Category Archives: Auto Technology

Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – Corvettes

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Last week my wife had to sit for a certification exam for her profession.   It was conducted over multiple days and held in Phoenix, AZ.  That is about a 1.5 hours drive (unless I’m driving the Vette, just joking always, obey the speed limits kids!!) north of Tucson and it made sense to grab a hotel room and spend 3 days.  While she was enduring the slow torture that they cleverly called “taking the exam”, I was left with a very rare, continuous span of free time.

I don’t know about you, but when I end up with unappropriated time and I’m in a hotel room, I don’t spend it watching HBO. I’ll jump on the WiFi and find some car action.  This was a perfect time to find some local car shows or events.  Just so happens on the way to the hotel I saw a sign, a few exits before the one we exited to reach the hotel, that read “Auto Museum”.

I gave that a Google and found the exact address.  The museum was called Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – “Phoenix’s Largest Auto Museum” and it was only open from noon to five the next day and asked for a $5 donation. So I put that on my to do list and head there the next day.

The museum is on a one way frontage road.  The building looks to be an old self-storage place converted in to businesses.  The museum entrance looks unassuming and you wouldn’t think it large enough to house 60 cars and a ton of automobilia.

Here are some highlights:

 

What kind of car museum would you be without a Corvette or two?

 

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!

Check out Corvette Row!!!

VetteRow-3 VetteRow-4
VetteRow-5

 Here is a Vette you don’t see anywhere!!!

ListerVette-1

The 1992 Lister Corvette

ListerVette-2

Great lines…barely resembles a C4.

ListerVette-3

Front end looks like a Jaguar’s

ListerVette-6

I think the 17″ wheels are great looking!!!

ListerVette-5

The hood has those breathing holes for a reason. The LT1 under the hood…yeah it’s Vortech Supercharged!!! 500HP and 454 LB-FT of torque!!! Only automatic produced.

ListerVette-7   ListerVette-10

It also included the 1978 25th Anniversary Indianapolis Pace car.

Only 15 miles on this well preserved beauty! (No I don't know why I took the pic this way.)

Only 15 miles on this well-preserved beauty! (No, I don’t know why I took the pic this way.)

 

Thanks for reading.  More coming up on Mel Martin’s Auto Museum.

Tim

 

mel martin auto museum

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015.

 

March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive

1980 Quattro - Not a bad looking car at that!!!

1980 Quattro – Not a bad-looking car at that!!!

Here are some specs for the Quattro:

Engine     2.1 L I5 SOHC 10v

Transmission     5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase     99.4 in
Length     173.4 in
Width     67.8 in
Height     53.0 in
Curb weight  2,844 to 2,976 lb

 

April 1, 1970 AMC debuts the Gremlin.

 

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or 'no back"

1970 Gremlin. Fastback or ‘no back“

 

I bet AMC never envisioned this:

OH...MAN!!!!

OH…MAN!!!!

 

Or this:

BTW..this doesn't end well!!

BTW..this doesn’t end well for the suspension.

 

 

April 1, 1964 Plymouth shows off the Barracuda – There were 23,443 Barracuda produced (called Glassback) and was based on Plymouth’s Valiant platform.

1964 Barracuda - Glassback.

1964 Barracuda – Glassback.

 

April 1, 1961 the very collectable Amphicar debuted – I saw my first Amphicar when I was about 9 or 10.  Grew up on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack of upstate New York. The car drove down the beach and right into the water.  Coolest thing I’d seen up to then!!

 

 

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between '61-'68

The Quandt Group made only 4000 between ’61-’68

 

April 2, 1879   Walter P. Chrysler was Born in Kansas.

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

Walter P with a Chrysler Six

 

 

April 2, 1889  Charles Hall patent Aluminum.  –  It was actually a process made extracting Aluminum less expensive.  It involved passing an electric current through a bath of alumina dissolved in cryolite, which results in a puddle of aluminum forming in the bottom of the retort. (Come on…tell me you didn’t want to know that!!!!)  Unfortunately a French guy – Paul Héroult was working on the same process. (No way?!!?!   Way!!!) so the named the process after both “Hall-Heroult process’.

From a puddle in the bottom of a retort to the Ford F150….that’s progress!!!  Thanks Mr. Hall and French guy!!!

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

Inexpensive method for producing aluminum

 

 

Thanks for reading.  If you like #AutoFactoids – share them!!

 

Tim

 

Jeffrey Faber · Top Commenter

Put on the top of the list the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hills, which houses three floors of classic and concept vehicles. Currently, it is open only to employees of Fiat-Chrysler, and occasional special events. The Piquette Plant in Detroit …

walter p chrysler museum

 

Saleen Unveils its 730HP 302 Black Label Mustang via reddit.com

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We have always known that we wanted to create the most powerful production Mustang we have ever built,” explained Sven Etzelsberger, the Vice President of Saleen engineering. “I can happily say that we have accomplished this goal with great success.” And how do we measure success with the 2015 Black Label Mustang? Let us count the ways.

Black Label

Black Label

 

One, the Saleen Black Label will capable of 730 horsepower through its 5.0 Coyote engine by utilizing a twin-screw supercharger. This is a good bit more than the 640 horsepower we were expecting. Two, it will also come with 600 lb-ft of torque that will be eloquently put down to the tarmac with a set of staggered 20-inch tires. Three, as with anything this capable of speed, it must also slow down just as quick, which is taken care of with a set of 15-inch rotors and multi-piston brakes.

 

Finish the count don’t at:  Saleen Unveils its 730HP 302 Black Label Mustang via reddit.com.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

saleen black label mustang

 

1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale – StumbleUpon

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The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is an extremely rare and cool road car built by Alfa Romeo. Only 18 are reported to have been made, plus three design studies based on the 33 Stradale the 33.2, Iguana and Carabo.

Chase the link to read more:

1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale – StumbleUpon.

 

1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

 

The race-bred engine bore no relation to the mass-produced units in Alfa’s more mainstream vehicles. Race engineer Carlo Chiti designed an oversquare (78 mm bore x 52,2 mm stroke) dry-sump lubricated 1,995 cc (121.7 cu in) V8 that featured SPICA fuel injection, four ignition coils and 16 spark plugs. The engine used four chain-driven camshafts to operate the valve train and had a rev-limit of 10000 rpm. The engine produced 230 bhp (172 kW) at 8800 rpm in road trim and 270 bhp (200 kW) in race trim.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Driven: 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe

And speaking of that composite bodywork, it is a gorgeously Italian (designed by Alfa Romeo and assembled by Maserati in Modena, no less) exotic design that Alfa says was inspired by the famed Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale racing car penned by Franco …

alfa romeo 33 stradalealfa romeo 33 stradale

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Fords on 4th Ave Continued II

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Although the newer Mustang are awesome, you still can’t be the those of the 60’s and early 70’s, you just can’t!

Check out these fine specimens!!

DSC_0011

Nicely restored 289

DSC_0041

#IWantOne of these G.T. 350’s

DSC_0078

Riding low – Nice custom

DSC_0117

#IWantOne of these GT 500 (1967)

DSC_0120

GT 500 (1967) Scoope-ville

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Original interior – You don’t often see the steering wheel!!!

DSC_0123

In case the 1967 GT 500 is a little rough riding, try the new version!

DSC_0132

 

DSC_0142 DSC_0147

 

The Fox bodies had a few beauties as well.

Hard to tell from this photo but this was done in matte yellow.

Hard to tell from this photo but this was done in matte yellow.

Nice and nicer with NOS

Nice and nicer with NOS

Awesome!!

Awesome!!

 

This car show was primarily put on by the Southern Arizona Mustang Club (SAMC) and although there was a higher percentage of Mustang, a few other Fords showed.  Those are coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

soutern arizona mustang club

4th Of July 2014 Celebrations Around Southern Arizona …

The Southern Arizona Mustang Club showcases their vehicles from 7-9:00 p.m.. FC Tucson 4th of July Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson 85713. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.. Fireworks start 30 minutes after the game …

It’s Car Show Season….YES!!! Fords on 4th Ave!

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“The most wonderful time of the year!!!”  No not Christmas – BETTER!   It’s car show season!!!  From March though Oct here in the southwest is prime car show season.

Normally I start feeding my car show appetite in January, during the car auction month that kicks off with Barrett Jackson in Phoenix, AZ.  With my budget these are just fancy car shows, rather than a shopping trip.  Then I suffer quietly until March when all the shows start kicking-in.   This year I didn’t attend the Barrett Jackson event so I starved until this past weekend when I could attend my first show of the year.  That show was Fords on 4th Ave, Tucson, Az.

I’ve attend this show for the past 4 or 5 years, even entering my 1970 Mustang one year.  It is always a great time!

This year either with the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang, you’d expect to see a lot of the new cars and you would not have been disappointed.  If you follow me on TWITTER (@AGCarRestore) you would have seen live shots.  (You may want to follow me on Twitter, this weekend 3/13 I’ll be tweeting from the Good Guy’s show in Scottsdale, AZ.)

Here is a sampling:

This is the 2015 GT.

This is the 2015 GT.

Back end looks great!!!

Back end looks great!!!

2015 GT

2015 GT

Great looking Hood

Great looking Hood

 

Check out this customized beauty.

Lambo Doors!!!

Lambo Doors!!!

Hood slides forward

Hood slides forward

You have to appreciate the skill!!!

You have to appreciate the skill!!!

Here is a sampling:

DSC_0184

Love the 2+2!!!

DSC_0135

Nice looking art work on this GT!

DSC_0008 DSC_0024

 

More coming up!!!!

Tim

2015 Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary Edition Sporting Huge Dealer Markups

… their own price increases over MSRP for limited edition models, but even though the 2015 Ford Mustang has been in dealerships for months now – there are still some dealerships adding massive markups on the special 50th Anniversary Mustang GT.

Display engines from GM, Ford and Chrysler add affordable lots to Las Vegas sale | Hemmings Daily

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Keep reading my posts and you’ll eventually learn that I love engines.  There is something so comforting about an 1940-1970 engine all nicely painted and sitting on a stand!!!  Like this 302 from my 1970 Mustang!!

The 302

The 302

 

I could decorate my house with them, of course Mrs. Average Guy’s Car Restoration and Mods would have something to say about that, for sure.  I would if I could!!   Being so inclined, lead me to wanting to share this article out of Hemmings.  Enjoy.

Last weekend’s Rogers Classic Car Museum sale in Las Vegas, Nevada, truly offered something for everyone interested in mostly postwar American automobiles. In addition to the 200-plus cars that crossed the block, the sale featured an affordable array of display engines from American automakers, covering the period from 1949 to 1966. Sold for display purposes only, most engines were incomplete and likely suffering from a variety of mechanical problems, making them potentially unsuitable for use in restorations. Unlike most display engines, none were cut away to show the inner workings of valve trains, or pistons within cylinders, or transmission gear selection. As mechanical sculpture, they were interesting pieces, guaranteed to spark conversation, and ideal centerpieces for a finished garage or rec room.

 

1954 Mercury 256 CID

1954 Mercury 256 CID

Dodge Red Ram Hemi

Dodge Red Ram Hemi

Chase the link below to see the rest of the article and pictures.

via Display engines from GM, Ford and Chrysler add affordable lots to Las Vegas sale | Hemmings Daily.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#Engines

#Classic Cars

Fahrenheit Z06: The Max Operating Temps for the Corvette Z06 Are Insane – Feature – Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog

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From the March 2015 issue of Car and Driver

via Fahrenheit Z06: The Max Operating Temps for the Corvette Z06 Are Insane – Feature – Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog.

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 posts some impressive performance numbers thanks to its 650-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8. It also posts some impressive BTUs. A byproduct of that flame-breathing engine is heat, and lots of it, generated ­primarily by combustion, friction, and intake-air compression. These and other factors, such as the low hoodline and pinched frontal openings demanded by stylists and aero engineers, contribute to the complex thermal-management task faced by engineers working on nearly all of this car’s varied subsystems. To assure that the Z06’s maximum performance is attended by minimal risk of failure, GM p­erformed heat-related stress analysis and modeling, as well as conventional hot-weather testing in Arizona. Here’s a look at the maximum operating temperatures of Z06 components:

Fahrenheit-Z06-inline3

These are some extreme temp and they will be higher during an Arizona summer

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Tim

 

2015 z06

Chicago Auto Show: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

With an MSRP of about $79,000, but with trim levels that’ll take up much closer to $100K, the 2015 Z06 doesn’t mess around with measly six cylinder engines that pretend to be powerful with aid of umpteen turbochargers. It offers a massive, supercharged …
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: Top 10 Reasons it Shatters the Supercar Category

Racing Tires for the Street: Michelin engineered two tire options for the 2015 Z06. The standard Pilot Super Sport ZPs are sized 285/30ZR19 in front and 335/25ZR20 in back. A Z06 with the Z07 performance option gets Pilot Sport Cup 2 ZP tires in the …

New BMW M6 GT3 racer starts testing – Only Motors

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New BMW M6 GT3 racer starts testing

BMW is retiring its hugely successful, V8-engine Z4 GT3 racer later on this year. It’s replacement, the BMW M6 GT3, was spotting undergoing testing this week.

And, good grief, does it look mean. The Z4 is one of the most cartoonishly pumped-up cars on the GT3 and the M6 carries on the tradition. The wheel arches are gigantic, the sills are like shelves and the rear wing would make a decent bar.

Power comes from the twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 found in the road-going M6. Though modified to cope with the demands of racing, it will probably produce less power than the road car, thanks to the Balance of Performance system that equalizes the extremely diverse GT3 field.

 

Check out the rest @ New BMW M6 GT3 racer starts testing – Only Motors.

 

GT3 - 2016 Get Ready!!!

M6 GT3 – 2016 Get Ready!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

2016 BMW M6 GT3 Race Car Starts Testing

BMW is set to phase out its Z4-based race car from GT competition at the end of this year and replace it in 2016 with a new car based on the M6 platform. The new race car is being developed to GT3 specifications, with versions likely developed for the …
2016 BMW M6 Is A Thrill For The Senses: Video

For anyone that’s thinking BMW has lost its way with cars like the oddly-shaped Gran Turismos and the blasphemous front-driving 2-Series Active Tourer, this promo video for the 2016 M6 range should restore your faith in the blue and white roundel. The …
BMW previews new M6 GT3 racing prototype [UPDATE]

… new information about the car. Enquiries from North America are to be sent by E-mail to M6GT3NA@bmw-motorsport.com. Featured GalleryBMW M6 GT3. News Source: BMW, BMW Blog · BMW Coupe Racing 2016 bmw m6 gt3 bmw bmw m6 bmw m6 gt3 …

Auto Factoids for the Week of Feb 8, 2015 – N.Y. To Pairs 1908 – Ford Flatty

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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 on many countries and their citizen and even corporations.  A lot of resources were used in producing automobiles, in particular metals that could be used to produce planes and Liberty ships and ammo.   That is why the U.S. government asked the car industry to halt production and assist in producing just about anything to support the war effort.  Pontiac was one of the last to comply with the request.  Pontiac’s main contribution?  It was the 20-mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons.   Check out what they could do!!!

Feb 11, 1932 – Ford announces new V8 engine

The Model A was history and the Model 18 ruled – with Ford’s new FlatHead V8 in 1932 (also referred to as the Ford Flathead or Flathead Ford or just Flatty).  It lived on in the Model 40 in 1933 and 1934. It continued on the 1950’s.

1932 Flatty

1932 Flatty

 

Feb 12, 1908 – Start of the New York to Paris car race.

– The race route was from NYC, Albany, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Valdez Alaska, Japan, Vladivostok, Omsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin and finally Paris. It was sponsored by the New York Times and the LA MATIN   (Paris news paper) and finished 169 days later.

Asia Europe Route - 1908

Asia Europe Route – 1908

 

US Route 1908

US Route 1908

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoid

Trajka z silnikiem Ford Flathead V8

Oczywiście, trójkołowe motocykle są świetnym rozwiązaniem dla wszystkich tych, którzy z jakiś powodów nie posiadają już pełnej swojej sprawności i nie mogą jeździć konwencjonalnym motocyklem. Skoro to stwierdzenie mamy z głowy, to co musi wydarzyć …
Porsches, hot rods featured at Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

“The East Coast rod is a blood relation of the sports car,” the chairman said, “while the West Coast rod has the style of the dry-lakes roadster, of Bonneville and the whole Ford ‘flathead’ V8 scene, probably what most people envision when they hear …
Video: Jay Leno Takes a 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster for a Spin

Jay’s latest adventure takes a deep dive into hot-rodding history with this beautiful 1932 Ford Highboy roadster . But don’t pass this off as just another deuce coupe . No, this car is the deuce coupe. Jay has with him Bruce Meyer, the car’s restorer …