Great list! I agree with all of these. I've done a few on various cars and plan to do more on others. Backup cameras are a good option to. and most can be mounted where it can't be seen. ... View more

This was a really great conversation, one of the best so far. I loved hearing more about the collection and Bill Harrah. Very good questions. I could have listened for another hour. Thank you!! ... View more

Cool! But out of my price range. I'd have to try a cheap JDM car to see if I could get use to the RHD, before spending big bucks on one. The chrome around the headlights is a little squarish, but the bulbs look round to me. They are definitely not the same as the headlights we got in the US in 1975. ... View more

He did mention the '96 with the LT4 in this paragraph. "Over the last eight years, the median #2 (Excellent condition) value for C4 Corvettes (1984–96) is up just 3 percent, and exceptions are limited to low-production performance models like the 1996-only Grand Sport (up 18 percent for convertibles, 28 percent for coupes) and the 1988 35th Anniversary model (up 32 percent). Looking at Hagerty insurance quotes, the quoted value is dead flat over the past five years." ... View more

Well, for me, that just may be good news. Maybe they will stay affordable until I have a place to keep one. I've always wanted a C4. Just a base engine coupe, with ALL the interior goodies. First, I'd like to have an '89, because it was the last year of the "cool" instrument panel that lots of people hate. I personally like it the best. I'd also like to have a one of the last couple of years. I like the outside better and they have the best gas mileage, and probably the better engine than the previous ones. On another note, If the price stays moderate on the C4, so does the insurance premium. There are some investment grade cars out there, but these are not in that category, and not likely to be for another 25 years. I have several "flatliner", collector cars. I can enjoy all six of mine, for the same insurance and registration money as the price of one $50k toy. Just my preference, but lots of fun with various ones, rather than one single special car. ... View more

I bought a transmission rear support bracket for my TR7.  what actually showed up looked like a door closer to me.  The company replaced the part a week later and didn't want the other part back.  I took it to the Club meeting and it was recognized as a front shock from an early Triumph.  I donated it to the club. ... View more

I always knew it wasn't just me. The '80's is my favorite decade too, and I'm 64. It is definitely the best decade for music too. ... View more

Here's a video update, but looks like it is still a mystery about where it is or who owns it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HTokXphg0o ... View more

Ralph is not dead. He is 87 years old. ... View more

'70 Impala coupe also had a concave rear glass. ... View more

A guy in our car club owns a Toronado XS. The first one I saw was the prototype XSR at the NY Int. Auto show. Probably the most radical on the list. I'm so glad that the Toronado and the boat tail Riviera wasn't left out of this list. ... View more

I can see one issue with the oil story..."I start it every week and let it run for 15 minutes." 15 minutes is not long enough to burn off any moisture created by getting the engine just barely to the warm state. It would be better not to start it at all, if 15 minutes is all the time you let it run. If I couldn't get it out due to weather or whatever, I would let it run for at least double that or not at all. I'm glad I live in the south, so I can drive my cars at least a few miles each month and let them run long enough to get up to temp for at least 30 minutes and let the transmission go through the gears a few times. As for the life of the oil...Send a sample to www.Blackstone-Labs.com. They can test it and let you know way more than you ever wanted to know about the oil and the condition of the engine and if you can extend the life of the oil, the way you are driving/idling your car. Blackstone Labs helped me rescue my V12 Jag. The previous owner had neglected to change the oil for way too long. It was way too black. It took three changes, 1000 miles apart, and now the oil tests perfectly normal, for the mileage on the car. ... View more

Everybody knows the Dodge Durango, but the Ford Durango is rare. It was a Fairmont with the Ranchero treatment, but they called it a Durango. ... View more

A while back, it was only the SUVs and pickups that they were hitting, mainly because there is plenty of clearance to get underneath. I can't imagine how they could get under my Chevy Volt to hack it off, unless they jack up. The ground clearance is not even enough room to get my arm under there, not to mention the Sawzall. Can't say the same for my older cars, but most of those are inside, most of the time. ... View more

I generally agree with OEM, if they can be found, but I agree with Kyle on NOS. Rubber bushings, brake parts with O-rings and other "soft" parts deteriorate over the years. Can you imagine the time it takes to install some part and have it fail a few weeks later, and find out it has crumbled into pieces. ... View more

It's a Pacer. ... View more

Yes, the Ferrari shooting brake would be a really nice oddball.  Love it!  The Double Bubble comes in second.  The front of that Bedford Caravan reminds me of a 1957 Dodge pickup. I can't imagine sleeping with three other people in there. ... View more

The Triumph TR7 launched with "The shape of things to come".  It must have worked, they sold over 100K of them in 7 years.   ... View more

Jaguar bounced all over the place for systems. The early 90's they used Alpine, but I've seen B&O in the 2010 XJ, and I think they used others too.  Boston Accoustics in my 2005 Chrysler 300C Heritage. A friend has a 2005 Nissan Sentra with a factory Rockford Fosgate system.  Seems like Bose has had the longest lasting relationship with GM than any other. ... View more

I bought my '93 in 2013 with 42k miles.  It turned 59k miles on Sunday.  I've not had any issues, other than the poorly designed rear pull-down motor for the top.  It gets out of adjustment and requires a tweak every couple of years, which I can do myself.  If it had a real power top, that worked like most other convertibles, I think they would have been more successful.  ... View more

I've bought three cars online, two of them from eBay.  The first one, my 92 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible, was close by, and I got to drive it and check it out before making my bid. It has needed only maintenance things since 2012. I've, but nothing crazy. I've done most of those myself. It is my 'keeper for life'.  Another, was a '92 XJ6. I talked to the truly honest man on the phone before bidding. Totally a wonderful car, probably better than he described.  The last is my '80 Triumph TR7.   Sold as a running project.  The seller was very sentimental about the car and wanted it to go to a good home and not a flipper that was just going to clean it up and sell it.  He chose me, after we talked a couple of times for more than an hour. I have all of the history and paperwork, including the window sticker. I have done several things, mostly just deep maintenance. It is a rust free 40 year old, that still starts the first time every time.  We have stayed in touch via Facebook.  So, if you get cooperation from the seller, you CAN successfully buy cars online.  So far, I have not been burned and still shop online for cars.  Mostly window shopping now, because I'm out of room to park them. ... View more

You are correct!! Simple Green is the absolute BEST!! I have been a car nut for all my 63 years. I've been cleaning engine compartments for about 50 of those years. I have used lots of the products mentioned here, but Simple Green is by far the very best and it will not remove the writing from labels or cause discoloration. I will never go back to those other caustic degreasers. I spray it on all surfaces when the engine is cold, the use a 2" nylon paintbrush and a microfiber rag to detail everything. The paintbrush gets in all the little nooks and crannies. I rinse with the garden hose on the mist setting as I go, so the Simple Green doesn't dry on the surfaces. Then I dry it with a microfiber towel. I'll try the leaf blower next time, but the microfiber towel works well too. ... View more

My dad had a '51 Studebaker Business Coupe that had a clock in the center of the wheel. It was clear and pointed like the nose on the grille.   When the title said Eleven, I figured it would probably be all of them, but reading all the comments and thinking about others, wow, there are literally dozens of crazy, beautiful and or interesting steering wheels.  Cool article!! ... View more

My '93 Grand Prix SE has the same. ... View more

It's not a myth. I've seen them labeled/badged as 8.2 liter as well, and that converts to 501 Cubic Inches.  1970 Eldorado, look it up.   http://www.1001moteurs.com/performance/view-Cadillac-Eldorado-8-2-8788.html   ... View more

Pantera is a lot of things, but not an animal. Panthera is the animal. ... View more

Road Runner  The  roadrunners  (genus  Geococcyx ), also known as  chaparral birds  or  chaparral cocks , are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos  with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern  and south-central United States and Mexico,  usually in the desert. Some have been clocked at 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) while a few have also been clocked up to 27 miles per hour (43 km/h) ... View more

I have a long wish list, but the few on the list made of unobtanium are the Aston Martin Lagonda, Citroen SM and a Tatra T700. https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/a9984649/the-bittersweet-joy-of-driving-the-last-tatra/    ... View more

I'm with you on the Tatra. One of the last ones, like the red one that Lane Motor Museum has. ... View more

It would be a huge list to include everything, but these are interesting.  I had the pleasure of watching a red Ghia 450/SS in my rear view mirror on one of our Jaguar N. Georgia mountain cruises a few years ago.  They are so beautiful.  I love the last paragraph on the Simca.  I'll bet that was a challenge to get it to flow that well.  Well done! ... View more

There has been many since, but Brock Yates is responsible for attracting me to reading about cars from the very start.  He captured me with his style back in the 70's.  He was the first to write articles, that I actually remembered the name of the author.  So, because of that, he gets my vote as favorite. ... View more