Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Classic American

If you own an American classic car and would like to attend, you’ll need to register to obtain a special reference code prior to purchasing your tickets. All American car owners are entitled to a special ‘two for one’ on event entry tickets to display their vehicle. Just enter the number of tickets required, and in the promotional box enter code: AMC18 and as an American car owner you will be provided with a discount. It automatically recalculates and adds a vehicle display pass, which will be sent to you, to the basket. www.prescotthillclimb.com/events/ tickets/autumn-classicweekend-2018…

The amount of ethanol in the UK’s pump petrol could soon double to 10%. A Government consultation on E10 fuel comes to an end in mid-September and may pave the way for widespread introduction of the new blend. But this could be bad news for owners of older cars, which will need some modification to use the new fuel safely. Other countries have had to deal with E10 fuels for some time – in the US, gasoline has contained either 10% or 15% ethanol since 2012, with E10 arriving in France in 2009, then Germany and Finland in 2011. Many owners of classic cars have noticed some effects, ranging from a minor inconvenience to a serious danger. So what damage does ethanol actually do? First, ethanol softens or erodes glass-fibre,…

Those nice folks over at RH Insurance are sponsoring a prize for the star letter in Classic American magazine. The prize, which is valid for 12 months after the competition has closed, is a contribution of up to £100 towards the premium for the insurance of one specialist vehicle courtesy of RH Specialist vehicle insurance. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is send us a letter, or an email. For full terms and conditions please visit http://mrtns.uk/starletterterms…

In Camaro folklore, ZL1 has special meaning. First conceived back in the 1969 model year, it signified Central Office Production Order (COPO) 9560 which allowed General Motors to stuff a monster, all-aluminium 427 cubic inch big-block V8 into its new pony car, creating an instant muscle era legend. Although rated at 430 horsepower, the actual output was around 500hp. When you figure that the aluminium 427 lump weighed about the same as a small-block 327, the Camaro ZL1’s power-to-weight ratio was considerable. All of the 69 ZL1s built came with a standard cowl-induction hood, power front disc brakes, GM 12-bolt rear axle with 4.10 gears and posi-traction limited slip, plus either a heavy-duty four-speed manual gearbox or TH400 three-speed automatic. Intended strictly for drag racing, the ZL1 could run the…

RUTLAND FUN RUN Big news from the NSRA concerning its popular Fun Run, the event known for many years as ‘Billing’ but recently moved to Yarmouth, having been ousted from the long-standing Northamptonshire venue. It seems that the current committee has secured a new home for the Fun Run at the Rutland Showground near Oakham in Leicestershire. The dates are June 14-16, 2019, two weeks later than the event’s previous place on the calendar. The new centrally located venue will be welcomed by many as it is easily reached from both the north and south of the country – definitely one to watch for next year. MILES FOR SMILES August bank holiday weekend once again saw the Vintage Hot Rod Association hitting the hill at Prescott for its annual members-only…

Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey Sunday, May 27, 2018 What started off as a good day, only got better. With a picnic packed, we headed off early as we needed to be there for the marshal safety briefing. The roads were clear and the sun was already high, so a quick trip down the A3 and we were there. All the marshals gathered and we had our briefing from Donna at Brooklands. With the MMA club stand unpacked and Derek giving us our instructions for the day, the gates were opened early as we had a queue forming. The cars rumbled in, a fantastic mix of the south east’s finest American machinery, with happy faces galore. By noon, the site was packed and the paddock was rammed with Mother Mopar’s finest.…

Goodwood House, West Sussex July 12-15, 2018 Not deterred by the World Cup final or the Wimbledon finals or even the Tour de France, massive crowds turned up for the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Silver Jubilee and sweltered under a blazing sun for a weekend of motoring mayhem and madness. The early genteel days of Goodwood’s garden party atmosphere when a few vintage cars belonging to the then Lord March’s chums rumbled up the hill are long gone. It’s now loud, brash, with screeching tyres, engines bouncing off rev limiters and cars bouncing off the straw bales as drivers race on the limit for the kudos of setting the fastest time. The spectacular Drift cars were back in action, tearing up the hot tarmac of the Duke of Richmond and…

Santa Pod Raceway, Santa Pod, Northants July 27-29, 2018 Well, I guess it had to happen sometime this summer… that a major American car show would fall foul of the usual typical British summer conditions we’ve come to expect. And that’s exactly what transpired at this year’s Mopar EuroNats. The beauty of this show is that it encompasses three days, so even if the weather does turn bad, then it’s highly unlikely to wash away all the activities. As it turned out, Sunday took the full force of persistent rain, low cloud and gloom; however, not only did the trophy ceremony go ahead, but so did the Incredible Burn-Out Contest with Andy Bozwell judged to be Burn-Out King of 2018 despite very stiff competition. Friday at the EuroNats is always…

Lincolnshire July 21, 2018 It was impressive when, two years ago, a charming village in Lincolnshire hosted what claimed to be the country’s largest recent gathering of Edsels. The fact is, the Hot Rod Picnic, as it is known, has enjoyed a growing showcase of Edsels since it began back in 2015, and this year once again managed to break its own record. Twelve Edsels populated the so-called “Edsel Garden” this year, which is arguably the main focus of the gathering. HRP 2018 saw, according to host Tim Sisson’s reckoning, approximately 68 cars in total. Of course, it’s not all about the Edsels, and that was never intended to be the case. After all, the event is called the Hot Rod Picnic, and when Tim started the event three years…

The air conditioning wasn’t working when we tested the car, but a brand new compressor, drier and filter is all ready and waiting to be fitted, plus of course it will need re-gassing. The body and paintwork are very well presented overall. However, the paintwork on the tail cone has faded a little over the years and could be deemed suitable for repainting. The nose cone at the front has been repainted at some time and shows minor signs of age with little crow’s feet, cracking and paint chips here and there. The driver’s seat has a small nick at the back of the squab near the corner.…

Gracing the halls of Birmingham’s NEC from November 9-11, the UK’s biggest and best Classic Motor Show is back! This year’s show promises an unmissable selection of motoring celebrities including Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, along with more than 2500 stunning classics on display and the UK’s biggest indoor autojumble to pore over. Expanding to the size of 18 football pitches with a brand new Debutant and Special Display Hall, this year’s show boasts the accolade of the world’s biggest gathering of classic vehicle clubs, creating a community of like-minded enthusiasts eager to share news and views. As well as all the popular features including Silverstone Auctions sales, Sporting Bears’ Dream Rides, the Restoration Theatre, Classic Trader Village and the Discovery Live Stage, this year the show also…

Corvette Kingdom, the UK’s longest-running Corvette specialist, has launched an exciting new website packed with special features and a superb online shop. Corvette Kingdom is well known throughout the UK for its body-off frame refurbishments and high standards of workmanship, from routine servicing and maintenance to full car restorations. The many services that Corvette Kingdom offers are detailed throughout the new website, including photos, descriptions and videos. The Workshop Stories section details some of the company’s best-known rebuilds, from its Stingray Racer and Grand Sport tributes, to restorations, transmission conversions, windscreen frame repairs, and lots more. Regular updates in the News section ensure the content remains fresh, so it is well worth regular visits to catch up on the latest developments as they happen, not forgetting the amazing adventures of…

For many of us, in the UK at least, it’s those famous American TV and film cars that inspired us to enter the American car scene in the first place. Combined with the ever popular shows and meets which we have today throughout the country, it’s hard not to become smitten once you see those familiar cars you once watched as a kid on your 14-inch Philips portable TV, parked there right in front of you. However, turn the clock back a few decades and it was not uncommon to see a Sixties Mustang or Mopar sat in the same traffic jam as your Cortina or Morris Minor, but sadly it seems those days are now gone. The cars are still out there, but today they’re understandably saved for more…

It’s been a few years since Classic American featured any motorcycles (remember our days with Vee magazine?) but I’m sure you’d like a little info on Pete’s lovely Triumph. It’s a 1955 Triumph Thunderbird frame with the engine from a 1960 Triumph Bonneville T120. The headlight is an old brass gas lamp with a lithium battery installed inside. Pete built it bobber style with help from a few friends and is at pains to point out that he sourced all the parts individually – he didn’t strip down any classic bikes to do it. Apparently it’s lovely and light to ride – provided he avoids the potholes on the local roads since that solid rear end can be unforgiving...…

The Sharnbrook Hotel, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire July 1, 2018 Following the Nationals held at the Sharnbrook Hotel in 2017, the club returned again for 2018, with organiser Mike Lacey at the helm. “I introduced the club to the Sharnbrook Hotel as the ideal venue for the Nationals in 2017,” enthused Mike. “It proved a great success last year and its proprietor Ciro Ciampi is an avid car enthusiast and petrolhead, so we didn’t hesitate in returning here again. “Friday night’s entertainment was an Abba tribute band, while Saturday morning saw around 30 Corvettes go on a road run, taking in Jordans Mill, with its fantastic riverside setting on the River Ivel, followed by a drive over to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden Aerodrome. Then it was back to the Sharnbrook…

We’re sure you don’t need us to tell you what a belter of a heatwave we’ve had this summer, and although farmers and gardeners and other horticulturist types love a bit of the wet stuff, when you’re putting on a big drag racing meet, it’s the last thing you want. So, with blue skies in abundance, nostalgia race fans were looking forward to a full weekend of exciting racing for this year’s Dragstalgia event and the campsites at Santa Pod were already looking full by Friday evening when many arrived. As you probably know, many hot rodder and drag race fans make an annual pilgrimage to the West Coast of the US at the end of our season to take in the Hot Rod Reunion in October. However, if you’ve…

Show Winners BEST IN SHOW Andy Robinson 1969 Dodge Daytona WINGED WARRIORS Andy Robinson 1969 Dodge Daytona MOST ORIGINAL MOPAR Charlie Seward 1962 Chrysler Newport BEST RESTIFIED MOPAR George Chiles 1963 Dodge Polara 330 PARTICIPANTS’ CHOICE Scott Billadeau 1969 Plymouth Hemi Road Runner BEST MODERN MOPAR Ben Hewer, Two Tone Chrysler 3O0c BEST 1968 CAR John Castleman 1968 Plymouth Road Runner CLASSIC AMERICAN HEAT WINNER Steve Henry 1969 COPO Camaro BEST CRUISE CAR Eddie Yellott 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 ragtop PETE DOWDING MEMORIAL TROPHY Andy Robinson 1969 Dodge Daytona BURN-OUT KING 2018 Andy Bozwell 1967 Dodge Coronet WHEELS UP WINNER Mike Lacey 1967 Camaro Top Five * Dave Billadeau 1967 Plymouth Belvedere Station Wagon * Martin Zinn Germany 1968 Dick Landy Dodge Coronet * Maurice Siebert Germany 1965 Plymouth Belvedere…

Ford F-100/F-150 Pickup 1953-1996 Author: Robert Ackerson Published by: Veloce Publishing ISBN: 978-1-787113-27-5 Price: £25 Although this does seem to be changing, compared to here in the UK, the light all-purpose pick-up truck is, and has been for many years, one of the most numerous vehicles on American roads. While in more recent times Far Eastern competition has eaten into domestic sales dramatically, homegrown pick-ups from Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge have dominated this buoyant market for decades. One of the foremost has to be the ‘Ford Tough’ F100 and later F150. First produced in 1953, following the success of the smaller F1, the F100 in its various forms soon established itself as a sturdy, reliable and cost-effective light commercial vehicle that could accomplish just about anything asked of it…

The 1962 Cadillac de Ville offered crisp modern styling toned down ever so slightly from the previous model year. The iconic tail fins were tapered into the body for a more elegant, refined look and the lower fins (or ‘skegs’ as they were called) at the rear remained from the ’61 re-style. The Sedan de Ville received a new pillarless four-window roofline. From the bold front end styling, to the sweep of the rakish tail fins, it was unmistakably Cadillac and the 1962 Sedan de Ville was a favourite among luxury car buyers; sales increasing dramatically over the previous year. The lavish interior was available in eight cloths with leather, or four solid colour leather upholstery choices offering pure unadulterated Cadillac luxury. Power windows and seats, folding centre front and…

Picture walking into a 40,000 sq ft facility with an array of classic cars and trucks that range from showroom stock muscle cars to 1000+ horsepower pick-ups with turbochargers sticking out of the hood. Imagine the smell of leather being formed into seats and the sound of TIG welders bonding metal together. In the same building, paint and body experts are putting the finishing touches to a customer’s dream build. This custom car fantasy land exists, and it’s called Classic Car Studio. The instant someone sets foot into Classic Car Studio (CCS) and sees what this restoration and custom shop is about, they know they are in for a wild ride. Not only does this shop do all of its own work in-house, but it focuses on creating well-rounded vehicles…

Stockton Park, Nr Warminster, Wiltshire June 1-3, 2018 Situated in the beautiful Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, Stockton Park enjoys a wonderful arboreal setting, where for the last seven years it has been the home of the Vintage Nostalgia Festival. This has evolved into a major must-do event, conceived and organised by Russell and Eve Topham and team. The event celebrates everything that’s best about vintage, retro and nostalgia, with a large trade area selling a huge variety of goods, all very much in keeping and connected with vintage and classic! Ladies can have their hair set in the styles of yesteryear, courtesy of Pearl’s Pin Up Parlour, and there’s even a gents’ barbers. Entertainment is a major attraction of the VNF, with a huge variety of music to enjoy, both…

A fine opportunity to purchase a most original and unmolested C3, in excellent all-round condition, there can’t be too many around like this? Much time, not to mention money, has recently been spent in getting this C3 fully sorted. This has included fitting new AC Delco gas telescopic dampers all round, an alternator, battery, spark plugs, UJs in the rear drive shafts and fuel gauge sender unit. New parts fitted in the US prior to importation include two rear exhaust silencer boxes and a de-Cat section. The power steering has also been rebuilt and is free from any fluid leaks.…