Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Classic American

I’m sure I’m not unique in taking people for their word; if someone says: “Hey, you hit my car!” my immediate assumption isn’t “Of course not, that couldn’t be!” but rather “Gosh, did I hit his car? Maybe I did!” Such was the scene that unfolded in Manchester city centre one night. And so, I was accosted by an angry motorist who accused me of hitting their car after we pulled over. I was slightly mortified by the whole experience. There had definitely been some sort of ‘bump’, but since I’d had a jump pack in the boot that tended to rock back and forth, I assumed it was that. It was only later when I sat down and drew what had happened on paper that I realised the only…

It’s easy to forget that Ghia was once closely associated with the Chrysler Corporation. Long before the once proud name became shorthand for top of the range Fords, it worked hand in glove with the smallest of Detroit’s Big Three, on everything from Imperial limousines to a series of ‘Dream Cars’ conceived under vice president of styling Virgil Exner. The Fifties witnessed a remarkable reversal of fortune for the Italian coachbuilder which had been fortunate to see out the previous decade. It had been reduced to making everything from pots and pans to roller-shutter blinds; anything to keep employees occupied while the entrepreneurial boss Luigi Segre touted for business. Segre and Exner became firm friends, the car pictured here being one of umpteen prototypes created in Italy, albeit one that…

You might wonder why anyone would want to own more than one example of the same car. It’s a valid question to put to Wayne Wisbey who not only has this 1970 Ford Torino GT but another convertible, a Torino Cobra, a wagon, and two Rancheros (which we’ve featured previously in July 2007 and November 2012). “I didn’t want to buy this,” laughs Wayne, “but I ran out of reasons not to. Especially since all my other Torinos have 351cu in V8s and this has the big block 429.” Wayne saw the Torino advertised in Classic American and was intrigued. “The ad listed bad points such as a transmission seal leak, headlights and windscreen wipers not working and interior parts missing, but I thought, ‘I’ve already got parts to fix…

1963 Chevrolet Fleetside C10 Pick-up Brendon McGarry is certainly no stranger to taking on a mammoth custom rebuild, but this stunning 1963 Chevy Fleetside has probably been his most involved and ambitious project to date. Although it may be hard to believe, considering the incredible skills necessary with a project of this scale, Brendon’s full time day job bears little relation to anything automotive. As a nuclear manufacturing consultant, much of his time is spent working in that specialist industry, though his busy office just happens to be adjacent to a fully kitted out workshop. “On finishing work in the evening and weekends, this means I’m able to turn my attention to my hobby right next door,” he explains, “American cars have for a long time been a huge passion…

29 WHEELS DAY The 49th Wheels Day has a new venue: Newbury Show Ground – more details on this to follow, but the organiser statement says: “In the next couple of weeks myself and Andrew will bring full details on entry and everything else as it happens... This is a great step forward for the club with a purpose-built show area and great road links and parking... Just a note: It was not the SSR that wanted to leave Rushmoor Arena; unfortunately with over a 100% cost increase we had no option.” The Surrey Street Rodders’ annual season-opening extravaganza to raise money for charity and kick off the UK car show season takes place on Good Friday, which this year is on March 29. Expect to see Americans, hot rods,…

Across the pond It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the very last Oldsmobile, a 2004 Alero sedan, rolled off the assembly line. Although the name might not gain much recognition for younger generations today, there was a time, particularly in the Seventies and Eighties when Oldsmobile reigned Supreme – literally. It was third in market share after Chevrolet and Ford and for many years offered some of America’s best-selling cars. Its top-selling model during this era, was the mid-size two-door Cutlass, and the most popular trim level was the upmarket Supreme, which cashed in on the personal luxury craze of the time. In 1977, Oldsmobile Division sold a whopping 632,742 Cutlass models, totals that would be unheard of today, especially for a single model. So what happened?…

Many of us dream of purchasing a classic car in America and bringing it back to the UK. But then we’ve all heard stories of cars being over described and not looking as good as they did with a Malibu beach backdrop! Can you guarantee you won’t be disappointed? Perhaps not, but there are steps you can take to lessen the risks. Before you’ve even made an offer on a car, check its history. Rather than relying solely on emails and messages, chatting to the seller and a quick search of social media can help you satisfy yourself that they actually own the car and that it’s in the condition they claim it to be. Video calls are also a great way to get a walkaround of the car and…

Telling Your Tale ‘Honest Charley’ was built as a drag racer back in the late Sixties. This P-Code, 390cu in 330bhp, four-speed Galaxie fastback is the original 1974 AHRA Stock Record holder owned and raced by Bill Samuels from 1967 to 1976. The car was built by J&E Automotive (longtime racers Johnny and Eddie Bone of Pea Ridge, Arkansas) and the Galaxie was sponsored by Honest Charley’s Speed Shop of Tulsa, Oklahoma and raced at Tulsa, Oklahoma City, St Louis, and Green Valley Race City in Smithfield, Texas. Charley has been very well cared for and kept in good condition by a few different collectors since retiring from racing. The Ford is a very original car that benefited from a repaint and underbody detailing in the early Nineties. Every effort…

1. We’re back in Grimsley, Tennessee this month for our second and final visit to Under1981.com. This web-based business, which is strictly by appointment only, consists of a few hundred pre-1981 classic American cars. This 1961 Oldsmobile 98 four-door Holiday hardtop is one of 13,331 built that year. 2. Under1981.com definitely isn’t your average junkyard. There’s no jagged metal and broken glass hiding under the grass, ready to rip your legs to shreds. Likewise, you won’t find waist-high tick-infested weeds here. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that this is the best kept yard I’ve ever visited, with a lawn that would turn most gardeners green with envy. But then yard owner Murf lives on site and has a huge amount of pride in both the property,…

When we first saw this Buick, we thought it looked strangely familiar – and it turned out to be feature car from July 1996/CA63 (if you have the full library of Classic Americans stretching that far back you can read the feature in its entirety). At the time, the car was part of Lawrence Millett’s private collection (he of Bauer Millett fame, the UK’s only authorized GM dealership based in Manchester and now sadly defunct) and the magazine ‘borrowed’ it for a couple of days for the feature. It was in remarkably immaculate and original condition, kept in a heated four-car garage and with only 29,000 miles on the clock. According to the article: “Lawrence puts his Skylark’s amazing originality down to the fact that the car has always been…

USAutomotive.co.uk has announced that it will be supporting the 2024 US Drag Team and the return of the Dos Palmas Machine Spl. and the Mooneyes dragster. USAutomotive.co.uk chairman Stewart Bassett said: “USAutomotive has been involved with American autos and racing since its inception in 1997. As the UK’s leading importer of American auto parts, it seemed only natural to get on board with logistical help for the 2024 US Drag Team. “In 1964, the first US Drag Team was organised by Bob Keith, driver of the Dos Palmas Machine Spl., a leading gas dragster out of San Jose, California. After being lost for 40 years, the dragster was found and restored by NASCAR/ TV personality Ray Evernham. Thankfully, the car was acquired by a consortium of Brits including myself, Nick…

1950 Buick Roadmaster As the Fifties dawned, most American cars were still relatively restrained in their trim and colour schemes. Buick, on the other hand, under chief designer Ned Nickles, really made an effort to dress up its cars, and helped set the course of automobile styling through the Fifties. Famous motifs such as the portholes, ‘sweepspear’ side trim and jet-age hood ornament first appeared on the 1949 and 1950 Buicks, and metallic and two-tone paint schemes added to the dazzling affect. For American motorists, Buick was a mark of distinction. Almost costing as much as a Cadillac, the Roadmaster was the flashiest and fanciest of them all – a car anyone would be proud to show off. 1953 Buick Skylark The 1950 Roadmasters might have been head-turners, but 1953…

Every February, enthusiasts from around the world descend upon Paris for Salon Rétromobile, one of the most important car shows of the winter. There are Bugattis at every turn, and more than a few Ferraris change hands for six or seven-figure sums. It’s always full of surprises though, and that was especially true when browsing the American cars. There were Mustangs, of course, and a few Sixties Sting Rays, but the 1936/37 Matford roadster presented by Club Vedette France, a beautiful Franco-American hybrid, was far less familiar. The operations of Ford SAF (Société Anonyme Française) were taken over by Simca in 1954, but previously the faithful Flathead had a significant presence in the French market. It started with the Matford, a version of the American V8 built by agreement between…