

1981 Chicago Checker Cab Taxi A11 Green 1:18 Diecast

… Revell AG Onyx NZG NorScot Norev-FIAT Nacoral Muscle Machines Checker Cab For Sale – Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at Nextag Checker Cab For Sale – 65 results like Checker Cab Nebulizer by Drive Medical, …

karmann ghia

Smith: How a sweet old Karmann Ghia will do good for homeless animals

It’s a cute-as-a-bug, 1967 VW Karmann Ghia. A loyal supporter of the nonprofit’s ambitious works on behalf of homeless animals donated it, hoping the Humane Society would find a way to convert the car to dollars for services. The agency now is selling …
Karmann Ghia: Mehr als ein VW im Sonntagskleid

Und sorgte für eine Überraschung: Vor den Journalisten stand ein eleganter Zweitürer in “Gazellenbeige” mit rot lackierten Felgen und hellbrauner Innenausstattung: der Karmann Ghia. Ein Auto, das italienische Eleganz mit deutscher Technik verband.