automotive: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

What I love about "Winding Road"

http://www.nextautos.com/channel/classics its alphabetically the last website in my recommended list

Utah tests 80mph limit on particular stretches of I-15

It's a success, and that means nothing changed, most everyone was already speeding, and not having accidents, and they are still going about the same speed without accidents.

Ergo, we're going to drive the way we drive regardless of posted speed limits, duh. Put more cops on the road and watch us slow down though.

For the full article: http://www.nextautos.com/utah%E2%80%99s-experimental-speed-limit-increase-deemed-successful

A couple great images from MC Art

For more cool stuff, go to the source: http://motorcycleart.blogspot.com/

Nunzi's Ram Air VII GTO

Nunzi kept Pontiac's tuned in the 70's and 80's, he was the guy to go to according to Hemmings Nov 2009 page 43. A racer, tuner, engine builder and restorer. Read about him and the

Ram Air VII in http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/features/hppp_0905_1965_pontiac_gto_ram_air_vii/index.html

Dodge Deora, by the Alexander Brothers

Via: http://www.dodge-nitro.com/dodge-nitro/f9/dodge-deora-concept-3786/

Boss 429 trivia

The carb on the Boss 302 was bigger than the Boss 429 carb. December 2009 Musclecar Review, page 32

Reason? Lowering the performance of the 429 to fool the insurance companies, because more people would buy the Boss 429 if they felt the insurance would be affordable, and then take the Boss 429 to a speed shop and have it rebuilt for maximum power.

Gale Banks gearhead invitational, will it be held in 2010?

Every two years they converge at the Banks Gearhead Invitational at his Bradbury, California ranch. http://bankspower.com/magazines/show/564-power-guru

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/reason-i-dig-mr-jalopy.html

Jay's tank car trivia

You probably already knew the Blastolene brothers put in an engine from a M47 patton tank, but I just read in the Nov. 2009 Mens Journal that it's first public debut was as a hidden driveable vehicle in Gran Turismo 4

A Pontiac might be the rarest muscle car in existence

a one-of-one Canadian built Pontiac Parisienne Safari six-passenger station wagon powered by a 425-horsepower dual quad 409. I read about it in the Dec 2009 Musclecar Enthusiast magazine, but the same info from that author is here: http://www.automotivetraveler.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=821&Itemid=345

Great movie line

"and now my friend, the firsta rule of Italian driving. Whatsa behind me, is not important" Raul Julia's character in Gumball Rally

Sunday, November 29, 2009

New photo coverage of Jay Leno's collection

his motorcycle collection: http://big-diesel.blogspot.com/2009/08/harem-of-leno.html

his car collection: http://www.mensjournal.com/jay-lenos-time-machines

a couple new cars in his garage, http://www.moparmagazine.com/2008/sept-oct/another_mopar_for_lenos_collection and http://fuel-efficient-vehicles.org/energy-news/?p=892

Visionaries and revolutionaries don't copy the paradigm, they break it. Putting the engine in the wheel

above via: http://tukker.blogspot.com/

above, 1922 Megola Sport

Via: Visual Gratification: http://big-diesel.blogspot.com/2009/08/megalo-concept-engine-on-wheel.html

In 1935 a group of five German engineers named Killinger and Freund from Munich started to design a more streamlined and modified version of the German Megola front-wheel drive motorcycle that had won many motorcycle races in the 1920s. The work took three years to complete but the result was impressive. The engine displacement stayed the same as the Megola at 600cc but was much lighter and more simplified than a standard 100cc motorcycle of the time.

The motorcycle featured a three cylinder two-stroke engine built right into the front wheel, transmission and clutch, with more comfortable front and rear suspension. Streamlining was important as aerodynamics was the first priority of the team who wanted all the moving parts covered, dirt and mud protection, and an elegant style. Other priorities were that the motorcycle be multi-cylinder and possess front-wheel-drive. Their design was a success.

http://greyfalcon.us/Killinger%20and%20Freund%20Motorcycle.htm
Also: http://thenewcaferacersociety.blogspot.com/2008/08/killinger-freund.html

the new movie, Planet 51, has revisioned what 1950's cars would look like as hover craft, very cool!

For a look at a couple in a clip: http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/7798866/Are-there-Alien-Zombies-Watch-this-Planet-51-Clip-#/episodes/show/7798866/Are-there-Alien-Zombies-Watch-this-Planet-51-Clip- several cars float by in the background and you can see Buicks, Chevys, Fords, Taxi's

Via: http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/planet51img1big.jpg

For trailers, posters, and images: http://planet-51-trailer.blogspot.com/

Inspection cars for railroad inspectors to look over the rails in style and comfort, Packards, Pontiacs, Buicks and more

Coolest new find in a railcar!: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/plaster-city-1947-but-what-heck-is.html

Above two are from http://www.sportschrono.com/

Above: a trio of DeSoto 4 doors and Below: A Willys

Saving the best for last, Nik just told me he'd posted a gallery from Life's archives of Alaska in the 1950's, and these were in his post: http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/life-photo-archive-parte-1/#comment-2770 Nik finds the coolest stuff!