Monday, September 15, 2008

Four-door Audi A1 headed to Paris



The small car market is heating up fast, even for upmarket brands like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the latter of which has the majority of the market cornered with its MINI sub-brand. The Bimmer competitor from Ingolstadt plans on attacking that market with its A1 subcompact, but unlike the Metroproject concept from Tokyo, the new A1 due to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show will sport four doors. Europeans are likely to get a production model spawned from the concept, which will likely be built in Brussels, Belgium and be introduced as a 2009 model. An electric model could follow shortly thereafter. Will the U.S. be blessed with another Germanic mini car? Audi's elusive Magic 8-Ball currently says "Not Likely," but with sales of the MINI going strong it's entirely too early to count it out completely.


Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I've been too busy to post this before, but ever heard of a Cobra Falcon?

1970 1/2 429 SCJ Falcons were the stripped down Fairlane which was a stripped down Torino... this was a departure of the Falcon being the compact car that was built up to December of 1969, it now was a 2 dr sedan.

Ford brochures showed that the 429 CJ and the 429 SCJ could be had in any of the intermediate sized cars, but not the station wagons.
One was in the Feb 1990 Musclecar Review, and I was going to get around to posting just how rare these are, and how you've probably never heard of them either, I never had... but the March '08 Musclecar Enthusiast has one. It's also here: http://www.ostalecki.com/ostalecki.asp?page=itemsforsale&type=273

And what do you know, one also shows up in the March '08 Muscle Car Review, and both the white on in Musclecar Enthusiast and the yellow one in Muscle Car Review are now owned by Jerry Ostaleki, and both are talked about in both articles (without mentioning that the other would be in the other magazine) probably because the magazines are owned by Primedia, and Amos publishing companies.

According to the Marti report, 90 Falcons were optioned with the 429 CJ Ram Air, according to the 1990 Musclecar Review story Ford built 126 SCJ Falcons. Anyway you look at it, they are rarer than Super Stock factory cars now, as they weren't treated very well in the musclecar drag wars of 70-71-72. The Super Stockers were, adn there are more still around. The guess of the owner of the Cobra Falcon in this months magazine is that only about a dozen exist.

For more on the Torino's, Talladegas, Cyclones, King Cobra, Twister Torino's, TorinoCobras, Falcons, and the '70 Torino sales brochure go here.. perhaps the best webiste for the Torino http://www.torinocobra.com/main1.htm

According to Ford Production Facts printed in 1988...
The 429 was available in all models of Torino, Fairlane and Falcon 1970-1971.
The Cobra was available in all models except the Falcon 1970-1971.
The SCJ was available in all except the station wagon 1970-1971.
In 1970-71 (2305) Fairlane and Torino sports-roofs (aka fastbacks) and formal-roofs (aka hardtops) were built with the non-GT option and the 429 CJ, of these 97 were 4 doors and 11 were station wagons.
In 1970-71 (811) Torino sports-roof, formal-roofs and 4 doors were equipped with the 429 SCJ according to the book all were 4 speed cars.
[So for both '70 and '71 model years combined, there were 811 other non-GT, non-Cobra Torinos built.
and for an interesting tidbit (4)429 SCJ 4-speed ram air Station wagons were commissioned for Berkley Ford in Calif.

Back Seat Betty on the cover of Rod and Custom!

From last June,
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/06/when-hot-rod-customizer-builds-tribute.html#links
Rod and Custom online doesn't have anything on Back Seat Betty, but if you do like custom jobs, here are some wallpapers they do have for you http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/wallpaper/rc_freestuff/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OUvFCw8QXA&feature=user

How car company logos have evolved

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/18/evolution-of-car-logos/

The 70's weren't so good for some cars, like this R/T S/E 71 Challenger station wagon

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/challenger-wagon/649254/ for the gallery
For the story http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-challenger-wagon/

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Aussie muscle cars are 4 doors, or utes (think Ranchero or El Camino)


Here's a PDF of the new 4 door Cobra GT Falcon with a Boss 302 kW, yeah, quite a play on the classic "Boss 302" visual cue callout on the hood
http://www.fpv.com.au/media/34501/Cobraflyer.pdf

Hard top convertible Mustangs



States that the 1995 was "the only year for the convertible hardtop, and with only 499 models available, it has become a sought after collectible. The hardtop/ragtop was installed as a prototype on a few V6 and GT Mustangs, which have found their way into private hands, but were never "officially" produced. " With about 2 dozen photos, and http://www.themustangnews.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=92&c=12 has some more

In 1966 a Ford designer who was the man behind the retractable hardtop '57 - 59 Starliner was tasked by Ford to get the 67 Mustangs a hardtop convertible option package, which didn't happen in production due to the weight of the motors etc to retract the top.

What made me look into this was that Tere had a copy of Mustang Monthly that had a 1966 "Towne Top" detachable hardtop. http://www.mustangmonthly.com/featuredvehicles/mump_0801_1966_convertible_towne_ragtop/index.html

Dory Development Corporation of Salem, New York made these limited-production hardtops for Mustang and Corvair convertibles, about 200 of them, and 3 are known to still exist.

Wheelstanding competition, but the front just kept lifting, and the car went vertical and then fell over backwards



Greg Leidecker's Chevette

I just watched this in Speed TV, the Byron Dragway Power Wheelstanding Championships
http://www.byrondragway.com/Home.html

Chop Cut and Restore... a Speed tv show

http://www.speedtv.com/programs/chop-cut-rebuild/
In season 4, and fixing a '75 Bricklin and a 65 Impala, one of the shops working on the Bricklin is San Diego shop "Syndicate" 5620 Kearny Mesa Road
http://www.syndicateauto.com/

Friday, February 15, 2008

Twins, seperated at birth, and now only blocks apart, after different lives




Struck me as odd that these 2 Novas appear to me as the same year, and both have the fender gills, but are worlds apart in condition.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

This will change your mind on what it means to "off road"

http://www.howeandhowe.com/videos.htm for many more vidoes of what this can do!

a scratch-built tracked vehicle created by Howe & Howe productions. It's very fast -- its 650-horsepower blown 427 CID V8 rockets it from 0-50 in 3.5 seconds and lets it run up to 80 mph. It's also very agile, sporting a suspension with fourteen inches of travel that lets it handle bumpy terrain with aplomb. In fact, the Howe & Howe guys say it's the fastest tracked vehicle anywhere.

From Autoblog, July 2007 http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/ripsaw-ms1-touted-as-fastest-two-track-vehicle-on-terra-firma/

For just pics http://www.howeandhowe.com/ripsaw.htm

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

If you like being at the drag strip, click on the link to see some incredible photography

"By Dirk Behlau from Speed Kings, Copyright Gestalten 2008"
website and book detail pages.. . http://www.die-gestalten.de/http://www.die-gestalten.de/books/detail?id=d7f6f0d812b4ab860112bd713d5f0051
Gestalten.tv has launched with new bi-weekly podcasts!Subscribe to our RSS: http://www.gestalten.tv/podcast.xml
Watch our recent podcasts with Lukas Feireiss (editor of the Spacecraft book) and Michelle Carr, the author and founder of The Velvet Hammer Burlesque. http://www.die-gestalten.de/news/detail?id=2322http://www.die-gestalten.de/news/detail?id=2317

Wow, great photography

Click to enlarge

Just beautiful


1955 Mercedes Benz W196 ''Silberpfeil''

via:

Just a bad idea inflicted on a good car


You may have seen this in Popular Hot Rodding the new Mopar of Kenny Wayne Sheppard


Here's a story about the "Great Race"... and how freaking expensive it is to participate


What do you call someone who wants to drive around the world in a 1918 Chevy V8 Touring Car?


Luke Rizzuto wants to enter the 2008 Great Race in the Schuster Class with his '18 Chevy, one of only seven in existence.


According to Rizzuto, he was invited to be one of only forty drivers because of the great condition of the classic car.


Just for the privilige of joining this race, an entrance fee of $125,500 must be forked over for a sponsored car, and $109,500 for a private car.


Sadly, Rizzuto does not have the cash to join his fellow adventure seekers, so he has resorted to issuing a press release and hoping the media will pimp his cause.


If you want to help Luke Rizzuto on his way, get in touch with him through his website, or e-mail him at luke@lukesgreatrace2008.com.


Viper driver having fun at the "No Problem Race way, Loiusianna"

http://www.worldcarfans.com/4080201.002/dodge-viper-srt10-acr-hoonage

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Off road in a twin screw machine... Russian


http://4x4wizards.com/node/9

This amphibious military vehicle is from Russian manufacturer Zil. From what I can tell, this is from around 1970. The body sits on a couple of giant corkscrews which turn and propel it forward, or perfectly sideways

Up for an adventure? The Mongol Rally needs you!

http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com/index.php

Looks like a fun bunch of people who are trying to outlast some questionable vehicles as they try to get from London to the capital on Mongolia

"Travel a third of the way around the earth, from London to Mongolia via a plethora of countries most people haven't heard of in any crap car that has an engine with no more than 1 litre of power. Starting from London, the rally finishes in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar around three weeks and a whole heap of adventure later. It's between about 8 and 10,000 miles depending on the route you choose to throw your crap-mobile at. "

"What's the point?
The world is just a little bit too safe. Gone are the days where the edge of the map called you forth to discover what lay beyond - satellite maps and GPS have it laid out before you leave the armchair. What if you want things to go wrong? What if you want a bit of unknown in a world full health and safety measures? What if the words "adventure travel" conjure images of old ladies on a guided tour to Everest base camp with all the danger and real adventure neatly removed? What you need is the Mongol Rally. "

Here's a blog from last years race http://www.themongolianadventure.blogspot.com/

Here's a good video "Team Clouseau in Mongol Rally 2007" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTIYX2Ia1dI

Hamberg Germany has a good muscle car website

http://www.chromjuwelen.com/en/

Just crazy, a dragster made from a 1948 Landrover


Monday, February 11, 2008

Favorite monster truck "Grave Digger" puts on a show AFTER losing a front wheel!

about 40 seconds of spins, cyclone, and freestyle on just 3 wheels!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH1id3lNKak&feature=related

Monster truck donuts are impressive... and known as cyclones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXqH2aOtPNA

Monster truck "Maximum Destruction" just gets nuts

So strong of a run he completely rips the body off the rig, and kept going, with teriffic saves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HuToOuc9cA&feature=related part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2GYgL6X6ZU part 2

Best of Monster Truck freestyle... 2007 video

http://www.monsterjamonline.com/videos via Speedvision

This video has a series of you tube videos attached together, so just click the first, and the rest will play back to back.

News on Ford's new round of layoffs and paycuts

From Autoblog: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/ford-to-shed-another-9-000-plant-jobs/

"with the new labor agreement, Ford can hire new workers -- when the time comes -- for $26 to $31, instead of the $60-per-hour it pays now. "

Saturday, February 9, 2008

new advertising concept for convention center car shows, make it float around the room.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f9e_1194328653

Via: http://www.carchops.com/showthread.php/video-incredible-flying-3340.html?t=3340

1966 home video of slingshots dragracing at Dragway 42

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHijqhWS2qI

Around minute 5 the slingshots are just blazing the hides the length of the track.... wow

Tere emailed me these beautiful pics of a great 442 convertible, Thanks Tere!



San Diego's hottest day since 1907 brought out lots of muscle cars today! The afternoon was recorded at 77, first time since Feb 9 was this warm in 99 years!

Muscle car computer wallpaper

http://www.americanmuscle.de/bestof.html more than 50 different wallpapers

and lots more muscle car stuff on this website.

'69 Chrysler commercial that draws connections to the 4 door's boat like size

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnLC8reHGn8&feature=related

Was it really necessary to superimpose ocean scenes, and fish? How does that sell this monstrosity?

Vintage film of Breedlove setting endurance and speed records in the SS AMC AMX

Craig Breedlove setting the AMC 24 hours speed records in the AMC AMX SS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKmSxMnuqZY&NR=1 part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEzeXd3013U part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02VZU8j2mgI part 3

Thanks to Teds Garage blog, here's an AMC tribute: Richard Dreyfess commercial, AMX 3 in a car show, and more... from You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP7hT1y9lxY&feature=related AMC commercial where the owner doesn't feel like he's got a race car, funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbPdqoHGaoY&NR=1 Richard Dreyfuss! not very good acting IMHO... a gang leader? That's the actor they cast? C'Mon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eW7FmN17WM&feature=related Skip right to the last 20 seconds.. ... great idea for showcasing your cars' unique sound, put the camera on the ground, and drive over it, the rev the engine. Made me smile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CsXWPLUvcE&feature=related an all AMC car show video, good production value, which showcases the AMX 3! at minute 2:45 until the end 3 minutes later. I believe this was the one that resided at the San Diego Auto Museum in the late 90's. I love this car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnLC8reHGn8&feature=related base model '69 Rebel commercial uses humor to showcase it's dependability

Somebody must still like these colanade style GM's... not me, I'm posting the pics to show how bad cars looked in the 70's






This looks like a '73, this LeMans Sport Coupe looks similar the Olds Hurst 442 of the era, and reminded me how bad those big bumpers looked. This has a 350... which was not very powerful after the smog junk was forced into the engine bay. These oddballs http://www.abodysite.com/readride.html like the A body Pontiacs though

What? ! ! Why spend that kind of money on a collectible and leave it outdoors to be damaged the sun and rain?




I've never seen a Prowler parked outdoors before. Ever. So this one took me by surprise when I found it in Rancho Bernardo

all in the same block; project, possible project, completed project






What can this ride feel like? When the front of the body is above the tops of the tires, that's got to be weird around corners.

Kitt 3000, a whole 1000 better than the original

for a 4 minute video on the new GT500KR
(will the gullible think that the KR stands for Knight Rider?)
Mustang than was transformed into the new Knight Rider car, look to the right hand side of http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/VideosGalleryIndex

Jay Leno has a 7 minute video where he discusses the concept, build, and features with the designer and Ted Moser (Hollywood tv and movie cars business "Picture Car Warehouse" http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=154305556 ) and then goes out and turns the tires into smoke

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=215940