Indholdsfortegnelse for August 1960 i MotorTrend

LATEST PARKING PLAN France has come up with the latest solution to the parking problem that now plagues all the world. For $10 a month Frenchmen can hire a workman who will jockey their car to a new space as the time expires on the parking area where the car is parked. SMOOTHER RIDING United States Rubber Co. has developed an extremely sensitive electro-pneumatic device which measures the roundness and rolling resistance of tires—two factors which have a strong bearing on smoothness of ride. Any tire that can’t come closer to being perfectly round than .047-inch causes a red light on the machine to flash, a signal that the tire has flunked. FOR YOUR LIBRARY The Indomitable Tin Goose, by Charles T. Pearson is the story of Preston Tucker and…

Just how much horsepower does the average driver really need, and how much is he willing to pay for it? Not too long ago just about every motorist insisted on a big ohv V8 as an absolute necessity to transport just himself several miles a day to and from his place of business, with weekends reserved for family trips. Then the rising cost of everything, including the premium fuel his big engine was consuming, began to burn a bigger hole in the weekly paycheck, and our high-horsepower fan joined the ranks of nearly 38 per cent of the new-car owners who purchased automobiles powered by six-cylinder engines. Ford started it all by shaking the domestic automotive manufacturers away from sixes when he introduced the flathead V8 in the early ’30s.…

Anew direction in luxury is predicted by the latest dream car from General Motors. And, with it, some strong hints about the styling of next year’s Corvair may have been revealed as well. A sleek coupe developed from the new Monza 900, it features a much greater degree of elegance than any Corvair so far offered to the public. Many of its innovations could be used to distinguish the ’61 model from the ’60 or future deluxe versions from standard. The car is a pearlescent blue with a white, grained top. The latter required a special finishing process. A thick synthetic paint was sprayed and baked in such a way that it provided a leather-like texture. Blue vinyl, matching the body color, was combined with a mohair-nylon-dacron fabric for an…

One of the fastest growing automotive sports today is organized Jeeping. Beginning with a handful of veterans who remembered what jeeps could do, Jeeping has grown into an activity thousands enjoy every weekend. With four-wheel drive there is no limit to where a car can go. Jeepers hate freeways, detest highways and can only “tolerate” back country roads that would reduce a passenger car to nuts and bolts. Enthusiasts prefer mountain washes, rocky deserts, untraveled forests, river beds with or without water, muddy swamps or any trail anyone else would drive miles to avoid. Jeepers, like all automotive enthusiasts, are greatly interested in engineering and their cars are usually modified. Under the hood of a jeep may be crammed a big V8 engine, Burma radiator, four-barrel carburetor, electric fuel pump,…

Midwest Motorists will be surprised this summer when they see this turnpike sleeper bearing down on them. Built by Minneapolis truck driver John Swanberg, the two-story ’56 Dodge sedan has a ’59 Studebaker station wagon top and rear door grafted on. Swanberg built the hybrid because he wanted room to stretch his legs on long trips. After making a plastic model (by combining two hobby kits) Swan-berg looked over new sedans and station wagons to see which would best fit his plans. Not finding exactly what he wanted, Swanberg designed his outdoor car on the ’59 Dodge. Last September Swanberg removed the Dodge’s trunk and roof. Using cardboard templates, Swanberg cut 16-gauge steel sides to the pattern and riveted them to the Dodge body and roof. Then the Studebaker wagon…

SELL ’55 FIAT V8 rare Italian hdtp. cpe. Very fast & beautiful sportscar design. Factory-rebuilt alum, engine. Make offer. R. E. Vivian, 862 Victoria Ave., Los Angeles. Phone WEbster 6-8478. ’46 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL conv. Black, with white top, all new ww’s. Exc. cond. $1695. Terry Dennis, 107 Williams Dr., Battle Creek, Mich. Phone WO 2-1010. CHILTON FLAT RATE MANUALS—set of 29 books. Settings & procedures on cars from 1924 thru ’57. Invaluable to old car rebuilders. $100. Victor Petry, 2845 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, Calif. ’47 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL hdtp. in exc. cond., by orig. owner. ’52 Cadillac engine, o.d., r & h, ww’s. $1500. William E. Whaley, 307 W. Broadway, Louisville, Ky. Phone JUniper 4-7163. CHRYSLER POWERED SPECIAL—Bangert fiber-glass body, stock engine, Chrysler drive train. Exc. mech. cond; needs…

A gasoline can only be as good as the refinery that makes it. That’s why new Flying A 100+ is the top-performing gasoline of the day. The most advanced refinery in the world makes Flying A. Completely modern equipment, electronic controls, more efficient refining methods are used to bring you this higher-octane gasoline at a lower price. Flying A 100+ is the super-premium gasoline that doesn’t cost you extra. You get super-premium octane, and save as much as 2 cents on every gallon. Try it now. Instead of a gasoline from a “made-over” refinery built 20 to 30 years ago, put the world’s most advanced refinery into your gas tank with Flying A 100+; or with Flying A Regular—still the highest-octane of all regular gasolines! TIDWATER OIL COMPANY—FORMERLY TYDOL…

The “performance button” has been pushed again and right now Detroit is a-building and a-planning and a-scheming for more usable torque and horsepower in chassis that corner closer to the inside curb! Such activity doesn’t necessarily have to be interpreted as direct violation of the industry-sanctioned AMA curb on motoring competition. In fact, except for a short period right after the self-imposed legislation became effective in June, 1957, there never has been any real let-down in interest (or participation) by the factories. But the recent experimentation by at least four of the major car makers in this area would indicate a real strong push is on for the development of quicker products. What has prompted Detroit to reemphasize the word “speed” and do something about it? Simple! It sells cars!…

The long-heralded new Peugeot 404 turns out to be not a successor to the recently abandoned 1.3-liter 203 (as some people had predicted) but a new 1.6-liter four/five-seater, more powerful and slightly more expensive than the 403, which continues in production in its normal and newly introduced 1300cc economy forms. The 404 will not reach the U.S. until sometime in 1961 and the 403 sedan will remain on the market. The new car has a 1.6-liter over-square engine, canted over on its side at 45 degrees. The 404 offers body space almost equal to the 403 but is smaller and lower built. Body styling, for which Pinin Farina acted as consultant, is a synthesis of the work he has already done for BMC and Lancia, and shows no points of…

One of the most interesting of the forthcoming 1961 cars unquestionably is the small Pontiac Tempest, which will be unique in many of its engineering features. There are now reports that somewhat later in the model year the standard Tempest line may be augmented by a special Pontiac vehicle of the so-called bus type. Whether or not this Pontiac bus will ever enter production is a point that cannot be established at this stage. There is, however, a prototype under study and information from reliable sources has enabled this speculative report as to its probable shape and design. The sketches shown on these pages, incidentally, not only reveal the basic configuration of the bus, but also are highly accurate in styling of the front end which will characterize the sedan…

Overshadowed by the fantastic performance of the hot V8 engines, and a general trend of the public to sacrifice fuel economy for acceleration, is one of the smoothest, most economical and reliable engines available—the Chevrolet ohv six-cylinder. Mounted in a standard-sized chassis and body, the Chevy Six offers a great deal more than basic transportation. A lighter engine improves front-to-rear weight distribution and reduces steering and braking loads on the front wheels so they can perform their functions without herculean efforts of the driver or the need for power assists. Manual shifting, or necessity for much of it, has been reduced by the high torque of the Chevy Six. Lugging down in high and then pulling out with full throttle from 10 to 15 mph is smooth and easy, with…

Take a light, compact body integrated with a nimble chassis. Add plenty of horsepower and you can have a really exciting automobile. That is just what some performance enthusiasts are doing. Detroit has provided them with the Corvair, Falcon, Valiant and Comet, all cars of convenient size and easy handling. And they are finding horsepower to spare with two classic techniques. The first is supercharging. Paxton Products of Santa Monica. Calif, has developed a special version of its famous centrifugal blower for compact engines. It is smaller and simpler than its full-sized equivalent but still packs quite a wallop, delivering 10 pounds of boost at 6000 rpm. Prototype installations have proven successful in the Corvair, Falcon and Valiant. The second method is even more effective and, needless to say, more…

CLASSIC CAR WAX is a triple-action paste that is money-back guaranteed to give your car a “streak-free, long-lasting polish in one-half the usual time.” The maker claims that one application—just rub it on, then dust it off—will produce a hard jewel-like custom finish. A $3.50 kit contains ½-pound can, applicator cloth and handy plastic storage case. Available from Jay’s Sports Car Accessories, 6055½ Melrose Ave., Dept. MP, Hollywood 38, Calif. DUAL EXHAUSTS FOR THE CORVAIR fulfill their promise of increased road horsepower through reduced back pressure. This DS-560 assembly by Douglass raised output rating from 47 hp at 2950 rpm to 54 hp at 3100 rpm (readings taken at rear wheels in second gear). The quickly installed set includes matched mufflers (choice of glass or steel pack), attached chrome tips…

Officially, it’s the “National Championship Drag Races.” It’s where the hot rodder’s proudest title—“Mr. Eliminator”—is earned. Here’s a preview of the 1960 National Drags, taken from the 1959 contest in which most of the titles, including “Mr. Eliminator,” were won with Champion spark plugs … The idea of a drag strip race is simple. It’s to see how quickly a car can go from a standing start to a line exactly a quarter of a mile away. Rapid acceleration is far more important than final top speed. Preparing a car to win a drag race is anything but simple. It demands mechanical skill, imaginative engineering, money, and hundreds of hours of work. Winning takes a smart, skillful driver, too. A drag race is no place for a driver who loves…

“Wire wheels will be available for the 1961 Corvette and Corvair.” TRUE—At least one supplier (Dayton Products) will offer such units for the ’61 Corvette and Corvair. Both will be of the center-lock, knock-off variety. No price has been forthcoming though upwards of $300 per set of five is predicted for either type. “Ford’s new small, front-drive car will first be marketed in Canada.” QUITE LIKELY—Reports from Dearborn now have it that the new small-small car that’s currently being developed will first be sold under the Taunus nameplate north of the border. Expected announcement: July 1961. “Chrysler will offer solid lifters in 1961 engines.” QUITE LIKELY—Renewed interest in performance versions of the 383- and 413-cubic-inch Chrysler engines by the factory indicate that a limited production of solid lifter engines will…

The sabra, the first automobile designed and produced by an all-Israeli company, was recently introduced in this country. First models imported were the station wagon and panel truck. Later a convertible, hardtop, two- and four-door sedan and pickup truck are to be available. The Sabra has an all-fiberglass body with hardwood framing and a steel chassis. The car is powered by a four-cylinder, 36-hp engine. The power-plant is manufactured by Ford of England. Displacement is 1172cc, bore and stroke, 2.5 × 3.64 inches, and compression ratio 7 to 1. Other features are three-speed manual transmission, 12-volt electrical system and internal expanding hydraulic brakes. Suspension is independent coil springs on front with semi-elliptic on the rear. Wagon specifications are: wheelbase 85 inches, length 145, width 60, height 64 and weight 1740…

Spurred on by the rising popularity of compact cars, six-cylinder engines, almost given up for dead three short years ago, are making a strong comeback. In 1957, at the height of the horsepower race, the Six accounted for only 17½ per cent of new car sales. The percentage crept up to nearly 24 in 1958, due largely to rising gasoline costs and the economic recession. Official returns for 1959 showed that six-cylinder preference increased to 28 per cent, but the addition of three economy cars and the introduction of a new six-cylinder engine for Dodge and Plymouth sent the 1960 sales figures to 38 per cent to date. The revival of interest in the Six is neither an accident nor a whim. An increasing number of motorists have come to…

We were pretty excited with the performance and handling of the I960 SonoRamic-powered Plymouth, despite its rather poor fuel economy (March MT). Later we “discovered” a new Plymouth—the Six. Taking advantage of the expenditure necessary to design a new small six-cylinder engine for their Valiant, Chrysler Corp, engineers incorporated a lot of versatility into this all-new powerplant. Tilted to accommodate lower hood lines and still provide adequate space for a six-port intake, the basic block and bore are the same for both the compact and the Plymouth Six. By maintaining a 3.40-inch bore and increasing the stroke one inch to 4.125, piston displacement is raised to 225 cubic inches, providing plenty of torque and horsepower to haul the standard Plymouth around at a respectable but economical rate. This six-port intake…

The 44th running of the 500-mile Indianapolis race was a contest of attrition. Despite a long list of broken records, and the contention that a stalled engine during one of his pit stops cost 2nd place finisher Rodger Ward the victory, equipment wrote the final chapter. In the case of Jim Rathmann and Rodger Ward, the equipment was tires. Behind these terrific pace setters, 14 cars out of the 33 starters were left to take the checkered flag—some running smoothly but without the power and speed to keep up with the leaders, others like Johnny Thomson, an early charger, limping into 5th place with a badly smoking engine due to a broken valve. Mechanical failures played no favorites as veteran and rookie alike sat on the pit wall behind their…

For the growing number of compact car owners in this country, the AMT Corp, has packaged complete customizing model kits. The big advantage of these kits is that the owner can try several designs and see exactly how his car would look customized—before making a big investment in labor and materials. The designs are based on ideas submitted by the editors of MOTOR TREND, who felt that no extensive sheet metal or body modifications should be included. Pictured here are the kits for Corvair and Valiant. Introduced last month were kits for the Comet and Falcon. The models are scaled to original size. Model builders, or those who want to see how their own compact car would look when customized, will be able to build many different designs. The 3-in-1…