» Auto Monday

Auto Monday – 440 SixPack

fcgrabo — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:06:57 +0000

(A most appropriate post for an aptly named website.) In 1968, Chrysler introduced a new wedge engine which sported 440 cubic inches sitting under three two-barrel carburetors. This engine one-upped the 383 and became one of two choices for hot engine: a 426 hemi or a 440 sixpack. Surely many young men fretted over the decision of which engine to opt for, but as time went on, the 440 drew a crowd of followers.

With is distinctive air cleaner and shaker hood it always gave the street racers a bit of a pause when coming up against one. The sportier Mopars came with lightweight hoods with some model years being equipped with locking pins. Lean and mean, the Mopar 440 SixPack has cut its own niche in muscle car history.

We have a nice gallery featuring the 440 engine and some of the cars it came in, coming up next.

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More info here and here.

Auto Monday – MG

fcgrabo — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:06:55 +0000

MG Cars is a former British sports car manufacturer, which was founded in 1924, the creator of the MG brand. MG is best known for its two-seat open sports cars, but MG also produced saloons and coupes. More recently, the MG marque has also been used on sportier versions of other models belonging to the parent company.

The MG marque was in continuous use (barring the years of the Second World War) for 56 years after its inception. Production of predominantly two-seater sports cars was concentrated at a factory in Abingdon, some 10 miles south of Oxford, England. In the autumn of 1980, however, the Abingdon factory closed and MGB production ceased. (Source)

MGs are still produced today under the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. but things will never be the same for the venerable MG roadster.

MGs used to be plentiful years ago and usually owned and driven by, in my opinion, intellectual sophisticates all wearing tweed and sporting caps such as at right.

The MG remains a part of automotive history and in the memories of those envious college kids who never had one.

There’s a nice MG gallery coming up next.

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1949 MG TC Roadster Race Car (Barrett-Jackson)

Auto Monday – August Cruise Night

fcgrabo — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:06:15 +0000

Once again, Morris was the host to their annual Morris Cruise Night last Saturday. This was the third of four monthly car displays which takes place downtown on the main drag.

On this outing I was looking to take some pics of the cars I hadn’t seen before. The weather was a little on the hot side and made walking while sweating the norm. I have a number of good shots which I’ve posted in the gallery below.

Sorry. That gorgeous tattooed babe and her beau were not to be seen. Maybe next month or at the new Jalopy Fest coming in September.

Our Cruise Night gallery is next.

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Auto Monday – Tucker

fcgrabo — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:06:05 +0000

The 1948 Tucker Sedan or Tucker ’48 Sedan (initially named the Tucker Torpedo) was an advanced automobile conceived by Preston Tucker and briefly produced in Chicago in 1948. Only 51 cars were made before the company folded on March 3, 1949, due to negative publicity initiated by the news media, a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and a heavily publicized stock fraud trial (which allegations were proven baseless in court with a full acquittal). Speculation exists that the circumstances which brought the Tucker Corporation down were contributed to by the Big Three automakers and Michigan senator Homer Ferguson. The 1988 movie, Tucker: The Man and His Dream is based on Tucker’s spirit and the saga surrounding the car’s production.

Some say that the car was way ahead of its time. Among its innovations were an all aluminum, water-cooled, rear-engined car with fuel injection, four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes. The center headlight in the nose of the hood turned in the direction of the steering wheel. The Tucker had seat belts, integrated rollbar and magnesium wheels.

Please visit the Tucker Wikipedia page here and read the Tucker story here.

You may or may not have heard of the Tucker automobile. Get an eyeful of Tucker cars in our gallery coming up next.

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Tucker part 1 (Adjust your speakers accordingly. These two videos are a little too quiet.)

Tucker part 2

David Cammack – Collector of all things Tucker

Behind the wheel

Auto Monday – hungry funny car

fcgrabo — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:06:29 +0000

Just a quick video for you guys who were expecting an auto-related post. Time ran out for me this weekend. In this vid, watch the orange car on the left. Something happens with the throttle linkage and it looks like the car eats the crewman. No one was injured. Amazing.

Auto Monday – Lamborghini

fcgrabo — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:06:29 +0000

Beloved by enthusiasts everywhere, Lamborghini cars are built for speed and to look the part. Extreme style and extreme performance are the chief characteristics of Ferrari’s national rival. Unless your zip code is 90210, you’re not likely to see a scissor-doored Lamborghini ahead of you in the Starbucks drive-thru or parked next to you at the mall; these are exclusive automobiles designed to cater to a small, very specialized audience. (Source)

Priced way out of our range, the Lambo signifies the epitome of styling and speed. Since 1963, Lamborghini has been creating automotive masterpieces that make men drool. The company has changed hands a few times but it still represents a living legend among automobiles.

We have a nice Lambo gallery coming up next.

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Auto Monday – Trikes

fcgrabo — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:06:53 +0000

Trikes are getting lots of press lately as more and more people choose three wheels over two. With baby boomers making up the largest segment of the population right now, journalists are looking at what this segment of society, those born between 1946 and 1964, are spending their money on when it comes to motorized recreation. Many are choosing three-wheeled motorcycle because of the ease of use and confidence and security in the ride. (Source)

Trikes come in many forms but all have three wheels. Usually it’s one in front and two in back. Reverse trikes are the opposite, where the rider steers two front wheels. Some trikes are custom made and others come from the factory in the three-wheeled configuration. Trikes can range from the sweetest custom to the most bizarre creation that can be driven on the street. Two wheels or three, there’s a bike out there just waiting to be ridden.

A nice trike gallery is coming up next.

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Auto Monday – Morris Cruise Night 7/10/10

fcgrabo — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:06:50 +0000

Last Saturday night started out beautifully with a rather warm day and the second of four Morris Cruise Nights held in downtown Morris each summer. The cars were all shined up and a crowd of people meandered up and down Liberty Street to ogle the beauties. There were some of the regulars there again and some we haven’t seen before. The display was almost to large to negotiate. If you wandered off on to one of the side streets you just might forget where you left off on the main drag. Taking pictures was a bit difficult with all the humanity there, many people unknowingly walked right into the shot. I did, however manage to click off a number of photos which are presented in the gallery below.

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Auto Monday – Japanese gangster vehicles

fcgrabo — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:06:51 +0000

There are only two places where you will find these gangster-mobiles. Japan and the Internet. Some Japanese youngsters invest tons of money into bizarre add-ons for their cars and vans. Enormous whaletails, front clips that would cut a pedestrian right at the ankles, long, garish exhaust pipes and large patio deck styling in the rear. You wouldn’t believe it until you’ve seen it.

And you can see it here, in our gallery coming up next.

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Slide show

Auto Monday – Hardtop Convertibles

fcgrabo — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:06:56 +0000

One aspect of automotive engineering that some of us may have overlooked is the concept of the hartop convertible. It’s almost like having the best of both worlds, top-down capability and hardtop weather protection. First to pioneer this idea was Ford with their introduction of the Fairlane Skyliner in 1957. The model was only produced for three years due to the frequent failure of the retracting mechanism and the limited amount of trunk space.

Again in the ’90s, some car makers reengineered the retractible hardtop, Peugot, Pontiac and Mercedes to name a few. These new mechanisms now run smoother and retract quicker than the Ford ever did. The truck space problem still remains and issue.

Different manufacturers approached the retractible roof from different angles. One would separate the roof into three sections, one into two and still others would make the retarctible top look like it came from the Transformers movie.

For today’s automotive feature, we are showing a number of short videos of retractible hardtops and all the associated brackets, arms and levers that make up such unique option to have on a car.

Ford Fairlane

Lexus

Ferrari

Mitsubishi

Pontiac

BMW

Mustang

Mercedes-Benz

Renault

VW Beetle

Red Green

Auto Monday – Ferrari

fcgrabo — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:06:26 +0000

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has enjoyed great success.

To give you a little background on Ferrari, watch this conversation between two Porshe guys.

One thing that sticks in everyone’s mind when they hear the word Ferrari, is the color red. Red appears to be the color of choice, along the lines of Henry Ford’s “any color as long as it’s black.” A Ferrari of any model is probably beyond the budgets of most of us, but it is nice to sit back once in a while and dream a little dream of speed and elegance.

We have a nice Ferrari gallery coming up next.

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Enzo Ferrari movie trailer

Auto Monday – Goodbye Mercury

fcgrabo — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:06:14 +0000

Last Wednesday, Ford announced that it will be pulling the plug on the Mercury line of cars. Production will cease towards the end of this year. Merc joins Olds and will take up a place right next door in automotive history.

Started in 1939, the Mercury line was the brainchild of Henry Ford’s son, Edsel, now adding to the dark history of that name. However, the 1950 Merc remains a true classic today and the Cougars and Comets and Marauders are not to be forgotten as well.

Coming up next is a great gallery featuring Mercurys through the years.

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The new 1950 Mercury

Before dying quietly, Mercury made some noise.