Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Hemmings Muscle Machines

“ Mike may have appreciated the signs of the gearhead gene flickering in us, because he was surprisingly willing to help out a couple of kids ”. Someone asked me, again, how I got into cars, and again, I didn’t have an answer. There were no cool cars in our driveway when I was growing up, no drag-racing uncles or cousins, no speed shop at the end of the block. Nothing to have set that course that I can point to. But I was hooked, nonetheless, and feeding that need was a challenge back when I was a kid of around seven or eight. It was the mid-’70s, and even at my young age I could sense that I’d just missed a time when gearhead manna had been everywhere. At…

CHEVROLET MUSCLE CARS Mike Mueller • www.quartoknows.com • 800-458-0454 • $40 Few automotive nameplates are as iconic and coveted as Chevrolet’s “Super Sport,” and Chevrolet’s inexorable link with performance dates to the birth of the small-block V-8 in the mid-Fifties. Noted automotive photojournalist Mike Mueller has created an exciting tribute to Chevy’s contributions to the muscle car era, starting with the 348- and 409-inch V-8-powered full-sized models, and continuing through the compact Nova, mid-sized Chevelle, El Camino, and Monte Carlo, and wrapping up with the Camaro and Z28. This 176-page hardcover, officially The Complete Book of Classic Chevrolet Muscle Cars, 1955-1974, is generously illustrated with well over 200 color and black-and-white images, these representing a nice blend of GM Media Archives photos, and examples from the author’s own portfolio.…

It’s no apparition. The Nova SS 396 on these pages may not often appear on Pennsylvania’s roads, but when it does, the rumble of its big-block V-8 — barely muffled by the factory-installed exhaust system — makes it clear that this car is very tangible, and almost shockingly unaltered from its original state. Also original to the car is the man behind the wheel, and his tenure as its caretaker is approaching the half-century mark. “I graduated from high school in 1969, and around that time, a lot of my friends were buying new cars like Chevelles and GTOs,” Steve Budihas tells us. “My father always managed car dealerships, and at that time, worked for Boody Chevrolet in Allentown. The Nova appealed to me after the 1968 restyle, and I…

ENGINE Oldsmobile left little on the table. Its base engine was a 455-cu.in. engine that had been steadily improving since its 1968 debut. The 1970 4-4-2’s base 455 was rated for 365 hp, but the W-30 version—bolstered by a camshaft featuring an intake/exhaust valve duration of 285/287 degrees and .472-inch lift (with automatic; 328 duration and .475-inch lift with manual trans)—was rated at 370 hp. TRANSMISSION The base three-speed manual, listed as a heavy-duty unit, was needed to manage the base 455 engine. It could have been supplanted — and often was — by a close-ratio four-speed manual or Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 three-speed automatic. The exception to this arrangement was the W-30 package, which mandated the four-speed or the still-optional TH400. Refer to the chart on page 48 for ratios…

“ In my published report, I praised the ’73 Charger as one of the best Mopars I had driven in recent years. ” Strolling through my local La Quinta, California, Chamber of Commerce’s car show recently, I came upon a ’73 Dodge Charger and was somewhat stunned. It was a triple-white car that had been meticulously restored. I was stunned because the car looked identical to one I had road tested back in 1973. But more than that, I was struck by the sheer size of the car. It looked enormous. Remember, guys, this was a car that was once dubbed an “intermediate.” With a wheelbase of 115 inches and 212.7 inches in overall length, it sat there in its show spot and was simply huge. And the all-white presentation…

EXHAUST DIAMETER Q: My question concerns muffler inlet and outlet diameters on my 1964 Corvette. The exhaust pipes are 2½-inch all the way from the manifolds (which have 2½-inch outlets) to the mufflers, which are at the very back. The exhaust tips are at the muffler outlet. Current mufflers are 2½-inch inlet and 2-inch outlet. All replacement mufflers I have seen listed also have 2½-inch inlets and 2-inch outlets. I have owned the car since 1970 and seem to remember that the stock ones were the same. I have to assume that Chevy and muffler manufacturers know more than I do about exhaust flow, but I would like to understand the logic and advantage of the use of the smaller outlet. Intuitively, it seems that performance and sound would be…

“Coupes are for chickens,” the early hot rodders liked to say. Only roadsters, and perhaps touring cars and phaetons, were worthy for rebuilding as hot machinery for street and strip. If you had a coupe or a sedan in the 1930s and ’40s, it was really nothing more than transportation. But as the supply of open cars began to dry up, grassroots performance enthusiasts had to broaden their horizons. This was especially true outside of California, where closed cars had started to displace open cars as soon as they became affordable in the 1920s. Racing “hardtops,” as closed cars were called by the racing fraternity, really started to take off in the early 1950s. Initially ’32-’34 Fords were popular, but the ’37 to ’39 Fords soon eclipsed them due to…

SUPERCHARGED 454 RADIATOR FOR NOMAD Q:I have been reading HMM for the last couple of years and am currently switching the 283-cu.in. engine in my Chevrolet Nomad to a supercharged, dual-carbureted 454 engine with high-rise intake manifold. The engine swap is coming along nicely, but I need to make a decision regarding the cooling system for the 454. What radiator should I use, the standard Nomad radiator or a custom aluminum aftermarket unit? Electric fans will also be installed — do you have a recommendation for these? Your help in these areas would be greatly appreciated. Dexter Morris Atlanta, Georgia A: With the larger displacement engine over the stock small-block offering, we strongly recommend an aftermarket four-row radiator with supplementary electric fans. Cool Craft Components offers several “cross-flow conversion” radiator…

FORCE 1: VIPER LIVES ON (BRIEFLY) IN VLF’S SNAZZY CARBON-FIBER DUDS The Dodge Viper’s long goodbye played out on August 31, its quarter-century of life snuffed out by new rollover regulations that kicked in on September 1. That said, the Viper’s bones will live on for a time — even if only for the privileged few. The VLF Force 1 is now delivering the first of its 50-car run to well-heeled customers. What’s the Force 1? Launched at the Detroit Auto Show in 2016, the Force 1 features the Viper’s 8.4-liter V-10 engine, rated at 745 horsepower — a cool 100 hp more than a stock Viper — and 638 lb-ft of torque. (The chassis is all Viper as well.) Force 1’s bespoke carbon-fiber body allows the sporty two-seater to…

Though we are in the midst of a second golden age of muscle cars, there are those who prefer to maximize the factory offerings from the ’60s and ’70s. With a strict rulebook on what can be modified, and the full appearance of a stock muscle car, these racers approach or surpass the performance of the most celebrated current factory offerings. Yank the front wheels? We’ve got that. Nine-second time slips? We’ve got that too. Hit 140 mph in the quarter mile? Come on. Oh, and we are doing it on bias-ply tires. The 2016 F.A.S.T. season was a huge success, wrapping up with Dave Dudek’s Hemi Road Runner running 9.90 at 140.31 mph, and Scott Tiemann’s Ram Air II Firebird running a 9.99 at 136.80 at the famed Maryland…

I’d heard tell of a special media event, held many years ago, where motoring journalists were encouraged to make 10-second dragstrip passes in a high-powered test car. I’d have dismissed such incredible tales, save for the fact that I knew someone who’d been there and driven the car to several mid-to-low 10-second runs. The car was a Corvette test mule outfitted with one of the then-new all-aluminum ZL1 427 big-block Chevy engines, said to be stripped down, running with a TH-400 automatic and outfitted with slicks and open pipes. I’d long considered that event to be a sign of wild times, when carmakers would do whatever it took to keep out front in a performance war. Times that I never expected to be repeated. Then came the invitation to a…

MONTE MAN I normally do not write into magazines; however, after receiving my HMM #169 September issue, I just had to comment. First thing I normally do is skim through the magazine to see what articles you have done on cars. Well, was I surprised when I saw a ’70 SS 454 Monte on page 16. Very nice car and well done. One thing I will always remember about the ’70 is the very first one I saw at the dealer. It was a bright red one with a black vinyl top, and yes, it had the 390-hp 454, an engine that disappeared [from the option sheet] very quickly for reasons unknown (verified by former editor of a Chevrolet magazine). I tried to purchase this car but dealer would not…

The muscle car ethos was built on performance without unnecessary parasitic drag — no heavy, horsepower-robbing accessories to burden the driving experience and lengthen the elapsed time down the quarter-mile. That’s exactly how Steve Kosuda’s 1971 Road Runner was originally ordered. The Pistol-Grip-shifted, 383-powered Plymouth left the factory with a vinyl bench seat, four-wheel drum brakes and only an alternator bolted to the engine. No power steering. No power brakes. And certainly no air conditioning. That was all well and good in 1971, but these days every little cracker box on four wheels has disc brakes with greater stopping capability. That can be more than a little disconcerting in traffic, particularly when the drums are hot and prone to fade. “I’ve owned the car for 10 or 12 years now,…

HMM PRODUCT TEST: METAL SHAPING MALLET It’s pretty typical for car enthusiasts to become tool enthusiasts, and when a tool appears that holds the promise of helping to conquer another useful skill set, we want to know more. One such item we recently encountered is this Metal Shaping Mallet Set, from Wray Schelin’s Pro Shaper Tools. A few months back we attended one of Schelin’s metal shaping classes and actually worked with this tool, which Schelin designed. It is intended to move metal quickly and accurately, particularly when shrinking sheetmetal using proven old-world techniques. The set includes four changeable Delrin heads: low crown, medium crown, high crown, and chisel. A 20-inch wooden handle with rubber wrap grip ensures a powerful swing, and we can say from experience that the mallet…

Barrett-Jackson returned to Uncasville, Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino this past June, selling 630 collector and special-interest vehicles, garnering a total of $23.5 million in sales. Added to $819,000 on the sale of 685 pieces of automobilia, Barrett-Jackson rang the till to the tune of $24.3 million in their second visit to southeastern Connecticut. As usual, the majority of its lots were no reserve, resulting in a 96 percent sell-through rate. Though not a no-reserve lot, the top-selling muscle car was an extremely low-mileage, highly-original 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 that sold for $407,000. Other notable muscle car sales included a big-block 1967 Corvette 427/435 that sold for $231,000, followed by a 1966 Shelby G.T. 350-H that took in $220,000. An early muscle car in the form of a 1959 Dodge…

October 1 All Ohio Parts Spectacular Randolph, Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-533-8745 October 1 Sumter Swap Meet Bushnell, Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 727-848-7171 October 2 Morphy Auctions Denver, Pennsylvania . . . . . . . 877-968-8880 October 4-7 AACA Eastern Fall Meet Hershey, Pennsylvania . . . . . . .717-534-1910 October 5-6 RM Sotheby’s Auction Hershey, Pennsylvania . . . . . . 519-352-4575 October 5-7 Mecum Auction Chicago, Illinois. . . . . . . . . . . . 262-275-5050 October 5-7 Vicari Auction Biloxi, Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . 504-264-2277 October 7 First Annual Factory Muscle Cars Only Dowling Park, Florida .…

HEMMINGS-FEATURED CAMARO Z28 EXCEEDS HIGHEST POINT TOTAL AT 2017 CAMARO NATS Frank Arone’s 1970 1/2 Z28 was featured as a Restoration Profile in the August 2017 issue of HMM, and the Camaro also earned Best of Show honors at Musclepalooza XXV last May. Starting with a 36,500-mile, Forest Green, original-paint example, Arone restored the Chevrolet to a concours standard with his crew at Arone Restorations in Homer City, Pennsylvania, carefully documenting all markings and other aspects of the car’s assembly for careful replication during the restoration. In its first Camaro Nationals appearance in 2016, the F-body scored 4,988 of 5,000 points, making it the highest-scoring second-gen Camaro to go through the program at the time. Impressive, but not good enough for Arone, who vowed to make improvements, then return to…

“Cyclone is strictly for fun,” ran the 1969 brochure, “365 days a year.” That’s still true almost a half century later, though modern drivers are a lot less likely to go out in “sun, snow, wind, and rain” as suggested by Mercury. But while the car on these pages may strictly be a fair-weather driver these days, it does showcase the variety of seasons for which the Cyclone was intended when new. What a long way from its roots the Mercury Cyclone GT had come in just nine years. The Comet compact was originally envisioned as an Edsel companion, but was orphaned at the outset in 1960. In its initial form, Comet was a stretched, duded-up Ford Falcon with a 144-cu.in. six-cylinder. For 1962, Comet became the Mercury Comet, and…

Drag racers in the late 1970s and 1980s didn’t shop for low monthly lease terms on Monday hoping to win rounds with factory-fresh 400-plus-horsepower cars on Sunday. New cars in those days were slow or front-wheel drive, or both, so the road to foot-brake, door-slammer glory started with an old car powered by a big V-8. This DIY approach to going fast was usually gratifying, occasionally terrifying, and definitely tough on equipment. Sheetmetal was reshaped to accommodate fat tires and headers. Cages and stiffeners were bolted and welded in. Original factory-performance drivetrain bits were sought out, modified to within an inch of their lives, and frequently thrashed to pieces. Bodies were often twisted and cracked in epic wrestling matches between traction and torque. Muscle car collector hysteria was still in…

Firstly, love the magazine and have been a subscriber for years. I have a 1970 AMX that I spent four years restoring, down to every nut and bolt, which I’ve hauled cross country several times since finishing the build in 2011. First on a friend’s open trailer for the closer shows and then, later, upgrading to my own enclosed trailer due to long-distance shows on the horizon. What do I consider long distance? Well, I live just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, and have traveled to regional AMC shows in Washington and Oregon states. National AMC shows drew me to Nevada, Wisconsin (AMC Homecoming), South Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois, and recently I returned from winning the American Cup at the AMO Nationals in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The car doesn’t always spend…

Engineers seem to view the world differently than many of the rest of us. When examining products, they see details, strengths, and weaknesses, and even possible solutions for the latter that most of us might overlook. Their approach to a project includes setting its parameters and goals, analyzing its benefits and cost, problem solving, and moving forward with an eye toward executing the tasks at hand using methods to ensure the intended results are realized — the long way of saying that they don’t cut corners. Once you recognize the level of detail that was applied to our featured convertible, you won’t be surprised to learn that its owner, Jim Bagshaw from Kincardine, Ontario, is a retired mechanical engineer. Since his first car was a 1969 Barracuda 340 Formula S…

I was always a Chevy/ Pontiac guy, even from the get go, before I was able to get behind the wheel. The first of “my favorite five” was a ’55 Chevy Bel Air convertible I had spotted in the back row of a used car lot. I removed the chrome strips dividing the two faded shades of green and de-chromed the hood and trunk as well. It was an eyesore to some until much fiberglass filling and sanding and a Neptune Green Metallic paint job met with great approval! I consider the ’55 Chevy the best ever. I replaced that ’55 with a ’60 Impala convertible in charcoal with red interior and a white top. It was a looker with smooth performance. Then came my ’56 Vette, which I saw…

A LOOK AHEAD TO MECUM CHICAGO It’s only appropriate that Mecum Auctions, an enterprise that started in the suburbs of the Windy City, should hold one of its annual sales in the nation’s third-most populous metropolis. A number of lots have already been announced that might tempt potential purchasers to the Midwestern hub. Among the offerings are models from the height of full-size muscle in the early 1960s up to the factory performance car renaissance of the present day. At the old end of the spectrum is a 1961 Ford Galaxie Sunliner. While many Sunliners cruised around sedately with mild 292 Y-block V-8s hooked up to automatic transmissions, the 390-cu.in. V-8 and three-speed manual transmission on the Corinthian White droptop hint at acceleration potential—especially if the big-block is equipped as…

“…what’s the driving force behind these more-than-incredible prices paid for ’70 Hemi Mopar droptops, and what do these stratospheric prices do to the rest of the hobby?” In the rarified world of muscle car prices, for many enthusiasts, the rarity of certain collector vehicles and the prices they demand border on the ridiculous. Since the summer of 2015, when a ’70 Hemi ’Cuda convertible sold for $2.25 million dollars at auction, strange things have been happening. I remember, not so many years ago, when the few totally restored ’70 Hemi convertible E-body cars were being appraised for upwards of $1.5 million. Whew! Granted, they only made 14 1970 Hemi ’Cuda convertibles, and only nine Hemi Challenger R/T ragtops. Rare cars, to be sure, but in the grand scheme of things,…