Saturday Car Thread 9/6/14 - [Niedermeyer's Dead Horse and KBDaBear]

Let's get down to it.

From our friends at Automotive News, a list of the Top 10 Geriatric Cars:

Wow! That's a looker!

Car from the era of Fast Talking Hight Trousers: https://t.co/j3NN56Be1N “@robosanta3: pic.twitter.com/4Aqyr6tP0S”
— Dimitri Kolokotronis (@JimmyLevendia) September 1, 2014

WWII vet turns garage into museum for collection of classic Fords, gas pumps and toy cars http://t.co/Y14j5296tH pic.twitter.com/zrHe74WJQz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 6, 2014

And, the car thread bids Ms. Rivers adieu. You were one helluva broad.

Now, KBDB offers a few items for your perusal:

The Best Used Cars for Under $20,000

As the 2015 model year is rolling out for most models this autumn, it's not just the best time to find a bargain on a new car, but an optimum time to take the trade-ins off the dealer lots. Under pressure to move their 2014 inventory to make room for 2015 models, they have to either move the used trade-ins or consign them to the auctions.

Nowadays, cars are built to last so long that at 50,000 miles it's just getting broken in, and most new models aren't significantly different from a 2 or 3 year old version. Not only do you avoid the huge depreciation hit, but you have a car that will still be in good condition 5 years from now. In many cases the original warranty is transferable to a new owner, check with the manufacturer on their policies. Don't ask the dealer as they'll want to sell you high margin extended warranties and service plans.

Porsche Powered VW Karmann-Ghia

Most of the Moron gearheads focus our fantasies on American classics and muscle cars when it comes to customizations, but there are others like our own Moronette incarnatino of Mona Lisa Vito we know and love as Anna Puma. So for AP, here's a KG doing a run around the track pushed along quickly by a Porsch 911 engine.

70's Movies for Motorheads

The early 70's were the beginning of the nadir of American cars, but that same period was a golden age for those of us who loved some good old flat out V8 dialog;

Two-Lane Blacktop

James Taylor and Dennis Wilson took some time from the recording studio to try their hands at acting in this road trip Minimalist flick as two street racers who travel from California to Tennessee and earn cash on the way by racing their muscled up 1955 Chevy against locals in the towns they encounter.

Vanishing Point

Barry Newman is an ex-cop turned car courier who contracts to deliver a 440 Dodge Challenger R/T Magnum from Denver to San Francisco. He bets a drug dealer that he can deliver the car by 3 pm the next day. Of course he draws the attention of the highway patrol in Colorado and Utah and leads them on an escalating high speed chase.

Duel

Directed by some guy named Steven Spielberg, this made for tv thriller was penned by Richard Matheson. If you've never seen it, a Los Angeles traveling businessman played by Dennis Weaver has an appointment with a client in Northern California. Detouring through the Soledad Canyon region north of Santa Clarita, he draws the ire of a psychotic truck driver in an old Peterbilt tractor trailer who chases Weaver through the desert. Spielberg did a great job making the truck itself the antagonist, it exuded pure menace.

If you're going to piss off a psycho in a souped up semi, don't do it in an underpowered 1970 Slant Six Plymouth Valiant

American Graffiti

Directed by some guy named George Lucas, this is not the minimalist genre of the other three, it was one of the early “Coming of Age” films. It's the story of four friends spending the final night of summer cruising the streets of Modesto California in 1962. Starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard, the film was a thrill for fans of 50's muscle cars, hot rods and the Golden Oldies that served as the soundtrack throughout the film.

The first prominent car was the 1932 Deuce Coupe of John Milner (Paul LeMat).

Then Milner's antagonist challenging him for “fastest car in the valley”, the 1955 Chevy* of Bob Falfa (some guy named Harrison Ford)

*This is the same '55 Chevy that starred in Two Lane Blacktop

Steve Henderson's (Ron Howard) 1958 Chevy Impala that he entrusts to his nerdy friend Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith)

The Pharaohs gang leader's (Bo Hopkins) 1951 Mercury

Blonde Mystery Girl's (Suzanne Somers) 1956 Ford Thunderbird

Elbows!

[Ed. note: The tamest tweet KBDB ever tweeted]

A tip of the hat and a Duesenberg pic.twitter.com/jgALcVYNjG
— KBDaBear (@kbdabear) September 5, 2014

A bonus:

Please feel free to send any complaints or commendations to us at Twitter: Nied's Dead Horse and KBDaBear.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:06 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Woohoo, car thread!

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 06:02 PM (8FyP4)

2 Gran Torino is on TNT right now. I hadn't seen it so i'm checking it out.

Posted by: stace, Aggie Class of '[redacted] at September 06, 2014 06:07 PM (9PXzx)

3 Aawww thanks. The Bader Racing Porsche flat six powered Karmann Ghia is awesome.

Now here is a truly gorgeous car, alas its British so cursed by Lucas.
http://tinyurl.com/omof8ol

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 06:10 PM (cJGV3)

4 My Mazda 5 turned over 600 miles on the odometer this week, so it is officially broken in.

Posted by: rickl at September 06, 2014 06:11 PM (sdi6R)

5 Hey, Anna, are you around? :-P

Later, all.

God bless. :-)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at September 06, 2014 06:12 PM (GAVmg)

6 I think that first link doesn't match the content.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at September 06, 2014 06:13 PM (wrvud)

7 Now here is a truly gorgeous car, alas its British so cursed by Lucas.
http://tinyurl.com/omof8ol
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD)

_____________________________________________

The XKSS is about as good as it gets. Sadly, almost all of them were destroyed in a factory fire.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 06:13 PM (8FyP4)

8 I can lock all my doors, it's the only way to live.

In cars.

Posted by: Gary Numan at September 06, 2014 06:14 PM (ryKKn)

9 Some of the scenes from Vanishing Point were filmed on I-70, perhaps a mile from my parents house. My cousin's husband was an extra in one of the scenes. My brush with fame.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at September 06, 2014 06:15 PM (NeFrd)

10 Looks like I will be ordering a new truck next week. Of the many cars I've owned, this will be the first time that I've ordered one. Kind of nervous about it.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 06:16 PM (8FyP4)

11 I think that first link doesn't match the content.

***

Fixed it. Thanks.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 06, 2014 06:17 PM (DmNpO)

12 Anna, the stalker dropped by.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 06:18 PM (6PM9K)

13 Not meaning trouble to weekend management, because I like them.

But that dumbass Misanthropic Humanitarian got his ass banned so I'm ginning for him.

Bring him back.

ATTICA!

ATTTICA!

ATTICA!

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at September 06, 2014 06:20 PM (2+6Hp)

14 I remember as a 16 year old watching Vanishing Point. The chick on the bike made quite an impression.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at September 06, 2014 06:21 PM (l3vZN)

15 I remember as a 16 year old watching Vanishing Point. The chick on the bike made quite an impression.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at September 06, 2014 06:21 PM (l3vZN)

16 Damn I love the old bulgemobiles. Today's cars are much better to drive but they lack that gaudy optimistic oomph.

I ask this in all seriousness -- why don't they pair retro styling with modern day technology?

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 06:23 PM (QBm1P)

17
I always thought it was interesting that nazis only drove convertibles. You never see them in hardtops. Here's the convertible that killed "the hangman of Prague":

http://goo.gl/Og5Yoo

Posted by: The Progs at September 06, 2014 06:23 PM (iQIUe)

18 I've seen "Vanishing Point" but I don't recall the chick on the bike?

Been a few years.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at September 06, 2014 06:24 PM (2+6Hp)

19 I have the "Invaders" series on disc (mid sixties Route66/The Fugitive clone w/aliens) and it is great for car and dead actor spotting. David Vincent is always driving something cool.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at September 06, 2014 06:25 PM (dJCJQ)

20 I always thought it was interesting that nazis only drove convertibles.
---

The better to let the wind blow through their flaxen Aryan locks!

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 06:26 PM (QBm1P)

21
Mega car show here this weekend, Adirondack Nationals.

A huge crossection of cars of all styles and makes. More people than I'm comfortable around, to be honest.

Still fun drooling on the classics.

Posted by: irongrampa at September 06, 2014 06:28 PM (jeCnD)

22 OT, but I see Wendy Davis is still living., breathing and sending out press releases.

Today the newspapers have her publicly discussing her abortion many moons ago of her third child, presumably to regain some of the credibility sho once had with Democrats. It's so disgusting.

Posted by: MTF at September 06, 2014 06:29 PM (6um35)

23 Sounds fun Iron Grampa.

So is it a chopped '40 Merc that got you drooling?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 06:30 PM (cJGV3)

24 Vanishing Point. I think is was thirteen. At the Colony on Hay Street.

My favorite movie for a long time.

Posted by: Golfman in NC at September 06, 2014 06:31 PM (/djtm)

25 @ 23

Nope, Anna--my interest is the restorations that have been brought back to original.

Worked on more than a few of the 60s and 70s.

Posted by: irongrampa at September 06, 2014 06:35 PM (jeCnD)

26
Here is some amazing human being stuff for next weeks thread or you can just watch em now.

https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=kXRlTNIK79Y

https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=c1pJIVqCC1E

delete the space after www.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at September 06, 2014 06:36 PM (wrvud)

27 I went to an old tractor and hit-n-miss engine auction today. Interesting.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 06:36 PM (6PM9K)

28 I love that Karmann Ghia.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 06:39 PM (8FyP4)

29 I'm watching Grand Torino too, stace. It is a damn good flick.

Not 70's, but still old - I watched Breakdown (Kurt Russell) a couple weeks ago. That was better than most people give it credit for.

Posted by: shredded chi at September 06, 2014 06:40 PM (vlvwn)

30 But that dumbass Misanthropic Humanitarian got his ass banned so I'm ginning for him.

What did he click on to get banned so a dumbass like me doesn't do it too?

Posted by: dumbartist at September 06, 2014 06:42 PM (ahBY0)

31 How come the guy in the Karmann video is speaking Austrian?

Posted by: Barry O'Bama at September 06, 2014 06:43 PM (hdZbM)

32 American graffiti had given me 2 life long cravings, the '55 chevy and the '32 deuce coupe. I was almost set to start building the coupe, but the 440 6-pack motor in the garage keeps me looking for another '69 or '70 road runner.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 06, 2014 06:45 PM (FMbng)

33 Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.

Someone just told me to prove that most professors hate America

I'm doing too much internet

Posted by: Scott Anderson at September 06, 2014 06:46 PM (I2LwF)

34 Posted by: dumbartist at September 06, 2014 06:42 PM (ahBY0)

Don't have a nic with the initials MH. Ask Mike Hammer.

Posted by: Golfman in NC at September 06, 2014 06:46 PM (Oyubh)

35 440 6-pack motor in the garage keeps me looking for another '69 or '70 road runner.

You could also stick it in a '69 or '70 Super Bee.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 06:47 PM (6PM9K)

36 How the heck did MisHum get banned? He's good people.

HiJinx! (see what I did there?)

My first car was a '69 Ghia convertible. I swapped in a bigger (1500 or 1600 cc?) Air pump with dual Mikuni 34mm carbs... good times.
little girl couldn't do 100, but would chirp tires in third.

Posted by: shredded chi at September 06, 2014 06:49 PM (vlvwn)

37 Another interesting trivia note, parts of Two Lane Blacktop were filmed on US Highway 129 on the TN/NC border, AKA the infamous Tail of the Dragon. As they exit the Dragon they pass by a dam...the same dam where Harrison Ford would take his dive in The Fugitive.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 06:49 PM (6fyGz)

38 @ 32

You mess around with 6pak 440's in a stock B Body, get ready for some problems with body twist.

Torque boxes and frame ties are a necessity here.

Posted by: irongrampa at September 06, 2014 06:49 PM (jeCnD)

39 I have actually picked real cotton. With my very own real hands. I have also driven my own Chevelle. With my selfsame very own hands. The elites would have me back picking cotton again. And I may do that, but it will be my own cotton. On my own terms.

Posted by: Erowmero at September 06, 2014 06:51 PM (go5uR)

40 I always thought it was interesting that nazis only
drove convertibles. You never see them in hardtops. Here's the
convertible that killed "the hangman of Prague":

http://goo.gl/Og5Yoo

Posted by: The Progs at September 06, 2014 06:23 PM (iQIUe)

They used sedans, too. "Hardtop" is not the opposite of "convertible". That would be "closed car". A hardtop is a convertible-style body with a fixed steel roof. The hallmark of a hardtop is the lack of a "B" pillar when the windows are all rolled down.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 06, 2014 06:51 PM (bOzE1)

41 Now here is a truly gorgeous car, alas its British so cursed by Lucas.

http://tinyurl.com/omof8ol

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 06:10 PM (cJGV3)

In the words of AtC ... "paws at screen"

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 06:51 PM (aTXUx)

42 440 6-pack motor in the garage keeps me looking for another '69 or '70 road runner.

You could also stick it in a '69 or '70 Super Bee.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 06:47 PM (6PM9K)

or a fat-fendered roadster.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 06:52 PM (6fyGz)

43 I have actually picked real cotton.

______________________________________

Never have, never will.

Posted by: Roy Clark at September 06, 2014 06:52 PM (8FyP4)

44 I ask this in all seriousness -- why don't they pair retro styling with modern day technology?

The shape of cars today is heavily, albeit indirectly, regulated. All of the requirements about what goes into cars and what cars must do means a limited selection of styles that also fulfill the regulations. I think the last really different looking cars were the Jaguars before Ford sold them; Jags (while still cool) now look much more like everything else.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 06, 2014 06:53 PM (J0IP0)

45 14 I remember as a 16 year old watching Vanishing Point. The chick on the bike made quite an impression.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at September 06, 2014 06:21 PM (l3vZN)

She sent 14 year old me to my bunk

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 06:53 PM (aTXUx)

46 The geriatric car link was funny. I was a little miffed about the inclusion of the Toyota Corolla. I just traded in a '91 wagon I owned for 15 years. If they still made a Corolla wagon, I'd have bought a new one in a heartbeat.

Hell, if they still made a '91 model, I'd have bought that. There was nothing wrong with that design. My old one just had too much rust is all. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I wonder if it might someday be possible to 3D print any car you like. If the old drawings and specs are still available, why not?

Posted by: rickl at September 06, 2014 06:54 PM (sdi6R)

47 For my next vehicle I want a 71 or 72 C-10 SWB stepside Chevy pickup with a smallblock V8 and four-on-the-floor with the granny gear. Just because.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 06:54 PM (6fyGz)

48 A 440 would be pretty frickin' sweet in an early '30s Dodge or Plymouth coupe. A hell of a lot cheaper than a '32 Ford as well.

Posted by: Roy Clark at September 06, 2014 06:54 PM (8FyP4)

49
You know what's fun?

Goin on YouTube and watching all the old car tv commercials.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 06, 2014 06:55 PM (QuTMi)

50 Be gone, country virtuoso sock.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 06:56 PM (8FyP4)

51 The shape of cars today is heavily, albeit
indirectly, regulated. All of the requirements about what goes into cars
and what cars must do means a limited selection of styles that also
fulfill the regulations. I think the last really different looking cars
were the Jaguars before Ford sold them; Jags (while still cool) now look
much more like everything else.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 06, 2014 06:53 PM (J0IP0)

Good answer. I think another factor is that the basic body design has to lend itself to being welded up by robots. Notice how nearly every newer car has seams in the roof just inboard of the door tops? Older cars had one-piece roofs fitted onto the skeleton of the body, a job which robots could not do well.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 06, 2014 06:57 PM (bOzE1)

52 Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 06, 2014 06:53 PM (J0IP0)
-----------
This makes me feel very sad. So, fins will make Gaia weep?

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 06:57 PM (QBm1P)

53 The shape of cars today is heavily, albeit
indirectly, regulated. All of the requirements about what goes into cars
and what cars must do means a limited selection of styles that also
fulfill the regulations. I think the last really different looking cars
were the Jaguars before Ford sold them; Jags (while still cool) now look
much more like everything else.

Posted by: yet another commenter with a long link in his nic that Pixy has fits over at September 06, 2014 06:53 PM (J0IP0)

It's all about the safety and the mileage. New cars have to have side air bags and crash curtains and backup cameras and all kinds of crap now. My Mustang has the side air bags in the sides of the seats. There's also a lot of extensive air tunnel testing to get a good drag coefficient for mileage and a lot of those beautiful swoopy fenders and teardrop designs were actually pretty hydraulically horrid (air is a fluid, FWIW), they had as much drag as a full size barn, not just the door. (maybe a slight exaggeration, but if you have ever driven an early 60's Chevy pickup at any kind of speed you realize it's not MUCH of an exaggeration).

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 06:59 PM (6fyGz)

54
One of the scariest cars I ever rode in was an early 70s Dodge Coronet, a former Alabama cop car.

They were mid-size sedans, 3000 lbs with the 440 engine. Frighteningly quick, with an overmatched suspension in the early versions.

But fun after you realized what you were doing.

Posted by: irongrampa at September 06, 2014 07:00 PM (jeCnD)

55 This makes me feel very sad. So, fins will make Gaia weep?

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 06:57 PM (QBm1P)

Will it? *looks for 59 Caddy convertible with a huge gas guzzling motor instead*

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:00 PM (6fyGz)

56 I ask this in all seriousness -- why don't they pair retro styling with modern day technology?

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 06:23 PM (QBm1P)

Actually you can build your own classic with modern tech, there's a class of show cars that do just that called "Pro-Touring"

There's a company in Michigan that bought the molds and the rights from GM to manufacture chassis and bodies of old '50's classics including the 55-57 Chevy. You order the body brand new and do your own drive trains, suspension and interiors

I wrote about it a few years ago, featuring a gorgeous 55 that one of their customers built that was in Hot Rod Magazine

http://tinyurl.com/mfdq8nt

I'll feature it again here on a future thread

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:01 PM (aTXUx)

57 I had a '60 Chev pickup with the brow above the windshield. I think that took 15 hp to overcome the drag.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:02 PM (6PM9K)

58 Eldest Boy has been out changing the struts in the Subaru today. We were going to do all four, but when we saw where the top mounting bolts were in a Subaru Baja...you know, the back struts really aren't bad...

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:02 PM (6fyGz)

59 This makes me feel very sad. So, fins will make Gaia weep?

I suspect the issue is that fins are labor intensive; and with all of the other mandated costs going into making a car, saving money on manufacturing (see #51) so that people will actually buy them, means no fins.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at September 06, 2014 07:03 PM (J0IP0)

60 I had a '60 Chev pickup with the brow above the windshield. I think that took 15 hp to overcome the drag.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:02 PM (6PM9K)

I had a 62 so I know exactly what you are talking about.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:03 PM (6fyGz)

61 Bought a new Mazda6 this week. Damn thing has more options than the Space Shuttle.

It's in the garage next to my '65 Corvair Monza. The only thing electronic (sorta) on that car is the AM radio (no pushbuttons).

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:04 PM (YAiVr)

62 They were mid-size sedans, 3000 lbs with the 440 engine. Frighteningly quick, with an overmatched suspension in the early versions.

Posted by: irongrampa at September 06, 2014 07:00 PM (jeCnD)

As an owner of three Mopars in my youth, a lawn mower engine would have overmatched the suspension.

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:04 PM (aTXUx)

63 1969 Karmann Ghia cabriolet should have come stock with a 1600cc SP motor. Should have put in DP heads and probably a Bosch 009 dizzy even with its flat spot. Or did you get a whole new motor? And EMPI trigger shifter to go with the Gene Berg 5 speed transmission.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:05 PM (cJGV3)

64 It's in the garage next to my '65 Corvair Monza. The only thing electronic (sorta) on that car is the AM radio (no pushbuttons).

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:04 PM (YAiVr)

love love LOVE the 2nd gen body style Corvairs. Was the Monza the turbo, or was that only the Monza Spyder?

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:05 PM (6fyGz)

65 I'll feature it again here on a future thread
Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:01 PM (aTXUx)
---
Please do, I would love to read it.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 06, 2014 07:05 PM (QBm1P)

66 Corvair story. My oldest boy had a friend that was cleaning out his grand-dad's garage after he passed and found a 64 Corvair in the corner. It hadn't been tagged since the mid 70's so it had been there a while. They drained the kerosene out of the tank, put in a couple of fresh gallons, a little Marvel Mystery Oil down each cylinder, turned it over a couple of times with a breaker bar, hooked up a new battery and the damn thing fired right up. Smoked like a steam engine, but it started, and he backed it out of the shed on four flat tires.

I don't know what happened to that car. Sold it I'm sure, but I don't know to who or for how much.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:08 PM (6fyGz)

67 What year did the style change on the Corvairs?

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:09 PM (6PM9K)

68 GGE, I think the turbo was only optioned on the Corsa. Mine has the 110 dual carb.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:10 PM (YAiVr)

69 Need a 1967 Mustang fastback body?

http://www.corbettsauto.com/1967_ford_mustang_fastback_body_shell.htm

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:10 PM (cJGV3)

70 As an owner of three Mopars in my youth, a lawn mower engine would have overmatched the suspension.

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:04 PM (aTXUx)

I have owned three Mopars. All three were 80's model FWD, all three had either the 2.2 or 2.5 (same block), and two of them were cars I swore I would never own (one was a station wagon and one was a minivan). I made more money selling each one of them than I had in them. I wish I had kept the Rampage, but the frame was bent on the right side forward of the K frame. Maybe one day I'll have another to play with, but they are getting pretty scarce these days.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:11 PM (6fyGz)

71 63 - Anna

It's been thirty years, but I swear the thing was an anemic little 1400, if that.
Maybe not?
And it had that horrible "Automatic Stickshift" tranny. I got so good at replacing the thing, I could do it by myself in two hours.

I ended up putting in a real four speed & hydraulic clutch

Posted by: shredded chi at September 06, 2014 07:13 PM (vlvwn)

72 I've owned over 100 cars, but have never had a Mopar. Just not my thing.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:13 PM (8FyP4)

73 1965 was the first year for the 2nd-gen Corvair.

A few parts were shared with the Corvette, which pisses off The Corvette guys when you mention it.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:15 PM (YAiVr)

74 61 Bought a new Mazda6 this week. Damn thing has more options than the Space Shuttle.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:04 PM (YAiVr)

Good for you. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about that car.

But I need something that can carry cargo, so a sedan is out. I understand that there is a Mazda 6 wagon, but it is not sold in the States. Grr.

Posted by: rickl at September 06, 2014 07:17 PM (sdi6R)

75 A few parts were shared with the Corvette, which pisses off The Corvette guys when you mention it.

I don't doubt you, but what were those parts, some nuts and bolts?

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:17 PM (6PM9K)

76 Ronster, IIRC it was 65 that the new body style came out. Corsa, right, not Spyder, thanks. Had a friend that had one once upon a time.

Anna, we have a guy in the club that has built a 67 Fastback out of a Dynacorn body. They also do Camaros, Firebirds, Chevelles and old Chevy pickups but sadly not newer than a 57 (I still have the 62 C-10, or what's left of it; it needs a cab).

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:17 PM (6fyGz)

77 No '70s list, let alone ANY car movie list, is acceptable if it doesn't have ''The Driver'' on it. One of the best chase scenes pre-Ronin.

Pure '70's angst and kitsch. Oh, and the best hot-rod pickup ever. I even modeled mine after it.

Posted by: Mr Wolf at September 06, 2014 07:17 PM (YhndY)

78 The tilt steering column is the big one, they go for huge bucks if you can find one.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:20 PM (YAiVr)

79 Type 1 engine history from memory so this should scare you...

1966 1300cc SP which became the basis for all later engine blocks. 50HP
1967-68 1500cc SP of 53HP
1969-70 1600cc SP of maybe 57HP
1971-80 1500cc DP of an optimistic 60HP though emission control and factory air would kill the extra ponies and you would be struggling to get 50.

Yeah the Automatic Stickshift was not one of VW's better ideas. Three speeds and a microswitch in the stick that your press down to inform the transmission you want to change gears. Always can tell the cars that got modified because the ATF fluid reservoir stand would be left in the engine compartment on the Karmann Ghias.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:21 PM (cJGV3)

80 67 What year did the style change on the Corvairs?

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:09 PM (6PM9K)

1965. Chevy also replaced the swing axle rear with full independent rear suspension, eliminating the nasty oversteer that Nader exaggerated in his book. Ironically the book came out the very same year that the oversteer ceased to be an issue.

But consider the counterfactuals; if Nader had never written that book, he wouldn't have become famous, never would have run for President and taken enough far left votes away, Algore would have become President

Thank you, swing-axled Corvairs everywhere

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:23 PM (aTXUx)

81 Thanks to those who answered my stupid question.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:25 PM (6PM9K)

82 Nader's book is all about self-promotion. There was a VW 1966 year only recall that Volkswagen issued on its own. Its not in Nader's book because it did not fit his narrative.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:25 PM (cJGV3)

83 Yeah the Automatic Stickshift was not one of VW's
better ideas. Three speeds and a microswitch in the stick that your
press down to inform the transmission you want to change gears. Always
can tell the cars that got modified because the ATF fluid reservoir
stand would be left in the engine compartment on the Karmann Ghias.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:21 PM (cJGV3)

My late uncle Leo traded in his 1951 Chevy Powerglide on a VW Beetle with automatic stickshift. He loved that little car. He was tall man, and arthritis had claimed his left knee, so his left leg was locked straight out. He had to have an automatic. He had to have the driver's seat moved back several inches to accommodate his leg.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 06, 2014 07:26 PM (bOzE1)

84 66?

"a little Marvel Mystery Oil down each cylinder...."

MM oil?
Good stuff...

Posted by: backhoe at September 06, 2014 07:27 PM (ULH4o)

85 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI0Sqig3MAc

1971 Duster commercial

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 06, 2014 07:28 PM (QuTMi)

86 A few parts were shared with the Corvette, which pisses off The Corvette guys when you mention it.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:15 PM (YAiVr)

It could be worse. The Mustang II shared some chassis components with the Pinto, so now everyone thinks they were the same chassis.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:28 PM (6fyGz)

87 75 A few parts were shared with the Corvette, which pisses off The Corvette guys when you mention it.

I don't doubt you, but what were those parts, some nuts and bolts?

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:17 PM (6PM9K)

Some think it was the rear suspension, but other than the Corvair used coil springs and the Vettes used transverse leaf springs

Quite a few interior parts were shared with the first gen Camaros, particularly the instrument cluster

Posted by: kbdabear at September 06, 2014 07:29 PM (aTXUx)

88 My first car, a '50 chev had the Powerglide. As a kid I hated it and swapped it out for a manual trans. The Powerglide was a decent tranny. Not what you want with a 216 cubic inch 6 cyl. engine.

Posted by: Ronster at September 06, 2014 07:32 PM (6PM9K)

89 Oh gawd, the Mustang IIs... not even Ghia of Turin Italy could save those clunkers... so yes your VW Karmann Ghia was designed by a shop later bought by Ford. So you can annoy Mustang owners.

If properly treated and cared for, the system did work. But it was still hi-tech for a VW. And far too many people kept their hand in the shifter pressing down on the switch.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:33 PM (cJGV3)

90 83 Yeah the Automatic Stickshift was not one of VW's
better ideas.

__________________________________________

Porsche offered the similar Sportamatic transmission in early 911s. You don't see many of them today.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:35 PM (8FyP4)

91 Oh gawd, the Mustang IIs... not even Ghia of Turin
Italy could save those clunkers... so yes your VW Karmann Ghia was
designed by a shop later bought by Ford. So you can annoy Mustang
owners.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:33 PM (cJGV3)

or VW owners, by pointing out the Mustang II connection.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:38 PM (6fyGz)

92 I guess maybe the new one was bigger? 1700cc? Bigger? I know it was fast (and a lot of fun).
I know I ordered a block that was intended for a bus, then spec'd the heads, carbs, exhaust, etc.

I ordered it from a local VW shop. Again, that was early 80's, so, a lot of brain cells ago.

And that auto Stickshift sucked. Stranded me more than once. My BIL had a bug that burned to the ground one night when he took my sis to movies because of the electrical system on that thing.
They were in the mall while the FD was dousing his bug. Sad, but funny.

Posted by: shredded chi at September 06, 2014 07:38 PM (vlvwn)

93 Also, the early 356s shared a lot of parts with VW, but not many as production ramped up. Not glamorous, but it's just what it takes to build a car sometimes.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:38 PM (8FyP4)

94 Porsche had that same type auto stick. Tiptronic iirc.

I used to get stuck with working on those and the VW ones because nobody else wanted to.

The 440 in my old Dodge station wagon made a wonderful Brooooooom sound when you got on it. Fastest damn station wagon I've ever been in.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:39 PM (JdEZJ)

95 I owned a '72 Karmen Ghia in the early 80's and drove it from Chicago to Northern Michigan where I went to school. Thing had rust throughout and therefore zero, negative heat. Nearly died in it going back to school in January of '83; left Chicago at -15 and drove into -30 into Michigan. Had three pairs of pants, gloves, socks on and still needed to stop every hour to warm up my numb feet and hands. As I drove into Marquette I had only a working clutch (frozen accelerator) and was scrapping ice off the windshield - inside and out - with my school I.D. Funny thing is I wish I still owned it.

Posted by: Daisy Cutter at September 06, 2014 07:41 PM (WS+CW)

96 Ford sold three times as many Mustang IIs in 1974 than they did the previous year, the final for the first generation Mustangs. In '58, when they came out with the square, four seat Thunderbird, they sold four times as many as in any of the years of the two seat T-birds.

Sometimes sales numbers don't tell the whole story...

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:44 PM (8FyP4)

97 Yea it was Sportomatic and then Tiptronic.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:44 PM (JdEZJ)

98 97 Yea it was Sportomatic and then Tiptronic.
Posted by: freaked

____________________________________________

They say the Tiptronic is a good transmission, but it's just wrong having any kind of automatic in a Porsche.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:47 PM (8FyP4)

99 Ford sold three times as many Mustang IIs in 1974
than they did the previous year, the final for the first generation
Mustangs. In '58, when they came out with the square, four seat
Thunderbird, they sold four times as many as in any of the years of the
two seat T-birds.

Sometimes sales numbers don't tell the whole story...

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:44 PM (8FyP4)

The Mustang II was not a bad car for its time, but its time was pretty bad for American cars. If Ford had put a bigger engine in it than the anemic 140hp 2v 302 it probably wouldn't have been remembered with as much scorn, but when the Firebird with it's 455 could beat the damn thing at idle in 1st gear...

It did have a good (maybe even great, for the day) front suspension that could be dropped out of the car complete with rack and pinion steering and disk brakes, which found its way under many a straight axle pickup and street rod. Many of the MII's ended up in the scrapyard because the front ends got yanked out from under them by the hot rodders.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:48 PM (6fyGz)

100 Ever drive a VW home with a broken throttle cable? Just prop the carb open about half way and use the clutch, gears, and ignition switch to control your speed. Kinda like the old airplanes with no throttle, just a blip switch.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:48 PM (JdEZJ)

101 Starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard, the film was a thrill for fans of 50's muscle cars, hot rods and the Golden Oldies that served as the soundtrack throughout the film.

And Harrison Ford, and Mackenzie Phillips, and Suzanne Somers, and Wolfman Jack, and Cindy Williams, and Charles Smith ...

It was packed with current and future stars.

Posted by: toby928(C) Alabama Alumn and Native Texan, twice insufferable at September 06, 2014 07:51 PM (rwI+c)

102 My very first car was a '65 Corvair two door. This thing was uber rare, and I never knew it- it had the 140 4-carb engine, and a dealer-installed vinyl roof. NEVER saw another like it. Ran very well for the 2 years I had it- the only real downfall was it had no heat (living in Ohio that's a liability) but good gawd that thing would go in the snow. Was in the process of restoring it when right after I painted it in 1984 a deer ran out and I clipped it, smashing the driver side front side.

Just had to sell it after that. Just didn't have the money to fix that and start over.

Posted by: Mr Wolf at September 06, 2014 07:52 PM (YhndY)

103 Five second VW Beetle fan belt change. Probably won't be trying this on the 356...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 07:52 PM (8FyP4)

104 I drove a '69 Squareback home with a broken throttle cable. Took off the engine cover, had a buddy lay down in the back and work the throttle while I drove. Fortunately it was only a couple of miles on back roads.

Posted by: Top.Man. at September 06, 2014 07:53 PM (YAiVr)

105 Ever drive a VW home with a broken throttle cable?
Just prop the carb open about half way and use the clutch, gears, and
ignition switch to control your speed. Kinda like the old airplanes with
no throttle, just a blip switch.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:48 PM (JdEZJ)

No, but I have fashioned a replacement clutch cable for a 72 Fiat 128 saloon out of a piece of 10 speed bicycle brake cable and two cable clamps. In 1982 it would take 6-8 weeks for a clutch cable to arrive in Omaha NE from Italy for that car. I finally got smart enough to order two although it took all of my money that payday. It still had a good one in the car and a spare in the glovebox when the inner fenders split and the front end tried to come all the way off the car.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:55 PM (6fyGz)

106 Joie Chitwood and the '56 Chevy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzhJfGwt16Y

I vaguely remember my parents having a 1958 Chevy Bel Air when I was a little kid.

Posted by: rickl at September 06, 2014 07:58 PM (sdi6R)

107 Ha GGE! We once got a friend's 128 home after the fuel pump failed. We took the gas tank off of my Yamaha Rd350, set it on the hood, and ran the fuel line to the carb. Drove it 30 miles home like that.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:59 PM (JdEZJ)

108 The 356/912 motor shared a common ancestor with the air-cooled VW engines. That ancestor being design layout. But Porsche re-engineered everything for performance. Sure the Bosch 010 and 009 dizzies made it over to Type 1 engines. But nothing went the other way. Even how both engines handle their cooling tin are different.

Or are you talking about the Karmann plant in Osnabruck where from 1955 on was building Porsche 356 cabriolets, Beetle cabriolets, and both versions of the Type 14 Karmann Ghia? Because Karmann was bad about using parts in the bins until used up.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 07:59 PM (cJGV3)

109 I vaguely remember my parents having a 1958 Chevy Bel Air when I was a little kid.

Posted by: rickl at September 06, 2014 07:58 PM (sdi6R)

I actually like the 58 better than the 57.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 07:59 PM (6fyGz)

110 I vaguely remember my parents having a 1958 Chevy Bel Air when I was a little kid.
Posted by: rickl

___________________________________

'58 Chevys were shunned in the collector car world for a long time, but have really gained a following in the last 10-15 years. I think they're cool.

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 08:00 PM (8FyP4)

111 We once got a friend's 128 home after the fuel pump
failed. We took the gas tank off of my Yamaha Rd350, set it on the
hood, and ran the fuel line to the carb. Drove it 30 miles home like
that.

Posted by: freaked at September 06, 2014 07:59 PM (JdEZJ)

I hated that car. I had a 73 Merc Marquis Brougham before that but couldn't afford to feed it when gas climbed to the outrageous price of $1.00 per gallon (does anyone else remember the "1" stickers being put on gas pumps?). Mine was green. Army olive drab green. My little frog. But I have to hand it to that car, it never got stuck in the mud and as hard as I tried I could not kill it. It still ran good (for various definitions of "good") when Dad called the junk man.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at September 06, 2014 08:03 PM (6fyGz)

112 Anna, did I ever show you pictures of my Karmann built 356?

Posted by: Countrysquire, feeling reasonably fresh down there at September 06, 2014 08:03 PM (8FyP4)

113 Country Squire, nope.

The 356/912 motor had the zoom going for it. About 90HP vs the very anemic 36HP 1200cc SP in our '58 VW KG coupe in the garage.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at September 06, 2014 09:03 PM (cJGV3)

114 If you're going to piss off a psycho in a souped up semi, don't do it in an underpowered 1970 Slant Six Plymouth Valiant

Haahahahahahaa...

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at September 06, 2014 10:26 PM (DO37j)

115 Dennis Weaver was in something where he didn't play a federal employee?

Posted by: PersonFromPorlock at September 07, 2014 03:17 PM (EDprM)

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