Car collector chronicles 10 14 by Dave Yaros

Car Collector Chronicles ®

Volume VII, Issue X

Exploring:

• Car Collecting Today

High RPMs

• Classic Rides • Reports From the Field • Oldsmobile (1897-2004) • Cadillac (1902- ) • Allanté (1987-1993)

• Corvair (1960-1969)

◄ = Clickable Link

IN THIS ISSUE: High RPMs

GDY Nets On the Web

Rock Auto Challenge

SAVED 62 Saga

After enduring a week of the temps never getting out of the low-50’s, and seeing/ hearing geese winging their way south, I am resigned to the fact summer is over. Not a pleasant thought! SAVED 62 is up and running once again. Oh what a relief it is! She went into the body shop on 24 Sep. We shall see how long before she comes back home? With this issue we conclude our sixth year of continuous publication. It has been a good/fun run! It is not too late to join a tour of the “Mother Road” taking place Oct 8-19. 10 days of memorable exploration by automobile of days of yore. For tour information and registration, go here: ► National Route 66 Motor Tour. It will be a great time!

Milwaukee Masterpiece Entrants/ Winners/Pictures CCC® Forum EMail:

◄

OldsD88@gmail.com ◄

October Automotive Milestones 10/1/1908 Model T debuts 1954 Stude-Packard merge 1974 Last Imperial built 1959 Chevy debuts Corvair 10/4/1962 Buick debuts Rivi 1983 Land speed record of 633 mph is set 10/7/1945 1st post-war Cad 1960 Premiere of "Route 66" on CBS 1938 Mercury production begins 1959 Ford debuts Falcon 10/14/1965 Olds debuts Toro 1945 Olds resumes postwar production 10/16/1958 El Camino debuts 10/21/1927 1st Model A Ford built 1963 Honda imports first car to U.S. 10/25/1931 George Washington Bridge opens to traffic 1954 George Romney named AMC's chairman and CEO

1957 Last Hudson intro’d 10/28/1955 Chevy intros smallblock V-8; the 265 10/31/2010 GM ceases production of Pontiac line 10/31/1957 Toyota Motor Sales, USA, opens in Hollywood, CA

- Time to go cruisin’!

GDYNets® on the Web Find GDYNets on the web:

The Milwaukee Masterpiece

October 2014

CCC® -THE FORUM ◄-A web site to discuss the newsletter, the hobby and our cars. Car Collector Chronicles ◄ Saved 62 ◄-Our 1962 Olds convertible, Ransom Eli Olds and things Oldsmobile related web site. The Gray Lady ◄-1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville web site.

SAVED 62: A website devoted

to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobile cars and the company founder, Ransom Eli Olds.

THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville, lots of Caddy information and an extensive repair library.

DAVE’S DEN: ◄-A site 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. George Yaros.

Car Collector Chronicles

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Rock Auto Challenge This month I am singling out Rock Auto™ for attention and comment. I am sure you have seen their ads on the tube: “All the parts your car will ever need.”® They tell you, “Quit running around to multiple parts stores. Get it all, quick, in just one place; Rock Auto.” In getting SAVED 62 back on the road I was in the market for some parts. In particular, hydraulic brake line hoses, front and rear, for the Olds. Having used Rock Auto™ before, I figured I would check them out. A nice feature on the site is that Rock Auto™ provides manufacturer names and part numbers for items. With a part number in hand, one may then search for it on other sites, such as NAPA™, O’Reilly™ or Auto Zone™. This makes the tasks of determining availability and comparing prices very easy. While working on the Olds I happened to notice the air cleaner housing to carburetor gasket was missing. I decided it would be prudent of me to buy a few. Off to Rock Auto™ I go. I key in my ride, select the appropriate part category, Fuel/Air, and voilà, there it is: 1962 OLDSMOBILE DYNAMIC 6.5L 394cid V8 : Fuel/Air : Air Cleaner Gasket Fel-Pro Part # 5292 2BBL; 3 1/2" ID x 3 9/16" OD $0.75

“$17.07 in shipping equals more than four and a half (4.5) times the cost of the items I wanted!”

I find my local parts supply houses also have, or can get, this gasket. However, they want a buck or two for it. Given that fact, six bits seems to be a more than reasonable cost. I decide to buy 5. That way, should I need another one, I will have it in stock/on hand in the car barn. $0.75 x 5 = $3.75. I can certainly handle that. So I continue to work my way through the Rock Auto™ site to complete my purchase. It wants my zip code to compute shipping. No problem. I mean how much can it cost to ship 5 gaskets, weighing far less than a pound, total? Well, my friends, the answer to that question is a whopping $17.07! (Heck, I shipped my bulky, heavy brake booser/ MC unit off to the rebuilder via UPS™ for only $15.63!) Adding in the Rock Auto™ shipping charge brought my total order to $20.82, or $4.16 per gasket! $17.07 in shipping equals more than four and a half (4.5) times the cost of the items I wanted! Well, let me tell you, my mother didn’t raise no dummies. I ended up ordering the gaskets from JEGS™. While JEGS™ did charge me $8.45, or $1.69 each, it did not charge me anything for shipping via FedEx™ ground. As luck would have it, shortly after undergoing this experience Rock Auto™ sent me their current e-newsletter. I found an e-mail address in it which I used to communicate my dissatisfaction with their exorbitant shipping charges. To my surprise I received a response. The author proffered the obvious truth of, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” He made the point that Fed Ex™ does not work for free. He said Rock Auto™ is able to keep their prices low by charging separately for shipping. While all of this is of course true, it ignores one vital point. The consumer, me, is only interested in the bottom line. That is, what is the total out-of-pocket cost for the item, not the item sans shipping charges? I proceeed to try and make that point clear and provide an understanding of why the Rock Auto™ practice/philosophy re: shipping charges was detrimental to its overall business goal of making money. One does not make money by driving custormers elsewhere. The individual was nonplussed and did not seem to care what I thought or felt. If JEGS™ can ship $3.75 worth of gaskets for $4.70, why must Rock Auto™ charge $17.07 to send the same package? Don’t insult my intelligence by trying to tell me Rock Auto is not padding the bottom line with these outrageous shipping costs. One more point on this. I constantly gripe over the seeming inability to find anything that is made in America. I am here to proclaim that Fel-Pro™ gaskets are proudly made in America!

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Car Collector Chronicles

Saved 62 Saga

As mentioned in “High RPMs”, the Olds is now back on the road. Getting it operable again was far more difficult than I would have ever imagined. A lot of the problem was the cramped working conditions when removing the vacuum assist booster and master cylinder. To get the unit out one must contort themselves into a working position under the dash, but above the steering column. With some difficulty I was able to accomplish that feat. And let me point out that the key word in the previous sentence is “feat.” Bolting the combination booster/MC unit back on to the firewall was somewhat easier, but just as uncomfortable. However, I had a heck of a time getting the brake line reconnected to the MC. When I say a heck of a time I am talking multiple hours spread out over multiple days! I was not able to remove the opposite end of the brake line in question from the junction block on the frame, which might have made the job easier. Nor was I able to accurately bend the MC end of the brake line to get the fitting to line up with the MC port. Believe me I tried, repeatedly. I tried so many times that I created a blister on my index finger. To get the brake line fitting to thread into the MC port I ended up removing the MC from the now installed vacuum assist booster. Doing so made it possible for all the constituent parts (brake line, fitting and MC port) to line up as needed. But it also created a problem in how to now compress the MC spring and piston enough to get the MC unit back onto the vacuum assist booster studs. That task was only accomplished with the perspicacious use of a length of 3/4 inch natural gas pipe strategically applying pressure on the end of the MC. I tell no lie when I report that I did breathe a hearty sigh of relief when I got it all back together. Once the new vacuum assist booster/MC unit and new hoses were installed, it was time to bleed the brakes. To do so I called on the assistance of my resident apprentice mechanic, The Mrs. Job done and all work road tested, I was finally able to take the car to the body shop recommended by Hagerty’s independent appraiser; Nagel Auto Body ◄. I discussed a number of matters in the course of my interview of the body shop owner. I also inspected some of his work to try and get an idea of the kind of results I could expect. His answers to my queries were not assuring. He did not tell me, in response to a direct question, whether the finish on my car is lacquer, enamel or base coat/clear coat. While I presume he is capable of making this determination, he did not choose to do so in my presence. He advised me his chrome guys would take 12-16 weeks to straighten and rechrome my bumper. That is 3-to-4 months! He would not store my car during this period. It would be incumbent on me to make multiple trips to and from his place of business to a) have the bumper removed and sent off, b) to have the car repaired and c) to have the bumper installed once it came back from the chrome shop. He also was in a tizzy over trying to decide whether he should have his collision or restoration guys do the work on my car. Lastly, in looking at the car he presented to me as an exemplar of his work (1970 Plymouth GTX Hemi; 1 of 29 ever built), I was not happy with the body panel gaps it exhibited. They varied too much to suit me. One would expect more precision on a ride that has a rarity factor of 1-of-29. Consequently, my discussions and observations have resulted in this shop being placed in the “also ran” category. I next took the car to Bennett Coachworks, who did the mechanical repairs to The Gray Lady last summer. There I spotted, and could not help but admire, the work done on a 60’s era Lincoln Continental. The craftsmanship exhibited was readily apparent and spoke very highly of the time and effort put into the work done on this car. It was a sharp contrast to the Hemi GTX I saw at the other establishment. So, it is back to Bennett Coachworks ◄ for my collector car body repair needs. I took the car in on 24 Sep, and am awaiting its return home to the Yaros Car Barn.

“He advised me his chrome guys would take 1216 weeks to straighten and rechrome my bumper. That is 3-to-4 months!”

Car Collector Chronicles

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The Milwaukee Masterpiece-Concours Day

Picking up from last month ― Sunday, 24 Aug was concours day at the Masterpiece; the day when only the crème de la crème are permitted on the show field. As on Saturday, the weather was cool and overcast. These conditions, as my photog friend Jim has noted, made it ideal for taking pictures. The Mrs. and I were somewhat surprised at both the number and quality of rides on display. Our collective opinion was that there were not as many cars as in years past. Perhaps the weather had something to do with that? After all, the skies were indeed dark and heavy. We also felt the wow factor usually present just was not there. In justification of our viewpoint I ask, what is a 1963 Ford Falcon doing at a concours event? Likewise a Buick GS, Oldsmobile 442 W-30 or a Pontiac GTO? Then again, have we perhaps become a bit jaded? That is not to say there were not a lot of very nice, high dollar, well cared for show cars on display on Concours Day. One such ride was an automobile of which I had no familiarity; a 1953 Gazelle. My efforts at researching this car have yielded nada. Some references imply it may be a kit car? In fact there may well be a kit car with this name, but it is not the car that was on display at the Masterpiece. The bottom line is I still know nothing about this car. Then there was the Ferrari 500 Superfast ◄. We are talking high end and high price here. The craftsmanship shows, both in the body and the interior. We are also talking high performance. The V-12 engine is capable of speeds in excess of 170 m.p.h. What I am at a total loss to explain is why the owner of this car would put Red Crown valve caps on it? Hey, it is his car and he is free to do whatever he wants, right?

There were a few rides that definitely stood out in my mind’s eye. Being an Oldsmobile fan, I was drawn to the 1934 Oldsmobile L-34 Convertible. We spent some time talking to the owner. He has owned the car since his high school days. He drives the car as well as shows it. That he does says a lot about his appreciation for the car. Not only does he enjoy his car, he wants others to be able to enjoy it. One of the impressive things about the car to me was the wind up clock integrated into the rear view mirror. Pretty high tech for 1934. Tom’s Olds L-34 took 3rd in its class at the show.

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Car Collector Chronicles

The Milwaukee Masterpiece - Concours Day Cont’d.

The other outstanding ride for me was the 1964 Excalibur Roadster Prototype. This was a Brooks Stevens design. Stevens was a native of Milwaukee. His designs include the Studebaker GT Hawk, the Miller High Life logo and Oscar Mayer wienermobile. Being a Stevens design it presents a splendid combination of sleekness, sportiness and class in a well thought out package. Corvettes pale in comparison to this Brooks Stevens creation.

Masterpiece Concours Entries/ Winners/Pictures Here is where you will find the entrants list ◄ for the 2014 Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours, the winners ◄ at the concours, the photos taken by me ◄ at the event (on Photobucket®) and the Masterpiece’s own photo collection ◄.

– Ok, I’ve had my say for the month. Now it’s your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC® at OldsD88@gmail.com. –– Now that you have finished reading this month’s issue of the newsletter, if so inclined, like CCC® on Facebook® by going here ______________________________________

-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE: • TBD