Photo by Albert S. Bite

A motor company founded by Herbert Austin made the Austin Seven series cars. The Austin seven cars came as a rage in Europe and this rage almost swept away the other cars out of the market. These cars were compact, affordable and economical and they made a mark not only in the European markets but also in other parts of the world.

Successful launch

Amongst the Austin Seven models, Austin Seven ‘Chummy’ was a car that evoked immense demand in the automobile markets. This car came in the year 1924 and instantly became a popular family car. It was seen moving on the streets of big cities and small towns alike. The comfortable seating and efficient tyre shape made it a much preferred car as it could be easily manoeuvred even on dirt tracks and ploughed fields.

Smooth sail

The Austin Seven “Chummy” gave good competition to the other cars even in races as it had a high speed capacity and could move well on rocky and unpaved roads.  This vehicle was a family friendly car and had the capacity to seat four people quite comfortably. The chummy was also considered to be a perfect replacement for other more expensive models.

Comfortable seating arrangement

The Austin Seven “Chummy” proved to be a car that was widely and popularly demanded by the masses and the classes. This car was more in demand as it could accommodate larger number of people than the other cars of its time could possibly do.

Powerful engine

The Austin Seven range “chummy” had a four cylinder engine and the coolant medium was water. This made a good option for home mechanics and these cars did not require expert help in repairing minor glitches. The gear system was manual with three gears and a speed sliding gear option. The chummy provided with shaft drive option and featured four wheel brakes.

High horsepower rating

The Austin seven series had a high horsepower rating in general and that was one of the reasons for its roaring success in Europe and the rest of the world.  The car had four wire wheels, which were perfect for manoeuvring on country as well as city roads. The chummy had cowl mounted head lamps. It has an L head four cylinder engine that gave a power of 747cc and gave the speed of 12 BHP. The wheel base was as thin as 81 inches, which helped in improving manoeuvring capacity.

High on vintage value and low on mass value

All the models of the Austin Seven range have a high vintage value and hence they could possibly fetch a high amount as classic cars. Austin Seven “Chummy” stands a class apart as it was launched as a true family car and was economical when compared to other models of its own time. The Chummy gave tough competition to the other cars because of its cheap price and its features to cater to the necessities of the common mass. This was a car that everyone could relate to. The Austin Seven “Chummy” ruined the belief that car was made only for the fortune-struck people. This car distinctly illustrated that a car was now more of necessity than luxury.

Availability of parts was wiped off

Apart from an easily available car, the parts of the Austin Seven “Chummy” were also easily available in the marker and not difficult to replace. The common people found this feature attractive and economical, which increased the demand of the car with time.

Photo by cessna152towser

To sum up

The people of the war stricken twenties needed a respite from rising prices and the Austin Seven “chummy” came as a welcome change.

Photo by Phil Riley

The AC Cobra or the Shelby Cobra car series was originated in the 1960s. These were built by the British based car manufacturers, AC Cars. The AC Cobra series were sports cars with sleek bodies. These cars created a hallmark in the arena of speed and performance.  In 1961, the first car of the AC Cobra series was manufactured and over a period of few years, various models of the same series were launched. One of those models is the AC Cobra 289.

This model of the AC Cobra series was made somewhere between 1967 and 1969. The AC Cobra 289 was made with a light aluminium body and it was considered to have the most original cutback door in the entire AC Cobra Series.  The make and specifications of the car has helped achieve numerous first position wins in motor racing events around the world. The design of the car was such that the fenders flared, more at the rear in order to accommodate tyres that were bigger in size.

Measurements

The wheelbase of the Cobra 289 was 2286 mm while the front and rear track were 1308 and 1334mm respectively. The length of the car was 3848mm and the width was 1549mm. AC Cobra 289 had a height of 1245mm with a ground clearance of 114mm. The curb weight of the car was 1050kg. With a fuel capacity of 68.2 litres, this AC Cobra car ruled a lot of race tracks.

Specifications

AC Cobra 289 was a 2 seat capacity, drop head coupe with a V8 engine type and maximum power of 271 BHP. This two door car had a bore stroke ratio of 1.39. The unitary capacity of the car was 590.88cc/cylinder with a total of 8 cylinders and 16 valves, i.e. 2 valves per cylinder. The car has a maximum torque capacity of 423.0nm and a specific torque of 89.49nm/litre.

Performance

The AC Cobra model of cars was made mainly for the race tracks and hence their speed pick up capacities were considerably high. The pick up capacity of the AC cobra 289 from 0 to 50 mph was within 4.40 seconds and from 0 to 100 mph was within 13.70 seconds. The top speed for this car was 138 mph. The standing quarter mile capacity was 14.40 seconds.  Its power to weight ratio was 258.1bhp/ton.

Features and look

The engine of the car was placed longitudinally in the front portion and the car was a rear wheel drive. The steering type of the Cobra 289 was rack and pinion. The front and rear suspension of the car was independent, coil spring and wishbone type. The front and rear wheels were of 6 ½ L * 15 specification with front and rear disc brakes. The gear system of the car was manual with 4 gears. The tyres used for the car were of Dunlop make.

Though the AC Cobra series of cars were extremely popular on the race tracks, they however, did not prove to be financially powerful. The AC cobra series of cars were rarely seen on the roads and were most often used as racing cars. The features and capacity of the AC Cobra series made it a popular choice as a racing car. AC Cobra 289 was the 16th of the AC Cobra series and it accommodated the original 289 competition engine. The car also had four Weber carburettors that generated 400 horsepower energy.

The AC Cobra 289 model can very well be recognized by its flat face and flared arches. It’s simply because of all these features and much more, that made the AC Cobra 289 a favourite among the racing enthusiasts.

There are many Hollywood movies which made the muscle cars extremely popular amongst the car enthusiasts. To name a few there was The Vanishing Point, Gone in Sixty Seconds, The Last Ride and many others. Here we will discuss the top 10 muscle cars which were launched in the 1960s and the 1970s. The most common feature of these cars is the power with bhp i.e. the Brake Horse Power.

1. The 1970 Buick GSX

The car had a beast of an engine that was fitted into a midsized body. The car had the body of the Buick Skylark. The model was well known in the year 1967 as one of those cars, which was available both as a convertible and a sedan. Another model of the car was launched in the year 1970 when it was given a 7.5 litre engine. This engine had the capability of producing a power of 400 bhp. The car was available in white and yellow colours which made the car very classis.

Photo by kawwsu29

2. The 1969 Pontiac GTO

The car was launched keeping in mind the younger generation. The car was cheap and fast. It had the body of a midsized Tempest coupled with a 6.3 litre V8 engine. The car was very popular after it was launched and this for sure took the marketing team by surprise and they in 1969 launched another version which had an engine of 6.5 capable of producing a power of 366 bhp.

Photo by osubuckialum

3. The Dodge Challenger

The car was launched in the year 1970 and in the first year only made a bumper sale of 80,000 cars. The car was extremely popular from the time it was launched and this reflected by the number of cars it sold after its launch. This car introduced several models but the 7 litre Hemi engine was the one which struck the chord of success with the masses. This engine had the capability to produce a power of 425 bhp. The engine power in the later model was reduced and this is where the car lost the popularity that it enjoyed during its initial days.

Photo by Mustang_V8

4. Plymouth Barracuda

The Barracuda was launched in 1964 but it took more than six years to gain recognition and become popular. In the year 1970, the muscle car became very popular when it came with a 7.2 litre engine which had a power producing capacity of 390 bhp. The car was also introduced in another version where it came with a 7.0 litre Hemi Block and had the capacity to produce 425 bhp. This car was very popular for difficult handling in spite of a revamped suspension

Photo by IMKRUZN

5. Dodge Charger

The year 1966 saw the launch of the Charger and in the preceding its launch it sold around 37,000 cars. The car had a power producing capacity of 500 bhp and it came with a 7.0 litre hemi engine. The official rating said that the car could produce 425 bhp but in actual it was designed to produce more and this is one of the main reasons why the car became so popular. It only took the car five and a half seconds to reach a speed on 100 km/hr. the engine of the car was discontinued after 1972.

Photo by splattergraphics

6. The Plymouth Road Runner

The Plymouth Road runner was a no frill car and was made to be a fast car. The concentration in this car was on the engine and the speed and there was no priority given to the looks of the car in any respect. The car had a suspension system, a powerful steering system, and a 6.3 litre engine which could produce a power of 225 bhp. There was another version of the car which had a 7.0 litre engine.

7. The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

The most popular and exciting version of the Camaro was the Z28 though the customers had many other options also. The car had a 4.9 litre engine and a four speed manual gearbox apart from the brakes in the front which made the car great for racing.

Photo by lancef2

8. The 1966 Ford Fairlane GT

The car was launched by Ford in the year 1962 and it had an engine of 3.6 litres. In the year 1966, there were changes made to the car and then it was re-launched in 1966 with a 6.4 litre engine which could generate a power of 335 bhp. The car was a great performer and could reach the speed of 100 km/hr in six seconds.

9. The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

The new version of the Chevrolet Chevelle was launched in 1970. It had a 7.4 litre engine with 450 bhp power producing capacity, which could take the car to a speed of 100 km/hr in flat six seconds.

Photo by MR38

10. Oldmobile 422

The car had a power producing capacity of 310 bhp. The car had twin exhausts and a four speed manual gear box. The car had improved springs, which made the handling better.

Photo by usedcarsbuyorsell

It’s never an easy task to buy a new car – the whole process is fraught with stress and anxiety! I really don’t think there is any way round that – you can never guarantee the condition of any car, no matter how you try. Ok, I guess you can buy new, but with today’s prices this is prohibitive to most people. Personally, I always try to find something with low mileage for its age, and I always make sure that there is lots of history. I also always carry out an HPi check – just to make sure there is nothing untoward, because you never know.

Beyond that, there is not much else you can do but trust your instinct. It’s obviously a good idea to test drive the car in question if you get the opportunity. The other difficult thing about finding a used car is where to buy it from. You can use your local paper but this is somewhat limiting. I would suggest going online and using one of the many quality car search sites, such as Motors, which is a very effective way of searching. It allows you to input your search criteria such as make, model, specification, location and price. Being able to search like this means that you can control the parameters and it can really help you to focus in on exactly what you like in a car.

Good luck with the hunt, and remember to take as many precautions as possible to ensure that you are buying a great car!

Photo by Deudeuche86

The year 1972 saw a surprise in the automarket. Alfa Romeo rolled out its new model car Alfasud. Alfasud was an all new generation car including the engines. The body was all new shape and had no similarity to any of the earlier models of Alfa Romeo. The new car is also known commonly as ‘Sud’.

The Alfasud cars were all produced in four doo saloons. When the first car was revealed, it was appreciated by all the media and the auto circles.

This car quickly gained popularity as a good car for its excellent handling features. This car was produced by over 500,000 units in about 13 years before replacing it by Alfa Rover 33. The body was not altered or modified but the Alfasud was available in different engine capacities, the original being 1186 cc Fiat-4 engine. After about 5 years, higher capacitates were included as 1286 cc engine, 1300 cc engine and 1499 cc engine. The ‘Sud’ was the most successful model produced by Alfa Romeo. It gained popularity all over Europe.

Alfa Romeo had commissioned its new plant at Pomigliano d’Arco in southern Italy, initiating a new production line. The Italians had many experts at their disposal but the development of Alfasud was entrusted to an Austrian Rudolf Hruschka, who was known in the Auto Industry Circles and become popular in the market.

Alfasud was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. The media immediately took the lead with all praise for the beautiful styled car by Giorgetto Guigiaro of ItalDesign. The initial model was introduced without the hatchback, which was adopted a year later. There was also a two door sports TI version launched by end 1973. This was also well taken in the market of the younger sports enthusiasts.

Alfa Romeo offered further luxurious models as Alfasud SE which was later replaced by ‘L’ model in 1975. After a reasonable two year service Alfasud improved into another model ‘5M’ with a five gear transmission that improved the traction quite a lot. Another score was made by Alfa Romeo by launching a three door station wagon by the name Giardenetta in 1975.

Photo by RABIIT

Alfasud cars were very well appreciated but the bodies rusted early. The usual reasons of the rusting defect are stated to be the substandard steel imported from Russia. The other notion is the bad storage conditions for the body shells at the plant. The other popular defect was the engine’s overheating in tropical areas and making it worse with air conditioners.
In 1980 all models were promoted by adding plastic bumpers.

Photo by Michiel2005

In this article, we shall review the 1972 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 convertible. You might be wondering where the SE designation first appeared. Well, it first came out in 1958, on the Mercedes Benz, with the 220 SE. The E in the SE means ‘Einspritzung’ – meaning injection. In the year 1970, the new 3.5 liter V8 was found in the 280 SE 3.5 convertible – and this car could seat 5 passengers. The leather interiors and power windows, as well as reclining seats and air conditioning – were really quite impressive.

Fast forward to the year 2004. The 280 SE 3.5 convertible was given a complete restoration, and this was completed in the month of May 2004. It was given cognac colored leather, burl wood console trim, the exteriors were put in classic black, and the power was from the 3499c SOHC V8 engine, with the Bosch D-Jetronic Electronic Fuel Injection. What’s more, also given was four-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel servo-assisted disc brakes.

Then in 2009, the 280 SE 3.5 convertible went on sale at the Gooding & Company auction in Arizona, and the estimated price of sale was around 160,000 dollars – 210,000 dollars. That’s quite a lot, eh?

From November 1967 to September 1972, the Mercedes Benz 280 SE was produced. 230 horsepower was produced by the 3.5 liter eight-cylinder engine, there was a six-plunger fuel injection pump, and a seven-bearing crankshaft. This car was available as convertible, sedan and coupe body styles – in fact, about 5187 of the coupes and convertibles were built! However, what was more popular was the standard sedan, definitely – seeing as about 91,051 were produced. Maybe this was due to the price, which was half of that of the convertible- costing 12,444 dollars.

Then, a four-speed manual gearbox was the standard issue, but an automatic was also available, just as option equipment. You could find disc brakes in the front, and drums right in the rear. Just around 10,000 examples were produced during the five years, and this car is definitely very important in the history of the Mercedes Benz Company.

The 1972 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 convertible is an absolutely gorgeous car, and even if you try to find it today, you will surely find ones in excellent condition. The paint job is totally original, it’s straight and glossy, and you won’t find any body or paint work whatsoever. When you buy this car, go for one of which the jambs, rockers, and structural areas are solid and original. Do look at the chrome bumpers, and the trim – they should be free of any pitting, and be in good condition. Of course, looking at the interiors are a must – check out the seating surfaces, the carpets, and the door panels – ideally they should look as good as new. This car can come equipped with factory AC and the original Becker radio.

Photo by bramm77

You would be surprised to know that this car was launched in the market to replace the outdated fintail sedan range. Many kinds of engines and their associated models were produced, and the 280 was among them. But the market wanted a large V8 engine based vehicle, thus the 3.5 liter was produced and this could be seen in the 1972 280 model.

If you step into this car, it’s like stepping into style. We just can’t put it any other any. This is one of the true vintage cars out there. When you sit down upon the seating, it’s a classic Benz feeing like no other – there’s ample cushioning and support. When you put the key into the dash mounted ignition, when you turn it, the car starts with a purr, and the smooth V8 engine is born again. This car is ideal for driving on highways – as it’s smooth, and has amazing luxury suspension. In fact, if you hit the pedal, you see just how efficient the engine is!

The vertical headlamps are part of the beauty too. The car has many unique options, the famous 3.5 V8 engine, and amazing restoration behind it. It’s a rapidly appreciating car which you are sure to love.

Image by automagazine

The classic muscle cars with it’s sleek look, crazy engines and powerful speed had given America a completely new look and attitude. Every youngster from every corner wanted to own one of these mean machines. Yet, is history trying to repeat itself? Has the muscle car for sales which was prevalent during the 70’s and 80’s still not died down? The trend right now in the fashion industry happens to be going for vintage material. So, has the once widely famous muscle car finally managed to rise from the ashes and write another chapter in it’s book?

Mustang happened to create a new car which surprisingly resembled a Mustang muscle car from that era, Ford tried it’s hand at this and managed to design a car which somewhat resembles a previous model of Mustang from the classic muscle cars era. Camaro managed to bring back an exact replica of the 69 Camaro which produced nice profits due to it’s unshaken popularity. Although according to car enthusiasts it is considered that the Challenger unveiled by Chrysler has managed to take the cake. Today you can buy a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro which is a replica of the iconic muscle car updated with the latest technology to suit our needs at the starting price of $22,995, prices affected by the technology and the engine quality of all these cars. A beautiful and properly equipped Mustang GT hardtop can be bought for $30,000. Other cars like the classic Dodge Charger which happens to be an updated an re-modified version of the classic 80’s muscle car can be in your driveway for a starting price of $25,140.

Although car manufacturers from all over the world are trying their hand at rebuilding and restoring the lost history of the classic muscle cars they still have not managed to match to the standards which had already been set decades ago.

image by TeeMack Photography

The above Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Cop Coupe is the only surviving racing car out of 3 Camaros purchased by Don Yenko. It carries original documents duly signed by Don Yenko himself. Don Yenko had sold all these three cars to racers for participating in NHRA Drag Racing.

This has now turned up for Auction in SCOTTSDALE 2009 at Lot No. 1278 and estimated price is US$ 2,97,000. Year of manufacture is 1969. Engine size is 427 with 8 cylinders, 3 speed automatic transmission and power steering. The Chevrolet exterior color is Daytona Yellow and Black with black interior. Hurst shifter and black vinyl roof. The well known Model : Camaro Yenko Copo , A race machine that an antique car is presented for auction with complete original papers duly signed by renowned celebrity himself as purchaser of the car. The original papers file was recovered by great chance from the junk papers by Warren Dernoshek, who worked for Don Yenko.

The Daytona Yellow was a special model originating from a special performance limited production vehicle package. This limited production had a factory fitted COPO 9561 that included a L72 427/425 Hp engine with increased cooling capacity. Further dual exhaust system was added besides a special ducted hood and a very precision controlled suspension. The other options included were a Hurst shift gate shifter and vinyl roof.

image by forwardlookguy

Don Yenko was a renowned sponsored of car races in the highest category, but never races himself. He had these models specifically designated. He sold these to the racing enthusiasts for the promotion of Drag Car Racing Sport.

Don Yenker Camaros also received COPO 9737 which is a spots car with maximum speed of 140 Mph. The front stabilizer bar of the Drag racing car is 13/16 inch and 15 X 7 Rally wheels and E70 raised white lettered tires.

The auction history seldom witnesses prized items duly supported by original documents that authenticate their ownership and linkage to renowned celebrities. The 50 year old original papers bearing Don Yenko Caro signatures is an added advantage to buyers of Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Copo coupe, the original 50 years old file goes with it.

Further note adds that the original file that was traced from trash by Warren Dernoshek, who worked for Denko. This file contains documents including original dealer package, Purchase order, Bill of sale, Car Invoice and Shippers sheet.

image by Albert S. Bite

The British racing enthusiasts are well introduced to Jeff Uren. He was Ford rally team manager and enjoyed a successful racing career in saloon cars from 1955 to 1964. He also raced a GSM Delta in GT races.

He owns a company “Race Proved Performance and Racing Ltd.” – and is typically remembered for transforming Ford Cortinas into what was called “Savage” conversions. Uren was very talented and also worked with Ford Detroit and Willment. Uren converted combinations like Apache 3.0-Litre V6 Escort, Comanche V6 Capri, Capri powered by Mustang V8 engine and so on in 1960. But his most popular Savage conversion being Cortina 1600 E-MKII powered by Ford Zodiac V6 Essex engine. He did a tremendous job, he literally converted a mouse into a racing monster by installing a powerful engine and making numerous intricate changes to ensure good performance.

A car Body is made and streamlined according to the engine power effects and imbalanced drive which could be dangerous for driver safety. But Uren knows what he was upto. He have had gained enough experience when working at Ford Detroit to understand the engine performance and the weak points of the chassis. He was using a big engine in a light chassis of Ford Cortina.

image by Albert S. Bite

He introduced many changes to house the weighty V6 engine to absorb the increased stresses when on road and then at high speed. The body joints were strengthened by seam welding besides adding additional cross-bars to provide extra rigidity. New engine mountings were reformed to fit the new sized engine. Shock absorbers and their springs were rebuilt to avoid front axle damage. The front axle was intended to be a swivel for the axle and the steering mechanism while the rear linkage was to support car weight. This required special specifications for the rear shocks and springs. Uren proved a real wizard to have thought all the details in advance to coup with road-drive stresses and those occurring in conjunction with speed–momentum-air resistance.

He relocated the battery in the boot and minimized the wiring in front. The alternator was also converted and improved exhaust system provided. The large cooling system was replaced. The rear differential ratio was improved to meet the racing needs. A bigger fuel tank was attached. Alloy wheels provided for a better grip along with a sunshine roof.

This is the tedious different way the “Savage” conversion was completed in the prototype.

The test ride proved the efforts worthwhile. It provided good directional stability. The road –testers noted the specific noise on broken roads, which were natural with standard Cortina MARK II.

On the whole the conversion was approved by the racing enthusiasts considering its good performance in that period with 101 KW and 247 Nm on tap by a 1068 Kg car.

The General impression of a nose heavy car with a heavy weight V6 engine with equally heavy understear was done away with when the weight distribution was calculated to 54:46 ratio (front : rear). This ratio was the result of very considered body / suspension modifications. This ratio proved better than the standard new ford Cortina MKII.

The Savage conversion became quite popular with racing fans that hundreds of Cortinas were converted between 1967 and 1970. All it needed was a good strong chassis / body of Cortina to qualify for the Savage treatment.

This machine has been worked with breakthrough features and has custom inspired design on them. The interior is really interesting with some of the most expensive spares of the finest materials coming through them. The quality is great with accented brushed steel designs that come in stainless steel and aluminum. There are no dispenses in quality in regards to the interiors. Don Kite has accented and brushed the wonderfully attractive black interiors. It has got high speed automation with a 5.7 liter engine.

The Studebaker has a great make and is of a tube frame. The custom suspension and Corvette power is over the top attractive. The rear mounted Pratt and Whitney has been developed with jet engine case house exhaust and it has one of the best and unique leather lining. The quality blows out anyone while the car is equipped with all of the best amenities. There is full on climate control and heated seatings. The 1951 Studebaker Starlight Coupe got restyled by Charles DeLacy. This person came to customize the spare time by working through the aircraft that he was working with. This car actually became a result of his toying of parts during some of his idle hours. It took him 15 months to complete what he was working with.

The new grille made in 1947 became one of the most interesting parts of the basic formation of the new car. The headlights got replaces and there came the 1952 Ford lights. In the rear Charles got to replace the stock deck with some of the new features coming over to take place in the car. The 1952 Nash became a power replacement with the stock deck lid belonging to the old system. The 1934 Ford hood was also extended in the form of a forward panel to make this classic car look interesting. The Studebaker used 1950 Oldsmobile rear fenders. It also got to use the famed Lincoln taillights and has inset exhaust tip right under the bumper. Such interesting and intricate details of the format of the car came to be coming with installing of the lower blocks along with some of the sectioning of the body within 3 inches.

The Stude also maintained some of the dual carbs along with header, reshaping as well as light order compression. The ration of the reshaped combustion to the light order ratio is 9:1. The interior of the car got featured in 1953 Charles’ Studebaker got shown in Motorama in Los Angeles in California. Studebaker came to be one of the very first and proudly announced post World War cars. This came to the market with vehicles that were apparent with their distinct looks and had more interesting features than carried-over bodies. This was indeed one of the celebratory styling features in terms of Raymond Loewy’s decisive staff look. This came with a delightful inspiration and had to be stylized according to the new consulting order and features. It came with this incredibly fresh bullet nose look. This became an original of its kind and premier in the league of the rest of the models that came out. The classic car has been one of the most prominent in its features and characteristics with some of the most valued great looks that went on to inspire new models of the near future.