About MajorTomB

MajorTomB

The one off Ferrari that speak’s to me the most is Steve Moal’s “Zausner Torpedoe”. Built with parts from a 550 Maranello with the gated shifter. That car is a symphony.

MajorTomB · ‎07-02-2022

I was thinking it was "Injun Joe is ticklish", but I'm not sure if anybody else is going to get the reference.

MajorTomB · ‎18-01-2022

Before they get to the EVs, come 2026, the serfs will have to blow into a straw to start their new car.

MajorTomB · ‎09-11-2021

I'm working on my resume for Chief Donut Maker!

MajorTomB · ‎04-11-2021

This whole piece screams out two things to me: 1) Aren't Evoques awful, regardless of the spec? 2) Is anybody paying top dollar for an Edsel, or a Pacer now?

MajorTomB · ‎02-11-2021

That was a quicker read than I expected. I stopped when I found out I couldn't get a three pedal version of the Ford.

MajorTomB · ‎02-11-2021

Thanks Toyota. When will you finally start releasing parts for the MKII Celica Supra?

MajorTomB · ‎12-10-2021

I wonder if the comparison should be redone with the lesser new Boxster motor? I know the 4 has been much maligned, but it might still be the more apt comparison. Also, I've been debating moving from my 1987 944S to a first gen Cayman. I'd love to see that comparison (hint, hint).

MajorTomB · ‎07-10-2021

Maybe Musk can take on the role of D.D. Harriman and beat NASA back to the moon.

MajorTomB · ‎22-07-2021

What a great story. I have found myself watching E-Type Coupes on BringATrailer and craigslist the last few years. This story has not helped that unrequited longing one bit. I hope I find a magical one as Hoyer's is. If it isn't, I hope I can find a Dr Jaguar, or maybe a Peter Egan type to get me through the trials of making it right.

MajorTomB · ‎17-06-2021

And I will aske the classic Subaru question, "Does it have a motor?"

MajorTomB · ‎03-06-2021

How hard was it to mention Bill Frissell's "Have a Little Faith in Me" and not mention that songs writer, who happens to be pretty darn good, and often overlooked guitarist in his own right, Mr. John Hiatt? 🙂

MajorTomB · ‎21-05-2021

For my, one of the coolest things about the Chevrolet SS was that you could buy the Holden badges at the dealership. I came across a completely rebadged, black, 2017 manual equipped car at a Mark's Cruise night, in East Granby, CT, in 2019, and it took me a couple minutes to realize what I was looking at. That big lion's head pushing out from the grill had me baffled. Then I started laughing. It was very cool. Unfortunately, I never ran across the owner. And I only saw it that one time. Maybe on June 8th, when they start back up, I will see it again.

MajorTomB · ‎10-05-2021

Monday nights around here, car guys go to Mark's Cruise Night in East Granby, CT. On any given night there will be 600 to 700 vehicles, and on Corvette night, there will be way more. There are always surprises. Mark's was where I learned that you could buy all the correct olden badges for a 2017 Chevy SS from your dealer, when I came across a black beauty whose owner had done just that. Another time, it was a 1972 Toyota Crown 2 door wagon w/ 5 speed, whose original owner had special ordered it at a Toyota dealer in Tennessee back in the day. The current owner had a bunch of questions about my 84 Celica Supra P-Type, because you just don't see them any more, and I was the only one at Mark's that summer. There were more Ferraris and Lotuses. LOL

MajorTomB · ‎23-04-2021

I think this is a welcome addition to the Hagerty Media Family! Good luck!

MajorTomB · ‎23-04-2021

The mechanical nature of older cars and motorcycles is what attracts me to the experience. Sure that dual clutch paddle flapping transmission is faster than a traditional manual. Yay. When I head out for my normal sports car loop drive on the weekend, I may be having fun powering out of corners, or accelerating on back straightaway from a stop sign, but I am nowhere near testing any limits. I remember driving a friends Sprite with the non-synchro first gear. I can appreciate the mental gear changes needed to negotiate a full non-synchro gear set. I wish I had the means to add one of these to the sports car lineup for my weekend drive. What a hoot! These may be fast cars, but for me, they still slot more into the "Slow cars are more fun to drive fast, then fast cars are driving slow" category of vehicles. Driving one of these at 9/10ths is probably all the excitement the average anybody needs.

MajorTomB · ‎16-04-2021

No mention of Wayne Carini restoring the Godsal? It was a great episode of "Chasing Classic Cars".

MajorTomB · ‎13-04-2021

I remember that car!

MajorTomB · ‎13-04-2021

I love this quote "They’re meant to be unassuming, undemanding, and unexceptional—right up to the moment that you need to get somewhere in a hurry, at which point the entire vehicle reveals a slightly deranged willingness to assist you in this task". This willingness was there in my Screaming Red 1988 CRX Si, and it was there in spades in the 1992 Fresco Blue Prelude Si that followed it. The Prelude's transformation was always like "Whoa! I forgot it did that!", whenever I got on it. It also had the added benefit of not attracting as much attention as the Red CRX Si. My ticket acquisition rate plummeted, even though I really hadn't changed my driving. Thank god that points worked differently back then.

MajorTomB · ‎07-04-2021

I was just looking at a BaT auction for a 1998 Subaru STi that was brought into the US as a "show and display". Now I know that I have Dick Merritt to thank for it. And I have the background history to a man whose name I have seen show up in multiple magazines, and I think have seen in a few episodes of some of my favorite car shows, over the years. Thank you for the great article, Dave.

MajorTomB · ‎30-03-2021

GM does something interesting for two generations or so. Gets it right. And cancels the model. That is the the CT5-V Blackwing in a nutshell. Good point about the inexplicably high price. I attribute that to the Barra era's killing of so many Cadillac dealers keeping volume down. Here in Western Massachusetts, I used to have two Cadillac dealers within 15 miles. Now it is 40 miles. I have a Mercedes dealership within 3 miles from my house. I would think that is an indication that a Cadillac dealership would do ok. Within that 15 miles that Cadillac used to enjoy, I have every mainstream or mainstream luxury brand except Cadillac. It's hard to give them a chance when they don't seem to want to play.

MajorTomB · ‎29-03-2021

The Volt was a good car that, true to form, GM killed when they got it right. Regardless of the link connecting the Volt's IC Motor to the transmission in excess of 70MPH, below that speed, the Volt was a series hybrid, and in the first 20 miles or so, speed dependent, was a pure electric. Series hybrids like the Volt, do make the most sense given our level of technology. Batteries are barely adequate for the real world, and the charging infrastructure is completely inadequate at this point. When these two pieces of the problem are fixed, then electric vehicles will be unstoppable.

MajorTomB · ‎18-03-2021

I'm shocked that neither the Pinto. or the Vegam made this list. They were truly the last of their kind.

MajorTomB · ‎10-03-2021

I was about to write a post that started exactly the same way. Everything that is happening was easily predicted last fall. Obama era nonsense was clearly coming back in style. Executive order changes that fought tooth and nail in court during the previous four years, were re-signed and put into effect quietly, and with no fanfare over the last 6 weeks. Fascism is ok when it is your side in charge. Ditto for unnecessary regulation. Don't you be making no race cars out of street machines.

MajorTomB · ‎05-03-2021

Sajeev, this is an article by Jay Leno. His Big Dog Garage pioneered the use of 3D printers in the recreation of unobtainable parts for classic car recreation, first in plastic and now in printed metal. Something the rest of the classic car world is also quickly moving to adopt. I would say he knows all about the Maker Culture. As a VP of Engineering, I am blessed to have several hard working car guys on my staff. I have one intern that I wish I could talk out of following his Air Force ROTC dreams this spring, as he is another old soul hard worker at 22. I think that is what this article is about. That appreciation of building something, or rebuilding something, and making it better. Not many people are born with that anymore, and half that think they were, find out it is too hard and fail themselves out of it.

MajorTomB · ‎10-02-2021

Jack, as an actual electrical engineer, I have been singing this song to friends for over a decade now. The general reaction by the usual suspects is that I am a Luddite and need to follow the "SCIENCE!" I explain to them that I do follow the science, and that I actually understand the math, and some of the chemistry. I think it is tremendous that we can buy an electric vehicle that does have a range close to a full tank of gas. Unfortunately, the problems start when it is time to refill that tank, and that is the point most people do not understand. I loved the Op-Ed, and I plan to share it heavily.

MajorTomB · ‎09-02-2021

The Jeep ad was a touchdown? I have not seen it presented as such in any other places.

MajorTomB · ‎02-02-2021

Right, because the Unions take care of the workers? Tell that to the pipe fitters working on the Keystone XL, whose union backed DJB.

MajorTomB · ‎11-12-2020

The ATS-V with the six speed is popular with some twenty-something engineers I know. I've always had a place in my heart for the CTS-V with the manual, but rumours about reliability seem to always be about two steps behind. That coupled with my wife's preference that the family ride be a largish SUV keep me away from Cadillac, since my latest 4Runner is half Escalade money and I tend towards the "U" part of SUV at the end of the day. I guess all of this lends itself to my agreeing with the central point of this article, which is Cadillac (GM) doesn't understand their sales arm at all, and hasn't for the longest time. They claim to have car guys at the top, and the guys at the bottom are, but the people between upper management and Engineering, sure don't seem to be. For every gem that sneaks out, there sure seem to be a whole of ducks, er Cateras. LOL

MajorTomB · ‎03-12-2020

I found a link to the Strope Charger. It isn't a Viper motor. He calls it the 515-GTB. I guess I can't reply to myself? https://www.purevisiondesign.com/rides/projects/515-gtb.html

MajorTomB · ‎03-12-2020

Another article on what is essentially a mild hotrod or restomod. Steve Strope is the king of "Is that stock?" or "Did the factory do that?" in all of his work. I still remember the Charger he dropped the Viper V-10 into and also swapped to right hand drive, in support of a mythical 60's F1 driver who loved Mopars, IIRC. God was that a beautiful build. Much like the Zausner Torpedo by Moal was "Ferrari meets Track T hot rod", that car's spirit was "Ferrari meets aggressive Luxury GT Coupe". Someday. Someday.

MajorTomB · ‎03-12-2020

25 years ago, the rear facing child seat caused the demise of my 1992 Fresco Blue Pearl Prelude Si and my entry into the SUVs that Honda did not have at the time. My wife and my son could not exist simultaneously on the passenger side of that car. At that point in my life, "sporty" and "Accord" were mutually exclusive. I am always amazed at the predominance of younger people driving 4 doors now. They won't call people on the phone. But they will drive around in a sedan, regardless of what the manufacturer calls it.

MajorTomB · ‎02-12-2020

As was pointed out here in Mass during the campaign, the law specifically does not allow for the kinds of "data breaches" the manufacturers claim to be so concerned about. This is all about keeping diagnoses data proprietary, and repair business in house. I still remember the first time I had an OBD II reader suddenly not work on a newer vehicle. I was stunned. Thank god for many auto part stores reading codes for free now, otherwise we would be buying new readers every year, just like the independent garages that this court challenge would put out of business.

MajorTomB · ‎26-11-2020

Wayne, the DK Engineering TR250/500C recreation you are selling is a violation of these rules. A violation I would happily purchase if I could. Customization is always in the eye of the holder. It is always the risk of the original cars value. Some like 32 Fords or 49 Mercs become so ubiquitous that they seem to transcend the rule and are valued above an original. People don’t generally hot rod Ferraris because of their normal intrinsic value. But Steve Moal did, and I would give my eye teeth for the Zausner Torpedo. Hot rodding has always been about adding performance and personalizing cars. It is a personal thing and I would say it is never about the final value.

MajorTomB · ‎18-11-2020

There are hot rod guys, muscle car guys, sports car guys, and car guys. Jay has always struck me as a car guy. He dabbles all over the place, touching all the different genres, without staying with one, and appreciating them all. That is where I see him as being different. The Toronado wasn't just a big horsepower redo of an American classic. It was reimagining an American Classic in a way that allowed it to compete with the latest luxury GT cars of Europe. The Lotus 26R was a bigger badder Elan than Colin Chapman ever built. Then there are the steam cars. And the inhouse prototyping in plastic, and now metal 3D printers. I'm 57, but when I grow up, I want to hang out at the Big Dog Garage.

MajorTomB · ‎06-11-2020

Personally, I think these cars should follow the same rules like California SB100 for low volume, kit and replicars. It is not as if any of these will be daily drivers.

MajorTomB · ‎23-10-2020

Last summer I had the opportunity to test drive a 2005 Elise and I drove my MG TD to the new acquaintance's house to do it. The drive in the Elise was glorious. And the post drive conversation was great, but long enough for summer storm clouds to gather. Half way home, I got caught in a torrential summer downpour where the rain is warm, the wind buffet of the TD causes the rain to come horizontally into the back of the windshield where there are no wipers. And you just grin and laugh, and know that you will be ok when you reach your destination and that everything wet will dry out. It had been about 15 years since I got caught in a summer storm, and it was the most fun I had had in a long time. My new friend apologized the next day for keeping me so long, and I told him not to worry, both rides were great! I read the article about David and his Seven and I saw a kindred spirit. It's all about the drive, and as long as you get where you are going, the drive is never bad. Sometimes, the drive doesn't even have a destination. Godspeed David.

MajorTomB · ‎21-10-2020

I look at that first picture, and I can hear Paul Hogan from "Crocodile Dundee" saying, "Now that's an EV!".

MajorTomB · ‎19-10-2020

For me, this is the car McLaren should put the six speed manual in. This is the car to take out and enjoy a spirited drive on the weekend that ends some place special. Then, for me, it would truly be an Aston beater.

MajorTomB · ‎07-10-2020

Dang, I've been longing for one of these renderings for a long time, but I'm not going to create another account in the hopes of winning. Tom

MajorTomB · ‎29-09-2020

I hadn't planned on selling my 1984 Toyota Celica Supra P-Type. I'd toyed with the idea, but I hadn't done anything. Then two weeks ago, a guy walked into our reception area and asked at the window to speak to the person who owned the Supra, because he was there to buy it. So now I have a vacancy, and the list awaits. I bid on an RX-7 at BaT, but it went for crazy money, and I was the only person in the auction that had actually seen it and driven it. Now I am looking at a 1987 944S at a decent price. They were three times the price of my 1988 CRX Si at the time, and this one sure is a pretty metallic blue...

MajorTomB · ‎24-09-2020

Chip, you should have started with a New Mini. It would have been a much better starting point to "M3".

MajorTomB · ‎22-09-2020

I was waiting for the mention of the Springfield Armory, its precision machining cottage industries, and how that lead to Springfield, MA being chosen as the only place outside of England to assemble Rolls Royces.

MajorTomB · ‎11-09-2020

If only I had a Bugatti so I could write on the dash with a Sharpie!

MajorTomB · ‎28-08-2020

I found it very interesting that his rear side glass treatment gave his design take on the MK1 MR2 a direct familial tie to the MK2 Celica Supra. I have to wonder if it was intentional?

MajorTomB · ‎24-08-2020

The hideaways on the big 72 Plymouth Fury Coupe I had certainly made that car more interesting. Especially the clang they made when they opened!

MajorTomB · ‎20-08-2020

What a beautiful Capri. Nice work!

MajorTomB · ‎06-08-2020

Another testament to the fact that the ultimate drivers cars all have 3 pedals.

MajorTomB · ‎10-07-2020

The BMW Freeclimber: Japanese Design, Italian Engineering, and German Reliability? Yikes.

MajorTomB · ‎10-07-2020

My 20 something year old son's girlfriend reluctantly sat down with me last week end as I binge watched several vintage 2012-2014 episodes of TG. After the first episode she realized that the interactions between Clarkson, May, and Hammond were what made the show what it was, and we spent several hours howling uncontrollably on the couch. My wife would periodically stroll in to see what was so funny, but it is hard to get the jokes when you only get 3 minutes snippets of the fun.