®
A GDYNETS PUBLICATION © 2010, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector ® Chronicles Volume III, Issue 1
Exploring:
Car Collector Chronicles
Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
Car collecting today Classic rides
This month I thought I would start off with a discussion of winter collector car activities. Obviously, anything involving driving is not such an activity!
Reports from the field Oldsmobile Cadillac
If you are like me, you engage in doing and planning. The “doing” entails accomplishing what you “planned” last winter or summer. Now is the time to get it done.
Corvair
I have already started on my winter activities. The #1 item on my list is having the door panels on SAVED62 redone. It is not a real labor intensive project on my end, but there is more to it than meets the eye.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Baby, It’s Cold Outside! ®
1
GDYNets On the Web
1
In & Around the “Yaros Car Barn”
4
Meet “Auntie Pearl”
5
Coming Next Issue
The first task is to find a concern that is capable of doing the job, and getting it done right. I looked at a number of business concerns in order to reach this decision; Year One, Legendary Auto Interiors and SMS Auto Fabrics to name a few.
Dave’s Den http://GDYNets.WEBNG.com
The Gray Lady - 55 Cad de Ville OldsD88@gmail.com
It was obvious that Oldsmobile is spoken at SMS. They know what a Dynamic 88 is, and how it differs from other Olds models. They knew the factory trim code number for my car. Material samples were provided to me for examination. All of the above goes a long way in deciding whether or not to do business. What clinched the deal was a willingness to work with me and assuring me what I wanted done would be the only service provided. Their standard door panel quote includes redoing the rear seat quarter armrests. My rear seat quarter armrests are in great shape. Why would
I pay to have them redone? I did not have to, as SMS, agreed to do only the door panels at a reduced charge. After the deal was sealed, and paid for in full, I explained my need for extra vinyl material to recover the front armrest pads. SMS agreed to
GDYNets® on the Web WHERE YOU WILL FIND GDYNets (me) on the WWW:
5
I finally settled on SMS. Why? Well, their reputation precedes them for starters. Of particular import to me was their responsiveness to my queries. They were prompt and addressed the questions presented.
— Continued on p. 2.
Saved 62 http://www.freewebs.com/ jeandaveyaros
EMAIL:
January 2010
Car Collector Chronicles -
DAVE’S DEN: A website
devoted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive information on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmobile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. Geo. Yaros.
SAVED 62: A website devoted to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobiles and its founder, Ransom Eli Olds.
THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and Caddy information.
Car Collector Chronicles
Page 2
BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!—Continued give it to me. When I say “give,” I do mean give, as in no charge. It is these little touches that make all the difference in the world. Actually serving the customer’s needs; who wudda thunk? My immediate problem was one of finding a box to ship the panels to SMS. I ended up buying a bicycle shipping box at the local UPS store. The box cost me $15.96, and empty it weighed in at 7 lbs.! I next spent 2 hours doing a number on the box to reduce it in size to fit my needs. In the process, it went from 53”L x 39” W x 7”D to 45”L x 29”W x 3”D. My cost to ship the door panels from WI to OR was $19.51. As I write, they are in transit.
“I am researching what I can do to address the common problem of stress damage to the panels at the door bottoms.”
An earlier issue talked of making use of a digital camera as a tool. It was put to use in this project. I photographed the window cranks, with the windows closed. This will allow me to realign them as they came from the factory when I install the new door panels. Now, I am researching what I can do to address the common problem of stress damage to the panels at the door bottoms. One idea is to put some sort of backing strip on the inside of the door panel at the bottoms. I am not convinced that will eliminate the stress? A second idea is placing clear plastic, Lexan™, flat washers under the heads of the panel screws. Since the washers are clear, they will not detract from the appearance of the panel. The washers will spread the load under the screw heads, making it more difficult for them to cut into either the surface material, or the panel backing. As an alternative to the clear washers, one could place a clear plastic clip-on edge molding on the bottom of the panel. The advantage here would be both the front and back of door panel bottom would be reinforced and protected. Plus, I do think the edge molding would present a better, more uniform and less noticeable appearance. The more I think about this, the above alternative is going to be my first choice. Now, to find suitable edge moldings! A related project is finding new armrest bases. One will be more than frustrated if trying to find them for an Oldsmobile. They are more than few and far between. Also, one has to appreciate that Dynamic 88 convertible armrests are different than those used by Olds on hardtops and sedans, as well as different than those used on the 98 and Starfire models.
Car Collector Chronicles
BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! –
Page 3
Continued from p. 2
Luckily, the 62 Chevy Impala and Olds Dynamic 88 use the same armrest base. Not so the Bel Air. I have seen these armrest bases advertised at prices ranging from $39 to $84. However, when buying anything online these days, it is imperative you pay attention to S & H costs. I find more and more vendors are jacking up the S & H costs, instead of raising the price of the product. This practice makes it important that we, the consumers, keep a close eye on the bottom line. Another, possible, winter project is doing a carburetor rebuild. This would be on The Gray Lady, our 1955 Cadillac. While the car starts, it is not idling and warming up as it should. A part of the problem is a defective heat riser. I have a new one, and a carb rebuild kit, in hand. One of my requirements before purchasing the kit was that the materials be compatible with modern day fuels. There are horror stories aplenty on the net about ethanol eating away at lines, gaskets, diaphragms, etc. I do not want to be adding to them. For that reason I sought, and my supplier gave me, an ethanol compatibility assurance. My second requirement was one I am sure you can all relate to, price. For those of you who are not involved with Cadillacs, let me enlighten you. Far too many vendors see the name “Cadillac” as justification to jack up their price 2 or 4 times. Case in point: I have seen GM key blanks priced a $19.95 a pair for the Cadillac. These very same keys, for an Oldsmobile or Chevy may be purchased for $4! I do not know about you, but I do not appreciate being viewed as an easy mark by suppliers. I avoid them like the plaque (swine flu). I ended up buying my rebuild kit from Daytona Parts Co. They are very knowledgeable, friendly and ready to be of help to their customers. Additionally, the price they charged was fair. Note, I did start the discussion of the carb rebuild with the word “possible.” While I do have heat in my garage, I have yet to convince myself I want to undertake such a delicate and intensive task in the cold of winter. Frigid temps contribute to attention deficit disorder, and rebuilding a carburetor (which I have never done before) requires paying attention to details. I am still thinking on that one! Our last winter project is to find another driving tour like the one we took on Old. U.S. Hwy. 27 in Michigan last summer. We enjoyed ourselves so much, that we want to do another tour. If anyone knows of such, do share that info with all of us.
“Far too many vendors see the name ‘Cadillac’ as justification to jack up the price 2 or 4 times.”
Car Collector Chronicles
Page 4;;
In & Around the “Yaros Car Barn” The Yaros Car Barn, is an alive, active place; not a vehicle museum by any means. Recently, one of the resident machines departed for new environs. Jean’s 1963 Corvair Monza has left us. She was sold to an individual in the Philadelphia area. He flew in (I picked him up at the airport) to look at the car, and ended up driving her home. He reported the Vair got 30 + MPG on the return trip. Not bad for a 46 year old car! Presently, there is space in the Yaros Car Barn crying to be filled. After having seen one this summer, on the Hwy. 27 Tour, there is also Jean crying to have it filled with a Cadillac Allanté! Consequently, we are actively on the hunt. A month ago, I knew virtually nothing about the Allanté, other than it was expensive. While I still have quite a lot to learn, I have picked up a few tid-bits of info on the car. The car was manufactured from 1987 through 1993. The production runs are a categorized into phases; Phase I-1987 and 1988, Phase II-1989 through 1992, and Phase III1993. The 93 model year is a conundrum. It has GM’s Northstar engine. It was the first year GM offered this engine. The 93 also shared seats with those used in Eldorados. These seats represent a step down in fit and quality from the Keiper-Recaro Austrian made seats used in 1992. 1993 also was the year Cadillac stopped installing the 200 W Bose stereo systems in the Allanté. Instead, it opted for the less expensive, generic GM stereo. The 1993 Allanté was selected to pace the Indy 500 in 1992. Even though ‘93 was the last year for the car, it was also the year in which the highest number of cars were manufactured; 4,670 out of the 21,430 total production over the entire seven year run. The year of lowest Allanté production was 1992. Only 1,931 Allanté’s rolled off the assembly line that year. This was because Cadillac was expending most of its Allanté efforts on testing the 93 Northstar engined model. Cadillac eventually replaced the Allanté with the XLR in 2004. It is even more expensive, with a list price $20,000 more than a Corvette!. Like the Allanté, production of the XLR has also ceased (2009). While both the Allanté and XLR are fine, luxurious roadsters, Cadillac lacks the requisite skills to market them. It does not know to whom it is appealing in terms of sales; the upscale luxury car buyer, or the buyer who wants performance accompanied by luxury. It is my opinion the prosepective buyer was the latter, while Cadillac marketed to the former. Ok, I have had my say for this month. Now it is your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and contributions, and ask that you do help spread the word about our pub. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to: OldsD88@gmail.com _________________________________________________
— RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM!
Car Collector Chronicles
Page 5;
Meet Auntie Pearl: This is the replacement for Jean’s 1963 Corvair Monza. It now occupies a stall in the “Yaros Car Barn!” What it is, is a Cadillac Allanté. The 1992 MSRP was a mere $59,665.00. That price did not include payment to the IRS of the mandatory gas guzzler tax of $1,300.00; bringing the total cost to $60,965.00! In 1992 you could get a Corvette convertible by shelling out only $40,145. Our cost to acquire her was all of $8,000 (plus $580.00 to transport it from Arizona to Wisconsin). The color is a metallic Pearl White, which was a $700.00 option. She is 1of-21,430 Allantés ever manufactured. She is 1-of-5,379 pearl white Allantés manufactured over the seven year production run. Additionally, she is 1-of-1,931 Allantés manufactured in 1992. Lastly, she is 1-of-531 1992’s sporting the pearl white color. Ours has 50,000 miles on the odometer. It came to us with the factory alloy wheels, and a few accessories. Those accessories are a removable hardtop, rear wind screen, the chrome rims shown in the picture and a factory service manual. Believe it or not, the tops (soft and hard) are raised/lowered, installed/removed manually? COMING NEXT ISSUE:
One Thing Leads to Another (Buying the car is just the start) Allanté Quirks Reach of Car Collector Chronicles® Cuban Classic Cars