CA 04 2016 Ad preview

No.300 April 2016

£4.40

Ben Klemenzson

Viewpoint

To reach the 300th milestone in anything is a bit of a landmark, and none more so than to reach the 300th edition of a publication, especially in today’s challenging climate in the world of publishing. If you’ve been with us for the last 300 issues, you will have seen the American automotive landscape in this country change dramatically – who would have thought, back in 1988, when Classic American was launched, that one day you’d be able to walk into a UK Ford dealership and buy a brand-new right-hand drive Mustang right off the sales floor? Well you can, and we caught up with a couple of lucky readers who’ve done just that (see pages 76 and 77!).

Likewise, flicking through that first issue, now almost 30 years old, reveals a magazine quite different to the one in your hands today; there are adverts for cigarettes, beer and lots of ‘lifestyle’ features. Back at the end of the Eighties, Classic American was riding the crest of a wave of nostalgia for the Fifties Americana that was sweeping across the UK. Ben E King and Marvin Gaye were in the top 10 and we couldn’t get enough Levis 501 jeans, Zippo lighters or Budweiser beers. TV was awash with adverts for all these products, from Wrigley’s Spearmint gum to Nick Kamen taking off his jeans in a laundrette for Levis!

The features on American football and the ads for Marlborough may have gone, but one thing that has remained is the passion we have for American cars… even those first issues reveal a magazine already wearing its heart on its sleeve; one that loves, lives and breathes American vehicles of every and any type. And that passion remains today! I hope that in this issue, you’ll see the full scope and breadth of that enthusiasm in the sheer variety and volume of feature cars in this very special issue. Happy 300th Classic American!

, bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk

87 ?

23

79

69 32 101

Contents April 2016

Regulars

Features

06 12 14 16 18 20 30

23 32 37 46

42 43 107 114 118 122 128 130 134

News Letters Muscle Car Files Here to Obscurity Across the Pond Subscription Offer Classic American Shop Back Issues Scale Autos Tech Discoveries Reviews Events Rear Window Service Directory Private ClassiďŹ eds

54 60 69 76 79 87 93 101

1937 Packard 1956 Thunderbird 1969 Oldsmobile 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Trans Am Trio 1960 Chrysler 300F Buick Electra 225 Modern Mustangs Mustang Road Trip 1970 Dodge Detroit Part II Shelby Cobra Daytona II

37 46

classic-american.com 5

Classic American

News Vintage Festival Head to Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire on May Day Bank Holiday Weekend and you’ll find yourself slap bang in the middle of a Fifties Festival where the fun, action, music and style conjure up all the atmosphere of a State Fair in mid-century America. ATOMIC is the perfect weekend for fans of classic American cars, music and lifestyle, with an astounding international line-up of top quality bands keeping the huge dance floors busy all day, into the early hours.

The incredible range of activities and other entertainment is breath-taking… and much of it’s free, including the Rock’n’Roller rink, trampolines, crazy golf, and a unique half-scale Spitfire ‘flight simulator’. There’ll also be free dance classes throughout the weekend, rides in a range of beautiful classic American cars and hilarious slide show presentations by American humorist, Charles Phoenix, who will be making his first appearance in the UK. If you’re bringing your own pre-1963 classic you’ll be guaranteed parking on the show field,

right in the heart of the festival, in front of the 40ft movie screen which will feature Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in glorious Technicolor, starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. And you can even have a go on the drag strip, where there’ll be traditional flag-start racing open to all eligible cars – where else will you see a ’48 Plymouth racing a ’53 Caddy? The Vintage Hot Rod Association and the Gasser Circus will also be putting on some spectacular, rubber-burning displays.

The festival camp site is on the airfield, so if you stay over you’ll never be far from the action.

Alternatively, there’s a list of local hotels on the ATOMIC website. Advance tickets offer the best value, at £42 for one day or £80 for two days.

Camping pitches are £45 for three nights, from Friday to Monday. Bookings can be made online any time at www.AtomicFestival.co.uk or call 01435 812508 for telephone orders.

Atomic, Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire NN6 OBN. Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 10am to 11pm, plus ‘late nite lounge’ till 2am.

WIN A PAIR OF TWO-DAY TICKETS FOR ATOMIC! Wow! Here’s your chance to win a pair of fantastic two-day tickets (plus a camping pitch if required!), worth over £200, in our free-to-enter competition, courtesy of the guys at the Atomic!

The lucky winner and a guest can look forward to an action-packed weekend of Fifties music, dancing, classic American cars and vintage lifestyle at one of the UK’s top mid-century festivals. To enter, answer the multiple choice question below, fill in the form and return by April 21 or enter online after March 24:

Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name Surname Address Postcode Email

Which American humorist will be doing slide show presentations at this year’s Atomic? a) Charles Phoenix b) Phoenix Rivers c) Scott Charles

6 classic-american.com

On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may decide to contact you by post/phone/email regarding information relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you do not wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❏ On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to be reputable, to contact you by post/ phone/fax/email regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❏ Offer expires 21/04/2016.

Terms and conditions apply. Please see www.classic-american.com for full terms and conditions. There are no cash alternatives available. The winner will be the first name drawn at random.

The 2014 winners: Thom and Gerry Brouillard’s 1940 Packard.

Classic American is delighted to announce that this year’s Car of the Year competition will feature eight heats all over the UK, kicking off at Wheels Day at the end of March, with seven more heats taking place at the following events: 1. March 25: Wheels Day, Basingstoke, Hampshire 2. April 30: Atomic, Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire 3. June 18/19: FJ Bristol Show, Shepton Mallett, Somerset 4. July 2/3: Stars & Stripes, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire 5. July 9/10: Rally of the Giants, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire 6. July 24: Damn Yankees Summer Slam, North Weald, Essex 7. July 29-31 Mopar EuroNats, Santa Pod Raceway, Northants 8. Oct 1/2: American Autumn Classic, Prescott Hill Climb As in previous years, the finals will be held over the weekend of November 11-13 at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Look out for the heats which are highlighted in white in Classic American’s blue pages, the Events and Cruises section starting on page 122!

is picked at each show, with the winner receiving a cheque for £100 and a rather smart-looking, bespoke brass trophy.

Each of these heat winners is invited to bring their car down to display on the Classic American stand at the Classic Motor Show held at Birmingham’s NEC in midNovember. Over the weekend the cars are judged, usually by two or three independent judges and one overall champion is picked, winning a cheque for £500, a prestigious hand-cast brass trophy and their car on the front cover of February’s issue. Interested? We’ll be at the above shows looking for heat winners – there’s no entry criteria, any American car is eligible, assuming it hasn’t been a heat winner before… and it’s as simple as that!

2015 winner: ‘70 Plymouth ‘Cuda.

What is Car of the Year?

Over the summer Classic American attends up to eight car shows all over the UK, selling magazines, back issues and subscriptions. As well as all this, the shows are covered editorially to provide content for Classic American, but most importantly each show is a ‘heat’ of the Car of the Year competition and a winning car

Steve Hurd (left) receives the 2015 winner’s trophy from Footman James’ Liam Lloyd.

classic-american.com 7

is over

Classic American

News Chip Foose records the last ever Overhaulin’ television show…

Over the years there have been a number of programmes that watched people building and restoring cars. Most of them concentrate more on petty arguments and fake drama than actually showing any work being done. That was never the case with Overhaulin’ – whose 11-year run has recently ended.

The show starred car designer and builder Chip Foose and his large group of talented fabricators known as the ‘A-Team.’ Typically a classic car owner would be tricked into thinking their car, or sometimes van, pick-up or 4x4, had been stolen or towed away (which apparently involved making many friends within the local police forces in California area.) A week later it would be revealed, with much whooping and arm waving, now extensively customised – or even occasionally restored – by Foose and his team following input from family members or friends of the owner.

In the process that owner would have pranks played on them, often making out their car was lost or crushed. This worked for the first five seasons, but when series six began in 2012 the owner was usually in on the rebuild. Beginning in 2004 on The Learning Channel the show ran

Chip Foose.

until 2008 before a hiatus stopped production for four years. The programme began again with series six on Velocity/Discovery channel and the last episode was aired in November 2015.

Once the car arrived Foose would begin sketching ideas for whatever vehicle they were working on, culminating in a full colour sketch from which the team would take their cues.

The joy of Overhaulin’ was watching the many classic American vehicles being stripped and improved, usually with detailed explanations of how and why certain parts and techniques were being used. The work was supposedly done with seven days – meaning large teams working

around the clock. This was straightforward with cars such as Mustangs, Camaros or Tri-Chevys where complete new front clips with uprated suspension and brakes could be bolted straight in once the rust was removed. However some cars were not as well catered for – really causing some headaches when it came to fitting a new crate V8 motor or fabricating suspension for a less popular make or model.

Time-saving methods often included buying a second car for measuring and fabricating a whole new interior while the real car was off being painted. While a lot of the vehicles were American muscle cars the team Overhauled

Overhaulin’ on set.

Overhauled Chevelle.

Overhauled Firebird.

8 classic-american.com

Nineties Chevy Tahoes, a Porsche 356, Broncos, a Fifties Ford school bus, several classic Volkswagens, a ‘63 Cadillac and even a 1972 Lotus Europa.

Under Foose’s guidance the cars were (almost) always tasteful and practical. Even with up to 60 people working on each car it’s said certain builds took up to a month to complete but there was a genuine camaraderie between those involved, even the glamorous co-hosts weren’t afraid to get their nails chipped and their hands dirty, and the show offered a good look at how a professional hot rod shop operated. By the end of the 117 episodes, which are (or soon will be) available on DVD, Foose and the gang had turned out more than 100 cars, the last one was the Overhaulin’ of a 1967 Ford Mustang. Let’s hope whatever comes next has the same levels of professionalism and enthusia . MR

Overhaulin’ team (from left): Arianny Celeste, Chris Jacobs, Chip Foose, Adrienne Janic.

The end of an era After 33 years in the American car business it is sad to announce that Specialist Autoparts will close at the end of March. Barry said it was a tough decision, but due to everrising running costs and the rise of the internet the stress had taken its toll. He would like to thank all the many customers for their business and support over the many years of trading, and also a big thank you to his wife Wendy for all her help and support.

There are plenty of everyday parts still on the shelf including a lot of old special order items, so give him a call – you never know, that obsolete or hard-to-find part may be in stock. There is also a lot of diagnostic equipment which also may be of interest. Along with all of us here at the magazine we are sure you will all wish Barry and his wife a happy retirement! Call 01935 426 517 or e-mail: barry@specauto.co.uk

Got a star car? Give us a call!

Calling all star cars!

Classic American’s parent company Mortons is looking for some star cars to join its Bristol Classic Car show over the weekend of June 18-19 at the Somerset’s Royal Bath and West Showground. The

organisers are willing to pay fuel costs for interested car owners, so if you own a TV and/or movie car, get in touch with Andy Kitchen at: AKitchen@Mortons.co.uk or call 01507 529 435.

classic-american.com 9

Classic American

First wheelchair-accessible hot rod?

We reckon so!

News Rogan McGilp, Ethan Dunbar-Baker and Stuart Chau, all students at Old Swinford Hospital school, Stourbridge, have been busy building a disability accessible hot rod and will be showcasing their vehicle to more than 7500 people at The Big Bang Fair, to be held at the NEC, Birmingham on March 16 and 17.

Following the success of his half-scale ‘Teen Rod – Bad Attitude’ and the near completion of a 1939 Lanchester hot rod, Rogan McGilp decided that he would like to build a vehicle inspired by his brother. David, aged 13, has Downs Syndrome and is a wheelchair user but enjoys accompanying Rogan to hot rod events around the country.

By building this fully operational and accessible vehicle for David, it would mean that he would have the freedom to enjoy getting involved in the hot rod community and it changes the public perception of what a disability car ‘is’ and ‘has’ to be.

The car is 14 feet long and seven feet wide at the rear tyres and has a 4.0-litre Lexus LS400 quad cam, fuel-injected V8 engine and an automatic transmission. It has a Jaguar limited slip rear axle and drag racing wheels on the back as well.

Rogan has also designed and built a unique and specialist set of electric gull wing doors so the disabled user has maximum access to the vehicle. To add to this the vehicle is having custom hand controls added so that a person who has limited or no use of their legs is able to drive it. The vehicle will weigh around 750kg when finished and have about 300 horsepower and 300lb/ft of torque.

The students have managed to obtain sponsorship from several businesses such as Makita Power Tools, SNG Barratt UK (Jaguar parts specialists) who have offered technical support, NSRA, Steel City Cruisers and DC Speed Shop to name a few. Any additional sponsorship would be very welcome.

Rogan, from Herefordshire, is 16 and a boarder in Year 12 at OSH and spent his work experience last summer at Morgan Motor Company for several weeks as well as his brother’s special school.

He hopes to go on to Morgan for an apprenticeship when he leaves school and then move to the US to run his own hot rod and custom car business, which he has already started to set up.

The National Science and Engineering Competition is open to anyone aged 11-18 living in the UK and in full-time education.

The competition aims to recognise and reward young people’s achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Follow their progress on @stemprojectosh or their build thread on www.rodsnsods.co.uk

AND MORE FROM ‘OVER HERE’!

Steve Miles is carrying on with the gradual publication of the enormous bulk of his famous archive of classic American auto photographs, under the title of The Over Here Collection – and now there are two more! Books covering the US low-price three (Ford, Chevrolet and Plymouth) were released last year, and now the new volumes cover two more of GM’s brands at the top of the price scale in Buick and Cadillac.

Both books contain more than 140 photographs, none of which are currently available in print anywhere else, all dating from the Sixties or early Seventies. And plans are afoot for further books to appear in the months and years to come, covering all of the other US manufacturers, so keep an eye on these pages for news of other publications.

Many readers of Classic American will already be familiar with Steve Miles’ astonishing

10 classic-american.com

archive of old photographs – we’ve published several series of pictures in the magazine, and you might have copies of the existing books he’s published in recent years. The story behind them is well known too, how as a teenager and young man he carried a camera around the streets of Oxford and on visits to Central London in pursuit of every American car he could find – the resulting ‘Over Here’ archive consists of thousands of black and white photographs, and now he is making the vast bulk of them available to every fellow American car enthusiast to own and enjoy.

All can be ordered from Steve’s website at www.sgmpublishing. co.uk; the new books cost the same £9.99 each as the first three ‘Collection’ books, with no extra cost for the price of postage within the UK. The older volumes 2-5 are still available at £11.99 each, also post-free.

CADILLAC

ISBN 978-1-909551-61-9 The equivalent new volume of Cadillac photographs also includes over 140 images of cars from 1953 up to 1970 taken on the streets of England, among them some real rarities. A few pictures come from the annual Earls Court Motor Show or the London GM dealer of the time, Lendrum and Hartman Ltd.

BUICK

ISBN 978-1-909551-60-2 The Over Here Collection/ Buick adds a further 140plus photographs of Buick automobiles to those already available in the existing Over Here Volumes 2-5. The cars date from as early as 1946, up to 1971, with the majority falling in the later Fifties or Sixties.

Classic American

Mail

STAR

Letter

BUICK UNCOVERED

Dear Classic American, Regarding Roger Brunt’s 1934 Buick 90L in your January 2016 issue, reader James Paling has put us in touch with Dave Norton – one of the Buick’s previous owners. The following is part of an email Roger recently received from Dave: Hello Roger, I received an email from Jim Paling that a Buick I once owned is featured in Classic American magazine. The car was supplied new

by Lendrum and Hartman – concessionaires for Buick. Whether it was a hire car, or a privately run limousine, I know not, but during the latter part of the war it was converted to a hearse, with the addition of a rear door and operated by a funeral director in Uxbridge who also owned a 1934 Cadillac.

Both cars worked together for something like 15-20 years when they were retired and purchased by the secretary of an American car club. Around 1961 or 1962, he offered both for sale – I’ve never heard where the Cadillac went but the Buick sold to a market gardener in Chingford, Essex who was an old car enthusiast.

Tony paid around thirty quid for the Buick and used it for seven or eight years as a delivery van. In the attached photos, you’ll see one outside the house when Tony had recently acquired the car, and was without the roof rack. The later photos I took prior to putting the car into storage and show clearly the flower rack and the hearse rear door.

When I bought the car in February 1971 it was complete with horns, horn trumpets with mutes, a mascot, a clock and the very rare spare fitted to the luggage rack. It also had the correct headlamps and rear lamps.

The motor ran well, but I was in no position to start restoration, so moved it to storage in North Weald, where it remained for another few years. We made a rudimentary scaffold pole tow bar, bolted it to the ’34, having removed the bumper, and I towed it across country with my 1937 Buick, which I bought in 1967.

It is still with me here in Australia and gets pretty regular use – although no longer being required to tow other motor cars!

I sold the ’34 to a bloke called Eddie Gittings, of Greenwich, in around 1980. I later heard of the car in the North West somewhere and saw photos of it painted beige. You must appreciate when I bought it for £65 I was saving it from being left out in the open, as frankly, these lovely old gas guzzlers were little more than scrap in the Sixties. That BLD 969 has survived gives me a certain satisfaction, as had I not purchased the car, I don’t think its future would have been as rosy.

As a matter of interest, there’s a book available called Buick – The Australian Story by

Dave’s ‘37 towing the ‘34.

12 classic-american.com

John Gerdtz and Eric North. I’ve just completed five years’ research with them on a new book Buick – Across the Pond and Beyond covering most things Buick other than America and Canada. It includes my extensive collection of photographs of Buicks during the Abdication Crisis and how high import tariffs sounded the death knell for American cars in the UK. The book features BLD 969 in a small way.

It’s at the printers now and due to be available in February or March this year. I hope that this email goes some way towards acquainting you with your new/my old car, and you really have my best wishes for a wonderful ownership!

Dave Norton Dorrigo New South Wales Australia Well, what an amazing story and nice to hear that Classic American features even make it as far as Australia! We wonder if there are any other great old American cars out there that have been saved by the skin of their teeth…

Tony Oksien

Muscle

car files

Nova has the looks of a down-sized GTO.

1966 Chevy Nova Tony waxes lyrical on the pocket rocket that celebrates its 50th this year, the 1966 Chevrolet Nova…

T

his month I would like to concentrate on the 1966 Chevrolet Nova, a small car with a big reputation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To call the Nova by its proper title, the Chevrolet Chevy II Nova lasted from its introduction as a 1962 model, up until the Chevy ll nameplate was dropped for 1969 and then simply known as the Chevy Nova. The 1966 versions differed dramatically from the previous generation, and the ’67 cars hardly changed except for a rear tail panel makeover.

For ’66 various body styles were carried over: two-door sedan, two-door hardtop, four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon, however the new shape did not lend itself to a convertible which was dropped.

The 1966 Nova really became a true muscle car with the addition of the one-year-only L79 option, a 327cu in V8 rated at 350bhp and which launched the lightweight and mighty

Over 20,000 Nova SS cars were built in ‘66.

14 classic-american.com

Nova SS (Super Sport) to a 15.10sec quarter mile. With the car weighing in at around 3200lb, the Nova was an excellent choice for street and strip action. The L79 was the most powerful non fuel-injected small block built by Chevrolet and is easily identified by its exclusive dualsnorkel chrome air breather, Holley four-barrel carburettor (600cfm) atop an aluminium intake manifold with chromed Turbo-Fire valve covers.

A three-speed column shifted transmission was standard, with wide and close range Muncie four-speeds which were optional and I don’t think any autos were available behind the L79. A positraction rear end could be ordered with a best ratio of 3.73.1 gearing and heavyduty suspension was standard. The F 40 HD suspension came as an option which included upgraded shocks, rear springs and a sway bar for just $4.75 extra!

The base Nova SS came in at a bargain price of just $2535 with a great new look and proven performance; no wonder 5481 L79 versions found willing owners, with a total of 20,986 SS cars built. Interestingly 51,585 station wagons were sold, well over double of the performance coupe – the Nova seemed to satisfy the majority of buyers. Introduction to SS ownership came with an economical 194cu in straight six, or a whole host of small-block V8 engines including 230cu in and the 283cu in. In later years the Nova SS came with the same engines that were used in the Camaro, including the powerful 396cu in/375hp V8, which only added to its budget ‘sleeper’ image.

Only available as a Sport Coupe, the SS was visually distinguished by wide rocker covers and bright aluminium deck lid treatment. Other distinguishing additions included Super Sport

L79 motor with dual chrome snorkel.

scripts on the rear quarter panels, an SS Chevy II badge on the front grille and an SS badge on the tail panel. Wheel covers borrowed from the 1965 Chevy Malibu SS gave the car a stunning look too. Inside the cabin were bucket seats as standard and seat belts. With such a radical conversion from the mundane base Nova to the wild SS, many muscle car folk see the ’66 cars as the most desirable example of the marque and unfortunately prices have jumped considerably over the years – it’s not uncommon to see very correct examples of the little Chevy SS passing the $100,000 mark. A one-owner black ’66 Nova SS failed to sell at BJ auctions last year, although the bids reached up to $175,000!

Finally, just a quick note to say that this year’s MoparEuroNats held at Santa Pod Raceway, Northamptonshire over the weekend of July 30-31 will be celebrating a half-century of American muscle cars, so any 1966 cars will be most welcome to the show.

Tony Oksien – CA’s resident muscle car guru

Richard Heseltine

From

here to

obscurity

Retractable steel roof was quite the talking point.

The Playboy

Richard has dug deep this month in his cabinet of curiosities, presenting us with the perpetually perplexing Playboy, a car that neither lived up to its name, nor its creators’ ambitions…

T

he immediate post-war years saw the mainstream US automobile industry serve warmed-up leftovers from before it had entered the conflict in 1941. It was left to enterprising entrepreneurs to fill the void with new products, former Packard dealer Louis Horwitz, ex-Pontiac engineer Charles D Thomas and mechanic Norman Richardson being among their number. Together they formed the Playboy Motor Corporation in 1946 and set about devising a small car that would be sold for less than $1000.

They hoped to create a utilitarian machine that would, in effect, be a latter-day Ford Model T, and pooled their respective talents. That, and £50,000 from their bank accounts.

The result of their labours was a rear-engined, cloth-roofed convertible which was revealed to the press at the Hotel Statler in Buffalo, New York in late ’46. The Playboy was not well received. It wasn’t particularly attractive, and most reports were sniffy about its lack of creature comforts.

Undeterred, a new prototype was swiftly rustled up with a more conventional front-engined layout, the restyled body now incorporating a retractable steel roof – the first of its kind ever adopted for an American production car.

Just 97 Playboys were built.

Admittedly, ‘production’ in this instance is a relative term. The business plan called for up to 1000 cars to be made in the first year, and a belief-beggaring 100,000 in ’48, with the firm operating out of the former Brunn & Company coachbuilding plant in North Tonawanda, New York. Horwitz went so far as to sell dealer franchises in a bid to raise $20m, the figure deemed necessary to develop the car further and gear up for mass manufacture.

There were one or two wrinkles during the prototyping stage, however. Chief among them was the choice of engine. Power initially came from four-cylinder Continental and Hercules units, both of which were designed for stationary, non-automotive applications under constant loads. As such, they weren’t happy in stop-start traffic. Overheating was a constant issue during the testing phase, as were melted pistons. A Willys unit was later substituted, but, all told, the car never was fully finished.

Despite a lavish promotional campaign, with cars being transported all across America, there were other problems, and not all of them were of the Playboy triumvirate’s making. While the retractable roof wasn’t powered and required

two people to lift or lower it into position, and build quality was somewhat crude, the main setback arrived courtesy of an unexpected source: another start-up operation.

In 1948, Playboy had attracted dealers across the country and also set about offering the company’s stock for public consumption.

Unfortunately, this decision coincided with Preston Tucker’s eponymous firm being investigated for financial impropriety.

Playboy’s backers got jittery and departed in droves, while a deal to sell the rights to Kaiser-Frazer came to naught. Two weeks after the stock hit Wall Street, the firm lurched into bankruptcy. The assets were auctioned off in 1950. Just 97 cars – all of them hand-made – had been completed, one of them a ‘woodie’ estate.

While the marque now languishes in obscurity, in a roundabout way it led to an American institution. Back in the early Fifties, a young would-be publishing magnate was stuck for a name for his new title. A friend’s mother, who had worked for the Playboy Motor Corporation, made a suggestion and the name stuck. That young magazine man was Hugh Hefner…

Richard Heseltine’s weird and wonderful American cars from the past.

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Huw Evans

Across

the

pond

Life in the old dog yet: the 2014 GM LS7 V8.

America’s engine Evans looks at the New World’s enduring love affair with the V8

I was walking through the car park at a local mall the other day. As I approached my destination, I saw a MJ Jeep Grand Cherokee approaching. The driver waited patiently for me to cross and as the SUV drove away I heard the distinctive rumble that only an American V8 delivers. And it got me thinking. American cars and light trucks have been offered with all manner of powerplants over the years, from small inline four-cylinder engines, to monster V10s, V12s and even diesels.

Yet even in the current climate, where Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are driving automakers to offer smaller and smaller displacement engines over here, the idea of Chrysler, Ford or General Motors offering something that doesn’t have a V8 option seems unfathomable. On the surface, it would appear that offering a V8 in a mass-market vehicle doesn’t make a great deal of sense. Technology exists today that allows six and even four-cylinder motors like Ford’s EcoBoost line-up to make the equivalent power and torque of a traditional V8.

But when you press the throttle on an EcoBoost-powered F-150 or Mustang, the sensation just isn’t quite the same as a 5.0-litre V8. The power delivery is different and the sound? Well a noise that resonates like a highpitched chainsaw just somehow doesn’t tantalise the eardrums in the same way as the distinctive

rumble emanating from a 90-degree V8. And for many North Americans, it’s been that way for decades. If you were looking to purchase a home-grown car or truck, if a V8 was offered as an option, chances are you’d take it.

Although V8s were around during the first decades of the motorcar, in America at least, it wasn’t until 1932 that affordable V8 performance really hit the mark. The 1932 Ford Model 18, powered by Henry’s 221cu in flathead, meant that for the masses, a car was now more than simply basic transportation, even for those on the other side of the law such as Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. In the Fifties, the introduction of Chevrolet’s magnificent 265cu in small-block V8 marked another milestone. The car as a symbol of power, style and speed achieved new heights as North Americans embraced car culture on a scale never before witnessed.

When the muscle car wars got into full stride during the latter half of the Sixties, almost all the hot offerings relied on small and big cube V8s.

Even during the dark days of the late Seventies, the V8 defied the odds, thumbing its nose at the oil crisis and helping witness record sales of cars like the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. A decade later, during the Eighties, when electronic fuel injection and turbocharging started to gain ground, some

of the most memorable and best-performing American iron still relied on good old-fashioned pushrod V8s with roots dating back two decades or more. Witness the number of buyers that picked the Ford Mustang GT over the SVO, or the percentage of full and traditional mid-size cars that were ordered with the optional V8.

For those of us into classic Detroit iron, in most cases, the thought of buying something that doesn’t have a V8 seems not quite right.

And whether the car in question is a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1970 Dodge Challenger or even a 1999 Ford Mustang, purchasing the six-cylinder version often seems as if something is missing. And the same goes for the current crop of muscle cars and full-size trucks. Okay, so the Ram EcoDiesel offers good fuel economy and the Camaro’s V6 delivers well in excess of 300 horsepower, but having a V8 between the frame rails in my book, still feels as American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. And although CAFE in its present form will continue to push automakers in search of new and innovative options to meet stringent fuel economy standards, I believe (and hope) that for the foreseeable future at least, there will still be plenty of room for the V8 engine.

Huw Evans – news & views from North America

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It’s 27 years since the first issue of Classic American hit the shelves, but we’re still as passionate about American cars as we were back in 1988.

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1937 Packard One Twenty Convertible Coupe Roadster

If you already have a fine stable of pre-war Packards, what do you do when a car becomes available that’s said to be the best in America?

You act fast, that’s what…

Words: Nigel Boothman Photography: Jon Cass

classic-american.com 23

Despite being 30 years old, the restoration appears as new.

Fold-down rear trunk shelf.

The Packard has fantastic provenance, as told here...

120bhp 282cu in athead straight-eight engine.

24 classic-american.com

W

e think this is the fourth time that a Packard belonging to West Yorkshire’s Bob Mitchell has been given a full article in Classic American. There will have been several other appearances too, from show reports to Car of the Year competitions. Indeed, Bob brought this car to our latest COTY display at the NEC show in November after winning at the Rally of the Giants heat at Blenheim Palace. In Birmingham he missed out on the overall win, but received a unique award for ‘Best-Looking Entrant’, an idea he himself may have suggested…

Bob’s abiding fondness for Packards of this era and for American cars in general has kept him coming back, always in the same good-humoured spirit. He’s no obsessive trophy hunter, either; he enjoys working on these finely engineered machines and two of his four pre-war Packards have been painstakingly restored by his own hands. For those of you who don’t recall Bob’s previous appearances, he’s the only Packardowning trained mechanic who once played professional Rugby League for Huddersfield, or at least the only one we’ve come across.

For this car, a 1937 One Twenty Convertible Coupe, Bob’s hands-on skills were not required. Indeed, it took a couple of different qualities – patience and bravery – to make this one the latest addition to the stable. Bob takes up the story: “I heard that an American gentleman called James J Ryan was thinking about selling a ’37 Convertible Coupe. It had been resttored d by a man callled d Darviin Kueh hl wh ho’’s recogniised d as the best Packard restorer in America, and who has actually written a restoration guide for the cars partly based on this individual job – the car’s photo is on the e cover of the book.” l s t fi d.

wife had enjoyed it for 20-odd years and never used it in the rain, taking it for regular jaunts from their home in Long Island through upstate New York to Niagara, but eventually time had caught up with them and they felt their days of long trips in an old car had passed.

Quick reaction

The car had been advertised but it seemed like Mr Ryan was experiencing all the usual grief you get when trying to sell a car. “He said ‘They kept trying to low-ball me,’” says Bob. “I was happy to pay a fair price but I had to make a decision. I’d seen 50 or 60 pictures and I didn’t think there was time to fly over and inspect it in person. I was on the phone to Mr Ryan discussing the transfer of a 10% deposit and I said ‘I’m not going to send you 10%, I’m going to send the full amount.’”

Bob asked Mr Ryan to send the shipping details to Mark Fromm of Fromm America, a company Bob has used with happy results before, and the deal was done. And not a moment too soon as it turned out. James Ryan received a phone call from a keen buyer in Puerto Rico. A very keen buyer – Mr Ryan later told Bob that this man was upset when he heard the car was sold and offered the full price to the vendor and $20,000 to Bob just to take his money back and step aside.

No dice. It’s not as if there was another superbly welld One Twentty Convert rtible Coupe avaiilab ble from a resttored different source e, so the wedge of extra money wouldn’t have helped Bob to buy a replacement. With the deal complete ed, Fromm Americaa arranged for a company to collect the caar a r rt

❯❯

classic-american.com 25

Darvin’s dedication

My other car is a... Bob's '38 Golfer’s Coupe as featured in July 2011’s Classic American.

Bob's 1937 115C Convertible Coupe which appeared on the cover of the May 2000 issue.

classic-american

The full story of Bob’s new Packard was told by its rescuer and restorer, Darvin Kuehl. He wrote a short article in 1996 when the One Twenty took one of its many trophies – that time it was the award for the best pre-war Packard at the Packard Club’s National Meet. It seems the car was ordered new from Arbuckle Motors in Shelbyville, Indiana. From there, it followed a mysterious path to Colorado, where it became the property of a young man who used it to commute between college in Boulder and a weekend job at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Eventually, this young man got married and needed money for the down-payment on a house, so he sold the car to a man called Joe Scanlon who ran the local garage. Joe apparently used the car for many years as a parts chaser, but a cherished one – kept indoors and perfectly maintained.

It seems to have left Joe Scanlon’s ownership and passed to someone else, who put it into storage in the hotel’s large garage building. This owner disappeared and the car was put up for sale again in 1986, when Darvin Kuehl saw it advertised in Cars & Parts magazine and brought it home to North Carolina.

He recounted what happened next: “We popped in a set of plugs and points and headed off to the Packard Club National in Pittsburgh… we knew it was in fine shape, if a bit worn round the edges. It needed little if any bodywork, but it des eratel needed a to u holster and aint.”

Distinctive red hexagon was Packard’s badge.

o rlapp ng y a year or two. Rather t an wa ow in the confusion this tends to bring, we’ll look at where they’d got to by the early Thirties.

‘In a hole’, is a decent description of where they were. The Depression was knocking over luxury car makers like ninepins and even a firm as large and well-established as Packard was in serious danger of extinction. They weren’t helped by the unlucky stroke of introducing a model called the Light Eight in 1932. Conceived before the stock-market crash, the Light Eight cost almost as much as the other Senior Packards to produce, but was sold at a much lower price. Although this was still too high a price to attract many new customers.

Packard finished the year with a $7 million loss.

The arrival of the Junior Packards is a tale we’ve told before in Classic American, but it’s worth reminding ourselves of the amazing achievement Packard made with the design, production-line investment and launch of the One Twenty models. For 1936, President Roosevelt made a request for car makers to switch the model year launch to the autumn of the preceding year, to get orders up and keep factories busy through the winter. But this had yet to take effect in January 1935: Packard was ready to introduce the One Twenty range to the public at the eye-poppingly low price of $920.

used by axi rms. ❯❯ Bob’s not afraid to drive the Packard and has done so all over the UK...

Smart driving lights.

classic-american.com 27

D R I B D N A H in the

Words and Photography: Jon Cass

Peter Kovrlija’s ’56 Thunderbird is probably the most conventional of his triumvirate of classic American cars, but it probably gets the most attention in spite of that, as Jon Cass finds out…

32 classic-american.com

To the majjority of the population, a first-generation Thunderbird is one of the all-time icons of the classic American auttomotive world and it appears that long-tiime desire to own n one also applies to Peter, which goes a lo ong way to explain the lack of an air-cooled flat-six, or a badge no one has heard of this time. To many, the Fifties T-bird shape is instantly recognisable and although they sold in large numbers, the opportunity to buy a good one still doesn’t come along every day, especially in the UK.

Looking back, it’s fair to say the early years of the Thunderbird could be described as one of Ford’s finest products of the era, even though the whole project began under intense pressure thanks to its main rival, Chevrolet. Impending competition from its new Corvette meant Ford had to come up with something fast. Development of the first-generation Thunderbird was a hurried affair to say the least, entering production in late 1954 just a year after the first designs were drawn up. The company’s hard work paid off as within two years the T-bird was outselling its main rival by 23 to 1 (16155 Thunderbirds to just 700 Corvettes!). Styling cues were borrowed from other contemporary Ford models, but the sleek futuristic shape was all new and even today well proportioned – it’s a greatlooking car without doubt.

Ford’s main priorities hinted towards comfort and convenience, rather than outright sportiness and in time it was marketed more as a ‘Personal Luxury’ car. Ford knew fast it was on to a winner and a step ahead of GM. For the first year of production, all T-birds featured 292cu in V8s borrowed from its Mercury division, but by 1956 the 215bhp 318cu in V8 Y-block offered a little more grunt. Order the Ford-O-Matic two-speed auto with its selectable low gear and power rose to 225bhp. By 1957, the final year of the first-generation Thunderbird, the body had been lengthened to house the spare wheel in the trunk, the dash had seen a major redesign and minor changes were made to the exterior trim. Sales rose further still to a record-breaking 21,380, but Ford didn’t want to rest on its laurels and carried out a major redesign for 1958 which included turning the T-bird into a full four-seater convertible. It was the right decision at the right time and this second generation model went on to further sales success.

It seemed Ford could do no wrong, although its new Edsel Division would soon prove otherwise…

Like so many of us, it’s the early two-seat model that Peter loves best: “I first saw this one advertised in Classic American just 60 miles from home,” he remembers. “I rang the number straight away, but the vendor told me a deposit had just been taken on it. He took my number just in case the sale fell through.” Assuming he’d missed a rare opportunity, Peter put the phone down disappointed, but two weeks later the vendor called back to ask if he was still interested in the car. “The phone call came on a Thursday, but a deal had to be done quickly as the vendor was returning to Australia on the following Monday,” Peter explains. “He really wanted to take the car with him, but huge shipping costs ruled that out.” The quick sale scenario worked in Peter’s favour, as the asking price dropped dramatically and the Thunderbird was just as good as described in the ad. “We viewed the car on the Saturday and it exceeded my expectations,” Peter smiles, “the price was fair and it didn’t miss a beat driving home – it just doesn’t get better than that!” ❯❯

classic-american.com 33

Porthole side window was added to assist with visibility.

Looking at the paperwork, it appears the Thunderbird had been first registered in January 1956 in Nevada where it had spent its life until being shipped to Australia in 2011 and subsequently to the UK three years later. “The specification was fairly minimal with just power brakes and power steering amongst the options,“Peter points out, “but it did originally have a rare Continental kit which included the rear-bumpermounted spare wheel.” Sadly, the kit had been removed at some point to improve the handling, ostensibly hampered due to the excessive weight at the rear of the car; it was a problem early Thunderbirds had become known for. Even Ford had admitted defeat on this minor flaw and by 1957 the rear of the car was redesigned to house the spare wheel differently.

On the plus side, the Nevada climate had treated the body well and the whole car is devoid of any welding repairs and it appears all the panels are original. “The paintwork is more recent,” Peter points out, “it’s the original colours, but it’s been done to a high standard and you have to look very closely to spot any tiny imperfections.” The contrasting turquoise glass fibre detachable roof was also in good order, this example having the advantage of portholes situated behind the side windows to aid visibility, something of a new, popular and necessary option for the 1956 model year.

The interior, with its contrasting black and white vinyl bench and simple but eye-catching dash, is also original, although Peter had to spend some time hoovering out the Nevada sand which had remained present. “There was also an ancient ‘glamour magazine’ which must have laid under the driver’s seat for decades!” Peter laughs. The numbers-

Transmission is a two-speed Ford-O-Matic.

34 classic-american.com

T-bird was a two-seater for only three years.

matching 312cu in V8 mated to the two-speed, Ford-O-Matic auto gearbox also appear in good order and we’re told it’s a delight to drive, with long journeys causing no bother at all.

So far, it seemed as though Peter had found himself a 60-year-old Ford needing no work at all, but as you’d expect there have been a few niggles to sort out: “The wipers didn’t work, most of the lights had blown and water leaked through every bit of weather strip on the car,” Peter points out. We’re assuming he drove it home on a nice, bright and dry day then, or those could have been the worst 60 miles in his life! The leaks and lights were an easy fix, while the wiper problem was traced to a faulty vacuum motor, a replacement needing to be sourced and fitted, which has so far been the biggest job on the T-bird.

The relatively minor problems on the ’56 T-bird has meant Peter has been able to attend and enjoy numerous meets and shows over the summer though he had a fair amount of work planned for the winter: “There’s a leak on the power steering and the back axle could do with a rebuild, so they’ll both keep me busy,” he laughs. Some of you may recall Peter’s long-term project is an ultrarare 1936 Cord which returned to the road recently and which featured in our February 2016/CA298 issue. But the completion of the Cord has at least freed up some spare time to work on the T-bird. “The Cord is a stunning car and grabs attention everywhere,” Peter explains, “but stepping out of the Cord and firing up the T-bird is a world away, it’s a much easier and more relaxing car to drive.” And we don’t doubt the T-bird has its fair share of admirers too! ★

36 classic-american.com

Brendan Glennon’s rare 1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible was already a nice car when he bought it two years ago, but he’s determined to make it even better.

classic-american.com 37

U

sually whenever I speak to a car owner they have some idea of its history before they bought it and occasionally they may still be in touch with the previous owner.

Others know chapter and verse of their classic’s past. The information on this 1969 Oldsmobile 442 falls somewhere in between. Present owner Brendan Glennon bought the car in 2013 and has been steadily improving it, but Brendan has also managed to get in touch with its two previous UK owners, so let’s hear their stories first.

Roy Galway owned the Oldsmobile from 1980 until 1987, “I was 24, it was my third Yank after a ’67 Barracuda and my ’51 Chevy custom,” remembers Roy. “From 1977 to 1980 I was building a full custom, but I lost my garage so did a direct swap for the 442 with a guy from Chichester. Sadly, I never ’

“THE 442 HAS A LONG HERITAGE, IT’S DIFFERENT TO A MUSTANG OR A CAMARO AND IT’S A RARE BEAST...”

I just wanted you to know, seeing those pictures made her day. Just shows how life goes by so quickly and how certain cars can play a big part in people’s lives.”

Brendan also sent information from the next owner; Jim Thoms of Iowa. “I saw the advert in a car publication – don’t remember which one,” says Jim. “It was for sale in Blackpool, I’d owned numerous 1968-72 Cutlasses and 442s. A friend, Keith Hatton, and I took the train to Blackpool and purchased the car, on the way home we discovered that the brake lights worked, but not the taillights. We kept going, hoping to get home before dark.

This worked fine until we passed a policeman parked along the road. I put the brakes on lightly as we passed, but I either took my foot off the pedal, or he sensed something

Tan top suits white and gold paint.

38 classic-american.com

“The car was yellow (not the original colour) with a black roof, gold interior, and black stripes on the bonnet. It had a little rust and I wanted it a little more original so I had it resprayed white and got a new tan top. Spencer Longland did the bodywork and paint at his brother-in-law’s farm south of Bury St Edmunds. There was some corrosion around the rear wheel arches and Spencer modified some repair panels from a Capri to fit – it looked very original. I was in the USAF and stationed in the UK at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, from 1981 to 1989. I bought the Olds in 1987 and sold it in 1989 to Gary Champion, who dealt in American cars. The man in Blackpool said the car was brought to the UK by someone in the US Navy...”

Numbers matching

So now we come up to date with Brendan’s ownership.

“I bought the car off eBay in October 2013,” explains Brendan. “It was in Sutton Coldfield at a car dealer and had apparently been sitting in a garage for about 20 years.

I asked for the Vehicle Identification Number and once I confirmed that it was a genuine 442 and had a numbersmatching engine I paid the reserve price for it.”

Although the Olds was in reasonably good condition it wasn’t quite as original as Brendan wanted it to be.

“I started a restoration in November 2013,” continues Brendan. “I took it back to bare metal and got the engine out and resprayed it in the correct copper bronze colour.

The body was painted the original Cameo White with parchment stripes by a local painter called Martin Reilly.”

400cu in V8 motor.

Top is power-operated, while windows are manual.

40 classic-american.com

“The first time I drove it the engine was getting very hot so I pulled the radiator and got that cleaned through which fixed the overheating.” Brendan also added a new convertible top and roof boot cover, then replaced the Weld racing wheels the Olds was wearing with a set of new SSI Rallye wheels and BF Goodrich T/As. “I got the wheels from North Hants Tyres (01252 318666/www. northhantstyres.com) and they offered a great service, except that those same wheels fit a Mustang and the wheels arrived with Ford hub centres,” laughs Brendan. “I had to do a wedding with Mustang horses on the wheel centres!” Fortunately Brendan appreciates all makes of American cars, in fact he has quite a collection including a ’63 Galaxie, ’68 Plymouth Fury III coupe, a ’58 Buick Super Riveria, ’82 Ford F350 and 1969, ’73 and ’81 Corvettes with a C4 arriving at his County Roscommon, Ireland home any day now.

Back to the Oldsmobile, although the restoration was finished in October 2014 that wasn’t quite the end of the work; in fact as you read this the Oldsmobile is probably in pieces again. “It was using oil,” says Brendan, “so I did a compression test and it was low on three of the cylinders. It had been smoking a bit, I’d put that down to it being sat unused for all those years, but I also thought the transmission was slipping. That turned out to be due to the 2400rpm stall converter that Roy had put in – that was something else I wanted to remove to put the car closer to standard.”

So the Oldsmobile is currently undergoing a full engine and transmission rebuild, with modified heads to run unleaded fuel, a competition 274H camshaft, Mallory electronic ignition after the points that were fitted got fouled up and lots of new parts including oil pump, rods and main bearings, piston rings, water pump and a full gasket kit. “The chrome is all original, it’s not the best in the world, but it’s more important to me that it is the original parts,” explains Brendan. “There are extra gauges under the dashboard and I want to remove them but at the same time it’s good to keep an eye on oil pressure and so on, I might try to hide them a bit further under the dashboard.”

Four three two?

Brendan’s Oldsmobile is a 442 meaning, four-barrel carburettor, four-speed gearbox and dual exhausts. Except that Brendan’s is actually an automatic with a TH400 threespeed (so in theory it’s a 4-3-2 although the cars were never badged that way.) Starting as an options package for the 1964 F85 and Cutlass and using performance goodies from their ‘Police Apprehenders’ parts bins, the 442 was available for every model but the wagon. Conceived to give Oldsmobile a version of the popular Pontiac GTO, the 442 became a model in its own right for 1968. Under the bonnet as standard in ’68 was a 400cu in V8 with 360bhp; you could go also for a 350cu in Ram Rod or the potent Hurst/Olds powered by a 390bhp, 455cu in V8 from the Toronado.

In 1969 the slightly detuned 400cu in V8 was down to 350bhp with the three- or four-speed manual transmission and 325 horses with the automatic, little else changed beyond the styling with a new grille, tail-lights and no quarterlights on Holiday Coupes or convertibles. Steering lock ignition switches were added, as were front seat headrests and revised door panels. Twin bonnet stripes were now available on the new dual-bulged hood, optional disc brakes got updated calipers and exhaust manifolds featured a new centre division. The 1969 sales of 442s totalled 26,357, including 4295 convertibles. That sounds healthy, but was actually 7250 fewer cars from 1968.

Brendan’s Olds has power steering, power-operated top and power disc brakes, but manual windows. It was built at the Lansing, Michigan plant and the VIN contains that allimportant ‘344’ code proving it’s a genuine 442. Despite his impressive collection of classic metal, Brendan has only been into old cars for a little over 10 years. “I was on honeymoon in Niagara in 2002 and I saw a big-block Corvette. I kept running out of the restaurant to take photos every time it drove past – I almost fell out with my brand-new wife!”

Brendan’s dream car is a 1963 split rear window Corvette, or a 1968 fastback Mustang, but what’s the appeal of the 442? “It’s the noise of the V8 and the looks,” he explains. “I’m really into Corvettes because of the shape, but while the Olds i bi i l h ’ still sleek and has nice hips. The 442 has a ta e, it’s ifferent to a Mustang or a Camaro and it’s f ater. The Oldsmobile is the rtt I d I c ’ ever sell it because my h r name on it. She n is c ”

4,295 convertible 442s were built in ‘69.

“THE OLDSMOBILE IS THE MOST COMFY CAR I OWN AND I CAN’T EVER SELL IT...”

Period ad for ‘65 442.

classic-american.com 41

Richard Coney

Scale

autos ROYAL PONTIAC’S GEETO TIGER In many instances the history of the muscle car and drag racing are inextricably intertwined. A case in point is the Pontiac GTO campaigned by Michigan dealership Royal Pontiac, as masterminded

by Pontiac’s chief marketing manager, Jim Wangers, whose stunts made him a legend. Royal Pontiac was a favoured dealership that is said to have served as an unofficial performance testing ground, offering customers hop-up packages that were banned by GM’s non-racing dictates.

Wangers took a pair of ’66 GTOs, set up for the track and presented one as the ‘GeeTo Tiger’, driven by a mysterious person in a tiger suit. The tiger challenged people to match-race him in the quartermile using an identically equipped car.

Usually he won, but to the delight of the crowd, sometimes the challenger took the honours. It was a great visual spectacular that helped to sell thousands of GTOs. A recreation of the famous car still entertains crowds across the country today.

Revell’s 1:25th scale model kit makes a welcome return, complete with a pre-painted driver in his tiger suit. If I remember correctly, they did at one time produce the kit with a painted body, but this version is more conventional, with 144 parts moulded in white, clear, transparent red and chrome. It has vinyl tyres and a sheet of waterside transfers for the complicated graphics. A Pontiac V8 with tri-carb intake resides in the engine bay.

The interior is fully detailed. It’s a great kit for around £20.

BROOKLIN NEWS – 1960 PONTIAC CATALINA CONVERTIBLE For 1959 Pontiac completely revised its model line, introducing the ‘Wide Track’, which substantially improved stability and handling.

Although dearer than equivalent Chevys, they provided better trim and comfort, similar to the upmarket Buicks. The Chieftain name was dropped and the Catalina became the entry model, with two- and four-door sedans, hardtops, convertibles and Safari station wagons.

All Pontiacs were powered by the powerful Tempest 389cu in V8, with the added advantage of an optional four-speed Hydra-Matic auto transmission, considered far superior to Chevy’s two-speed Powerglide.

Pontiacs received a minor facelift for 1960, losing, for one year, the traditional split grille in favour of full-length horizontal bars. The rear lights became circular and inside, a dash-mounted transistor radio was offered which could be removed and operated on batteries. Good looking ‘eight lug’ aluminium wheels with integral brake drums were another option that found favour with buyers.

This 1:43rd scale Catalina Convertible from Brooklin, in Coronado Red metallic, has a similarly coloured matte interior, which suits the wide and sleek design. The grille is chromed, with a black wash to highlight the texture.

The windscreen surround, bumpers, tail-lights, wheel covers, door handles and internal window winders are also chromed. The discreet chrome trim on the flanks and the bonnet demonstrate how the designers had toned down the chromium excesses of the preceding few years.

These hand-built white metal models remain popular and retail around the £80 mark.

REVELL 1949 MERCURY WOODY WAGON Despite the return of a large number of classic car kits, some never reappear. One such is the 1950 Mercury woody station wagon that appeared in the cult Sixties TV show The Mod Squad. Their scruffy green Mercury achieved cult status before crashing and burning in the second series. Aurora produced a kit, but the tooling disappeared years ago, perhaps when the range was sold to Monogram and later merged with Revell.

Whatever the reason, it was never reissued and original kits command outrageous prices.

While not identical, it should now be possible to replicate the TV car from Revell’s new 1949 Mercury Eight Woody Wagon. The kit consissts of 139 parts primarily in white witth chromed accessories and vinyl tyres. The kit looks stock, though sadly there is no flathead V8. Instead a 24-piece Cadillac eng gine is supplied from the Mercury custom coupe kit. Thankfully, the ‘wood’ sides are easy to replicate, using the provided waterslide decals. It includes a steel sun visor and the curvace eous spare wheel cover. Th he chassis and interior arre particularly detailed, with a selection of small de ecals for the dashboard.

Given the mystique that surrounds the old Aurora kit, one must wonder whether Revell’s researchers even considered the Mod Squad connection.

It would surely have been relatively simple to include the roof rack and surf boards that were a feature of the original and with only minor differences between the two years, perhaps the most obvious being the front sidelights, the minimum of alternative parts would have produced a convincing replica. As it is, I’m sure one of the aftermarket cottage industry manufacturers will have offered a conversion kit by now.

Revell’s excellent Mercury wagon retails at around £19.9 99.

If you have problems finding any of these models, try www.modelstore.co.uk

classic-american.com 43

classic-american

When a true American classic is something you’ve wanted all your life, don’t settle for a compromise. The owner of this ’59 Corvette chased his ideal car, and you know what? He caught it.

1959 Corvette, Brian Robinson Words: Nigel Boothman Photography: Lewis Houghton

classic-american

T

here is a house in a leafy corner of north-east England that’s often filled with interesting sounds. Upstairs, in a living room with a couple of comfy sofas, there is an acoustic guitar. It’s a Martin, which is a name that will mean something to anyone who’s ever fumbled with strings and frets. This one has delicate mother-of-pearl inlays and a stunningly beautiful tone. All of which is something of a contrast with what Brian Robinson keeps downstairs.

The ground level of the house has a garage space.

In one end of it, a couple of Harley-Davidsons rest – a Heritage Softail and a Springer. Brian says one of them is a bit raucous, a bit too naughty to start up and rev in the garage. So he starts the other and we all flinch as the big V-twin batters us with pulses of noise. That was the quiet one? But we’re really here to see what’s at the other end of the garage. There, waiting patiently in a space decorated with memorabilia and highly suitable posters, is Brian’s 1959 Corvette. It’s as classic a piece of Americana as any Harley, resplendent in its red-with-white-coves colour scheme, all the chrome gleaming. And sure enough, it sounds good too.

We take the car out (it starts and idles with placid obedience) and the photographer and I follow Brian through town to our first location.

He’s not really putting his foot down but even watching the car from behind, I’m reminded what early V8 Corvettes are like – lots of torque in a relatively light car. So it picks up from a standstill very quickly, nips ahead, generally shrugs off any difference with modern traffic except in the matter of reliable brake lights and indicators. Still, we don’t quite manage to lose him, and Brian I get a chance to chat while the photos are set up.

“We were on holiday in the USA a few years ago,” he says. ‘We went to the Pismo Beach classic car show in California, which was partly to remove preconceived ideas my wife Chris had about American cars and their owners.”

This tactic was a spectacular success. Brian says that Chris had a tear in her eye after looking at the very first car she saw, because it was so beautiful.

After taking in the atmosphere for a couple of days, Chris was saying that they should look for a similar car of their own once they returned home.

“ WE NEED TO BRING ONE IN FROM THE STATES BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE MORE CHOICE OF CARS AT THE RIGHT STANDARD...”

1961 Corvette had a totally different back end treatment.

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283cu in V8.

Don’t mix these up!

Chasing the dream

Brian, of course, needed little encouragement. His passion for American cars and motorbikes is life long – he bought a ’69 Mach 1 Mustang just six months after passing his driving test. He and Chris settled down to the enjoyable task of making a shortlist. “We looked through some books and searched images on the internet until we came across a 1948 Buick Roadmaster convertible. We thought the Buick was beautiful, but a little frumpy (his word, not ours!) and it stopped us from actually seeking out a car.

“At that point Chris asked if there was any car I would really like above all others. I said I’d love a Corvette. ‘Well that’s not on the list,’ she replied, ‘you never mentioned that before.’” Brian then proceeded to bring out all manner of die-cast models and books about the Corvette that Chris had never seen. Chris, somewhat bemused, asked why Brian didn’t say earlier that this was what he wanted. “My reply to that was that I never thought I would ever be able to afford to have one,” he says.

But this being an exercise in making dreams come true, they decided to chase a Corvette. And a very

Vital reading!

specific one – Brian decided it had to be red with white coves, and it had to be a Fifties car, so 1958 or ’59, even though the 1960 Corvette C1 was so similar. The first promising ‘hit’ led them on a long journey.

“We found an example described by the seller as being ‘better than new’… this was getting very exciting now.

So we made the arrangements to do the 400-mile-plus round trip to see the car. When the door to the storage unit opened and I saw the car for the first time I was so disappointed.”

Neither the condition nor the ergonomics of the car were what Brian had expected. He’s a tall chap and the steering wheel and gear lever were never going to allow his right leg to move without interference. It was a pretty devastating moment, as Brian recalls: “I came away feeling that this was the end of a dream. This is when Chris spoke up and said what we need is an automatic, as you are too tall for a manual car, and we need to bring one in from the States because we will have more choice of cars at the right standard. That instantly put a smile on my face – she’s one in a million.” ❯❯

Brian Robinson.

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Top is not power-operated, but is relatively simple to use.

Faux knock-off hub caps.

Striking gold!

With a change of focus and the whole of America to sift through, Brian and Chris found a ’58 car in the right colours that looked great in the dealer’s photos. So they did the sensible thing and paid for an engineer’s report… which wasn’t very complimentary. On to the next one.

This car also looked promising, but Brian’s emails received no reply. Chris encouraged him to pick up the phone and Brian found himself speaking to a lady who said the car wasn’t at her address, but that the man looking after it could help. Brian dialled the number she supplied.

“I spoke to a gentleman who introduced himself as George. He appeared to have an incredible wealth of knowledge on Corvettes. When we had finished talking I did a web search and found that he was the president of Corvettes West in California and he had once owned his own Corvette workshop.”

This time, the engineer’s report was glowing. A deal was struck and Brian paid the money over, which as he says is a scary and potentially hazardous thing to do. But for Brian, it just felt right: “I was never in any doubt that this was the car for me,” he says.

The North East is blessed with beautiful, empty roads like this.

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Next step was shipping, which put something of a dampener on Brian’s rising enthusiasm. He’d arranged for the car to travel as half the cargo in a two-car container, but that meant waiting for a second car… and there was no second car. After six weeks of thumb-twiddling, Brian’s patience evaporated and he gave the Corvette an upgrade to single occupancy.

“The car was loaded and the ship set sail. As I had the name of the ship I was able to track its progress using the real-time marine tracker on the internet, and I know this is crazy but I was even watching the ship pass into New York using a webcam.

I was so excited.” This excitement peaked, of course, on the magic day when Brian was notified of the car’s delivery. Would seeing it in the flesh live up to the pictures and the description, or prove another crashing disappointment?

“I got the call from the driver to say that the car was at the top of the road and walked up to see it. I instantly fell in love with it… what a great car! I bought it with only 20 miles on the clock. It’s done nearly 2500 now and the car just gets better and better. I get great pleasure knowing that although I’m the third owner, I am only the second owner-driver in 56 years and who knows how long it has been since it was on the road. To top off, on the car’s first outing it won best of show at Fins and Chrome.”

Fantastic garage is also an impromptu automotive museum.

The technical detail hardly seems important in such a whirl of happy emotion, but for the record, this 1959 Corvette has a 283cu in small-block V8 working through a three-speed automatic, a $199 option. The ’59s were tidied up a little from ’58, with less exterior decor and more standard equipment – rev counter, electric clock and dual exhausts, among other things. Only 9670 of them were built, but such is the popularity of the ’Vette and durability of that thick GRP body that a great number have survived and the aftermarket industry is thriving. Which helped a lot with the story of this car’s restoration, as Brian explains.

“The car was bought in 1977 by a man called Ron Frobie. He’d seen it in a state of disrepair in a neighbour’s yard, and finally persuaded the neighbour to sell. Ron had a Corvette already, and his wife had a baby on the way, so he aimed to get it fixed up and sold on quickly. This didn’t quite happen.” After years of collecting parts at swap meets, often with his friend George Swift, Ron fell ill and sadly passed away in 2011 without ever finishing the car.

Now comes the remarkable part.

“George stood up at Ron’s funeral and pledged that he would finish the car just as Ron would have liked, as a tribute to his friend, and that’s just what he did.” What began as a private desire of Brian’s became firstly a shared interest with his wife, Chris, and then something that’s been almost life-changing: a dream made real but also a passport to new experiences, whether that’s winning trophies or making friends. “I have a good friend in George,” says Brian, “who is always just an email or phone call away. We had the pleasure of staying with George and his wife Diane in 2014 and meeting many of their Corvetteowning friends. I’m still thrilled that this car is mine.” ★

Brian has been delighted with the Corvette, even though initially he started out looking for a Buick!

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“THEY LOOK COOL, SOUND GREAT AND ARE GOOD CRUISERS...”

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Words & Photography:

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J

ust by glancing at the photos on this page, it goes without saying we’re going to be mentioning the famous movie Smokey and The Bandit at some stage.

Anyone over the age of 35 with petrol running through their veins is bound to have a certain fondness for the Burt Reynolds film, though as is often the case with a Seventies road movie, it’s the cars that stole the show, rather than the characters. And in the case of Smokey and The Bandit, the star undoubtedly was that famous black Pontiac Trans Am. At the time, we could all imagine ourselves tearing up the Tarmac, or blasting along a smooth dirt road in a Trans Am, but the reality of it actually happening was pretty remote. Yes, 20 years ago, they could be bought for the same price as a bog-standard Sierra, but few of us took the plunge and actually went out and bought one. But then mercifully, there are people like Scott Hudson who, being braver than most, ended up with not just one, but three Pontiac Trans Ams. And if that wasn’t enough, his stunning trio are also regarded as among the best in the UK. Some may think it’s greedy to have three parked in your garage, but when you see the amount of work involved in the restoration of each car, we can only admire Scott for his skills, man hours and persistence in bringing each of these rarities back to life.

Scott became involved in working on cars from an early age – 13 to be specific: “My dad always had 2.8-litre Granadas and I spent much of my teens rebuilding engines with him,” Scott remembers. “I didn’t go to school much, but learned a lot in the garage instead.” He also taught himself how to paint cars too and naturally progressed to working in the motor trade, initially for various other businesses, before setting up on his own (S M H & Sons Auto Services, Horbury, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 01924 278857). “I bought out a trader I was working for, just selling cars at first, but soon moved on to repairing,

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’76 got a replacement 350 crate motor.

The film that launched (literally!) thousands of Trans Ams!

restoring and painting them too,” Scott recalls. As word got round, Scott was the man to call if you needed a highquality restoration undertaken, and the phone didn’t stop ringing. “I started restoring lots of Capris through their various clubs for showgoers and I’m still busy carrying work out for them now,” he tells us.

A brief walk around Scott’s workshop reveals numerous Capris of all guises in different stages of restoration, from bare-metalled shells right through to finished concours cars awaiting collection by their proud owners.

But today our concentration is on his trio of Trans Ams, which are a true sight to behold, especially when parked together. “I’d always said to myself I’d have one at some point,” Scott smiles. “I never planned on having three though!” It took an agonising wait until 2007 before Scott had the funds, time and opportunity to tackle a Trans Am project and in hindsight, he’ll happily point out the first one

involved a colossal amount of work.The black ’78 Pontiac Trans Am 400 was found in an open barn in Sheffield where it had laid untouched for the previous 20 years “I borrowed £1500 to buy it, the price was good, but it needed a huge amount of work to put it right,” Scott remembers.

“Chickens and goats from the farm next door had been inside, so it was a real mess.” The Trans Am was trailered back to Scott’s workshop where the full extent of the work needed to be done was revealed in all its glory.

“I began by listing all the parts I would need and started phoning suppliers straight away,” Scott recalls. Local parts specialist Cas-Am (see: www.cas-am.co.uk or call: 01977 604 060) came up trumps for some of the major components, but Scott soon found certain parts such as front wings were almost impossible to find.

“I had the shell shot blasted, fitted new floors and fabricated any panels that I couldn’t buy replacements for,” he explains. The shell was then resprayed in its original colour of gloss black and gradually the rest of the project came together. “A lot of parts I bought from Classic Industries, I’m quite particular that every clip, screw, wire and prism should be correct,” Scott laughs.

To help him in his progress, each part had to be removed, cleaned and photographed to ensure it would be either refitted or replaced later on, a painstaking task for sure!

The farm animals had destroyed the Trans Am’s original interior, but fortunately a replacement kit can be bought off the shelf, Scott choosing a camel tan PVC for this car.

“As it come ready to install, it was a fairly straightforward job to fit in the workshop,” Scott tells us. The Bandit car wouldn’t be complete without a set of famous snowflake alloys, but as you’ve probably guessed these are hard to come by too. Fortunately, Scott was able to restore this set rather than buy refurbished wheels and they set the Trans Am off perfectly. ❯❯

Refurbed 6.6-litre V8 motor in the ’78

’76 interior is a mean menacing black affair...

... while the ’78 interior is a vision of tan and gold!

Scott’s first T/A was literally home to farm animals.

’78 rear end very similar to ’76s.

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The refurbed 6.6-litre V8 mated to a TH350 auto box could then be reinstalled, a Performer cam, inlet and carb fitted to add a little more grunt and after 20 years, the Pontiac could now return to the streets. “I put fresh petrol in it, it started fine so I took it for a test drive primarily to check the gearbox out,” Scott continues. “I got to 65mph and one of the front wheels came off, fortunately only one of the front wings was damaged, so it was repairable!” After a two-year project on this scale, the last thing you’d want to do is repair work that’s only just been done, but Scott seems to take stuff like this in his stride!

After such a mammoth project, anyone in their right mind would be reluctant to repeat the whole process, but as Scott had so many spares left over from project number one, the prospect of building another seemed quite sensible at the time: “The second black Firebird came from a mate of mine, this one is a ’76 LE replica, though originally it was a base model,” Scott explains. “It was in a bad way too with a welded roof, but slightly better than the first one!”

Gradually, parts were upgraded to Trans Am spec and the interior replaced with black vinyl imported from the States, more in keeping with the Bandit car this time around: “It came with Impreza seats, so anything was an improvement,” Scott laughs. The original motor was shot, so in its place, Scott bit the bullet and bought a brand-new 5.7-litre crate motor mated to a TH350 turbo box. He originally planned to fit polycast honeycomb wheels this time, but struggled to find a set so had to settle with the not-quite-as-hard-to-find snowflakes once again, though this of course is no bad thing!

Two immaculate Trans Ams later, you’d imagine Scott would be taking a rest by now, but far from it, project number three was already under way. “I bought the red car just for the roof, but it was actually a much more solid shell than the first two cars,” Scott laughs. “Originally it was a genuine silver Formula model.” Bought for a bargain £1200 from a house clearance company, the Formula had languished outside a house on a driveway in Bradford for a number of years.

On further inspection, Scott soon discovered this was a rare European Antwerp-built car, constructed in kit form – there’s even a ‘Built in Belgium’ plaque under the hood. “It’s actually built better than the American cars!” he points out.

Welding could be kept to a minimum this time around, with just the chassis needing attention. The interior was in a poorer state, Scott recovering the seats in black cloth and adding a new headlining and carpet. The engine was replaced with another 5.7-litre crate motor just like the previous project and again mated to a TH350 turbo box. “The wheels were in good condition, it even had the original centre caps,” Scott tells us. “I never planned on keeping this one for long, so I resprayed it bright red to sell easier.”

Armed with three Trans Ams and a couple of willing friends, Scott was able to attend the odd show with all three cars last summer, and as you’d expect they grabbed plenty of attention. “I’ve won Best in Show trophies at American Auto Club and Wonderland,” Scott tells us – and looking around this trio it’s easy to see why. Each one of them is as flawless in its build as the next. “They look cool, sound great and are good cruisers,” Scott explains, “it’s only the handling that lets them down, they’re not built to go around corners quickly like in the film!” Sadly, the last two cars to be built were sold on after our shoot, but the new owners are more than happy with their purchases, according to Scott: “I’ll definitely be keeping the first one, I have no plans to sell that!”★

“SCOTT SOON DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RARE EUROPEAN ANTWERP-BUILT CAR...”

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Colour was originally silver.

Another 5.7-litre crate V8 was fitted.

Trans Am fan: Scott Hudson.

Original wheels and centre caps were in great shape.

The Inspiration

The Trans Am was chosen by the director of Smokey and The Bandit, Hal Needham, after he’d seen an advert for the ’77 car. He knew straight away this would be the ideal car for the Bandit and after contacting Pontiac a deal was made that four Trans Ams would be supplied for the film.

The cars used were actually ’76 models with ’77 front ends and decals fitted, though fans of the film wouldn’t be too fussed about small details like these.

Unsurprisingly, given the scale of the stunts involved, all four cars were pretty much destroyed during the making of the film, the first three giving up parts to keep the sole survivor running to the end.

As far as Pontiac was concerned, they did their job and brought the Trans Am to the public’s attention more than any ad campaign could possibly reach.

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It created a new class of American car: two door, fourseat luxury with genuine sports car performance, at a price that was high, but not impossible: the 300B of 1956 started at $4242 against $6501 for a Cadillac Eldorado Seville or a colossal $9966 for the hand-built Lincoln Continental II. What started as a landmark – that 300hp figure – was soon left in the dust. The 300B offered a standard 340hp from its 354cu in Hemi-head V8 (up from 1955’s 331cu in), with 355bhp optional, becoming the first American car to produce more than one horsepower per cubic inch. The 300C of 1957 hopped up to 375bhp with 390bhp optional, this time from an expanded 392cu in.

That year saw a major restyle with some of Virgil Exner’s favoured tail fins and quad headlamps. There’s a photo of him in Robert Ackerson’s wonderful book Chrysler 300 – America’s Most Powerful Car leaning on the fin of a ’57 Mopar with a poster of a Convair delta-wing fighter behind him, and the relationship of the lines is pretty clear. Chrysler even claimed an aerodynamic role for them, suggesting they increased stability at high speed... and the 300C hit 145.7mph at Chrysler’s proving ground, so perhaps it was true. Then there was Exner’s achievement in giving Chrysler a new model that looked larger than the old one, but wasn’t. The 300C was three inches shorter and fourand-a-half inches lower, with a significantly lower centre of gravity. All of which helped the handling, as did the 300C’s clever suspension.

Front torsion bars replaced springs, but dedicated work to suspension geometry did even more good: here was a car with better body control, cornering and directional stability than the firmly sprung 300 and 300B, but with a superb ride as well. These qualities were carried over and improved further as the letter cars continued. Early in the 300’s history, some wag came up with the nickname of ‘banker’s hot rod’, which seems justified. The interior luxury and mouth-watering options list were richer than ever, while power had shot up so far, so fast, that more was going to be difficult to extracct fr t FireP Po er mi

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Swing-away seats were Chrysler’s nod to easy entry and exit.

IT’S A SOCIABLE THING, HEADING OUT ON A SUMMER’S EVENING IN A CAR LIKE THIS...”

Mopar high tech: push-button auto.

Huge cross-ram intakes measure almost three feet each...

For the 1960 300F in our pictures, it was rated at ‘only’ 375hp. But a peak figure hardly tells the whole tale. One glance at the engine will show you the remarkable cross-ram intake, each side sending fuel and air mixture some 30 inches before reaching the inlet ports. The reason is this: when the intake valve shuts, its sends a pulse wave back into the inlet tract.

This wave bounces up and down the tract, disrupting the inlet charge, unless you tune the length of the inlet to ensure each pulse arrives back at the valve at just the right moment, pushing the mixture into the cylinder as the valve reopens.

It works. There’s more power through more of the rev-range, as anyone who has ever sat behind one knows.

One such man is Mark Sumpter, the owner of this glorious 300F convertible. “It’s exciting,” he says. “It sits very square on the road, but I run it on original-spec crossplies, and that makes it even more exciting to drive… the squealing noises make you think you’re in a movie.”

Dash features luminescent 'juke box' speedo.

Mark has long experience of American cars, despite his day job working with classic Porsches. He’s owned Tri-Chevys, Fifties Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles and others, but didn’t really ‘get’ Chrysler products of the era until he started seeing some decent examples in the flesh. “It was mainly in the US,” he says. “I’d be over there buying cars or looking at cars in connection with the business and you see cars at shows that you’d never see here. I first tried to buy a Plymouth Fury that had been used in the movie Christine in 2004, but I didn’t get it and I decided I wanted a 300G.” The ‘G’ has those distinctive angled front lights that are suggestive of a stern Sixties American lady in butterfly glasses, but once Mark managed to look at one side-by-side with a 300F, the appeal of the F’s tail-lights won the day. “I homed in on two cars at the RM Auctions sale in Monterey Week, August 2011. But then I got there and realised how good the restoration of this car was and I fell in love with the triple-black looks. It’s the only triple-black 300F convertible, and only 78 of the original 248 convertibles are known to have survived.” ❯❯

Push-buttons feature on transmission, heating and radio.

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Window shopping

We can all dream, so why not pick on the 300 letter car that suits you? After all, some are a good deal more affordable than others.

For such rare cars, you’ll need to look to America. Here’s a tiny price guide, with all figures in US dollars: MODEL (COUPE UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED) FAIR (THE LEAST ASKED FOR A TATTY BUT DRIVEABLE CAR) CONCOURS (MOST YOU’LL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BEST) C-300 $35,000 $130,000 300B $30,000 $105,000 300C $25,000 $80,000 300C Convertible $80,000 $185,000 300D $20,000 $82,000 300D Convertible $90,000 $190,000 300E $20,000 $65,000 300E Convertible $100,000 $195,000 300F $35,000 $98,000 300F Convertible $130,000 $235,000 300G $30,000 $95,000 300G Convertible $85,000 $190,000 300H $17,000 $60,000 300H Convertible $40,000 $125,000 300J $12,000 $35,000 300K $10,000 $33,000 300L $9000 $27,000 300L Convertible $18,000 $55,000

Falling in love is a dangerous thing to do at auction.

“Monterey Week is not a cheap place to buy, but when you’ve fallen in love with a car like that, what are you going to do? I wasn’t going to get the chance again so I had to keep bidding.” With his pre-sale budget busted by at least 20%, Mark kept nodding at the man with the gavel until the car was his. So when did reality set in?

“It had been a fantastic experience, as they park all the beautiful cars on display around the hotel grounds before the auction, and the previous owner was there to talk to. The weather was fantastic and you’re pretty much in a dream world, but then the day after the sale all the cars are stuffed into an ugly underground garage and you have to arrange payment and shipping and fly home.

“Eight weeks later and the car arrived in wet, cold England looking far too big for the roads.” Was Mark sorry? Of course not. As you can see from the pictures, there are places in England where even a car like this can look right at home.

Although it had a hell of a journey before ending up with Mark and our photographer, one fine day at Beachy Head.

This 300F Convertible was ordered from Manhattan Chrysler

by Donald J Baker, who kept it for six years and put 60,000 miles on it. In August 1966, the second owner, William Good, purchased the car privately from Mr Baker for $1200. Then came transmission trouble that sent it to a garage in 1970, and before this was resolved the garage owner passed away.

Mr Good moved the car, still in bits, to his brother Robert’s garage as he was in the process of a move to Oklahoma.

When Robert Good moved house in 1982 the car had to be sold. The third owner was Robert Doupe who completely disassembled the car to begin a restoration. But 20 years on, little progress had been made and in the summer of 2003 Mr Doupe met with David Clelland at a Chrysler show. After much discussion the car was sold and Mr Clelland commenced a total restoration, which was completed in early 2009, just in time to debut at the Amelia Island concours.

Mr Clelland used the car on the show circuit for two years, winning various awards before deciding to sell it and start his next project. When Mark purchased the car it had a total mileage of 76,300, a total which has crept up more slowly than Mark would like.

Lucky man: Mark Sumpter.

“I’ve decided to use it rather than keep it wrapped up indoors, but I still haven’t managed a long trip in it. Every year I’ve wanted to go to Vasteras for the Power Big Meet, but it’s always clashed with something. I enjoy taking it out for local trips and my girlfriend, Jude likes it... it’s a sociable thing, heading out on a summer’s evening in a car like this.” Despite buying the best on the market, Mark has found that many of those post-restoration jobs are still niggling him a little, so he’s taken a stubborn approach to fixing them. “I work for myself and recently I’ve been able to take every Friday off and work on things with my father. I want everything to work just as it did from the factory and there are push-buttons for everything… the transmission, the complex heating and air condition setup, it all needed looking at. For instance, the auto-choke wasn’t working quite right and the door glass could have gone up and down a bit smoother, so we spent hours dismantling everything and putting it right.”

Chrysler’s 300 series ‘letter cars’ (those made from 1955 to the 300L sign-off in 1965) are remarkable in various ways: there’s the power and performance, the luxury, the looks that varied between elegant and daring, sometimes managing to be both at once, and the technical innovation. Mark’s car is the first of the ilk to use a large monocoque tub instead of a separate chassis, something that added to the car’s stiffness and composure. But perhaps most remarkable of all is the fact that the letter cars were a commercial failure.

During the decade they were made, sales typically bumped along at between 1000 and 2500 per year – chicken feed by the standards of the Big Three. Some years it dipped into triple figures, like 810 for the 300D, 690 for the 300E, 558 for the 300H and a shocking 400 for the 300J in 1963. Rather than puzzle at the reasons why (what was so different about the Buick Riviera, launched in ’63 and selling 112,244 by the end of ’65?) we should finish on a happy note: people like Mark who can bring dream machines of this calibre into the UK give us the chance of seeing an incredibly rare, incredibly special car in the flesh. Or at least hearing the howl of tortured cross-plies as something very black flashes past on a summer evening… ❯❯ Red and blue 300 cog motif between rear back seats.

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“I’VE DECIDED TO USE IT RATHER THAN KEEP IT WRAPPED UP INDOORS...”

The other 300s

When the 300 letter cars were dropped after years of weak sales, why did Chrysler keep the 300 name going?

Because they’d blurred the lines in 1962 when the plain 300 series arrived alongside the 300H. This replaced the Saratoga and was offered not only as a four-door sedan and hardtop, but also a two-door coupe and convertible.

With hindsight, Chrysler execs may well have admitted that selling a cheaper car with almost the same name and exactly the same sheet metal as their flagship, plus the option of the same high-performance engine, hardly helped the sales of the struggling senior model.

Nonetheless, the 300 series remained a respectable mid-range seller until it was dropped after 1971, having become a two-door-only line from 1969. This pseudo-sporting personal luxury niche was almost revived by a ‘300’ option package for the Chrysler Cordoba in 1979, but the name didn’t reappear until 1998 when the 300M, a luxury full-size sports sedan, made its entrance. This front-engined V6 machine was replaced in 2005 by the chunky 300C that was marketed in the UK. It was a reversion to rear-wheel drive featuring aggressively retro styling, plus an SRT-8 version that recalled the best of the letter cars’ performance, even if the 300C Touring station wagon seemed a little off-message. The 300 is still going in second-gen form, but who would have foreseen the day when a Chrysler 300 and a Dodge Charger were pretty much the same car? ★

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Chrysler 300... ‘79 style.

The 300C reveal in 2004.

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This contender from our Car of the Year display at the end of 2015 is nearly 19 feet long. At this scale, such graceful pillarless lines made NEC visitors gasp, especially in this elegant hue: Tarpon Silver Mist.

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360bhp 430cu in V8.

E

ver seen a tarpon? It’s a large sub-tropical game fish, popular with anglers from Florida to Australia and resembling an angry, six-foot sardine. But seeing one manhandled on TV by a gurning Geordie actor might not show you the tarpon’s most striking quality. They’re silver in the water, yet distinctly greenish when out of it. It’s the perfect name for the unusual paint worn by this big Buick, which does indeed have a green tinge in certain lights.

Whatever the colour, such a vast car (18ft 9in long, 6ft 8in wide) must struggle to cope with tight little UK roads.

Its owner, Nigel Perring, says you can’t see the rear corners so you have to manoeuvre like a truck, using the mirrors and plenty of room. “I tend to keep the left-hand side close to the kerb,” he says, “and that usually leaves enough room for whatever’s coming towards me.”

Buick's Tri-shield crest.

Nigel has found a solution to the claustrophobia some owners of the largest American cars suffer: driving to the wider, straighter roads of France. He’s exercised the sizeable Buick twice on the continent in his short ownership, visiting the Normandy beaches for VE day and attending the Laon Historique. But Nigel’s enjoyment of the Buick hasn’t come without the odd hitch, such as the disintegration of a wheel bearing that he suffered on the motorway trip from his home in South Wales to the NEC show in November.

Trouble of this kind is perhaps is to be expected from a highly original car that has spent much of its life sitting still.

It was bought new from Ramme Buick of Coal City, Illinois by one Harry E Robb. When old age claimed Mr Robb roughly 40 years later, the car was so little used and still in such fine original condition that it was considered for the GM Car Library. In the end, though, it passed to a museum and collector car dealership, the Volo Auto Museum, in the suburbs of Chicago. It was bought from there and imported to the UK by a Mr Golightly in 2011.

He passed it to a dealer in the Cotswolds where Daniel Mills saw it for sale in February 2014.

As luck would have it, we were able to meet up with Dan at the NEC show, where he told us how he first learned of this time-warp car. “I saw it advertised as having 11,000 original miles. I spend hours looking at cars on eBay and it really stood out… I thought ‘I’m going to have to go and have a look at that.’” And he did. As you might expect, he ended up making a deal and taking the car home, though he already had a 1969 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Or perhaps because he already had a ’69 Coupe de Ville.

“The Cadillac needed a few bits of work, but that became a full engine rebuild and I got sick of being unable to drive it. So I bought the Buick and enjoyed it for most of 2014, doing about 1000 miles and having a thorough service done by MAG American in Bishop’s Stortford. But then when my Cadillac was finished I came to the practical solution that one should go.”

Tarpon Mist has a slight touch of green in it in a certain light.

Dan decided to call up the dealer he bought it from and to his surprise, the dealer said he knew of a likely buyer for the car and put Dan in touch with Nigel Perring. Nigel was just as charmed by the condition and the super-low mileage as Dan was, and like Dan, had no fear of adding a reasonable amount to that mileage by enjoying the car as it should be enjoyed. “It ran sweetly,” he recalls, “but the more it ran, the more I found that needed doing.

“The carb was out of adjustment and the engine was getting a little coked up. I also replaced the exhaust.

Custom Chrome in Nuneaton fitted a stainless system with Cherry Bomb silencers. A guy called Kelvin at KT Autos in Pyll, Bridgend, did the rest of the work including the fitting of a new brake master cylinder.”

Other teething troubles included some tired air shocks, now replaced, making the car a good deal less bouncy.

Nigel has a long history of Corvette ownerships, having had something like six of them from C2s right up to C5s. His pal Laurence Braine is a rep for the Corvette Club and he detailed the Buick’s engine bay as a birthday present.

“My health isn’t up to driving fast,” says Nigel. “My back and my knees give me a lot of trouble and anyway, I’ve done plenty of fast driving before now. So I thought I’d accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, as it says on the sticker Dan Mills put on the car.”

Buying something a little more spacious and easier to enter or exit than a Corvette is sensible enough, but doing it with such style is to be applauded. The Electra 225 was in its ninth year as Buick’s full-size flagship when Nigel’s car was made, and it carries some traditional reminders of status. Those four ventiports in each front fender continued a tradition that stretched back to the Forties while the small spat over each rear wheel gave a hint of limo-like elegance that every ‘deuce and a quarter’ made since 1964 shared.

The 225 moniker referred to length, of course, with 225 inches coming out at the 18ft 9in referred to above.

Despite the badge lasting right up to 1980, only a minority of the Buicks that wore it conformed to the promised length (see the separate information panel). The first ones did, of course, and it must have been considered something worth boasting about even if the difference over the already

sizeable Invicta was only five inches, and just eight inches over the Le Sabre. We couldn’t swear where the extra five inches went in the 225 – it doesn’t seem to be a simple chunk of extra rear legroom like you might find in a longwheelbase Jaguar, Rolls-Royce or Mercedes. We’ve seen it referred to as the ‘long deck model’, implying that the size of the cabin was exactly the same.

Never mind. Buyers of the first 225 knew the extra $500 or so they were spending bought a lot of desirable kit like power windows, plush interiors, warning lights and buzzers that were extra on the plain Electra.

This, together with the additional exterior gingerbread and the fact that you were probably getting another couple of hundred pounds of pressed steel into the bargain made it feel like a good deal, and the 225 sold pretty well from the start – of 66,493 Electras and Electra 225s sold in 1959, 22,308 were 225s. ❯❯ Brocade interior is immaculate.

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The proportion of sales going to the 225 increased in 1961 when Buicks all went through a radical fin-chop and perhaps lost much of their glamour; if you could retrieve some of the old flair by upgrading to a 225, why not go for it? Things began to look up as the American public got used to clean Sixties lines, or perhaps as GM stylists found their feet with the new clean-cut fashion and started turning out some greatlooking cars. The 1964 Electra 225 had slab-like rear fenders that drew a horizontal line from the sills, through the rear wheel hub and on back to the rear bumper. This made fender skirts or spats necessary, one of the features that survived the major GM restyle in 1965.

General Motors probably defined our idea of what looks ‘early Sixties’ and what looks ‘late Sixties’. Buicks, and many other cars, developed hips from ’65 that are usually compared to the shape of that famous cola receptacle. The front ends changed markedly too, with a pronounced prow in the middle of the grille and bonnet. Each front wing plunged forward in a similar way, giving the front end of all ’65-’70 Electras an imposing maritime look.

Also new for ’65 was a split in the 225 range between base (probably the wrong word for such a luxurious vessel) and Custom. The difference was minor, extending only as far as interior fabrics and seat styles, but Buick gave it another shot of snob value in ’67 by introducing the Custom Limited option. Walnut-effect inserts for dash and doors, extra storage pockets and different cloth and vinyl options tempted $149.27 from some pockets.

The interior of Nigel’s car, a 225 Custom, is a thing of wonder. Partly it’s the size – picture a country estate planted with verdant silk brocade – and partly it’s the pillarless side profile that adds such a sense of space. But mainly it’s the condition… however clean and fresh a recent re-trim can be, it seems impossible to recapture the factory feel. Other people admire the outside of our cars but we get to spend time on the inside, and if there’s one reason above all others for seeking out these low-mileage ‘powder puff’ survivors, it’s the experience of sitting in a truly unspoiled Sixties environment.

Windows are manually operated.

‘Sonomatic’ AM radio.

Room for not one, but two sets of golf clubs was mandatory.

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Electra nameplate made its debut in 1959.

Dash features a speed reminder buzzer.

It’s a pretty well-appointed one in a top-end car like this, with an audible speed warning buzzer, three cigar lighters (two in the back for the, er… kids?) and electric two-way movement for the front seats. There are two-speed wipers, seatbelts for all passenger positions, a bell-clear AM radio, crank-operated vent windows, an electric clock and all manner of other standard goodies.

What makes this example unusual is that Mr Robb, the first owner, seems to have resisted all temptation to add to the specification when the salesman whipped out the option list. Not selecting air conditioning was reasonable in chilly Illinois, but wind-up windows seem a little pennypinching in such a plush car.

One less thing to go wrong, perhaps, and there’s always the consolation of a 430cu in V8 with a four-barrel carb and 360bhp@5000rpm. The torque figure matters more: a colossal 475lb ft@3200rpm, all sent through a threespeed Super Turbine transmission to a rear end running the civilised cruising ratio of 2.78:1. This was and is a fast car.

Fast enough for Nigel? “Yes, it goes really well,” says Nigel.

“Thankfully it stops too, probably because of those big, finned aluminium drums and lots of power assistance. The steering is surprisingly quick but very light.”

Perhaps the nicest surprise has been the way people react to it. “The amazing thing is that young people, say 20-yearolds, seem to love it. I never had that with my Corvettes or my ’61 Thunderbird.” What an encouraging thing to hear.

There’s another generation of tasteful people out there who can see the beauty in something less well-known but perfectly preserved. If you want to know what it feels like to experience the Sixties, turn off the iPod and find a car like this. ❯❯

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Does size matter?

When a car makes such a feature of its length as to turn it into a name, you’d think the makers would stick to the promise. Not a bit of it. From the very beginning, the Buick Electra 225 was only 225 inches long in four-door form. The cost and cosmetic result of stretching the convertible would have been problematic, so it stuck with standard Electra dimensions of 221 inches. But then in 1961 when the fins vanished, none of the 225s came up to the mark: they dropped to 219 inches, sharing all their sheet metal with the standard Electra.

The length rose by a little over an inch a year, reaching nearly 223 inches by 1964 and stalling around the 223/224 mark until finally returning to the advertised dimension in 1968. But then what? A new growth spurt saw the Electra 225 slip into the Seventies at 226 inches long, putting on nearly two inches a year until it reached a leviathan 233.4-inch peak in 1975. That’s nearly 19½ feet long, so it makes sense that the 225 shared its wheelbase with the full-sized Estate Wagon.

The cars were chopped back down to size for 1977, dropping first to 222 inches and then 220 for 1980, when the company perhaps accepted that building unfeasibly long sedans and boasting about it on the badge was not an appropriate tactic for the new decade. The 225 name disappeared that year, never to return. The lesson? If you’re shopping for a classic Buick, don’t believe everything it says on the badge. ★ Owner Nigel Perring.

Electra for 1970 kept the crisp clean lines of its ‘68 forebear.

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Rear wheels feature spats.

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Best of both worlds: Kent Thirley and his brace of Mustangs.

Words: Nigel Boothman

It’s around nine months since Ford UK started taking orders for the all-new, right-hand drive Mustangs, and deliveries began before Christmas. We talk to two Classic American readers who took the plunge.

E

313bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.

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very time Ford launches a new Mustang it takes a risk with its heritage: will this car live up to the greats of the past? As all but the most die-hard Blue Oval fans will admit, the answer hasn’t always been ‘yes’. But for those of us who drive on the left, it’s been a bit of a moot point.

Good or not, a new Mustang meant buying an import and jumping through the hoops to make it legal in the UK. Even if one of the renowned UK-based import firms did all that for you, you were still sitting on the ‘wrong’ side of the car. And come service time, the main dealer would treat you like a stranger.

There’s a big difference between enjoying a left-hand drive classic on weekend trips to shows and using a new car to overtake B-road traffic safely or negotiate the ticket machine in a multi-storey car park. Happily, Ford chose the Mustang’s

“I WANTED A PROPER, RIGHT-HAND DRIVE FORD PRODUCT WITH THE MAIN DEALER BACK-UP YOU GET FOR ANY NEW CAR...”

50th anniversary year of 2014 to announce that our wait for an official, UK-market, right-hand drive Mustang was over.

And some 18 months after the first cars were offered for sale as part of a UEFA Champions League promotion, they’ve started arriving.

Ford is keen to say that the new model is no woolly globalmarket compromise, but rather a red-blooded American Mustang modified, to meet the laws and requirements of different territories. Yet it’s got some distinctly Europeanstyle features, including a multi-link independent rear suspension with major components made in aluminium and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the base model. Even the looks have elements of Euro-GT to them, in a good way: check out the fastback roof and rear side-window line… Aston Martin V8 Vantage?

Either way, it’s a very handsome car and the response from UK buyers has been strong – Ford says some 2750 orders were placed by February 2016 and its dealers estimate a seven- to nine-month wait for new orders. Classic American spoke to two Classic American readers who ordered early and took delivery of their cars in recent weeks. Kent Thirley from Hertfordshire thinks Ford was caught out by the demand.

“They seemed to be unaware of the number of Mustang fans in the UK and maybe all across Europe. I was one of those who entered a draw to buy one of the very first cars when they were promoted during Champions League matches back in 2014, but I still wouldn’t have my car now if I hadn’t asked a contact of mine to pull a few strings.”

Kent points out that the dealers have been left in the dark as much as the customers, sometimes taken by surprise when a few cars would suddenly arrive on a lorry. Indeed, his local dealer only received a demonstrator car a fortnight before Kent’s own car turned up. Richard Robinson from Birmingham had a similar experience, saying: “The salesperson was very surprised at the amount of interest. All they had to show customers was a little brochure; they eventually got a convertible for people to look at, though that wasn’t for demonstration use on the road.”

But that’s where the negativity ends – for both buyers, the car was indeed worth the wait: “It feels a lot classier than bog-standard Fords,” says Kent. “It’s very quiet and smooth and you can drive as gently as you like, but if you use the performance – mine’s a V8 – it’s a seriously fast car. Is it as good as the German alternatives? It’s getting there. You can’t chuck it into corners so quickly, but it drives really well.” What’s more,

Richard Robinson and his brand-new Race Red Mustang.

410bhp 5.0-litre V8.

It's estimated that there's a nine-month wait for new Mustangs.

it undercuts every serious rival (think BMW 4-series, Audi A5, Nissan 370Z) by a big margin.

There are currently just two engine options in the UK; the aforementioned 2.3-litre EcoBoost, which makes a remarkable 313bhp, and the 5.0-litre V8, offering 410bhp. The EcoBoost’s base price is £30,495 (or £34,495 in convertible form) while the V8s is £34,495 as a fastback or £38,495 for the convertible. The options list is minuscule by old-time Mustang standards, with a six-speed auto ’box adding £1500, various paint shades adding between £250 and £795, the Shaker Pro audio and sat nav at £795, climate-controlled seats at £495 and reverse parking sensors at £295. Or you can stump up £1795 for a custom pack that includes all of the above plus extra-shiny wheels and chrome side window surrounds. UK cars come as standard with uprated suspension and six-pot Brembo front calipers.

So far, about 70% of UK orders are for the V8, with ‘Race Red’ the most popular paint. It was the colour of choice for Richard Robinson, who took delivery of his V8 fastback in mid January: “My first impressions are that it’s clearly a muscle car, with lots of power and torque, but in the wet some care is needed on roundabouts to stop the tail stepping out! Standard of finish is good and the level of equipment is very good. The reversing camera that comes as standard is particularly useful. Visibility is excellent – much less claustrophobic than the Camaro or Challenger – but the car’s bonnet is so long it’s hard to tell where it ends.

The salesman at the garage did say that they are trying hard to get approval from Ford to fit after-market front sensors, which they already do for other models.”

Richard, like Kent, was obliged to pay a first-year road tax hit of £1100 included in the purchase price, thereafter dropping to £505 per year. The EcoBoost costs £350 for the first year, dropping to £225 afterwards. Insurance groups are 41 to 43 for the EcoBoost, 43 to 46 for the V8. So, as we enter the first full year of UK Mustang sales, we have a bit of a waiting list, some dealers who could have done with more forethought from Ford and some very happy customers. The chances are there will be many more because, as Kent Thirley says, this is what we’ve been waiting for: “I’ve had grey imports before, but I wanted a proper, right-hand drive Ford product with the main dealer back-up you get for any new car. And I’ve got it… you can now walk into any Ford showroom and order a new Mustang.” So what are you waiting for? ★

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1966 Ford Mustang Words: Mike Renaut, Photography: Jeremy Davies and Matt Richardson classic-american.com 79

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sually the cars we feature in Classic American have been found in the US and imported by their present owner or a previous one, but we seldom see one that’s returned to the States then to the UK again. This 1966 Mustang has done that trans-Atlantic crossing three times and owner Jeremy Davies (you may recall his blue Mach 1 from our July 2014 issue) reports it was actually quite straightforward. “It was for ‘Mustangs Across America,’” explains Jeremy. “I’d heard about the 2009 event held for the Mustang’s 45th anniversary, they’d done one in 2004 for the 40th too. I was determined to be there for the 50th because 2014 was doubly special; the 50th anniversary of the Mustang and 20th anniversary of the MAA. Once the website went live, I registered, paid and was rewarded with the number 66 slot. How fortuitous; a 1966 Mustang registered as car number 66. The omens looked good!”

Of course Jeremy didn’t just jump in and go. The Mustang had to be up to the task and it helped that the car was already upgraded. “Mine’s a sympathetic restomod (restored/modified) that was fully restored in 2008 by Roy Holmes at The Mustang Workshop (01256 761991/ www.mustangworkshop.co.uk ). He’d installed sympathetic upgrades such as power brakes with uprated front discs, overdrive gearbox, three-point seat belts and rack and pinion power steering.”

The required work for the MAA trip was again handled

by The Mustang Workshop. “Roy is the only person I trust to look after my car,” continues Jeremy. “Roy checked and replaced everything that might fail – he rebuilt the rear brakes, upgraded the fronts to EBC ‘red’ pads, changed the fluids, fitted a brake booster, and a new B&M auto transmission sump with increased capacity and finned bottom to cool the transmission oil. He also replaced the windscreen since the old one was scratched and direct sunlight meant visibility was a problem.

“We had new braided power steering hoses made, while Koni shocks and steering geometry checks transformed the handling. An important change was filling with Evans waterless coolant. Although engine temperatures might be slightly higher, the pay-off is no boiling and no pressure in the system when hot. We also packed essential spares, such as belts, extra fluids, solenoid and fuel pump. “

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“I WAS ABLE TO TRACK THE SHIP ON A PHONE APP AS IT WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL...”

Jeremy’s chief engineer and The Mustang Workshop proprietor, Roy Holmes, made an appearance at the grand finale in Charlotte.

Back in the US

Jeremy’s Wimbledon White ’66 Mustang was already used to travelling. Built in San Jose it went to Kansas and was later owned by Derek Shayler, journalist and former MI5 security officer. After being taken to Switzerland in 1989 the car was purchased by Dream Cars (01737 765050/www. dreamcars.co.uk) on behalf of Jeremy from a Christies auction in 1999.

“It’s still matching numbers except for the gearbox,” says Jeremy. “In 2005 I drove it around the Costa Blanca via Bordeaux and with the 289cu i V8 it th f tt d i N I ‘

On the road.

Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego County California.

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To finish you must start

“Another key to success,” explains Jeremy, “is to prepare the car so it starts at the other end. Roy fitted a brand new battery, starter and new BF Goodrich tyres. Although it arrived without a scratch it was filthy; I got on to a forum to find a good detailer and had it cleaned for three hours.

You can drive your own car on UK plates in most foreign countries for a while so that wasn’t a problem either. I had insurance with Farmers Insurance Group via a local broker in San Diego, organised by my friend. I got a six-month policy, and it cost $485. Later I was even able to claim money back for the five unused months.

“The drive started on April 9 in Corona, so just before I drove out into the Anza Borrego Desert Springs to test the car’s cooling system. It’s the standard fan with a new larger radiator. At 3000 feet above sea level the temperature went up to halfway on the gauge but at 65-70mph it really worked well.” Day one included a tour of the Saleen factory while day two took the group to Phoenix.

“Travelling with enthusiasts who had knowledge and parts was reassuring,” admits Jeremy, “but there were still a couple of cars that overheated. Some Australians entrants arrived, bought classic Mustangs and shipped them home at the end and a Canadian contingent had drove from Halifax to Los Angeles, then Charlotte and back to Halifax – a journey of about 10,000 miles. Other than a Belgian who shipped his 1969 coupe over in a trailer, mine was the only imported car among some 400 on the event. Some people had rented Mustangs and there were lots of new ones. It seems Americans don’t trust their older cars for long distances – which I found very ironic…

‘66 Grille simpler than the ‘65.

Last year for smart chrome steering wheel centre cap. The badges say it all!

“IF YOU’RE DRIVING FOR 10 HOURS A DAY IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THE TYRES ARE OKAY...”

Deluxe wood-rimmed steering wheel.

Intrepid traveller, Jeremy Davies.

Super smart Shelby-style alloy wheels.

“It was initially stressful keeping the car at constant 65mph hour after hour, but it passed with flying colours. I drove roof up, windows open and drank lots of water and Gatorade.

Running through Texas there were tornado warnings and I thought ‘I’m dead’ but it was fine and the top turned out to be completely waterproof. Mechanically the only problems were fuel, American petrol is 15 per cent ethanol which meant a bit of cranking to start and some vapour lock.

“The other issue was a door spring, which failed as I stopped at the Bonnie and Clyde memorial site in Louisiana.

A county official seeing the flag-emblazoned Mustang introduced himself. He was the local coroner; his grandfather performed the autopsy on Bonnie and Clyde. I did a temporary fix and was able to buy another door spring at a spares shop. We did about 350-400 miles a day at our own pace, with hotels booked all along the way. The routine was to arrive, check in, check the oil and tyres, fill up with fuel then after a meeting with all the drivers hit the road again next morning. It was well organised and I felt looked after.

“Most American interstates are in terrible condition though.

The route went Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Cruces, Dallas, Jackson, Atlanta. I did about 3000 miles. The final stop was the Charlotte, North Carolina to the Mustang Club of America 50th anniversary show. As I arrived I was delighted to see Roy who had flown in as a surprise.”

What other advice would Jeremy offer? “If you’re going on a long drive then take your car on a long drive first. And make sure you fit into the car comfortably – I installed better seats with side bolsters and headrests, added soundproofing and even fitted pressure sensors to the tyres, if you’re driving for 10 hours a day it’s good to know the tyres are okay. I had decent headphones connected to my phone so I was able to take and make calls during the drive.” ❯❯

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Home again

“I was stopping in Charlotte so drove to the docks at Charleston with a form that John had faxed, they gave me a receipt and the Mustang sat about a week before being loaded on to a boat for Southampton. It was bizarre seeing the Mustang back in the UK in the pouring rain, 106 days and 3290 miles after leaving England. Normally when picking up an imported car you have a lot of paperwork and registration, but I could drive straight out. One point customs at both ends are strict on is you can only ship what was original equipment on the car. So no packing the boot with souvenirs. I got away with a small toolkit and basic spares.” We would also suggest that any car brought into the UK is shipped with the correct levels of anti-freeze since it gets cold at sea.

“On the drive back I stopped at Roy’s for a quick check; shipping companies sometime tie cars down using parts of th

No, not New York... the City of London!

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More cars were to pass through Paul’s hands, including a good many Mustangs, Dodges, Trans-Ams and so on and he soon got to know a good many suppliers of replacements parts in his area. Building up a good rapport with them has served him well over the years as it’s always good to have excellent back-up support from well known long-time firms like Essex-based Customville and GS Autos.

However, the one thing missing from Paul’s life was his very own Dodge Charger, something that he’d always hankered after: “I’d always wanted a ‘General Lee’ Dodge Charger, but prices in recent years have sky rocketed way beyond my budget,” he admits. “Then one day in March 2015 I was surfing the ’net and up popped a 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee on an American website. Okay, so it wasn’t my dream car, but it was a seriously good second choice and more importantly it was within my budget. The Coronet was being offered for sale by dealer Matthew Winters who trades under the name of Barn Fresh Classics based in Biddeford, Maine.”

Paul telephoned Matthew on a Wednesday confirming his interest in the Coronet, but was dismayed to be informed that another punter was already very interested in the car and could Paul telephone him back on Friday to check on the outcome. Paul reluctantly agreed and completed a whole lot more homework on Coronets, which led him even more than ever to believe that this 1970 model in Maine was definitely the car for him. Indeed, he was so convinced that he telephoned Matthew the very next day and offered him $2000 above the asking price. Matthew probably couldn’t believe his ears, but the outcome was still the same, wait until Friday to see if the other potential purchaser came up trumps. Fortunately for Paul, he didn’t, the other buyer couldn’t secure a bank loan for the Coronet, which meant the car was Paul’s!

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383cu in V8 motor.

Super Bee was part of Dodge’s ‘Scat Pack’.

Straightaway Matthew informed Paul that the car didn’t have a title. Paul thought that this didn’t matter as he was importing the car to the UK. Now although he was very conversant with American cars in general, as well as their quirks and foibles, he’d never actually imported a car from the US. Naturally he asked a good many questions from others on the scene and thought that he’d got all bases covered, but unfortunately for him the topic of a car’s title never came up in conversation. It is indeed a hugely important small piece of paper, as without a title, the car wasn’t going anywhere!

Paul chose to entrust Milton Keynes-based shipper Shipmycar to handle the transportation of his Coronet and was impressed with their service, especially as they always kept him informed of what was happening: “The shipping company arranged collection of the car from Maine which was transported to New York in readiness for loading on a ship bound for the UK,” he explains. “However, one telephone call that he didn’t really expect, was when they asked me for the Coronet’s title. Only then did the full realisation of that fact that there wasn’t one began to sink in. Then the shippers informed me that without it, the car would have to remain in New York until one was obtained in order to ship it to the UK.” Gulp! Paul then instructed Shipmycar to make the necessary applications to obtain a title, something which took several weeks and cost him £400. Finally the Coronet was shipped to the UK and arrived in Felixstowe, Suffolk, about six weeks later.

The run-up to this was a nail-biting time for Paul, not exactly helped by a few doubters and naysayers predicting all the potential pitfalls of purchasing a car unseen other than photos. With Paul being a greenhorn to American car importation and with hindsight being a wonderful thing, in reality paying an agent to fully inspect a car prior to purchase no matter where in the world, is always a good option.

However, all is well that ends well and Paul was delighted with his Coronet when it was delivered to his place of work, a motorsport workshop, but it was a nervous moment. “It’s one thing having your car delivered to your home and then quickly driven into your garage away from prying eyes,” he quips. “It’s another when the workforce at your place of work are scrutinising your new pride and joy from every angle. The Coronet was every bit as good as I was expecting, with no horrible surprises or disappointments whatsoever.” ❯❯

Rule number one: Make sure the car has a title!

W23 styled road wheel.

Shifter features ‘pistol grip’.

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So what exactly has Paul got after shelling out a great deal of his hard-earned dosh? Well, an extremely tidy 383cu in Coronet Super Bee, finished in Hemi Orange, complete with full C-stripe and Bee decal. Unfortunately there’s not a single jot of previous history, something that he hopes to rectify in the coming months. All he knows is that according to that costly title, it was a California car, which is reflected in its rock solid overall corrosion-free bodywork, perfect apart from the odd minor blemish here and there. It’s had a full repaint to a good standard, including the engine bay.

The 383cu in engine (coupled to a four-speed manual transmission) features a Holley carburettor with an Edelbrock inlet manifold and Hooker headers and is equally well detailed, as is the entire underside of the car. It’s fully painted and undersealed. Another plus point is that the interior, complete with Rallye dashboard instrumentation, is remarkably well preserved, requiring no remedial trim work to the seats or door-cards. The head lining is excellent and another nice touch is the Hurst shifter, complete with a pistol grip. The brightwork is gleaming and another pleasing detail is the car’s chromed 15in Magnum wheels.

According to Paul his Coronet drives and handles well enough, the engine runs sweetly, indeed it sailed though the UK MoT test and all he’s done to date is fit a set of new plug leads and a battery. He does have plans for some further fine tuning and tweaking in the coming months: “I’m going to refresh some of the steering assembly as there’s a small hint of play, which will only enhance the car’s driveability,” he explains. “I’m going to fit new inner and outer track-rod ends, ball joints, bushes and so on. The door rubbers will also be replaced and I may consider fitting a new carpet set.

Though the exhaust system is fine, other than the occasional knock, it would probablyy benefit from a little adjjustment. , ull stainless steel du tem at a pe old c

Paul may not have purchased what was always his alltime favourite – a Dodge Charger in General Lee Dukes of Hazzard guise – but he now owns an excellent alternative and maybe something a bit refreshingly different. He took a chance buying unseen from an unknown source (caveat emptor and all that!) but Matthew Winters proved himself to be one of the good guys. There was one slight hiccup along the way with the title, but ultimately Paul’s one very happy Mopar man. In those well versed prophetic words that Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses would often say: ‘He who dares wins, Rodney!’ ★

Double chrome loop front end treatment was unique to 1970 model year.

“ IT’S A CALIFORNIA CAR, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN ITS ROCK SOLID OVERALL CORROSION-FREE BODYWORK...”

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Detroit Part II: Motor City Museums

Last month we looked at the world’s biggest classic

D

etroit is the cradle of America’s car culture, so it’s probably not surprising that the city and the surrounding area plays host to numerous automotive related collections, events and artefacts. During our trip to the 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise in August, the Classic American team also managed to visit a few of the area’s most notable automotive attractions. Here’s a look at a selection of what’s on offer, some of which are open to the public and others that are available for private tours.

GM’s HQ, the Renaissance Center.

The Alfred P Sloan Museum

1937 Buick Roadmaster.

Named after General Motors’ most famous architect, the Alfred P Sloan Museum is located in the city of Flint, about an hour’s drive north of Detroit on Interstate 75. Although not specifically an automotive museum (it grew out of the Genesee County Historical Society collection and features regional artefacts relating to art, sports, clothing, housing and furniture), it nevertheless does include some significant motor-related attractions.

Since Flint was the original home of the Buick Motor Company, later Buick Motor Division of General Motors, many of the automotive displays at the Sloan Museum relate to the tri-shield brand. The Buick Gallery and Research Center, added to the museum in 1999, features a rotating display of Buick automobiles. During our visit the display included some notable concept cars (including the infamous 1963 Silver Arrow I), the 1976 and 1981 Indianapolis Pace Cars as well as a selection of era-defining Buicks from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties. For more details visit: www.sloanlongway.com ❯❯

1951 Buick XP300 Concept car.

1953 Buick Wildcat II Concept.

1963 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow I.

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Words & photography: Huw Evans & Ben Klemenzson

Walter P Chrysler Museum

Located on the grounds of Chrysler Group’s corporate headquarters in Auburn Hills, close to I-75, the Walter P Chrysler Museum is dedicated to the history and evolution of Chrysler and the various nameplates it acquired or created, including DeSoto, Dodge, Plymouth, Imperial, Hudson, Nash, Rambler and Willys-Overland.

The impressive display contains exhibits of more than 65 historically significant vehicles ranging from a replica of Chrysler’s 1928 Le Mans entry, to the historically significant 1934 Chrysler Airflow, 1951 Hudson Hornet, a range of Sixties and early Seventies Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars, as well as a K-Car display and modern classics such as the Dodge Viper. Although no longer open to the public, the museum does arrange corporate and personalised tours.

Visit www.wpchryslermuseum.org for more details.

Walter P Chrysler museum features 65 amazing vehicles on display.

The Henry Ford Museum

This is without doubt one of the most impressive displays devoted to 20th century mechanisation and transportation in the world. Despite its name, the Henry Ford encompasses far more than just the history of the Ford Motor Company.

It traces the earliest forms of transportation, how the introduction of the motorcar transformed American society and how other breakthrough technologies in mechanisation gave birth to railways, sea and air travel as well as commercial farming.

Besides housing an impressive display of preserved cars, trucks, farm machinery, aircraft, railway locomotives and rolling stock, the Henry Ford also features interactive displays, a giant 4K digital theatre experience on site, as well as additional displays devoted to firearms, home arts and furnishings, doll houses, silverware and even jewellery.

If you want to gain a true insight into what shaped 20th century America, there’s arguably no better place to do it than at the Henry Ford Museum. For more details visit: www.thehenryford.org

Part of the Presidential Limos display.

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Enormous Duesenberg.

Rouge Factory Tour

As part of admission to the Henry Ford Museum, visitors can also take a bus to the nearby Rouge complex, one of the most impressive feats of engineering every created. Currently used to manufacture the Ford F-150 pick-up, the Rouge opened in 1928 and, in its original configuration, covered nearly 16 million square feet, connected by 120 miles of conveyor belts. Billed as a city without residents, the Rouge complex featured ore docks, coke ovens, rolling mills, steel and glass furnaces as well as complete stamping and casting facilities in addition to engine, radiator, tyre, transmission and d ch hassiis assemb bly pllantts.

The centre for production of legendary vehicles such as the Model A, Model B, 1949 Ford, 1955-57 Thunderbird and 1964½ to 2004 Mustang, the Rouge underwent an extensive remodelling during the Nineties, emerging as a model of vehicle manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

Today the Rouge complex incorporates numerous wetlands, as we ell as a ‘Living g Roof’ and d naaturaal waater storm draainaage and it o rtt s ’ nce the manufacturing process employed today, ing a tour of the factory floor where brand new F-150s are assembled. For more details visit: www.thehenryford.org ❯❯

View over the Rouge today.

1950 Lincoln Presidential limousine.

1962 Mustang I Roadster concept.

Original 1963 Chrysler Turbine car.

1956 Chevy and original McDonald’s neon.

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Greenfield Village

Ford Piquette Plant

Greenfield Village, located adjacent to the Henry Ford Museum, is a huge, outdoor living museum that incorporates more than 83 authentic historic buildings, ranging from the house where Henry Ford grew up to the workshop where Wilbur and Orville Wright built their infamous flyer and Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.

A live steam railway operates on the grounds and visitors get to experience more than 300 years of history, brought to life by people in period costumes strolling through the grounds or hard at work in many of the buildings, plus vintage cars, including Ford Model Ts chugging along the roadways that make up the huge 80-acre site. For more details visit: www.thehenryford.org

A separate attraction from the Henry Ford Museum, the Piquette Plant is a former factory-turned-museum, located at 461 Piquette Avenue in Downtown Detroit. The drive to the museum is interesting enough, exiting I-75 takes you through neighbourhoods that make you feel like an extra in the opening scenes of Beverly Hills Cop. Nonetheless, the museum is well worth a visit and another fascinating artefact related to Detroit’s past. The Piquette plant has been preserved much in the same way it was when Model T was manufactured here, from 1908 to 1910, before production relocated to the much larger factory at Highland Park.

Ford’s first purpose-built factory, it was in many ways a state-of-the-art facility for its time, incorporating features such as electric lighting and purpose-built ventilation. Today, visitors can see a historic array of early Ford passenger cars, including all manner of Model Ts and Model As. The infamous ‘Experimental Room’ created at the back of the building in 1907 has been preserved essentially as it was where Henry’s hand-picked team focused on ideas for developing the next generation of motorcar.

In 2006, the Piquette Plant was placed on the National US Register of Historic Sites for its importance and significance to American society and culture. Although Model T production only took place at Piquette for a short period of time, it was here where the stage was set for the revolution of vehicle mass production. A truly atmospheric and unforgettable experience!

For more details, visit: www.fordpiquetteavenueplant.org.

The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village are lovely places to spend the whole day.

Special order early Mustang with leather interior, Hi Po 289 motor, A/C and custom paint.

The home of Motown, not far from the Renaissance Center.

Stunning Model T.

Very early Model T.

General Motors Heritage Center

Located in Sterling Heights, north-east of Detroit and not far from the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, the GM Heritage Center includes a display of about 600 General Motors cars and trucks. The impressive collection features everything from significant production models to one-off styling exercises, including a number of infamous concept and dream cars.

What’s interesting is much like GM itself, the collection is constantly evolving with new vehicles being added – among the most recent at this writing were the 1938 Buick Y-job, 1936 Chevrolet Suburban, 1951 GMC Canopy Express and 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire. , i

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Brass-era Cadillac outside GM Heritage Center.

Model A.

Abandoned factory.

The spot where Henry Ford conceived the Model T.

“DETROIT IS THE CRADLE OF AMERICA’S CAR CULTURE, SO IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT THE CITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA PLAYS HOST TO NUMEROUS AUTOMOTIVE COLLECTIONS & EVENTS...”

Ford’s original ‘Station assembly’ factory which preceded Henry’s assembly line technique.

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R E Olds Transportation Museum

Heading west from Detroit on I-96 will take you to Michigan’s state capital, Lansing. Besides being the seat of the state government, Lansing is also the spiritual home of Oldsmobile, best remembered as General Motors’ ‘innovator’ division.

The R E Olds Museum encompasses a range of more than 60 historically significant Oldsmobile models, from an early 1886 steam carriage to the famous 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash runabout as well as a series of REO cars and trucks to such heavyweights as the original 1966 Toronado, the Hairy Olds dual-engine drag racer, 1969 Hurst/Olds and 1972 Vista Cruiser wagon. The museum also includes displays relating to Lansing’s rich transportation heritage encompassing aviation, bicycles and commercial aviation.

Definitely a must for any Oldsmobile fan and a worthy trip for any hot-blooded American car enthusiast. For more details, visit: www.reoldsmuseum.org Line-up of Fifties Olds.

New Corvette on display.

GM Renaissance Center

Not so much a museum, but General Motors’ fully functioning world headquarters, plonked right in the heart of Downtown Detroit, a spaceship-like vision of Eighties modernity that belies the rather shabby, seen-betterdays surrounding environs. There’s not a lot to see here, although GM has an extensive display of all its latest North American offerings and offers guided tours around the Ren Cen, as it’s known.

For more details, visit: www.gmrencen.com ★

Camaro display in GM Ren Cen.

View from the top of the Renaissance Center.

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Carroll Shelby and drivers Dave MacDonald and Bob Holbert with the first Daytona Coupe.

Fifty-one years ago in 1965, the Shelby American team, armed with their potent Cobra Daytona Competition Coupes, clinched the FIA World Sportscar GT Championship for Manufacturers. It was the first time an American-built race car had won a World Championship.

Images: Steve Havelock & The Ford Motor Company Words: Steve Havelock

J

ust six Daytona Coupes were ever built and for the first time in history, all six were gathered together at last year’s Goodwood Revival, reunited with their designer, Peter Brock. Valued at tens of millions of pounds each, they were housed in a recreation of the 1965 Sebring pit lane and on each of the Revival’s three days, they took part in high speed demonstration runs around the circuit. It was familiar territory for one car, as in 1964 Dan Gurney drove it to win the GT class and finish third overall in the RAC TT. Ferrari had dominated GT racing for years, most latterly with its glorious 250GTO. In 1963 Carroll Shelby rolled out his Cobra roadster which proved an instant winner on America’s tight and twisty tracks and won numerous American Championships. However, when it came to International races, or the World Championship, it would be no match for the Ferraris on the high-speed circuits of Daytona and Sebring or at Europe’s Le Mans, Nurburgring, Spa and Monza. It was just not aerodynamic enough to match the high top speed of the sleek Italian coupes.❯❯

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The Cobra roadster was not aerodynamic enough for the high-speed World Championship circuits.

At Goodwood, Peter Brock kindly agreed to tell me his story. He explained: “When Carroll said I’m thinking of going to Europe with the Cobra roadster, we said you can’t do that because we are not going to be fast enough. Our top speed on the roadster was about 165mph which is ideal for American tracks which are point and squirt, but to run at Le Mans, Spa and Reims, there was no way the car was going to be competitive. We had to have higher speed. We were already topped out at about 385 horsepower with the engine, so we weren’t going to get much more out of it.

“I explained to Carroll that the FIA rules had been rewritten to allow a completely new body and that I could design a body that would reduce the amount of drag and give us some free horsepower at the top end so that we might become competitive. He got pretty excited and said ‘Yes, that’s a great idea.’ I said ‘What’s the budget Carroll?’ and he said ‘We don’t have any money.’ At this time, Ford was not putting any money into the programme. All of our money was pretty much coming from Goodyear as Carroll had been made the distributor for Goodyear tyres.

“Carroll said I could have Skip Hudson’s (Cobra roadster)

car which had crashed at Daytona the year before. I could take that, reverse engineer it, pull the body off, and see what I could do with it. So that’s where we started. None of the guys in our American shop really wanted to work on the car. They were busy running the roadsters and customers’ cars and the new King Cobras which were the Cooper Monacos. Me, being the youngest guy in the shop, they kinda’ looked down on me because they didn’t think I had much experience. They didn’t know that I had worked as a designer at General Motors. I had come to work for Carroll primarily to run his driving school at Riverside. The idea that I was going to design a car and they were going to put their time in was not very popular. I drew the car up and showed Carroll, but it was a very strange-looking car with a chopped-off tail.”

Peter explained that he had been inspired by the work of a young German aerodynamicist in the Thirties by the name of Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld. He added: “It was totally different because everything built prior to that was a teardrop shape, which was considered the real aerodynamic shape. So the idea to come up with something very

Sebring pit lane recreated at Goodwood.

Carroll Shelby aimed to win the Sportscar World Championship.

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The first Daytona Coupe was hand built in just 90 days.

blocky-looking didn’t make much sense at all to anybody.

Fortunately, Ken Miles, who was our top driver at that time, had some experience with what the Germans had been doing in the late Thirties, and advised Carroll that we should go ahead and build the car. So there was a major personal clash, which had started earlier, between Phil Remington, our chief engineer, and Ken Miles, our chief driver. Ken wanted to do the car, but Phil didn’t. None of the mechanics who worked under Phil would work on it because he wouldn’t let them go. They were all working on other things. But we had a New Zealand mechanic, John Ohlsen, who was pretty handy He could do just about anything mechanical ’tt

the section drawings, with a camera, took the 35mm slides, put them in a projector and projected them on to the wall.

That gave me the full size. It wasn’t very accurate, but at least I could get all the section lines drawn up. So we built the shape up in plywood and trued it up by putting metal splines over the thing. We sent it down to California Metal Shaping which was the primary fabricator for aluminium sheet in Los Angeles. They built all the bodies for Indy cars, Frank Kurtis and others. They formed all the panels. Just loose panels came back to Shelby American and we began to build the body on the first chassis.

“When we had the car about 75% done Carroll was

“WE ARE ALREADY AS FAST AS THE FERRARIS!”

rtt ❯❯

All six Daytona Coupes together for the first time ever.

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top aerodynamicist, a guy named Benny Howard. He was probably one of the top aerodynamicists in the US for the aero industry at that time and had built his reputation during the Thirties building racing planes for the Thompson Trophy and the Goodyear Trophy and his planes had won that. Benny was a Texan, a friend of Carroll’s. I explained the theory based on the Germans who had done this.

“He patiently listened and finally said ‘Son, if that was true, aeroplanes wouldn’t fly. Aeroplanes would all be chopped off at the back and it doesn’t work, so you are wasting your time.’” Then he and Carroll went to lunch.

“Carroll came back after lunch and said ‘Howard says it’s not going to work.’ I said ‘he may be the smartest aeroplane designer in the world but he doesn’t know jacksh*t about cars.’ Carroll looked at me, looked over at the car and said ‘you better be right’, and turned around and walked off. He really didn’t know what to do.

“So we finished the car and there was no support. We did this in 90 days, so it was very, very crude. If you look at comparable cars of that time, the lightweight E Types or the 212 or 214 Aston Martins, or the Ferrari 250GTOs, those were beautifully finished cars. Ours was really pretty rough.

“Ken Miles, Ohlsen, the guy who built the engine for us, one mechanic and our photographer went out to Riverside race circuit to test the car and it proved very effective and was incredibly fast right out of the blocks. Ken broke the lap record there by three-and-a-half seconds. He said ‘the car looks like a frog, but it’s a very fast frog.’” Ken was topping over 175mph, with plenty still in reserve.

Peter continued: “The set-up was identical to the roadsters. We hadn’t changed tyre pressures or anything.

All that was different was the body and the structure which was a little stiffer. Ken didn’t run more than 10 or 15 laps.

He came back in, phoned Carroll and said ‘We are already as fast on top speed as the Ferraris. We better go with it.’

“When we got back to the shop, Shelby had already

Designer Peter Brock with the very first Daytona Coupe built.

talked to everybody. He said ‘Here’s the lap times. I don’t care what you guys think, we’re going to Daytona with this car and I want everybody to work on it and dive in and get it finished and built.’

“At that point there was a major change in feeling in the shop and it became ‘our’ car. All of a sudden there was major credibility in the shop because they all understood lap times.”

The Daytona 2000km race in February, just a few weeks away, would be the Coupe’s first race and hence it was called the Daytona car and then simply, the Daytona… ★

Fabulous Cobra Daytona Coupes and roadster returning to pits after Goodwood demo run.

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To find out how it got on, tune into Part Two next month!

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Words and Photography: Rob Woodall

Starting point: the gear lever pivot and socket which operates the single selector rod.

BORG WARNER T5 TRANSMISSION It’s one of the most popular gearboxes for converting automatics to manual, or just upgrading to five or six gears. We look at rebuilding the venerable T5 transmission…

This roll pin must be drifted down to just clear the selector rod.

I

t’s interesting to think that the last of the Ford Cortinas still only had four-speed manual gearboxes as late as 1983, just a short time after Borg Warner brought out its first five-speed manual gearbox with that important overdrive fifth ratio. Normally, in most three- and fourspeed in-line transmissions, the top gear is a direct drive to the engine speed, i.e. 1:1.

This established feature has the advantage of linking the input and output shafts together making life easier for the gearbox bearing loads and reduces losses from sending the drive on to the second shaft in a gearbox known as the ‘layshaft’. In American parlance, it’s called the ‘cluster gear’.

However, the need for a fifth gear giving an overdrive to aid more relaxed cruising and to improve fuel economy to match many imported vehicles was unavoidable.

In 1982 Borg Warner introduced its five-speed manual transmission which, during its production, went through numerous changes and upgrades, necessitated by many factors including car design and increases in engine power.

The T5 has found its way into Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep and others… even Nissan. It’s now a popular aftermarket ❯❯

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transmission manufactured under the Tremec nameplate and is the choice of many for their early classics when looking for a five-, or even six-speed, manual gearbox upgrade unit that can handle the power and torque from V8 engines.

The particular unit I have here is from an SVO V8 1983 Fox Mustang, which has a suitable set of ratios, except for the fifth which I changed for a higher gearset to give 0.63 : 1. Although this transmission, rated at 265ft lb, is marginally under for the power of a stock 289 engine, it’s close enough to stand normal seasonal use. Later T5s, known as ‘world class’ units, are able to take 300ft lb and more, which covers many small-block applications.

Identifying which T5 you have is something of a lottery; a metal tag can be found under a bolt, if you’re lucky, but as I found won’t always give the correct information when decoded. For the actual rebuild there are plenty of specialists in the US who can supply virtually any part required, including upgrade components to improve the older units. I managed to find an excellent company in Tavares, Florida, called Astro Performance Warehouse (Contact no. 001 866 253 0019).

Rear extension housing removed, together with the selector socket; a ball and spring are underneath it though.

The speedo drive worm held by a clip. It’s not recommended to try and remove the fifth output gear at this stage.

The top cover just unbolts and lifts off, revealing the two selector forks for first and second and third and fourth.

Fifth gear selector fork roll pin can be drifted out with support under it.

The fifth gear syncro assembly and fork should be removed together after taking off the circlip under this thrust washer cap.

This crafty relief area allows removal of the input shaft over the cluster gear below.

All that’s needed to prise off the front bearing housing.

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Tony and James advised me how to improve my early gearbox and were able to source a fifth gear set to give the ratio I needed. In fact if a rebuilt or new transmission is required they can supply a rebuilt one for around $1100.

When overhauling the gearbox, this is best done with the aid of the workshop manual which can be found online.

I first removed the rear extension housing which then enables the top cover to be unbolted and lifted off, this cover holds the selector forks. At this point it’s possible to see all the gears on the input and mainshaft. If you are unsure of the unit’s ratios, then they can be found by counting the gear teeth.

Dismantling continues with drifting out the roll pin from the fifth gear selector fork which must be supported by a metal block. A circlip is under the thrust washer here which when removed the entire hub, fork and fifth gear can be taken off. It’s preferable to keep the synchro sliding hub parts together, so I mark their positions with a dab of paint.

The input shaft can be unbolted and removed, thanks to relief area ground on it which provides clearance from the cluster gear below. ❯❯

Cluster or layshaft is last to be removed after its rear bearing is removed, later boxes used taper roller bearings.

Worn gear teeth on hard-working constant mesh input gear.

The two input gears govern the other ratios in the box, excepting direct fourth.

Lifting the mainshaft out; the gears and synchromesh hubs can be removed to replace the synchro rings, as well as the rear bearing which requires a press.

New cluster and input gears sourced from Astro Performance.

Wear/damage on bearing surface will result in noise.

Wear on synchro teeth can cause poor gear engagement.

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The new gear shows unworn shape of synchro teeth.

Now the entire main output shaft can be withdrawn up through the top of the case. Take care to keep the synchroniser sliding hubs together, again I mark their relevant positions with a paint dab so they can be reassembled in the same position. Next it’s the cluster gear which has to be removed. This depends on the type, but is basically a matter of removing its rear bearing after taking off the circlip, which won’t always oblige, then the shaft can be lifted out.

By methodically stripping down the mainshaft, the worn parts can be replaced with those supplied in the overhaul kit, generally it’s the synchro or ‘blocker rings’ the springs in the slider hubs, together with their shift keys. With the bearings, some will require the use of a press.

Rebuilding requires the use of shims behind the front input shaft bearing to set a three-thou’ preload. I found this could be done by using a dial gauge on the end of the input shaft and levering up the gear assembly to get an initial measurement, then adding the three-thou’ preload required.

Obviously this must be done without the top cover in place though. After this setting the top cover is fitted, followed finally by refitting the tail shaft housing. Later T5s have taper roller bearings on the cluster gear, which also require a preload setting achieved by shims.

The use of ATF is required in these ’boxes due to the carbon faced synchro rings, although early all brass ring units can use EP80. ★ New carbon faced synchro ring on fourth input gear means ATF will be needed in common with later boxes.

Various shims used under the bearing to give the mainshaft its preload, the oil seal is also fitted in this front housing.

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Rogue’s gallery of old parts; 3 are the five brass synchro rings, 1 and 11 are mainshaft bearings and 4 and 7 are the early cluster gear roller bearings. Thrust washers 10 and 2 used on cluster and mainshaft.

New tail shaft bush must be press fitted in the correct position, followed by the oil seal.

I preferred to set up this preload without the top cover.

With the tail shaft housing bolted temporarily in place I could lift the gears to check the measurement for adding shims, to give a threethou’ preload.

Starting reassembly; thrust washer and front bearing installed, later boxes use taper roller bearings.

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This Willys Jeep truck appears to be of early Sixties vintage. It has clearly sat in the yard for a number of years, and is slowly sinking into the undergrowth.

DISCOVERIES Our intrepid salvage yard explorer brings you junkyard jewels from across North America.

Words & Photography: Will Shiers

Mid-Seventies Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagons haven’t really captured the imagination of classic car enthusiasts, meaning this one stands little chance of ever being rescued. During its seven-year production run, some two million Vegas of all models (Notchback, Hatchback, Kammback, Panel van and Cosworth) found buyers, but I can’t remember the last time I saw one on the road. It’s not often that they appear in junkyards these days either.

1968 Plymouth Satellite two-door hardtops are worth some serious money, but unfortunately not in this condition. In fact there’s very little on this car to warrant saving it from the crusher.

United Auto Sales and Salvage of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, consists of 40 acres of woodland with several hundred cars scattered throughout it.

I didn’t realise how big or overgrown the place was until I walked behind the office and workshop, only to be met by a maze of dirt tracks with cars strewn all over the place. I had been given strict instructions from the owner that I had to be out of the yard in exactly 45 minutes as he needed to close up for the night.

I literally ran around the place, tripping over car parts hidden in the undergrowth, ripping my arms to shreds on brambles, and being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Despite getting ridiculously lost and having to use the GPS on my phone to pick my way through the woodland and back to the entrance, I managed to get out with a few seconds to spare. I would have loved to have spent an entire day here, and wonder how many hidden classics I missed. A 37-yearold Ford Mustang was one of the more interesting cars I spotted in the organised lot at the front of the yard.

Surrounded by Nineties dross, this 1968 Chevrolet Impala needs a new home. I’d estimate that one in 10 cars in this yard is pre-1980.

This 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV is one of the oldest and rarest cars I found lurking in the undergrowth.

The Falcon of 1960 was Ford’s downsized offering, a blatant attempt to stem the tide of Volkswagen Beetles that were worrying Detroit. Of course Ford wasn’t the only domestic car maker going down this route; the early Sixties also saw the introduction of the Studebaker Lark, Plymouth Valiant, Dodge Dart and the Chevy Nova. Decent(ish) fuel economy ensured that three generations of Falcon sold reasonably well. It was finally replaced by the Maverick in 1969. This is a 1963, first generation, two-door hardtop.

It looks like someone put this 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle into the crusher, and then changed their mind at the last minute! As you have probably guessed, the car’s 307cu in V8 has long gone.

The open front boot lid on this Chevrolet Corvair reveals a massive hole in the floor. The entire car is pretty much rusted-out, making it unlikely that it will ever be saved.

Corvairs are surprisingly common in salvage yards, and I discovered no less than seven of them (including a rare panel van aka Corvan) on a recent tin-hunting trip around the southern states.

A mid-Sixties Chevy truck still has a handful of parts on offer. The ‘30’ badge on the fender identifies it as a 1-ton model, while the lighter ½- and ¾-ton models were badged as ‘10’ and ‘20’ respectively.

Although I don’t normally feature such modern cars on this page, I reckon this circa 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Aeroback deserves a place. This car was a blatant attempt to copy the new successful breed of European hatchbacks. Just one problem, rather like British Leyland and its Austin Princess, GM forgot to actually give it a hatchback. Sales were not great and they’ve all but disappeared from most people’s memories.

classic-american

Richard Coney

Classic American

Reviews Those Were The Days

American 1/2 Ton Pickup Trucks of the 1960s Author: Norman and Andrew Mort Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd ISBN: 978-1-845848-03-3 Price: RRP £14.99 I am a great fan of this series and have a number of books in my personal collection. The interesting combination of contemporary photos and illustrations from adverts of the day, intermixed with recent pictures of restored vehicles, certainly works. The latest volume on Sixties half-ton pick-ups also includes El Caminos and Rancheros, which blurred the lines between strictly utilitarian commercial vehicles and more comfortable car-based pick-ups.

The introduction explains how the light commercial market had developed during the preceding decade and leads to separate chapters devoted to the main protagonists, Ford and Mercury, Chevrolet and GMC, Dodge and Fargo, Studebaker, International and Jeep.

There follows a chapter featuring the more novel developments, particularly cab-over-engine designs, unusual sideentry ramps and the aforementioned car/truck hybrids. With most pictures in colour providing plenty of variety and chapters looking more closely at specific examples of the genre, optional extras and so on, this compact volume covers a lot of ground and packs a lot in, much like the subject matter. Great stuff!

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Ford 351 Cleveland Engines – How to Build for Max Performance Author: George Reid Published by: Car Tech ISBN: 978-613250-48-8 Price: £22 When it comes to Ford V8 engines there’s a distinct hierarchy. Even when American cars were rare over here, there was never any doubt that having the 351cu in Cleveland V8 was greatly preferable to the similar displacement Windsor version which preceded it and was, in comparison, considered a pedestrian truck motor.

Sadly, the potential of the Cleveland could not be fully exploited at the time, as its introduction in 1969 coincided with the general demise of the muscle car era. As a result, the engine

£22

was saddled with smogand performance-reducing equipment that meant its full potential was never realised.

However, with increased interest in classic cars in general, and performance in particular, more knowledge and new developments have resulted in many improvements to Ford’s tunable big-block V8.

This new Car Tech Performance How-to is divided into the usual sections to assist in identifying the block, upgrading the rotating assemblies, lubrication, cylinder heads, camshaft, valvetrain, induction, ignition, exhaust and so on. Examples on ‘power tuning’ for up to 600bhp round off an indispensable manual for anyone trying to get more ponies from their Cleveland.

Ford GT – How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans Author: Preston Lerner Published by: Motorbooks ISBN: 978-0-7603-4787-4 Price: £45

£45

There have been many books written about Ford’s phenomenally successful mid-Sixties GT40 endurance race cars, but few, if any, this detailed or lavishly illustrated with contemporary photographs. You will surely have heard the story before, but in the early Sixties Enzo Ferrari considered selling his company. Henry Ford II decided that it would be a good move to offer some upmarket sports cars, so sent a team to Italy to negotiate the deal.

For whatever reason, Ferrari backed out at the last moment, leaving Ford deeply embarrassed.

As Ferrari had won the 24-hour Le Mans race six times consecutively from 1960 to 1965, the decision was made to beat the Italian supercar

Thanks once more to Motorbooks’ generosity, we have a copy of this terrific book to give away. The first correct answer to the question on the right, selected from the Editorial baseball cap, will be sent a brand new copy from the publisher.

manufacturer at its own game by competing against them with a Ford designed and built car. The aim was to beat Ferrari, whatever the cost, thereby proving that Ford could achieve worldwide racing success, given sufficient motivation. The result was the Ford GT, which did just that, coming first, second and third in the 1966 Le Mans under factory management and again in 1968 and ’69 in the hands of privateers.

How this was accomplished is described in great detail in this fabulous book, published to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford’s 1966 podium success. Awash with photos, accompanied by copious captions, this is probably the definitive book on Ford’s great gamble, a supremely exacting and complicated act of revenge on the man and the company that snubbed them.

Well written and of high quality, this is a superb book that should not be missed.

The FordGT40 was named as such because:

a). It cost $40 million to develop and build b). It was 40 inches tall c). Only 40 examples were built

Answers by post to our Horncastle offices or the Editor’s e-mail (details on page 146), or on the Classic American Facebook Page, by April 21, 2016. Don’t forget to provide your full name and address.

Usual conditions apply.

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Classic American Events, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR

Classic insurance redefined.

2016 MARCH 20 NSRA SOUTHERN SWAPMEET Our rodding events calendar opens with our huge outdoor swapmeet – from a window winder to a complete car, this is the place to buy and sell new, used and vintage auto parts and accessories.

Arena Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Purfleet/ Thurrock, Essex RM19 1AE http://www.arenaessex.com Opens 7:30 for traders, 10:00 for public.

MARCH 25 WHEELS DAY Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Hants. The Surrey Street Rodders annual Good Friday gathering kicks of the car show season! Americans, Hot rods, Customs and all manner of four wheel fun.

Traders, food, auto jumble, prizes and the first heat of Classic American’s Car of the Year competition! Numbers limited to 1000 cars, register at: www.surreystreetrodders.com/ wheelsday or search for Surrey Street Rodders on Facebook.

MARCH 27 FORT PAULL EASTER BASH Held at Fort Paull, Battery Road, Paull nr Hull, E Yorks, HU12 IEW Hosted by Yorkshire American Car Club [YANCS] Est 1982.

Camping from Friday noon the 25th March bar. Friday night Lazy Day Saturday 50/60/70s. Disco and late bar food available in the bar. Sunday only Show day. The 27th Sorry no dogs are allowed in the fort. Only on the camp site outside.

For more info tel. 01709 542555; 07787 915081 or yancs1@yahoo.co.uk f/b Yancs Yorkshire.

MARCH 28-29 NATIONAL HOTROD AND CUSTOM CAR SHOW Peterborough Showground www.hotrodandcustomshow.co.uk Tel:0844151413 APRIL 15-17 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB INTERNATIONAL SPRING OPEN NATIONAL Billing Aquadrome. Please contact Billing for info APRIL 17 NORMOUS NEWARK AUTOJUMBLES, Newark & Notts Showground, NG24 2NY Largest and best one day Autojumble in the UK, up to 1000+ Classics on display, FREE display area for Classic cars and bikes, only the admission to pay. Free camping on the Saturday night. Open from 10am £6, Early Birds from 8am, £10. Autojumble plots available from £18.

More info call 01507 529430 or visit wwww. newarkautojumble.co.uk APRIL 24 KENT`S ALL FORD SHOW to be held at Aylesford Priory, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX. Tel. Geoff Martin 01732 840 787 or 07860 797969 See www.kentsallfordshow.co.uk for more info.

APRIL 24 MIDLAND AMERICAN AUTO CLUB All American car, military, truck and bike show. Movie cars, muscle cars, hot rods, big rigs and more. Tugo-war, ride along in a big rig, car or pick-up, burn-out competition (Prizes!). Biggest gathering of American vehicles in Ireland. Kilbeggan (opposite racecourse entrance). Co Westmeath. See: www.maac-ireland. com APRIL 24 SILCOATES SCHOOL CLASSIC AND AMERICAN CAR SHOW (This is an annual event, now in its 4th year and is held on the last Sunday in April) Venue: Silcoastes School, Wrenthorpe, Wakefield WF2 OPD Show organiser: Paul Copley, tel. 07860 778857.

This is a charity event which last year raised £7200 which was split between various benefactors including, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Exhibitor entry is by donation and members of the public are charged £3 adults, and consessions £2 previous show details can be found on face book.... silcoatesclassicandamericancarshow There are 10 trophies up for grabs inc top 5 and best in show which last year was won by Paul Hartley with his stunning 57 Chevy Bel Air (previously featured in Classic American magazine). Please can I add Classic American to our list of sponsors in return for some goodies to give away as prizes?

300 vehicles attended last year and therefore it would be great if you could have someone cover the event for inclusion in the magazine (Jon Cass??)

Please give my regards to Ben, he may remember me as I accompanied the late john westwood with his yellow 49 Buick Roadmaster on the CA car of the year stand back in 2011.

My correspondance address is ... The Brambles, 7, Dolphin Lane, Thorpe, Wakefield WF3 3DH.

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APRIL 30-MAY 1 ATOMIC A spectacular two-day celebration of mid-century music, dancing, cars, action, style and fun at historic Sywell Aerodrome, near Northampton.

Featuring classic and custom car show, drive-in movie and open air cinema, flag-start drag racing, the ‘ATOMIC Cavalcade of Chrome’, 20 top-quality international bands, crazy flying shows, wall of death, large covered dance floors, huge vintage and retro market, rock’n’roller rink, fairground rides, dance classes, crazy golf and lots more... including spectacular air displays by vintage aircraft.

Tickets are on sale now at www.AtomicFestival.co uk or call 01435 812508 for bookings, information and fl ers.

MAY 28-29 NATIONAL HOT ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW Peterborough Showground Saturday &Sunday 11am -4pm www.hotrosandcustomshow.co.uk Call 08444151413 JUNE 3-5 NSRA BILLING FUN RUN at Billing Aquadrome, Crow Lane, Great Billing, Northampton NN3 9DA http://www.billingaquadrome.com Our first major hot rod show of the year, held at the Billing Aquadrome. Weekend activities and entertainment, trade stalls, Saturday cruise, huge show ‘n’ shine car show for pre-1972 Hot Rods, Street Rods, and Customs; open to the public on Sunday.

JUNE 5 NORMOUS NEWARK AUTOJUMBLES, Newark & Notts Showground, NG24 2NY Largest and best one day Autojumble in the UK, up to 1000+ Classics on display, FREE display area for Classic cars and bikes, only the admission to pay. Free camping on the Saturday night.

Open from 10am £6, Early Birds from 8am, £10.

Autojumble plots available from £18.

More information call 01507 529430 or visit wwww. newarkautojumble.co.uk JUNE 5 LAZY SUNDAY, 9-4 Dale, Vallley Road, Poole, Dorset Great fun day for the whole family, lots to see and do.

For more info email denise@redrocketltd.co.uk JUNE 9-12 HOT ROD ‘N HILLS, CUMBRIA Fast becoming one of the must attend events of the year, Hot rods and Hills enters its 9th year in the beautiful countryside of Cumbria. The event once again sets up camp at Park Foot, Ullswater. For more info see www.hotrodsandhills.co.uk JUNE 11-12 AMERICAN SPEEDFEST Brands Hatch, Kent. The biggest celebration of american-fuelled motoring, music and racing this side of the atlantic! Euro Nascar Racing Classic American Racing 1000+ Display Vehicles Hot Rod & Custom Display. LIve music great food family entertainment.

For more info see www.speedfest.co.uk - 0843 453 9000 JUNE 17-19 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB INTERNATIONAL SPRING OPEN NATIONAL Billing Aquadrome. Please contact Billing for information JUNE 18-19 THE FOOTMAN JAMES BRISTOL CLASSIC CAR SHOW, Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN As one of the UK¹s biggest classic car events, the Footman James Bristol Classic Car Show welcomes thousands of enthusiasts for its annual, early-summer running at Somerset’s Royal Bath & West. Packed full of Classic Cars, Traders, Club and Autojumble stands.

For more info please call 01507 529430.

THE NSRA NOSTALGIA NATIONALS at Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston Airfield, Long Marston, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 8LL http://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com Organised by the NSRA and Shakespeare County Raceway, a hot rod meet rolled up into a weekend of nostalgia style drag racing. Run what ya brung for pre-1973 cars. Hot Rods, Customs, Outlaw Anglias, Dragsters, altereds, gassers, and the flathead meltdown!

JUNE 26 BRISTOL AMERICAN CAR SHOW * 25th Year * at Yate Town Football Club, Lodge Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 7LE American/Classic/Custom/Bikes 10am-4pm. Raffle/Trade stands/bar Hotshots Roadshow. Vehicles entries £5; bikes £3. Admission: £5; accompanied children free. To help special needs children in Bristol. Enquiries: 0117 9573191. angelacadillac@hotmail.co.uk Trophies donated by Sparrow Crane Hire Ltd.

Call our friendly UK team for a quote today:

0333 207 6024

Woodward Dream cruise JULY 1-3 INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS, COFTON COUNTRY HOLIDAYS , DAWLISH. Great family weekend of events, show ‘n’ shine on Sunday.

For more info email denise@redrocketltd.co.uk JULY 2-3 CORVETTE CLUB UK NATIONALS SHOW Wood Green Animal Shelter, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire PE29 2NH All American and Classic Cars and Bikes welcome.

See www.corvetteclub.org.uk for full details Enjoy a great day out and see the largest gathering of Corvettes outside the USA at this well established annual show.

Sunday is the main show and shine day. Gates open at 10am and entry price is per car, so fill em up. Trophies for all categories. Coming as a Club? Please let us know so that we can allocate you a good spot.

Trade enquiries welcomed. For further information please contact nationals@corvetteclub.org.uk JULY 2-3 ROUTE 66 SHOW Hurn Bridge, Snowfield BH23 6AD www.Route66.co.uk Tel: 07952 858805 JULY 2-3 STARS & STRIPES Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire One of the North’s biggest American car shows. Pre-entry only, with lots of attractions including pioneer recreations, traders, food, wall of death, food, beer tent and loads of prizes every day. Expect to see hot rods, trucks, Harleys and plenty of classic American vehicles. To enter or for more info see: www.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk - POWER BIG MEET Västerås, Sweden. (Thursday-Friday-Saturday).

Important phone numbers: Show info: +46 40 47 29 39 or www.bigmeet.com Tourist info: +46 21 39 01 00 or visit@vasteras.se Tourist Bureau in Västerås JULY 9-10 RALLY OF THE GIANTS 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon, OX20 1PP The ROG sees the largest get together of many older American cars including pre & post-war and vintage plus those from the 50’s through to the present day. This is the 50th ROG and is a 2 day event with a cruise & party on the Saturday to celebrate followed by the best show and shine in the country on Sunday. The club has no restriction on the age of your vehicle so bring it along no matter how young or old it is. For tickets & more information go to www.pre50aac. com or call David on 07798 818533. Camping is available on site.

36TH AMERICANA INTERNATIONAL Now at the 300 acre Draycott Showground, Hopwell Road, Draycott, Derby DE72 3PD. Just under 3 miles from J25-M1 and sits alongside the A52 Nottingham-Derby dual carriageway, well serviced by public transport at each end of Hopwell Road (A6005 Long Eaton-Draycott-Derby) and the B5010 Nottingham-Derby Road.

Living History Displays, Custom Bike Show, Auto Show’n’Shine. Live music including: The Northern Line Soul band, The Roomates, Paul Ansell’s No. 9, Sierra Michelle, Aubrey Lovejoy, Hank Wangford, Bill Kirchen, Darrel Higham, Tracey K Houston, Sharna Mae and John Lewis and his Trio. For more info see: www.americana-international.co.uk , call 01159 390 595 or e-mail: jacksonevents@ hotmail.com

JULY 15-17 DRAGSTALGIA at Santa Pod Raceway A nostalgia drag racing weekend in association with the NSRA and Santa Pod Raceway.

JULY 17 SHERBORNE CASTLE CLASSIC AND SUPERCARS Sherborne Castle, Dorset, DT9 5NR. Tel. 07769 114211.

JULY 17 2ND AMERICAN CAR & BIKE SHOW to be held at The White Swan, Hunmanby, Scarborough, YO14 0JU *Free entry to all*. Donations taken go to charity.

Camping also available in village, must be pre booked!

Contact: Keiron on 07519445739 after 5pm for details. As spaces are limited.

Awards given plus best in show.

JULY 17-19 PHANTOMS MEET Stirling Rugby Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Causewayhead Road, Stirling, Scotland FK9 5AP JULY 24 KENT’S KIT CUSTOM & AMERICAN CAR SHOW Aylesford Priory, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX www.kentskitcustomcarandamericanshow.co.uk Contact: Geoff Martin 01732 840787.

Public admission £3, 10am-4pm.

Parkin and refreshments available.

JULY 24 THE DAMN YANKEES SUMMER SLAM CAR SHOW 30th ANNIVERSARY SHOW at North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, Essex CM16 6AR Hotrod Hayride JULY 29-31 BISLEY NATIONAL SHOOTING CENTRE Surrey UK www.hotrodhayride.com Call: 01435 812508.

JULY 29-31 MOPAREURONATS 2016, SANTA POD RACEWAY 23rd Euronats will be held over three days at Santa Pod Raceway, England.

Friday will include Top Sportsman Racing which will conclude on the Sunday. RWYB devotees can also use the track from 12pm to 7pm.The Muscle Car Cruise will leave the track around 7pm and drive to the Great Billing Mill on a delightful lakeside retreat with plenty of parking.

A live band in the evening will close the day’s entertainment. Saturday the track is open from 10am-8pm to RWYB and will also host a round of the European Pro Mod Championship with the quickest door-slammers that Europe can offer.

Top Sportsman will run their knock- out rounds during the day which will end with a live band playing in the evening.

Sunday is always the busiest day of the show with a huge Show n Shine gathering in the car coral where some of the most exciting muscle cars in the UK and Europe will muster.

At the lunchtime break the World Famous Incredible Burn-Out Contest takes place finishing with the winner who puts on the best tire frying smoke show. The Pro Mod and Top Sportsman classes will wrap up their competitions running their finals. The Gasser Circus will be on hand to run their unique series. A live band will play in the car corral during the day. The 23rd MoparEuroNats will also host the 20th Anniversary of the UK Viper Club coinciding with 20 years of the generation II Dodge Viper. We hope that up to thirty five Vipers and a handful of Prowlers will attend the show making for them the biggest gathering of Snakes in the UK. For more info see: www. mopareuronats.co.uk

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Classic American Events, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR

Classic insurance redefined.

JULY 31 BRIDLINGTON AMERICAN ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW & GALA. Held at Sewerby Cricket Club, Sewerby, Bridlington, E Yorks YO15 1EW. Hosted by Yorkshire American Car Club [ YANCS ] est 1982. Camping from Friday noon 29th Lazy Day Saturday with a cruise through town at 5pm. Disco in the marquee Saturday night [Bring your own drinks] Show day Sunday only 31st..

A great weekend for the kids at the seaside.

For anymore info give us a bell on 01709 542555 mob 07787915081 or e/m yancs1@yahoo.co.uk f/b Yancs Yorkshire.

JULY 31 SHAFTESBURY CARNIVAL CLASSIC CAR AND BIKE SHOW. Barton Hill Recreation Ground, SP7 8QA 10am to 3pm. Cars £5, bikes £3.

7 trophies. Refreshments, stalls and licensed bar. All proceeds to local charities. For information or to book in advance contact Ray on 01747 852922 or email humphrieshouse@ btinternet.com AUGUST 5-7 11th DONCASTER ROADRUNNER HOTROD SHOW Customs classics, rods, trucks, bikes, trikes.

Camping from Friday. Fancy dress Sat night bar/ showers, band/dance hall, food hall, Sat cruise, Sun trophies show ‘n’ shine. More information www. doncasterroadrunner.co.uk Tel. 07833 114635.

AUGUST 12-14 NSRA HOT ROD SUPERNATIONALS at Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9EA. Our second major hot rod show of the year.

Weekend activities and entertainment, trade stalls, Saturday cruise, huge show ‘n’ shine car show for pre-1972 Hot Rods, Street Rods, and Customs; open to the public on Sunday.

AUGUST 13-14 The Buster Lang All American Classic Car Show is at Sandown Race Park this year.

A Two Day Event. We are the only show with cash prizes and the now famous Buster Lang trophies. The event has entertainment and exhibits throughout the weekend. Clubs attending include The Mustang Owners Club, the Corvette Club, Can Am Club, Mopar Club and many independent clubs. We also have famous screen cars on show as well as Dream Cars attending.

AUGUST 19-21 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB INTERNATIONAL SPRING OPEN NATIONAL Billing Aquadrome. Please contact Billing for information.

AUGUST 28 CANAMANIA-SUNDAY, 9-4 Julians Road, Wimborne, Dorset - Great family day out, lots of cars etc, traders and much more. For more info email: denise@redrockteltd.co.uk AUGUST 28 BROOKLANDS REVISITED Celebrating The Wheel. Modern, Vintage & Classic Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Anything on Wheels! Americans especially welcome.

Free entry for show vehicles and occupants.

Lots of stalls, exhibits, food, bar, kiddies entertainment, caravan and camping available.

The most picturesque showground in Gods own county. All proceeds go to charity.

Public entry £5. Brooklands Nurseries, Totties, Scholes, Holmfirth, Yorks HD9 1UJ. Phone Nick to book your vehicle in 01484 863881.

SEPTEMBER 9-11 THE NSRA HOT ROD DRAGS at Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston Airfield, Long Marston, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 8LL http://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com Organised by the NSRA and Shakespeare County Raceway, another hot rod meet rolled up into a weekend of nostalgia style drag racing. Run what ya brung for pre-1973 cars. Hot rods, customs, Outlaw Anglias, dragsters, altereds, gassers, and the flathead meltdown!

SEPTEMBER 11 KENT’S CLASSIC CAR SHOW to be held at Aylesford Priory, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX. See: http://www.kentsclassiccarshow.co.uk for more info. Contact: Geoff Martin 01732 840787.

SEPTEMBER 18 THE A602’S AUTORAMA. The 7th Autorama held at Fairlands Valley Country Park, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 8RH. Hotrods, Customs, Classics, Yanks, Dubs & Bikes and a Full Prize programme. Live bands including the Doggone Honkabillies, many traders, auto jumble and children’s rides and entertainment 10am-4pm for more information call 07833387792 or www. a602sstreetandstriprods.com

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SEPTEMBER 25 FORT PAULL AMERICAN ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW held at Fort Paull, Battery Road, Paull, nr Hull, E Yorks, HU12 1EW. Hosted by Yorkshire American Car Club [ YANCS ] est 1982. Camping from Friday noon 23rd bar Friday night, lazy day Saturday with 50/60/70s disco [optional fancy dress]. Food available in the bar Show day Sunday only 25th. Sorry dogs rae not allowed in the fort only on the camp site outside.

For more info tel. 01709 542555; 07787 915081 or email: yancs1@yahoo.co.uk f/b yancs Yorkshire.

OCTOBER 1-2 AMERICAN AUTUMN CLASSIC Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Glos.

GL52 9RD From Birmingham and South West via M5 to junction 9 From London via A40 to Cheltenham then A435 towards Evesham Prescott is situated 5 miles north east of Cheltenham off the A435 (Evesham Road) between Gotherington & Gretton Or see: www.prescott-hillclimb.com/ OCTOBER 2 The P-15 Picnic, Sywell Aerodrome, near Northampton, NN6 0BN Informal meet for 1946-1948 Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler cars. Preserved and restored cars, customs, rods and works-in-progress are all very welcome and admission is free.

The award-winning Sywell Aviation Museum will also be open, by special arrangement.

For more details please call 07802 355025 or 0845 257 1939 or email Robin@RockTheJoint.com OCTOBER 28-30 CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR SHOW Alexandra Palace, London NOVEMBER 10-14 RHYTHM RIOT! Pontins Holiday Centre, Camber, Sussex.

Now a 4-day action-packed weekend of 1950s music, dancing and vintage lifestyle.

Celebrating 20 years with a huge line-up of bands from 20 countries. Features include a fantastic classic car cruise, spectacular vintage clothing mall, burlesque shows, vintage style hair and beauty parlor, rockin’ barber, pinstriper, indoor boot sale, Rhythm Riot TV, late bars, music and dancing ‘til the early hours... and lots more.

Full details and online booking at www.RhythmRiot. com or call 020 8566 5226 for info, bookings and flyers.

NOVEMBER 10-14 LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW NEC, Birmingham. www.necclassicmotorshow.com or call 0871 230 1088

Cruises

ANGUS – East Coast Cruisers (Scotland)American & Custom Car Club. Cars ‘n’ coffee meeting every Thursday around 19.00. For details of location in current week, please call or email Blair on 07810 123145; email: softtopmustang@gmail.com AYRSHIRE – Meet at The Odeon, Victoria, Kilmarnock, noon on fourth Sunday of the month, cruise at 1pm.

BATH – Second Tuesday of the month, at the Forum and Firkin, opposite Theatre Royal, Barton Street, Bath, Somerset. 7.30 for 8.30 line-up outside. Call 07074 400500 for info.

BATH – Meet & Greet, first Saturday of the month, 1-4pm, Bath Classic & American car company, BS39 5AA. For more info call Neil 07850 529940.

BEDFORD – Ouse Valley CC meets at Interchange Retail Park, Kempston, 7.30pm, last Sunday of the month, April to October. Cruise into Bedford 8pm.

Call Mark, 07903 049489 or Dave, 01234 357740.

BEDFORD – Meet The Priory Marina, Barkers Lane, 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month AprilOctober. Tel 07957 811696.

BEDFORDSHIRE - A602’s Breakfast Club every second Sunday of the month, 10am onwards at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Aerodrome, Nr Biggleswade, SG18 9EP. www. a602sstreetandstriprods.com BERKSHIRE – Third Saturday of the month.

Berkshire Area Mustang Owners’Club meet (but all American cars and enthusiasts welcome). Venue varies, but always around the Newbury area.

11.30am meet for a midday lunch. Please visit the Shows & Cruises section of www.mocgb.net/forums for details.

BIRMINGHAM – First Thursday of the month, AACI area meet at The Kingsley, Kingsbury Rd, Minworth, near Jct 9 of M42 from 7.30pm.

Tel: Dave 07941 298365 BIRMINGHAM NORTH – AACUK meet second Weds of the month 7.30pm at The Towers, A34 Walsall Rd just off M6 Jct 7. For details call Ken 0845 644 0387.

BIRMINGHAM SOUTH – AACUK meets last Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm, at The Wharf Hotel, Hockley Heath, A3400 just off M42. Everyone welcome. Call Alan on 0845 644 0358.

Call our friendly UK team for a quote today:

BRADFORD – AACI Meet ‘n’ Eat, The 6 Acres, 119 Westgate Hill Street, Bradford, BD4 0RZ. Last Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm onwards.

BRIGHTON – Jukebox Show and 1950s, 60s and 70s Retro Fair at Brighton Racecourse. All enquiries contact 0208 393 2444 or email: jukeboxshow@hotmail.co.uk BRISTOL – AACUK meet on first Sunday of each month at the Golden Heart Pub, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1AU. Call Steve on 07792 185083.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE – American cars, rods, and bikes etc. Meet at The Harte and Magpie, Amersham Road, Coleshill, near Amersham, Bucks HP7 0LU. Meet from 7.30pm to 11pm onwards on every second Tuesday of the month. Call Richard for more info on 07879 255249 or email: richard72@hotmail.co.uk BUCKINGHAMSHIRE – Milton Keynes/North Bucks – Join our friendly gathering of enthusiasts on the second Wednesday every month at the Prince George, Portishead Drive, Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes MK4 3FA from 7pm on. All American/Canadian/Australian car fans are welcome whether owners or not! For more info call Steve on 07792 497116 or Chris on 07775 898456.

CANNOCK AND WOLVERHAMPTON – AACUK meets on the third Tuesday of each month at The Moreton Arms, 2 Springfield Lane, WV10 6PX. Jct 2 of the M54 onto A449 Wolverhampton then left at second lights.

Contact John on 0845 644 0346.

CHESHIRE – American Auto Mags Cruise April to October inclusive, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month from 6.30-ish. Nov to March inclusive, from late morning on third Sunday each month at The Hollow Tree Pub, on the A49 just off M56 Junction 10. (postcode: WA4 4LX.) For information: www. americanautomags.com or call 01606 888324.

CHESHIRE – AACI Route 56 Cruise, first Monday of the month, 7.30pm at the Hollow Tree pub, by Jct 10 of M56. Family pub with restaurant, kids’ play area. Charity raffles etc. All welcome. Tel: Brendan 07909 918995, Angie 07801 656590 or go to www. route56cruise.co.uk CORNWALL – Surf Coast Cruisers meet first Saturday of the month at Starbucks, Chiverton Cross (A30) 6pm and then cruise out and third Saturday of the month at McDonalds, Hayle 6.30pm then cruise St Ives. Contact Adrian on 07717 477107.

CORNWALL – First Saturday of the month, meet McDonalds, Fraddon, on the A30, 7pm, then cruise Newquay. Tel 01208 814210.

CORNWALL – Cornwall American Car Owners meet third Saturday of the month at the Victoria Inn, on the A30, Roche, 7.30pm. Tel. Andy 01726 860172 CORNWALL – Meet at Route 38 American style Diner, on A38 at Trerulfoot Roundabout. Meet from 12.30 every third Sunday of month. See website for cruise info www.route38carclub.co.uk Contact: Steve on 07768 267104 or 01822 854675.

COVENTRY – Sunday lunchtime and other meets throughout the year. Paul on 07866 547141 or email AACIwarwick@AmericanV8.co.uk CROYDON – Second Sunday of the month, Valley Park, Purley Way (A23), near Ikea/McDonalds, 4.30pm.

Tel Derek on 07724 752512, or Brian 01737 556499 or 07836 367317 DARLINGTON – Last Friday of the month, April to September. Quaker Cruise, McDonalds, Morton Park, off A66 bypass 7.30-9pm, then on to the Fighting Cocks. Details from Cath 01325 350268 or Ian 01325 288365 DEVON – Devon Cruisers – Custom Classic and American. Meet at 2pm on the third Sunday of the month from April to September at various locations.

Please see us on facebook for further details or contact Craig on 07973 471125.

DEVON – Informal meet at Chandlers Bar, Queen Annes Battery Marina, Plymouth PL4 0LP every Sunday morning from 10am. All cars welcome.

Woodward Dream cruise

0333 207 6024

DEVON – Exeter. Anyone interested in becoming part of a new cruise in the Exeter area, please contact Chris on 07912 559819 or email crazyhatman@hotmail.com DEVON – BURNOUT Auto Club – Custom Classics and American meet at 3pm and Cruise from the Wrey Arms, Sticklepath, Barnstaple, third Sunday of the month April to September. Contact Craig 07973 471125 or see us on Facebook.

DORSET – Third Monday of each month at the Old Thatch, 285 Wimborne Road West, Ferndown, Dorset BH21 7NW from 7:30pm every Sunday at Viewpoint, Parkstone, Poole from 2pm. National Can-Am Car club 07989748094 DUNDEE – Meet last Sunday of the month at The CraigTay hotel, Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee from 7.30pm. Tel: Ally 01382 801038 DUNDEE – The Knightriders meet every Tuesday, 7.30pm, at The Marmalade Pot, Riverside Drive, Dundee, just west of Dundee airport. All welcome.

Tel: Kenny 01382 770958 or see www.v8block. pwp.blueyonder.co.uk ESSEX – Bungalow Diner at Marks Tey, 45 London Road. CO6 1EB. Every 2nd Thursday from 7pm is hot rods, rat rods, customs and yanks. Call 01206 210 972 or see: www.bungalowdiner.co.uk ESSEX – Meet at Bobby Jo’s 50s Diner, 11-12 Eastern Esplanade, Southend SS1 2ER every Thursday evening from Easter to October. Free tea and coffee for owners of American or classic cars and 10% off food. Large car park opposite diner.

ESSEX – American Independents Car Club meets twice monthly, 8pm, second Sunday and last Tuesday of the month, at the Albion Pub, A13 r/ bout, Rainham. Tel: Rita on 0208 501 0142.

ESSEX – Meet at The Dick Turpin, A127 Southend arterial road, Wickford, every Wednesday from 8am. Call Frank on 07986 909423 ESSEX – The AACI Essex meet on first Saturday of month, 7.30pm, Holmwood Farm, Slough Lane, Danbury CM3 4LX. Tel Tony 07836 246902.

ESSEX – Meet every Wednesday at Frankie & Benny’s, Galleys Corner, Braintree, 8pm. Tel: Robin on 07721 793308 ESSEX – Mustang Owners’ Club GB Essex Group. Now meet every third Fri of the month at The Fox & Goose, Ongar Road, Cooksmill Green, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3SN T: 01245 248245 e-mail: info@foxandgoosepub.co.uk from 6pm onwards. For more info email: Les Hughes, lesuze@ntlworld.com ESSEX – The Pontiac Drivers’ Club meets on the third Monday of the month, 8pm, at the Green Man, Tylers Road, Roydon Hamlett. Tel: Graham on 01268 473492, Joanne on 01268 419652 or see www. pontiacdriversclubonline.co.uk FIFE – Meet second Sunday of the month at KFC, Fife Leisure Park, Jct 3 of M90 from 6.30pm, April to October. See www.ill-eagle.co.uk or StewartDrk@ aol.com GREAT YARMOUTH – GYAAC meet at the White Swan, North Quay, Great Yarmouth every Monday from 8pm, May-Sept. Tel: 01493 740863 or email mal.toll@rjt.co.uk GUILDFORD CRUISE – Burger King, Ladymead Retail Park. First Sunday of the month. Tel: Roy on 01483 856744.

HAMPSHIRE – South Coast Teds Rock ‘n’ Roll Club monthly Record Hop and Bands, at Twyford Social Club, Queens Street, Twyford, Hants. For more info tel. Dave 07580 027468; Steve 07739 635044; Glenn 07804 281146.

HAMPSHIRE – Victory Wheelers meet first and third Wednesdays at The Plough, Portsmouth Road, Bursledon, Southampton SO31 8BT. 8.30 to 11pm.

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HAMPSHIRE - Meet in Hampshire at The Royal Oak, Christchurch Rd, Downton, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 0LA. On 4th Sunday of each month at 2pm onwards. Very large car park. Pub grub and drinks available, bbq outside on most meets. Contact Derek 07717 791912 or Mark 07734 168954.

HARROGATE - Harrogate Knights CC “End of Month Cruise”. Meets last Saturday of the month from 5pm, McDonalds, St James Retail Park, Grimbald Crag Way, Knaresborough, Nr Harrogate.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD – Hemel Valley Cruisers meet at the Marchmont Arms pub, Piccotts End, every Thursday, 8pm. Tel: Nick 07958 764045 or see http:// nickstep.cwc.net/index.htm HEREFORD – American & Hot Rod Club meet first Thursday each month at The Grandstand, Grandstand Road, Hereford HR4 9NH. Everyone welcome. Contact Mark at westernautos@mac. com or phone 01432 358518 HERTFORDSHIRE – LA Roadsters and Pontiac Owners’ Club meet first Saturday of each month from 11am to 2/3pm at The Crocodile Pub, College Road, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9NQ. Big car park, kids welcome.

Call Andy K on 0208 801 1953.

HERTFORDSHIRE – Mustangs and Mopars meet at the Three Horseshoes, Hooks Cross, Watton-at-Stone, Herts on the A602, second Wednesday of the month from 7pm. Contact www.mocgb.net HULL – The Yorks Yanks meet at The Sandpiper, Melton Park HU14 3HE, on the first Sunday of the month at 6pm onwards. Yanks, rods, classics,cars and bikes all are welcome. See our website and free to join forum for details. www.Yorksyanks.co.uk IRELAND – GAScc meet on either the first or third Wednesday of the month at the Viaduct Inn, Bandon Road, Bishopstown, Cork. Check www.gascc.ie for latest information.

IRELAND – The Southcoasters meet on the second Wednesday of the month at the Viaduct Inn, Bandon Road, Bishopstown, Cork. Check www.southcoasters.ie for latest information.

IRELAND – Cadillacs of Ireland Register. Email Nick Stratta on cadillacsireland@gmail.com or call on 085 828 9922 (Ireland) or 07775 704205 (UK) IRELAND – Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath. The Midland American Auto Club (MAAC) meets at clubhouse opposite Kilbeggan Racecourse at 7.30pm every Thursday evening. Kilbeggan is off jct 5, M6. All welcome. See www.maac-ireland.com or facebook www.facebook.com/midland.american. auto.club for details. Tel. Joe Keenan (Club Chairman) on 0872 388400, Eamon Fidgeon (Club Secretary) on 0871 271015 or Nick Stratta (Club PRO) on 0858 289922. If dialing from outside Ireland drop the leading zero and dial 00 353, so 00 353 87 for example.

ISLE OF MAN – First Wednesday of the month, various venues, see www.manxyanks.com KENT – The Pontiac Drivers’ Club meets first Wednesday of the month, at the The Moat, London Road, Wrotham, Kent TN15 7RR. Tel: 01795 476796 for information.

KENT – Third Sunday of the month, 4.30pm, at Dover Seafront, then up to Tesco car park, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover. All classic vehicles welcome.Tel: Nick on 07412 530608.

KENT – Kent Mustang Owners meet first Saturday of the month from 6pm at American Diner, Ashford, Jct 9 off M20, follow A28 signs. Tel: Kev 07900 262699 or Steve 07867 977279 for details.

LANCASHIRE – The Swan Hotel, Hindley Green, Wigan A577, second Tuesday of the month. All welcome. Tel. 01942 522692 or 01942 254868.

LANCASHIRE – Rawtenstall cruise, now at the Cobblers Inn, New Hall Road, Rawtenstall, just off the M66. Second Friday of each month from 7pm MarchSeptember. Good food, kids’ play area, everyone welcome. Contact John at rawmopar@talktalk.net for more info.

Woodward Dream cruise

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LYTHAM ST ANNES – Fylde Rugby Club floodlit car park, Blackpool Road, Ansdell. Second Thursday of the month, 7pm onwards.Food and drink available. Tel: Richard 01253 735314 (day); 01253 722057 (eve).

LEEDS/BRADFORD – LA Cruisers meet at the Spotted Cow, Whitehall Road, Drighlington, Leeds, every Tues, 9pm onwards. Tel: 0113 252 7923 or www.lacruisers. org.uk; la.cruisers@ntlworld.com LEICESTER – AACI meet last Saturday of each month at 2pm at The Elms, Rugby Road, Lutterworth, Leics LE17 4BP. All clubs, customs, rods, bikes etc. welcome. Call Ozzy on 07845 886240 or email ozzymotorsports@hotmail.co.uk LEEDS – Second Saturday from 7.30pm at the Burger King, Jct 1 of the M621, Leeds.

LEICESTER – AACUK meet third Wednesday of each month at The Plough Inn, Burrough Road, Ratby, Leicester LE6 0XZ. Live Rock ’n’ Roll DJ. All clubs and vehicles welcome from 7pm. Call Roger on 0116 259 5276 or 07802 370 645 for details.

LICHFIELD, STAFFS – Bowling Green, Lichfield, Jct of A461 and A51, third Wed of month, 7.30pm. Call Tony 01543 675666 or www.rodding.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE – Witham and Blues, Langrick, PE22 7AJ. Petrolheads, every Tuesday, starts at 7pm.

LINCOLNSHIRE – County Cruisers meet at The White Horse, Marsh Chapel, near Louth on the second Wednesday of the month. Tel: Clint 07519 791890 or Neil on 07778 003229 or see www.bombercountycruisers.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE – Meet on the fourth Sunday of the month, noon, at the Dove Cote on the A46 between Lincoln and Newark. Tel: Dave on 07702 693448 or see www.aaci-lincs.co.uk LONDON NW10 – The Executioners Hot Rod Night meet at the Ace Cafe, Stonebridge, North Circular, first Wed from 6pm. Also, All American pre-Chelsea Cruise meet from 4pm, last Saturday of the month. Also, All-Ford meet, second Monday from 6pm. Also, Harley night, last Thursday from 6pm. Tel: 0208 961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com LONDON NORTH – Southern Bootleggers UK Last Sunday of the month from 12pm. McDonalds, Friern Bridge Retail Park, New Southgate, N11 3PW. Newcomers welcome. Contact Dean 07583 374578/ Wesley 07450 688560.

LONDON N16 – Rockabilly Tuesdays, every Tuesday at The Eye, 79-81 Stoke Newington High Street. Live music from The Night Shakers plus record hop, 8pm11.30am. Free entry. Tel: 0207 923 7781 LONDON – The Chelsea Cruise, on the last Saturday of the month, 7.30pm, Chelsea Bridge/King’s Road area. Tel: Derek on 07724 752512 or see www. chelseacruise.co.uk LONDON – Ace Cafe meet last Saturday afternoon of month. North Circular Road, London. NW10 7UD LONDON – LA Roadsters & N London POC meet first Sat of the month at The Crocodile, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NQ 11am-2/3pm. Contact Andy 0208 801 1953. Children welcome, big car park.

MANCHESTER – AACNW meet first Sunday of the month, largest cruise at the Krispy Kreme, Barton Dock Road just behind the Trafford Centre. Jct 10 M60. 100+ vehicles, everyone invited, discounts and other offers. From 9.30am. Contact Gordon on 07761 952540 for details.

MERSEYSIDE – The Merseyside American Enthusiasts’ Club meets on the last Sunday of the month at The Gamebird pub, St Helens (on East Lancs Rd) from 7:30 onwards.Call Rich/Denise on 0151 475 2059 or go to www.americanmuscleuk.com MIDDLESEX – Various weekend meets at the London Motor Museum, RAF West Ruislip, Aylsham NORFOLK – Landsharks AAC meet at North Tuddenham Lodge, third Sunday of the month at 2pm.

Tel: Lee on 01362 858978, Guy on 07881 583746 or www.landsharks.co.uk

Call our friendly UK team for a quote today:

0333 207 6024

Woodward Dream cruise

NORFOLK – King’s Lynn Kruisers meet every Thursday at the Coach and Horses, Tilney All Saints, near Kings Lynn (on old A47). Tel Wendy for details on 07883 091339.

NORFOLK – East Coast Pirates meet first and third Sunday from 1.30pm onwards throughout the year at Joy Land 50s diner, Great Yarmouth seafront. All American, custom, hot rods, classics and bikes welcome. Tel: Steve 01493 440539 or go to www.eastcoastpirates.co.uk NORTH EAST – NEACC meets on the first and third Sunday of each month at the Angel View Inn, Eighton Banks, Gateshead from 8pm. Everyone welcome.

Contact Bill Horn on 0191 536 2202 or Karen on 0191 555 0563; northeastamerican@yahoo.co.uk PRESTON – First Friday of the month at the Lea Gate pub, Blackpool Road PR4 0XB, 7pm. Call Pete on 01772 652203 for details.

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth Owners’ Club GB. Contact Barry Reece at jillnbarry@reecejill. orangehome.co.uk or tel: 01986 784305.

ROTHERHAM – Meet first Wednesday of the month at Sitwell Arms, Pleasley Road, Whiston, S60 4HQ. SHEFFIELD – Steel City Cruisers meet at the Stock Yard pub, Hallaby Ind Est, two mins from Jct 1 of the M18, last Saturday of the month. April-Oct. Tel: 01709 541116.

SHROPSHIRE – 49’ers American Car Club meet alternate Thursdays through summer, monthly in winter. Various venues in the Shrewsbury area. See 49’ers American Car Club Facebook for updates, or text Jon on Jon 07531327483 SOMERSET – AACI meets second Sunday of each month 12-3pm at The Frome Flyer, Jenson Way, Commerce Park, Frome Somerset BA11 2LD. On Frome bypass A361. Tel: Simon 07809 365822.

SOMERSET – AACUK meet first Tuesday of each month at The Golden Heart, Down Road, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1AU. Contact Steve on 07851 279003 or email steve.o.123@hotmail.co.uk SOMERSET – The Blue Ridge Runners meet at the Royal British Legion, Main Road, Pawlett, near Bridgewater, first Tuesday of the month(previously Monday), 7.30pm. Tel: Paul on 01278 683669.

SUFFOLK – Iceni CAR Club meet at The Ram, Bridge Street A1065, Brandon, 1pm on first Sunday of the month. Tel: Tony 01842 810720.

SUFFOLK – AACI. Orwell Crossing (eastbound A14 – Ipswich). 10am-1pm last Sunday of month. Tel: Charlie 07767 325669 or 01473 437515 or www.aacint.com SURREY – Blood, Sweat & Gears Breakfast Meet, first Sunday of the month 10am-noon. The Coach House, Chelsham Common, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9PB. Full breakfast, bacon rolls, music etc. Tel: Lee on 07950 258704.

SURREY – Krispy Kreme, Shannon Corner, New Malden KT3 4NA, third Sunday of the month, 10am onwards.15 mins from M25 on A3. Email: dw123@ hotmail.com SURREY – Meet at the Fairmile Pub Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1BW on the 3rd Sunday of every month.

All clubs welcome. Open to hot rods, classic cars, and motorcycles or any vehicles of interest.

SURREY - The Bull Colsseum, Chelsham Common, Warlingham , Surrey,CR6 9PB. Breakfast meet, 1st Sunday of The Month, Classic Hot Rods, bikes great breakfast from 09:00 too 13:00pm. All welcome, under new ownership! Tel. 01883 62525259.

SURREY – AACI Surrey meet at 2pm, the Monkey Puzzle pub next to Chessington World of Adventures.

All welcome, cruise out to Guildford at 3.30pm. Tel: Dean on 07919 995676 or see www.aacint.com SUSSEX – AACI meet at The Friars Oak, Hassocks on A273, 8pm on third Wednesday of the month. Tel: Dave 01903 244051.

EAST SUSSEX – 1066 Cruisers meet at the Mermaid, De La Warr Parade, Bexhill on Sea, on first Sat of the

month, 7.30pm. Tel. Scott, 01424 893674 or Kim, 01424 892297.

EAST SUSSEX – Lone Star Auto Club meets at The Green Man of Ringmer, Lewes Road, Ringmer, BN8 5NA on the second Thursday of the month from 7pm.

All welcome. Any queries tel. Eric 01444 242875. www.lonestarautoclub.co.uk for details.

SUSSEX – Last Sunday of the month from 5.30pm, Burger King, Goldstone Retail Park, A270, Hove. Tel: Bob 01273 566711.

EAST SUSSEX – Car Wash Diner Cruise Nite.

2nd Saturday of month April-October. Car Wash Diner, Hurst Green (On the A21) TN19 7QY. On the E Sussex/ Kent border. 6pm onwards.

SHROPSHIRE - 49’ers American Car Club. Meet alternate Thursdays through summer, monthly in winter. Various venues. See 49’ers American Car Club Facebook or text Jon 07531 327483 SURREY/KENT - Breakfast Meet. First Sunday of month The Bull (formally The Coach House), Chelsham Common, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9PB. All clubs welcome. Open to Classic Cars, Yanks, Rods, any vehicles of interest. Great food. New management.

SWANSEA – Sunday afternoon runs. Call Mark, 6-7pm, on 01639 771445 for details.

SWINDON – All Yanks, bikes, rods, vans, trucks etc welcome to meet up at the Sunn Inn, Coate Water, SN3 6AA. Tel: Iain 01793 877399.

TYNE & WEAR – The North East ACC meets first and third Sunday every month at the Angel View, Eighton Banks, Gateshead from 8pm. Everyone welcome. Contact Bill on 0191 536 2202, or Karen on 0191 523 7723; northeastamerican@ yahoo.co.uk TYNE & WEAR – Tyneside American now meet at The Hearth Cafe, Main Road, Horsley, Northumberland, NE15 ONT first Friday of the month (April-October) from 7.30pm. For more details please contact Norman and Gerry on 0191 4132334 or Sue & Paul on 07500 463 192.

TYNE & WEAR – Geordie RAC meet at McDonalds drive thru, Metro Centre, Gateshead, second Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm, April-October. Tel: Alan 01207 570265 or www.geordierac.co.uk NORTH WALES – The Guzzlers meet first Weds of the month at The Beachcomber pub, Beach House Road, Llandullas, off the A55 near Abergele, 7.30pm. Tel: Doug on 01745 827392, leadshed@aol.com or www. guzzlerskarklub.co.uk WARWICKSHIRE – The Butty Run, Long Itch Diner, Southam Road, Warks CV47 9QZ. First Sunday morning of the month (except March and June). See www.butty-run.com WARWICKSHIRE – Bosworth Classic Car & Bike meet on the last Tuesday of the month from 6.30pm at Bosworth Water Trust. Market Bosworth, Warks CV13 6PD. Co-organised by The Coventry Cruisers and open to all vehicles. BBQ, bar and food, kids rides and playground. Tel: Kev on 07914 071093 www. coventrycruisers@tiscali.co.uk.

WARWICKSHIRE – The Red Lion Rendezvous meets first Sunday of the month at the Red Lion, A3400 Main Street, Long Compton, Warwickshire near Chipping Norton. Tel: Jenny on 01608 684221 or Mel 07792 305751.

WEST MIDLANDS – Britannic Assurance PLC, Wythall Green, off Middle Lane, Wythall, Birmingham. Second Tuesday of the month (May-September inclusive) from 7pm. Second Sunday of the month (Oct-Apr inclusive), 11am-3pm. Tel 01564 822800.

WESTON SUPER MARE – The Tropicana, Westonsuper-Mare seafront, last Tues of the month 7.308.30pm, then to Big Apple diner.

WORCESTER – AACUK meet at at The Timberdine (Harvester) on the A38 south of the city, sat nav WR5 3HP. every third Wednesday. All clubs welcome. Phone Mel 01905 351955.

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The f models ilable is unchanged: 88, Super nd 9 a choice of ans and hardtops, with a con ible i er 88 or 98 ter again called arfir rdto es and sedans are o ays, and a the no sta gon at all. Prices start from 2 or a wo-doo to $3740 for the St re he ic inch V o r u re up ally to 230 horsepower in e 8 d in Sup . tio l o sta 98s) is the Jetaway version of fou eed at .

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Hundreds of event listings, every issue SUBSCRIBE ON PAGE 20

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BUICK REGAL

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BUICK ROADMASTER

56, 2-door, 402BBC, 4-speed auto, great condition, show winner, £30,000 ono Tel. Dave 07849 178395. Lancs

1991, Coupe, 87,668 km, clean straight body, no rust, recent MoT with no issues, dry stored in garage runs sweet, £2500 ono Tel. Mike on 01797 367672. Kent

1969, California black plate, registered and MoT, very good condition, £11,995 Tel. 01934 419552. Somerset

1947, 5.2L Straight Eight in maroon, 6 seater, 4 dr, Championship winning car, full cream and maroon leather interior with matching maroon carpets, runs on unleaded, £29,950 ovno Tel. 0789 9057378. Hants

BUICK WILDCAT

CADILLAC

CADILLAC COUPE

CADILLAC COUPE

1964, 401 ci, airbags, rear drive, anywhere most talked about car at shows, no rust, £10,500 Tel. 07872 596975. Suffolk

4-door, 1958, Sedan, V8 auto, jet black, black/ white interior, drives well, good chrome, p/x welcome, £12,000 Tel. 01895 255611 or 07738 091991. Middx

1957, black with black trim, new White Walls, just serviced p/w, matching numbers, no rust, vgc, UK registered, £15,995 Tel. 07944 603038. Essex

1959, 2-dr, white with black and white brocade interior, show winner, immac inside and out, detailed engine bay and trunk, never any rust, drive anywhere, £32,500 Tel. 07535 271800. Essex

CADILLAC COUPE

CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE

CADILLAC ELDORADO

CADILLAC SEDAN

Deville, 1978, imported, all duties paid, one American owner, all paperwork history, paintwork immac, full white leather interior, 30 day warranty, £13,950 Tel. 07788 544349. Essex

1959, white with black/white interior, excellent straight body and chassis, much money spent, loss of job forces sale.

Tel. 02392 464952. Hants

Touring coupe, good solid body, met blue, will MoT on point of sale, £2000 ono Tel. 07469 738275. W Yorks

1977, Deville, V8, 5.7 diesel, auto, rust free, drives lovely, MoT until July 2016, electrics, all working (new fuses), needs a service, £8500 ono Tel. 075900 37375. Kent mel54772@hotmail.com

CADILLAC SEDAN

CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE

CADILLAC SERIES 62

CADILLAC SERIES 62

1941, California car, perfect panels, chassis and superb new chrome, nos match, 346 V8 and Hydramatic 4 sp auto, Tel. 07767 607605. Surrey

1978, white, no rust, garaged, MoT July 2016, light blue leather interior with light blue roof, original condition, regrettable sale, £6000 ono.

Tel. 01205 260231. Lincs

1958, excellent runner, all original, ready to go, only 50k miles, £13,000 Tel. 01427 575401; 07973 432484. N Lincs

1941, 4-dr Sedan deluxe, lovely condition, nice flathead V8, manual gearbox, original interior, needs registering, all paperwork supplied. £13,950 ono Tel. 07702 274887 for more details. . W Yorks

CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS

CADILLAC SEVILLE STS

CAMARO IROC Z28

4.6 Northstar engine, MoT till October, fantastic condition, just a little lacquer peel in places! Best offer secures! £1000 ono bargain Tel. 07517 757045. West Midlands

RHD, 2001, UK spec, 26k, VOSA verified, full s/h, Northstar 32 valve, green, vgc, 2 p/owners, r/h/d, auto, e/w, c/l, ABS, brand new battery and tyres Dec 15, £4995 ono Tel. 07860 864725. E Sussex sel2903@yahoo. co.uk

1987, 5.0, V8, auto, 52k, exc example, T-top c/w orig bag, orig well kept interior, receipts/ history, featured in September’s issue of Classic American, £7500 Tel. 01189 305177. Berks

classic-american.com 135

CLASSIC AMERICAN READER ADVERTS CAPRICE 350 AUTO

CHEVROLET ASTRO

CHEVROLET BEL-AIR

CHEVROLET BLAZER LT

Only 48k miles from new, full history, MoT May 16, excellent condition, no rust or welding, 1977, £4200 ono; p/x Tel. 07872 606666. Crewe, Cheshire

Nice dry van, auto, 50k miles, good vehicle, very reliable, 90% very good, £3000 or swap for something?

Tel. 01202 522596; 07984 742 781. Dorset

1957, 4-dr Sport, hardtop, pillar less, unrestored, 283 V8, with 2BBL carburettor, auto trans, white with orig red int, 73k, many new parts, show and shine! lovely, £26,000 Tel. 07968 542 493. London

2001, r/h/d, 4.1 ltr, ABS, p/steering, c/c, heated front seats, electric sunroof, leather interior, 81k miles, £2700 Tel. 02392 461389. Hants

CHEVROLET C10

CHEVROLET CAMARO

CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28

CHEVROLET CAPRICE

Stepside, 1960, 350 ci automatic, power steering headers, special dual exhaust, bright red with grey cloth trim, super condition, year’s MoT, drive anywhere no problem, £12,950 Tel. 07768 973343. Essex

3.8, supplied by Steve Thompson Chevrolet in 2001, one lady owner, 40k, always garaged, never driven in wet, as new, don’t have space in garage. £4500 Tel. 07901 935806. Worcs

1978, black with black interior, good original car throughout, year’s MoT, make ideal group one car for Goodwood, 350, V8, PAS, manual, £9950 Tel. 07821 322058. Essex

Classic Hearse, 1986, current owner 12 years, MoT July 16, runs and drives well only 48k miles, a real eye-catcher, great Wedding or Prom car, £4000 Tel. 07896 246286 for details. Kent

CHEVROLET CAPRICE

CHEVROLET CHALLENGER

CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6

CHEVROLET COUPE

1991, 12 months’ MoT, 5i, auto, 150k miles, fast and reliable, no rust or damage, excellent velour trim, with history, bargain £1950 p/x taken any trial ono Tel. 07872 606666. Crewe, Cheshire

1992, good condition all round, no leaks, bedroom generator, drawbar, easy drive, new front tyres, ready to use, £12,000 offers, swap, why?

Tel. 01767 640681; 07836 618210. Beds

Auto, 30,500 miles, 2007, reg 2008, head-up display, ZR1 pack, Bose CD and sat nav, good cond, light brown interior, garaged and only used at w’ends, offers around £24,500 Tel. 07854 865807. Lancs

1929, 3175cc petrol, historic vehicle, very rare, cream/brown, very clean car, Tel. 07759 330839. N Yorks

CHEVROLET CUSTOM

CHEVROLET IMPALA

CHEVROLET PICK-UP TRUCK

CHEVROLET SSR

1955 4-door Sedan interior, full respray engine rebuild 350 small block elec fan, full s/s exhaust with manifolds, ex wedding car, valued at £35,000 asking for £25,000 Tel. 07917 548379. Grampian

1973, custom coupe, 350, V8, auto, 41,850 miles, new import, outstanding original condition, you will not find better, £10,750 Tel. 01273 493250. W Sussex

1948, shortbed Chevrolet, red patina pick-up truck, 235 CI Straight 6, 12v, daily safe driver, for original truck enthusiasts only, no p/x, time wasters, £20,000 Tel. 07734 319920. London

2005, Sports Roadster pick-up, Chevy LS-2 V8 6.0 ltr engine, 390 bhp, 4 speed auto, stunning pearlescent aqua blue,one owner, only 16k miles, full s/h, new tyres, £25,500 Tel. 01908 610292 or 07801 847281. Milton Keynes

CHEVROLET STYLELINE

CHEVY BLAZER 4.3

CHEVY CAPRICE

CHEVY EL CAMINO

Custom Car, deluxe, 1951, auto, Corvette V8 350 engine, air suspension, custom int, leather seats, good cond, ex ‘Happy’ David Labrava of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ fame, £18,500 ovno Tel. 00 971 556002022. Dubai

2000, 10 months’ MoT, full service, 4 new tyres and brand new rear shocks and springs, full s/h, drives well, Eagle on bonnet and boot, re-isted due to time waster, £1500 ovno Tel. 07958 143337. Hants

Station Wagon, 1987, long MoT, good runner, needs some tlc but useable Classic, £1950 ono Tel. 07749 606030. Suffolk

1960, rebuilt 327 mild cam, 3 on tree shifts smooth, exc cond, straight body, has all the trim, paint is Patina look, impressive interior, glass in exc cond, £17,995 Tel. 07979 496121 for more details.. Surrey

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01507 529323

CHEVY NOVA SS

CHEVY PANEL VAN

CHEVY SHORT BED TRUCK

CHRYSLER 2.7 LTR

1969, 350 with cold air intake, auto trans, ex film car was wrapped black in Death Proof, c/w props and new performance parts, recently imported, not registered, £15,000 ono Tel. 07749 818681. London

1955, 350 SBC, TH 400 Trans, p/b, p/s, discs front, Camaro back axle, needs some finishing inside. Phone for more details, £12,500 Tel. 01359 408426 or 0770 6076327. Suffolk

1950, 350 motor, auto disc brakes, 9” rear, project truck, runs/drives, needs some parts fitted, Tel. 07459 574303. Strathclyde

Convertible, l/h/d, met silver/white top, auto, e/ seats, e/w, a/c, new tyres, only 69k, p/s, compass, auto convertible top, v clean interior.

Tel. 077220 25735. Guernsey

CHRYSLER 300C

CHRYSLER NEW YORKER

CHRYSLER NEWPORT

CHRYSLER SEBRING CABRIOLET

2010, MoT end of May 2016, one owner, low mileage, full s/h, lovely car, £10,250 ovno Tel. 01505 872082. Strathclyde

1950, Newport 2 door pillar less coupe, 323, 5 cu in, Straight 8 engine, excellent original condition all round, drives perfectly, long MoT, £14,950 ono Tel. 07702 274887. W Yorks

A rare American with a genuine history to back up its claims, with powered brakes and steering, an outstanding example of classic 60s American style, £13,995 Tel. 07950 710160. Dorset

1997, white with white power top, white wheels, grey leather, 2 owners, £2950 Tel. 07957 166671. Bucks

CORVETTE C3

CORVETTE LT1

CORVETTE STINGRAY

CORVETTE STINGRAY

1973, original matching numbers, imported eight years ago, lots done to this car including full engine rebuild, good condition, MoT, road tax exempt, £14,995 ono Tel. 07825 837838. Lothian

1994, coupe, 6 sp manual, ZF gearbox, winner in C4 class at 2015 Corvette Nationals, Corsa s/s exhaust system, uprated brakes, superb low mileage example, £9750 Tel. 07522 295593. Essex

1974, Custom 350 T-top, black on black, purchased 1975, always garaged, Tel. 760-579-9517. California wsetterlund@ theaccountingacademy.com

1972 restored convertible, 454, white, hard/soft tops, new paint, chrome, exhaust, 52k miles, blue chip investment, offers around £35,000 Tel. 07802 306442. Middx

DAY VAN

DODGE CHALLENGER

DODGE CHALLENGER 5.7

DODGE CUSTOM

Very clean, 4 captain’s chairs, folding double bed engine 4.6, V6, sold with new MoT, £4500 ono; p/x Tel. 07779 325961. Grampian

1971, conv, V8, 318 cu, V8, auto, 68k, restored 1995, imported 1996, match nos, a/c, orig docs inc h/book and receipts, manufacturer Chrysler Corp 1974-78, £34,000 Tel. 01923 285285. Herts

2013, 375bhp, Hemi R/T auto with paddle shifters, red R/T stripes and matching custom perforated premium leather, keyless entry and go, 20” chrome wheels, £26,500 Tel. 07717 217745. Avon

Royal Lancer 2-dr hardtop, 1957, yellow/white, V8, push-button auto, factory air conditioning, very scarce car to find, £14,000 ono Tel. 01333 312016. Fife

DODGE D8 SEDAN

DODGE RAM

DODGE RAM

1938, 4 dr, 3569cc, 3 sp o/d, ivory/burgundy, biscuit/brown interior, VIN NO D848600, came from Mississippi, vg orig cond, dry state, too much to list, £16,995 Tel. 07710 611113. Cheshire

5.2, V8, extended cab, 1999, 163k miles, good Hankook tyres on chrome wheels, hard colour coded load, lockable load cover, viper stripes, new f/brakes, MoT Jun 16, £7495 Tel. 07973 352752. Derbys

Pick-up, long MoT, great workhorse, bodywork needs tlc, £2995 ono Tel. 07950 440130. Devon

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CLASSIC AMERICAN READER ADVERTS DODGE RAM B250

DODGE RAM MOTORHOME

EL CAMINO

F100 PICK-UP

Day van, great mechanical cond, has been all over Europe and never let us down, always sailed through MoT, offers in excess of £2500 Tel. 07814 534394 for details. Herts

1982, 12 months’ MoT, good order for its year, serviced every year, does 500 miles a year to rallies, reason for sale too old to use it now, £7000 ono Tel. 01604 696265. Bucks

1969, immaculate condition, 10k recently spent, very rare small block auto.

Tel. 07971 844050. Notts

1950s, with V8, unrestored, unmodified, great project, getting hard to find now, car is in LA and will be shipped to order, Tel. Paul 07837 664009. Warks

FORD CUSTOMLINE

FORD E150

FORD ECONOLINE

FORD EDSEL RANGER

1953, 2-dr Mercury flathead, V8, 255 cu in, red headers, 3sp, manual, daily driver, totally reliable, long MoT, bargain £7995 Tel. Mike 07792 553527. Devon

1995, Cargo van, 8 seats, 5 ltr petrol, V8, good overall condition, £5500 ono Tel. 07767 013106 for more info and pics..

Grampian

Fully restored, stunning, very rare vehicle, lovely to drive and great fun to own, new MoT, £7995 Tel. Andy 01985 851096 or 07799 417711. Wilts

Rare, 1959, 2 door Sedan, 3.65 ltr, 3 speed manual, restored interior, carpet, windscreen, paintwork & new carb, £12,500 Tel. 07879 618921. Devon

FORD F1 PICK-UP

FORD F150

FORD F150

FORD F150

1951, with a Chevy 350 motor on a S10 chassis, auto trans, disc brakes, vintage lettering on the classic patina style, solid and straight surface rust only, £17,500 for more info and pictures Tel. 07584 900828. Berks

Harley Davidson with only 52,700, this truck is on of the best examples on the market today. It is the super crew cab with extras inc bed cover, alpine TV, parrot hands free and sat nav, £15,999 Tel. 07985 282870. Strathclyde

01, SVT Lightning, silver, 67k miles, good condition, well taken care of with s/h, DoE tested, £9000 Tel. 0876 895817. Eire rathclon95@hotmail.com

1951 Pick-up, black, 5 ltr, V8, Chevy small block, auto, everything new, Chevy front clip, 95% done, door handles and vent windows need attention, £21,000 Tel. 07572 299843. Notts

FORD F150

FORD F250 XLT

FORD FALCON

FORD FLATHEAD

Lightning pick-up, 1999, 5.4 ltr supercharged V8, genuine 39k, history, factory build sheet + SVT certificate, tax Oct 2016, MoT Aug 2016, SVT reg inc in sale, £15,250 ono Tel. 07805 096771. Staffordshire

1990, Lariat 7.5L, V8 Big Block 460ci petrol/ LPG pick-up, 8ft bed, 6 seats, auto, OVML LPG system, l/h/d, column shift, red plush interior, MoT, loads of work, £7750 ono Tel. 0742 1001908. Northumberland

1967, 302, auto, front discs, MoT, thousands spent, new project forces sale, Tel. 079190 74117. Beds

1947, V8 Business Coupe, totally original car, beautiful, runs and drives lovely, original wheels in as new condition with Whitewalls, only selling as space needed, £18,750 ono Tel. 07713 098380 . London

FORD GALAXIE 500

FORD GALAXY 500

FORD MODEL T

FORD MUSTANG

1965, 4 dr Sedan, 289 auto, rust free and solid, personal import 5 yrs ago, great original condition, drives beautifully, Tel. 07780 465070. Hants

1962, Sunliner convertible, r/h/d owned since 1972, 73,694 miles, MoTs from 1982, very original, £15,000 Tel. 01443 475757 eves 01443 479595.

1927, Tudor, 3300cc (green), 1926, Henry Ford’s new designed mono bloc 4 cyl engine, imported 1994 to a private collector who stored it at a museum up until now, £16,995 Tel. 07977 200924. Cheshire

Cobra, 2001, convertible, in vgc, 34k miles, vg runner, 320 bhp, 0-60 in 5.5 secs, limited number produced in this year, £10,500 ono Tel. 07799 624558. Essex

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01507 529323

FORD MUSTANG

FORD MUSTANG

FORD MUSTANG 289

FORD MUSTANG 4.0

289, auto, 1965, V8, white interior, fully restored to good std in the states, loads of new parts and a rebuilt engine, a stunning car, all duties paid, reg and MoT, £18,000 Tel. 07961 835293 or more info.. B’ham

Conv, 1967, 289, V8, p/brakes and steering, comprehensive history, trophy winner, 1993 import, MoT, superb, few faults, spares, manuals and trophies inc, £25,950 Tel. Ian on 07802 500195 for details. Cheshire

1967, V8, red, black leather interior, auto, recently imported, registered and taxed, all duties paid, excellent condition, £19,995 Tel. 07885 911193. Kent

2005, V6 coupe, 5 spd auto, 67k, yellow, mint cond, huge spec, tons of extras, loads of performance mods, c/w tuning software, custom tune etc, £££’s spent, £9995 Tel. 07527 346249 for full details. willadams16@ yahoo.co.uk

FORD MUSTANG GT/CS

FORD THUNDERBIRD

FORD THUNDERBIRD

FOREST RIVER GTS 295

1967 tribute, 289ci auto, aqua met, two tone aqua/blue int, p/s, factory a/c, steel styled wheels, white lettered tyres, correct Shelby rear panel/ lights/spoiler, side scoops, exc cond, £15,000 Tel. 0208 363 9253; 07976 245899. Essex

1957, auto, pas & pab, both tops and tonneau cover, history back to 1976 from USA owner, runs and drives excellent, £29,995 Tel. Stephen 07941 412124. Dagenham

1957, peacock blue, white hardtop and soft top, blue/white interior, 312ci Ford-o-matic, p/s, a/c, Kelsey Hayes wires, wide whites, beautiful condition, £37,500 Tel. 0208 3639253 or 07976 245899. London

Lexington, 2009, the ultimate in motorhomes, only 10k, luxuriously equipped with Thatcherm remote alarm, tracker, a/c, e/m, rev camera, too much to list, serviced, £52,000 Tel. 07779 644648. W Yorks

GMC 3/4 STEP SIDE

GMC PICK UP

GMC SAVANNA 1500

GMC SIERRA C3

1956, Hot Rod Survivor! 389 from a 64 GTO, 3 speed manual trans, new tyres, brakes, Optima battery, electric fuel pump, £15,995 Tel. 07979 496121. Surrey

1941, 1/2 ton pick-up truck, 6 cyl 4sp man, been extensively restored to a stunning condition to mostly original spec, text with email address for more pics, £22,500 Tel. 07720 643412. Hampshire

1999, auto Sherrod body high roof, 5.7 ltr, V8 Vortec, 82k, dual fuel (twin tanks, 150 ltrs), American racing wheels and many in vehicle qualities, matching trailer, £7500 ono Tel. 01246 415444. Derbys

Denali pick-up 2001, black, 6000cc, V8 auto, petrol, very quick, MoT expires end Oct 2016, new stainless steel exhaust, 4 doors, permanent four wheel drive, £6500 Tel. 07798 645820. Cornwall

GMC SUBURBAN

GULFSTREAM WINNEBAGO

INTERNATIONAL PICK UP

LEXUS LX 570 BASE

65 to 110k, 197, MoT Dec, 4x4, low profile alloys, leather interior, DVD, playstation, Sat nag, reverse camera, excellent condition, any trial, £5995 Tel. 07780 660593. S Yorks

Blue and white, 7.5 ltr , V8, too much to list.

Tel. Darren 07412 715701 for more info.. Oxon

Model D2, 1938, 3 speed manual, 6 cyl flat head, needs re-wire, slight attention to brakes, a little tlc, drives and runs well, £17,000 Tel. 07789 908542. Staffs

2013, base just Iike new and well maintained, low KM and no accident or engine problem, full option leather, Tel. 07444 572314. rockbottom2020@outlook. com

LINCOLN MKX

LINCOLN TOWN CAR

LINCOLN TOWN CAR

2012, 38,800 miles, one owner, fully loaded, keyless entry, leather, private sale. More pictures on auto trader, asking £27,975 Tel. 074000 75206. Lancs

1997, MoT Aug 2016, runs great, loads spent and always maintained, one small rust bubble otherwise in great solid shape, recently serviced, cheap yank tank, £2500 Tel. 07877 549964 for info. E Sussex darrendrums1972@hotmail.com

1998, 4.6l Signature Series Touring Sedan, 41k miles, twice winner best Lincoln at Americana, new tyres and battery, MoT, pearlescent deep red colour, near Manchester airport, £6995 ono Tel. Roy 0161 428 7701. Man

classic-american.com 139

CLASSIC AMERICAN READER ADVERTS MERCURY COMET CUSTOM

MERCURY COUGAR XR7

MERCURY MONTCLAIR BREEZEWAY

2-dr. 1962, Six/auto, California import by myself, registered, stainless exhaust, new tyres, many new parts, £5000 Tel. 7581780963. N Yorks

1971, convertible, electric hood, bare metal respray, green leather seats, V8, good runner, £8000 ono Tel. 01427 875401; 07973 432484. N Lincs

1964, V8, 390 cu inch, 3 speed auto, in nice condition, engine and exterior good, long MoT till Sept 2016, £7500 Tel. Gary on 01375 859098 or 07961 339481.

Essex

MUSTANG

MUSTANG

MUSTANG 289

MUSTANG 289

1994, convertible, 2.4, 4 cyl, MoT, lots of money spent recently, just imported, black, ready to go, £4500 Tel. 07975 637609 can deliver. London

Convertible, 2007, V6 auto, 90k, MoT 04/16, pretty car in excellent condition, silver, £8395 Tel. 07734 443904. N Yorks

1967, matching nos, 289, unrestored, halogen headlights, dual stainless, Pertronix ignition, auto, p/s, drum brakes, new rear springs, orig build sheet, imported 2014, my 1st yank, now fancy a change, MoT 10/16, £15,995 Tel. 078180 84285. Norfolk

Driven in California, reliable car for 3 months, engine starts cold, nos matching 289, 47k miles, power brakes, steering, air-cond, new MoT, front suspension/steering, tyres, weatherstripping, paint, vinyl roof, exhaust etc, no accident (black plates), fine interior, £14,300 Tel. Adam +44 (0)7787 982508. Berks

MUSTANG BULLITT

MUSTANG FASTBACK

OLDSMOBILE

PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA

2008, Number 3058, dark Highland green metallic, 41,500 miles, vgc, £25,550 Tel. 07708 778934. W Sussex

1965, V8, 289 auto, orig spec, White Pony int, 289 engine, C4 trans, imported 2013, £18k spent on restoration, v reliable, 18 mpg, may p/x classic or modern car, £24,995 Tel. 07788 100840. Norfolk

98, conv, white/blue interior/dark blue canvas top, 7.5L, V8, 1970, all orig, 50k, UK reg, MoT, no road tax needed in the UK, v good/straight/clean cond, £11,950 ovno Tel. Chris 07747 771551. Surrey

1969, Fastback, factory r/h/d, recent total restoration, built 318 CI, 3-speed auto, black leather interior, offers around £20,000 Tel. 07747 804202. Suffolk

PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE

PLYMOUTH GRAN FURY

PONTIAC

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

1966, 440 engine, 727 trans, 999 paint code car, petty blue, great cond all round, especially bodywork, lots of new and uprated parts, £2500 spent in last 12 months, £17,000 Tel. 07792 822613. Essex

1976, full size, 360 V8, rare car, lovely condition, low miles, drives great, long MoT, Tel. 0789 9913726. Essex

1969, owned 43 years, garaged, full matching nos, original condition and full documentation from new, £25,000 ono Tel. 07770 223674 or 01843 654756. Kent

1976, Brougham, 4 door, pillarless, of special interest to serious collectors, 929 orig miles, time capsule, 400 CI V8 engine, W/4BBL, a/c, cruise, white vinyl roof, £18,000 ono Tel. 07434 398404. Staffs

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

PONTIAC FIREBIRD

PONTIAC FIREBIRD

PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

1970, convertible, 400 cu in, red/black interior, power top, brakes and windows, new carb and flow master exhaust, vgc, MoT, 3,500 produced, £11,950 ono Tel. 07785 541690. Wilts

Excellent condition, original throughout, 3 owners from new, 88k miles, always garaged only driven on dry days, owned for past 9 years, selling due to new project, £3999 ono Tel. 07553 271089. W Sussex

1989 Trans Am, one owner car, full s/h, only 39k, factory 5.77L Corvette engine 235cv, stunning, almost as new, stock of new parts, blue with grey interior, £14,500 ovno Tel. +335 6297 2490. London cedricphilp@yahoo. com

1969, unique GM car designed by John DeLorean, got Car Life MagazineÕs 1969 Engineering Award, only one in UK. Featured in Classic American, Nov 14. Completely renovated, many new parts. £16,500 Tel. 017801 989467; 01745 571780. N. Wales, Clwyd

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RAMBLER REBEL

1981, Turbo Daytona 500 Pace car, superb condition, many thousands of pounds spent, forged pistons custom made, all emissions removed, running brand new carb, £16,000 Tel. 01788 891473. Warks

1957, 327, 4-speed Hydramatic ultra rare and thought to be the only one in Europe! Preserved original and near perfect inside, outside and under! £21,000 ono Tel. 07901 854560. Wilts

R-POD 178

SALEEN S281SC

American slide-out river forest caravan, Ultimate American living in the UK! like being noticed then the r-pod is for you.

Tel. 01527 850585. Worcs

Supercharged Mustang, 2005, v rare care, black, JDM Stage 2, upgrade to 520bhp, 40k, chrome saleen 20” wheels, 14” brakes, charcoal leather, beautiful stunning car, £18,950 Tel. 07967 548780. Northamptonshire

SHELBY MUSTANG GT 500

SPARTAN CAMPING TRAILER

2012, 5.4L, Super charged, 6 speed, SVT, 9,400 miles, mint condition, Tel. 01784 391814. W London Paulyoungberg@ yahoo.ca

Rare, 1950, Spartanette 24, 24ft, all orig, new mechanicals, ali construction, great all birch interior, solid, w/proof, sep bed, full kit, ready to tow, £17,000 obo Tel. -144. France

STUDEBAKER 2R5

STUDEBAKER ROADSTER

1953, custom pick-up, 355 built Chevy TH350 gearbox with shift kit, 2,300 stall converter, 9” rear axle locker, diff moser shafts, ladder bars, poss p/x, £16,250 ono Tel. Bob 077690 33255 or 01608 664017. Warks

1926, imported 2 yrs ago from California, exc paintwork, rechromed, 6 cyl engine, 3 sp trans and optional 4 wheel, hydraulically assisted brakes, UK reg, £32,000 p/x considered Tel. 01454 313194. Avon

SUBURBAN 6.5 TD

TRANS AM GTA

96, good mods, the map, marine injectors, big exhaust, lots of receipts, pulls like a train, sounds awesome, 120k miles, £6500 ono Tel. 07534 229133. Beds

1989, convertible, very low mileage, great cond, 5.7L, V8, this is a rare car as only a very few GTA’s were made in convertibles, this car has been well cared for, £10,995 ono Tel. 07770 411801. Glos

01507 529323 For sale

AMERICAN CHEVY PICK-UP 1996, (P reg), 2 dr twin cab, petrol, 4300cc manual, Truckman top and tool box, it’s very reliable, can tow anything, £5995. Tel. 077610 64363.

Essex.

CADILLAC FLEETWOOD Sedan, 1992, white, 72k, new MoT, s/h, Smooth V8 motor, v reliable, owned 8 yrs, £3995.

Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE spares or repair, 1984 Chevy, 57 engine, gearbox, doors, trunk needs attention, £850 ono. Tel. 0151 2005669 for info.

Merseyside.

CAMARO 67SS Convertible, a/c, 350 engine, many new parts, centre line rims, €60,000 or clever offers cash! Tel. 346 49888423. Spain. jocaal@ hotmail.es CHEVY BLAZER 4.3 auto, black with gold egaleon bonnet, 64k, MoT, new general service, new rear springs, rear shocks, and drive belt, runs lovely, £1400. 07958 143337. Hants.

CHEVY DAY VAN 1998, 4.6, V6, 4 captains chairs, one double fold down bed, very clean, sold with new MoT, £4500 ono; p/x considered. Grampian.

FORD GALAXIE 500 1959/60, Sunliner or Starliner. Tel. 07775 625162. Bristol.

FORD LINCOLN 1954, for spares, complete car, V5 and reg on Sorn, good chassis for hot rod, £900 ono. Tel. 07941 414504. S Yorks.

FORD MUSTANG 1966 coupe, rust free, exc runner, with a 4.7 ltr V8, could do with respray or ready to use as it is. Tel. 07778 526154. Hants.

FORD THUNDERBIRD 64, complete front hub/brake assemblies with brand new drums, wheel cylinders, shoes and flexes, disc brake conversion, £250. Tel. 01622 716839. Kent .

FORD MUSTANG 1967, 6 cyl, 3 sp manual, requires complete restore, some spares extra, complete, nothing missing, £4500. Tel. 07706 643744.

Liverpool.

HARLEY MOTORCYCLES for sale due to health issues, Harley Road King 2000 1450cc, blue/silver, superb tourer, owned over 10 years, £7000; also Harley Sportster 1200cc, 2002, Ltd Edit, black/silver, low miles, loads of upgrades, £5000; reluctant sale. Tel. 07950 398750 for more info. W Mids.

HESKETH V1000 Candy red met, new, unreg, unused, one of the last to come out of Easton Neston in 1983 (with mods), a true collector’s motorcycle, possibly the only new unused one that exists. Offers in the region of £30,000 part-ex or swop considered. Tel. Gwen 01495 759234.

LINCOLN MKX 2012, (new model), every option, owned since new, shipped over from Canada and reg to drive in UK, low mileage, no accidents, largest sunroof of any passenger vehicle, touch screen and slide technology, handsfree bluetooth connection and Dolby surround sound, keyless entry, remote start, new tyres, £32,975 ono.

Tel. 074000 75206. Lancs.

LINCOLN TOWN CAR 2001, parchment gold, leather interior, 30k miles, some history from new, MoT, new front disc pads, recent service, good condition inside/out, £6000. Tel. Steve 01202 896572; 07742 435016.

Dorset.

MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Station Wagon, project or break, garaged 14 years ago, was in daily use, engine separate, 302 cu ins, over £1200 spent, rebore, reground crank, new Holley twin choke carb, new Mallory distributor, new timing chains, lack of time and space force sale. Offers. Tel. 01364 643607. Devon.

MODEL B for sale, I have reg documents, fibreglass sealed sell, firewall, grill surround and bonnet (steel), pair doors cut ready to fit and a boot lid ready to fit, original bench seat, original 1932 headlamps, wheels and tyres, no axles now so is on a stand. Please message me if you have any questions, sensible offers between £5700-£6,700. Tel. 0777 2912083. Essex.

PACKARD D22 1947, r/h/d, 8 cyl, complete dismantling has taken place, rear axle, brakes, transmission steering, new and rebuilt front suspension, body removed to be done, new seats, plenty more to list, reg no and log book, open to sensible offers. Tel. 01295 770579.

Warks.

RAT FINK ‘GASSER’ pedal car, built as a fancy dress outfit this pedal car c/w fake hilbourne injection, moon tank and Gasser front end. It is for show only but would look fabulous in any collection, 75 hrs plus to build but now in way and would suit someone else’s garage collection better than mine, c/w Rat Fink paper mache head, £295 ono. Tel. 07725 524321.

Dorset.

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1967, 400ci, MoT, 4-dr, pillarless, stunning paint, excellent chrome, original interior, only, 67 in UK, CA feature car, may p/x truck SUV, £16,500. Tel. 01202 896572. Dorset.

MERCURY COUGAR XR7 1971, convertible, elec hood, bare metal respray, green leather seats, V8, good runner, £8000 ono. Tel. 01427 875401; 07973 432484. N Lincs. classic-american.com 141

CLASSIC AMERICAN READER ADVERTS TAMIA KING HAULER fully built 6x4 American artic truck & trailer, c/w batteries, charger, instructions, all parts left from lots of upgrades, too many to list, aircraft quality controller with batteries and charger, whole truck is top spec, lights, sounds, 3 speed g/box. A few scuffs from use but works very well. Picture via email, any trial. £595. Tel. Alan 01872 575140 can post. Cornwall.

Parts for sale 4 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WHEELS tyres, two radio cassettes, Old Lincoln town car, offers; 4 chrome wheels and tyres, offers; size 245/45/ ZR18/100/over 1000 car magazines, offers. Offers. Tel. 01206 382494. Essex.

4X4 TYRES new, unused; 2 x general 32 x 11.50 R-15 L/T, M/S R.W.L., £45 each; also several American 14” and 15” tyres, very little wear, £25/£30 each. Tel. 01253 882781. Lancs.

DODGE DAKOTA medium grey cut pile carpet, (new in box), 97-04 single cab, £120 plus postage. Tel. 01252 705024.

Surrey.

A/F TOOLS KAMASA 1/2” drive, £30 ono; socket set, 11 sockets, 2 bars, manual, ratchet, spark plug remover, also 6 A/F ring spanners, 10 A/F open ended, 4 combined ring, open ended and tool bag plus others. Tel. 01344 649299.

Berks.

C3 CORVETTE rear spoiler, finished in bright red, great cond, c/w all fixings, has been shaped to fit my car, but will fit another similar car with a bit of fettling, only £50. Tel. 07549 206531. N Yorks.

CADILLAC SPARES 1959 1960, too many parts to list, 2 door and 4 door, all must go, can be sold as a package deal for the lot or will sell separately.

Tel. 07535 271800. Essex.

CHEVROLET 1967, front bumper, grill, hood trim, lights, selling collection, Cadillac Buick, Olds, Imperial, T-Bird, Lincoln, hub caps, £25. Tel. 01254 231708. Lancs.

CHEVROLET PICK-UP WHEELS 8-stud, 16”, and tyres, good cond, 4 of, £400. Tel. Tony 07973 432484. N Lincs.

CHEVY, FORD, ALL METAL sun visors, to fit Chevy 1950 Apachy split screen, an 54 3100 Ford F1 F Series 1949-52 and 53-56, Chevy Belair 1950-54 and 54-57, all visors come in etch primer and have fittings, £190 plus £25 post. Tel. 07792 410094. W Yorks.

CORVETTE 350 1972 eng +, auto box, £2000; 1950 8ba flathead (needs rebuild) +man box. £1500; 1974 Ford Torino rear axle + 2 wheels + prop shaft, £450. Tel. brian on 07975 752170. Devon.

CORVETTE C3 pair of stainless mufflers, 68-72, brand new, still boxed, 2” dia, £100. Tel. 07952 702403. Surrey.

DESOTO STEERING WHEEL ‘50s steering wheel, centre and horn ring, excellent chrome, copper coloured, Desoto Coat of Arms in centre, also one hub cap, £50. Tel. 01254 231708.

Lancs.

DODGE DAKOTA in channel window deflectors, 19972004, £30 plus post. Tel. 01252 705024. Surrey.

EUROVOX 10 DISC auto changer for 1998 Holden Calais VT. Tel. 07860 892143. N Yorks.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD Ford 1960-1968 352-390, 428 engine fits r/h/d perfectly, some other new parts also. Tel. 0207 2298757; 07891 872462 for details.. London.

FAN BLADES 6-bladed, metal, for a flathead V8 Ford Mercury, £40; a few other bits. Tel. 079520 98392. Northants.

FLAT HEAD ENGINE wanted, 218ci, 6 cylinder, for a 1949 Plymouth. Tel. 07753 380789.

Herts.

FORD LTD HUB CAP 1971, 15” stainless steel, Ford badge in centre with Ford Motor Co around outer fluting, painted black, good cond, £15. Tel. 01254 231708. Lancs.

FORD MANUAL 4 speed gearbox (top loader type) removed from 1965 Ford Falcon, good cond, bell housing, flywheel, clutch and fork, speedo cable, Hurst gear lever, everything you need, £1000. Tel. 07837 985973.

Worcs.

FORD MUSTANG 1973, 14” wheel trim, set of 4 required or individual parts. Tel. 01462 733921. Beds.

FORD MUSTANG WHEELS 14” or 15”, Magnum 500s or similar for 60s Mustang. Tel. 07709 883336. Durham.

FUEL PUMP FOR 1999 Jeep Cherokee 4 ltr petrol, almost new condition, used for 8 weeks only, £175 ono. Tel. 01985 300177. Wilts.

LINCOLN WINDSCREEN 1974, 1970 Mk 3 windscreen, £50 each; Lincoln window motors, £30 all good. Tel. 01526 342003. Derbys.

MOPAR HOOKER HEADERS Big Block, including gaskets and bolts, brand new. Tel. 07973 187350. W Sussex.

PAIR ARM RESTS (new), Carmine red, will fit Chevy truck/Blazer/Suburban, 19771980, £80 plus postage. Tel. 01252 705024. Surrey.

PAIR SEAT BELTS Carmine red, (new), they will fit any truck, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, they bolt straight to the floor, £120 plus post. Tel. 01252 705024. Surrey.

PARTS FOR 1955/56 Thunderbird, all must go due to move.

Tel. 01934 642383. Somerset.

PARTS: LS6 BIG BLOCK CHEVY alloy heads, new crank, alloy rocker covers, pistons and rods, sump, water pump, £1000 no offers; plus pair Weland high rise manifolds, Offers. Tel. 07941 414504. S Yorks.

TRUCK REPAIR MANUAL 1970 to 1981, hardback, over 1400 pages, covers all makes, covers 2800 light, med and heavy duty models, inc tractors and lorries. Tel. 0750 1084121.

Hants.

PONTIAC ENGINE 5.7L, believed ex-Firebird, complete less carb, Offers. Tel. 01364 643607. Devon.

PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2001, Trans Am, 17 wheels, exc cond, 2 # with near new tyres, 2 # with 3-4mm, believe will fit Third Gen maybe others, £500; also new s/s l/t headers for LS1 motor for a 99 car I think, £185. Tel. 01787 472879. Essex.

RHD CONVERSION 59-60 Impala Belair, £1850. Tel. 0207 2298757; 07891 872462 for details. London.

ROVER V8 pre-SDI timing casing (short), with water pump and new oil pump, ideal kit car with limited space, £150; ‘S’ engine mounts, £25. Tel. 07742 522371. Wilts.

SMALL BLOCK CHEVY 4BBL cast iron intake manifold, square bore 4 hole, suit Holley, Edelbrock etc carbs, painted Chevy orange, £50. Tel. 0777 3037322. Middx.

TOW BAR/RECEIVER HITCH for 2nd Gen Dodge Ram (came off a 1996 1500) frame mounted with a 10000lb towing limit, £100. Tel. 07779 998824. Berks.

TYRES very good tread, 2x 215/60 SR14, O.W.L; 1 x 205/60 R14, O.W.L; 1 x BFC 255/70x15, R.W.L (new); 1 x 205/70 15.W.W. 1 x 815 x 15, W.W., all £25/£30 each. Tel. 01253 882781. Lancs.

WINDSCREEN brand new, fits Pontiac Tempest, 196667, Chevy Chevelle 64-67, El Camino 64-67, £200. Tel. 0116 2787335. Leics.

Z28 DECALS 1978, orange/red, brand new Phoenix graphics, £150. Tel. John 07909 636966.

Norfolk.

Parts wanted 11/2” CHAFF BOX Innes or Clayton & Shuttleworth. Tel. 01733 810103; 07718 247454.

Cambs.

1977/79 TRANS AM parts wanted. Tel. 01245 763339.

Essex.

68-70 DODGE CHARGER parts wanted, bonnet, grille, engine parts, body trim, interior trim, why? Tel. Gary 07979 255595; 01474 536348. Kent.

CADILLAC 1960, looking for l/h and r/h rear bumper sections (i.e. enclosing rear lights), in reasonable condition if possible.

Tel. 0141 9430774. Glasgow.

CAMARO IROC 1987 high rise cowl induction hood wanted.

Tel. 01845 526511. E Yorks.

CHEVY BLAZER /GMC Jimmy k5 (full size model) 1980-90 tow bar, factory built class 3 or 5 receiver hitch unmodified/ good condition. Cash waiting, will collect. Tel. 07955 553684.

W Mids.

FORD MUSTANG 65/66 model, front and rear bumpers required, in any reasonable condition. Tel. 078900 69505. Lancs.

FORD PICK-UP 1949, wanted stock road wheels or wheel any condition. Tel. John 07971 276512. Berks.

RADIO/CASSETTE OR CD PLAYER to fit Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan, 192 model, prefer original type unit or similar to fit dashboard, cash waiting. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

REAR BUMPER WANTED plastic covering strip for Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan, 1992, prefer white but colour not issue, also require radio/cassette and gold bonnet emblem. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

INTERNATIONAL KB1 1947 wanted, front bumper brackets, lower grille trims, consider other parts. Tel. 0161 4274625.

Cheshire.

SOFT TOP for 1956 Thunderbird. Tel. 01934 642383.

Somerset.

SWISS MUSIC WATCH and chain, silver, swop 4 Ltd Edition watches and chains, gold JFK with $ coin on lid, silver `Cadillac` 60s badge on lid, HMS Discovery Hunter, all unused.

Tel. 01277 200530. Essex.

TRANS AM DASH-BOARD PARTS 1978, gauges, switches etc, + all parts relating to heating system. Tel. 07870 244348.

Wales.

WANTED 1948 BUICK to restore or have you any parts, cash paid. Tel. 01732 355250.

Kent.

Miscellaneous 10 USA PLASTIC BADGES Florida, Michigan, Washington, Savannah, MKean, Iowa etc, £50 lot inc p&p. Tel. 0208 3997541. Surrey.

AIRSTREAM SALES BROCHURES good cond, £10-£15 each; American car lapel badges, all original, £3-£8 each; can post. Tel. Alan 01872 575140. Cornwall.

TRADERS’ MARKETPLACE

To advertise in the May issue of Classic American give Nicole 01507 529576 or Rebecca 01507 529416 a call

classic-american.com 143

CLASSIC AMERICAN READER ADVERTS AMERICAN CAR PAINTINGS great gifts, check out Doug Wood - Burnbake Arts Charity. www.burnbaketrust.co.uk or art@bumbaketrust.co.uk speak to Eva Hogendoorn 01722 744178. Notts.

AMERICAN 1:18 scale die/ cast models, mainly sports and muscle, some 4x4s, most boxed, all excellent, 26 in total, £250. Tel. 07511 705671. N Yorks.

BOOK: ‘America’s Coolest Station Wagons’ by Scotty Gosson. Informative with great pics and personal stories, as new, £35 plus p&p. Tel. 01386 701902; 07714 139981. Glos.

BUICK LITERATURE 1960, hand-book, user guide, warranty book, invitational letter/brochure, custom interior brochure, sales-man’s facts and features guide, colour/trim book. Tel. 07815 107911. W Sussex.

BUICK RANGE 1972, dealership colour and trim showroom presentation album, paint samples, fabric swatches, accessories and options, stunning rare book. Tel. 07815 107911. W Sussex.

CLASSICS AMERICAN MAGAZINES Oct 2003 to present, in good cond, complete, dry stored, Offers; collection only.

Tel. 07905 569147. E Sussex.

DOUBLE BASS 3/4 size, white, beautiful instrument, shadow pick-up, new set of strings, soft carry case, swap project yank pref/why or sell. Tel. 07501 084121. Hants.

DOUBLE BASS 3/4 size, white, new steel strings, electronic pick-up, soft gig/carry case, kool rockabilly instrument, £550 ono. Tel. 075010 84121. Hants.

FELT SHELBY Beach Cruiser bike, Ltd Edit, No. 194 of only 500, ABUS bike-mounted lock inc, virtually unmarked condition since bought new, all original, just serviced, Nexxus 3-sp, £1495 delivery worldwide through Fed Ex is available or pick-up. Tel. + 33 629 227475.

Pas-de-Calais. mcouk500@ hotmail.co.uk FORD QUALE CAR MASCOT with motor meter for Model T, 1927 on cap, chrome finish, £65. Tel. 073980 15688. W Sussex.

FUEL PUMP for 1999 Jeep Cherokee 4 ltr petrol, almost new condition, used for 8 weeks only, £175 ono. Tel. 01985 300177. Wilts.

MODELS 1949 FORD convertible, yellow, £30; Ford F150 pick-up, £15; 1956 Thunderbird Streetrod Schuko, £15; 2000 Lincoln Stretch Millennium Edition, £30; others.

Tel. 01509 239546. Leics.

OLDSMOBILE BILL CLIP 35mm dia, in a brass type metal with Oldsmobile over the top, image of a runner in blocks and Faststart 73 underneath, genuine item, £15 inc postage.

Tel. Alan 01872 575140.

Perranporth.

GMC SIERRA pick-up parts, bed liner, Leer top, lowering hubs, tailgate lock, all immac cond, £20. Tel. Chris 07802 168166. W Yorks.

I AM LOOKING FOR a 1965 Ford Thunderbird in first class order, prefer white or the nice pale metallic colours, distance no object. Tel. 07545 111038.

S Yorks.

JUKE BOX nice sixties Rockola 80 play juke box, owned for many years but not used for some time, all complete, £3500.

Tel. 07798 866071. Middx.

MOTORCYCLE RACERS and Classic Prints of Barry Sheen, Mick Grant, Eddie Lawson, Ros McEnla and Gold Star Vincent Rapide, Manx Norton AJS 7R by the late Tony Graham, a well respected motor sport artist. Leftover stock from a retired Fine Art Mail Order Company, approx 3,500 prints of fine quality size 24” x 18” with postage tubes to enable the purchaser to carry on a mail order business/hobby. Total retail value approx £60,000. To be sold as one lot or swop for motorcycle, car or why? £8000 ono. Tel. 01495 759234 for further details.

OLDSMOBILE rocket lapel badge, £9; bill clip with Olds Medallion on £15; Airstream sales brochure 60/70s, £10 all post free. Tel. Alan 01872 575140. Cornwall.

OVER 50 CLASSY AMERICAN CARS history books worth over £500 plus 50 Classic American magazines plus some old posters, all for £100 plus p&p. Tel. 0207 2298757; 07891 872462. London.

RAC JAGUAR front grill badge, square type, with chrome border, with fixing bracket, exc cond, £40 inc p&p. Tel. 07511 705671. N Yorks.

SELLING COLLECTION of my die-cast model USA Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria 1955; Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 1957; price £125 each plus p&p; Chevrolet Corvette 1953, Corvette C5, 197, Corvette 1964, price £48 plus p&p; all models in 1/24 scale. Tel. 01280 701266 after 5pm. gradusm@ aol.com TALBOT EXPRESS diesel camper van, 1990, MoT, white, lovely interior, awning, reluctant sale, ideal for rallies/holidays, ready to go, £2995. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

OLDSMOBILE HOOD BIRD 1949, great cond, rare, £75. Tel. 07758 360006. London.

TALBOT EXPRESS CAMPER VAN 1990, low miles, 63k, MoT 2016, very clean example, ideal for rallies, unused due to illness, cheap for quick sale, £2995. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

LAPEL BADGES for most yanks, all original old badges from £5 to £12 each, will post.

Tel. Alan 01872 575140. .

TRI CHEVY colour original sales brochures 1955-6-7 will split, also California Dreamin`70s Drag Racing CD

by Nick Hogarth, £10. Tel. Alan on 01635 202521. Berks.

TRIUMPH ROCKET III Touring, 2008, ultimate muscle tourer, in blue/silver, low miles, history, recent brakes and tyres, awesome poet, reluctant sale, will p/x decent Yank why? or sell, new MoT with sale, £9000.

Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

USA JUKEBOX 1960s, man cave required, plus 45s, records, 20 selection, loud and bright, serviced, fantastic machine, watch vinyl spin! £1150 buyer collects.. Tel. 07931 992678.

Lancs.

USA TRUCKS cars, guns, wildlife books/mags/brochures etc, roof blue lamp + 6 chrome brackets, 100 h4bulbs.swop4 car/planes/record col, mags 60s-2016, music any format 60s-80s, string instruments any condition. Tel. 01277 200530.

Essex. dcian@fastemail.us VILLA 3 bed, 2 bath, 10 mins from Disney, will swap for late model pick-up or why? More pics available if needed. Tel. 07860 811000. Herts.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS 1973 Mustang Mach I, reg NMF 846X, Diamonds Are Forever colours in 1986. Tel. Dave 07717 132191. Kent.

WORLD SPEED RECORD Salt Lake Flats, R. Noble booklet signed by him historic document, £25 plus p&p. Tel. 07570 447094. B’ham.

Wanted 1955-57 CHEVY 2-dr only, any cond. Tel. 07960 641321.

Surrey.

BRONCO: prefer 1986 Bauer or Lincoln Mk 4, 1972, swop for Merc Benz 1988 wagon, 66k, v clean, new auto box, exhaust, brakes, tyres, etc, alloys, r/ rack etc. or pro camera items/ collectables or snap-on tools.

Tel. 01277 200530. Essex.

COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR an old forecourt petrol pump to restore. Anything considered.

Also looking for glass or plastic globes to fit on top of pumps.

Tel. Carl 07980 360216. W Mids.

CONVERTIBLE IMPALA 1959, or Belair, exchange with my 1966 r/h/d convertible Ford Galaxy, cash adjustment. Tel. 0207 2298757. London.

CORVETTE WANTED from project to finished, instant purchase, instant collection.

Your Corvette wanted now. Tel. 07739 360486. Mids.

LOOKING TO BUY a 1959 Caddy, in good nick. Tel. 01354 694032. Cambs.

DAYVAN WANTED must be top condition, all models offered, considered and cash waiting for correct vehicle, private buyer please. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

DODGE RAM 2500 or 3500 wanted, petrol or diesel, may consider Chevy Silverado 2500 or Ford F250 F350. Tel. 07836 349356. Bucks.

WANTED 1947 BUICK to restore, any condition, cash waiting. Tel. 01732 355250.

Kent.

WANTED 1950S CADILLAC preferably 1958-1959 would consider other years of this era, will travel. Tel. 07535 271800.

Essex.

WANTED 1960S STATION WAGON Ford Falcon or Chevy Nova stock or modified, must be good order and auto. Tel. 01284 388777. Suffolk.

WANTED CLASSIC YANK 50s-70s, any make model, any condition, don’t mind a project, private buyer, will travel and collect, please call anytime, no dealers. Tel. 07821 741395.

Essex.

On sale: April 21

Next

Month 1954 Hudson Commodore Shelby Cobra Daytona Part II

Pontiac – Where did it all go wrong?

1970 Dodge Challenger EDITOR

Ben Klemenzson bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk DESIGN

Holly Munro PICTURE DESK

Jonathan Schofield & Paul Fincham

CONTRIBUTORS

Huw Evans, Richard Coney, Steve Havelock, Will Shiers, Matt Richardson, Nigel Boothman, Mike Renaut, Richard Heseltine, Tony Oksien, John Colley, Steve Miles, Rob Woodall, Jon Cass, Paul Bussey, Ian Shipley, Lewis Houghton, Jonathan Fleetwood, , Jeremy Davies

146 classic-american.com

PRODUCTION EDITOR

MARKETING MANAGER

Pauline Hawkins

Charlotte Park cpark@mortons.co.uk

PUBLISHER

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Julie Brown DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER

Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk ADVERTISING

Nicole Appleyard nappleyard@mortons.co.uk 01507 529576 Rebecca Storr rkstorr@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529416 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER

Paul Deacon

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Steve O’Hara

Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS

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