An RX-2 race car "idled" past me in the pits at Laguna Seca, many years ago.  Even at idle the hideous splattering sound of a thousand chainsaws ripped the otherwise, modest sounds around the pits.  I could not even imagine how loud that car would be under full power on the track...luckily for me and others, the car's track time came the next day, after I was in the comfort of my own home. ... View more

The bent front bumper support lends credence that this frame is very possibly that of the author.  Be that as it may, my story is about a 1965 Spitfire 4 (AKA Mk1).  The little red sports roadster was actually my wife's car; she loved it till the "end".  The beginning of the end came when the Spitfire was rear-ended at an intersection by a 1970 Pontiac LeMans.  That pointy grill/bumper was jammed directly into the center of the Spitfire's rear end.  Damage was substantial, but the driver of the other car worked for the Pontiac dealer and made an arrangement with his employer to have the TR repaired and resprayed at the dealer's body shop.  They did a great job and we had the car back in no time.  After a while, we noticed something wasn't quite right about the little roadster.  We passed it off as a "British Car Quirk" and drove the car for a couple more years.  Later, during a routine car service, the technician told us that the car had a bent rear axle.  We thought he was kidding until he showed us that the right rear tire "wobbled" when it rotated, however very slightly.  It had been a couple of years since the collision, but the bent axle likely was a result of that fender bender.  We decided to keep driving the car until it started using oil.  The Spitfire's engine breather was insufficient to support the "blow-by" created by the aging engine; so, oil began to dribble out of the dip stick tube.  Unfortunately, the dipstick tube was directly above the exhaust pipe and oill started dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe.  Living in California, it was just a matter of time before a CHP Officer "wrote us up" for a smoky vehicle.  We were given the choice of repairing the aging engine or parking the car.  Personal finances prohibited rebuilding the engine; so; we sold the car, as-is, to a gentleman who would repair the engine and keep the car on the road.  The body and interior were perfect, the near-new tires were mounted on Lotus Elan wheels and everything else on the car was perfect.  We accepted $100 cash for the car and watched it drive off into the sunset.  Oh, if we only still had that cute, little car... ... View more

Make that "known"... ... View more

Air cleaners are not just for cleaning air, but also for "silencing" the noisy flow of air into the engine.  The larger air cleaner housing muffles the sound, as does a large exhaust muffler.  Cadillac and Oldsmobile were know for their quiet-running engines, back in the day. ... View more

I think so  Hubcaps falling off???  I lost a hubcap once when I was driving on a rough road!  I think this article was written by a high school kid who was dreaming of getting his driver license... ... View more

Make that McDonnell-Douglas; they didn't sell hamburgers, nor did they own a farm! ... View more

My favorite is the 54-55 Oldmobile... CHROME CITY!  They lost their impact when they started going to ovals from circular instruments.  Just my opinion.  I gave up my '54 Super 88 "post" when I was drafted in 1966.  Really miss that car AND the times we had, back then. ... View more

Ah yes, the wonderful Allison V-1710.  It had a 5.25-inch bore and a 6.0-stroke, displacing 1710 cubic inches.  After World War Two, they could be had for pennies on the dollar.  A few adventurous long-haulers put them in semi trucks, but the fuel consumption made them prohibitive to operate.  They excelled, however, in unlimited hydroplanes and were used until quite recently in those speedboats.  A young, Art Arfons, built his original "Green Monsters" using Allison engines.  The WW2 P-38 Lightning used two contra rotating, TURBOCHARGED Allison V-12s in the enigmatic fighter.  The first aerial "kill" of the Korean War was made flying a Twin Mustang P-82, which was powered by an Allison V-12 in each of its two fuselages.  In addition, WW2 "PT Boats" used three Allison V-12 engines, housed in a lightweight, plywood hull...VERY FAST!  Eventually, Detroit Diesel (GMC) built truck and marine versions of the 12V71 and -91 series of engines.  So, General Motors has a ton of experience with building V-12 engines. ... View more

It's noteworthy that my 1937 Fleetwood sedan also had 135 horsepower out of 346 cubic inches... ... View more

My first Cadillac V8 was a big, black 1937 Model 65 Fleetwood, four-door sedan.  I bought it for $150 when I was a junior in high school.  Innovations were AM radio with hidden antenna, hydraulic (silent) valve lifters, traditional grey wool gabardine interior (felt like cashmere), triple-beam headlights and more.  The engine was loaded with torque and the car drove quietly and smoothly.  Gas mileage was lousy, but gas was cheap back then, in the early sixties.  Cadillac kept that same engine through the 1948 model, then went to the 331 overhead valve engine.  By the way, the Cadillac V12 and V16 were overhead valve also.  Wonderful automobiles. ... View more

Unfortunately, we have about 1000 miles of Pacific Coastline.  Cars that call home to that coast are likely suffering from some body rot...like my '86 Caballero... ... View more

Notice the California license plates, where rust does not rule! ... View more

From 1959 through 1963, the Cadillac was powered by a 390.  The final nailhead Buick was a 425, not a 401. ... View more