Beloved Classic French Car Goes Electric

From Spiegel Online: Beloved Classic French Car Goes Electric
The development order was issued in the fall of 1935 and was the culmination of a vast wealth of experience. The Great Depression had been surmounted, and Europe's economy resembled a field fresh for the tilling. Pierre-Jules Boulanger, then vice-president and head of engineering and design at the French carmaker Citroën, tasked his engineers with developing the practical vehicle.

Boulanger wanted "a car for two people and a sack of potatoes that could drive straight across fields using just three liters per 100 kilometers (0.8 gallons/62 miles) while not breaking any of the eggs in the basket on board." In the years to come, the fact that the engineers didn't succeed in fulfilling all of these conditions did little to reduce the renown of the product that arose out of the legendary specifications sheet.

World War II delayed the car's development for six years. But October 1948 saw the debut of the Citroën 2CV, a bare-bones vehicle that initially boasted a two-cylinder, 9-horse-power engine that made a tinny, clattering sound as well as a retractable roof that opened like a sardine can. In fact, at the car's unveiling in Paris, someone is said to have asked: "Does it come with a can opener?"

In Germany, the Citroën CV2 is fondly known as the "Ente," or "duck." Despite its initial derision, the somewhat anemic vehicle would go on to achieve cult status among the gentle-souled refuseniks of automotive performance. Over 5 million models have been produced and, strictly speaking, its manufacture has yet to be completely disrupted.

Dressed-Up Ducks

In the southwestern Bavarian town of Hohenfurch, two body-shop workers operate a recycling station for dilapidated 2CV models that has become something resembling a factory for new cars. There, Wolfgang Hoffman, the former owner of a Citroën dealership, and his son Felix produce entirely new frames for the vehicles with the official approval of both the manufacturer and the TÜV, a safety-certification organization. Indeed, they enjoy a government-issued license to solder, so to speak.

Wolfgang describes the discarded vehicles as "donor ducks," which primarily supply parts for the new vehicles' exteriors and interiors, whether they are windows, dashboards, interior panels or the like. Since most of the vehicle bodies are custom-built out of plastic, the restorers enjoy ample leeway when it comes to making variations. Indeed, they plan on making convertibles, flatbed trucks and even stretch limousine models. With so many alterations, though, it's fair to ask whether they are resurrecting old ducks or disturbing their eternal slumber in automotive-engineering paradise.

Felix assures that the duck is "absolutely customizable" and points toward his latest creation, which he claims would be the "ideal advertising vehicle." It's a bright-yellow pickup prototype. While its wooden cargo bed gives a nod to the rural roots of the duck's original incarnation, its electric drive train is a look to the future.

The e-Duck

Andreas Mück and Christian Kühnhauser, two engineers from the nearby town of Oberammergau, executed the drive-train conversion. The two make their living for a range of clients, including those in the armaments and aerospace industries, but for them converting the cult vehicle is the engineering analogue of a religious experience.

With his nostalgic high-tech offensive, Mück is doggedly pursuing a mission. More than anything, he would like the prototype to serve as proof that it's possible to have a functional and affordable electric automobile with the right approach. "The duck is the ideal electric car because it's light," he says.

Indeed, together with its battery, the demonstration vehicle weighs less than 700 kilograms (1,500 pounds). This allows its designer to travel reasonable distances with only a small battery, which lowers his expenses even further. Mück and Kühnhauser have settled on a small, box-shaped lithium battery manufactured in China, which sits comfortably behind the passenger seat and stores just under 10 kilowatt hours of energy.

With this and its rather modest 20-horsepower engine, the e-duck can reportedly travel about 100 kilometers. Indeed, what Mück calls the "classic car with electric drive fit for everyday use" is just about as anemic as the original. If it ever went into mass production, it probably wouldn't cost much more, either.

Sluggish Safety

It seems simple enough, but it's only a good fit for those who aren't particularly concerned about surviving serious car accidents. Indeed, the passive security of the duck is hardly better than that of a motorcycle. And, given the importance of avoiding extra weight, it's unlikely to improve in the course of its conversion into an electric vehicle.

This issue of crash safety touches upon a dilemma in automotive technology that troubles more than just the engineers in Oberammergau: If a car body is going to be safe and reasonably priced, it has to be heavy, but if it's going to be safe and light, it's expensive.

The duck is light and inexpensive, but the only protection it can offer passengers is its sluggishness. But, as Wolfgang Hoffmann says: "People already understand that a car is safer when it doesn't go very fast."

CarWale.com & Inorbit Mall unveil 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’

From IndiaInfo Online: CarWale.com & Inorbit Mall unveil 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’
This exclusive vintage car exhibit will showcase over classics such as Lancia Racer, Dodge Custom Royal Coupe, Packard Clipper 6, Cadillac Series 6 and Ford Model-A to name a few for a period of two weeks.

Many of us adorn vintage and when it comes to vintage cars they are nothing less than prized possession. A handful of people who are vintage car lovers spend money and time to preserve their passion for these cars while the others enjoy strolling down memory lane while gazing at these cars. For many such people, Inorbit Malls and CarWale.com unveiled the 3rd edition of ‘Vintage Wheels’ – a vintage and classic car’s annual exhibit at Inorbit Mall, Malad starting Nov 21st – Nov 27th, 2011 and at Inorbit, Vashi from Nov 24th – Dec 2nd, 2011.

This exclusive vintage car exhibit will showcase over classics such as Lancia Racer, Dodge Custom Royal Coupe, Packard Clipper 6, Cadillac Series 6 and Ford Model-A to name a few for a period of two weeks.

The exhibition will culminate with a car drive that will be flagged off from Inorbit Mall, Vashi on 4th December at 8.30 am, and from there the proud owners will drive these cars on a challenging route up the ghats to the Duke’s Retreat, Khandala. CarWale, India’s leading online car portal organises this annual gathering of vintage and classic cars each year.

New posting schedule

Sorry for the long delay in posting - had some family issues.

The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Thanks for your patience!

Buffalo,NY: Great Race to bring lovers of classic cars

From Buffalo News.com: Great Race to bring lovers of classic cars
One of the premiere vintage car rallies will make a pit stop in Buffalo.

Organizers of “The Great Race” announced Friday that Buffalo will be an overnight stop at next year’s annual antique automobile trek, as the route winds around the Great Lakes in June.

As many as 100 old automobiles are expected to participate, attracting hundreds — if not thousands — of antique car enthusiasts to Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow Museum on June 28, 2012.

“When the Great Race pulls into a city, it becomes an instant festival,” said Jeff Stumb, the race director based in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Started in 1983, the Great Race takes its name from the 1965 Tony Curtis-Jack Lemmon movie, but the event is more about staying on time than speed.

The driver and navigator in each vehicle are given precise instructions each day of the nine-day race. They are scored at check points along the way and penalized each second they are early or late.

The lowest score wins the race.

The cars — built between 1911 and 1969 — are staggered a minute apart, so the first car should roll into Buffalo at about 5 p.m. with the rest of the racers crossing the finish line over the next hour and a half.

“It’s quite a show,” said James T. Sandoro, owner of the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum. “And if they get the number of cars they’re predicting, there’s going to be 100 automobiles in the race. We anticipate 4,000 to 5,000 people at the event that day.”

Sandoro lured the race to Buffalo, which will tie in with next year’s opening of his museum’s 45,000-square-foot addition at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street.

“He is the sole reason we’re coming to Buffalo,” Stumb said. “His museum is world-class and the expansion he’s doing there is phenomenal. It’s going to be a showpiece for Buffalo, and we wanted to be a part of that.”

Info on The Great Race

Here's their website: http://www.greatrace.com/
WHAT:
The Great Race is a cross-country rally that pits driver/navigator teams against the clock and against each other. This year’s event (2012) will be around the Great Lakes, covering 19 cities, 2 countries and 4 states. Entrants will participate in a timed, controlled-speed, endurance competition over scenic public highways and roads. The scores for each team are the result of a team’s ability to follow all designated course instructions precisely.

Following specific course instructions, teams navigate through 4 to 7 timed checkpoints each day. Their arrival time at each checkpoint is recorded and compared against the perfectly driven route, with each second off the perfect time, (either early or late) counted as penalty points. The winning team is the one with the lowest overall score (the most accurately driven route) at the end of the event.

DIVISIONS:
• Grand Championship – past Grand Champions;
• Expert – previous top finishers;
• Sportsman – just getting the hang of it;
• Rookie – both driver and navigator must have less than 2 days’ Great Racing experience;
• X-Cup – Student Teams

VEHICLES:
Antique Vintage Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles with body and drive train built 1969 and earlier

COST:
• Business/Corporate Entry – $5,000
• Private Entry – $4,000
• X-Cup Entry – Contact us

PRIZES:
Prize fund is determined by the number of entrants; bragging rights and trophies for the Top Finishers in each Division and Top Rookies with additional prizes to be announced.

Click for the full 2012 Schedule. If you haven’t registered yet, make sure to head over to our registration page to get your entry in for 2012, we’re going to have a race like never before.

Saturday, June 23, 2012
Start: Downtown Traverse City, Mich.
Lunch: Shore of Lake Huron in St. Ignace, Mich.
Finish: At the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Sunday, June 24, 2012
Start: Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Lunch: Downtown Elliott Lake, Ontario
Finish: Downtown Sudbury, Ontario

Monday, June 25, 2012
Start: Sudbury, Ontario
Lunch: Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound, Ontario
Finish: Heritage Park in Barrie, Ontario

Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Start: Barrie, Ontario
Lunch: Zurakowski Park in Barry’s Bay, Ontario
Finish: Hazeldean Mall in Kanata (Ottawa), Ontario

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Start: Kanata, Ontario
Lunch: Confederation Park in downtown Kingston, Ontario
Finish: The Fairgrounds in Watertown, N.Y.

Thursday, June 28, 2012
Start: Watertown, N.Y.
Lunch: Erie Canal in downtown Fairport, N.Y.
Finish: Pierce-Arrow Museum in downtown Buffalo, N.Y.

Friday, June 29, 2012
Start: Buffalo, N.Y.
Lunch: Downtown Franklin, Pa.
Finish: National Packard Museum in Warren, Ohio

Saturday, June 30, 2012
Start: Warren, Ohio
Lunch: The Carousel in downtown Mansfield, Ohio
Finish: Downtown Findlay, Ohio

Sunday, July 1, 2012
Start: Findlay, Ohio
Lunch: Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Grand Finish: The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Mich.

Classic Car Museum, with 86 of 131 vehicles, drives toward late November opening

From Kearney, Nebraska: Classic Car Museum, with 86 of 131 vehicles, drives toward late November opening

KEARNEY — Cars have been on their way to Kearney for the past two weeks, and the Classic Car Museum now has 86 of its 131 vehicles.

The museum should open in late November, according to Director J.L. Schmidt.

The collection, valued at $3.5 million, has been arriving in special trucks. Each vehicle is chronicled with digital photography that will eventually be posted on iPads for tourists. Each photo will be published in a coffee table book.

The collection will be on display on the east side of Cabela’s at 3600 E. Highway 30.

The renovations to the museum building are almost complete, Schmidt said. The building was a Rockwell Manufacturing plant before Cabela’s came to Kearney.

The collection belonged to construction and real estate businessman Bernie Taulborg and his wife, Janice, of Elkhorn. The Taulborgs have have 157 cars and have been collecting them since 1970.

The Taulborgs donated the collection through the Kearney Area Community Foundation. In a ceremony May 11, the Taulborgs presented the collection to the foundation.

The Kearney Visitors Bureau paid to remodel 50,000 square feet of Cabela’s space to hold the collection and a small gift shop.

Projectors will show documentaries about automobiles. There will be three rotating turntables large enough to hold a vehicle and giant artwork and photographs will decorate the 28-foot walls.

A gas station and drive-in theater are being replicated.

In addition, the mueseum plans to open a concession stand where visitors may buy snacks and refreshments while oldies music plays.

Classic Car Clubs: Texas

The website Old Cars Weekly News (http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/clubdirectory) has a club directory.

Here's what they've got for Texas.

Alamo City Historical Car Club, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.

American Motors Owners Association — Alamo AMC, 30115 Hwy. 281 N. #126, Bulverde, TX 78163. Andre Jacobs, 830-980-3165.

American Motors Owners Association — North Texas AMC, 3802 Old Faithful Court, Irving, TX 75062. Craig Caudle, 972-252-6876.

American Motors Club of Houston, 1902 Wycliffe, Houston, TX 77043. Eddie Stakes, 713-464-8825.

American Pontiac Association of Houston, 360 Dickinson Road, Alvin, TX 77511. Vince Welling, 281-331-0304.

ATHS — Hi-Plains Chapter, 5115 Pico Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79110. John Plank, 806-355-4394.

ATHS — Yellow Rose Chapter, 741 W. Zipp Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130-9048. Lloyd Holden, 830-608-1114.

AACA — Gulf Coast Region, 9007 Langdon Lane, Houston, TX 77036. Ferrell Moore, 713-771-4062.

AACA — Texas Region, Box 149, Decatur, TX 76234. Roy Eaton, 940-627-5987.

Brazoria County Car Club, 135 Dewberry, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. Walter Watts, 409-297-7464.

Buick Club of America — Alamo, 14314 Brangus St., San Antonio, TX 78247. Ed Brandt, 210-657-4872.

Buick Club of America — Lone Star, 5106 Smokeley River Drive, Katy, TX 77449. Bill Stoneberg, 281-859-6637, bstoneberg@ev1.net.

Buick Club of America — North Texas, 322 Canyon Ridge Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Dale Sherman, 972-644-1039.

Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Alamo Region, 3372 Rio Cordillera, Boerne, TX 78006. Lance Hirsch, lhirsch@attglobal.net.

Cadillac-LaSalle Club — Gulf Coast Region, 15302 Hillside Pkwy., Cypress, TX 77433, www.gcrcadillaclasalleclub.com. Kent Rowald, 281-373-9332, krowald@patentlawyers.com.

Cadillac-LaSalle Club — North Texas Region. Johnnie Bills, 972-878-0438.

Chrysler Club — North Texas Region, 2905 Natches Drive, Arlington, TX 76014-2410. Ken Angyal, 817-465-4344.

Chrylser Product Restorers Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.

Chrysler Product Restorers Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.

CCCA — Lone Star Region, 314 Beverly Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228. Jay McClure III, 210-735-8450.

CCCA — North Texas Region, 13109 Halwin Circle, Dallas, TX 75243. Bill Mott, 972-644-5425.

Classic Chevy International — Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 6803 Cloverbend, San Antonio, TX 78238-1312. Sue Watson, 210-684-5399.

Classic Thunderbird Club International — Classic Thunderbirds of Houston, Box 1478, Bellaire, TX 77402. Hugh Jackson, 713-613-4383.

CORSA — Alamo City Corvair Association, Box 2125, Seguin, TX 78155.

CORSA — Corvair Houston, 20755 Vanderwick Drive, Katy, TX 77450.

CORSA — Desert Corvair Club, Box 220108, El Paso, TX 79913-2108.

CORSA — Lone Star Corvair Club, 456 Paint Creek Road, McDade, TX 78650.

CORSA — North Texas Corvair Association, 2701 W. 15th St., Box 153, Plano, TX 75075.

Cougar Club of America — Lone Star Cougar Club, 4205 Trailridge Drive, Frisco, TX 75035. Logan McLeod, Iscc@mercurycougars.com.

Cruisers of Conroe, 1088 Blake Road, Conroe, TX 77304. Roy Liles, 409-756-5139.

Falcon Club of America — Alamo Chapter, 112 Armour Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Rolf Kargl, 210-732-5843.

Falcon Club of America — Capital City Chapter, 9009 North Plaza #124, Austin, TX 78753. Dennis Lebo, 512-832-0544.

Falcon Club of America — Heart of Texas Chapter, 420 Old Hwy. 1187, Burleson, TX 76028. Danny Rosewell, 817-551-5773.

Falcon Club of America — Lone Star Chapter, 112 Denman, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455. Mickey Rosewell, 903-572-9593.

Falcon Club of America — Northeast Texas Chapter, Route 2, Box 149-B, Gladewater, TX 75647-9408. David Gunnels, 903-759-6850.

Falcon Club of America — Space City Chapter, 247 Blackwater Lane, Houston, TX 77015. Dan Naramore, 713-455-7100.

(’55-’57) Houston Classic Chevy Club, Box 2848, Sugarland, TX 77487. Andy McCloskey, 281-565-2675, bstone55@aol.com.

(’55-’57) Central Texas Classic Chevy Club, 2200 Trede Drive, Austin, TX 78745, www.geocities.com/centraltexaschevyclub. Dan Bowen, 512-441-5656, bowen96@aol.com.

(’55-’57) Alamo Classic Chevy Club, 11496 Old Corpus Christi Road, San Antonio, TX 78223. Bryan Stensrud, 210-633-0531.

(’55-’57) Heart of Texas Classic Chevy Club, Box 1392, Waco, TX 76703. Sammy McMahan, 254-754-8122, theos.ab@netzero.net.

(’55-’57) Corpus Christi Classic Chevy Club, 7101 Brezina Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78413. Pam Sutherland, 361-853-0582, patty@cctransfer.com.



(’58-’72) Late Great Chevy of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75083. John Thomas, 972-843-2126, chevellejohn@bigfoot.com.

(’55-’72) Houston Area Chevrolet Club, Box 800222, Houston, TX 77280. Jimmy Simpson, 713-464-5984.

GTO Association of America — Gulf Coast GTOs, 7511 Antoine, Houston, TX 77088. Ted Wisnoski, 281-999-2052.

Gull Wing Group International — South Western, 3303 Wendy Lane, Dallas, TX 75214. Will Samples, 214-826-5977.

Heartland Vintage Thunderbird Club — Lone Star Club, 324 Crestview, San Antonio, TX 78201. Bill Olsen, 210-735-3563.

The High Plains Cruisers, 521 W. 18th St., Pampa, TX 79065. Denver Bruner, 806-665-8844, bruner@cableone.com.

Hill Country Auto Club, Box 293002, Kerrville, TX 78029. David Staggs, 830-238-3746, cmmdrzap@aol.com.

HCCA — El Paso, 10104 Monaco, El Paso, TX 79925-6225. Hershel Honea, 915-598-4476.

HCCA — Heart O’ Texas, 715 W. Karnes, Waco, TX 76706. Bill Taylor, 817-662-1528.

HCCA — North Texas, 7735 C.R. 302, Terrall, TX 75160-7843. Dale Roberts, 972-686-8074.

Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — North Texas, 5603 Hudson St., Dallas, TX 75206. Mike Harrel, 214-821-4526.

Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club — South Texas Chapter, 6401 Rusty Ridge Drive, Austin, TX 78731-3927. Steve Brookins, 512-323-6212.

International Thunderbird Club — Thunderbirds of Central Texas, 439 Brookwood Drive, Woodway, TX 76712-3210. Luke Ober, 254-772-2908.



Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club International — Kaiser-Frazer Connection, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.

Lambda Car Club International — Dallas Region, P.O. Box 225463, Dallas, TX 75222.

Lambda Car Club International — San Antonio Region, P.O. Box 792371, San Antonio, TX 78279.

Late Great Chevys of Dallas, Box 831751, Richardson, TX 75218. John Thomas, 972-843-2126.

Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 1180 Kings Point Drive, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Hank Henley, 830-935-2794.

Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — North Texas Region, 9625 Viewside Drive, Dallas, TX 75231. John McNabb, 214-503-1601.



Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Rio Grande Valley Region, 1300 W. Jay St. #5, McAllen, TX 78504. Richard Mackintosh, 956-687-4431.

Lincoln & Continental Owners Club — Texas Gulf Coast Region, 15710 Clearcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77059. Thom Liston, 281-277-9595.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Alamo, 1251 Abbotsbury, Universal City, TX 78148-3501. Chuck Luther, 210-658-8665.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Fort Worth, 2609 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Gerry Goodman, 817-820-0360.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Houston, 3522 Alhlock Drive, Houston, TX 77082. David Cole, 713-294-0689.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America — Lone Star, 10507 Ronwood Drive, Austin, TX 78750-3328. 512-331-9747.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America — North Texas, 305 N. Waterford Oaks Drive, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. Kurt Schindler, 972-293-7120.

Model A Ford Club of America — Texoma Model A Ford Club, Box 1055, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. C. Edwards, 940-322-7312.

MARC — Almo A’s, Box 700156, San Antonio, TX 78270-0156.

MARC — Capitol City A’s, Longwood, Austin, TX 78734. Ron Harris.



MARC — Dallas Region, Box 1028, Addison, TX 75001-1028. Don Park.

MARC — Fort Worth Region, 4401 Starlight, Fort Worth, TX 76117. Randy Mayfield.

MARC — Greater Houston Region, 11318 Brandy Lane, Houston, TX 77044. Bill Coleman.

MARC — Piney Wood Region, 1718 E. Strack, Spring, TX 77379-8877. Bob Hitchcock.

MARC — Victoria Region, Box 441, Victoria, TX 77902. Richard Tumlins.

Model T Ford Club International — Cowtown T’s, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116-7611. R.W. Grunewald, 817-244-2340, rggrunewald@juno.com.

Model T Ford Club International — Texas Hill Country, 2505 Lower Turtle Creek Road, Kerville, TX 78028. Julius Neunhoffer.

Model T Ford Club International — Texas Tin Lizzies, Box 669, Dickinson, TX 77539. Ralph Reeder.

Model T Ford Club International — T Fords of Texas, 606 River Springs Drive, Seguin, TX 78155. James Deatherage.

Model T Ford Club of America — Brazos Valley Ts, 1820 Gray Stone Drive, Bryan, TX 77807.

Model T Ford Club of America — Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies, Box 70, Manchaca, TX 78652.

Model T Ford Club of America — Cowtown Model T Ford Club, 4424 Idledell Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76116. R. Grunewald, 817-244-2340,

rggrunewald@juno.com.

Model T Ford Club of America — Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, 1214 Bow Creek Drive, Duncancille, TX 75116. Gary Page.

Model T Ford Club of America — Paso Del Norte Model T Ford Club, 10104 Maonaco Drive, El Paso, TX 79925.

Model T Ford Club of America — Space City T’s Chapter, 6430 Neff St., Houston, TX 77074. Dan McDonald.

Model T Ford Club of America — Texas Model T Speedster Club, 6471 Stichte, Dallas, TX 75230. Royce Peterson.

National Chevy/GMC Truck Club — Just Old Trucks, 5209 Fort Mason Drive, Austin, TX 78745-2314. Terry Stepan, 512-447-1446.

National Corvette Restorers Society — Texas Chapter, 4700 W. Wedgefield Road, Granbury, TX 76049. Gary Chesnut, 817-925-6176.



National Firebird & T/A Club — T/A Club of Houston. Frank Johengen, 713-773-4370.

Nifty Fifties Car Club of West Texas, Box 16711, Lubbock, TX 79490. Jim Ronzo, 806-783-9133.

Oldsmobile Club of America — North Texas, Box 38524, Dallas, TX 75238.

Oldsmobile Club of America — South Texas, 9826 Balanced Rock, Converse, TX 78109.

Oldsmobile Club of America — Texas Gulf Coast, 21034 Settlers Valley Drive, Katy, TX 77449-4211. Kathy Wood, 281-463-1588.

Orphan Car Club of Houston, 7343 Birchtree Forest, Houston, TX 77088. Hal Naumann, 281-447-0071.

The Packard Club — Arklatex Packards, 7437 E. Hwy. 21, Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Wendell Spreadbury, 936-564-0620.

The Packard Club — Heart of Texas Packards, 735 Ware St., San Antonio, TX 78221. James George, 210-922-1300, bclark@stic.net.

The Packard Club — Lone Star Packards, 16014 Mill Point Drive, Houston, TX 77493-1777. Dale Musgrove, 281-344-9653, email: supina@hal-pc.org. Web site: www.lonestarpackards.com

The Packard Club – North Texas. David Flack, Directorolecarz@clear.net.nz

Plymouth Owners Club — High Plains Region, 1305 Lapaloma St., Amarillo, TX 79106. Roland Keenan, 806-463-2172, irkeenan@nts-online.net.

Plymouth Owners Club — Lone Star Region, 19506 Oak Briar Drive, Humble, TX 77346. Thomas Heidorf.

Porsche 356 Registry — Lone Star 356 Club, 4915 S. Main, Suite 114, Stafford, TX 74477. Mark Roth, 281-277-9595.

Porsche 356 Registry — Tub Club, 397 Creedwood Drive, Lancaster, TX. Bob Morris, 972-227-8357.

Riviera Owners Association– North Texas Region, 2902 Echo Ct., Carrollton, TX 75007, Jayson Pruitt 972-242-7761.

San Antionio Antique — Classic Car Association, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.

Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — East Texas Chapter, 8224 Baylor Drive, Tyler, TX 75703-5100.

Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — North Texas Chapter, 2600 Chalk Hill Road, Dallas, TX 75212-4506.

Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America — Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, Box 697, Bellaire, TX 77402-0697.



Special Interest Fords of the ’50s Club, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. Sally Wisdom, 214-321-4895.

Texas Fords — Alamo Chapter, Box 17543, San Antonio, TX 78217-0543. Victor Campos, 210-828-6080.

Texas Vehicle Club Council, 604 Evans Dr., Euless, TX 76040. Troy Mennis, 817-283-6942.

VMCCA — Bexar Touring Club, 6631 Grist Mill, San Antonio, TX 78238. George Dickerson, 210-681-1439.

VMCCA — Cowtown Touring Club, Box 100397, Fort Worth, TX 76185. Mike Jones, 817-738-4699.

VMCCA — Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club, 662 Country Creek Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Harold Coates, 830-990-1200.

VMCCA — Key to the Hills Chapter, 25615 Dull Knife Terrace, San Antonio, TX 78255. James George, 210-755-4633.

VMCCA — Permian Basin Oil Burners, Box 12125, Odessa, TX 79768. T.J. Smith, 915-381-2266.

VCCA — Bluebonnet Region, 768 Carls Drive, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Maurice Ward.

VCCA — Lone Star Region, LoneStarChevyClub.org; Elmer Anderson 817-457-6225

VCCA — San Jacinto Region, 1109 Chelsea Lane, Pearland, TX 77581. Marcia Kaska, 281-992-1745.

Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Capitol City Thunderbird Club, 17805 N. Rim Drive, Leander, TX 78641. Gary Smith, 512-267-7307.

Vintage Thunderbird Club International — North Texas Vintage Thunderbird Club, 606 Cliffside Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. Charlotte Schubert, 972-231-0090.

Vintage Thunderbird Club International — South Texas Thunderbird Club, 12918 Hunters Moon, San Antonio, TX 78249. Kevin Bois, 210-690-3580.

Vintage Thunderbird Club International — Vintage Thunderbirds of Houston, 615 E. 10-1/2 St., Houston, TX 77008. Bill Pastor, 713-862-3556.

Vintage Triumph Register — Hill Country Triumph Club, 8006 Bernard St., Volente, TX 78641. Bob Kramer.

Vintage Triumph Register — Red River Triumph Club, 2915 Lakeside Circle, Grapevine, TX 76051. Duncan Wood.

Vintage Triumph Register — South Texas Triumph Association, 5306 La Cieniga, San Antonio, TX 78233. Katie Hulka, 210-650-4660.

Vintage Triumph Register — Texas Triumph Register, Box 40847, Houston, TX 77240-0847. Mike Hado, 713-937-9042.

Willys-Overland-Knight Registry, — Southwest Chapter, 1425 Florence Drive, Azle, TX 76020. Vicky Gray, 817-237-9950.

Walter P. Chrysler Club — Houston Region, 6914 Dillon St., Houston, TX 77061-3826. Gary Hamel.

Walter P. Chrysler Club — Texas Region, 225 N. Santa Clara Road, Marion, TX 78124-9747. Bill Roberson.

Classic cars cruise Abilene

An event from Oct 22. It's on my calendar and will be reported early enough next year for people to attend if they so desire!

From Report News: Classic cars cruise Abilene
There may have been hundreds of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles entered in the 29th annual Cruise Night on Saturday, but behind almost each one of them was a similar tale, said Lynn Maxwell.

"There's one of three stories," said Maxwell, a retired teacher and coach who had a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport. "You either had one as a kid, you always wanted one, or a friend had one."

In this case, Maxwell drove a '66 Chevelle that he kept until 1973 when the needs of a young family trumped owning a coupe that could go really fast.

The one he had at Cruise Night was similar to the one of his youth, except for the color. This one was fire engine red; his first Chevelle was yellow.

"You can't find the yellow ones," said Maxwell, who retired to Abilene in 2004 after a 33-year teaching career in West Texas. "I should have kept it."

The cars have the same 375-horsepower engine, which isn't great on fuel economy but performs impressively. They have the same four-speed transmission. And like his first one, this car has no air conditioning, an omission that keeps Maxwell from driving the car on trips longer than across town.

Funny, the lack of an air conditioner didn't bother him before.

"I was 18 then," Maxwell said.

Maxwell bought the car a couple of years ago from a doctor in Lewisville. He's done little to it other than change the wheels and hubcaps and make a few minor cosmetic changes in the interior.

"I figured he must have been going through a lawsuit or a divorce," Maxwell said of the previous owner.

Regardless, Maxwell was happy to buy a car that needed little restoration. He once restored a 1972 Ford pickup that belonged to his family, and that turned into more work than he wanted.

Although he's not particularly looking to sell, Maxwell said he would be willing to part with it and would like to get a convertible. If that's the case, he might was to talk to Bob Rose, who had a pretty nifty little 1952 MG-TD. However, considering how long it took him to get it, Rose might not ever want to part with it.

"I had wanted one since I was a junior in high school," Rose said. "It took me 60 years to get one."

The drivers cruised North First from the old Kmart shopping center to Shelton for a couple of hours before returning. Twenty cars were selected from the cruise to be displayed in the new Kmart parking lot on South First Street. The Kirk House Band performed at 8 p.m.

Car owners don't need much of an excuse to show their cars, Maxwell said, and it surely isn't because it's financially rewarding.

"Somebody asked me if you could make money doing this," he said. "I told them you have a $35,000 show car that you put in a $10,000 and pull with a $40,000 truck all over the country on $4 a gallon gas to try to win a $10 plaque. But, it's a lot of fun."

Classic cars: Porsche 356

From Wheels: Classic cars: Porsche 356
With a history steeped in motorsport, the 911 range has become a modern-day icon. But the humble 356 was where it all started

In 1948 a German engineer by the name of Ferdinand Porsche launched the 356. Known to his friends as “Ferry”, the son of Dr Ing Ferdinand Porsche (the founder of the famous marque) was keen to create a sporty model for the fledgling company.

Using Volkswagen’s popular Beetle chassis, Ferry replaced the body with a smoother, racy exterior, designed by Erwin Komenda. The engine and suspension were also derived from the Beetle, pushing out just 40bhp.

Unbeknown to Ferry, the 356 would go on to be one of the most recognisable classic sportscars in history and would eventually give birth to the iconic 911 range.

Despite its glittering history, the car’s launch went by almost unnoticed and only a few models were sold, mainly in Germany and Austria. Just 50 examples would leave the factory over the first two years. But the 356’s popularity then started to gain momentum, selling on both sides of the Atlantic, due to its sporty handling and typically German build quality.

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The 356 was also successful on the track, gaining glory at Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and the infamous Carrera Panamericana. Porsche would later celebrate that race by adopting the Carrera name on its 911s.

Over the years, the tiny four-cylinder engine would grow from 1.1 litres and 40bhp to a 130bhp 2.0-litre motor. However, the original flat-four layout would remain throughout its life.

Unlike many other manufacturers, Porsche built a cabrio version from day one, running alongside coupé production. Soft-top sales often accounted for 50 per cent of sales, especially in the US.

The company produced a few special versions of the 356, including the 356 Carrera, which boasted a special race-tuned engine. The company also built a Super 90 and a Speedster model, which are now extremely rare and much sought after by enthusiasts. The Speedster was built following a suggestion by the US importer that a stripped-out version with a cut-down windscreen would sell well on the west coast.

Such was the popularity of the 356 that it ran alongside its 911 replacement for more than a year. By the time production ended in 1965 more than 76,000 had rolled out of the factory. It is thought that around half of these cars still exist today, with fully restored cars fetching up to an incredible $100,000 (Dh367,000) at auction. Not bad for a car that cost $4,000 when new.

Despite having a tiny engine and a simple layout, the 356 directly brought about one of the world’s most loved sportscars. So the next time you see a 911 GT3 winning its class at Le Mans, just remember it all started with the humble 356.

A history of the automobile drives around

From Taunton Gazette: A history of the automobile drives around Taunton
Taunton — Antique car enthusiasts hailing from as far as New Jersey and Maine converged on Saturday for a 60-mile tour around the Taunton area.

There were 17 vehicles as part of Saturday’s convoy, in what has been dubbed the “frostbite tour” for the Autoneers, a regional faction of the Horseless Carriage Club, which boasts 4,500 members worldwide.

The annual frostbite tour is the final ride of the season for the Autoneers, which is composed of only riders of brass era automobiles from 1915 and earlier. The tour started at the Holiday Inn in Taunton, then to the Old Colony Historical Society, and then through the country roads of Dighton, Rehoboth and Seekonk before returning to the Silver City.

Sri Lanka: Stamps depict vintage classics

From Sri Lanka Daily News: Stamps depict vintage classics
The Philatelic Bureau of the Postal Department issued four new black and white stamps for the first time in the history of the postal service to mark World Post day.

These stamps come with images of four vintage and classic motor cars, in the denomination of Rs 5.00. The four vintage cars are, Austin 12, which came out of the production line in 1928, Rolls-Royce 20 manufactured in 1934, Jaguar SS 100 manufactured in 1937 and Morris Minor (1949).

"The four new stamps will fulfil the aims of worldwide stamp collectors, especially those who are interested in classic motor cars.

It is interesting to note that these cars are in good working condition even today.

It is expected that the aesthetic beauty of early years will induce many visitors to the hobby of stamp collecting" Postal Services Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said.

The Postal Department will print 500,000 stamps from each stamp amounting to two million stamps.

However, certain parties point out that, fraudsters can easily print these stamps.

They further note that no country prints black and white stamps so far.

Marysville car enthusiast recalls driving the famous and powerful

From Heraldville Net: Marysville car enthusiast recalls driving the famous and powerful
Barry Hilbert remembers driving cars in Everett's parades in the late 1970s.

He had the honor of driving Sen. Henry "Scoop" M. Jackson and his family, the star among the local dignitaries.

"Young people (today) don't know who Senator Jackson was," Hilbert said. "He was so key to this state, to the Navy base."

When he met Jackson, he was the most powerful senator in the world, Hilbert said.

His memories of those times came back again this summer, after his wife, Shirley, died in June. They were married 32 years. Hilbert is slowly pulling his life together.

Sorting through photographs, he asked if I would see that historical parade shots be shared with the community, to show a bit of how Everett matters to history.

Jackson's son, Peter, who was about 10 years old in the photographs, recalls motorcades down Colby Avenue.

"I remember sitting in Mr. Hilbert's 1959 T-Bird which felt like the stern of a mid-sized motor boat," Jackson said. "All I remember is that, as a result of multiple death threats, my dad wore an FBI-issue bulletproof vest."

His father told him, "They'll be aiming at me, so chances are you won't get hit."

As a result, Peter Jackson said he made a point of trying to scoot as far away from his father as possible during parades.

Hilbert still has his 1959 T-Bird.

It's one of his many classic automobiles that chauffeured celebrities and politicians, including Rep. Lloyd Meeds. Meeds served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1979. He represented the 2nd Congressional District.

In a story I wrote about Hilbert in 2006, he told me he was lost in 1959. He pines for the good old days, made easier by his museum-style Marysville home. There are old Philco TVs, Popular Science magazines from the 1940s and '50s, a movie projector and a Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon book.

The back bedroom is dedicated to a model Lionel railroad layout with teensy Breck shampoo billboards. I used Breck back when I had a ducktail haircut.

Hilbert's father, Faye Hilbert, was a World War II B-29 bomber pilot. He lived in Spokane and was a director of the Lilac Festival. One of Hilbert's photos shows singer Teresa Brewer ("Til I Waltz Again With You") riding, and smoking, in a Spokane parade.

Entertainer Julie Miller, who sang on the Lawrence Welk show, rode in a parade in 1975 in Everett. She rode in Barry Hilbert's friend's 1960 Continental Mark IV.

She gave Hilbert tickets to her concert that night in town.

Two of the cars Hilbert owns are King Midgets, kit cars known through advertisements in Popular Science magazines.

To see videos of cars Hilbert owns, visit the Vintage Vehicle Show by Lance Lambert. The video about the 1959 T-Bird is at http://tinyurl.com/3w25tow. There are three illuminating interviews on YouTube showing Hilbert's expansive knowledge about Kit Cars, his 1959 Continental Mark IV convertible, and the Ford.

Hilbert, who works at the Tulalip Casino in the upholstery department, drives a 1995 Ford Taurus station wagon day to day.

"I call it the silver slug," Hilbert said. "On nice days, I ride my bike to work."

When he drove Sen. Jackson in the T-Bird, the senator wanted to know everything about the car, Hilbert said. When the senator died, Barry and Shirley Hilbert quietly knocked on his widow's door in Everett.

"We wanted to leave a photo," he said. "Her secretary came to the door and said, 'Please come in'."

There was a table top covered with food.

"We saw Helen Jackson and her daughter," Hilbert said. He handed Helen Jackson the parade photograph of her husband.

She looked at the photograph and said that her husband looked like he owned the T-Bird.

"I'll never forget that," Hilbert said.

The Footman James Bristol Classic vehicle Restoration Show

From Classic Cars for Sale.co.uk: The Footman James Bristol Classic vehicle Restoration Show

A few weeks ago you will have noticed I ended the ‘Events Newsletter’ - this was done for a very good reason; I was struggling to find anything worth writing about.

October is probably the most depressing month for any classic car lover in the UK, as it is usually the month when we accept the weather is going to have an adverse effect on our cars, and so pack them away for the winter. Then as if to really rub salt into the wound Christmas decorations start appearing in shops and you realise your one excuse for not spending time with your family has now been taken away.

Fortunately the gods of motorised vehicles realised what a raw deal we were getting and held a meeting that dictated that November had to be pretty good. This weekend coming up we have the Bristol Classic Vehicle Restoration Show and next weekend we’ve got the NEC Classic Car Show. They appear to both be called the Footman James Show now so try not to get confused by this!

I’ll cover off the NEC next Tuesday but with the Bristol show this weekend I’m dedicating this week’s update to this. As the name suggests it focuses on restoration and if you have an ongoing project this is a great place to go for some ideas. Below is a list of some of the more interesting club stands that will be on display.

• The Atwell Wilson Motor Museum is displaying a museum theme
• 2CVGB’s display will focus on the restoration of seemingly un-restorable dire projects.
• Exeter Motorcycle & Light Car Club will focus on chassis restoration, the cleaning of soft tops and seats.
• The Imp Club will have engines in various stages of restoration, showing how they are actually put together.
• Riley Motor Club will demonstrate the overhaul of front suspension and hubs.
• The Singer Owners Club will provide answers to questions on all aspects of restoration.
• The Somerset area of the Triumph Sports Six Club will have a drag strip display.
• The Volvo Enthusiasts Club will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the P1800
• The Wolseley Register will have an example of aluminium bodywork in the process of reconstruction.
For more details on the show please visit their website at www.bccsl.co.uk
Phil
philcooper@classiccarsforsale.co.uk

Nov 1-4, Las vegas Nevada, SEMA show

From Inquirer Business: The 2011 Sema Show highlights

This year’s Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show, more commonly known as the Sema Show, considered the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, takes place November 1-4 at the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center, with over 2,000 exhibitors.

The event draws most of the US auto aftermarket industry’s best brands and most creative minds to show the newest and hottest after market and performance auto products to one location. As attendees are by invitation and are limited to trade visitors only, it is significant to note that the Philippine flag will be flying in the Sema Show with the GT111, a prototype all-electric sports grand touring car designed and engineered here in the Philippines by a team of Filipinos.

Last year, the show drew more than 100,000 attendees and had a total of over 1,500 new product launches and the show displays are grouped into a dozen sections. Sema members try to outdo themselves by unveiling more creative and cutting-edge products for automotive OEM and after-market industry each year. Inquirer Motoring takes a look at some of the highlights this year.

Mustang convertible

Ford Mustang fans and classic car collectors will be eager to check out the faithful reproduction of the classic first generation Mustang in a convertible body as Ford Motor Company recently announced the production of this timeless pony classic that revolutionized the way American cars were made since the 1960s. Manufactured under license by Dynacorn International, the independent auto sheet metal company also produces reproduction shells for classic Camaros, Firebirds, Chevelles, Challengers and Chevy trucks, as well as the second-generation Mustangs. With a price tag of about US$15,000 the shell can be delivered on a truck and it comes complete with doors, trunk lid (the front fenders and front hood comes in as an extra purchase) and all the necessary sheet metal to build and reproduce the venerable classic pony car.

Power convertible top for Jeep Wrangler

Roadwire will unveil the first-ever, power-operated convertible top for Jeep’s iconic Wrangler featuring the all-new myTop that transforms the Wrangler into an open top 4×4 adventure vehicle with a simple push of a button. Made in the US using a Haartz Stayfast fabric, it uses a sturdy but light-weight aircraft-grade aluminum frame, with motors constructed to the same exacting specifications as an F-14 fighter jet canopy. The current myTop is designed to fit all 2-door Wrangler JK models from 2007-2012. A 4-door version is currently under development but Roadwire will have a prototype on exhibit as well.

i-Tune your car? i-Want!

SCT Performance redefines the word i-Tune as it offers better performance with any 1996-2011 Ford gas or diesel engine vehicles in just 15 minutes with a wireless iPod, iPhone or iPad solution. Designed with the average car owner in mind, its iTSX System unlocks the car’s hidden performance potential by wirelessly recalibrating the vehicle’s computer for optimum horsepower and torque with notable increase in throttle response and even increased fuel economy. Dubbed as the first vehicle-tuning and monitoring “Made for iPod-iPhone-iPad vehicle tuner,” the iTSX wireless’ OBD-II (on-board diagnostics 2nd generation) interface plugs into the vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic connector, and communicates with any of the said Apple devices via a secure Bluetooth wireless connection.

Mario Andretti-Edition Chevrolet Camaro

High-performance exhaust company MagnaFlow will display the Mario Andretti-Edition 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS for the first time featuring some of its latest offerings and after-market fit outs from Brembo Brakes, Eibach Springs and Pirelli. The specially designed Camaro is slated for auction at the Barrett-Jackson 2012 Scottsdale event as all proceeds will be given to The Wounded Warrior Project. Considered as one of the greatest race car drivers of the 20th century, Andretti makes regular appearances at the Sema show.

Richard Petty Mustangs, Chip Foose ‘Gullwing’

A regular exhibitor in Sema, BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions will showcase several world-class customized cars and feature their waterborne and custom-color Glasurit and R-M brand paint technology with celebrity appearances by custom car designer and TV personality Chip Foose and Ryan Friedlinghaus of West Coast Customs. The two famous designers have regular TV shows aired even on our very own local Discovery Turbo cable channel shows.

Chip Foose, known for successful auto TV reality shows like “Overhaulin,” will unveil his latest creation—a 1957 Mercedes 300SL “Gullwing” Mercedes-Benz—as he launches 12 new Foose Signature Colors he designed for BASF. Aside from this, BASF will showcase two must-see customized Mustangs this year—the Darryl Gwynn Mustang built by West Coast Customs that was featured in Ryan’s September episode of Inside West Coast Customs plus the Richard Petty Signature Series Mustang built by Petty’s Garage. Both of these vehicles are painted with BASF’s R-M Onyx HD waterborne system.