Out N’ About – Page 2 – The Unmuffled Auto News

August 27, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Out N' About

A Beautiful Day of Classic Cars!

Are you ready for a picture heavy post? I do take pity on my readers, you know. Too much reading, and you might get goofy.

On a bright and sunny summer weekend, under blue skies, a local media company hosted a relatively small car show. Small, but mighty. Many of the cars were classic Chevys and Mopars. There were some Fords, but not nearly as many as the Mopars in attendance. There was a spectacular Massey-Fergusson tractor from 1947, as well. I wanted to share my photos of these beautiful cars with you. Enjoy my wonderful pictures.

I want you to know the definition of an automotive term. Pro-touring: Pro-touring is where a classic car is given the performance of a modern-day supercar. While the term, “sleeper” comes to mind, it really doesn’t apply to pro-touring. Pro-touring cars typically have stylish rims, flashy paint jobs, and LOTS of chrome. A lot of pro-touring cars were in attendance at this car show. I wish that you could have been there to see them with me. That’s what next year is for!

This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe is truly the nicest C3 Corvette that I've ever seen. Very few 1965 Corvettes made it out with the L72 big-block engine. I want - make that need this Corvette! — This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe is truly the nicest C3 Corvette that I’ve ever seen. Very few 1965 Corvettes made it out with the L72 big-block engine. I want – make that need this Corvette!

Mark Hoffman's wonderful 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray has won the Top Flight Award from N.C.R.S., the people who decide which car goes home with one of the most prestigious awards in the world! Lucky for Mark Hoffman - he's won it. Twice. — Mark Hoffman’s wonderful 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray has won the Top Flight Award from N.C.R.S., the people who decide which car goes home with one of the most prestigious awards in the world! Lucky for Mark Hoffman – he’s won it. Twice.

The interior is as nice, if not nicer than the exterior. I will apologize in advance for the photos of the exterior. I was as far away as possible from it, but there were a couple hundred cars there. I was almost sitting on one.

If you see a nicer Corvette than this, send me pictures. This is the nicest Corvette I've ever seen. — If you see a nicer Corvette than this, send me pictures. This is the nicest Corvette I’ve ever seen.

Here's the meticulous engine bay. It deserves to be mounted on a stand or something like that. It's perfect. — Here’s the meticulous engine bay. It deserves to be mounted on a stand or something like that. It’s perfect.

The wheels are alloy knock-offs. They look original, but they're not. They still do such a good job that it would take a molecular biologist (or me) to notice the difference... — The wheels are alloy knock-offs. They look original, but they’re not. They still do such a good job that it would take a molecular biologist (or me) to notice the difference…

Here’s the old Corvette logo. If you’re old enough, you’ll know that the Corvette logo has changed over the years.

Onto the next Chevrolet, which happens to be a banana-yellow 1967 Chevrolet El Camino SS396. Enjoy the stunning pictures of this El Camino.

If you look closely, you'll notice that there are disc brakes hiding behind that wheel. That's the rear wheel. The El Camino was so fast that it needed discs at all four corners to stop it. Barely. — If you look closely, you’ll notice that there are disc brakes hiding behind that wheel. That’s the rear wheel. The El Camino was so fast that it needed discs at all four corners to stop it. Barely.

The 396 cubic inch (6.5L) V8 was the big, bad engine from Chevy. That is, until the 454 cubic inch engine came out. But, the 396 is nearly as fast, just as fun, and easier to control, thanks to the lower horsepower and weight.

Like the logo? If you don’t, then you won’t like many logos from the 20th century.

In this picture, it is easy to notice how low the engine is. It's that way so it lowers the center of gravity. It also kills the suspension. — In this picture, it is easy to notice how low the engine is. It’s that way so it lowers the center of gravity. It also kills the suspension.

For those of you who aren’t fans of 1960’s Detroit muscle, maybe you’ll appreciate this 1938 Ford Model A from Dearborn. It even has a flathead V8! You can’t beat that, can you? You don’t see many old stock Ford’s in this condition…

This is what you did before you got into the car. You wiped your shoes. That way, the mud and grime on the bottom of your shoes didn't melt and stink up the car. — This is what you did before you got into the car. You wiped your shoes. That way, the mud and grime on the bottom of your shoes didn’t melt and stink up the car.

The interior is spartan, but then again, most interiors were until the 1950's. However, this interior was considered to be range-topping in the 1930's. — The interior is spartan, but then again, most interiors were until the 1950’s. However, this interior was considered to be range-topping in the 1930’s.

It's a rare two-door model. Two-door Fords from the 1930's always command a large premium over the four-doors for some inexplicable reason. However, they are a dime a dozen. — It’s a rare four-door model. Two-door Fords from the 1930’s always command a large premium over the four-doors for some inexplicable reason. However, they are a dime a dozen.

All I know about this truck is that it is a retired fire truck from a local magazine called Make. I have no idea as to who made it or converted it to a big shop truck. If you know, PLEASE let me know in the comments section! In any case, it’s cool.

Who do you call when you have a mechanical failure with a various gadget? If you answered Ghostbusters, close this page right now and find the nearest brick wall. Then, bang your head against it. You call Make magazine!

Do you know who made the car that has these wheels? If you don't, they belong to a 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. I love the wheel arch cover thingy. — Do you know who made the car that has these wheels? If you don’t, they belong to a 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. I love the wheel arch cover thingy.

Blast off into outer space? Maybe not. But, you will win a drag race against a current-generation Chevrolet Camaro. With the V6, that is.

Notorious for being hard to handle, yet rewarding, the Datsun 710 started life as an economy-oriented family sedan in Japan and Australia. Soon, they were bombing around the Outback and Africa in rallies. Accidents were common, but they were mostly due to driver incompetence.

The only leather in the interior is on the steering wheel. The rest of the interior is either vinyl or chrome. The radio is bone-stock.

If you need a tractor for something, you should definitely try and find a 1946 McCormick Farmall Cub like this. We have a Cub Lo-Boy, but not nearly in as good condition. However, in a few years, we will take the blue ribbon. Just watch.

The reason the main part of the tractor is so far to the left is because you can see where you are going, and not run over crops or small animals. And, yes, the lady sitting in the camping chair is the owner. She restored it with her husband on the weekends.

Farmall made the tractors, but McCormick made a lot of the running gear, so they are McCormick-Farmall Cubs.

All tractors should have this rather severe warning. Remember, BE CAREFUL!!!

This sticker deserves to be on here. All of them do. They belong to the beautiful 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that will be shown after this picture of the stickers.

This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR is one of a handful remaining. It was bought new in 1968 by a young captain in the U.S. Army. He drove it for a year, before never returning home from Vietnam. The car was garaged and driven weekly until 2011, when a complete restoration took place. It's a fitting tribute to somebody who loved his car so much. — This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR is one of a handful remaining. It was bought new in 1968 by a young captain in the U.S. Army. He drove it for a year, before never returning home from Vietnam. The car was garaged and driven weekly until 2011, when a complete restoration took place. It’s a fitting tribute to somebody who loved his car so much.

If you’re a fan of opulence from the 1930’s, then you’re in luck with this 1934 Lincoln Continental. It originates from Chicago, where it was bought new by a little old lady. It ended up here in California in the late 1990s, where the current owner restored it with his friends. It’s simply spectacular. It commands a presence that no other car on the road today has.

This is the technical specs sheet printed up by the owner's son. The car was sold new in San Francisco in 1931, and has remained in Northern California since new. it commands a presence that no other car at the show or currently on the road has. — This is the technical specs sheet printed up by the owner’s son. The car was sold new in San Francisco in 1931, and has remained in Northern California since new. it commands a presence that no other car at the show or currently on the road has.

The interior might seem bare compared to a new Lincoln Navigator, but it was top-of-the line until the late 1960's, when leather became popular. Cloth was THE thing to have in your car for a very long time. The steering wheel is made out of burled walnut wood. It's spectacular how much work went into building this car. — The interior might seem bare compared to a new Lincoln Navigator, but it was top-of-the line until the late 1960’s, when leather became popular. Cloth was THE thing to have in your car for a very long time. The steering wheel is made out of burled walnut wood. It’s spectacular how much work went into building this car.

Wanna know why tires aren't made like this anymore? Because they don't offer much grip, but they offer looks. — Wanna know why tires aren’t made like this anymore? Because they don’t offer much grip, but they offer looks.

The engine might look it just came out of Grandma's basement, but it is a 385 cubic-inch V8 that puts out 200 horsepower and an astonishing 450 lb-ft of torque. It is all cast-iron, however. — The engine might look it just came out of Grandma’s basement, but it is a 385 cubic-inch V8 that puts out 200 horsepower and an astonishing 450 lb-ft of torque. It is all cast-iron, however.

This is what Lincoln’s logo was until the early 1980’s, when Allan Mulally turned Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury around. I wish that it had stayed the same.

For those of you who still don't know what this car is, maybe this will help. — For those of you who still don’t know what this car is, maybe this will help.

I bet that this is the first AAA badge like this that you've ever seen. It tells the tow truck driver to take you to the nearest AAA-certified shop to fix your Lincoln. — I bet that this is the first AAA badge like this that you’ve ever seen. It tells the tow truck driver to take you to the nearest AAA-certified shop to fix your Lincoln.

Here's a picture of the whole car. It's long, coming in at 26 feet long. It's 7 feet tall, and four feet wide. Good luck getting it into a parking structure. It also happens to weigh 6500 pounds. Good luck towing it with your Honda. — Here’s a picture of the whole car. It’s long, coming in at 26 feet long. It’s 7 feet tall, and four feet wide. Good luck getting it into a parking structure. It also happens to weigh 6500 pounds. Good luck towing it with your Honda.

This 1958 Ford Thunderbird is a beauty. There’s no other way to explain it.

The interior is like a cave, typical of old T--Birds. — The interior is like a cave, typical of old T–Birds.

Many people confuse the Thunderbird with the “Screaming Chicken” of the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am logo from 1979 is referred to by car buffs as the “Dunderbird.” Don’t ask.

Another piece of delightful Dearborn muscle is the 1959 Ford Ranchero that is in great condition.

I absolutely LOVE this logo. It’s cool, and modeled after a ox skull the VP of product design saw in 1958.

This is what the old Ford truck logo used to look like. Now, it’s all the same. Boo-hoo.

This is from the era of big, flashy chrome-plated vehicles. The Ranchero is a great of that.

It looks like an El Camino, doesn't it? It really does. It's based off of the full-size Fairlane, so it's cheap to insure. Ah, loopholes... — It looks like an El Camino, doesn’t it? It really does. It’s based off of the full-size Fairlane, so it’s cheap to insure. Ah, loopholes…

For hot rod fans, this is apt to satisfy. It did for me.

It's a luxurious, yet basic interior. Just the way I like 'em. — It’s a luxurious, yet basic interior. Just the way I like ’em.

I like the paint scheme. Also, I think that the wheels could be a bit taller. it makes the car look oddly proportioned.

These 1966 Ford Mustangs were made on the same day and bought by the same person. What a coincidence. The red one was owned by the father of the owner, who is recently deceased, and the cream-colored one belongs to the owner’s mother, who still drives the car weekly. Her daily driver is a 2006 Mustang GT Convertible. I envy her.

Both the Mustangs have identical running gear. This engine badge on the air cleaner identifies itself as a 289 cubic-inch V8 (4.6 Liters).

This pristine 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is in mint condition. It should be. It was restored in 1991 by the current owner’s uncle, who owns a local restoration shop. He’s put less than 1,000 miles on the car since then.

It looks so nice, because it is. The paint job is especially nice.

These wheels are so amazingly cool that it's impossible to describe my affection for them. They are 19-inch wheels. — These wheels are so amazingly cool that it’s impossible to describe my affection for them. They are 19-inch wheels.

It even has the legendary 426 cubic-inch Hemi, which dominated for many, many years. People still sing it's praises. This Charger can outrun a current-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in the 1/4 mile. — It even has the legendary 426 cubic-inch Hemi, which dominated for many, many years. People still sing it’s praises. This Charger can outrun a current-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in the 1/4 mile. I guess that good engineering pays off in the long run, right?

This kooky custom hot rod is driven all summer long. For everything bad about it, I can think of three good rebuttals.

It looks like a George Barris creation, but it's not. I wish it was, though. — It looks like a George Barris creation, but it’s not. I wish it was, though.

The interior is chrome, chrome, and more chrome. Same for the engine.

Talk about a sleeper. Who’d think that this mild-looking old Chevrolet business coupe from the 1930’s would take a shot of Nitrous Oxide. Our local Chevrolet dealer uses this as a ploy to bring customers in. It must work.

Mild? Nope. Wild is more like it... — Mild? Nope. Wild is more like it…

See? Here's proof that our local Chevy dealer owns this car! — See? Here’s proof that our local Chevy dealer owns this car!

Half of the interior is painted the same color as the exterior.

Don't spray people in the face with this stuff. It apparently hurts. It probably does, as N2O is the same stuff that goes into dry ice. It has to be stored at cold temperatures, so it must hurt - to some degree... — Don’t spray people in the face with this stuff. It apparently hurts. It probably does, as N2O is the same stuff that goes into dry ice. It has to be stored at cold temperatures, so it must hurt – to some degree…

Our local Chevrolet dealer also uses this 1969 Chevrolet Nova to bring people in. It’s a demo car that uses all of GM’s Goodwrench parts. It’s got a 502 cubic-inch V8 (8.1 Liters), and it’s certain to blow the pants off of any challenger.

Talk about fast. This car goes up to 190 mph. They tested it.

I like the Nova's coat of arms. That, and the body of the car are the only stock parts of the car. — I like the Nova’s coat of arms. That, and the body of the car are the only stock parts of the car.

It's got a Tranzilla T56 transmission, which is a six-speed manual. It's a durable, fast-shifting transmission that is popular in the hot-rodding world. — It’s got a Tranzilla T56 transmission, which is a six-speed manual. It’s a durable, fast-shifting transmission that is popular in the hot-rodding world.

This double-black 1969 Plymouth ‘Cuda is one of very few convertible ‘Cuda’s from 1969. It’s rare, fast, and a helluva lot of fun. I love it.

The grille is so amazingly cool that it will probably bring many of you back to the 1960's. For some, it might look like it's out of Vanishing Point, a 1974 movie about a man and a car. I won't tell more. — The grille is so amazingly cool that it will probably bring many of you back to the 1960’s. For some, it might look like it’s out of Vanishing Point, a 1974 movie about a man and a car. I won’t tell more.

That little piece of bailing wire works. It holds down the hood. It's a glamorous job. — That little piece of bailing wire works. It holds down the hood. It’s a glamorous job.

Those vents blast hot air out when the car is running.

This was one of the first 'Cuda's to get the 340 cubic-inch V8. It's a lucky car, and an even luckier owner. — This was one of the first ‘Cuda’s to get the 340 cubic-inch V8. It’s a lucky car, and an even luckier owner.

I like the faux-leather all over the interior.

The steering wheel is big. It makes the steering wheel on a school bus look small.

Here's a view of the 'Cuda. I wish it was an AAR 'Cuda. Google 1969 Plymouth AAR Barracuda. Then, we'll be talking business. — Here’s a view of the ‘Cuda. I wish it was an AAR ‘Cuda. Google 1969 Plymouth AAR Barracuda. Then, we’ll be talking business.

July 16, 2013 zoomvroom Field Trips, Out N' About

Out And About In Sonoma County!

So, I’d promised you some more drool-worthy hunks of Motown iron, right? Well, here they are!!!!!

I’m quite sure that all of you know what this lovely car is, right? It’s a pristine 1967 Pontiac GTO with the 400 cubic-inch engine (6.6 liters!) and an automatic transmission. Not the ideal choice for me, but I’m sure it gets the job done. While it looks like it had a restoration about 5-7 years ago, it likely hasn’t put that many miles on in its lifetime. The odometer reads a mere 80,145. This is a sure sign that the car has been driven about 1,500 miles a year. That’s pretty gentle, but I don’t think that the car cares that much!

Below, a pristine 1960-ish Chrysler 300 Windsor Sedan was parked just a few parking spots away. It has a nice white-and-blue color scheme. Inside, a satellite radio/iPod connector has been fitted (BOO!!!!!). Enjoy this land barge!

I like the skinny whitewall tires. They contrast nicely with the gigantic chrome wheel covers. More nice photos of nice cars next time!

June 14, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Field Trips, Out N' About, The History of Autos, Website Reccomendation

Coverage from the 11th Annual Peggy Sue All-American Cruise!

Every year, the Peggy Sue All-American Cruise and its related events take over sunny Santa Rosa, CA. Restored cars, hot rods, low riders, raised Jeeps, and antique American cars are all part of the mix. We have entered our 1950 GMC 100, “Betsy” twice. It’s always been a lot of fun for me to see all of the classic cars in the parade or the massive parking lot where they are displayed! This year, one of my good friends joined me in watching the classic American cars cruise around downtown Santa Rosa. Revving engines? Check. Drunk people yelling at drivers to “Step it up, dude!”? Check. Squealing tires? Check? The smell of burnt brakes? Check. Annoyed and overworked event staff? Right on. I know that you are getting bored reading my words about what was going on. I’ll cut to the chase: It was a LOT of fun, and you should join me next year. Enjoy the pictures.

I don’t know what this Chevy Nova had under the hood, but it sounded NASTY! Many of the cars at the parade were either restored to Concours-levels or were built for the drag strip. This one was built to rule the streets.

This 1959 Chevrolet Corvette is a rare “Fuelie.” Instead of a carburetor, it has a primitive version of fuel injection. This particular example was restored to a “Level 1.” Level 1 means that it is virtually perfect. That it is.

This 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne is a powerful, efficient, and stylish family sedan from the muscle car era. It has a 327 cubic-inch V8 engine and a two-speed automatic Powerglide transmission. It’s lovely.

I find it nice that the interior of the same Biscayne matches the exterior of the car. Even the steering wheel has chrome on it!

Same car. This is the model designation. The car is a barn find from somewhere around Redwood City, according to the owner. He restored it himself, and he did a very good job of it!

For those of you old enough, you should remember the aero-wars days, when big engines and aerodynamics were all the rage. The 1971 Plymouth Roadrunners and Superbirds were the car of choice for many famous NASCAR drivers. Richard Petty left Ford in 1969 to go to Plymouth. He did so much better in a Plymouth Superbird that Ford built the Torino Talladega as a response. This particular Roadrunner has the 440 Six Pack (a 440 cubic-inch V8 with THREE two-barrel carburetors!), which was just one step below the mighty 426 Hemi engine. It is painted in the iconic Lime Green that is popular with automotive restorers.

This Corvette is one of the nicest Corvettes that I’ve seen in a LONG time! It is painted Aqua Blue and Snow White, with a matching interior. It has the 283 cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual. It is a 1956 Corvette. The only shame? That it’s far too nice to tour Route 66 in.

Sorry about the fingertip on the top of the camera view. The sun was shining and I REALLY wanted to tell you about this truck! It’s a 1965 Chevy K10 with the optional 327 cubic-inch engine and a three-speed manual. It is built to tackle any trail, and take anything that you want with it. It may not be stock, but it looks like it will outrun just about any Jeep from the same era off-road.

Remember the Chevy Vega? If you don’t, it’s okay. The Vega was powered by a 305 cubic-inch V8. It was relatively powerful and fast, but it was a minor disaster for Chevy. This Vega is a 1974 model. It wasn’t the nicest car there, but it was one of the newer cars there.

The best part about this 1969 Chevrolet C30 is that it is used a lot. I don’t know how much, but I have seen it at Sonoma Raceway’s Wednesday Night Drags as a tow vehicle. It’s the perfect tow vehicle. It’s got a 350 cubic-inch engine that’s all-original. So is most of the truck.

This rare 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is one speedy car. It’s all stock, and plenty fast that way. It’s got the 350 cubic-inch V8 engine found in many GM vehicles from 1969-1999. The top speed is 130 mph. This car means business. The lucky driver had to keep the car in first gear. he also kept touching the brakes because the car wants to leap forward. Lucky him.

I’m going to apologize in advance for the direction of the photo. This 1951 Dodge cab-over semi has been so heavily customized that the only thing original about it is the cab. That’s it. The rest of it is custom-built. The truck is a heavy-duty car-hauler with three axles. The engine is a brand-new 6.7-liter Cummins Diesel engine that has two turbos instead of one. Wow!

While motorcycles aren’t as common in the parade as cars, there were still a good three or four. This 1946 Indian Roadmaster has the iconic “shovelhead” engine that many motorcycle enthusiasts favor. This Indian Roadmaster is banana yellow with the “caramel cream” seat. I like old motorcycles like this. Maybe some readers will buy me one…

The Indian logo is still in the original chrome, almost 65 years later. The gas tank can hold 10 gallons. It says that on the chrome gas cap.

I like the way that Indian made the front wheel cover so stylish. I was talking to the owner for a minute, and I found out that he drove it all the way down to Santa Rosa from Healdsburg. That’s not a lot of fun on an old motorcycle, yet Indian motorcycles are built to cruise. I’m guessing that it was probably a comfortable ride down to Santa Rosa.

This 1932 Ford Roadster is a sick hot rod. The lady standing by the car is the owner. The car has a Ford 351 Windsor V8 engine. It has a Jaguar rear end, and a five-speed manual. This car means business. I don’t know what I like more: The mechanical parts of the car, or the exterior? That’s a decision that YOU will let me know in the comments section…

This Ford Bronco looks like it came out of some post-apocalyptic movie. It’s got aggressive tires, a six-inch lift kit, and a 302 cubic inch V8. I don’t know the exact year, but it looks like it’s from around 1967-8. This is one nice Bronco.

This is one of the coolest, most amazing Jeep CJs that I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying a lot. This CJ is stock, and is a 1947 model. Between the drivers seat and the passengers seat, there is a metal rifle/shotgun holder for two high-powered guns. Not that it would be used for that!

How often do you see a stock 1932 Ford roadster? Not at all often! This is a stock 1932 Ford roadster that could sell for upwards of $150,000 in its current condition. It even has the rumble seat and the original interior! It’s beautiful!

That’s all, folks!

If you would like to check out the Peggy Sue’s Cruise website, it is http://www.peggysuescruise.com/home/

April 19, 2013 zoomvroom Out N' About

Car Envy or Out n’ About

While I was having some family time, I saw this wonderful 1970 Chevrolet El Camino. I got enough pictures for you to drool over! Enjoy…Even better, it was for sale. A mere $12,500, and it could have been mine. But, some readers (we all know who I’m talking about) didn’t want to pledge more than $1.22. That’s not even close to the asking price! Anyways, I figured I’d take some pictures for your enjoyment. Just make sure that you don’t drool on your keyboard!

That’s all for today, but there are some other drool-worthy cars coming your way. Soon.

February 3, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Gifts for the Car Enthusiast, Humor, Out N' About, Road Trips

Fun in the Sun, or The Star Cars at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction!

Firstly, let me apologize for my brief absence. Unfortunately, I have experienced a technical glitch. Is “klugie” really a technical term describing one’s computer malfunction? If so, then my computer has klugie-itis. You know where to find me this weekend. Yes, the Apple Store. Now on to more interesting news…

We should have had a road trip. Scottsdale this time of year sure appeals to those of us near the 45th parallel. Barrett-Jackson has an annual auction in Scottsdale. A lot of nice cars go there. Too bad it just happened a few weeks ago. And we are all still stuck in the cold and rain. Well then, my job is to tell you about the noteworthy ones that sold there.

1966 Batmobile: $4.2 Million USD. We all knew that the original Batmobile would fetch a lot more than the reserve. It did. The reserve for the vehicle was an undisclosed amount, but sources say it was about $3.5 Million USD. That’s $700,000 OVER the reserve! The car’s new owner said that he is going to put the Batmobile in his living room. If you have that amount of money, you don’t put the car in your LIVING ROOM! You build a CAVE for it!!! Check out my post when I originally wrote about this cool car. https://unmuffled.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/the-original-1966-batmobile-will-hit-the-auction-block-in-january/

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray: As has been the custom since the C3 (3rd generation Corvette) debuted in 1971, the first car to be produced (Chassis #001) is auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson. The charity that receives the large lump of money is always pleased. The Detroit College for Creative Studies should be pleased. Many of their alumni work in GM’s design studios. The 2014 Corvette Sting Ray is now owned by NASCAR Rick Hendrick. How much did he pay for it? A hefty $1,050,000 USD. Add in the fact that Rick Hendrick basically just donated $1,050,000 to charity for a car, the price does kind of seem attractive.

Porsche 959 Prototype: While the Porsche Panamera may surpass the 959 in terms of performance, there won’t be people writing poems about the Panamera. The Porsche 959 is the automotive equivalent of the Apollo Space Program. This 959 prototype is one of only four built, and one of two remaining. The hefty $400,000 hammer price seems like a lot, and it is. The car may not be street-legal, but it will beat just about any Ferrari, Lamborghini, or anything else around the Nurburgring.

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Cobra Tribute: This Mustang may look like a souped-up GT500, which it is. However, it is a one-off vehicle that fetched $200,000. That lump of cash went to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The buyer walked away with an awesome car, and the charity got a lot of money. It’s a win-win situation!

All I’m sayin’ people, next year this time, (say it with me) “ROAD TRIP”!!

December 30, 2012December 30, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture, Out N' About

Out ‘N About In Sonoma County

I am going easy on you, what with the holiday rush. So, here’s a picture heavy/text light post. Look at what great cars I get to see as I go about my daily life.

The photos of the Datsun pickup are of our mechanic’s 1973 Datsun 1/4 ton that he inherited from his grandfather.

It’s a pretty cool truck with a nice leather interior. It’s got American Racing Torqthrust wheels that give it a shiny aftertaste. It’s a nice little hauler/daily driver!

A couple of weeks ago, my mom was driving by a smoke shop and happened to see this lovely 1930s Cadillac. I like the Chevy Aveo trying to look cool in the picture!In Santa Rosa, CA, there is an avid fire truck collector/restorer. I happened to be driving by and there was an early Ward LaFrance fire truck from the 1960s! They don’t get much nicer than this one!

We also saw a lovely 1942 Ford Tudor Convertible (I know that they didn’t make any Tudor convertibles, but the owner seems to think so…)

While volunteering for community service at an event at John Ash & Co, I happened to see this lovely 1952 Chevy delivery van. It’s driven most days, from what I’ve heard. Go to the event in style and have a lot of space left over! Booyah!

My mom snapped the pictures of this lovely Ford Ranchero when she was at “work.”

Yet another beauty we saw was this pristine 1960 Chevrolet Impala wagon.

For those of you who enjoy old Ford pickups, this one’s for you. My mom and I were going to pick my sister up and we saw this beautiful old Ford F-2 from around 1955 driving along. From what I could see, it’s used a lot.

When my dad and I were at a regatta, we saw quite a few lovely old trucks. I’ll start off with this old Dodge rat rod. I’ve seen it a lot, but it’s usually being driven too fast for me to take a picture! It’s pretty cool.

We also saw this ancient Chevy Cameo pickup from Oregon. It’s loaded with a lot of miscellaneous items, but it’s a hard-working old pickup that earns it’s oil changes.

While there, we also happened to see this period-correct Ford F-1 ice cream truck. The owner was raking in the cash, and the truck got a lot of thumbs-up!

The El Camino peeking its nose into the picture with the ice cream truck is driven daily, and looks amazing. It was marketed as a truck that drove like a car. This one is from the late 1970s, and is all original!

I hope that you had a bountiful holiday season, and wish you a happy New Year. Since New Year’s day is on a Tuesday, I’m going to take a mini-vacation from the blog, and will be back next week. Thanks for being such loyal and wonderful readers. You can look forward to more interesting and wonderful posts in 2013. I happen to have a FABULOUS one up my sleeve! Stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

September 23, 2012 zoomvroom Out N' About

Out ‘N About!

As I promised, here are two classic rides from my neck of the woods:

I know that the Pontiac convertible is a 1962 Tempest Convertible. It has the big ol’ 389 cubic-inch V8 and the automatic slushbox transmission.

I do not know what year the lovely Ford F1 is, but I do know that it is the first generation of the Ford F-Series.