As to Style and Bragging Rights, kudos; nothing says Disco Ball like 70's 'Vettes, and this was their King, style-wise.  While Chevy, and the rest of American Automobile Manufacturers were trying to get from the likes of the '65 Fuelie, '67 L88, and '69 LT1's to the Gen 4's, well, we had the C3PO's (C3 Pieces Of...).  I've spent too much time, energy, flesh, and blood, underneath these Aberrations of Automobilia; never liked 'em then, still don't like 'em now...   That said, they have a style and grace that is truly timeless, from the introduction of the Mako Shark II, to the Crossfire 'Injection' '82, they look like nothing else out there, Foreign or Domestic.   "Uhhh, Thank You, Thank You Very Much..."       ... View more

When all other friends and schoolmates were lusting after a new Mustang, Camaro, Firebird, Charger, Challenger, Cougar, Road Runner, 442, Judge, yada-yada; I was "Tossin' and Turnin' All Night" for a Deuce Coupe; a Chopped 5W Highboy with anything-but-a-ford in the engine bay, a 4-speed, sprint car headers, and Big-n-Littles.  Found 'Her' about 50 miles from home, with a Showboat Chrome J-2 Olds, Iron-Case Slant-Pan Hydro, and an Olds rearend.  Flat-towed it home behind my recently acquired, but definitely not NEW, '64 GTO.  She went through numerous iterations of engineering and design, style and color, but always fender-less, hood-less, and fear-less.     A couple years' back She was sitting in the backyard, minding her own business, when Richard Rawlings came a-callin', and having one, or two, or sixteen too many projects to handle already, she went down the road to Texas.  He didn't want the Pro-style Chassis (out of the original Deuce Rails), or the All-Stock Warranty 2x4 '68 426" Hemi, so they were left behind.   That car gave me more smiles-per-gallon than damn near anything else I've ever driven on the street, as I'm sure many (ALL) Deuce Owners would attest!   Now, as to body style for that orphan Chassis and Engine?  How about a Highboy Roadster, or another Chopped 5W, or a Chopped Tudor, or a Phaeton, or a Sedan Delivery, or a...   Whoo-Hoo!   It's GOOD to have Choices, huh, Chip?  ... View more

On the list, I would choose the Grand National, or the 'Blackbird' Trans Ams, but I'm grossly biased as a former 24 year employee of a, wait for it, Buick-Pontiac Dealer.  We added the Pontiac franchise in '76, ushered in by a Factory Rep sporting around in a 50th Anniversary Black T/A, which so impressed me, I ordered a handful of the Gold octagonal 50th dash decals, which he had to approve and override for me.  The look of those cars was heavily (HEAVILY) influenced by the ubiquitous JPS Lotus 72, which I have in 1/32nd scale on my Trophy Shelf.  And with Emmo driving it?  Well, my 2nd Road Race helmet has the 'Spider Man' design he made famous, this one on a Simpson Carbon Fiber model 32.  Of Friends and Acquaintances, the list is pretty well covered, but I'd like to make a couple additions, you know spring-boarding off the Lotus theme.  Please add the Cologne Capri ('76-77) which I don't have, and the Cosworth Vega ('75-76), which I do.  Lots of Black, Gold Wheels, semi-monochrome theme; Total 70's! Alas, all I did was Sell and Service the Black T/A's, as all my own Firebirds ('74 SD, '84 HO, '87 GTA, '89 Turbo) are White! ... View more

I might have missed it, but what of the Berry Mini T, and it's Evil Sibling, the C Cab? Both were great variations on the listed Autodynamics, Kellison, and EMPI offerings, and married the Hot Rod T, A, and Deuce crowd to the Hot Rod V-Dubs...   And since you mentioned Kellison et al, how about the Sterling?  Not the Rover/Honda mash-up, which I thought was a great combo, but the VW-based Kit Car produced in West Oakland CA.  My involvement was as a Car Crazy Teenage Parts Delivery Driver for a Buick Dealer, who convinced the builders I could get them the 100 Opel GT front marker lights they craved for their aesthetic value; 'No Problem'!   As it turned out, it was a 'bit' of a problem, but was eventually overcome, so that every Sterling built had the swoopy front Park/Side Marker lamps of the German mini-'vette...   There was a Manx showroom in Berkeley on University Avenue at California, just across the street from The Ski Hut; one of the earliest 'Go To' places for durable, high quality outdoor adventure gear.  I would go to the 'Hut and buy my hiking socks, lightweight canteen, aluminum cooking gear, Down-filled Sleeping Bag, and then traipse over to drool around, but not ON, the Manx...  ... View more

First and Foremost; I LOVE IT!   Love Wagons, always have, and those silhouette wagons like the Motorama 'Mad 'Vette, the Firebird T/A Type K, and hey, what about the Disco 'Vette with the Wagon rear, Greenwood style flares, and a Big Block from a few weeks ago; still no love?   Pretty sure you guys published a piece on the Type K a couple years ago, it was based on a 3rd Gen, and one served as the Pace Car for IMSA, piloted by former Racer Extraordinaire Dave Arnold of Brubaker-Cole the Ad Guys for Bridgestone/Firestone and the Firehawk Series.  Would have made an excellent addition to the Firebird line.   If Only...   One thing, though; sounds like a very lengthy and painstakingly diligent process to go through for a Behind that came off a Cobra 'Daytona' Coupe (did Pete Brock 'hommage' the Bread Van?), and could be had from the Fine Folks at Factory Five...   Just Sayin'... ... View more

To quote Maurice Chevalier, "...Ahh yes, I remember it well..."...   I started working for a local Buick Dealer while still in High School, and the first Apollo I saw was a 'Flight A' car, early production 'Plain Jane', Red with a Black interior repleat with front and rear benches, the Chevy 6cyl, an AM Radio; and nothing else...   Drove nice, everything worked, comfortable, decent power and brakes, but, people would stare.  Not in an unpleasant way, just more, you know, curious.  After more Apollos appeared, along with the Olds and Pontiac variants, they became more commonplace and thus, less of a distraction.  Several of our regular Buick customers purchased them for Kids off to College, where they wouldn't have considered the Opels still on the Showroom Floor (dunno why; they were Cool, and Excellent Cars) right next to them.  Many were purchased by Oldsters, looking to downsize from the 2T+ Rivieras and Electras, and dressed up with Whitewalls, Wheel Covers, the optional Moulding Pkg, and perhaps a Vinyl Roof, they looked Buick-enough to keep up with the Joneses...   At least give Buick credit for NOT producing a '74 Regal Grand Sport (avail w/ 455ci Stage 1) on the Nova platform, ala Pontiac's '74 "gto"...   Yikes! ... View more

The black ones on the TA's were molded plastic, the 'brights' were the black ones with a snap on brushed stainless cover, resembling a convex dog dish; sorry, Not Attractive...   It appeared they were a cheap imitation of the very scarce, and late into production Turbo Wheels from the Gen 2's...   The aforementioned ET Aero's came in Lefts and Rights, and after track testing, we found they worked better for us mounted 'backwards'...   An IMSA Official pointed this out to us at Portland, where, prior to the 'Bus Stop', a set of cool front brakes came in Real Handy...   Dave Arnold, former Racer and PR Czar for the Series, just walked around both our cars so-equipped, gave me a wink, and said, "...Naahhh, I think they're gonna be OK..."   Good Times, Good Times! ... View more

Sajeev,   There is a "Dual" Winner (Loser?) in that category...   The 1982 Pontiac Firebird TransAm with the 'bowling ball' wheels!   Ugliest cover, ever, especially in the 'bright' version; but pull the covers off, and you find the 1983 'turbine' wheel, except with machined notches to hold the 'bowling ball'; talk about Coyote Ugly...   Due to it's stunning lack of popularity, I was able to obtain several sets of 'unmachined' '82 wheels to use as spares for my '84 race car in the IMSA Firehawk, so, Silver Lining...   You like Aero?   Try the ET Mag 3-spoke turbine wheels from '85, introduced by ET in the Firehawk Series.  They arrived in brushed finish, with the internal spokes with a 'blasted pebble finish.  We painted our spokes to highlight the lines of the wheel and polished the lip...   Stunning!   ... View more

I read this article, as most every one you guys publish, with an open mind, listening to all 'Commentors', but as usual, I can't look forward without first looking back...   In the earliest days of the automobile, EVERYTHING was up for grabs as to motive power (gas, diesel, steam, electricity), power transfer (ring and pinion, belt, chain, gear), solid tires, pneumatic, tracks, Steering (tiller, wheel, worm gear, rack & pinion), disc or drum, air or fluid brakes; the list is practically endless.  So, we were left with choices, and it all boiled down to practical, reliable, economical, repairable, sustainable, you know, affordable...   Gas powered, transmission and differential transferred, rack & pinion directed, pneumatic suspended buggies became the 'norm', and so here we are...   I am a 6th Generation Native Californian, and I gotta tell you, I don't know where the Power is going to come from to propel these beasts!   We haven't built a Hydro Dam in three generations, we are decommissioning our Nuclear Plant in SoCal, and we tore down most of our fuel-fired generation plants like Hunter's Point.  I had a front-row seat in the Solar Industry, but all I saw was Speculating Investors, Profit-Taking, Heavy Government Subsidies, and a lot of Lofty Speeches and Smoke-and-Mirrors.  Wind Power?  Fugget aboudit!  Now add the PSPS shutoffs to avoid downed power lines sparking wildfires during a 'high wind event', and it looks like we'll all be staying home from work, play, school, and Politically Incorrect Social Gatherings...   Even the Wizard himself, in L. Frank Baum's immortal classic, "The Wizard of Oz" opined, "Hearts will never be practical, until they can be made Unbreakable..."    With my gasoline and diesel fuel tax dollars supporting heavy subsidies for buses, trains, hybrids, electrics, all occupied by one or barely a handful of riders, I'm telling you that we are a LONG way from Practical Electrics that can do what Gassers have been doing for over 100 years...   And what does it cost, and how much does it pollute to mine and manufacture the batteries and components of Electrics?  Stick THAT in your Medical Marijuana Pipe and Smoke It...   But. keep at it, Ready Kilowatt; it's the American Way! ... View more

Yes, I must say, I was mislead by the choice of title; my mind immediately went to the Munster Koach and Dragula, both Barris creations, as well as the Boot Hill Express, for which I do not recall the designer, but I did build the Monogram scale model.  Very much enjoyed the article though, like the CadMad, which I totally dug, but the Nova'd Camaro, not so much, sorry.  Stood next to the Hirohata Merc at the Peterson several years' ago; stunning not only for the bodywork, but the choice of colors, which made it look more 'factory' and elegant at the same time.  How about the Villain Car from the 'Great Race'?  Saw it at Cars of the Stars in Buena Park, where a 'Technician' was fine-tuning the scissor lift on the car to time it with the emerging cannon in the nose.  I recommended he use a limiter switch off a C2 'Vette, which he took to heart.  After about 5min of conversation, I realized I was speaking to, Von Dutch...   My mind again wandered, are you detecting a trend?  With the Frankenstein theme of mis-matched parts, purpose, and sloppy construction (sorry, Ms Shelley, Boris, you too, Elsa), I thought of the Pontiac Aztec (yikes), the answer to the question no one ever asked, the Subaru BRAT, Cool Concept, with its swoopy out-in-the-wind bucket seats, FACING BACKWARDS ("Hey, watch this"..."I can't!").   The Deora was a Great Choice, but then again, most early Hot Wheels cars would be, anyway.  See?  I told you guys we'd be gettin' to Hot Wheels sooner than later!  The T/F style Isetta, Sir Rodney Roadster (have a couple of those), Twin Mill, and anything by Gene Winfield, Dean Jefferies, and everything from Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth!   The Bathtub Car, the Toilet car, a supercharged Radio Flyer Wagon, hell, even the BB Chevy powered Save Mart Shopping Cart...   Detroit doesn't get left behind, even 'stock' car guys have wild imaginations, none more so than Herb Adams; who could forget The Silverbird, or the Catamaran CanAm?   Go NUTS! ... View more

I have a 'late production' E37 '88 built in March, after Pontiac had indicated it would cease production.  Since we had a very robust Racing Program, for the time, we were allowed not only one of the last 'stripper' models, but a crated 2L Turbo Engine and 'bench-built' Hydramatic to go along with it.  The car was drop-shipped to John Link Pontiac in OR, where it was picked up by Bob at Red Shift Ltd.  I drove up to OR with the engine, and the trans was shipped there directly.  When the conversion was complete, the car was thoroughly road-tested and vetted (but not, 'Vetted'), and offered for sale up there.  Long story short, things didn't work out, so I again traveled to OR, picked up the car, repatriated it to our Shop, did some minor revisions, and drove it as my Daily Commuter for several years.  When my eldest daughter was in High School, it was gifted to her (Dads, the Fiero is an IDEAL car for Daughters; just sayin'...), and she drove it for a couple years, before returning it to me.   Still have it... ... View more

Sam, oh Sam; where do I begin?   To quote Val Kilmer as 'Doc' Holliday in, "Tombstone", "...he reminds me of, Me!"   Don't let anyone talk you out of a Corvair, just NOT as a First Car! The car was a bold experiment, got a Lot of Love early on, had some issues, but in any early iteration of Political Correctness, was persecuted and put to death...   That said, there are Corvair Clubs all over the Country, and those who race them, do so with Gusto!   "Flippin' Burgers at McDonald's" is a fine pursuit for someone your age; all kinds of lessons and skills to be learned, behaviors to be observed, people to meet and work with and for; All Good!   As a Country, we have all but eliminated Auto Shop, as now we barely MAKE anything, and most can't FIX anything.  So find a Car Club that will allow you to hang around, listen intently, do some parallel research into whatever vehicles they covet, collect, and preserve, and ask a LOT of questions...   I, too, am fascinated with History, and have written Articles and Edited Newsletters for Car and Motorcycle Clubs I have been involved with, and in a strange twist-of-fate, have edited 4 Fiction Novels; for my former High School English Teacher...   My first 'legal' car, purchased AFTER I got my Driver's License, was a '64 GTO, Red with Black Buckets, and like the song says, "...Three Deuces and a Four-Speed, and a Three-Eighty-Nine!"  This was followed by a whole litany of What's What from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, and beyond.  When I was in High School, everybody wanted a new Mustang, Camaro, Firebird, Charger, Challenger, 'Cuda... I wanted a Chopped Deuce 5window... Located one, negotiated a deal, 'Flat Towed' it to a garage I rented for $10mo, and it took the next 5yrs to build.  I 'rebuilt' that car 5x since, only to sell it to Richard Rawlins of Fast N' Loud a couple years back...   All you need is that Job, the Tools my fellow Responders suggest, spending some time reading, travelling, learning, and enjoying what's out there...   YOU can DO THIS!     ... View more

Great Coverage, Great Run, and an Epic Drive through the Grass for the Podium! UP the COLONIES! ... View more

My Son-in-Law's Father, Kent, was from the Greater Phoenix Area and was the proud owner of a Macho T/A, purchased new from Dennis himself.  Unfortunately, both Kent and that particular car have gone to the Great Beyond.  For myself, I was a big fan of the concept, having done some custom work at our own Pontiac Dealership in NorCal, and was first in line for the Mecham T/A when it became available in '82.  The car was the Road Going Cousin to the TransAm, TransAms built by Joe Huffaker Sr at his shop in Petaluma before he moved to Sears Point (Sonoma Raceway).  There was a pair of the Race Car variety, driven by Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Steve Saleen (betcha didn't know that, Fordies...), and later by Eppie Wietzes as well.  The Street Cars were produced as Tribute Cars to the first Trans Ams to actually WIN the Trans Am Title!   I was shipped and sold 4 of those cars in '83, and had so much fun, decided to go Racing myself in '84, and have never stopped... :<{) ... View more

Great Article, and Great Comments! Was always a Car Crazy Kid, right through to today...   Was hooked on the 1/24th and 1/25th size, and got into Slot Cars of the same scale, though it was easier to race the Aurora HO  1/64ths at home, 'cuz the Slot Track were monopolized by the Big Kids...   By the time I could really afford to indulge my cravings, however, I was wrenching with the above-referenced Big Kids on Real Cars, and because I 'knew stuff' I was allowed to hang around, 'cuz I would rather do that than play with 'Toys' like the Babies.  Soooo, I stored those kits I couldn't live without in a box in the attic, to maintain my Hangin' Out with the Big Kids Image.  NOW, I have over 50 un-built kits from AMT, Revell, MPC, Jo-Han, and Others; Whoo-Hoo!   Your next Article can be on Hot Wheels... Just Sayin'... ... View more

An interesting Historical Perspective, but a little misleading for us Yanks in the Audience...   I felt better when I spotted the barely noticeable, '...from UK...', well that just explained it all, almost...   Why not the Jag 6, 12? The Austin A-40? ANY Rolls?   But to publish here in the US and leave off Ed Cole, 'Pops' Kettering, and countless contributors to Engine Families from GM like Cadillac, the Fords (Merc, Linc), Chryslers, and vintage offerings from Duesenberg, Auburn, Cord, Marmon, Packard, and so on?   Kinda bummed... :<{( ... View more

I read most of the posts; c'mon Guys and Girls, you're missing the point... It's a Period Correct Hot Rod!   Some braver-than-most was out to one-up, well, EVERYBODY and bought the entire Eckler's Catalog that year, and went nuts...   As a High-Schooler and working fulltime, I delivered parts for a GM Dealer, and two of my regular customers were good-natured Rivals out in East Oakland (hold your tongues, Infidels), and were always one-upping one another with very intense Projects.  One year, it was Chopped Chevy Stepsides; Lowered, Chromed and Candied, Big Wheels, and so on.  The next year, it was Wide-Bodied (Greenwood style) C3 Wagons, with Big Blocks, Side Pipes, and the aforementioned Candy and Chrome.   My Racing Partner and Lifetime Friend Sam built his '73, without the Vega-esque Kammback accoutrement, but added an Eckler nose with Lumina composites, faux knock-offs, some tasteful striping, and Old School Flames on the L-88 Hood. Homemade Sidepipes and Rear Bumperettes completed the look, you know, along with the Elvis Shades and Cockroach Killer Kicks...   Viva Las Vegas, Baby! ... View more

The better question would be; who will be the first to produce a kit to put an LS Chevy in a Tesla, or an Ecotec in a Prius?  How about a Cummins 2.8 Crate in, well, ANY Battery Barge? In California, where we live under threat of PSPS during Wildfires, and even under High Wind Conditions without, where are the AC/DC cars gonna go? San Onofre (Nuclear, SoCal) being decommisioned, as well as Oil Fired Plants like Hunter's Point (SF) already dismantled, and no new Dams for Hydro having been constructed in 2 Generations, where will the requisite Electrical Power come from?  Solar? Wind? I worked in the Solar Industry, twice, and while effective as an adjunct, the current (pun intended) yield is far from meeting current (2x) needs, let alone fleets of RC cars roaming around.  Oh, and BTW, our roads are maintained by Fuel Taxes; without sustaining Fuel Sales, where will that $$$ come from?  I bet I can guess! ... View more