Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Classic American

I was recently contacted by a producer/director working for a TV production company about being a presenter on a TV series about iconic American cars. It piqued my interest, as I can talk about American cars until the cows come home, but what really took me aback was when I asked about the fee, he replied: Nothing. Nada. Zilch…. “Maybe some expenses…” What about a plug for the magazine? “Sure,” he said, “We can mention it…” Well, I thought, at least Classic American can get a bit of publicity out of it. After hanging up I felt a pang of regret, as if I had been ‘suckered’ into doing something without realising it. He had assured me I wouldn’t need to do any research, or write any scripts and that…

A newly restored version of the British 1957 film classic Hell Drivers has just been released on DVD and Blu Ray and is available to buy now. It’s a hard-boiled action thriller from Zulu director Cy Endfield, and features memorable performances from both Stanley Baker (Zulu) and Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner) as rival drivers for a ruthless road-haulage company. An outstanding cast includes Herbert Lom (Spartacus), Peggy Cummins (Gun Crazy), William Hartnell (Doctor Who), Sid James (Carry On, Bless This House), Gordon Jackson (The Professionals) and Wilfrid Lawson (Pygmalion), with early appearances from Sean Connery (James Bond) and David McCallum (The Man from U.N.C.L.E, NCIS). And of course those fantastic Dodge 100 ‘Kew’ Trucks! When ex-con Tom Yately (Baker) signs up as a driver for Hawlett’s, he uncovers shady dealings…

The latest Ford Mustang, the first sold officially in Europe, has been given a Euro NCAP crash test rating of two stars out of five. The rating applies to V8 and four-cylinder variants of the 2015 and later coupe in left- and right-hand drive. The convertible model wasn’t tested. Euro NCAP uses a five-star safety rating determined from a series of vehicle tests that represent, in a simplified way, real life accident scenarios. The number of stars are also influenced by what safety equipment the vehicle manufacturer is offering to European consumers. Although the Mustang is considered good or adequate in most areas of safety, points were knocked off for the lack of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and other driving assists. Front seat occupants were considered protected but Mustang was…

Dear Classic American, After reading several articles on travelling to the States and buying a vehicle, I thought I must have a go, so I’ve bought a vehicle on eBay in Albuquerque and hope to drive it across America before shipping it home. I seem to have hit a problem in finding an insurance company here, or over there, that will cover me for a two-week trip. Can any of your readers steer me in the right direction, as time is running out? Colin Hoyle Bridgwater Somerset Ah, the perennial car insurance while driving in America problem. This is an issue that comes up frequently. One option is to get a US driving licence (easier than it sounds – many states’ tests simply involve a multiple choice questionnaire if you…

This month I would like to discuss classic car auctions – especially those huge televised happenings in the US that look more like reality TV shows than the real world. “The car’s the star”… oh, really? Looks more like the dozen comperes who dissect and point out the shortfalls of cars going under the hammer, or talk up truly mundane examples. Putting all this aside, the soap opera that brightens up the dreariest month of the year – January – just has to be the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, Florida and the Barrett-Jackson event held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both are huge multimillion dollar grossing events, selling to the public the best of all American automobiles from all eras. Even though you generally need a bulging wallet of greenbacks for most…

Now in its fourth year, the Arizona Concours has quickly established itself as a sort of kick-off party for Auction Week in Scottsdale in January. In its relative youth, the AZ Concours is a mature and fully realised event – an oasis of calm before the storm of the hammer dropping and fistfuls of cash flying to and fro. Held at the historic Art Deco-era Arizona Biltmore hotel, which would later become part of the auction scene maelstrom as it welcomed RM Auctions into its ballrooms, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance remains a pleasantly low-key affair, if not a completely casual one: we’ve felt the white-knuckle tension on the field at other Concours, and despite the top-notch steel, there’s certainly a more relaxed vibe here than we’ve felt at other events…

It’s only in recent years that station wagons have hovered into view as bona fide old-car collectibles; no longer are they simply parts cars for the cooler two-door models. Beyond the sheer nostalgia of generations growing up in the back of wagons, it’s also a way to share the old-car hobby with the family, and all of their collected accoutrements. Yet few wagons were really special. Most were sedans with a long roof and the rear compartment sorted out. As a result they were full of compromises: weird seat configurations with awkward access offering so-so head room. Despite the rear seat facing rearward, to give the kiddies a view of where you’ve just come from, it’s not really a place a lot of people wanted to be – not the…

Should you ever plan to visit East London for some nefarious purpose, and not wish to be spotted during the process, I can highly recommend you don’t drive through in a 1951 Pontiac Sedan Delivery. If however you fancy chatting to every van driver, dustman and shopper on the high street – plus all their children – the Pontiac is the perfect vehicle. Everyone seemed fascinated by the appearance of the ‘51 – most weren’t aware of its rarity, except one admirer who’d spent time living stateside. Fortunately the man who owns the Pontiac, Brian Howlett, is well used to enquiries from onlookers: “One of the most common questions people ask is, ‘is it a hearse?’” Brian wasn’t searching for a van when he spotted the Sedan Delivery on eBay…

Yes, the Checker company, builders of the classic New York yellow taxi, will be back in 2018 in two versions – a brand new pickup and a revamped limousine. Checker is taking advantage of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturer’s Act of 2015 that exempts replica vehicle builders from expensive crash testing provided their vehicles are powered by current EPA-certified engines. Such cars need to be a replica of a previous model and produced in quantities fewer than 500 cars per year. Checker is perhaps pushing the rules with the Marathon-based Pickup but its six-door limo was a previous production vehicle. The Checker Cab Manufacturing Co was founded in 1923 and initially exclusively built taxicabs. Its rugged model A8/Marathon taxi was introduced in 1956 and first offered to the public…

At this year’s North American International Auto Show, Ford Motor Company announced that the Ranger and Bronco will be returning to the stateside marketplace. Although executive vice-president Joe Hinrichs didn’t have any concepts of the North American market Ranger or Bronco to accompany the announcement, just video footage of the current rest-of-the-world Ranger, he did confirm that the Ranger will debut as a 2019 model and the Bronco will follow a year later. Both will be based on the Ranger and the Everest body-on-frame 4x4 sold in overseas markets, meaning that for Bronco fans, the concept of a two-door utility will seem unlikely at this point. The new Bronco will be pitched as a direct competitor to the likes of specialised off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Toyota 4Runner.…

With the introduction of Ram’s EcoDiesel in 1500 half-ton pick-up trucks for 2013, many pundits predicted it was only a matter of time before Ford’s bestselling F-150 also got an oil-burning powerplant. Announced at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the diesel will make its debut in afacelifted 2018 F-150 and will be likely teamed with a 10-speed automatic transmission to maximise fuel economy. Again, Ford was light on specifics about the engine, except to say that it was developed and tested ‘in-house’. Other features of the 2018 F-150 will include a new 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine as the base powerplant (replacing the old 3.5-litre unit). The 3.5-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 and the 5.0-litre V8 will continue with improvements, though power outputs have not yet been…

There was no plan, as such, only instinct. Bill Frick was a hot-rodding pioneer and ace fabricator. The German-born New Yorker was also a handy driver on quarter-mile dirt oval tracks. Before the Second World War, he earned a degree of fame locally for inserting large engines into unsuspecting small cars, and picked up from where he left off at the end of hostilities. Together with business partner Phil Walters, a fellow racer who competed as ‘Ted Tappet’, he began stuffing 331cu in Cadillac V8s into ‘Shoebox’ Fords. According to some sources, they performed as many as 200 such conversions between 1949 and ’51. One of these ‘Fordillacs’ attracted the attention of wealthy Floridian Briggs Cunningham, who bought one with a view to fielding it in the ’49 Le Mans…

Although many classic American cars might only cover a minimal mileage, it’s still important to regularly check the condition of the braking system. This involves removing all the brake drums and looking for any potential problems, as well as closely inspecting the various metal pipes and flexi hoses. I usually apply pressure to the brake pedal before I start and keep it pressed for a minute to see if it goes slowly down; if it does and there are no visible leaks then the master cylinder could be at fault; fluid can leak past the internal seals and is returned to the reservoir, or in some cases can be drawn into the servo vacuum pipe and burned in the engine. If any leaks are found then I prefer to…

In contrast to the Buick (right), this 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 hardtop isn’t likely to be sold as a complete car. In fact, having taken a good look around it, I’d be surprised if anyone finds any parts worth purchasing either. It really is in a sorry state. Ernest & Sons Auto Wrecking is the home of this beautiful 1959 Cadillac, perhaps the most distinctive classic car of all time. Colorado’s high desert climate is favourable for cars, and the Cadillac’s bodywork is almost completely rust free. Surely this car has to be saved. As well as being the location of Cadillac Ranch and the Big Texan Steak House, Amarillo, Texas, is also home to a trio of trucks. The retired Chevy workhorses, which are in the Holiday Inn grounds,…

Sleet and icy winds couldn’t keep away the crowds, indeed the cold weather brought out those owners who relish driving their classic cars all year round. As well as the excellent increased, and thankfully well-heated, display areas inside, we found some rarities within the classic car parking area. Mark Simpson’s gorgeous 1970 Dodge Charger 500 is partway through restoration and sported shiny new paint. Remaining in original condition was Kevin Thorne’s rare right-hand-drive 1963 Ford Galaxie convertible, and Stumpy’s 1959 Edsel wagon. “When I bought it I had the choice of the original hubcaps,” said Stumpy. “I preferred the racing wheels. The Edsel spent years in a museum so it’s still in great shape.” Among several Land Rovers and campers in the Charterhouse auction was a 1960 Thunderbird. The ex-Classic…

1969 Vendor: Paul Usher, Hockley, Essex Telephone: 07729 681098 Price: £21,500 This month’s Drive Buy is a Dodge Coronet, the mid-budget Mopar muscle car, which still packed a powerful punch, with a 383cu in Magnum engine. The current running gear set-up incorporates an Edelbrock inlet manifold, with a Holley four-barrel carburettor, Accel coil with an MSD 6A electronic ignition, Hooker Super Competition headers, coupled to a bullet-proof Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission. It’s an impressively rust-free example with a straight body that has been repainted at some time in a shade close to the original of B5 Blue, which is a particularly eye-catching colour, complete with a white bumblebee tail stripe and white bonnet scoops. It remains in good order, other than the odd minor blemish here and there. Within the…

Would you drive your beloved classic on an extended road trip in the middle of winter? Well if you’re the LeMay America’s Car Museum, the answer is undoubtedly yes. In late 2015, a trio of classics – a 1957 Chevy Nomad, 1961 Chrysler 300G and a 1966 Ford Mustang – set out on a 3100-mile road trip from the museum’s home base in Tacoma, Washington, to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Along the way, they stopped in towns and cities across the US with local car enthusiasts invited to come out and meet the museum’s road crew and encouraged to bring their own cherished classics. The event, known as The Drive Home, proved to be a huge hit, attracting people from all walks of life and…

GOGGLEBOX Dear Classic American, Just in case you don’t know, but you probably do... The original 1974 version of Gone in 60 Seconds is playing on movies4men TV channel. If you’ve missed it once it doesn’t matter as the film is shown fairly regularly. I’ve just watched it for 10 minutes – it’s brilliant! Lots of great scenes of LA and early-Seventies American cars! Jeremy Bennewith Via email Thanks for the steer – now is certainly the time for curling up on the sofa with some good American automotive TV! WHEN IS A CLASSIC NOT A CLASSIC? Dear Classic American, I am wondering if you or your readers can help me with a dilemma. I have been an owner of American cars ever since I could drive and when I…

Recently, I had a chance to chat with an industry colleague I hadn’t seen for some time. Our topic of discussion nearly always ends up focused on cars and the automotive industry. This time, one subject came up, the Jeep Wrangler. It’s an iconic vehicle and a consistent hot seller. In the US alone, Jeep sold 175,328 Wranglers in 2014, 202,702 in 2015 and more than 190,000 last year. It’s an impressive total; especially considering the Wrangler is for all intents and purposes a niche vehicle. Even America’s best-selling car, the Toyota Camry – a vehicle aimed at the broadest market appeal possible – tends to find only 355,000 buyers annually. There was a time, back in the Sixties and Seventies, when a single car line could sell in excess…

‘Aristocratic, noble, high-born, titled, elite,’ says my dictionary. I’d never looked up the word patrician before, but I’d assumed it meant something of that sort. It’s a good name for a high-end luxury car – much less obvious and clumsy than calling it the Packard Nobleman or the Packard Grandee. The model had only a five-year life, starting in 1951 and ending in 1956 when the last proper Packards disappeared and the disaster of the merger with Studebaker took hold. But throughout that short run, the Patrician was always Packard’s top-of-the-line four-door. In 1955 it sat alongside two other senior Packards; the Four-Hundred (a two-door hard top coupe) and the Caribbean convertible, by far the most famous and these days the most sought-after for its scarcity and glamour. Today, the…

Lee reflects on one of Holman and Moody’s ace drivers, 1962 Daytona 500 winner Glenn ‘Fireball’ Roberts. “He was as good if not better than Dan Gurney in his ability to drive anything, anywhere. He could make a car handle and he wasn’t hard on equipment. He was just a great driver.” Then, on May 24, 1964 during the World 600 at Charlotte, his Ford spun out while trying to avoid the crashed cars of Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson in front of him. He hit the wall, flipped upside down and his car burst into flames with him trapped inside. While marshals looked on, Ned Jarrett ran over and pulled him out. He was very badly burned and died of his injuries six weeks later. Lee says: “He was…

Whitebox Packard V12 LeBaron Speedster While we are looking at budget-priced diecasts, it would be foolish to overlook this excellent 1:43 scale 1934 Packard V12 LeBaron Speedster in Whitebox Models’ range. Even extensive ‘Googling’ could not provide me with the definitive information, but I understand the Whitebox models are similar to Ixo. Whatever their provenance, Whitebox produces some really nice models at affordable prices. This classic Packard is especially attractive, with smooth paint and what appears to be an accurate profile. It has chromed bumpers, wheels, headlights and pseudo-aeroplane propellers on the rear wheel spats. The model comes in its own hard acrylic case too. Pricewise, considering the original LeBaron Speedsters were sold at more than $7700 back in 1934, said to be the equivalent price of nine small Chrysler…

What’s the most common type of US-built funeral car here in the UK and what colour? If you are a regular on the show scene, or indeed have an interest in professional cars (as they are called in America) then you will probably say ‘Cadillac’ and ‘black’. There are one or two white examples that turn up periodically, but in most cases they are all black and usually based around the downsized models from the mid-to-late Seventies; and it’s these ones that just keep on being imported, and in one sense have been done to death – no pun intended! So it takes something really special nowadays to stand out from the Cadillac crowd and while at the Sunday Beaulieu Spring Autojumble, I happened upon the impressive club stand belonging…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ’57 CHEVY It’s never too early to plan your events, so if you, like us, love your Tri-Five Chevys, you’ll want to be at Brooklands Museum in Surrey in September, to celebrate 60 years of the ’57 Chevy. Hosted by the Tri-Chevy Group UK, as in previous events for the ’55 and ’56, the invite goes out to any owners of ’55-‘57 Chevrolet cars and derivatives – plus, as it is part of the established ‘Brooklands Americana’ event, all other classic American cars and hot rods are welcome too, with special parking set aside for the ’57s. The date is September 3, so go put it in your diary now. For more info, there is a Facebook page called, surprisingly, ’Sixty years of the ’57 Chevy’. You old…