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History of Some 49 – 51 Fords
While the American auto sector has hit rock bottom, many people are unaware that Ford has been in a similar situation previously. By 1945, when Henry Ford II finally succeeded in wresting leadership of the corporation from his near-senile grandfather, the Ford Motor Company had devolved into an atrophied entity. When civilian automobile production resumed…
Read MorePost War Hot Rods (Part 1)
Since before World War I, hot-rodding as a concept of automobile construction has existed. The early attempts of the pioneers who invented the vehicle bear a strong resemblance to hot-rodding, but they do not fully fit the mold because they were not using used, mass-produced parts. Only until the moving assembly line enabled Ford to…
Read MorePost War Hot Rods (Part 2)
Oldsmobile Super 88 1955 Purchased Rodding Domestic automakers became embroiled in a series of “horsepower wars” beginning in 1949. Manufacturers who offered perhaps two engine options in the 1950s were supplying a multitude of engines with outputs up to 400 horsepower by 1957. Fuel injection, supercharging, and multiple carburetors were no longer exclusively associated with…
Read MoreHistory Tri-Five Chevrolets
One of the most notable aspects of the Tri-Five was the company’s recent creation of the 265 cubic inch V8 engine, which was introduced in 1955. It was a high compression, short stroke overhead valve design that continued in production in various configurations for decades. The original V8 was equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and…
Read MoreCalifornia “Dreamin” in a Torino
A bright orange 1970 Torino GT would pass you on the steep I-5 Grapevine north of Los Angeles in the early 1970s. So, depending on what kind of vehicle you were driving at the time, such an event might not be very surprising. Many six-cylinder cars of that era would have been hard at work…
Read MoreChevelle SS = Big Block Beast
When the Chevrolet Chevelle was released in the mid-1960s, it was GM’s most adaptable brand. By the second generation, the A-body platform had given birth to sedans, coupes, wagons, the El Camino truck, and convertibles, and would later underlie the personal luxury Monte Carlo coupe. From a performance standpoint, the 1968–72 group was the best…
Read MoreCuda: A Fast Fish
Plymouth Barracuda from 1964The first Barracuda, which was built in 1964, was based on a Valiant with body panel alterations. Some vehicles carried both Valiant and Barracuda decals on the same vehicle. It featured the world’s largest bubble-style back window at the time of its construction. Additionally, it was the final year in which Chrysler…
Read MoreHistory of Chevrolet’s Z28
The Z28 is the most renowned Chevrolet RPO code. A high-performance option code has no equal. Known packages like Z22 and Z27 used other option codes, but the option names/descriptions became renowned, not the RPO number. The Special Performance Package is not used. RPO Z28 ran from 1967 until 1974. 1975 and 1976 had no…
Read MoreA Close look at Shelby Mustangs
THE ORIGINAL: 1965 SHELBY MUSTANG GT350 The GT350’s design stood out among the Mustang herd. Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker panel stripes was the original Shelby Mustang color. Rare Guardsman Blue Le Mans-style stripes that a contemporary reviewer feared would attract cops and now attract vehicle enthusiasts. The first GT350 had a 1-inch thick…
Read MoreA Look at Mustang History
THE FORD MUSTANG’S EVOLUTION: SIX GENERATIONS AND BEYOND From 1964 to the present day, the Ford Mustang history is replete with an incredible lineup of high-performance vehicles. Let’s take a journey through Ford Mustang history, cruising through the numerous Mustang generations to explore how this beloved car was envisioned in the beginning and how it…
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