Friday, November 30, 2012

Walter P. Chrysler Museum to close at the end of 2012

In a sad bit of news, it has been announced that the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich., will be closing at the end of the year. The Chrysler Foundation, which is the not-for-profit group that owns the content of the museum, was unable to raise enough money each year to maintain their status.

The content will be purchased by Chrysler Group LLC, and the museum will become a private display, used only for special events and Chrysler employee functions. That means the days of walking in off the street and appreciating this significant display of Chrysler vehicles, will come to an end.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The 2014 Chevrolet SS recalls the full-sized, rear-wheel-drive Super Sports of the past

Thursday, Chevrolet took the wraps off of the much-anticipated, 2013 SS NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will be based on the upcoming, Australian-built, 2014 Chevrolet SS. This is pretty big news for bowtie loyalists, because it marks the return of full-sized, rear-wheel-drive performance to the Chevrolet lineup. But it certainly isn’t their first foray into this market segment. When people think of the SS badge, images of ’69 Camaro 396s and ’70 Chevelles with 454s might come to mind. But the SS badge was born on Chevy’s full-sized offerings.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I took new pictures, made them look old, and wrote fake stories to go with them

 
In 1944, Ezra Sutton took his ’37 Chevy pickup to the Midville General Store to pick up some supplies for his chicken farm.  Ezra had been trying to keep the old truck running for the last two years, but between the broken exhaust manifold and the massive oil leak out of the main seal, plus the ever-increasing valve clatter that refused to adjust out, it was getting harder.  There were no parts available because of the war, and he had to do it all himself because his son was stationed in Japan.  The truck simply refused to start when this photo was taken in front of the general store, and no one there could figure out how to make it run.  Ezra’s neighbor ended up towing the truck back to the farm, where it sat until the scrap metal dealer hauled it away two weeks later.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Hearse pictures for Black Friday

Black Friday. Depending on your perspective, that term either makes you excited or scared to death. Do you like fighting the crowds to get the best deals of the year, or do you hate taking your car into door ding and shopping cart hell to save a few bucks?

Personally, I do not enjoy the feeding frenzy that is Black Friday, although there are occasionally some good deals online that I can get behind.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Not much, but not bad at Wagner's Classic Car Sales

If you read the big car magazines or watch the Speed Channel, you are probably familiar with the otherworldly classic and muscle cars bringing the six-figure money. And maybe you said to yourself, “Sheesh, I’d like to see those kinds of cars in person.”

It turns out there is a place in Bonner Springs, Kan., that specializes in those very types of cars. On any given day, Wagner’s Classic Cars will have a fresh supply of Hemi Cudas, 409 Chevys, and magazine-worthy customs.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

A rare look inside the Evans Garage private auto museum

This week, the good folks at Lincoln gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a really spectacular car collection. Evans Garage, located in San Diego, is a private museum and meeting space that contains some very rare and interesting cars. But not everyone can go there. Only companies that have people staying in the luxurious Torrey Pines Resort can hold a meeting there. Why? Because William Evans, Jr. owns the hotel, and William Evans, Jr. owns Evans Garage. Those are the rules!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

1960 to 1966 Chevrolet and GMC truck mega photo slideshow


As someone who attends a lot of car shows, and also as the owner of an ugly old ’63 Chevy C-10, I tend to notice trucks like mine when I’m out and about. This generation of trucks was around from 1960-1966, and they sold a bunch of them.

I think they kind of went off the radar for awhile. I know I used to think they were pretty ugly old trucks, and not many people seemed to be focusing on them as restoration candidates.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Longbranch Cruise rides off into the sunset


What do old car guys do when the place that their favorite car cruise is normally held closes down?  Well, in the case of the Longbranch Cruise in Overland Park, they keep going to it.

For many years, this was the destination for old cars on Friday nights.  It wasn’t unusual to see 150 or more cars packed into the Longbranch and adjoining closed-up Chili’s parking lots.  People would file into the Longbranch, and sit out on the patio listening to the D.J. and keeping an eye on their rides.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

A look at the Kansas City Military Vehicle Preservation Society in honor of Veterans Day


In honor of Veterans Day, I thought it would be nice to look back at one of the more significant and poignant vehicle displays I have ever been to.

The Military Vehicle Preservation Society has all kinds of interesting old war machines that they display at various functions, and a couple of years ago they brought out several fascinating, battle-tested vehicles to Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial.  And the enthusiastic group of owners was available and willing to answer any questions that people may have had.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thumbing our noses at danger during the 24th-Annual Toys for Tots Run at Rawhide Harley Davidson

Bikers and hot-rodders have always had a bit of a rough reputation. Poster children for dangerous miscreants, their presence in your neighborhood is likely to result in someone getting beat to death with a chain, or maybe an out of control jalopy mowing down a toddler's birthday party.

And yet, when they're not burning a swath of terror fueled by the blood of the innocent, events like the 24th-Annual Toys for Tots Run prove that they might not be that bad after all.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Kansas City car shows and cruises for November 7, 9, 10, 11, 2012

 
Of course, the car show season is just about over in Kansas City, but there are still a few holdouts.
If you want to stay close to home, be sure to go to the Basehor Boys Cruise Night on Friday, or the Gibson’s General Store Cruise on Saturday.  Of course, you can also head west for a car show in Wichita, or east for a swap meet near St. Louis.  Whatever you decide to do, you better do it now.  Old Man Winter is coming.

I put everything I could find on the very short list below.  You can also see the NASCAR television schedule from Phoenix this weekend.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Don Dougan estate auction marks the end of an era

Don Dougan was livin’ every car guy’s dream. Just one look around the large, fenced-in yard of the World War II veteran’s estate, and you can see that he was completely submerged in the things he loved.

The large, grungy, three-bay shop was stocked with every tool, engine hoist, and welding rig anyone could ever need. The land around the shop was crammed full of old cars and parts. And whether they were waiting for the day they would find their way into the garage, or halfway through the process, every car and truck had a story to tell.