Tag Archives: GM

Vicari Auction Classic Car Favorites

The Vicari Auction is held in Biloxi, Mississippi, on October 4-7, 2023, as part of Crusin’ the Coast activities. It will be a popular mainstay of activities along “America’s Longest Block Party.” Last year, over 9,600 classic cars registered for the week-long activities along State Highway 90. Besides the cruise-ins at various designated sites, the Vicari Auction is a big highlight of the week, with memorabilia selling on Wednesday and cars selling Thursday -Saturday.

Vicari Auction Favorites

With so many cars on the auction block, many without reserve, it took a lot of work to narrow my choices down. But here are my three favorite cars that should draw some interest at the Vicari Auctions.

1969 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 at Vicari Auction

Auctioning on Saturday is this beautiful 1969 Jaguar. It is an E-Type Series 2 with a listed odometer reading just north of 100,000 miles. I love the Aztec Bronze color matched with a tan interior. It is outfitted with a three-speed automatic transmission mated to a 4.1-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. It has air conditioning and power brakes. It was previously offered for sale from a dealer, so perhaps Vicari can clinch a deal?1969 Jaguar

 

1956 Chevrolet Corvette

This classic 56 Chevrolet Corvette is a sweet stunner with Tuxedo Black paint, silver coves, and a red vinyl interior. A 350 engine is now under the hood, along with a Muncie four-speed manual transmission. This black-topped convertible has a four-barrel carburetor, upgraded rack and pinion power steering, and power brakes.56 Corvette, Vicari Auction

 

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz at Vicari Auction

So when I saw this 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, my heart skipped a beat. It’s listed as a numbers-matching power top convertible with a 365 CID engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. Dual four-barrel carbs are under the hood, and this luxurious car comes with air conditioning and power everything (brakes, steering, and windows). The Eldorado is a classic Cadillac, and a numbers-matching offering is unique. It was offered for sale earlier at the Auburn Auction by Worldwide Auctioneers, but they couldn’t make a deal. Will Vicari hammer it sold?El Dorado Top Up

Let me know which car gets your motor running.

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Photos Courtesy of Vicari Auctions

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Selling at Vicari Auctions

I had to look twice while glancing through the Vicari Auction catalog for their upcoming auction in Biloxi , Misssissippi on October 4-7, 2023. They have a listing for a 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville. This unit is often described as a test model for the upcoming 1957 Cadillac Brougham that previewed the quad headlights for GM.1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Front

Previewing the 1957 Cadillac Brougham

The 1957 Cadillac Brougham was the height of style and luxury for the 50s. I don’t know what made the bean counters at Cadillac approve these builds because they certainly couldn’t make up the losses in volume. The Broughams were hand built and were the most expensive car produced in their time. They were even more expensive than a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Let that sink in. These American titans were the MOST expensive car made in their day!

Of course, the luxury car had interior options to match. Air conditioning was standard, along with separate front and rear heaters. The power front seat had a six-way “memory” setting, transistor radio, electric automatic door locks, plus the ever-popular Autotronic headlight dimming control (it seems that even today’s economy cars have that offering now). How about power windows, power trunk latch, and polarized sun visors? All of this technology and wizardry was available over 60 years ago.

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville

So this 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville model has the rare (and illegal at that time) quad headlights and unique window trim, and rubber-tipped bullets. The “tuxedo” black and white is always a head-turner, and the leather interior is well done. Who doesn’t love that bat-wing air cleaner atop the original 365 CID engine? The car also rides on power everything (brakes, door locks, front seat, steering, and windows).1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Interior

So seeing the 1956 test vehicle was a great surprise. It first came to my attention at the RM Auction in 2014, where it sold for $49,500. The following year Worldwide Auctioneers sold it for $52,250. Here’s hoping the price jumps because the proceeds go to an orphanage in the Philippines.1956 Cadillac Eldroado Seville Engine

Photos courtesy of Vicari Auction Company

NASCAR Caps

NASCAR caps are a standard uniform for fans and crew. Team members often wear NASCAR caps during the day and fans wear them to connect with their driver’s sponsors. But the most important display of the baseball NASCAR caps occurs in Victory Lane after a race. Here in a highly orchestrated set of moves, crew members and the winning driver don a series of caps to honor the sponsors that helped get them into Victory Lane.MCB14591small

William Byron’s NASCAR Caps

This month William Byron won his second race of the short season and was excited to drive up onto Victory Lane surrounded by fans, photographers, news media, and public relations folk. The PR folk tote along plastic bags carrying the caps in sequential order that the team members will soon be wearing. Can you imagine the work involved each week lining up and organizing the caps, only to then see your driver not win the race?MCB14595small

Crew Members Need NASCAR Caps Too

Byron started out with a big cap from Valvoline as a cute gimmick and then swapped to a regular sized Valvoline cap along with his crew members. And there is a lot of crew that show up in Victory Lane beside the pit crew. Jeff Gordon even showed up to lead on the celebration and so he needed caps too. So yes, one more thing the PR folks need to account for- making sure they have enough sets of hats.MCB14628small

After that, the excited crew swapped to a United Rentals 500 cap to honor the race sponsorship.

Then they swapped to a NASCAR 75th anniversary cap.MCB14627small

Followed by a Valvoline cap again!

Yes Even More NASCAR Caps on Display

Axalta is a major sponsor for Byron, so of course the paint company had their chance in the limelight with their own hat.MCB14637small

Liberty University has been a long-term sponsor for William Byron so those caps were worn as wellMCB14639small

Can’t forget your car manufacturer so the Chevrolet bow tie showed up on a cap as well.MCB14640small

Hendrick Motor Sports had to have their cap on display as wellMCB14643small

Cincinnati Tools were the final caps to be worn and then the crew really got to celebrate. William Byron had a chance to thank others and mingle, obviously happy with his second win of the season at Phoenix Raceway. Wonder how many more times he will slide into Victory Lane with a bevy of NASCAR caps to wear?MCB14653small

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Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022 Revealed

Overland Expo revealed the Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022 at Overland Expo West held in Flagstaff, Arizona this weekend. This vehicle displays Overland Expo’s unique vision of the ultimate overland vehicle.

Built on the all-new  2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X, the Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022 utilized parts and components from more than twenty Overland Expo exhibitors and was assembled by MULE Expedition Outfitters.Ultimate-Overland-Vehicle-2022-06

2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X comes with a 6.2.-liter V8 engine and a four-wheel drive system with front and rear electronically locking differentials. The AT4X’s Multimatic DSSV spool-valve suspension dampers should make for a smooth ride even when off-road.

Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022 Conversion

The pickup bed was replaced with a 6.4-foot tray and three-foot canopy from MITS Alloy North America. The MITS tray and canopy conversion reinforces the utility of the truck as an overlanding machine.Ultimate-Overland-Vehicle-2022-25

The canopy roof includes a solar panel to store energy in  two lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are used to maintain the Dometic 110 refrigerator.

Inside the canopy is a kitchen and shower. The vehicle comes with an onboard air system to inflate the tires and air springs as needed. There are plenty of auxiliary lights to see this vehicle from miles away.Ultimate-Overland-Vehicle-2022-13

2022 Use of the Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022

The Ultimate Overland Vehicle 2022 will make hit all the Overland Expo shows this year along with some scenic trails, before being auctioned off on Bring a Trailer with 100% of the proceeds going to the Overland Expo Foundation.  Nice to see the proceeds go to a great outdoors need.Ultimate-Overland-Vehicle-2022-01

We love 4X4’s but this beast from Overland Expo raises the bar.

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High Street Cars and Coffee – Phoenix , AZ

Plenty of places offer a Cars and Coffee format in the Phoenix, AZ region.  Show up in a vacant parking lot, check out some cars that you aren’t likely to see on too many roads, sip some lukewarm coffee and head back out with most of the day still available to you. You could even watch the departing cars and hope to see a dimwit crash his new car when he punches it on the drive out. See how it is done at High Street for March 2021.Boss 302

Like I say there are plenty of places to check out the cars – until COVID-19 struck. Crowds and social distancing don’t mix.  Some meets have had trouble getting city permits or landowner’s permission. But as things loosen up, the shows go on.

High Street Cars and Coffee

Highline Auto magazine has sponsored a show for a while, most recently at the Scottsdale Fashion Center, but for March 2021 they moved to the High Street complex.  This setup involves a long tree-lined boulevard with plenty of street-side parking for the show cars.  Some adjacent restaurants are open for business as well. Exotic

This month’s show had a nice collection of cars, some music from a DJ, some free Bang energy drinks and a vendor was selling donuts too. Nice vibe but even with security in the area, probably less than 50% were wearing masks.Camaro

Cars at High Street Cars and Coffee

Cars varied from a Koenissegg to Corvettes, McLarens to Porsche’s. There were even some classics and some down-low land yachts. Not to mention an older Bronco along with a Bronco Sport for an interesting comparison.Bronco SportBronco

Not sure if this was a one-time location change or a permanent move.  Spectator parking filled up fast along the east side of the area and many folks had to park in a dirt lot, just FYI.

Do you have a favorite Cars and Coffee event?

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Chip Repair for Cars and Trucks – the 2 P’s

Paint chips take a real toll on a car. No matter how careful you are, your car is bound to get a chip from a wayward shopping cart, a door ding, or gravel flying low across the car.  It seems that modern paint is not only expensive but more subject to chips, as many new car makers seem to skimp on the thickness of their paints. But chip repair is easy to do.

To get a quality DIY repair you need to focus on two P’s – Preparation and Paint.  Without sufficient attention to these two prime areas, your chip repair will be less than successful.

Paint Chip Preparation

First, you should evaluate the paint chip or scratch and see what is involved. Did the scratch go all the way to bare metal or is the body piece even made with metal?  If your fingernail can catch on the chip or scratch you have some prep work to do.  Depending on the severity you need to take super fine sandpaper (1000-1500 grit wet) and sand those edges so they are smooth. This will make the paint easier to apply and blend in with the original paint. 

A good quality car wash should be applied around the affected areas. That should remove any surface contaminants. Be sure and remove all existing waxes or sealants by using some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to remove any car chemicals on the chip area.

Let the area dry and get it in good lighting so you can see what you are doing

Paint for Paint Chip RepairAutomotiveTouchup-Products

You need to make sure that your new paint will match the existing paint. If your car has never been repainted and you bought it new, you should have the listing of what the color and the paint code (a string of letters and numbers) is. If not, look inside of your glove box and see if the information is printed there. As a last resort, your dealership should be able to help you out.

If the car has been re-painted hopefully the painter can tell you the paint code that he “used”. But even if armed with a code, there is no guarantee that he mixed it right. A different vendor or batch of paint can still have differences.

Now you have several choices where you can get your paint. A regular auto paint supply shop could mix up a quantity but they may have a large minimum amount for an order. Plus remember these guys are more apt to make paint up in large volumes, so when you ask for a small 2-ounce bottle of paint they may lack the precise dispensers for such a small quantity. One drop too much may make a huge difference in the final look.

I would suggest that you get your paint from AutomotiveTouchUp. They are a national company that specializes in the rapid shipment of consumer-friendly amounts. They also have advice on their website if you want to review the repair process. With the paint in hand, it is now time to do the touch-up.

Paint Chip Repair

Think small, very small. Rather than apply a large glob of paint your aim is to sneak up on the repair by applying small amounts and let it dry before applying a second level.  The first attempt should get a good portion of the chip covered with each additional layer building up to the final effort.AutomotiveTouchup-Webpage

Let the paint thoroughly dry. At this point, you would apply a clear coat if applicable.  Let dry again and then use a small amount of rubbing compound to get that paint to shine.  Let dry some more. Frankly, for a small job, the paint is not going to emit a lot of fumes (gassing) and you could apply a small amount of wax. If you spray can’d a large panel you will want to let the paint cure for at least one month before applying any wax or sealant.  If you can smell “new” paint still, don’t wax.

With a little time and effort, you can get a great chip repair. Remember the two P’s and take your time. Use quality paint and tools and you will be surprised at the results.

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River City Rods’ 1972 Chevrolet C30 Franklin Camper

River City Rods and Fabrication have been making waves with their custom builds at the SEMA Shows for the past few years. Every Chevy gear head loved “Brown Sugar” that rolled out for the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and was recently up for sale on eBay. But they also built a 1972 Chevrolet C30 RV Truck for the 2017 SEMA Show that had some interesting post-SEMA experiences.

River City Rods 1972 Chevrolet C30Driver's SideRiver City Rods 1972 Chevrolet C30

The 1972 Chevrolet C30 was based on an original Franklin Coach camper that was treated to a custom suspension and new internals.  The crew at River City threw in a LS3 GM Performance engine and a Bowler five speed automatic transmission.  Arizona based GSI did the chassis work and used an AccuAir air ride system.

Of course the interior had to be eye popping and that included a 50 inch television and barn wood motif. There was a bar in the back as well. The blue paint was eye-catching and plenty of lookers enjoyed the retro look at the SEMA Show.River City Rods 1972 Chevrolet C30 Interior

After the SEMA Show

Well sometimes the show cars from SEMA disappear after the show and you wonder what happened to them. In this case it didn’t take long to see the Chevrolet C30 back in the public’s eye.

Barrett-Jackson had it offered at their Scottsdale, Arizona show in January of 2019. It drew plenty of interest and was hammered sold for $126,500. But not so fast partner.

In September of this year it was offered up by a dealer through Bring A Trailer. The seller claimed that the buyer at Barrett-Jackson backed out of the deal and while Barrett-Jackson offered to make the deal stand, the dealer took the truck back.

So it ran on the Bring A Trailer auction but only was bid up to $56,555. Quite a drop from a heady Barrett-Jackson hammered price.  So the dealer took it off the auction site and went to eBay.

River city Rods -1972 Chevrolet C30 on eBay

On eBay the dealer had it listed with a buy It Now price of $89,900.  The seller claimed over $200,000 was invested in the build.  After being on the site for a few days it was ended by the seller.  Many car sellers on eBay will often state they are offering the car for sale elsewhere, like on their own website, and might remove the vehicle from the auction early.  My guess is the dealer received an offer outside of eBay and hence ended the auction without an official sale from that auction site.

So if the dealer was able to get it sold this time, maybe it will surface soon again for the public to view?River City Rods 1972 Chevrolet C30 Rear view

Would you use this ride for an RV in the post-COVID 19 days?

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Goodyear Brakes Breaks Into The Brake Parts

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.Goodyear Brakes Bundle

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.Bruno Massel

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

 

 

 

 

 

Great Subscription Offer from Round-Up Publications

The good folks at Round-Up Publications know a thing or two about good deals. Their magazines are packed with deals tighter than five teenagers in a trunk sneaking into a drive-in movie. Remember those?

For a limited time the publisher is offering an exclusive offer.  Get a year’s subscription to not one, not TWO but all THREE of their award winning magazines.  Yes folks, you’d get a year of Classic Car Round-Up and Truck Round-Up. These are monthly issues so that translates to twenty four sets of great deals and car articles.

But WAIT there’s more. You also get a year’s subscription to Auto Round-Up magazine, the star ship of the fleet from the publisher. This comes out every two weeks so you’ll get 26 issues delivered to your door.

Round-Up Magazines

With that many magazines, your mailman will need a back brace. Plus you’re bound to find at least one amazing deal on one amazing car or truck or …

Besides the great ads for cars and trucks, there is always a mass of parts and supplies offered for sale.  So don’t delay and get your order in. Operators might not be standing by, but the electrons of the WWW – world wide web are. So hop to it!

Here is the link for ordering this awesome set of magazines.

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Got Flames – NHRA’s Arizona Nationals

NHRA AZ Nationals Jet CarThe action was red hot at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, near Phoenix, AZ when the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) showed up on Friday February 21 through Sunday, February 23, 2020. The Wild Horse Pass Motorsport Park is south of Phoenix and a short hop down the freeway from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Technically it is on the Gila River Indian Community. Despite rain on Saturday, it did not dampen the spirits of racers or fans and NHRA squeezed in a round of pro qualifications for the Arizona Nationals between the rain storms.

Rain Shortened Qualification

So with two rounds of qualifications on Friday to lead the race ladder, the full field was set for a sold out crew of race fans on Sunday. By now you probably know that Erica Enders, Tommy Johnson Junior and Steve Torrance won in the pro ranks. Plus there were plenty of winners in the sportsmen classes as well.NHRA AZ Nationals Funny Car

Flames

One of my favorite times at a drag strip is when the skies get dark and the exhaust flames shooting out from the headers are more visible. While the Arizona Nationals are generally run in the day light, the lighting gets dark enough to see some flames. We always enjoy hanging around taking some shots as sunset approaches and checking out the flames. Hope you do too!NHRA AZ Nationals Dragster 2

Jet cars

Plus of course if you are a race track promoter you have to have jet cars! At the end of the day’s races, what better way to close out the night but to have not just one or two jet cars but THREE jet cars zoom down the track? The heat these engines throw off is actually felt in the stands as the jet cars belch white smoke and streak down the track.NHRA AZ Nationals Approaching Jet Car

The races ran smoothly and how many racetracks can claim a sold out show? So NHRA must be doing something right, huh.

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