The Top 5 Sleeper Cars

Posted on July 5, 2011 by jmalcolm

A sleeper car may not be much to look at on the outside, but the power and performance makes it a classic muscle car. The name evolved from the taunt that from the eye level view, a sleeper car looks like it must be very slow and asleep compared to sleek-looking muscle cars that are built to “look fast.” The difference is that when a sleeper car fires up the power under the hood, they leave the rest of the cars on the strip asleep at the wheel.

Here are the top sleeper cars that are always sought after.

#5 – The Plymouth Duster hit the muscle car circuit late in 1970, but it was the next evolution of the Plymouth Valiant that already was well regarded. While the Duster was often regarded as an economy family vehicle, with the right V8 power engine under the hood, it often left much more impressive cars like the Dodge Charger looking at the Duster’s tail lights and wondering what happened.

#4 – The seventh-generation Chevrolet Impala met the criteria of a sleeper car because it had the design to give owners plenty of trunk space and interior luxury to keep the family happy. However, under the hood it packed the kind of punch that could put on a show on the street if need be.

#3 – The 2000 Saab 9-5 Euro is certainly not the kind of car that would ever be classified as a conventional muscle car. However, under the hood of this very sleek and classy sports car is a 230-horsepower, turbo-charged engine that gives it enough muscle to provide enough serious power that it is used by the Swiss as one of their premier police vehicles. Muscle car gurus have taken the Saab 9-5 Euro and punched it up with even more power, so it looks sweet as a car for a lazy ride but takes the street hard when it is time to show off.

#2 – The Ford Taurus SHO is similar to the Saab model because the marketing niche of the Taurus has always been to serve as a traditional and affordable family car that did not need a lot of maintenance. The SHO model stands for Super High Output, which came about almost by accident. Ford found itself with a surplus of very powerful Yamaha engines,so they figured “Why not punch up the Taurus?”  The result was a popular family car, but the SHO version was a serious muscle car, too.

#1 – The number one sleeper car ever is the Shelby GLHS, which was an evolution of the ugly and slow Dodge Omni. However, when Shelby dropped a seriously powerful turbocharged I4 engine into the Omni, that changed a sleepy little utility vehicle into a muscle car that could not be caught when all of its power was in full force on the street or on the racetrack.


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The Engine That Made Pop Culture History

Posted on July 5, 2011 by jmalcolm

During the classic muscle car era, there were certain powerful and exciting vehicles that made pop culture history. From the little deuce coupe to the GTO, some cars became legend through fun and exciting songs performed by greats of music history like Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys. However, one muscle car legend that became renowned through song and reputation was not a car but an engine. That, of course, was the famous 409 engine made by Chevrolet.

The powerful 409 came by its reputation honestly. It evolved from an equally legendary Chevy engine design. Those in the know referred to the design that started with the 1958 as the “W” engine. Originally, Chevy put a great deal of power into its truck lines, which made sense, but when the “W” engine became part of the massive power of the first generation of the Chevy Impala, the legendary 409 was born.

True to great muscle car designs, the Impala Bellaire packed the explosive 348-cubic-inch displacement engine inside of a car that looked like a family sedan on the outside. That “W” 409 engine was already dominant in the muscle car world from 1958 through 1961, but in 1961, Chevy design masters took things to the next level with the next evolution on the “W” engine. This was the engine that really captured the imagination of the muscle car world and of youth culture, when songs were performed that bragged about the Mighty 409 Bowtie power engine.

It was when the superstar band The Beach Boys erupted on the scene with their exciting tune simply named “409” that the engine took on the reputation of legend. Of course, the engine could not deliver top performance without a serious muscle car design to support all of that power and Chevy delivered on that demand in spades. That is why the heart of that song talked about, “My four-speed, duel-quad, posi-traction 409.”

The “real fine” 409 continued to turn heads on the street and on race tracks for the entire muscle car era. To this day, people who talk about legendary muscle car design do not talk long before speaking in hushed tones about the “W” engine that captured the public imagination, the 409.


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The Volkswagen Kombi is as Fun to Own Now as When it First Came Out

Posted on May 8, 2011 by jmalcolm

Volkswagen Kombis were one of the poster cars of the 1960s. With its funky design and spacious interior, the car was able to be a vehicle staple on the retro roads and even maintain its reasonableness in our modern day society as well.

The Volkswagen Kombi is certainly not a boring car to drive. In fact, their iconic design and character make it a pretty cool car, and there aren’t too many cars that look like the Kombi. These vans have a distinctive flair to them that no other car has.

When you’re cruising in your Kombi, you can just sense the “groovy” feelings the baby boomers would have felt back in their heyday. A Volkswagen Kombi in good condition can be really fun to drive. They have great steering, handle well and are very comfortable. The big windows in Kombis give a the sense of adventure every time you climb behind the wheel.

When it came out in the ‘60s, the Kombi was probably the biggest car out there to drive. Large families and the youth movement made the Kombi’s space great to tote several kids in or for having your own mobile home as you travelled the country from rock fest to rock fest. Nowadays, you can still hit the road and attend your own Woodstock or see the country.

Kombis are also very practical. It is perfect for the style-defiant soccer mom who needs a way to transport her little league team. It is for the people who love stocking up at Wal-mart, Costco’s and Sam’s Club. It is for the man who refuses to pay for a motel, yet still desires to see his country. The Kombi is perfect for anyone.

Some other benefits are the good ground clearance as well as the great two-wheel traction, thanks to the engine’s placement over the rear wheels. The Volkswagen Kombi may have been created in the 1960s, but it still has a place in our modern society and roadways. Whether you want a roomy and fun vehicle to take care of a big brood of kids and their friends or to hit the road to become a Dead Head, the Volkswagen Kombi is the perfect fit for you.

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The Timeless Personality of the 1957 Cadillac

Posted on May 8, 2011 by jmalcolm

Cadillac introduced tailfins in 1948. They contained taillights near the rear fenders and were a subtle homage to the Lockheed P-38 WWII fighter plane and its twin rudders.

Tailfins continued their prominence while Cadillac tried different styles in their 1950, 1954 and 1956 models. By this time, their competition had also added the space-type tailfins to their cars. Luckily, Cadillac was ready with some new style innovations, so they always stayed one step ahead of the pack.

The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado

The elegance that Cadillacs were known for had only subtly changed to avoid shocking the customers. But it was time for something new.

The 1953 limited-production Eldorado convertible had a wraparound windshield, yet still looked pretty much like the other Cadillacs. This trait was copied by other car manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.

The 1955 Cadillac Eldorado

The 1955 Eldorado had the similar features that made the 1954 Cadillac so popular. However, they were more noticeable. It’d been distinguished from the other line by its new rear sheet metal. Other changes were made in the tailfins’ placement around the taillights, including a new back-up light next to the tail lights. Also, the mountings were now pods capping the ridges from the center of each wheel well with the sharper, thinner fins facing the back.

1957 Cadillac

Both the 1956 Cadillac and the Eldorado slightly updated their look while the latter also had a two-door hardtop called the Eldorado Seville. Both had hood ornaments until Cadillac removed them completely from the new 1957 Eldorado. The fins, however, were the most noticeable change.

Instead of chunky, plane-like fins, they were now blade-like and lower than before. This allowed for some more restyling. The high fake scoop in front of the wheel well was lowered and reshaped, the bumper more streamlined, the roof modernized, and the hood flattened. Yet with all these changes, the model still maintained its Cadillac image.

Later Cadillac models continued to prep for further design innovations while most manufacturers’ fins began to fade or disappear altogether. Although Cadillac continues to improve upon their design, they have and will always be recognized as Cadillacs.

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When You Have a Fine-Looking Muscle Car, Show it Off!

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

Muscle cars are an important part of American life. Many can attest to the fact that owning their own classic is an awesome experience. However, it takes time and dedication to convert a project car into a showroom car. Below are some tips to assist you in achieving your endeavor:

Clean Your Car

Take out your car seats. Although potentially difficult, this will allow you to clean in a way you couldn’t otherwise. And who knows what may be hidden under there? Use soap and water with a soft, white rag to clean your seats. If they’re made of leather, use a suitable leather cleaner.

Apply a UV protector to your dashboard to prevent cracks. Pre-treat the carpet with a stain remover, followed by a gentle carpet shampoo. You might even want to use a fabric spray protector on them as well. Clean windows with glass cleaner specifically made for car windows.

Restore Your Car’s Paint Job

Decide whether your muscle car paint needs to be restored or repainted. If a restoration is needed, use a non-detergent cleaner to protect the current paint. Only use a clean sponge/soap applicator so no residue scratches the car. Then wash the car in sections, rinsing each section before moving on to the next one.

Use a chamois cloth to dry your car well. Polish the car with an agent that compliments your specific paint surface. Once dry, apply a carnauba wax to the entire painted surface. It’ll make the paint shine like new.

Repaint Your Car

Decide if you want to use the original factory colors or if you want to use modern colors instead. Some companies even specialize in muscle car paint. Painting should be done by a professional to ensure your car’s surface is protected and the paint job is excellent. Then apply carnauba wax.

Show Off Your Muscle Car

Show off your restored muscle car and hard work by hitting the streets. Join a muscle car club and discover car shows and events in your area. Display your classic in muscle car shows for others to see.

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How Classic Car Designs Touch Our Emotions

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

There are several words used to describe a classic car design that stimulate some type of emotion. Car design registers with our emotions. That is what car designers are going for.

Client statistics show us that when buying a car, the number one motivator for that final choice is based upon exterior/interior design, followed by performance and all other necessary functions and aspects of the car. Good design sells, and much of why it does is based on the emotions of the buyer. Buying a car is an emotional choice that requires the best designers with the finest taste to touch those emotions.

It is possible to have a great sketch or design for a classic car without having a good emotional design. However, when consumers do feel that emotional connection with a classic car design, their hearts beat faster from beholding the breathtaking design. The French call this a “coup de coeur.”

A coup de coeur design is something that we desire; that we fall in love with without even thinking about it. It just happens. We love the proportions, the body, our reflection in the mirror, and even the details of that classic car. We imagine ourselves driving that classic car and we fantasize about owning it, which generates positive emotions associated with the car.

But what does it take for a designer to produce such awe-inspiring work?  It takes teamwork, humility, a good work ethic and more. However, the most important quality a car maker must possess that cannot be replicated is raw talent. It takes a particular type of intuition to know what consumers desire and what they need.

This type of talent has to be nurtured and developed. It requires a serious professional attitude, responsibility, dedication, hard work, great sketches, training, research, constant improvement and great attention to detail.

A great classic car design is innovative and well-balanced with spectacular details. The overall design must communicate its message clearly. It must be cohesive and display the same level of quality the company’s brand is known for.

Generating a good emotional design isn’t easy. It requires great talent, guts, dedication and excellent taste. Designers dream of creating at least one design that gives consumers their coup de coeur experience. All we can do is work and hope until our dream becomes reality.

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The Art of Shopping for Classic Cars

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

In this modern day, it might seem hard to find your classic dream car. However, finding that classic car you want is much easier than you think, whatever type that might be. Here are some tips that can help you find your dream car in no time.

There are some dealerships that actually specialize in classic cars. They can usually be found in the more ritzy parts of town, and although they may not be numerous, they are there. You should also check your nearby luxury car dealerships. They carry more classics than the average used car dealerships.

Craigslist is also a great way to find the classic car that you want. It is a website with classified ads broken down by city, state, and country, which allows you to choose the area you would like to search. You can browse individual listings or use the search engine. Both of those approaches work great.

Craigslist is also very helpful in weeding out actual working cars from car parts and restoration projects. Many of these differences are distinguished by providing uploaded pictures of the vehicles for sale.

eBay is not just for discounted clothes and cheap handbags. It has a specific site for car auctions. Make sure you note the location of the seller before buying. There are also two options on eBay for buying: bidding or “buy now.” Before purchasing, you should be sure to count up the costs attached to shipping across country and overseas as opposed to buying locally.

Classic car shows are another option for finding your dream car. Some models on display may be for sale, so be sure to ask around at the next show you attend.

Many prominent Sunday newspaper editions have large classified sections you can search for classic, vintage and antique cars. These newspapers often have online sites you can check, as will other newspapers.

A great strategy to finding the classic car of your dreams is to mix and match these various methods for locating the right vehicle. The classic car market is an active one and by doing a good job of shopping, you will have more options available to you when the time comes to buy.

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Finding Parts for Your Classic Car Restoration Projects

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

Got a classic car? Chances are, restoring it to showroom-floor condition is your main goal. Below are some tips to help you in your endeavor.

Before the world of the Internet, people had to manually search junkyards and magazines to find the parts they needed. But now, with the help of Craigslist and eBay and other websites, your search has been made significantly easier. However, be prepared to pay the necessary shipping costs if you don’t intend to pick up the items in person.

Hollander and Pinnacle are the two primary salvage yard networks. Try to pick a yard that is listed on both networks. Also, you’ll be able to find interchangeable parts at these yards. This knowledge could save you a nice chunk of change in the long run.

Purchasing used parts for your restoration projects is cheaper, but some times, buying remanufactured/new parts is better. Items such as steering wheels, brakes, and shocks that are designed around today’s safety standards are much safer than those of old. Going with newer options in this case is just the smart thing to do.

When you can’t find the used parts you need, go with newly manufactured parts. Window shopping online will assist you in finding the best prices for the parts you need. Contacting local car clubs and forums specializing in the model you desire is also another way to find the desired parts.

Online forums and car clubs are also a great source for additional information about your classic car. Someone may tell you how to find the parts you need or share with you their wisdom. Who knows? Someone may even offer to lend you a hand in your restoration.

Finding the classic car parts you need may be more troublesome than the restoration itself. Hopefully, these tips will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

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Electric Cars 101

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

In the 1830s, Scotsman Robert Anderson was the earliest inventor of the electric car. It was followed by several copies, including that of Professor Sibrandus Stratingh, built by his assistant Christopher Becker in Holland (1835).

Meanwhile, Thomas Davenport and Robert Davidson were working on vehicles with non-chargeable electric cells. However, in 1859, Gaston Plante invented the lead-acid battery. It became the first commercial rechargeable electric battery. Improvements on the battery made it more cost effective and a viable transport option.

At the turn of the century, William Morrison created a six-passenger carriage. This new technology sparked several innovations. In 1897, the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia built a fleet of NYC taxis, the first to be commercially employed electric vehicles.
In 1902, Woods’ Phaeton created their own electric car. The first one cost $2,000 and it could go 14 mph, with an 18-mile range. 14 years later, they created a hybrid with an internal combustion and electric motor.

At this time, electric cars were cleaner and their ride smoother than their noisy, smelly counterparts that required more manual work to start and run. Steam-powered cars were another alternative. Unfortunately, they had less mileage and road quality was bad outside of cities.

This was also the era where cars started to become known as status symbols. Electric car sales peaked in 1912 and continued their popularity until the early 1920s. The greater driving range of the gas-powered engines gave them an advantage since communities were spreading out, increasing the need for further, faster driving.

Also in the 1920s, American road systems were greatly improved, increasing the demand for vehicles. Internal combustion engines were faster, distance-worthy vehicles despite their negative environmental effect. Gas prices were low and driving started to become a pastime. In 1912, Charles Kettering eliminated the hand-crank by creating the electric starter combustion engine. This made prices more affordable.

The gas and electric car innovations ended the current electric cars’ popularity in the late 1930s. With more consideration, the electric car’s outcome may have been different. With the renewed interest on reducing the dependence on oil, electric cars have returned to the forefront of car industry technology and may rise to rule the roads again.


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Happy birthday to Nissan

Posted on April 12, 2011 by jmalcolm

Congratulations to Nissan.  This past year marked the 40th anniversary of the Nissan Z series and to commemorate the landmark, the company decided to release a 40th anniversary model.

It all started 40 years ago with the Datsun 240Z.  This new car turned heads as soon as it rolled off the line.  It was one of the first cars to open up the sports car market to buyers of more modest means.  Until that point, sports cars were a luxury for the very wealthy.  The Datsun 240Z was produced cheaply and efficiently so it was priced starting at $3,626.00. The car still had enough power, however, to compete with the European vehicles, making a quarter mile in 17.1 seconds.

After such widespread success of the 240Z, Nissan decided to run with the concept.  In 1974 they announced a 260Z, replacing the 2.4ltr engine with a 2.6. In 1975, they did the same thing by announcing the 280Z and replacing the 2.6ltr engine of the 260Z with a 2.8ltr engine.

Nissan was praised by Motor Trend in 1979, who named the Z series the “Import car of the year.” Nissan commemorated the honor it earned by churning out the next generation 280ZX.  The 280ZX sold for around $10,000.00 and was improved by the enhancement of a turbo-charged engine.

The Z series didn’t stop accelerating there. For the company’s 50th anniversary, they released the 300ZX which replaced the older engine with a new 3.0ltr V6.  They added some special features and tagged it with a special price ($25,999.00) and it became one of the best selling cars in its category.

A collaboration between the recently updated engine and an exterior makeover brought the 300ZX into the 1990s. The already impressive 300ZX was then turbocharged and offered with the option of either 2 or 4 seats, which earned it a second Motor Trend “Import car of the year,” award as well as Automobile’s “Design of the year,” and the first All-stars Award.

It was, however, to be the last of the great Z series of the 1990s.  The company was unable to keep the famous low-price-to-high-performance ratio it was known for. So the Z series was put away; while in the interim the company focused on the 180SX and the 200SX.

The world learned in 2002 that the Nissan Z series was not dead, or if it was, it had been expertly resurrected.  The partnership between Renault and Nissan produced the 350Z.  The goal of this car was to return to its roots and provide the “Average Joe” driving enthusiast with a very fast car that was economical.  They succeeded.  The car was successful enough to be proceeded by the 370Z, and most recently, the 370Z 40th Anniversary model.

Nissan has driven the Z series into the “icon” category, but if history is any indication of the future, they’re not ready to junk it yet.  Congratulations to Nissan on a successful 40 years, and here’s to 40 more.

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