Hey Guys,
This time we have a beautiful classic 1966 Ford Mustang inline 6! To make this car a lot more comfortable the customer wanted an air conditioning kit installed. This car did not come with an a/c from the factory so a retro kit will be installed. We opted for the Old Air Products air conditioning kit. This comes with everything needed for the install including an new heater box. This kit will keep them cool during those hot summer days! Check out all these parts to be installed!
I’m finally back to getting on the blog. I’m gonna start out strong, so here it goes.
Now, I’ve always been akeen to looking at classic cars, whether it be domestics, JDM, or EDM. I’ve always had a slight fascination with how people buy some of the oldest cars around (and I mean OLD), and restore them to look brand new and fully functioning and today’s society. I’ve been attending so many shows, car meets, drifting competitions, etc. that sometimes it just gets tedious when the same cars come out to play. I recognize a lot of them, know/heard of a lot of them and after seeing them 2 or 3 times before, I’d rather see something fresh.
Now then, my friend Robert (RoJa) went to Santa Paula to attend a “Import vs. Domestic” car show. I was looking through his pictures and found this:
Every time I see one on the road or parked somewhere, I stare at it in awe. This is what started it all. Classics should always be respected, in my opinion.
Until then, check out the rest of RoJa’s pictures here
Spend the last part of today taking the dash out of the Mustang. It went very smoothly.
I was originally worried about rust up near the windshield. But a quick check showed nothing major. I’ll be giving it a good look tomorrow.
I still have to go through the videos and pics, so I’ll post them up late this evening or tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Image by adhistory.wikispaces.com
Ever since Pepsi opted to not advertise in this year’s smorgasbord of Super Bowl commercials, I’ve been thinking about its strategy. Not to mention, in hopes of giving up my Diet Coke addiction, I gave up pop for Lent so I’ve had it on the brain. So far I’m still craving it…
Anyways, I got to thinking about monster brands. Pepsi, Coke, Budweiser, Kleenex, McDonald’s. To me, these brands are indestructible. Unless Mr. Pepsi murders Mr. Coke or someone finds a human leg in a Filet-O-Fish, I don’t think these brands are going anywhere. Even if someone does find a leg, chances are McDonald’s will bounce back. After all, Wendy’s is still thriving after that finger incident. You know when it’s real.
These brands are second nature to us. If you go to a restaurant and order a soft drink, chances are your server will say “Coke or Pepsi?” And 98 percent of the population will order one or the other without caring what brand it is. Those other two percent are the weirdos that actually think there’s a big difference and have a preference.
On a roadtrip? Chances are when it’s time for a bathroom break you are going to pull over and about 85 percent are likely to stop at a McDonald’s to use the restroom. Even if you don’t necessarily eat there that time, you’re going to be there at some point for a cup of coffee or McNuggets. By the way, I am pulling these percentages out of the air but they seem right…right?
And then there’s the Kleenex effect. Enough said.
My point is, if Coke (or one of the other untouchable brands) decides to stop all advertising tomorrow, would its sales decline? My guess is no. My guess is there would be a lot of buzz created in the social space, and Ad Age and the New York Times would call the move brilliant, thus boosting sales. Once the buzz wore off, I’m fairly certain sales would sustain due to the fact that Coke isn’t going anywhere and it’s second nature to us.
Other mega-brands like Ford and Wal-Mart, though are in a different category. Not too long ago Ford was in a bad place but ever since Toyotas started going all apeshit and Scott Monty took over, Ford is unstoppable. But we don’t know what could happen tomorrow. Kris Allen could be driving his Ford Escape and it could drive off a cliff. Same thing goes for Wal-Mart. This mega-brand makes boatloads, but it could all fall under tomorrow. I don’t believe sales have declined yet because of People of Walmart, but one of these days people who shop there are going to find out about how bad that brand is. But that’s a different story.
Some brands aren’t so lucky to have the Kleenex effect. But the ones that are, I want them to do something truly different. Now this isn’t a post knocking advertising. I may be on “Team PR” but I think if you are a mega untouchable brand, you should spend those dollars in creating better ad campaigns such as the Pepsi Refresh Project and other charitable projects. Which by the way, most of them do. Mad props. But what else CAN they do? I challenge them.
My Top 20 Best Cars, and it actually wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped to put together. Many things needed to be considered: price, performance, design, historical importance, exclusivity and overall desirability. Here are numbers 20 to 11.
20. 2010 Ford Focus RS
I’ve always had a thing for fast Fords, and this one is, without any shadow of a doubt, in that category. And yes, I will have it in green please. This hot hatch has been hailed by most automotive journalists as the best handling front wheel drive car ever made. The turbocharged 2.5l straight five puts out 305hp and 325 lb/ft of torque, which used to be considered a ludicrous amount of grunt for the front wheels to handle. But Ford’s limited slip differential keeps the torque steer under control while the suspension keeps the grip coming. I know, it’s anything but subtle, but RS Fords aren’t supposed to be. Unfortunately, North America doesn’t get to see this amazing car. None the less, move to Europe and it’s yours for around $55 000.
19. VW Golf GTi Mk.VI
Volkswagen introduced the Golf in 1974, unknowingly having created what would become the benchmark of the hot hatch market. Over the years, the shape got rounder and the car gained a lot of weight. Stronger engines were being put under the bonnet, but the car lost some of it’s magic, it’s personality. Six generations down the line, it’s back and better than ever! The looks have been reviewed and it looks amazingly aggressive now, it’s 2.0l, turbocharged inline 4 moving it along under the supervision of 200hp and 207 lb/ft of torque. Starting at $28 675, it might just be the best bang for your buck and, once again, the epitome of hot-hatch culture.
18. 1996 Lotus Esprit V8
Lotus is a relatively small sports car manufacturer founded in 1952 and based in Norfolk, UK. It’s founder, engineer Colin Chapman, went by the motto “Simplify and add lightness”, and the company has a reputation for being the best in the business when it comes to chassis development and handling abilities. The Esprit has a long history, it’s pinnacle being the ‘96 V8 version. Weighing only 1380 kg, it’s 350hp twin-turbocharged V8 gets it moving very quickly. Not only is it fast, it gives an incomparable driving experience. The simplistic styling definitely has a certain charm to it, and it manages to appear so big, even though it’s only 4.3m long, 1.8m wide and 1.15m tall. One of these in mint condition will go for around $70 000.
17. BMW M3 E30
The E30 was the first generation of M3’s BMW produced. They’ve become more refined and powerful over the years, but none remain as desirable as this one. From it’s looks to the sound it makes to the way it drives, this car will go down in the history book as one of the best drivers cars ever built. Production started in 1983 based on the current 3 series. BMW’s M Division is the in house tuning shop that develops cars for those whose sole interest is performance. Arguably, the best version of the E30 is the Sport Evolution, at 235hp to the rear wheels, originally designed for the World Rally Championship. It lasted 9 years before it was replaced by the more modern looking E36 generation. Depending on condition and rarity, an E30 M3 can easily fetch $20 000.
16. Ford Escort RS Cosworth
In my opinion, the best of all the fast Fords ever made. Being the predecessor of the Focus, the RS stands for Rally Sport, having been introduced as Ford’s venture into the World Rally Championship. It was produced between 1992 and 1996 in very small numbers, some 7000 or so. The Cosworth YBT engine, a highly tunable turbocharged 2.0l power plant, which had an output of 224hp, was unquestionably the car’s best feature. It’s history and racing pedigree is what makes it such a sought after car, picking up 10 WRC titles for different teams in it’s career. It was discontinued when the European Union passed new laws on noise regulation, so yes, it was loud. They’re not available in North America, but across the ocean they’ll get $25 000 in good condition, maybe more.
15. Lamborghini Miura P400SV
This is one of the most revolutionary cars ever built. It is the foundation on which today’s supercars are designed, being the first production car to feature a mid-engined layout, meaning the engine sits in the middle, behind the driver, for better weight distribution. Not only is it a milestone in the automotive industry, it’s unbelievably gorgeous. It was released in 1966 and was updated a handful of times until 1972. The most popular generation was the P400SV, the third rendition of the Miura. The 3.9l V12 produced a whopping 385hp, all very big numbers in it’s day. But then again, so was the price. It cost $25 000, which is $120 000 in today’s currency. If you want one in good condition, and there were only 150 built, you can cough up more than $600 000 given it’s classic status.
14. Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
Gallardo is the spanish word for striking, which is definitely a fitting name for a car that looks like this. It is the most recent incarnation, announced March 2010, of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s smallest model. In 1999, Audi took ownership of the Italian supercar maker established in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini. This was the first car they produced, and it was a perfect blend of german engineering and italian panache. Superleggera means super-light, which Lamborghini took very seriously. On this latest version, they have cut an incredible 230 kg off the original Gallardo, bringing it down to a mere 1340kg. Combined with a mid-mounted, howling V10 producing 570hp shredding the road through all four tires, it’s needless to say that it is ridiculously fast and handles better than just about anything. The use of carbon-fiber was very liberal and anything that could be removed or lightened was. Prices have not yet been released, but put aside a good $250 000 if you want one.
13. 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 KR
The infamous GT500, one of the most legendary muscle cars ever. Carroll Shelby was a race car driver turned tuner who worked closely with Ford. He particularly liked the Mustang, producing several special editions of just about every version of it, including today’s models. The KR meant “King of the Road”, and this version may have been the best. Under the hood is an enormous 7.0l Cobra-Jet V8 which was rated, for insurance reasons, at a mere 350hp, but actually produced closer to 450hp. Yes, the suspension may have been medieval, but it doesn’t matter. The looks, the sound, the speed; this is what true American Muscle is all about. This car now having been deemed a classic, the few remaining original GT500 KR’s can go for up to $300 000.
12. Nissan GT-R
Arguably the most influential car of the last decade, the GT-R changed the way we look at cars. This is more than just a fast car, it is one of the most technologically advanced machines on four wheels the world has ever seen. It continues the legendary Nissan Skyline series, which has often been considered the best mass produced car to come out of Japan. They are built in hermetically sealed rooms by hand, which is why horsepower levels vary from one engine to another. Nissan puts it at around 470hp, but some have over 500hp. The onboard computer controls virtually every aspect of the car, but what’s amazing is that this doesn’t interfere with the driving experience. Power is delivered through all four wheels with variable torque distribution, giving it unmatched handling abilities. At $81 900, it’s hard to call it a bargain. But when you look at the near $175 000 you’ll pay for its competitors, its hard not to… it even has rear seats and a trunk!
11. Ferrari 250 GTO
Touted as the Ferrari that most successfully embodies the traits of the marque, only thirty-six 250 GTO’s were built. In the US, they were sold for $18 000 dollars, which is around $110 000 today, and you had to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself to buy one. It is one of the most handsome cars to ever grace our retinas, and the 300hp, 3.0l V12 graced our eardrums with a sensationally hearty bellow that turns into an unbelievably invigorating high-pitched scream at higher revs. The handling was revolutionary in its time, coming second in the 1962 12 hours of Sebring to the Testa Rossa, a full-race designed Ferrari. Today, it is one of the most sought after cars by collectors. In fact, it holds the record for the most expensive car in the world. At an auction in 2008, an anonymous british buyer paid an eye watering £24.7 million! Thats $38 270 000 canadian!
My Top 10 Best Cars will be revealed this weekend.I was recently directed by a posting on crownvic.net to an article, “It’s a New Town Car,” by Reilly Brennan on AOL Autos about the 2010 Lincoln MKT. http://autos.aol.com/gallery/2010-lincoln-mkt?photo=4
This article declaring that the Lincoln MKT should have been named as a Town Car is absurd. It is certainly not a Town Car replacement either. The Lincoln MKT is not going to revive Lincoln as a luxury car leader. For the past 30 years, Lincoln has been a real dud in the luxury car division. Every car they have made has been built off a Ford chassis and adapted for use as a Lincoln. Ford Thunderbirds being disguised as Mark VII and VIII’s. Even my Mark V was heavily based on the LTD II. The dashboard was the same as the LTD II, as well as the door panel arm rests and other bits. Ford expects near luxury car retail pricing, but then is not willing to deliver a true luxury car eperience. All you do is have to look at Lincoln’s resale value to see they have long been missing the mark.
Why doesn’t Ford design a Lincoln specific chassis and engine? Give the Lincoln owner a Lincoln experience not shared with anyone. Charge plenty for the experience, but give the owner true luxury and a warranty that blows the competition out of the water. Put your money where your mouth is and prove you make a better car. Give the vehicle owner a long “free maintenance” program. It pains me to see a once majestic manufacturer fall into mediocrity. If Ford would let the creative juices flow at Lincoln, they could rise to the top again.
Stagecoach – 1939
Director – John Ford
Starring – John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine, and Thomas Mitchell
I’ve talked quite a bit about how I came to the western genre with a negative pre-disposition, and about how that impression was generally wrong. Well, it turns out, when I was thinking of bad or poor quality westerns, I was thinking of westerns like Stagecoach, John Ford’s epic old west road movie featuring the Duke himself, John Wayne.
It isn’t that I disliked Stagecoach, far from it. It was a completely passable, formulaic western. The problem may be that I am coming to it a little over 70 years after it was made. I’m sure that in its day, it was fresh, exciting, and brand new. However, from my position here in 2010, it seemed like a story that could have easily been a TV serial, and probably was in any number of forms, but the one thing it doesn’t feel like is new.
The characters, though conventionally acted, seemed paper-thin and sparse, lacking any real conflict or emotion. John Wayne’s character, the Ringo Kid, is supposedly freshly broken out of jail and on his way to even the score with the thugs who done him wrong. But instead of being driven and angry, he seemed rather cheerful, and nonplussed about everything that happens throughout the entire film. The character arc of Thomas Mitchell as the drunkard doctor, is limited to becoming slightly less of a drunk so that he can barely help the rest of the passengers in the coach when there’s trouble. Immediately after the crisis, he bellies back up to the bar and has, you guessed it, more to drink.
The gruff sheriff, the smarmy gambler, and the prostitute with a heart of gold are all equally superficial and un-changing. None of the characters seem to learn anything or grow even the slightest bit. In fact ***SPOILERS*** the closest anyone comes to growing or changing is when the gambler dies, and then he only changes because he’s dead, and isn’t in the story anymore ***END SPOILERS***.
Another beef I had with the film, was all the hullabaloo that was made about it being the first of John Ford’s westerns to be filmed in Monument Valley. I’m surprised it was such a selling point to the film that it was shot there, especially seeing as how it is so very rarely seen on-screen. The trivia on IMDb sheds a little light on the reasons for filming it there, and they are mostly so Ford could keep the studio out of his hair, which makes a certain amount of sense. Ford’s desire for solitude, however, doesn’t make the film beautiful to look at.
It is to be expected that films that set the bar initially, today, will seem a bit dated and a tad un-impressive based simply on the fact that so much has come after it. Unfortunately for Stagecoach, most all of its flash and innovation has long since worn off, and been replaced by other films that were able to make more of a lasting impression on me through strong characterization (Ox-Bow Incident), fantastic visuals (Once Upon A Time In The West), and iconic performances (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 3:10 to Yuma, and The Proposal). Stagecoach left me more than a little disappointed.
