Hemmings Muscle Machines October 2021

“Your friends and family who aren’t moved by classic cars likely won’t understand any of this…” The idea of a road trip might seem like the perfect way to enjoy a vintage car. Cars were made for driving, after all, and taking a classic out on the open road ought to be a great way to savor the full experience of motoring during a time gone by. Heading out there to turn some miles should be the reward for getting that old car or truck back together and running, or for just keeping it properly maintained if a restoration wasn’t involved. But those of us who have owned and worked on vintage cars know that the road trip is more of a challenge to rise to than just a simple…

If the lore is accurate, hot rodders have been homebuilding V-8-powered Jeeps for almost as long as Jeeps have existed, even overseas as World War II was still raging. Years later, civilian Jeeps with V-8 swaps eventually became fairly common; by the ’70s, AMC owned Jeep and was installing its own V-8s in CJs as a regular option. The availability of the 304-cu.in. CJ ended with the 1981 model year, going out with a 125-hp whimper, but Jeep fans have continued to build their own V-8 versions while longing for the return of a factory option. Seeming to recognize this, last year Stellantis (formerly FCA) teased us with a video of a Wrangler speeding around, making V-8 noises, just as Ford was announcing the coming new Bronco. It could have…

OIL INSIGHTS I just read the “Rip Van Winkle Corvette” Q&A in the Ask Ray column of the September issue and I agree with Ray’s answer, but I also wanted to add some additional information based on my experiences. I’m also formerly ASE Master Certified. Background: I bought a 1970 Corvette with the base engine, the 350/300 hp, in 2013. It had just 34,000 miles, and I bought it from the original owner. The car wears factory paint and is a survivor with its unmodified original powertrain. The Corvette has earned NCRS Top Flight status and was a 2014 Bloomington Gold Survivor. Initially, I used 10W-30 synthetic oil with my first two oil and filter changes. Then the engine developed an intermittent lifter tick at operating temperatures. The fix: I…

“I’m sending this email in response to the article “Talladega or Bust” a while back (HMM #200, April 2020). I thought your readers might like to see what a real NASCAR Talladega looked like in 1969. I built my Talladega to replicate what Benny Parsons’ #72 Talladega looked like at the time. Mine is full NASCAR spec, with a race-prepped Boss 429 making 870 hp at 6,500 rpm and 810 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. I built it to run on the track and to be able to drive it on the street — it has full insurance and is registered. I started collecting parts for this build in 1969, and in 2004 it was running and made the trip to Talladega Super Speedway for the 25-year reunion of…

“FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS WHAT YOU GOT. FREEDOM FROM CHOICE IS WHAT YOU WANT.” – DEVO Most high-school-age spuds were happy to have just one car to take them to and from home, school, work, the girlfriend’s house, wherever. Steve Gazda managed to have his name on the titles of two cars simultaneously, both of which he paid for with his own money. But secretly — and maybe he didn’t even realize it yet — he only wanted one. Steve grew up in a Chevy family in Minneapolis, starting his driving career in his parents’ 1960 Nomad. His older brother owned a loaded, 325-horse ’67 Impala SS convertible, red with a white gut and originally ordered for the local Chevy dealer’s wife. Steve dug it and asked that, when it…

I don’t have any particular recommendations for anyone setting out to build a car like this—everyone has his or her own vision. But take whatever you plan on spending and double it. The only thing I have left to do is to get the Hydro-Boost braking system on there, and I believe I’m done. I love the five-speed manual, but in hindsight, maybe I should have installed an automatic transmission, so that my wife could drive it, too. My sons want me to put an LS engine in there, but….…