All posts by Route 66 Pub Co

Big Oly – Parnelli Jones and a Baja Bronco

March 20, 2021 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

There are Broncos, and then there are BRONCOS and then there is Big Oly. With Ford resurrecting the nameplate the first-generation Broncos have soared in collector interest. You can get a resto-mod Bronco 4X4 or buy a survivor. Now Mecum Auctions will offer you up a different version – Parnelli Jones’ Baja 500 racer – Big Oly

At this week’s Mecum Auction held in Glendale, AZ Dana Mecum unveiled Parnelli Jones’ Big Oly and announced it along with other items from Jones will be sold at his Spring Classic in Indiana. It was covered up before the “unveiling” and then enclosed in Mecum’s glass cage but we were able to get a close look before it was glassed up.

Big Oly Build

This might not be the normal Bronco and is essentially a Bronco in name only. A custom chrome-moly tube-frame chassis, aluminum inner panels, fiberglass body, a Ford 351 Windsor engine, four-wheel disc brakes, a Trans-Am-spec full-floating rear axle, plus a modified Twin I-Beam front suspension were used in this Baja cruiser.

The dirt racer was sponsored by the Olympia Brewing Company; hence the name Big Oly.

Big Oly Race Outcomes

The first year out in the Mexican 1000 it failed to finish but won the 1972 Mexican 1000 and both the Baja 500 and Mint 400 in 1973, before being leaving the circuit in 1975.

Jones kept the desert driver and never parted with it. But now it will be auctioned at the upcoming Mecum Auction. But since it is a Bronco in name only, will it draw the interest of the bidders? Let us know your thought and we will see what the outcome is in May

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Car show, Uncategorized

Rides for a Reason

November 24, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

It seems everybody has resorted to hosting virtual car shows as COVID-19 hampers efforts to get out and about. The SEMA Show went to the virtual SEMA360 and plenty of places including the Petersen Museum have held “virtual” drive-ins. Recently the National Auto Body Council held their version “Rides for a Reason”.

The Rides for a Reason featured cars, trucks, and motorcycles judged through submitted photographs by some impressive judges, including the Ring Brothers, Dave Kindig, and Ray Everham.

The show featured nine categories and had some impressive rides to pick from. The entry fee proceeds went to the impressive charity works of the National Auto Body Council; assisting the needy, first responders, and efforts to eliminate distracted driving.

Let’s get to the picks- Check out the gallery below for more photos

Antiques/Vintage

A 1930 five window Ford coupe took the honors.

Hot Rods/Rat Rods and Customs

1941 Willys fits the bill to win in this category

Classics – 50′, 60’s and 70’s

Yes, that was the classic car time as proven by this 1973 Karmann Ghia.

Old School Muscle cars- 60’s and 70’s

This 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass looks perfect for this category. Ring Brothers must have had a hard choice to make.

Modern Muscle 80’s to current

A teacher from a tech college took the honors with his 2015 Mustang GT

Trucks

How about a 2005 Avalanche for an unconventional decision.

Motorcycles

Hard to argue with the 2007 Suzuki 450, Ricky Carmichael edition that is still mint and has never been ridden.

Wild Card

Well in a COVID-19 world why not have a wild card category, especially if this 2006 Charger took the honors?

Best paint

This 2015 Mustang was a double winner with the black and candy apple red hues.

The nine finalists now vie for the Best of Show. Which one would you pick?

Photos courtesy NABC

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Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

Goodyear Brakes Breaks Into The Brake Parts

September 17, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Whoa, partner.

There is a new player in town when it comes to brakes. Goodyear Brakes, a licensee of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, now offers up to the consumer DIY auto enthusiast a set of calipers, rotors, brake pads with all the related hardware for many vehicles, from daily drivers to SUVs to light trucks.

Their website GoodyearBrakes.com is designed to support both do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me customers. In an interesting twist, the brand is trying out the direct to consumer avenue by offering their items solely through Amazon.com and other Internet based sellers. Expect to see consumer focused advertising and social media to push the branding efforts.

Goodyear Brakes

Goodyear Brakes manufactures and distributes a full line of brake system solutions. The brake pads are manufactured for them by a company with more than 50 years of experience in friction science. The rotors are made to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards by other manufacturers while their calipers are actually remanufactured units.

Goodyear Brakes offers brake pads, brake rotors and calipers. They also offer bundles of the pieces for a one-stop shop experience.

Goodyear Brakes Website

Their website will specify the correct brake pieces based on your car and VIN. The website also offers up some helpful guides for the shade tree mechanic. In addition Bruno Massel, a TV host and NHRA racer is featured with some videos to help consumers know what is involved when changing out the brakes.

Presently the direct to consumer channel is the only way to acquire the Goodyear brakes. That is an interesting approach, as most repair shops are not going to be able to let a car sit around for a few days while the parts are enroute. For the DIY’er ordering and waiting a few days for delivery would not be a sticking point, especially if the pricing is right.

Brakes are a vital component of cars and with consumers holding on to cars longer, the need for brakes will crop up more often. Now Goodyear Brakes offers consumers a new option for brake components.

Would you be willing to break out a new brand?

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Images courtesy of Goodyear Brakes

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Tool Chest, Uncategorized

WD-40 Specialist Goes Blue and Yellow

September 4, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

We all probably have at least one WD-40 product sitting near the tool box. Hard to beat their “Multi-Use” “spray for penetrating some stubborn rust or silencing that obnoxious squeak. The company has actually documented over two thousand uses for that one product. The WD-40 cans for their consumer products sport the characteristic blue and yellow shades along with a red cap or top.

Charity cars from SEMA

That color scheme is also utilized when WD-40 has crafted one of their many display cars for SEMA and other venues. These vehicles are always so distinctive and end up being auctioned off for good charity causes. Hard to beat the look and colors.

WD-40 Specialist Products

But did you know that WD-40 also had a “specialist” or professional lineup. The specialist products offer superior, heavy duty performance with Specialist Gel Lube, Silicone, White Lithium Grease, WD-40 Specialist Penetrant with a Flexible Straw, Contact Cleaner and Dry Lube, among the twenty plus products in the lineup. I absolutely love their electrical contact cleaner and their no drip lubes.

But the professional lineup had a different black and yellow color scheme with a yellow cap. So folks seeking out the familiar WD-40 lineup often failed to spot the WD-40 on the seller’s shelf. Let’s admit it there are a ton of products that stores offer, but really can they beat the WD-40 brand for performance and reliability?

WD-40 Goes Blue and Yellow

So the folks at WD-40 decided to make it easier for consumers to find the WD-40 stuff. They are converting the packaging for the Specialist products to reflect the familiar yellow and blue colorings with a red top/cap/squeeze trigger. That way the WD-40 colors will always stick out. As your favorite store replaces their inventory the blue and yellow colors will show up.

Personally, we were surprised to learn that WD-40 offered so many products under their Specialist line. WD-40 is so convinced that the Specialist line is the best, they offer a money back guarantee. How can you beat that? But now it will be easier to locate the San Diego, California based brand at your favorite store. Plus it will be easier to find near your tool box, unless it is also blue and yellow!

What’s your favorite WD-40 product?

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Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

Corvette’s Jake Logo Revised

December 17, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

With the introduction of a new generation Corvette, the C7, it figures that a new Jake design would be in order.

Jake is the logo for Corvette Racing and featured a modernized skull with the corvette crossed flags as the eyes.

Jake Updated

The C7.R (the full on racing version of the Corvette) will make its track debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, 2014. This is the day after its unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 25, 2014. When the C7.R takes to the track, it will sport an all-new Jake logo, which has become the unofficial mascot of Corvette Racing.

corvette-c7r-jake-mascot

Image 1 of 1

Jake logo Black and White

The History of Jake

Jake first appeared in the early 2000s, when the Corvette Racing team was gaining momentum and winning multiple ALMS championships and the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. The team began uniting behind a rally cry of “Take No Prisoners” and a flaming skull logo that represented its unrelenting drive for victories.

It wasn’t until after the C5.R completed the final 24 Hours of Le Mans that the unofficial logo was born. Urban lore claims that the sketch started on a cocktail napkin as a skull with crossed flags for the eyes and was named after Jake, Jim Belushi’s character from The Blues Brothers.

Jake Concept Edition

Jake even was honored with Chevrolet concept car that was shown at SEMA in 2010. It was based on a Grand Sport edition and was liberally covered with sedate Jake logos.

The new Jake, with the seventh-generation Crossed Flag logo for eyes, is more modern and more aggressive just like the C7.R will hope to be.

Artwork courtesy of © General Motors

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Tool Chest, Uncategorized

Bridjit Curbs to the Rescue

December 13, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Many low slung sports cars face a suburban threat – driveways.

It seems that many residential driveways have too sharp of an incline to allow for low profile cars to enter without scraping the side effects or body panels.

I have even experienced a Toyota Camry scrape a driveway when “loaded” down with four adults! But Bridjit has come to our rescue.

These folks at Bridjit have engineered a heavy-duty rubber curb that helps minimize the drop off on many curbs and driveways. It is made out of recycled tires, so you can even get an environmental thumbs up! We first ran across this item at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Bridjit to the test

Our test vehicle was stock 2003 Corvette. Regardless of the angle of the approach, the car always scraped the front air dam. Now Chevrolet did design this to be a flexible item, but eventually this air dam is bound to tear off or worse.

With the Bridjit in place the Corvette has a much easier time traversing the driveway.

Bridjit installs easily

The typical set up consists of a main portion of straight curbing and two tapered end pieces. They bolt together with galvanized nuts and bolts.

If necessary you could order additional sections of the main straight piece for longer drives. These babies are tough and durable. Ours has been exposed to the harsh Arizona sun for years now with no deterioration.

Bridjit is safe

Bridjit curbs are also rain and street sweeper safe. There is a circular channel built into the underside so water can run underneath the curbing. And the city street sweepers just steer around it when they come down our street, just like a parked car or similar obstruction.

We were originally concerned that the Bridjit might “disappear” at the hands of a midnight thief so our name was painted on the underside. But truth be known, at twelve feet and 75 pounds, these are a bit unwieldy, after assembly, so doubt if theft is a big issue.

What will be an issue is curiosity from passerby’s. We have had more than one car back up and peer again at the Bridjit and look it over. Nice that Bridjit inscribed their name and toll-free phone number (877 522-6611) on the curbing. Good marketing and free advertising!

Purchase the Bridjit

Several car shops carry the Bridjit curbs but I’d suggest ordering straight from the website and checking in with the friendly owners if you have any specific questions.

Car show, Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

Bumble Bee Camaro Tire with Hollywood Magic

December 3, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Bumble Bee -the Star of the Transformer Movie Anthology

The Bumble Bee is one of the main characters in the Transformer Movie Series and is a bright yellow Camaro. Chevrolet certainly enjoys the publicity that is garnered by the Bumble Bee and Hollywood studios are known for accepting cash or product for a movie “placement”.

SEMA 2013

At the recent SEMA show, the three “stars” of the upcoming Transformers 4 movie directed by Michael Bay were showcased by Chevrolet at a standalone display. Present were a new sleek Corvette Stringray, an urban looking Sonic and the yellow Bumble Bee Camaro. They were highlighting the upcoming Transformers 4 release next summer.

The same three cars were present at Chevrolet’s Media Event. But after Monday’s event some sharp eyed spectators noted a slight change in the “shoes” the Bumble Bee was wearing. It turns out the Hollywood magic must have worn out and the painted on Goodyear logo and Eagle name were removed showing the true brand of these tires – Pirelli.

Ah, the magic of Hollywood!

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Car show, Uncategorized

Double Down Deuce by Bryan Fuller at SEMA Show

November 30, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Bryan Fuller’s 32 Ford Roadster – Double Down Deuce

We’ve always been a fan of the work and craftsmanship that Bryan Fuller demonstrates. Last year at SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) he dragged out the ultra-long “Thundertaker“. Now this year at SEMA we were once again impressed by his “Double Down Deuce” Ford. And we weren’t the only ones – Hot Rod Magazine did not just one but two entries on the deuce.

Fuller – All Wheel Drive

After all when’s the last time you saw a quick change gear set – in the FRONT end?? Yep this is an all wheel drive beast! This metal roadster is powered by a Ford Boss 429 producing 600 cubic inches and huge horsepower with a GMC Denali transfer case and a clutchless five speed. from G Force.

Slick is Sick

The “Slickest” item might be the Goodyear 28.5—14.50-16 Goodyear Eagle slicks to provide the traction to the asphalt or even the salt flats. This roadster will be at home on the auto cross, with pro tourers or at Bonneville.

While still “a work in progress” this “Double Down Deuce” in bare metal is still awesome. Plus we had the chance to see it again in November at the Jet Hot display at the Goodguy’s Southwest Nationals show in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Auctions, Car show, Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

COPO Camaro, Gas Monkey Garage and Build Your Own

November 24, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The COPO Camaro is what legends are made of. And if you watch Fast N’ Loud, the Gas Monkey franchise on Discovery, you’ll learn more about them soon. They recently sold a Gas Monkey decaled COPO Camaro in Reno, through Barrett-Jackson Auctions. And are doing some more by way of Chevy’s “Build Your Own” program.

COPO Camaro

Back in the 60’s, slick dealers could order cars made by Chevrolet in unique configurations using a Central Office Production Order (COPO). A dealer, Fred Gibb in Illinois, thought making a 69 Camaro with an aluminum 427 ZL1 power plant making 425 horsepower was a great idea. So ultimately he ordered 69 of these fabled cars, with Chevrolet requiring a minimum of fifty to make a COPO. With a price tag of over $7,200 (twice what a stocker cost), Gibb could only sell thirteen at his dealership and he sent the others out through a network of dealers.

These cars were intended for racing on the strip and they are rather rare and pricey. I first saw one owned by Reggie Jackson back in the 90’s. One sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2012 for $451,000

2012

In 2012 the COPO name and concept was revived by Chevrolet at the SEMA show and was introduced with a white paint job. Only 69 ( a recurring number you see) were produced. It sold starting at $89,000 and was strictly for the NHRA’s strips with no VIN being issued and lacking a bunch of NHTSA mandated stuff. You had a choice of three engines; a 427 V8 or a 327 V8 with a either a 2.9L supercharger or a 4.0L supercharger

2013

In 2013 it again premiered in SEMA, this time in a unique convertible (which most tracks wouldn’t allow)! It started at $86,000 and offered again three engine options. a 352 horsepower V8, a 375 Horsepower 6.5L V8 or a massive 7L V8 making again the 425 horsepower. Plus along with the racer’s standard Powerglide it came in a 4 speed manual. The convertible was later sold at auction with only one other convertible made in 2013.

2014

Yet again for 2014, Chevrolet trotted out their COPO at SEMA in a light blue color. This year, lucky winners can choose from a 427 V8, a 350 V8 with a 2.9L supercharger, or mere V8’s with either a 350 or 396 cubic inch displacement. For 2014 a solid rear axle appears in place of the independent rear end.

Build Your Own

Each year only 69 COPO’s are offered by way of a lottery system. But that is not the only way to get a COPO. Chevrolet has offered a “Build Your Own” program were you can open a parts book and build up from a rolling chassis. Again these are designed for the strip and lack a VIN and are definitely not “street legal”. For 2013 they were offered at a starting price of $55,000.

That’s essentially what Gas Monkey Garage did. They got their hands on twenty of these babies and offered them for $89,000 minus a engine and transmission. So far they have sold 14, with one more set to be auctioned in January at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale AZ. Keep an eye out for more information about the COPO on their show soon. In the mean time, enjoy some views of the recent editions of the COPO Camaro

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Car show, Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

Cruise at SEMA Show on Friday Night

November 23, 2013 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Friday Night Cruise

For the past three years, at the end of the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show on Friday, some of the cars on display drive out of the show onto the surrounding street in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center.Â It has become known as “The Cruise” and has become very popular, even amongst weary, dog tired show goers.

Origins of The Cruise

In fact, the cruise started years earlier as an unofficial event.Â After the show closed on Friday afternoon, some cars would drive off to get to their trailers and either get locked up for the night or head back home.Â So locals and attendees would camp out along the drive ways and watch some of the cars drive away.

You can admire the individual cars and appreciate a static display of cars, but nothing beats seeing them now drive off, under power, lights on and with exhaust bellowing.

Sanctioned Cruise

The Cruise just sanctioned this drive off and became a recognized, official event.Â Early Friday afternoon, before the show closes at 4 PM, portable bleachers are maneuvered into position along a driveway that had been the point of access for the taxi’s.Â The stands fill up hours before the cruise starts and the actual driveway gets lined with interested folks as well.

This year SEMA had an emcee and a DJ spinning some tunes.Â Because it gets dark early in Las Vegas, SEMA even arranges for some portable lights so the cars can be easily seen.

Some cars tossed out sponsor t-shirts or hats to the crowd and Chip Foose came over to say hi and thanked the crowd for attending.Â SEMA was even selling a limited number of hats, embroidered to commemorate the Cruise

The Cruise and the Stars

Of course, the stars of The Cruise are the cars.Â Now most of these cars have already been parked outside of the convention center and on display all week long.Â But nothing takes the place of seeing the cars actually start up and drive off.Â We saw the WyoTech Ford truck/roadster, that we had previously highlighted, make a pass through the crowd after maneuvering out of the indoor display hall.

I never had seen so many LED’s on some of the 4X4’s and they were all blindingly lit.Â The cars were often packed with more than just the driver, so their friends could enjoy the experience.Â And of course many vehicles had more than one camera attached to their car, probably to help make a video for YouTube?Â There was even a drone flying overhead.

Many media folks were there including our friends from Hot Rod magazine.Â It was refreshing to see so many gear heads come out to see the cars cruise, and great to see so many owners take their cars on the road!Â Even the French builder of the 57 Bel Air themed Harley Davidson motorcycle drove out.Â This is a great way for SEMA to wrap up the week and was one of our highlights.

Enjoy some of our selected shots from the SEMA Cruise.Â Which is your favorite?