What better way to celebrate summer than with this trio of colorful Corvettes?
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Car Show Report- 5/19/12
Every year, Blanco, Texas, hosts a car show along the banks of the Blanco River. The May weather and scenic location almost always guarantee a great turnout. And today was no exception. With so many different types of cars on hand, there was something for everyone. Here's a look at some of the most interesting cars to attend.
Before actually making it out of the parking lot, I was stopped by this beautiful custom Camaro. The amount of convertible 1969 Camaros driving around Texas is a pretty low number, so I had to take a closer look. This one has been tastefully modified with custom wheels, as well as a high performance LS motor, as evidenced by the "SS/LS" badge on the hood.
I was almost in the car show when I had to make one last detour. This 1969 El Camino was too cool to pass up, and was clearly a daily driver. Badging indicated a 350 V8, which means that this car, or truck, if you prefer, is no slouch.
Alright, that's enough from the parking lot. On to the cars of the show, which are arranged by year, to make things easy. Starting us off is this 1932 Ford sedan. A 1932 Ford is far from unique, as every car show seems to have at least one, but unmodified versions are less common, and a sedan is rarer still. The red wheels and blue paint combine nicely on this car, lending to its classic look.
I'd seen this bluer-than-blue Ford before, but hadn't taken that close of a look at it. However, I have to admit there's something about this car that really works. Few cars on the road, or anywhere else for that matter, have paint jobs this striking, so it stands out. Although I guess it's hard to drive around in a classic Ford coupe and not stand out. A sweet ride for sure.
Some cars look good with flames, and some cars don't. This 1936 Ford coupe definitely falls into the first category. A radical interior and custom wheels were cool additions to a hot car, and made the whole thing look even better.
Although I admire the polished, pristine show cars, I prefer to see workhorses like this. Cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed, not displayed behind velvet ropes. This 1936 Ford pickup is clearly a daily driver. It shows its patina with pride, and the wooden box in the back suggests a previous life as a farm truck. This one was just plain cool.
This 1951 Chevrolet truck is one of the best looking pickups I've ever seen. The silver-grey paint and dark grey wheels gave it an almost stealthy appearance. You get plenty of old American pickups here in Texas, but this just might be my favorite one yet.
Like I said, there's no shortage of old American trucks around here. This one, a 1953 Chevrolet, stood out with its bright yellow paint job. There's not a lot to say about this one, other than mention how clean it was.
This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air had all the right stuff. The paint combination was gorgeous, the interior was immaculate, and custom wheels added a little bit of personalization. This is my favorite "Tri-Five" Chevy, although the fin-tastic '56 and '57 models are definitely not bad cars. I simply prefer the ultra-clean lines of the '55.
That said, it's hard to go wrong with this 1957 Bel Air. Light blue suits these cars, and the aftermarket wheels on this one look great. Not a whole lot to be said about this one. It's just a good-looking car.
What we have here is a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL. The nondescript white paint job might lead you to believe that this is just an average Ford grocery getter, but you'd be wrong. Under the hood lies a Holman-Moody 390 V8, which is more than capable of smoking any opposition you could find in 1963. Overall, this was a super nice car.
Yes, yet another Chevrolet pickup. I'll be brief on this one, and say that it's a 1964 Stepside, and it looks good in blue. Very good.
I'll start to speed things up a little bit, as there's plenty of pictures. This 1965 Malibu SS was classy, and the custom rims are a nice addition. This one was nondescript, yet at the same time it stood out.
This is one I didn't expect to see. The experienced gearhead will recognize this as a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, which is a Sunbeam Alpine powered by a Mustang V8. The brilliant idea was the brainchild of none other than Carroll Shelby, who had achieved fame with the Cobra by doing almost the same thing.
This 1967 Ford Mustang GT has a lot going for it. Custom wheels, spoiler, and hood scoop combine with an iconic Mustang paint scheme, white with blue stripes. Terlingua badging on the sides pays homage to the Mustang racing efforts of the aforementioned Carroll Shelby. Power comes from a modified 428 Ford engine.
Here's another 1967 Mustang, this time a GT-A fastback. Blue paint and retro wheels made this car an eye-catcher.
This is a car you don't see everyday, a Mercury Cougar. This one is in pristine condition, and rides on aftermarket Cragar wheels. I was very pleased to see this at the show, as Cougars seem to be getting rarer and rarer.
Seeing a genuine Shelby is always a treat, and this 1967 GT 350 doesn't dissappoint. Rock chips marked the Brittany Blue paint, showing that this car is a daily driver. It's hard not to like this car.
Seeing one Shelby is uncommon, but two? That's pretty unlikely. Nonetheless, this 1968 Shelby GT 350 convertible was soaking up some Texas sunshine. I don't know the exact numbers, but a convertible Shelby is pretty rare these days, so I was thrilled to look at one up close.
This 1969 AMX was wild. Side exhaust, tuned engine, and plenty of custom bodywork drew attention. The silver paint was highlighted by blue stripes, a color combo that works well on this classic AMC.
Basking in the shade was this 1969 Corvette Stingray Convertible. The yellow paint was hard to miss, and made the car that much cooler.
This 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 was absolutely flawless. A 351 V8 coupled to an automatic transmission provided power. The white interior was unique, and the color was reminiscient of a European sports car. I quite liked this one.
It was great convertible weather, and this 1969 Pontiac Le Mans was in its natural habitat. Seeing a Le Mans is refreshing, as they are less common compared to a GTO or a Grand Prix. This one was especially nice in red.
Here we have another Mustang, a 1972 Mach 1 in yellow. This generation was the last of the muscle Mustangs, and lasted until 1973. In 1974, the Mustang became the rather unpleasant Mustang II. The 70s weren't kind to muscle cars.
Mopars were in short supply at the show, but this little Dodge Dart Swinger didn't dissappoint. It was clean, cool, and simple. A good car can be fairly plain-jane, as this Dart clearly illustrates.
A Triumph Stag is a car you don't see very often in the United States. Yet somehow, this one snuck in. The groovy British sports car is stylish yet simple. Nothing overly complex or complicated. This one has been kept in stock condition, and is very well-maintained.
Last of all is this 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. It's impossible not to want one of these at least a little. The color is pretty, and T tops are just plain cool.
So that's that. It was an impressive turnout, with lots to look at. You've got to admire car culture, and the people that drive long distances to show off their car. The people are friendly and talkative, the cars are cool, and on days like this, the weather is perfect. There's no place on Earth like a good car show.
Before actually making it out of the parking lot, I was stopped by this beautiful custom Camaro. The amount of convertible 1969 Camaros driving around Texas is a pretty low number, so I had to take a closer look. This one has been tastefully modified with custom wheels, as well as a high performance LS motor, as evidenced by the "SS/LS" badge on the hood.
I was almost in the car show when I had to make one last detour. This 1969 El Camino was too cool to pass up, and was clearly a daily driver. Badging indicated a 350 V8, which means that this car, or truck, if you prefer, is no slouch.
Alright, that's enough from the parking lot. On to the cars of the show, which are arranged by year, to make things easy. Starting us off is this 1932 Ford sedan. A 1932 Ford is far from unique, as every car show seems to have at least one, but unmodified versions are less common, and a sedan is rarer still. The red wheels and blue paint combine nicely on this car, lending to its classic look.
I'd seen this bluer-than-blue Ford before, but hadn't taken that close of a look at it. However, I have to admit there's something about this car that really works. Few cars on the road, or anywhere else for that matter, have paint jobs this striking, so it stands out. Although I guess it's hard to drive around in a classic Ford coupe and not stand out. A sweet ride for sure.
Some cars look good with flames, and some cars don't. This 1936 Ford coupe definitely falls into the first category. A radical interior and custom wheels were cool additions to a hot car, and made the whole thing look even better.
Although I admire the polished, pristine show cars, I prefer to see workhorses like this. Cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed, not displayed behind velvet ropes. This 1936 Ford pickup is clearly a daily driver. It shows its patina with pride, and the wooden box in the back suggests a previous life as a farm truck. This one was just plain cool.
This 1951 Chevrolet truck is one of the best looking pickups I've ever seen. The silver-grey paint and dark grey wheels gave it an almost stealthy appearance. You get plenty of old American pickups here in Texas, but this just might be my favorite one yet.
Like I said, there's no shortage of old American trucks around here. This one, a 1953 Chevrolet, stood out with its bright yellow paint job. There's not a lot to say about this one, other than mention how clean it was.
This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air had all the right stuff. The paint combination was gorgeous, the interior was immaculate, and custom wheels added a little bit of personalization. This is my favorite "Tri-Five" Chevy, although the fin-tastic '56 and '57 models are definitely not bad cars. I simply prefer the ultra-clean lines of the '55.
That said, it's hard to go wrong with this 1957 Bel Air. Light blue suits these cars, and the aftermarket wheels on this one look great. Not a whole lot to be said about this one. It's just a good-looking car.
What we have here is a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL. The nondescript white paint job might lead you to believe that this is just an average Ford grocery getter, but you'd be wrong. Under the hood lies a Holman-Moody 390 V8, which is more than capable of smoking any opposition you could find in 1963. Overall, this was a super nice car.
Yes, yet another Chevrolet pickup. I'll be brief on this one, and say that it's a 1964 Stepside, and it looks good in blue. Very good.
I'll start to speed things up a little bit, as there's plenty of pictures. This 1965 Malibu SS was classy, and the custom rims are a nice addition. This one was nondescript, yet at the same time it stood out.
This is one I didn't expect to see. The experienced gearhead will recognize this as a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, which is a Sunbeam Alpine powered by a Mustang V8. The brilliant idea was the brainchild of none other than Carroll Shelby, who had achieved fame with the Cobra by doing almost the same thing.
This 1967 Ford Mustang GT has a lot going for it. Custom wheels, spoiler, and hood scoop combine with an iconic Mustang paint scheme, white with blue stripes. Terlingua badging on the sides pays homage to the Mustang racing efforts of the aforementioned Carroll Shelby. Power comes from a modified 428 Ford engine.
Here's another 1967 Mustang, this time a GT-A fastback. Blue paint and retro wheels made this car an eye-catcher.
This is a car you don't see everyday, a Mercury Cougar. This one is in pristine condition, and rides on aftermarket Cragar wheels. I was very pleased to see this at the show, as Cougars seem to be getting rarer and rarer.
Seeing a genuine Shelby is always a treat, and this 1967 GT 350 doesn't dissappoint. Rock chips marked the Brittany Blue paint, showing that this car is a daily driver. It's hard not to like this car.
Seeing one Shelby is uncommon, but two? That's pretty unlikely. Nonetheless, this 1968 Shelby GT 350 convertible was soaking up some Texas sunshine. I don't know the exact numbers, but a convertible Shelby is pretty rare these days, so I was thrilled to look at one up close.
This 1969 AMX was wild. Side exhaust, tuned engine, and plenty of custom bodywork drew attention. The silver paint was highlighted by blue stripes, a color combo that works well on this classic AMC.
Basking in the shade was this 1969 Corvette Stingray Convertible. The yellow paint was hard to miss, and made the car that much cooler.
This 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 was absolutely flawless. A 351 V8 coupled to an automatic transmission provided power. The white interior was unique, and the color was reminiscient of a European sports car. I quite liked this one.
It was great convertible weather, and this 1969 Pontiac Le Mans was in its natural habitat. Seeing a Le Mans is refreshing, as they are less common compared to a GTO or a Grand Prix. This one was especially nice in red.
Here we have another Mustang, a 1972 Mach 1 in yellow. This generation was the last of the muscle Mustangs, and lasted until 1973. In 1974, the Mustang became the rather unpleasant Mustang II. The 70s weren't kind to muscle cars.
Mopars were in short supply at the show, but this little Dodge Dart Swinger didn't dissappoint. It was clean, cool, and simple. A good car can be fairly plain-jane, as this Dart clearly illustrates.
A Triumph Stag is a car you don't see very often in the United States. Yet somehow, this one snuck in. The groovy British sports car is stylish yet simple. Nothing overly complex or complicated. This one has been kept in stock condition, and is very well-maintained.
Last of all is this 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. It's impossible not to want one of these at least a little. The color is pretty, and T tops are just plain cool.
So that's that. It was an impressive turnout, with lots to look at. You've got to admire car culture, and the people that drive long distances to show off their car. The people are friendly and talkative, the cars are cool, and on days like this, the weather is perfect. There's no place on Earth like a good car show.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Car Show Report- 3/31/12
It's a beautiful day in the Texas Hill Country, and there are classic cars everywhere you look. I got to attend TWO car shows today, each within a mile or two of the other. The first show was a local Cobra Owners get together, while the second was a proper car show. I took plenty of photos, and here are my personal favorites.
Another Cobra that caught my eye was this silver 427 model. It was clean and stylish, and also faithful to the original. The silver and black paint scheme is simple and understated, and accents the classic design of the car. This is a great example of what a Cobra should be.
And now for something completely different. Moving into the next car show now, we see a tastefully modified 1977 Ford F-100 pickup. The owner restored it from a barely intact junk heap to the machine you see here. It's been lowered, repainted, and repaired into a very good looking truck. This was a bit of an oddball, but not the only truck in attendance.
For example, there was also this El Camino SS 396, which looked great. Modern wheels and a vinyl top set this apart from your typical daily driver. This bodystyle was based on the Chevelle, and came with just as much performance as its muscle car sibling. The V8 in this car was very clean indeed.
The 1932 Ford Coupe is possibly the most iconic hot rod in history, and no car show would be complete without at least one. This particular car is meant for performance, with a big powerplant and a very minimalist interior. The black paint and the red in the wheels really seal the deal for me on this car. Sometimes it's all in the details.
Now THIS is a nice car. You're looking at a 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 with a 426 Hemi. Early into the muscle car era, Dodge was offering the Hemi V8 on select models, such as this upscale Coronet. The massive engine takes up all of the engine compartment, and makes copious amounts of horsepower. A classy interior and an automatic transmission make this car drivable on a daily basis.
The 1970 Chevelle is practically synonymous with muscle cars. Considered by many to be the most attractive year for the Chevelle, this car is an SS 396 model. While not as desirable as a 454 model, the SS 396 Chevelle is no slouch. The white roof on this car really stands out, and matches the white stripes. This car is incredibly attractive, and very well-kept.
It certainly was good car show weather, and both events had very large turnouts. As summer rolls around, I hope to make it to as many shows as possible. That's all for today, though. Watch this space, as there's plenty of good stuff coming that you won't want to miss.
From the Cobra show is this stunning silver racing Cobra. The sound of this car was absolutely surreal. Whether or not this was a replica I don't know, I never got a chance to get close enough. The racing decals are a nice touch, and make this car stand out, as if a Cobra would ever blend in in the first place.
Standing out against the sea of Cobras was this GT40, presumably a Superformance replica. At a mere 40 inches tall, this car is surprisingly tiny in person. The immediately recognizable Gulf racing paint job made this car all the more awesome. While fun to look at, I don't know if I could squeeze myself into this car on a daily basis.
It certainly was good car show weather, and both events had very large turnouts. As summer rolls around, I hope to make it to as many shows as possible. That's all for today, though. Watch this space, as there's plenty of good stuff coming that you won't want to miss.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Highlights of the 1970's
Ah, yes, the 1970's. Nestled between 1960's muscle cars and 1980's sports cars are the cars of the '70's. There was plenty of variety in this decade, and a couple of real gems stood out against the rest. My personal list of great 1970's cars is quite lengthy, so this is a somewhat shortened version. If I missed something that you think needs mentioning, let me know. I'm open to suggestions. Now, without any further delay, here's my list of 1970's hits.
This is one of my favorite cars from any generation, the 1970 Dodge Challenger. This particular model is a convertible, with a 392 Hemi V8. Muscle cars declined in the early '70's, and 1971 is really the last year before they started to go extinct. The Challenger was aimed at the Mustang and Camaro, and it did very well, too. The array of models and options meant that there was something for everybody.
Plymouth's equivalent to the Challenger was the 'Cuda. Initially a small muscle car, the 'Cuda grew up for 1970. The most coveted 'Cuda is usually the Hemi 'Cuda, which became a serious contender in the muscle car wars. Drag racing became a great venue for this car, as evidenced by the success of the Sox & Martin 'Cuda drag car.
Representing the start of the supercar era is this, the 1971 DeTomaso Pantera GTS. The gorgeous Italian body turned heads, but the main event was under the hood. The Pantera utilized a 351 cubic inch Ford V8. This marriage of Italian style and American performance was a successful combination, and the Pantera did well overall.
For 1971, Plymouth gave the Roadrunner a complete visual overhaul. The car above is a 1971 model with a 440 V8. The car was slightly smaller than the original, and its redesigned bodywork was similar to that of the also-redesigned 1971 Dodge Charger. The dramatic new styling was generally well-received, but by 1972 horsepower would start to decline.
Lamborghini's first real supercar, the Miura, was a speed demon despite the automotive restrictions of the 1970's. This 1972 Miura is a SV model, which stands for "Super Veloce" or "Super Fast" in Italian. The Miura was the first of many Lamborghini supercars, leading up to the modern era with the Aventador.
Ferrari also fared well in the 1970's. Cars like this Dino 246 GTS demonstrated exceptional performance in a gorgeous package. Named after Enzo Ferrari's son, the Dino line of Ferraris were characterized by having a mid-engine, rear wheel drive setup.
After a starring role in Smokey and the Bandit, the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am became an icon of the decade. Features like T-Tops, snowflake wheels and a flaming eagle hood decal made this car stand out almost anywhere. A decent muscle car, the Trans Am wasn't as horsepower-heavy as it's 1960's ancestors, but it was still a competitive automobile.
Last but not least is the Chevrolet Corvette. From it's birth in 1953 the Corvette has been in continuous production without faltering. It's ability to change with the times kept this car looking sharp in the 1970's. This one is especially nice, thanks to a two-tone paint job.
In retrospect, the 1970's weren't all that bad for the automotive world. There were plenty of hits and misses, but they were all unique and different. How many new cars can you buy today with T-Tops? Sadly, not that many.
In retrospect, the 1970's weren't all that bad for the automotive world. There were plenty of hits and misses, but they were all unique and different. How many new cars can you buy today with T-Tops? Sadly, not that many.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Welcome Back!
Now that Christmas and New Years are over, we can all start to wind down and return to our daily routines. In honor of 2012, what could be better than looking at some of the coolest vehicles of 2011? There were some in particular that stood out above the rest in terms of looks, performance, and price.
The 2011 Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept was unveiled last year, and generally well-received. Apart from a rather lengthy name, the stylish hot hatch features some of Audi's latest technological advancements. Just look at those wheels! With Audi planning to mass produce the Clubsport, the sports compact world has a new competitor.
Chevrolet showed off this eye-catching Camaro at the 2011 Sema Show. It's a special Hot Wheels Concept based on the new ZL1 Camaro. The one-off concept is painted in 'Spectraflame Green' to match the toy version of itself. If you've got to have it, try the toy department of your local supermarket for a slightly smaller model.
You might think that the bright yellow vehicle pictured above is a modified Lotus, and to some degree, you'd be right. It's called the Hennessey Venom GT. It's body is essentially that of the Lotus Elise or Exige, only re-proportioned to accommodate a gargantuan powerplant that produces up to 1200 horsepower. It'll do 0 to 200 in 15.3 seconds. That's quicker than a Veyron. Top speed is around 275 mph. Dang!
Jaguar's XKR got a major upgrade in the form of the XKR-S. Lurking under this cat's hood is a supercharged 5.0 liter V8, which cranks out a top speed of 186 mph, much more than the standard XKR's limited top speed of 155 mph. The S model also gets a slew of external design features, such as spoilers and vents. Overall, it's one of the meanest Jaguars ever built.
The 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante. Give yourself a second to catch your breath, because that's a very long name. Basically, it's Italian for 'very fast convertible' and it lives up to its name, all 21 syllables of it. Apart from some special paint and design features, this version of the popular Gallardo model features reduced weight and better aerodynamics, which helps the nimble V10 propel this gorgeous exotic up to a top speed of 201 mph. Impressive.
The McLaren F1 was, for a while, the world's fastest car. That's a big standard to keep in mind when building a successor, yet the MP4-12C still delivers. It's everything people loved about the F1, with a few new surprises. Plus, it's an absolutely gorgeous vehicle. McLaren created their own engine for the car, and the result is an electrifyingly quick vehicle. The MP4-12C is definitely worthy of the title 'supercar'.
THIS is a 2011 vehicle? Yes, actually, it is. Meet the Singer 911. Here's how it works: you take your classic Porsche 911 to Singer, and they strip out all the old parts and fill your car with much newer Porsche equipment from the 993 generation of 911 models. It gets significantly lighter, and much faster. 425 horses will get this retro ride up to a top speed of 170 mph, and it'll do 0 to 100 in 8.5 seconds. That's enough to blow the doors off the newest showroom 911. The word 'staggering' comes to mind.
All things considered, 2011 was a great year for the auto industry. Innovation is constantly bringing us forward, though, so I personally can't wait to see what 2012 has in store. See you next time!
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