AutoRama Pittsburgh- Part II

You are going to like this pics from Red Stripe Adventure’s blog. The lowered Lincoln in stealth black and you have to agree that Hudson looks great – in spite of the WWII aircraft theme.
Thanks for reading.

Barrett-Jackson and Karl Kustom Corvettes

Not only is there a ton of beautiful cars at Barrett-Jackson auctions, there are also a lot of venders.  Anything from car care products, to engine builders to custom building shops.

One of those was Karl Kustom Corvettes located in Des Moines, Ia.  I had a chance to speak with Jim Hidy one of the reps for Karl Kustom at the auction this past January.

SWEET!!!!

 

Nice looking car, yes?  HELL YES.  But there some interesting things I didn’t know about these custom Vettes and how they are made.

I spoke with Jim at length and I have to tell you that how I thought these were made wasn’t even close and how they are made was pretty surprising to me.  Jim set me straight.

Great Creation

 

These are of course C6 machines with the look of the  60’s Vettes.  All the great handling and power of the C6 underpinning and classic looks.  I thought ‘how cool they manufacture a body that snaps on the C6 frame.  But that’s not how it’s done.

More coming up in Part 2.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Corvette Mouse Pad Give Away – Corvette Engine Contest Final Winner

Here you have the final winner:

Roy Obert (you’ve seen his work here – Quickiefilms) from  Mi., with his C3 – with a tiny but functional engine.

The specs? Oh...he just says..."Bad Ass".

What a profile!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the fun.  More contests coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Give Away – 1934 Ford V-8 Deluxe Roadster

Finally, I’ve gotten around to this Give Away.

This is for a National Motor Museum Mint, 1934 Ford V-8 Deluxe die-cast model car.

1934 Ford V-8 Deluxe Roadster

In 1934 these cars would cost you a whopping $710.  There were about 6,863 produced each powered by a 221 Cubic Inch V8 with 85 horse power.  To day in top condition these beauties fetch up to $40,000.00

Comes in the original packing with the Certificate of Authenticity.  These are great collectible cars.

HOW TO WIN:

Email (timsweet@cox.net) or post a picture of your 1930’s or 1940’s car and a quick note about it – no matter the condition.

I’ll collect them and post them up.  The readers of my blog will vote.  The winner will be mailed the car, however I don’t need your mail information unless you win.

NOTE:  ANY CONTACT INFORMATION IS PRIVATE AND IS NEVER RETAINED AND NEVER REUSED.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT ME FIRST, BEFORE PROVIDING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.

There are more give cars coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Eli Manning and 2012 Corvette Grand Sport – Come on now.

I’m going to take issue with Ms Hargrove…read this and then watch the UTube vid.

Eli Manning Snubs GM By Turning Down Keys to 2012 Grand Sport

Lauren Hargroveby on February 6, 2012

You just won the big game and received the MVP award, and with it, a brand new car! But it’s a Chevy, and you’ve been helping sell Toyotas for years… Awkward! Millions are watching live on TV as one of the major sponsors of the game presents you with the keys to a brand new 2012 Corvette Grand Sport convertible – what do you do? Keep it simple and classy, saying “thank you” to at least acknowledge the prize, without seeming like an entitled jerk who is worried about burning bridges with the foreign company that’s been writing you checks for years?

Nope! If you’re Eli Manning, you leave without a word or the keys…

Kevin and Bean of Los Angeles radio station KROQ performed a mock interview with the MVP this morning; according to their “correspondence” with the game winning quarterback the current plan is to use the C6 as a planter. It is unlikely that the Corvette will actually face such a harsh fate, but it does leave ‘vette lovers and football fans wondering will happen to the C6.

While playing in, let alone leading a team to victory in the Super Bowl is an achievement few of us could even begin to comprehend, and the pressure of post-game interviews and ceremonies must be enormous, how hard is it to say “thank you” and pocket the keys? Even if your fear of offending Toyota is so great that actually accepting and driving the gift is unthinkable, at least raffle it off for charity or something…

If anyone at GM is actually reading this, I am sure there are plenty of armchair quarterbacks who would graciously receive the Corvette and provide it with a loving home if Manning never does pick up the keys.

NOW…watch the video…..and see if Eli doesn’t say Thank You.

[vodpod id=Video.16073197&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

2012 Grand Sport, posted with vodpod

Thanks for reading

Tim

The Lakester at Barrett-Jackson – The Rest of the Story

If you paid attention to the recent Barrett-Jackson auction or read my blog (http://wp.me/pKHNM-QF), you might have seen this car and know that it was sold for $100k.
You can research and find out a lot of information.  But as Paul Harvey use to say…”And now…….the rest of the story.”

The Crow Lakester

Headlights are from a 1937 Packard

Steering wheel is a yoke from a 1948 Rockwell Aero Commander.

1963 Corvette – Needs Paint

Looking over my morning emails, I come across my Hemmings daily email.  Love getting these and sometimes I share an article from them.

On the right hand side they spotlight (or maybe as a seller you have to pay extra for the placement) some of the cars that are listed with them for sale.  Today there is this 1963 Corvette:

For just over $15K you can pick this up. Worth it? Tires and rims look new!!!
 
Little elbow grease, super glue and an engine.
Thanks for reading
Tim
 

The Value of 4 Door Collector Cars (And my 500th Post)

This is my 500th post for Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing blog (my one and only blog).  It has become a bit more board in scope than what I originally intended, but if you are a total car nut case, like me (my wife uses the “o’ word)  and have AADD (automobile attention deficit disorder…..HEY..that could be REAL…you don’t know that it’s NOT!!) you want more than just a Chevy or more than just 1950’s cars.  You’ll be drawn to others. (“Drawn” makes it sound like a slow process…but picture a disco era strobe light…yeah that’s a but closer to what I’m trying to describe.)  I’ve moved fairly close to the edge, having a ’70’s car and a 2007 model and mixing technologies and brands, Ford and Chevy. (I need a MOPAR and a Citroen.)

Of course one of the fun things that keeps me blogging are comments, not so many posted here, but a ton on Facebook and Twitter and now even Google+.  I like when a reader’s comment sparks a blog entry instead of just sitting there.  That brings me to the subject of this piece.

Bill is a frequent reader and leaves comments on a regular basis.  In my recent entry on the 1957 DeSoto Adventurer sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, last weekend Bill wrote this:

Bill
Submitted on 2012/01/28 at 6:12 pm

DeSoto was Chrysler’s Oldsmobile, and I think it was unappreciated both by the public and Mother Mopar herself.

Back when I lived in San Jose, CA (actually Santa Clara) in the early 1990s, there was a 1957 Adventurer 4 door parked in a driveway with four flat tires in a neighborhood near mine. I think the car had been registered last in 1979. The body, chrome, glass, and even the interior seemed in excellent condition, yet I knew the car needed more than just TLC to become roadworthy. Each time I passed that car I wanted to leave a note and see if I could get it cheap enough to restore.

I know that 4 door DeSotos would not be collectible, or bring the big money, but somehow this car seemed to be in good enough shape that it was worth saving from being just a donor parts car. I’ll be in San Jose on business soon, and will make it a point to drive by and see if the car is still there.

Have a nice day, Bill

It’s true that in the past 4 door versions of classic cars of the 50’s and 60’s lagged as far as pricing and collectivity.  But that is changing.  I as work to finish up my classic car auto appraisal certification, I’m finding that, much like the cars of 1910-1940’s, 2 extra doors aren’t hurting the price they’ll bring. Just take the trend of station wagons – sure at Barrett Jackson’s you’ll only see the two door(plus tailgate) and they’ll bring ‘bigger’ money, but 15 years ago, only crazy people had wagons restored. But the prices for cars like the Pontiac Safari wagon and the Buick Vista Cruiser (Sports wagon) are bringing higher prices. (Actually I think it was Olds Vista Wagon and Buick Sports Wagon.)

58 Safari Wagon

69 Buick Sports Wagon

I’m still quoted as saying that my Mustang, because it’s a coupe and not a fast back or a sports roof, will never to be worth what I’ve spent in restoring it.  Interestingly enough, you can start finding them on the web and Ebay for $16k.  One recently sold for a bit more than that and it to was a 302 with 351 heads and a wing.  So these things are changing.  Publications like Hemmings and others are often recommending the purchase of 4 door 50’s and 60’s cars.  In part because they are well priced and with the after-market bolt ‘ons’ and drop in crate motors, you can take what was originally under powered 4 door and make it a rubber melting monster.

So go get those 4 doors.  Winch them out of the barns and ditches, drag ’em home, restore them back to life and drive ’em!!!!

And I hope that Bill’s DeSoto (see I already have him owning it) is still there and at the least can grab us a few pics.  And if you can get some contact info for the owner, I might add a pre-MOPAR to my driveway.  Thanks for the comment Bill.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

So What Did it bring at Barrett Jackson? – 1957 DeSoto Adventurer

This fantastic car sold for  $225,500.00.  See pic and video blow.
Year: 1957
Make: DESOTO
Model: ADVENTURER
Style: CONVERTIBLE
VIN: 50417567
Exterior Color: GOLD
Interior Color:
Cylinders: 8
Engine Size: 345

The 345

 

 

Thanks for reading

Sites and Sounds at Barrett-Jacksons Scottsdale, Az 2012

Sit back and crank up the sound….you are gonna love hearing this Camaro!!

 

[vodpod id=Video.16015390&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fvid299.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fmm296%252Ftimsweet2200%252FVIDEO0100.mp4]

 

Thanks for reading

Tim