Tags: Hobby

JIM WANGERS: MUSCLECAR GODFATHER!

- Kamis, 07 Februari 2013 No Comments

Working with a mid-size car (Pontiac Tempest) stuffed with a big engine 

(389-inch) and fitted  with custom trim (GTO), Jim Wangers turned an 

option into a cult car.

The man whose marketing and advertising campaigns bolstered the sales of Pontiac’s GTO and created a new category – Supercars, now called Musclecars – will be hosting the launch of the “cruise season” in California. Jim Wangers and his GeeTO TIGER will be at the Automobile Driving Museum, El Segundo, CA on Saturday February 23rd to kick off the cruise season with his presentation: Anatomy of the Musclecar; Offspring, Cousins & Grandchildren. Jim’s an old friend and his presentations have never failed to excite enthusiasts of all brands.

For more information about the Automobile Driving Museum and Jim Wanger’s presentation, please visit http://www.automobiledrivingmuseum.org/

Check out Jim Wanger's website, http://geetotiger.com/

Tags: Hobby

CADILLAC CONCEPT CARS: AMELIA ISLAND!

- Sabtu, 05 Januari 2013 No Comments

A fleet of iconic Cadillac  Motorama and Detroit Auto Show Concept Cars will take to the field at the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours.

 

Unlike many show cars of the Fifties, Cadillac's Motorama Concept Cars revealed the future in their lines, options, trim and colors. The quad headlights of the ‘55 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Concept Car were GM's first use of the four-headlight layout that became standard GM styling practice in 1957. The ‘59 Cadillac Cyclone, above, featured sliding doors, predating the design nexus of all minivans.

Cadillac's Concept Cars will be featured in the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday March 10, 2013 include the ‘49 Cadillac Fleetwood Coupe De Ville prototype, two ‘53 Le Mans roadsters, above,‘53 Eldorado Special, ‘56 Eldorado Brougham Town Car, ‘59 Cyclone, ‘61 Eldorado (Chicago Auto Show car), the ‘02 Cien, and the massive, 1,000-horsepower ‘03 Cadillac Sixteen, lead photo.



For more information about the Amelia Island Concours, please visit http://www.ameliaconcours.org/

Tags: Hobby

911 PORSCHE CARRERA CLUB COUPE: ONE OF FIFTY!

- Rabu, 26 Desember 2012 No Comments

Porsche 356 guru and Sarasota Café Racer Pete Bartelli owns the 49th.

In recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche Club of America (PCA), Porsche created an exclusive 2006 911 Carrera S Coupe featuring a distinctive exterior color, unique interior styling and commemorative touches, and a more powerful high- performance engine. Limited to an exclusive production run of just 50 cars initially made available to eligible PCA members, the 911 Club Coupe was unveiled at PCA’s 50th Annual Porsche Parade in Hershey, PA.



The 911 Club Coupe’s most visual feature is its Azurro California exterior. This paint color is a modern interpretation of Azure Blue, a color made popular on Porsche 356s when the PCA was founded 50 years ago. The rear portion of the standard center console is also painted in Azurro California. As an option, the backs of the sport seats were available painted in this striking metallic blue. 

 In addition to sport seats, the 911 Club Coupe’s standard interior features include black instrument dials and a sport steering wheel and shifter. Stainless steel doorsills incorporate the 911 Club Coupe logo and each car bears a badge on the driver’s side door trim indicating its individual number in the 50-car series. The license plate, below, on Pete’s Club Coupe is 49 of 50.

It was the first in its 911-generation to be equipped with the X51 Powerkit. This feature increases output of the 3.8-liter, flat-six cylinder Carrera S engine from 355 to 381 horsepower and peak torque from 295 to 306 foot pounds, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated engine offered in 2006 Porsche 911s in North America. Distinguished by its carbon fiber air cleaner housing, the X51 Powerkit boosts performance through a series of engine enhancements, including a larger throttle body, optimized intake airflow, cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds, changes in the engine control unit, and a sport exhaust system. The Club Coupe can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and boasts a top track speed of 186 mph.



Like the Carrera S, the 911 Club Coupe came stock with 19-inch wheels and tires, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) for optimal handling. The Sport Chrono Package Plus system is also standard, while Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) was available as an option. When new, the Club Coupe had an MSRP of $99, 911.



For more information about the latest Porsche 911s, please visit http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/911-carrera-4s/

Tags: Hobby

NASCAR BILL ELLIOTT’S RIDE: ’65 MUSTANG!

- Rabu, 19 Desember 2012 No Comments

Looking similar to the blue Mustang featured on the cover of Ford’s 1964-1/2 sales brochure, Elliott’s Mustang is actually a stallion in pony trim.

NASCAR great Bill Elliott updated his ’65 Mustang to look similar to the blue stocker that graced the cover of the sales catalog, yet run like a Resto-Mod Mustang should! An early-build car – June 29, 1964- it’s powered by a modified 302-inch small-block crate motor fitted with signature GT-40 heads. The 340-horsepower small-block has 9.0-to-1 pistons and can run on high-test pump gas.

For the full story on Elliott’s slick Mustang, please check out Wild About Cars, http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-bin/pub9990327521141.cgi?categoryid=9990432856888&action=viewad&itemid=9990432860759

Tags: Hobby

ROCKIN’ GARAGES: THE SOUND OF SPEED!

- Kamis, 06 Desember 2012 No Comments

When you roam through this kick-ass book you can almost hear riffs from legends of rock & roll, country, rap and jazz, all consummate car guys.

There’s something in this terrific tome for every music-loving car guy. Entertainment legends - Arlo Guthrie and AC/DC to Sir Mix-A-Lot and Wayne Henderson - open their garages to share their wheels with readers. Their public passion may be music, but their private passion is cars: Hot rods, customs, muscle cars, motorcycles, racecars, and sports cars.

Even if my pals Tom Cotter and Ken Gross hadn’t written this book, beautifully illustrated by friend, fine art photographer and Team 608 Bonneville Racing Team(mate), Michael Alan Ross, it would still be front & center on my coffee table. And I would still be singing its praises. It is the closest most of us will ever get to a personal garage tour of some of the most iconic musician’s auto and motorcycle collections.

FEATURED MUSICIANS:

Arlo Guthrie, Billy Joel, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Brian Johnson (AC/DC), above, driving THUNDER GUTS, his incredible Vanden-Plas-bodied ’28 Bentley 4.5-liter Le Mans, Chris Martin, George Frayne (Commander Cody), J Geils, Jimmie Vaughan (Fabulous Thunderbirds), John Oates (Hall and Oates), Jol Dantzig, Keith Urban, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Michael Anthony, Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Pat Simmons (Doobie Brothers), Rachel Bolan (Skid Row), Sammy Hagar, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Wayne Henderson.



For more information about ROCKIN’ GARAGES, by Tom Cotter and Ken Gross with photography by Michael Alan Ross and Foreword by ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons, please visit



http://www.qbookshop.com/products/194751/9780760342497/Rockin-Garages.html



http://www.amazon.com/Rockin-Garages-Collecting-Racing-Gearheads/dp/0760342490

Tags: Hobby

FERRARI P4/5 PININFARINA: GLICKENHAUS GARAGE TOUR!

- Selasa, 04 Desember 2012 No Comments

Automotive artist and Chronicles friend JoepeP spends an afternoon with Jim Glickenhaus and tours the “home” of his one-off, four-million-dollar Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina, below.

Jim Glickenhaus made his money on Wall Street and has spent it on producing films and collecting cars. His taste in cars is impeccable, ranging from grand classics to exotic racecars and sports cars. And some of those racecars, including his rare yellow GT40 MK IV, below, one of 12 built and the one that Mario Andretti won Sebring in, have been converted for street use.

The car that launched Glickenhaus to the top of the Ferrari hobby hierarchy is the one-off, mega-million-dollar P4/5, an Enzo that Pininfarina restyled in the spirit of the 1960s P-Series Ferrari racecars. His total investment was in the neighborhood of $4 million. Glickenhaus purchased the last unsold Enzo, delivered it to Pininfarina with guidelines to convert it into a modern version of a 1960s Ferrari 330 P3/4 racecar, above.

Glickenhaus, above with JoepeP and columnist Karen Mizrahi-Hertz, was completely involved in the redesign process, working with designer Jason Castriota and Pininfarina Team Leader, Ken Okuyama. It was debuted at Pebble Beach in 2006.

While the Ferrari P4/5 may be the centerpiece of Glickenhaus’ collection, it is surrounded by an incredibly array of important vehicles. There are more Ferraris, a black ’31 Duesenberg Model J Franay bodied convertible sedan & ’32 Stutz DV32 boat tail convertible, above, a drop-dead Lola, below and Steve-McQueen-driven Hurst Baja Boot to name a few. Sal Barone maintains the collection for Glickenhaus.

Photos & digital art by JoepeP (Joe Pepitone).



For the complete Glickenhaus Garage Tour story, please visit Karen Mizrahi-Hertz’ article http://www.examiner.com/article/ferrari-p4-5-by-pininfarina-meets-her-biggest-fan



For more information about the Ferrari P4/5, check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_P4/5_by_Pininfarina

Tags: Hobby

MOPAR CRUISE-IN FLORIDA: BIG DADDY’S MUSEUM!

- Sabtu, 01 Desember 2012 No Comments

Linda Fraschilla blogs about the North Georgia MOPAR Club’s cruise to Don Garlits’ Museum of Drag racing.

This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, FL. Our club’s annual Cruise-In was very special this year, celebrating the Museum’s anniversary and an array of very special Mopar performance cars, including Herb McCandless' Sox & Martin Hemi Pro Stock and a Superbird Winged Warrior, above. Our trek to Ocala started at 8:00 AM, with a breakfast meeting and caravan organization at Denny’s.

Photos by Linda Fraschilla



For the complete story and photo album, please visit our friends at Wild About Cars, http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-bin/pub9990327521141.cgi?categoryid=9990428634486&action=viewad&itemid=9990431459166

Tags: Hobby

SHELBY 427 SC COBRA: ON THE BLOCK!

- Senin, 12 November 2012 No Comments

One of just 29 S/C Cobras built, CSX 3045 boasts an exceptional provenance, including vintage racing cred.

Headlining early entries for the upcoming RM auction, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, is a fantastic trio of Shelbys, led by a genuine, fully documented ‘67 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra. It was formerly owned by mega-collector John Mozart and has been subjected to a full, professional restoration.

“The 427 S/C Cobra was marketed when new as the fastest street car ever built. Certainly no exaggeration, it is brutally fast and combines a powerful exhaust note with stunning performance to provide an exhilarating drive,” says Gord Duff, Car Specialist, RM Auctions. “Genuine 427 S/C Cobras are seldom offered for public sale. We are truly honored to have been entrusted with its sale in Arizona. A genuine, low-mileage example with a perfect provenance, it is certain to appeal to serious collectors of American racing history.”

CSX 3045 will be joined by the unique ‘63 Shelby ‘Factory Competition-Specification’ Cobra, CSX 2032, built to competition specification for Shelby friend and patron, Lance Reventlow, and equipped with various luxury options (est. $750,000–$950,000), and a rare, ‘65 Shelby Mustang GT350 R, chassis 5R531, one of only 33 production R models (est. $750,000–$950,000).

Photo: Darin Schabel, RM Auctions.



For more information about this RM Auction (January 18, 2013) featuring Shelbys, Ferraris, exotics and grand classics, and the complete auction calendar, please visit http://rmauctions.com/

Tags: Hobby

EXOTICS AT VANDENBERG: SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS!

- Sabtu, 10 November 2012 No Comments

Vandenberg Air Force Base joins forces with Ferrari Club to host a car show to honor and support our troops. Our Jim Palam was there representing 

the Car Guy Chronicles.

To support our troops and honor the 6,000 active duty men and woman serving at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Southwest Region of the Ferrari Club of America organized and exotic car show at the Championship Marshallia Ranch Golf Course on the grounds of the Base. Santa Barbara German Car Shop's Peter Meijer showed his '54 SL Gullwing, top; Bill Kling owns this stunning '68 Ferrari 330, above.

All exotic brands were welcome to exhibit on the course’s first fairway, a beautiful valley setting along California’s central coast. Ray Wong owns this '05 Noble M12, above, one of two at show, powered by a turbocharged Ford V6. There were no entry fees and owners were asked to simply donate their time to help make it an outsanding show for a great cause. An incredibly eclectic group of cars from Ventura, Santa Barbara and other coastal towns participated.

Bob Boas's pristine '80 Ferrari 308 attracted a lot of attention; Gordon & Beverly Gibbons own this unique Triumph TR3-A powered by a 2.2-liter engine, above. Vandenberg AFB is an historic installation, responsible for launching the world’s first ICBM ( Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) and POS ( Polar Orbiting Satellite). It’s located a scenic 2 ½-hour drive from Los Angeles and about 130 miles from the San Fernando Valley. This year’s turnout was outstanding and chances are good that this will become an annual event.

Much-modified '05 Lotus Elise, above, is owned by Colin Mims, looks really evil! Some of the best wineries from the Santa Inez area offered free tastings to go along with BBQ lunch goodies from Famous Santa Maria Tri-Tip. There were also rock-climbing competitions at Vandenberg’s rock climbing wall. License plate frame on yellow Prowler, below, says it all: I'm The Princess, Who The Hell Are You!

Great cars, great fun and great weather for a great cause!



Photos by Jim Palam, http://jimpalam.com/

Tags: Hobby

LAKE MIRROR CLASSIC: CAFÉ RACERS WIN BIG!

- Kamis, 08 November 2012 No Comments

Three Car Guys Who Lunch in Sarasota take Gold at the Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival & Auction.

More than 600 specialty cars competed at the 13th Annual Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland, FL, one of the highest profile collector car events in the Southeast. This year in excess of 35,000 enthusiasts attended the Classic that serves as a supporting event for the outstanding

Amelia Island Concours.

This year three Sarasota Café Racers had “podium” finishes at Lake Mirror: Peter Bartelli (’63 Porsche Carrera 2000 GS), Best In Class, Sports Cars Group 2, Bill Stelcher (’29 Ford Speedster), Vintage Race Car Award; Martin Godbey (2004 Ford GT Prototype),  

Exotic Sports Car Award.



For more information about the Lake Mirror Classic and photos of winning cars, please visit http://www.lakemirrorclassic.com/

Tags: Hobby

’38 JAGUAR SS: CAFÉ RACER TAKES BEST OF SHOW!

- Selasa, 06 November 2012 No Comments

Sarasota Café Racer Frank Ricciardelli takes Best Of Show with his one-off Graber-bodied ’38 Jaguar SS at prestigious Hilton Head Concours.

Frank and Milli Ricciardelli, from Monmouth Beach, NJ and Sarasota, FL, had a lot to celebrate at the 11th Annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance. They were the Concour’s “Honored Collectors” and their one-off Graber-bodied Jaguar SS coupe took Best Of Show honors! Milli and Frank are regulars on the high-profile Concours circuit and have been supporters of the hobby for many years.

Bodied by coachbuilder Hermann Graber, Wichtrach, Switzerland in May 1938, the #30182X-chassisied SS coupe has a 120-inch wheelbase with solid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel mechanical brakes. Power comes from a 125-horsepower 3.5-liter OHV Six with dual SU carbs mated to a Moss four-speed gearbox. RM Restoration restored the SS in 1994 for previous owners Kathy and Jerry Neil at a cost in excess of $250,000.

After the body-off restoration the SS was shown at the 1994 Meadow Brook Concours, winning the Designer’s Choice Award. It was a JCNA (Jaguar Club of North America) National Class winner in 1995 and competed in seven JCNA shows (1995-’99), scoring 99.96 to 100 points. The coupe won a special award at Pebble Beach and won at Eyes On the Classics and Masterpiece of Style and Speed events. Ricciardelli’s Graber-bodied SS is one of the most elegant Jaguars ever built.



Hilton Head Concours photos.



For more information about the Hilton Head Concours and Best Of Show Jag, please visit http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/11/06/graber-bodied-ss-jaguar-wins-best-of-show-at-hilton-head/?refer=news



http://www.hhiconcours.com/events/motoring-midway.html

Tags: Hobby

MOTOWN METAL: LOS ALAMOS COWBOY CAR SHOW!

- Jumat, 19 Oktober 2012 No Comments

American cars from Detroit (and South Bend, IN) are showcased at one of the coolest small-town car shows in the country. Jim Palam captured the moment for 

the CAR GUY CHRONICLES.

This year the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club hosted its 66th annual Old Days Celebration and its centerpiece was a colorful American Classic Car Show. Los Alamos is a tiny cowboy town with a population of under 2,000, located at the intersection of US Highway 101 and State Route 135 (Bell Street). It’s just an hour north of Santa Barbara, CA. Studebaker Silver Hawk and Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, above, brought back the good old days!

Rat Rod and Studebaker Avanti, above, show the eclectic range of cars at the show.

This year Los Alamos celebrated “136 Years of History,” but it was the selection of cars, mostly metal except for Corvettes and an Avanti, that grabbed Jim Palam’s eye. No show would be complete without 1950s Buicks and Chevy Impalas, below.

Photos by Jim Palam, http://www.jimpalam.com/



For more information about Los Alamos, CA, founded in 1876 in the heart of Santa Barbara County, CA wine country, please visit 
http://www.losalamosvalley.org/events.html

Tags: Hobby

PORSCHES BY THE SEA: BEST OF THE WEST!

- Rabu, 17 Oktober 2012 No Comments

Santa Barbara (CA) Region of PCA and Porsche of Santa Barbara host their 36th Annual Concours d’Elegance By The Sea. Jim Palam was there representing the CAR GUY CHRONICLES.

Fess Parker’s beautiful Doubletree Resort is the perfect venue for a Concours: Lush grounds and a Pacific Ocean backdrop. In addition to the Full Concours Division, there were classes for Street, Unrestored Stock, Wash & Shine and Special vehicles. Best of all, there was no shortage of great cars and competitors basking in the sunshine, vying for bragging rights!

One of my personal favorites at the meet was Joe Schneider’s orange, street-race '71 911T, above. Schneider owns Schneider Autohaus, a Porsche specialty shop in Santa Barbara. This 911T features a powerful 3.2-Liter twin-plug engine and styling enhancements including Carrera flares for its oversize tires.

Amil Garcia really has a “thing” for Porsches and brought two, above, from his collection. The black ’11 Boxster Spyder and ’12 Electric Lime Cayman R were both spectator favorites.

Greg Young’s ’58 Carrera GT Speedster, above, a lightweight version of the stock Speedster, features an incredibly detailed original engine and was a major attraction of the event.



With membership in excess of 700 plus more than 500 affiliate members, the Santa Barbara club was chartered in 1964 and offers Porsche owners a full portfolio of competitive driving and show events, road trips and social programs



Photos by Jim Palam



For more information about the Santa Barbara Region of the PCA, please visit http://www.where2race.com/clubs/view/santa-barbara-region-pca