I totally disagree with electronic fuel injection. Where are you going to get the parts for a after market kit that's ten years old? Map sensors, ECM, fuel pressure regulator etc. Carburetors are reliable, easy to fix and pretty generic. ... View more

Nobody would ever confuse a Hudson Jet for a 53 Ford. The dimension on the Jet were just disproportional. It has however been stated many times the Volvo pv444 is a copy of a 1948 Ford. ... View more

When I read the headline I thought this was going to an article on Maxwell Smart and his Karmann Ghia. I guess the key word is "created". ... View more

When I first started working for Ford in 1974 the Mustang 2 came out. The car sold like they were giving something away. I was one of the junior guys in the shop. So I got "stuck" working on them. The old timers hated them. Too compact. You had to take the battery out to change the spark plugs on the left side. You had to lift the motor and drop the rack to do a starter. The cam gear would shred and the engine once again had to be lifted in the car and take half the car apart. The car was way ahead of its time. Today every car you have to take out everything to get to what you need to take out. ... View more

These motors could be used for paint mixers until 1988 when Buick added a balance shaft. Then they idled like Swiss watches. One problem I remember with these motors they would eat up timing chains. The plastic chain gear would break up and fragments would get stuck in the oil pump relief valve keeping it open. Let's face it. A V-6 is not a naturally balanced motor unless an extremely heavy crankshaft is used like the Ford 2.8 motor. Then the trade off is the motor tach up quickly. ... View more

My family has owned dozens of GM cars since 1953. Including 3 1964 Chevelles, 1967 SS396 Chevelle , 1969 427 Corvette, 1973 454 Kingswood Estate, 2006 SSR, 2008 G8 Pontiac Two years ago I bought my fifth Suburban. All my other Suburbans went 250,000 miles or better with few problems. This 2018 Suburban has been a trip. In the first 15,000 it got an alternator, a melted shift cable because of a missing ground cable, one of the engine oil cooler lines blew off, my wife go stranded with it 800 miles from home because of an ecm malfunction and one window motors had to be replace. Let me tell you what is going on. I own a repair shop for 41 years. 90% of the time we get parts from a GM dealer the parts are made everywhere but the U.S. If anyone has had the misfortune of going to Rochester, NY there are nothing but miles and miles of closed up GM parts factories. Has anyone ever seen a 40 story office building boarded up? That is the old GM building in downtown Rochester. GM makes very little. Like Chrysler they outsource everything to the lowest bidder. The old pre bankrupt GM made the car bumper to bumper except for tires, glass and a few other things. This is how GM repays the government for bailing them out. Barra and GM management should be hanged. GM invented the automatic transmission. They sold major components to their competitors like transmissions, gear boxes, power steering pumps, A/C compressors, alternators and brake systems. GM in the 1970's invented and manufactured the best and most sophisticated ignition control module. It not only eliminated points but varied dwell with RPM for a smooth acceleration sequence. It was the size of a matchbook when Mercedes had a box under the hood to do the same job the size of a breadbox. Today, GM is suffering from a chip shortage because they don't produce anything themselves. How could a company that use to sell 750,000 Buicks every year barely sell 200,000 Buicks when there are more cars on the road than ever. Simple, they make junk since the bankruptcy. ... View more

Talk about coincidence. Two days ago a long time customer to my repair just brought in a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with 42,000 miles. He bought it new. The vehicle has a 6.6 400 , T-tops, Factory 4 SPEED HURST SHIFTER, A/C, Formula package, hood scoop, decal option and AM/FM radio. The sticker was $7,800 and he paid $6,600 because he said with the price of gas the dealer was dying to get rid of it. The Firebird is in breathtaking pristine condition. The interior is so perfect that when I went to drive it in the shop it felt like it was 1978 again and I was in a time machine. It is so rare to find any original unmolested car anywhere in showroom condition let alone a Trans Am Firebird. NICE CAR !!!! ... View more

I have a 1956 DeSoto Fireflite 2door Sportsman hardtop with a 330 cid 4 barrel hemi. You would be hard pressed to find a quieter and smoother engine anywhere. It makes plenty of power to pull that big boat around. Great engine. I read one time that Chrysler lost money on every hemi produced because they could never attain sales to the break even point. I guess that's why they came out with the poly motor. ... View more

Looks like everyone missed the 1958-1959 Mercury 383 and Chrysler 383. ... View more

I don't remember Ford going through a government bail out once let alone twice. ... View more

Chrysler has been in decline since 1957 when the bean counters took the helm. When in that year the Plymouth was a hot selling car and the body dies were only geared up for 500,000 cars. Plymouth had orders for 100,000's more cars than the dies could handle without stamping the sheet metal too thin. When the engineers told the bean counters this is how management handled the problem. Any engineer that held that view was fired. Within a few years 1957 to 1959 Plymouth owners were sitting with piles of rust in their driveways. Did they learn their lesson? They did the same exact thing with the Aspen and Volare. Except consumers and the government changed. They had to replace millions of fenders free of charge. Some other Chrysler highlights were peeling paint in the late 60's and early 70's. Darts and Valiants were aquariums on rainy days they leaked so bad. Moving up to modern times a 3.6 engine that stretches connecting rod bolts, wipes out lifters and camshafts and suffers from two stage oil pump failure. My friend is a 30 year Chrysler Jeep salesman. He tells me the new hemi has to be warmed up before delivery so the customer won't hear the lifters tapping after it sits for a week on the lot. As a 50 year mechanic Chrysler vehicles lack quality. ... View more

The Aerostar was a terror to work on and the first few years of production you replaced transmissions like they were spark plugs. ... View more

Nostalgia must be setting in to whoever wrote this article. I'm I suffering from amnesia or was the 4100 family of Cadillac engines total pieces of junk. The water pump looked like something off a washing machine and the pullies would go in orbit. In my repair shop I can't count how many camshafts we had to put in these engines because of inadequate low rpm oiling. The stepper motors kept stripping the gears. The intake manifolds would spit the gaskets on the ends causing an antifreeze leak and overheating condition. Thanks to the wonderful drivetrain in these cars the impossible happened. Lincoln for the first time in history outsold Cadillac. by 1986. These are the very 4100 engines that destroyed Cadillac's reputation. . ... View more

Most kids today aren't interested in cars. Most kids today have no mechanical ability. Most trades go begging for workers. Look at the purchases of this younger generation.. Computers, cell phones ,Play stations, sushi and Thai food. I rarely see anybody young roaming the aisles of Harbor Freight. I'm 66 and when I go to car shows I'm like the kid there. I have no doubts my 1955 Packard Caribbean will some day be melted for scrap. ... View more

The 1958-1960 Thunderbird hood scoop was pure elegance. ... View more

No Packard Swan?????? ... View more

1959 and 1960 Ford Thunderbirds were some of the most beautiful, sturdy, well made and trouble free cars ever made by any manufacturer.  The FE block motor was smooth and whisper quiet. I own 5 of these cars in convertible and I also have every year of Thunderbird from 1955 to 1966 in convertible.  59 and 60 are my favorite because of their reliability. They also ride beautifully and handle turns very well compared to autos made in the same time period. These Thunderbirds were like little tanks because of their weight. ... View more

My dad who if were alive today would be a 125 years old always spoke of a Wills St. Claire. He remembered a dealership in downtown Brooklyn , NY where they were sold.  Dad always boasted what unbelievable and fast cars they were. I was never able to get much information on the mark. A few weeks ago Jay Leno's Garage featured a fully restored 1922 Wills St. Claire. The vehicle had a four cam overhead valve V-8 with a cooling system that ran a remarkable 180 degrees despite any weather condition. The Wills was faster than 99% of the cars on the road in 1922.  Check out the video at Leno's Garage and then ask how is it not on the list? By the way why isn't the Duesenberg Model J supercharged engine not on the list? ... View more

I worked in foundry in Brooklyn 40 years ago. We cast aluminum, brass and bronze. The microwave oven was developed during WW2 to quickly dry the sand cores. The old timers told me that's where they got the idea to heat their lunches.  The temperature in the foundry by the blast furnace was over 130 degrees. I remember there was a glass roof that opened up to release the heat. We were given a periodic beer ration because we perspired so profusely. It was probably the only place on earth you were allowed to drink on the job. The City of New York eventually shut down the place because of the EPA.  ... View more

The 1966-1970 Chargers were such good looking cars it is hard to believe they are Mopars. The fuel fill requires special mention. ... View more

In the 1970's I worked in a garage on the upper Eastside of Manhattan. In the garage parking section upstairs was a 1942 Desoto convertible in like new condition. About 15 years ago i started to wonder where is that car today?  It was midnight blue, black top and a beige interior. It was beautiful with a lot of trim.  Of course I was 20 years old and at the time it was just another old car to me.  You get older and wiser. I can't believe how rare that car must be. In the 50 years that have past I have never seen or even heard of another 1942 Desoto convertible. ... View more

I always loved the 1957-1958 Chrysler giant speedometers. 1964-1966 Thunderbird speedometers aren't too shabby either. ... View more

There is nothing like being told to buy a car there are no parts for. I know. I bought a 6.0 2006 Chevy SSR.  Shortly after I purchased it GM announced it was discontinued. I had visions of the June 1966 announcement by Studebaker it was out of the car business. I have somewhat of a chance because the first time I put my SSR up on the lift much to my surprise its a glorified 2 wheel drive Trailblazer. There are no body parts for the car.  When the vehicle was 2 years old the top stopped working. The car was still under warranty. Not only the dealer I bought it from but no dealer could fix it. Fortunately, I'm a mechanic for 30 years. It took weeks to get a top electrical diagram. It had a shorted wire in the trunk light. Without this signal the top won't operate. Pontiac Solace. Good luck.  ... View more

That BMW is a parts car! ... View more

I bought alot of cars off of ebay and every one was good. You must speak to the person. When someone says the car is "mint" I'm not interested. That word is passed around like water. A few years I  bought a 1951 Studebaker convertible off ebay.  I spoke to the owner. He said the car was nice and was his father. He told me there were a few stitches missing on one of the seats and a small 1/2" scratch but then he said a few years ago his father put a rebuilt motor in. I asked who did the motor. He didn't know but would look through the papers. The owner called back and said Cathcart in Connecticut. The car was in New Jersey by the way. Cathcart was the number expert on Champion sixes so I knew the moter was great. I knew Bill Cathcart so I called him up to inquire about the car. Bill knew the car and said it was beautiful.  You have to speak to the owner and feel them out and get as much information as possible. If a car is restored who did it? Call that guy.  ... View more

I have tips 1. Be patient. The right car will come along. I'll spend years looking for the right car. I don't know how many 1958 Packard Hawks I looked at until I found a gem in Texas at a bargain price. 2. I view a car like this. A vehicle is made up of 3 areas. Body, mechanical and interior. Two of three have to be real good. Two out of three bad will take you to the cleaners and three out three will break your wallet 3. When buying an old car color is very important. You don't want black. Pastels and bright colors or two toning make the car more attractive for resale. 4. Check how the doors close. If the doors close nice and easy the chassis isn't sagged. I looked at plenty of cars where the doors were almost  hitting the quarter or the other door. 5. Check the upper control arms for the number of shims there are. If it has none the chassis is sagged. If too many the car isn't sitting correctly. 6. Body style is very important. You want a convertible if offered. Then a two door hardtop. A two door with posts is acceptable. Four door cars are not the way to go unless its a rare model. Like a 1958 Cadillac 60 Special or 1957 Cadillac Seville. The price of a starter is the same for a 1963 Impala Super Sport 327 as it is for a 1963 Biscayne 6 cylinder. You'll make money on the Super Sport starter if you had to sell it.  7. Always buy the top model if you can. An Impala instead of a Biscayne.  8. Buy a car with as many options as possible. The more loaded the better. Power everything is the way to go. The bigger engine. Air conditioning.  I once got an extra $2000 for a 1964 Thunderbird convertible because it had an optional factory AM/FM radio.   9. Don't buy a car because your father had one. Chances are dad wasn't driving SS396 Chevelle. I had a customer who did a ground up on a 1941 Packard 120 4 door. I tried to talk him out of it but he said his dad had that exact car. The owner had into the car 3 times what it was worth. If I want to feel sentimental I'll look at a family album. It doesn't cost me anything. 10. Try to find a cheap parts car. They come in very handy. Old cars is no longer a hobby. It is an industry and the guys with parts charge accordingly. My friend's 1963 Avanti needed a voltage regulator. There were none to had. We finally found one in Canada for $285 . I was able to put a Lark regulator for $40 in by switching a few wires and running some new ones. PARTS ARE DRYING UP. See what is available for the car you pick BEFORE you buy it.  11.Research what you are looking for. I collect a lot of Thunderbirds and here is a perfect example.  In 1962 Ford offered the Thunderbird convertible with a dealer installed Roadster option. Documentation is very fuzzy. The VIN didn't change. You see 1962 Sport Roadsters all over the place for sale.  In 1963  Ford gave the same model a specific body style code for the option. Maybe I see 2 of these cars sold all year. What this means to me the 1962 Roadsters are mostly clones and can't be verified one way or another. Be careful. Generally speaking Ford products and Studebakers have 3 data plates with all the information on the car. Most old cars the vin is meaningless.  ... View more

One alignment measurement is that is hard to measure and can't be really adjusted is the angle of inclination. It is built into the geometry of the spindle itself. This angle of inclination allows the vehicle to turn. You must remember the angle of the wheel on the turn is different front right to left.  When a spindle is slightly bent the car will chop or squeal on turns. When aligning the vehicle you are compensating for wrong caster, camber or toe. They can all be in specification but still will not handle well on a turn and sometimes it feels like you are losing control. ... View more

A friend mine has a perfect 1960 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible in Red and White. It has every option including swivel seats, cruise and a/c. The interior is breath taking with all the pushbuttons , great color scheme and neon globe instrument cluster. The car is so ugly its beautiful.  ... View more

I agree. Del Ray???? Looks like taxi cab. ... View more

I have a 1958 Packard Hawk. It has a nice interior but the single color interior could have been multi colored.  No matter what body color you picked the interior was tan. My color is back with a gold roof. The roof color enhances the interior. ... View more

My 1955 Caribbean with its tri color green and white interior matching the outside paint scheme is gorgeous.  My 1956 Golden Hawk also has a beautiful tri color interior in a pink, white and mauve color. With the outside pink and white. The dash board was light years ahead of everyone with full gauges and tachometer. If you really want to talk about the most beautiful interior ever made its the 1966 Thunderbird 3 window coupe with the overhead control panel, chrome dash and console. Did I mention the rear wrap around seat. It was like a space ship.  ... View more