I admire the Porsche cars, but never felt a desire to own one. However, if I were to pick one up to restore, I think one of these would do just fine! Of course not the one below.
La Porsche 911 Turbo 1976 de Steve McQueen fera partie des lots proposés par la maison de vente aux enchères américaine Mecum Auctions, à Monterey, du 13 au 15 août. C’est dans la petite ville californienne de Monterey, aux Etats-Unis, que se …
Busy week this week this week for #AutoFactoids…. So here we go!
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:
June 10, 1927 The Graham boys purchased what was Paige_Detroit Motor Cars. The Grahams started out as farmers and glass bottle makers. One of the brothers invented a rear axle that would allow converting Ford car platforms in to light duty trucks. Oh they are still in business – owning/running Madison Square Gardens and hosting sporting events.
Graham Page
June 10, 1951 Jaguar won it’s first Le Mans. It was a C-type version of XK120
C-type XK120
June 11, 1955 Tragic day in racing history – over 80 spectators were killed.
Here are the details from History.com
Prior to the race, Levegh complained that the course was too narrow near the pit-stop area and the grandstand. This observation proved prescient. As Levegh was racing for the lead near the pit-stop area, he swerved to avoid fellow racer Mike Hawthorn s Jaguar as it moved toward the pits. Levegh s car, going about 150 miles per hour, came up too fast on Lance Macklin s Austin-Healey and was catapulted upward. The car crashed into the grandstand and its exploding parts went straight into the crowd. Levegh and more than 80 spectators, packed into the grandstand, lost their lives in the fiery crash.
June 12, 1954 Packard cars are sporting tubeless tires.
1954 Packard
June 12, 1975 Chrysler stops producing the Imperial.
1975 Chrysler Imperial – yes it’s on the drag strip.
Jun 14, 1832 Nikolaus Otto is born in Holzhausen, Germany. Famous for his patent for his 4 cycle combustion engine.
Along with the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, the Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most recognized American muscle cars. But ever since the fourth-generation Camaro was released in the early ’90s, the iconic U.S. car has been manufactured in Canada.That will end when the last 2015 Camaro rolls off the General Motors Canada assembly line in Oshawa, Ontario, on Nov. 20. The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro that goes on sale in the fourth quarter will be made in Lansing, Michigan. The shift is part of a $5.4 billion package of investments General Motors has slated for its U.S operations over the next three years.ADVERTISINGGM said last week it would invest $175 million to upgrade its Lansing plant to accommodate the new Camaro, which will go on sale in the fourth quarter. The vehicle will be built on the same platform in Lansing as the Cadillac CTS and ATS midsize and compact luxury sedans.
UPDATE 10:00 a.m. – General Motors is gearing up for the 2016 Camaro to be built at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant. In a morning news briefing, GM officials said 500 workers would be added into a second shift to …
The renovations to the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant include three new paint systems for the 2016 Camaro and two robotic framers. GM is vying for the top spot in the pony car market with the redesigned, amped-up …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last full week of May 2015.
May 26, 1906 Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio. Rose still holds the 2nd spot for the most Indiana 500 wins. His first win was in 1941 but he didn’t finish in the car he left the starting line in. The first car was a Maserati and developed mechanical issues and he moved to a Wetteroth/Offenhauser car. He managed two back-to-back wins in 1947 and 1948, driving one of a Deidt/Offenhauser Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials.
Mauri in the Maserati were he started in pole position in his first win.
Muari in Wetteroth/Offenhauser car
Mauri in the Blue Spark car!
May 29, 1946 Kaiser-Frazer produced its first vehicles. Kaiser-Frazer’s plant was located in Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company was formed when the two purchased the defunct Graham-Paige (of which Frazer was once Present, prior to WWII). There first cars were called the Frazer and Kaiser, one a mid-level luxury car and the other an innovative front wheel drive model.
The two parted ways in 1951 and the company name was changed to Kaiser. They went on to design some fantastic cars like the Darrin (named after one of the designer – Dutch Darrin. Bill Tritt was the other part of the team.) and on to the Jeep fame with Willys-Overland.
1950 — Johnnie Parsons. 1949 — Bill Holland. 1948 — Mauri Rose. 1947 — Mauri Rose. 1946 — George Robson. 1942-45 — No races, World War II. 1941 — Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. 1940 — Wilbur Shaw. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw. 1938 — Floyd Roberts.
The Manhattan has been honored by the community and is the first hot rod to win the people’s choice award two years in a row at the annual Kaiser Frazer Club National Convention. Share This Article. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. Author: Christopher …
Members of the Binghamton Kaiser Frazer Club will bring vehicles, Reilley said. The Seward House Museum, at 33 South St., will showcase several cars, including the Seward family’s own Packard. There will be automotive memorabilia for sale and, if you …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)for middle week in May 2015!
May 17, 1868 – Happy Birthday Horace Dodge (Niles, Michigan)
Horace was one of the original Dodge brothers. He was born into a working family, with Dad owning as machine shop. In 1903, he and his brother John won a contract to produce transmissions for Oldsmobile and the following took a contract building engine for Henry Ford. They build their own plant in 1910 and John eventually became a vice president at Ford. By 1913 they ended their relationship with Ford and began producing their own vehicles – trucks and ambulances mainly for military use and most found service in WWI.
Horace
Dodge Half Ton Truck
May 19, 1903 – Buick Incorporates – Buick is the oldest (longest running) active car manufacturer in North America – well brand name is the oldest, still active. Buick started out as Auto-VIM and power company in 1899 as an engine manufacturer and produced two prototype. In 1903 it was incorporated by David Dunbar Buick and produced their first car in 1904.
First Buick
May 22, 1929 – Goodyear Blimp took its maiden flight. Still provides some of the best auto racing coverage!!!
Goodyear Blimp.
May 23, 1875 – Alfred Sloan was born in New Heaven Conn. He headed up GM as President and guided it through some iconic car designs.
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 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …
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. That company eventually merged with a few other companies with United Motor Corporation. Sloan became the president of that and shortly after that they were purchased by GM.
He served GM from 1923 to 1956 in some manner including board chairman.
Imagine the innovations he saw during his tenure!!! The corporate mergers, the V8, the Corvette, lucky guy!!
Alfred P. Sloan
May 12, 1969 (or 14th) – The last Chevy Corvair was produced.
Last Corvair build. If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60’s and 70’s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader. With a little Google’in you’ll find various search results linking him to the demise of the Chevy Corvair (and apple pie and America) – most are not flattering to Mr. Nader. According to most accounts the last Corvair carried 6000 as the last 4 digits of it’s serial number. The car was blanketed by the press when it rolled off the assemble, but then disappeared. There are various stories as to the actual disposition of car #6000 but it remains a mystery. We do know it was a two door, hard top, Monza, Olympic Gold was the color and it likely had a Service 140 replacement engine.
I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.
The last Corvair convertible was #5997 which was a Forest Green Monza that has come up for sale a few times.
If you are a Corvair fan you’ll enjoy this read: 1969 Corvair: Finger Tip Facts by Corvair historian Dave Newell.
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 …
It’s a light week for the automotive history. April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015! Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan. Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.
Bob and Carol Marsh, of Chesterfield, are the owners of the 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible shown on this page. And, believe it or not, this is the actual car Bob owned when he was in high school. He told me he “hot rodded” the car as a teenager. (Can …
American muscle in the middle of Europe! This is one awesome car!!!
Murdered out and roaming the streets of Kastrup, Denmark, American muscle is loud and proud outside of the United States. In particular, Marcus Walther’s 1966 Chevrolet Nova pays homage to that old school Detroit muscle.
Denmark is a small country located in Northern Europe, but we can’t knock Walther and his obsession with American cars. Walther is the owner of Rudetoning Custom Solfilm in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Walther has been running his window tinting business for the past 15 years. Servicing nearly 1,500 cars per year, Walther and his team strive to give customers the best quality tint job around.
Walther’s infatuation with American cars has led to astounding results. Rebuilding cars for years, Walther began his journey with American-made cars by reconditioning Chevrolet Astro Vans and Chevy pickup trucks.
Patrick now heads Munster Muscle Exports, a business that specializes in the export of American muscle cars overseas, mostly to Australia, where the iconic cars of the 1950s through the ’70s are in high demand. This year’s jamboree. Wheels of Time …
Okay, at first blush, this seems kind of like a meaningless publicity stunt: TV star and multiple People Magazine “Sexiest Men Alive” honoree Idris Elba hops into a brand-new, immensely powerful super-coupe and obliterates a speed record set when George V was still king and Charles Lindbergh had just landed in Paris.If it seems silly, it’s because this was not in any way a fair fight. Look, Idris Elba is a certified badass, but the 626-hp Bentley Continental GT Speed he was driving benefits from 88 years of automotive evolution that Sir Malcolm Campbell absolutely didn’t have at his disposal back in 1927. That’s a sizable advantage in favor of the British star.Stick with us here, though, because there’s a very cool parallel to all of this, and it’s something that even Bentley didn’t think to highlight.See, if you read Bentley’s press release, it lays out the bare facts: The undeniably attractive Elba, star of Luther and The Wire, sought to break the “Flying Mile” record, a top speed run that takes place on a seven-mile stretch of smooth, firm beach on the shores of Carmathen Bay, Wales, known as Pendine Sands. The defending champion of the Flying Mile was Sir Malcolm Campbell, whose two-way average of 174.8 mph has gone unchallenged since 1927.
He used this!!!
So I’ve got to think that the only reasons this record still existed is that no one bothered to drive there since 1927. Seriously!!! You can read more by chasing the link below…I’ve got to run, I’m going to break the speed record for a one way trip to the end of my driveway. Don’t worry, I’ll send Road and Track some PR shots and a pic of my C6 sitting at the end of my driveway!!
The ‘Flying Mile’ is a historical high-water mark, a thing of legend. In 1927, Sir Malcolm Campbell drove a modified Bentley—the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird—to a U.K. land speed record of 174.8 mph. That’s faster than most of today’s sports cars, just …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first full week in May 2015.
Dateline May 3rd, 1948 – Willys Jeepster Phaeton debuts.
The production was only a 3 year run with a total units produced was 19,132. The engines ranged from a 134.1 cu in (2.2 L) I4 and two I6, a 148.5 cu in (2.4 L) I6 and 161 cu in (2.6 L) I6.
1948 Jeepster Phatheon
Same day one year later (May 3rd, 1949 ) – Packard has its 50th Anniversary and to commemorate it they offered up 2,000 Gold Packard’s from Utica Proving Grounds. Yes that did happen. They were painted in a special paint code of Gold. Each were powered with 327 c.i.d., 150 hp engine. Only 600 were convertibles.
This isn’t, of course, Gold, but only 600 Gold Convertibles were made with that special paint code.
Packard’s Utica Proving Grounds.
May 4th 1923 – The first Le Mans 24 Hour race was held just outside Le Mans, France. Initial the race was limited to ‘production’ cars and two drivers, now they require 3 drivers per car and the of course these cars aren’t in your dealers show rooms. The race was won by one of the French teams – André Lagache and Léonard driving a Chenard et Walcker with 3.0L I4 engine.
This is an awesome looking car!!!
May 6th and 7th, 1928– Chrysler debuts the De Soto for the 1929 model year and completes the purchase of Dodge, in part for its dealerships to sell the new De Soto. In the course of the marque’s run (1929-1961) it set several sales records for Chrysler and the auto industry. It’s first year (1929) saw 81,065 unit sold and it held the record unit 1960 when Ford beat it with the Falcon.
1928-29 Chrysler De Soto
Thanks for reading.
Tim
(#AutoFactoids)
Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and Willys http://t.co/WYzhUBDaxE #AutoFactoids http://t.co/ajOpYWuAdW
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015! Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan. Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.
Sam Schmidt, who has been paralyzed below the shoulders since slamming into a wall 14 years ago, always believed he’d never drive again. On Sunday, he will–in a Corvette he will control by shaking his head and gnashing his teeth.
Schmidt was a promising driver with 27 Indy Racing League starts when he went into the wall at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida on January 6, 2000. He knew he’d never race again, but one year later he returned to motorsports with his own team, now known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He’s enjoyed a measure of success as a team owner, but driving seemed out of the question.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Sam Schmidt took a spin around Indianapolis Motor Speedway last spring, his first time behind the wheel since being paralyzed in a racing accident in 2000. He had a tougher challenge Sunday: Navigating the twists and turns of the …
