any FWD. I do it w/summer tires. Earth Changes R upon us (I live in the NE) so winter comes in Feb, lasts 1, 2 mo.s. Or in mid Jan (this yr up here). Block heater (R no longer needed) are OK. 4 All Season or winter tires, no more 'cleats' needed. Auto is OK, tho stick is good to rock if stuck... We usedta carry alota stuff (space blankets, jumpers, chains, shovel, etc) in winter. Even asa ol guy (close to 7th decade) I don't 'gear up'.  The question is moot today. - -From the Berkshires of WesssMasss ... View more

invalid concept. Every 1 is enjoyed by some 1. Doesnt the industry have the saying "A car for every a$$." Now, which are worth more? is a math formula, we can see that one number is larger than another.  Which is more beautiful? luxurious, stylish, etc? No, not a gauge to apply here. "The '80s malaise" has even been disproved more recently (as the age cohort who were in their teens then, become buyers/ championing the cars  now). ... View more

glad he hada few floor bds replaced. Kept up the rest of the barn. A lill respect to the vehicles. Many do NOT. One shots shows new doors'n newer metal roof (75 - 100 yr life span). Like the later '30s on usa classics (thru very early 50s) only. ... View more

gimme the Q1 for looks (& final production). Surprised we have grammar police here, ~50 wrds to 'correct' another. ?? ... View more

beginning the earth changes we now have, discriminating unto poverty'n death the 'others', going from the horse'n buggy to space'n the moon, etc, etc. Like every generation a full and amazing story (pluses & minuses)... ... View more

WoW ! 5 ina vedub? all that way? I skipped it all (no time for a trip bio) after the rhino butting. But 4 mo seemed quick. My heart warmed by the 'men slept outside', asked the occasional ox team or 4WD for help up'n out. I did a trip around the outside/perimiter states of this big ol buetiful country (6.5K mi?) for 600$ (got the cash a when departing @ college graduation returned w/same amount) but it took 15 mo'n I stopped for the school yr for employment I'd found in Cali. Same age as most them BUT w a y different times and conditions (solo, 20 yrs later, usa. I did have a VT class mate dwn the east coast'n a cousin acc the southern states till break dwn in NV desert for 2 wk). Kids - what will they do nxt? Wish I had that stuff now ! ... View more

agreed - "give or take" (year of manufacture, deff of 'classic', traffic, use, comfort, need for oe, local climate, etc). Ie - I'd skip some, add some. 8^ ) ... View more

nuttin like 'em today ... View more

some lead others follow ... View more

What is a 'classic'? I claim late 30s thru very early 50s in some makes (usa mostly) but europeans (following my personal deffiniton, the only 1 that matters 2 me) is into mid/late '60s for many european. Anyway...   1st 2 factors then answers.  1) classics should B daily driven if at all possible; 2) only 'sleeper' mods, if any (& for performance safety durability & pollution). I like to stay oe and w/in make at all costs (era correct often too).  So - electronic ignitions, efi and spfi, discs up front, autos w/OD, 3, 4 speeds w/OD, safety glass when replacing as broken, seat belts, modern cams and tires, re-jeted carbs and so forth. Love to look at mechanical breaks, cloth covered wires, over built frames, longitudinal single leaf springs, etc.  Some of the best of a classic is the mechanicals of how they solved problems in da ol daze... Dislike 'patina' and 'rat rods'.  A well used (up?...no) vehicle is OK  but 'survivor' can be taken to a foolish extreme. Enjoy watchin the stylistic trends flow thru cars/trucks/planes/boats world wide, they sure influence each other (like the AR man in the music trade) there's eras (seems longer than the music ones, a decade or less). Thnx 4 da Q.   ... View more

just got back from Maple Grove'n the Panamerican. Those guys like the lill stuff (me too). Just saw a 4 cyl do the 1/4 in 5 sec. But I think it wuz a Starlette (early '80s Toy). ... View more

I skimmed the long article quickly, back w/more time - but did not see much on the LX (like the SSP U filled out on) a 4 dor. The 'fox' brought my attention as 1982 - '04 (SN-95) AND beyond mark this model (105 inch WB give or take a few). The wagon models have been my interest (1st essix bent6 ina Granada a full yr B4 the others, fairmont/zepher) onto the LTD/Marquis (confusing as there was the Grand Marquis and Crown Vic on the 'panther' platform). 20 + yrs is a good run for parts swap-ability ! ... View more

no time or money for the track (other pursuits) but U can give me the Ferrari GTB & GT for the nxt grocery run and commute to work (1 for each)... ... View more

I say "don't copy" (another "try harder") so join w/U in all U say. I just add that the "feeling in the heart" is effected by those parameters I listed above (history, culture, family choices, etc). ... View more

Unfortunately this article is abt "Car Styling" (industrial arts?). I was hoping for "Good Car Design" as in engineering for sales, use, maintenance, repair, recycling, etc. I was going to put in my 2 cents from a mechanic's &/or owner's perspective. THAT would be a useful essay. Here, "Fashion" is abt art, beauty, the opposite of function ( yes, the twain can meet). There is a highly personal element with this consideration. It is effected by history, culture, etc. It runs in 'approved' cycles just like the music and other arts in society (length of skirt, flow of pop music, automotive style, interior design). "Everyone" (the big 3 effected international design) went w/the try-five. "All" followed the tatra of the 30's (SAAB, volks, etc). The square lines of early 60s were seen broadly just as the feminine (my description) of the Italian 50s/60s (in Jag, the 300SL, 503, nash, etc) and returned in the 'square' 80s. Just as the A'n R man controls the genre in the music game, the board room controls the (in these wrds here) car design - a purely personal "fashion statement" ruled by (current) era... I think we are still in the coke bottle era of the mid 80s tarus (altho influenced some w/suv and more "space travel' super cars designs). Take a look and decide your self. It only personal after all, anyway, on the one hand ~ ... View more

o0OP, that's for europeans back to the continent/or 'as made in usa' to continent. I thought it was 'there' to 'here', nope. ... View more

yep, we got buddies w/them in Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and GB (seems in that order of numbers). Is it TUI (Germany)? seems to be the most egregious toward the hobbies (Cali to B taking example from them). Mods R out of the question. Glad 2C a few european imports in the above bar graph. Like to see one with "the top 20 vehicles" imported - may B w/ "to what part of the country" too (for ownership, not where imported - that info is available in the shipping manifest)... ... View more

decide? naw - one of each plez... ... View more

even as great as the pluses claim (above) the minuses out rule. Another package? and I might go for it. Even (especially if) a retro of some sort of wagon (or hatch). ... View more

'56/60, nuttin else. Sacrilege? put the Blue Flame in 1, I'd luv it. ... View more

'S OK. Save the chin, rear spoliers, bumpers & wheels. Give me the Capri Mk i or even II. This looks like a Mav... ... View more

my fav IS the Blue Flame (also '56/60 vehicle). ... View more

dat's nuttin, man! What freaks me is when they cross eras. Wish I could find some pairs for that. Seem to remember a few as its so shocking. Just like music and lots of the other arts (& car styles R art, no?) there can B seen a flow, era, similarity with different car designs. The late 50s/early 60s Italian body styles, the Taurus ('coke bottle') we R still a lill under currently, late 30s (well, some similarity w/the almost female forms of the afore mentioned Italian), 'square' 80s, straight line early 60s, bulge-mobiles of the ti-five era... ... View more

Heavy chevy ... View more

two plus two in Blue ('s mine). Like the white top here tho. Kid wrked at the local Sunoco hada fastback in the day. Back seat was never up. We puta 8 track in that deck so it pointed toward driver's right shoulder, easy to change a tape'n get back to drivin. These notch backs all ways seemed more sedate... ... View more

see some coming in from s. Greece too (least the model I want - not in this list). ... View more

who cares, they still don't have the Raptor underneath a 2 dor 90, 95 inch WB. ... View more

don't most of us want the models w/low volitility - that's what makes them so. You have given us a circularity. Not much use - unless U are out of your regular territory and doing a buy (rare? yes, now the auction of cars, the net sales occur, much more so). Prices are so sky hi (compaired for when wages were more inline with goods) that I may have to buy something out of my typical wheelhouse (different than the 2 of the 'big 3' I use, different era is not so difficult, different model, car instead of truck, or 'sports rather than muscle, etc). On the other hand, just bein a car guy can tell me much of this. "Yes" the 123W MB wagon will work out if certain prts (the most expensive ones in the rig) are OK on a reasonably priced one (leveling system, etc). Bird cage on a vette, etc. These are not my usual "buy low, drive/restore, have a free ride for awhile." ... View more

@ the beginning of the Mini's sales I don't think that phrase was in use ("bigger") but only toward the end. I can remember when the same ppl used "Mine's smaller than yours" as a put down / personal aggrandizement. Telephones had just switched from analogue (bag phone) to digital and I kept loosing mine as it was TOO small (3 inch by 1 inch by 1/2 inch?). UTac Motorola flip was out then too. When was that anyway? ... View more

Thank you. History and its effect is important. Well done Mr McAleer. As an aside (another us ofa connection outside of chrysler) it spawned the falcon - 1 of the attempts to stem the tide of our own auto manufacturing decline. We know how that 1 vehicle created the SUV (bronk) & muscle (stang) eras we still live in somewhat today. The KG s a great car (I see the corvair reflect its lines) and like the word 'Kleenex' used for facial tissue I use it as referent (The "chevy karmen giha" - corvair, chevy II; ford - EXP, probe; fiat - 850 spyder, etc). Long may the idea live (easy expansion for manufacturers of models offered). Show more pic of it's variations when possible K-310, Type 3, 14, 34, and even the Chrysler d' Elegance. That's the nice thing bout the net/digital. You don't have to worry bout length (like hard copy). ... View more

I like the treatment front, back and in the side view (for one of my least fav 'eras'. I call them bulge mobiles - the '50s rounded 4 wheel figures). Europe did it so much better (feminine rather then 'just a big hulk'). The opposite of what the standard net and auction market seeks. Yes, that was my era (according to birth year/teen yrs etc) but attraction outside my gen. The nxt style (early 60's to pre 'muscle' /and/ the one after 'muscle - 1980s) are what looks good to me. Those nice straight lines, square corners OR a 20, 30 yr 'jump back' to the mid '30s usa (thru very early 50s) and europe late 50s - late 60s. The writing is good again, a story to imagine. ... View more

Like Porsche 928 (1978-1995), Porsche 944 (1982-1991), Porsche 968 (1992-1995), the 240Z is the one to have. Not abt money in my world~ ... View more

all 'd B OK (cept w/the gremlin) as anything to catch up/surpass the others in a world car EV is good to me. We might have it on autonomous but need support to market a world beater EV. Here's hoping the fed, 'big 3', colleges, etc realize this and begin to collaborate. Can Uncle Joe get it goin? ... View more

I see the genesis for John's frnt end over at ICON in these grills. Also see nothing wrong w/a continuously produced bronk (they went onto 2nd gen & B II, Y not keep going after '96?). I guess I'm not corporate when I say there should be continually produced small niche market vehicles (hi loyalty, hi R&D, customer driven) funded by other endeavors (not even automotive - we saw GM change to a financial co) such as - huge production of fleet, affordable, general market vehicles (inc EVs). Ford needs to cont the ol "halo" production as chebby did w/up-level cadillac (challenged beemer, MB, etc) & the vette. ... View more

90 - 96 inch WB? @ or under 1.5 ton? the Raptor underneath? low rev tq power (1.5 - 2.5K RPM). Y not bring back an i6 w/modern technology? ... View more

we re-power w/the 12v at every opportunity. F*^K the 'puters. Now tranny's? a lill more decisions. But like every automotive choice it's asnwred by the APPLICATION Q. ... View more

nuttin ! yep, most places 'back east' have really gone corporate (in my area anyway). 10 y/o or older? gone (to the crusher).  No admittance.  Everything stacked on shelves 30 ft hi, puter catalogued, 'street signs' for the hi lift forks to navigate'n make a run from where the computer directed them.  Rear ends - over there, ford? this section only, chebby ta da left! Charkas/shell? by yr, make, model may B (again) 30 ft up. Y I even gota tranny from my guy (delivered like new prts) that he dealt w/nother yard just to fill my order. Wonder what kinda deal that wuz? Sit in the office'n wait like the doc's or dentist (no tools needed). CB or cellie back to the fork crew he has double duty disassembly "Bring up X, customer, now.".  No business? hop on a car in the garage & fix that. If they don't go go go like this they're out of business. The maroon waggy in the pic? I'd start w/that'n build from there~ aahahahaaaa ... View more

nota truck, a jeep. Highly modified eh? Super provenance no? Hope it went to someone w/a unmodified one. This one? donate toa museum & geta big tax write off, do a public service! 8^ 0 - -Chad ... View more

when they go over the top (my wild generalizationed personal opinion) I just shrug and pretty much slink off into the shadows. I should say "good on ya mate" but it just seems so obsessive to me. After 40 yrs I've seen alot of them and do pretty well stayin away. Sneak into the 'shows', stay under the radar. Wrks good for me. Much more interested in safe, durable DD and use as an income generator than a rec vehicle. "Race cars"and lotsa 'bolt ons' just seems garish, odd, wrong. More interested in stock w/a few (again) enhancements for safety, performance (that's MPGs & a lill pep) and utility (as a worker). Only "restored" 3 or 5 (the 3 or 4 to snag prts for the 5th I have had wrkin the woods for 39 yrs) and each of those were sold after completing my own (back early 80s - early 90s) just made inspectable, accouterments for strict wheelin, minimal rd-drives (but still legal). Most have stayed in the area. Clamor for my join @ the trails. I say "yes", 3, 4 X a yr "If U don't break down the banks, stay on the trails, leave only tire tracks." That's fun as we catch a sun set from on hi, have a beer'n a bonfire, strum/beat out a tune and talk bout "the fools who do all that weird stuff to the good ol bronks." ... View more

And I like the MID4-II as it still looks like a car (the earlier is too much like'n RX or the ol Z). ... View more

I remember the ol GMC 23/6 Motorhome w/455 out of the Toranado, TH-426 or whatever the Turbo-Hydro was called (ford guy here) w/the project name "TVS". Didn't I C the 'space men" get out'n climb into the gantry fora ride to the top? That frnt wheel /frnt motor wuz pretty cool. Could get the same bennies as the car, low entry, no DS takin up space, some traction improvements. A garage door on the back would suit this solo guy to haul off rd goodies'n use as my base camp ! ... View more

I remember all the burned legs from those hi pipes... ... View more

Ted Nugent & his stable of bronks (like the cars not the musician). - -Chad ... View more

did not define the lill guy who had his own tv show in the 60s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6PqrTZsho0 Asa life long car guy (enthusiast, tinker, purchase, sell) I say it's some1 who seeks out a very low priced desirable vehicle and does almost no thing to it but sells hi in a short time. It is more often done since auctioning cars (trucks, bikes, boats) & internet listings have come about. No longer a supply and demand market it's 'deepest pockets often in an international theater'. To avoid the label one needs more than money in mind for their short term ownership. Time, money and parts should be involved between sales. Some of the time is involved in research (unless a one model, era, or make specialist. Knowing the peculiarities of specific components, work-a-rounds for specific anomalies, etc is all prt of the 'real car guy' job). Flippers don't really care - just the profit. I see them unable to answer questions about the vehicle "Here it is, just gimme some (more than I paid) money. Take it or leave it." I never did purchase or sale w/that in mind. Purchase wuz due to an intense interest in that specific model. An undeniable attraction. I wanted a free car (buy, assure safety, get back to near original condition ie stop/go, comfort) to drive around. Much of the research wuz done pre-purchase (so I could see if affordable to me in rehab). Recoup investment an after thought as I was onto what attracted the eye of sensibility. A driving piece of art (as a young man 50s/60s Italian'n a few other europeans ) and now more of the interesting (gota bent4 motor, any of the midsize wagons, all the i6 equipped, a free wheel model, certain transaxles, etc). Still about a form of curation rather than a means of income (& how that income is made, we might say "w/o respect"). ... View more

find original call out for octane that motor. Then its just math and a lill pipette w/markings on it. Get a 5 gal bucket to hold 'throw aways" (there is no 'away') and mix @ the cup level. Start w/tryin to target the correct ratio (octane) at a qt amount. The pipet is avail at summitt or elsewhere https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qft-36-e85qft?seid=srese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nxtIdE6eR0vZmBaQCCtAmM87WHIHKwVfaHoebipuOlY56pAIl-waTcaApIoEALw_wcB (Two ounces will raise the octane of one gallon of gasoline four full octane numbers.) ... View more

I like the one on wheels U roll under while on the lift. Slid up the catcher to elbow hight. Filter goes on 1 side to drain on its way to the recycle, bung from pan goes on the edge to wait. No splash no spills, roll back to its usual corner when done. Drain into the 55 after dozens more changes or now... ... View more

size, looks'n driving? the '68 & '71. Maintenance & to work on? what i got now aahahahaa ... View more

What does "cheat" mean? is the 1st way to look at it. Sail powered ocean racing? bicycles? soap box derby they all 'cheat' but Smokey was the king. The rest of us? the proverbial "close the door (new rule/law) after the horse's left". Life lessons from the left turn circle ! - -Chad ... View more

like the very 1st ones thru 1980s. When we went muscle (bent8) in '60's the fordOz stayed i6. The 2V iron head changing to X-flow on thru alu and last the Barra. The styles we missed w/some of the shorter WBs, or a fav of mine a late 60s lookin chevy (there Holden) station wagon all beefed up for Oz outback right from the factory https://www.google.com/search?q=1972+holden+station+wagon&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=xG7XbbBJgnUgPM%252CFYRJ7PzN3w5-qM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQXQU6IhO3S3h3YqGyfFj937EOggQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRsM7goLjwAhW7UhUIHRrhAVQQ9QF6BAgOEAE&biw=1140&bih=697#imgrc=xG7XbbBJgnUgPM&imgdii=mntsstcbKwgL2M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmZRn1vZM68 ... View more

yup, w/rhino here, when the dads'n bros open up a lill its great to see the women wrenchin &/or drivin. Here (often a team or team of 1) some great comradeships form even in the competition as we're in "the way back". ANY difference is greatly appreciated (race, gender, age, ability, income) as it makes for stronger community, at least for this wheeler~ ... View more