Blog

'69 Chevelle: What’s Mine is Yours!

Jun 18, 2015

If you’re a custom car shop owner who takes such pride in your work that delivering each completed car is like giving one of your kids away, then you know how David Buff of Monroe, GA feels about his work. Dave had purchased a nice ’69 Chevelle SS 396 and planned to build it as a shop project, with lots of extra time to be spent on it to make it absolutely perfect. Although the car was in decent shape, Dave decided to do a complete nuts and bolts restoration.

1956 Bel Air: And Baby Makes Three

Jun 18, 2015

My fascination with '56 Chevys began in 1962 when I met Phil, my husband-to-be and his car. He drove a Harbor Blue 1956 Chevy 2-door One-Fifty sedan that he purchased from his brother for the grand sum of $200.00. The car was powered by a 265ci motor that was bored .060” over and was mated to a three-speed transmission in order to compete with the local hotrods of our era. It was then that I fell in love with Phil and his Chevy.

The Car with the “Cats Eyes”

Jun 18, 2015

When my son was around the age of 15, a few years before he could drive, he said that when he became old enough to have his own car he wanted one of those cars with the “Cat’s Eyes." Way back then, I really didn’t pay much attention to what particular car he was talking about.

A few years had passed by and while driving though a local neighborhood we spotted a '59 Chevy for sale with the crazy wings and wide rear lenses, I finally realized what my son meant. We negotiated a price, brought it home and did a mild restoration. He had the car for many years, much to the amazement of his friends.

1969 RS/SS Camaro

Jun 18, 2015

One of the most enjoyable past times for me and my wife is taking weekend drives through the back roads of our small town looking for old cars. We enjoy going to areas we have never been and enjoying the scenery. It appeared while on our back road excursions my wife was coming along simply as a means of doing something different. In the beginning we had no intention of actually buying a car. Things changed, she began revealing a side of her that had been hidden all those years. She began spotting cars well in advance of me. Not only did she spot those cars, she knew what they were. “My friend in high school had a car like that it’s a…”, “My parents had a car like that it’s a…and I think it had a 4 something engine” ouch, “There’s a…” and “There’s a…. For a guy that was an immediate turn on! It was then I knew we might actually buy one.

'63 Falcon: Patriot Missle

Jun 18, 2015

I started building the car in 1995. It has been, and is still, street legal. I have license plates that are current on it now. I’ve had approximately 18 different engines in the car; from a 580-horse pump gas engine, to the current 1900 horse unit. Transmissions range from a Jerico 4-speed tranny to the current Powerglide. I was the number one qualifier for 3 years in a row at the Super Chevy event in Pomona where they had a special event for street cars. I didn’t win, but it was fun being the top qualifier at a Chevy meet with a Ford! I’m still modifying things on the car to harness all of the power. Gil Navarez in Las Vegas, NV, did the initial tuning on the chassis dyno. He has been extremely helpful in tuning the turbo motor so as not to damage anything, yet have enough power to race. Thanks to my crewman George Derrington who attends all of the races with me. I thank my God for the opportunity to be able to play at this level, and for each safe pass I make.

Gulf Oil Corvette Race Car

Jun 18, 2015

The 1962 Gulf Oil Corvette Race Car sold for $1.65 million at a recently held RM Sotheby’s auction. It was sold with eight other first and second generation Chevrolet Corvettes that made up the Andrews Collection, yet the Gulf Oil Corvette generated more than half of the total value of the collection.

’84 El Camino: My Way

Jun 18, 2015

I’m at a car show drooling over a drop-dead gorgeous ’69 Chevelle SS 396. I had one when I wore younger man’s clothes. I want one… trouble is they’re priced way out of sight. While wiping my drool from his car, the Chevelle’s owner tells me that a friend has an El Camino for sale. Sounds interesting. I always liked the El Caminos and there are not a lot of them left.

Corvette Returned 43 Years Later

Jun 10, 2015

Three months ago, we brought you the story of Terry Dietrich and her 1972 Chevrolet Corvette — the one she bought at age 19, had stolen six months later and was found 43 years afterwards by a car restorer in North Carolina. At the time, it looked like Dietrich would never get her car back thanks to an ocean of red tape. That ocean parted Monday, and Dietrich had a reunion in her driveway.

Connecting Rods And Rod Bearings

Jun 5, 2015

Time: 3 hours

Tools: standard socket set, rubber mallet, crankshaft socket, breaker bar, feeler gauge

Cost: approximately $50 for bearings and supplies

Tinware: quality set of rod bearings, Plastigage, 3/8”rubber hose

Tip: To avoid scratching or damaging the cylinder walls when removing or installing piston and rod assemblies, cut two short lengths of 3/8” hose and slide it over the rod bolts.

Performance gains: smooth, reliable operation from the lower rotating assembly

1953 F600

Jun 3, 2015

After many months of looking, driving, searching and disappointment, turning into the long driveway in Caro, Michigan, my wife Barbi loudly exclaimed "That's It!" Sitting at the end of the driveway was this beautifully restored 1953 F600 that had been listed on Craigslist. We greeted the owner, and without hesitation, I told him that we would buy it. I asked him the story behind the vehicle, but he didn't know too much about it. We agreed on the price, and I was now driving this classic for the next six hours to Petoskey, MI.

Posted in Pickup 1948-Current and Featured