Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Classic American

My recent editorial discussing a reader’s request for newer American cars to be featured in Classic American seems to have unlocked a maelstrom of comment, both for and against. Not ‘new’ cars, you understand, but cars in that murky ‘no man’s land’ where they aren’t old enough for many to consider them classics, but not new enough to be considered ‘new’. Cars from the Nineties and Noughties specifically… Eighties cars? Not a problem, most people seem to be cool with those, which begs the question if in 10 years’ time, Nineties cars will be looked upon similarly favourably as Eighties cars seem to be now. In the meantime we’ll be sticking to content that our readers have told us they want to see in the last three reader surveys. Interestingly,…

On September 21 classic car auction house, Historics at Brooklands, returned to its namesake, the Weybridge-located auto and aero museum, for the last time this year with another eclectic mix of classic cars and motorcycles, old and relatively new. Unlike their July auction, when they had consigned a considerable number of American vehicles, this time there were only two on sale. Both were pick-up trucks, presented in the currently fashionable ‘rat rod’ style. The older of the two, a 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Thriftmaster, sat low to the ground, courtesy of a full air-ride suspension system, though we were unable to see it in action. The usually deep rear bed suffered as a result. Powered by a 5.7-litre Chevy V8, its lacquered rusty patina and uniquely pin-striped ‘bullet holes’ made for…

About five years ago, I remember being part of a motor industry event where topics being discussed included the future of mobility, specifically revolving around connected cars and autonomous vehicles. One of the panellists in the autonomous vehicle discussion predicted that within 20 years we would all be transported around in self-driving cars and nothing short of a revolution was taking place in the transportation sector. Today, however, such predictions are looking increasingly far-fetched. Despite automakers and tech companies pouring billions into autonomous vehicle technology, the challenges to achieving what is called Level 5 (full autonomy) remain tremendous. A spate of highly publicised (and fatal) accidents involving vehicles that were in auto pilot mode have not helped the situation, nor have infrastructure problems and misleading marketing communications that led some…

When I saw Mike ‘Nashville’ Nash’s 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 at the Boxing Day Romsey Car Show it looked so nice I wondered if it was a recent restoration, or a rare survivor, but I never caught up with him to ask. Fortunately, he attended the Beaulieu Hot Rod and Custom Drive In Day later in the year and he was subsequently able to fill me in on what he knows of the Dodge’s history. “This car was previously owned and rebuilt by a retired Dodge/ Chrysler employee,” says Mike. “That’s what I was told by Greg Flatt when I bought it from him in October 2016.” Mike had been looking for a full-size car to take the whole family to car shows. “I’ve got a few other cars, including…

Power Screw A useful and versatile new screwdriver has just been released by Kamasa Tools (part number 56137); it is a smooth ratchet screwdriver – but grip the ratchet gearbox, twist the handle and it turns at four times the speed! Great for repetitive work and the ergonomically designed handle makes for easy and positive tightening. The 22-piece set includes a generous selection of bits. Three Phillips bits: Ph1, Ph2 and Ph3; two flat bits: 6, 7mm; four PzDrive bits: Pz1, 2 x Pz2 and a Pz3; five hex bits: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm; four Star bits: T10, T15, T20 and T25; plus three spline bits: M4, M5 and M6. All supplied in two 10-piece bit holders. There’s also a useful bit container built into the screwdriver handle,…

None of the Impala’s linkage existed when I bought the car, due to it having its original 327 looted back in the Oklahoma salvage yard. The Goodwrench crate motor came bare too, so a custom throttle linkage set-up was needed. Many moons ago Simon had made a throttle pedal mech (the vertical black bar near the firewall) from old Cadillac and Pontiac parts-bin stuff (the joys of hoarding old GM stuff in your workshop!).…

1953 CHEVROLET 3100 TOW TRUCK I’ve always had a soft spot for tow trucks. I’ve no idea why. Perhaps it’s the combination of pick-up and crane, working in harmony, so it’s no surprise that I like this 1:24 scale 1953 Chevy 3100 pick-up, with twin boom vehicle recovery equipment, from Hong Kong manufacturer Welly Die Casting Factory Ltd. Its ranges seem to comfortably straddle the market between toy and model, producing sturdy vehicles strong enough for play, but with enough detail to attract the die-cast collector. The red and black livery, with its Tampo printed advertising, looks the part, as do the silver, rather than chromed, wheels, including the spare stored up on the booms and the dual rear wheels, which are appropriate for a heavy-duty vehicle designed to lift…

On October 25, General Motors announced that it had ratified a four-year labour agreement that covers workers at 55 United Auto Workers-represented facilities across the US. The agreement put an end to the longest strike witnessed by the automaker since 1970, which crippled production and almost led to the demise of certain models, including the much-loved Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. This time around, in a very different economic environment, GM has said the new agreement will provide hourly workers at UAW-represented manufacturing facilities with a world-class wage, as well as benefits and a profit-sharing package. Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO said, in reference to the new agreement, that “we delivered a contract that recognises our employees for the important contributions they make to the overall success of the…

One of the things I really enjoy at club race meetings is that you can still find plenty of owner/drivers fettling their cars, or sat beside them eager to tell you all about them, rather than hiding away in some drivers’ club. Such was the case at Thruxton for the Classic Sports Car Club’s grass roots meeting which extended an invitation to Bernie’s Sports Racing and V8s. As I wandered through the paddock I spotted four American cars that I hadn’t seen race before. First up was Marcus Bicknell’s 1999 Ford Fusion Ascar sporting an ‘in your face’ red and yellow No. 22 Joey Logano NASCAR livery. Not what I was expecting to see thundering around Thruxton, but a most welcome addition. Marcus told me that his space frame chassis…

This month I am focusing on the often overlooked and much maligned four-door models of our favourite muscle cars. Not all models lend themselves to multi-door configuration; however some have been designed and were built in numerous varieties. The most obvious that come to mind are the police black and white law enforcement vehicles, with all three major car companies building to specific law enforcement requirements. Many have their own distinct authorities, so a Ford Crown Victoria, Chevy Caprice or Dodge Charger take on a completely different guise when badged as a police car or state trooper car. They are designed to express the authority which they represent, and do so exceptionally well. One of my favourite muscle car designs is the 1965 Chevrolet Impala. General Motors’ top designer Bill…

We all know – and it’s often been said on these pages – that the weather can make or break a show; the horrifically rainy forecast in the run-up to the third Horsham Ameri-CAR-Na should theoretically have been the kiss of death… Amazingly, however, despite the poor forecast and the rain, the turnout was pretty good. Car owners had obviously committed to the event and although the poor forecast may have put many off, there were cars displayed all over the town centre, along with all sorts of hot rods, customs, pick-up trucks, police cars and film cars and plenty of locals turning up to check out the event. The car show element which was scheduled on a local rec field had to be pulled due to the soggy conditions,…

A couple of years ago I found a small, reputable company in the US called Shiftworks. After somehow losing my original Impala SS floorshifter and mechanism during one of the car’s storage moves, frustratingly I had to start from scratch. I wanted an original look to the shifter, because we would be reusing the (restored) SS centre console. Shiftworks sells original-style shifters and makes kits to enable them to be used in models with different transmissions: in the case of my SS we have a TH400 autobox in place of what used to be Powerglide. HEAVY CARB DIET The Impala needed an appropriately sized carburettor, and it’s been waiting patiently for an organ donation from my other American classic – the ’68 Charger 383. The Dodge came with a new…

Have you got ANY 1964 new/used Impala parts to sell? Please get in touch. I am also looking for American sized brake lines/unions and whiteband tyres that are rated for such a heavy vehicle. Contact me at carpervoffice@gmail.com Then on to the throttle return spring bracket. I bought a cheap Chinese bracket for my Charger, as recommended by a few Mopar forum guys. Apparently they are excellent value and quality for the money, so I bought a spare for use in the Chevrolet. Minor tweaking was needed to the two mounting holes and the space near the throttle mech – both needed enlarging by 30 thou.…

1. Just 1010 people handed over the $5400 needed to buy an Imperial two-door Southampton Crown Coupe in 1962, making this California car a real rarity. Despite weighing 4830lb, it could still reach 60mph in under eight seconds. Sadly, this one never will though, because unfortunately its scarcity wasn’t enough to save it from the crusher… 2. CTC Auto Ranch of Denton, Texas, has 3000 classic cars from the Forties to the Eighties, including this 1954 Pontiac. 3. As the badge on the back of this 1954 Mercury Monterey two-door hardtop says, it was once fitted with a Merc-O-Matic transmission. More commonly known as Ford-O-Matic, the two-speed automatic transmission was designed by Borg Warner, and first saw the light of day in 1951. It would later evolve into Cruise-O-Matic and…

In case you’ve been living under a rock the last year, this year’s most anticipated American racing/ motorsports film has hit the big screens. Ford v Ferrari is the new film from Logan and Walk the Line filmmaker James Mangold and stars Oscar-winners Christian Bale and Matt Damon as the lynchpins in Ford’s victory over Ferrari back in ’66. The story is set against the backdrop of that year’s 24 Hours Le Mans race and follows legendary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) who sets out to build a revolutionary car that would allow Ford to challenge Ferrari, with Bale playing fearless British racer Ken Miles – who gets behind the wheel of the new Ford racing vehicle. It’s on general release at the cinema now, perfect for escaping the…

With David Boatwright Partnership recently appointed an official Ram and Dodge dealer, we spoke to managing director Richard Boatwright about the continued appeal of the vehicles. “We’ve just taken in the first 2020 demonstrator, a Ram Limited and there’ll be more arriving soon,” explains Richard. “There’s a great vehicle range from Dodge and Ram. The Limited is the top of the range and has proved to be our most popular model, with the mid-range Laramie a close second. The 2020 Ram range includes a Laramie Night Edition and a Limited Black Edition, both of which come without chrome – which is an eye-catching departure from their traditional styling. “As official dealers, it’s the first time Ram has had official representation in the UK for more than 10 years. Being an…

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to cars, quite a bit. They convey a lot about what a car is meant to represent. Either that, or they impart a sense of wonder in potential customers. They’re meant to be evocative. The car pictured here, by contrast, was burdened with a name that foretold its fate. The Lost Cause was precisely that; a Chevrolet Corvair-based limousine that was doomed from the outset. It wasn’t without its good points, however. The Lost Cause was dreamed up by Charles Peaslee Farmsley who, during a jam-packed life, was variously the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, a member of the House of Representatives and, depending on whose sources you credit, a sometime car designer. He had long harboured an ambition whereby he would revive…

You might remember me mentioning a body coloured ’56 Cadillac bat wing air cleaner? Well we bought one, had it painted and it didn’t fit beneath the bonnet – the engine being mounted too high on the reinforced chassis. The decision was made to revert to something more conventional, hence the black Edelbrock circular item you see here… although this didn’t come without fitting complications. After all, this is Project Beauty ‘Pala. The Edelbrock air cleaner retaining stud was far too long to close the bonnet, so it had be cut down.…

2019 NOVEMBER 3 HAYNES BREAKFAST CLUB. Calling all motoring enthusiasts! On the first Sunday of each month we host a breakfast club which is open to all marques. As well as meeting other like-minded enthusiasts, owners can chat over a coffee and a hearty breakfast (from a full English to a bacon roll) in Café 750. The very popular museum café is open from 9am on Breakfast Club Sundays. These events are FREE TO ATTEND and are a real opportunity for vehicle owners to show off their prized possessions at the front of the prestigious museum. From 9.00 – 12.00. NOVEMBER 8-10 CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW, NEC, BIRMINGHAM. The biggest and best Classic Car Show in the UK. Joining together classic car enthusiasts from all over the UK and beyond, the…

Vendor: John Daniel, Brentwood, Essex Telephone: 07804 870817 Price: £8250 Our Drive-Buy car for this month is a Ford Gran Torino Sport two-door hardtop. It was built on May 18, 1973, five days ahead of schedule, and was supplied new by Westfield Motor Co, 319 North Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey, US and remained an East Coast car for all of its life. Indeed, its first owner noted down in the original owner’s manual that he fitted snow tyres at 2500 miles, plus various other maintenance notes. For a car from a non-dry state, the Torino has survived remarkably well and it was imported into the UK from Mount Sinai, Long Island, in January 2019, ostensibly to be used for shows, as a simple ‘get in and go’ car for vendor…