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No.299 March 2016
The UK’s Number 1 for 27 years
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Ben Klemenzson
Viewpoint
W
elcome to March’s issue of Classic American which includes our fourth American & Modified. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to hearing your views and comments on what has turned out to be a very popular and well-received regular supplement to the magazine. Last month was in fact my 20th anniversary working on Classic American. I don’t think I had any idea when I started on January 2, 1996, that I would still be around working on the magazine two decades later. A lot has changed in that time; when I started computers’ screens were still green, used floppy discs, and emails and the Internet were not a part of everyday life, either at home or at work. If someone wanted to contact you they had to either write or ’phone you up – or if they were really high tech, send you a fax! The dawn of the digital age has brought many challenges for the publishing industry and even Classic American hasn’t escaped these; however, one thing hasn’t changed and that is the pleasure of sitting down with a magazine, a cup of tea and a biscuit and enjoying a good read. Not that long ago we were being told that newspapers and magazines would soon go the way of the horse and carriage,
but like all sweeping generalisations, what we actually find is that the reality is a bit more complex. Magazines (and newspapers) are still here and they sit side-by-side with digital versions, websites, social media sites and iPad editions, complementing them, not competing with them. Of course technological change is not new. I was flicking through a copy of National Geographic from 1965, looking at the adverts, and it struck me what an amazingly exciting and optimistic time it was. There were adverts for colour TVs, jet liners, personal luxury cars and (rather incongruously) missiles. It was of course all summed up in the TV series Mad Men which recently ended, where the protagonists all worked in advertising selling all these technological marvels. And perhaps that’s why we love our cars; they hark back to a simpler, more optimistic time. So, grab a cup of tea and some biscuits and let’s get cracking!
Ben Klemenzson, editor bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk
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Contents March 2016
Regulars
Features
06 12 14 16 18 20 28 36 70 85 86 90 92 96 98 106 110 122
23 1937 Lincoln Zephyr 30 1960 Chevrolet Impala 37 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 43 1973 Ford F100 49 1969 Mustang Mach 1 56 1979 Dodge Magnum 63 Chevrolet UK Saloon Car Racing 75 Woodward Dream Cruise 81 Behind the Wheel 104 Drive Buy 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
News Letters Muscle Car Files From Here to Obscurity Across the Pond Subscription Offer Classic American Shop Back Issues Ad Gallery Reviews Rear Window Discoveries Tex Club News Events Service Directory Private ClassiďŹ eds Next month
classic-american.com 5
Classic American
News
New metal from Motor City
Our man across the pond, Huw Evans, looks at some of the highlights from this year’s North American International Auto Show held each January in Detroit. While the 2016 running of the North American International Auto Show arguably wasn’t as big a splash for local automakers as last year, there were still a number of new product reveals including concepts, luxury cars, trucks and SUVs. FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES
2017 Chrysler Pacifica While its cross-town rivals gave up on the minivan concept some time ago, Chrysler is still holding on, witnessed by the Detroit reveal of the 2017 Pacifica. Taking its name from a short-lived soft roader spawned from the old Daimler-Benz Chrysler merger, the 2017 Pacifica looks decidedly car-like from the front and aims to rethink the minivan concept. The 2017 Pacifica will be offered with a standard petrol engine (a 287bhp 3.6-litre V6) teamed with a nine-speed automatic transaxle or as a plug-in hybrid, with a 250bhp version of the V6 teamed with twin electric motors and a 16kWh battery pack. Utilising an all-new unibody structure, the Pacifica will feature some familiar Chrysler minivan features such as Stow ‘N’ Go seating (non-hybrid versions) and some new ones, including a rotary shifter for the transmission, LED lighting and even an onboard vacuum cleaner!
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew After its huge performance splash in 2015, things were a little more subdued at the Ford camp this year, still following on from last year’s SuperCab F-150 Raptor there was excitement in the shape of the full-four-door SuperCrew variant. Like its shorter counterpart, motivation in this one comes from a 3.5-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 that’s said to produce in excess of 411 horsepower (outgunning the previous generation’s 6.2-litre V8). It will also sport a 10-speed automatic slushbox, torque-on-demand four-wheel drive and terrain response system.
2017 Ford Fusion Having received a major makeover for 2013, Ford’s bread and butter mid-size sedan gets a mid-life update for 2017. Key differences include specific grilles for different trim levels, new regenerative
braking on the Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models plus the reintroduction of the Fusion Sport, which gets firmer suspension settings, bigger front brakes, 19-inch wheels and specific sport bucket seats. Three engines are available on the 2015 Fusion, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder in base models, with optional Ecoboost 1.5 and 2.0-litre units that get new dual scroll turbochargers. Another upgrade for 2017 is the option of Sync3 – Ford’s latest voice-activated info/entertainment system with 4G LTE capability.
2017 Lincoln Continental It created a huge stir in concept form during last year’s New York International Auto Show and in Detroit, the production version of Lincoln’s new flagship was a major highlight. Designed to replace the nearly invisible MKS, it closely follows the concept, featuring distinctive styling cues, including a massive grille and slightly creased trunklid. Utilising a Fusion-derived platform with front or all-wheel-drive options, the Continental will offer three different V6 engines (a 2.7-litre turbo, 3.0-litre turbo and a 3.7-litre normally aspirated
Buick Avista.
unit) teamed with a six-speed automatic transaxle. Specific features include 30-way adjustable seats, reclining and massaging outboard rear chairs, standard Sync3 and a range of driver aid features, including automated parking, braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
GENERAL MOTORS
Buick Avista Concept Without doubt one of the showstoppers of this year’s Detroit show, the Avista demonstrates that passion and style are still alive and well at GM’s ‘premium’ brand. A two-door hardtop, with dramatic curves and fender openings pulled tight over large 20-inch wheels, the Avista sports a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 under the hood, making in the region of 400bhp. Transmitting power to the rear wheels (yes, rear wheels) is an eight-speed automatic transmission. With a luxurious four-seat interior that features dramatic sculptured door panels, console and dash, the Avista, should it make production, could redefine Buick as a brand, bringing back the notion of tasteful elegance and serious performance, the real ‘Banker’s Hot Rod’ once again. We sincerely hope General Motors has the courage to actually build it.
2016 Buick Envision Given the popularity of Buicks in China, this probably was inevitable. The Envision is Buick’s third cross-over utility designed to slot in below the Enclave and above the compact Encore. Despite being assembled in Yantai, China and imported to North America, GM stresses that this latest cross-over was designed and engineered in Michigan. Features include a standard 252 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission, standard all-wheel drive and luxury-laden interior that borrows many cues from the LaCrosse sedan.
2016 Buick Envision.
classic-american.com 7
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback.
Mystery of the crashed Impala finally solved...
2017 Chevrolet Bolt.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt GM’s latest attempt at a pure electric vehicle comes with a fairly steep sticker price – $37,000, though a $7500 tax credit helps ease the shock. The biggest benefit to the Bolt however is its more than 200-mile range, which puts it ahead of most competitors. Bigger than the current Chevy Spark EV, the Bolt is planned to be sold nationwide eventually, though GM currently remains very tight-lipped about the car’s specs, including the powertrain.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback
There was a time where Americans thumbed their noses at hatchbacks, signifying them as little more than utilitarian economy cars. Yet, given the success of the current Ford Focus stateside (40% of those sold are five-door versions), GM is jumping in on the action with this, the Cruze Hatchback. Differences from the sedan version run to a more complex independent rear suspension, though both cars share the same 1.4-litre, 153bhp turbo four-cylinder engine.
2017 GMC Acadia A replacement for the hot-selling mid-size crossover, the new 2017 Acadia is actually smaller than the current model and some 700lbs lighter to boot. It’s also bolder in the looks department, adopting even more of the current blocky GMC truck look that’s spreading to the brand’s entire range of vehicles. With less weight, the base engine becomes a four-cylinder, in this case a 2.5-litre unit, though a 3.6-litre V-6 is optional. Both are teamed with a six-speed automatic that transmits power to the front or (optionally) all four wheels. 2017 GMC Acadia.
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The Bad
Mike Renaut speaks to the artist turning her crashed Chevrolet into an art car to raise funds for charity… You might recall seeing internet photos last February of a dented white 1968 Chevrolet Impala coupe found abandoned by the Metropolitan Police in Sutton, south west London. After they tweeted photos of the car in an attempt to find the owner, various rumours started online that the car was stolen from storage by joyriders and – apparently solely because it was still on Idaho licence plates – had been smuggled out of America. The police set a date of March 20 before the car was potentially going to be crushed and even an owner in America had supposedly came forward to claim the Impala in order to repatriate it. It’s taken a while but the truth has finally emerged. This ’68 Chevy in fact belongs to artist Imogen Paton and it was crashed on February 17, 2015 by her abusive ex-partner. “He took the Impala one night when very drunk and ended up smashing it to pieces,” says Imogen. Having escaped that abusive relationship, Imogen is now using the car within her art as the ‘Bad Karma Impala’ project. “The plan is renovate and redesign the Impala and launch her as the UK’s first charity art car,” explains Imogen. “To rent her out for anything appropriate like weddings, films or advertising and use her battered body as a statement piece about domestic abuse for future fundraising events.” With the car Imogen intends to provide a continuous source of income for Solace Women’s Aid (http://solacewomensaid.org/), the charity which helped her get through her domestic abuse, and she wants to inspire hope in other victims showing them they can recover. “In terms of the redesign, she will not be a crazy art car with fake grass and a life-size cow on top, she’ll be a luxury vehicle, complete with a variety of extras inspired by the era from which she came.” Dream Cars are going to do the renovation. “I did originally import five classic cars,” continues Imogen, “a ’77 Lincoln Continental, a ’71 and ’73 Dodge Charger, a ’63 Impala and then the infamous ’68 Impala. My ex-partner convinced me we would make a successful rental business with them, but I had to sell the
Karma Impala cars in a hurry as it was unsafe for myself and my children to stay where we were. My aim long term, once I have launched and made a success of the Bad Karma Impala, is to buy back those same models and have a fleet of charity art cars. Each one supporting a cause, and each one unique. “The Bad Karma Impala will always be the ‘ringleader’ since it was the vehicle most embroiled in the domestic abuse situation and also the car that was the most abused itself.”
Imogen with her Impala.
You can find out more information about the project at: www.badkarmaimpala.co.uk or through: www.facebook.com/BadKarma-Impala-400287710169216/ You can make a donation at: https://fundrazr.com/ campaigns/811QXe
classic-american.com 9
Atomic’s back!
The Atomic Vintage Festival will be back at Sywell Aerodrome for the third time this May Bank Holiday Weekend, with another amazing mix of cars, music, dancing, air displays and all sorts of Fiftiesinspired fun. With its pre-1963 dateline, Atomic is a truly unique event which recreates the sights and sounds of a Fifties State Fair. Where else can you watch a movie on a 40ft wide drive-in screen? Or rollerskate to the sound of rock ’n’ roll while hot rods race on the runway and the world’s top bands
provide almost 12 hours of superb live music each day. And mid-century Americana expert, Charles Phoenix, will be making an exclusive UK appearance with his hilarious slide show presentations. Atomic is a chance to take a step back in time and experience a truly unique weekend, with plenty of fun and action for the whole family. Tickets are available now at www. AtomicFestival.co.uk or call 01435 812508 for bookings, information and flyers.
Former Car of the Year Buick Super up for sale
Lorraine Carr, the widow of David Carr, who won the Footman James Car of the Year competition back in 2013 with his stunning 1950 Buick Super, has been in touch with Classic American. The car is for sale and sensible offers between £30,000 and £35,000 are invited. The Buick underwent a lengthy and painstaking restoration over many years by David (see Classic American February 2014/CA274 for our indepth feature on this car,) which resulted in it winning 2013’s Car of the Year contest.
Almost every aspect of the car was tackled, from rebuilding the 320cu in straight-eight engine and Dynaflow transmission to reupholstering the interior in immaculate red and white leather. No time or expense were spared in the completion of this restoration and the price reflects this; it arguably is the finest 1950 Buick Super in Europe, possibly the world. Interested parties are invited to contact Classic American either by e-mail: email@classic-american.com or by calling 01507 529406.
Where’s my event? If you’ve had a look in the Classic American Blue Pages and spotted that your show or event is missing, it’s most likely because we haven’t received your listing, so make sure
you email it or post it for inclusion in future issues: email: email@classicamerican.com or post to Classic American, Mortons Media, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6JR.
1970 Chevelle tail-lamp lenses Original Parts Group, Inc. (OPGI) has announced the availability of new tail-lamp lenses for 1970 Chevelles. Each OPGI Chevelle tail-lamp lens is injection-moulded on brand-new tooling using factory original, red acrylic for a totally authentic appearance, complete with the correct clear back-up lens pre-installed. Each lens features a factory correct, silver-grey painted housing and carefully detailed inset trim
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lines that meet or exceed all OEM specifications for fit, finish and functionality. The Chevelle tail-lamp lenses also include authentic GUIDE markings and LH/RH designations etched on the lens face exactly like the original equipment from General Motors (GM). Sold in pairs, the 1970 Chevelle tail-lamp lenses are sold under OPGI part # CH26466 for $89.99. For more information, visit opgi.com or call 001-800-243-8355.
classic-american
STAR
Classic American
Letter
Fancy the Power Big Meet? You've got a long drive...
SWEDISH CROSSINGS Dear Classic American, I’m writing in reference to Hans Bjelkhagen’s letter in the October issue regarding Swedish Ferries – while it is true there is a cargo ferry from Immingham to Gothenburg several times a week, it should be noted there are only 12 available cabins on the vessel due to its nature and since the closure of the Tilbury and Harwich DFDS sailings all cabins are reserved
firstly for the truckers and only sold to cars/ drivers on a standby basis released close to the day of sailing. You can still ship your car on the boat and fly over to meet it if you wish, but if you want to sail with it, it’s touch and go whether or not there will be space – not ideal if you are booking a trip in advance. Andy Inglis Chartridge, Buckinghamshire
Thank you for the clarification Andy, the loss of the crossing from the UK to Scandinavia has been quite a blow for regular Power Big Meet attendees as it means a much longer drive from Holland (or even further) and the apparent replacement service between Harwich and Esbjerg that has been rumoured has never materialised…
LEAP IN THE DARK Dear Classic American, I’m just reading your article on ‘Buying your first Yank’ in issue 296. It is full of great, practical advice, but I have to say it is written from the head not the heart. I appreciate it may be inappropriate for a large publication to encourage people to ‘just to go for it’ but I did and I haven’t stopped smiling since, despite a far from smooth experience. I jumped in with a car that is too big for my drive, that leaks oil, whose brakes failed at a T-junction, that spends half its time in the garage, and where I spend half my life on the internet searching for obscure parts, as the dealer is woeful and, to top it all, I’ve barely a mechanical bone in my body. Will it cost me? Undoubtedly. Was it a sensible buy? Hell no! Do I regret it? Not for a millisecond. I have been waved through to the special car park at Goodwood Revival, driven the track at Speedfest, been part of my local shows (Maldon museum of power) instead of an onlooker and met so many good, interesting people! I use it for mundane errands, which is arguably the
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most entertaining part, and it just gets the best response. So, I just wanted to say to people outside the scene, like I was, or those with limited mechanical knowledge – by all means use your head to make the best choice, but listen to your heart and get involved, because in my experience, there is nothing better than following your dream and planting your foot on a V8. It is unbeatable! Mark Yeneralski (Proud owner of a 1963 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan for two years now!) Romford, Essex Well Mark, it’s good to hear that, despite a mixed experience, you are still as enthusiastic about your Yank as you were when you first bought your car. Unfortunately, not everyone is as resilient, upbeat or carefree and we wanted to try and help people have an easy, pain-free baptism into the American automotive experience. For some folks, one bad American car experience can be all that it takes to turn them off for life… and we wouldn’t want that, would we?!
Mark Yeneralski and family!
1963 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan.
ART OF ART Dear Classic American, I was so sad to read in your magazine of the death of Art Fitzpatrick. When I was a child in a very depressed Britain after the war, it was one of the highlights of my week if I saw a huge finned American car go sailing by. I would look out for them because I loved those fabulous advertisements showing these astonishing cars in such glamorous places. I would see the ads in magazines my mum used to have sent to her by friends in Bermuda; magazines such as Saturday Evening Post, Better Homes and Gardens and McCalls, they were also in my dad’s Esquire magazines too. I also used to spend all my pocket money on Dinky and Corgi toys (only the American cars naturally). Everything seemed so gloomy and grey here in comparison to such exotic-looking cars and places; even their colours were bright and cheerful compared to the dull cars we had here. Of course, it was the work of Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman among others that showed us this amazing new world and though their work was the very best of all such illustrations, as a kid I wasn’t too fussy. So all such American car adverts were collected and put into scrapbooks and my world almost revolved around them at the time. It’s for that reason I’d really like to thank you, too, for featuring Steve Miles’ Rear Window articles. I’ve got all his books, even the now scarce Volume One, and I just
Toro’ tribute
love these coloured adverts that he’s selected for us to enjoy again. Thank you for these articles and for your excellent magazine. Bob Norris Via e-mail We’re sure you weren’t the only one besotted by the magic of Madison Avenue’s advertising genius, as captured on the pages of period publications… A glimpse at any of these magazines, even today, reminds us of how impossibly glamorous, exciting and exotic those cars seemed… Pontiac ad with de rigeur exotic locale.
Dear Classic American, I enjoyed the article in November about the Oldsmobile Toronado at age 50. I have been a reader for two or three years now and managed to go to my first American car show at Tatton Park last July, which was great. I enclose some photos of a beautiful Toronado on show there. I don’t recall an article about them in the time that I have been a reader of Classic American. Maybe your team spoke with this car owner for an article? Can you oblige with an article please? Chris Garden Via e-mail Believe it or not Chris, the Toronado you photographed has featured in Classic American, although it was about 20 years ago now. According to our records two first generation Toros have been featured in Classic American, although both in the Nineties, so we’re definitely due another, it’s just a question of finding one worthy!
Number plate debate
Dear Classic American, I live in Scotland, and I own a muscle car, I also read your wonderful magazine and I looked for the right car for years until I found my perfect car. Now, to my point: You recently ran an article about Kingdom Kustoms in Fife (where I bought my car) and the owners, along with the majority of Classic American owners read about your ‘Footman James Car of the Year’ awards, and wonder why we can’t have a regional event up here? There is a large scene north of the border, and some great roads. Plus, the ‘meets and runs’ adverts at the end of the magazine are a few years out of date. As a household of three V8s (my girlfriend owns an immaculate ’72 Maverick Grabber) we would love to see more publicised events, without having to drive to Santa Pod or another big city ‘dahn saff’ as we don’t own motorway
cruisers. We do have a few events, that struggle to galvanise the community. In short, is there anything you could do for us? I’m sure that if you put the magazine’s considerable influence into an event, it would be a success. Jay Noble North Berwick Scotland Thanks for your e-mail, believe it or not we did have heats of Car of the Year many years ago (ten, maybe more?) however since then there hasn’t been one big, all-American event in Scotland that’s stood out. We do try and cover events in Scotland that have American cars at them and we’ve had a few Scottish cars featured too. However, we’re hoping our Scottish readers can point us in the right direction going forward…
Dear Classic American, I notice on many cars that are featured (and especially in the December issue regarding the P-51 picnic) the use of American-style registration plates. Although they look cool, are they legal? Or do the owners carry them in the boot and change plates once at an event? Thanks for a great mag, and thanks to Gary Jones for the web site addresses, as I managed to find some small parts for my 1942 Fastback! Martin Cooper Skipton Yorkshire Well Martin, a lot of people change plates at shows or for photo shoots, some take the risk on the road, but technically our understanding is that they are illegal for road use; only standard British plates (that includes older metal-style plates for eligible vehicles) are legal for road use.
IN EVERY ISSUE:
restoration tips, romantic wrecks, ads from the archives and news from the burgeoning UK scene.
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Tony Oksien
Muscle
car files
Basket case ‘69 Charger sold for $9000
FLORIDA BIG DADDY Don Garlits Mopar, Florida, Saturday/Sunday, November 7-8, 2015
N
ovember traditionally means the end of the outdoor Mopar show season and a venue that’s truly fitting for the last of these is the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Florida. For Pentastar fans it just does not get any better: with a great bunch of choice Mopars, a huge contingent of AMC cars, new retro Challengers everywhere and a smattering of Vipers and an extensive Chrysler swap meet all in the grounds of a dedicated drag racing museum – and lastly gorgeous Florida weather hitting 88 degrees – remember this is November! The biggest Mopar show in the Sunshine State delivers the most diverse collection of muscle cars that any enthusiast could wish for.
Organised by the Florida Mopar Association, this two-day show has steadily increased in popularity and now attracts some of the finest classic Chryslers in the state with many from neighbouring states like Georgia and Alabama and some even further away. I even spied Wisconsin and Michigan plates on the show field. This show attracts folk from Europe and the UK – I bumped into a huge contingent of Swedish folks, Germans and a few from Blighty too! Virtually every type of Mopar is catered for, from high-dollar Hemi E-bodies, to Wing cars, non-restored survivors and modern-day muscle, making for a truly eclectic assortment of cars.
As you would expect Big Daddy is on hand throughout the duration of the show and he takes on the Master of Ceremonies role when it comes to prize giving. This year he held his own annual ‘barn sale’ with ultra-rare dragracing items up for grabs. The seller’s car corral is always popular, stuffed with everything from an unrestored Barracuda Formula S 340 for sale at $20,000 to a 1970 Challenger Hemi Convertible clone at a jawdropping $150,000! However there were several sensibly priced cars looking for new homes – a 1967 Dodge R/T, all numbers matching and fully restored at $36,000, and a 1965 Barracuda with a 360 V8 auto needing a bit of bodywork Mopar Collector’s Guide editor Rob Wolf and Tony O
1962 Dodge was immaculate
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Fury ragtop and a matching speedboat
at $8000. Bargain of the weekend was a fabulous 1977 360 auto Warlock truck for a very reasonable $7500. The second generation 68-70 Dodge Chargers are a law unto themselves with a ‘69 basket case 383 Charger asking $9000, which sold early doors, to a 1970 very cool 318 Charger offered at $30,000. These cars’ prices show absolutely no signs of slowing down. The show brings out all the Mopar magazines with their editors; nice to get up and personal with them, MCG’s Rob Wolf is a good friend. For just 12 bucks you can immerse yourself in the world of drag racing from its humble beginnings, right up to the high-tech top fuel cars of today. Three gigantic air-conditioned halls crammed with memorabilia, exhibits and race cars – It really is amazing stuff! As the show is always around the first weekend of November, this allows folk to take advantage of airline pricing and get a good deal out of season. So if you want to catch some winter sunshine and take in a friendly well-supported muscle car show then look no further than Ocala, Florida – you won’t be disappointed! ★
Fabulous 1971 Dart Swing in Sublime green
Tempting Dodge Warlock truck at $7500
Super-clean ‘68 Barracuda 340 Formula S
The business end of a ‘68 Coronet R/T
Show-winning ‘68 Coronet 440ci R/T
Big Daddy Track Pack Challenger
Gorgeous U Code 440 4bbl ‘Cuda
Tony Oksien – CA’s resident muscle car guru classic-american.com 15
Richard Heseltine
From
here to
obscurity
Bertone’s Italian Stallion.
1965 Bertone Mustang How do you improve on perfection? Well, one Italian design house thought it had the answer when it got its hands on a 1965 Mustang. Behold the Automobile Quarterly/Bertone Ford Mustang…
F
ew cars have ever hit the ground running quite like the Ford Mustang. The American public couldn’t get enough of the original Pony Car when it broke cover in 1964, but that didn’t stop others from trying to improve on the hottest-selling car on the planet. With a degree of predictability, Italian styling houses soon began offering specially tailored variants, with Zagato and OSI among their number. But none could compare with Bertone’s take for sheer elegance, the car pictured here being styled by the firm’s resident genius, Giorgetto Giugiaro. The man behind the project was PR man and car collector, L Scott Bailey, who founded Automobile Quarterly in 1962. This hardback publication raised the bar for the presentation of motoring titles, with exhaustive features on historic machinery mingling with critiques of the latest design trends. Bailey conceived an AQ project car following a visit to the 1964 Paris Motor Show where he met studio principal Nuccio Bertone and Giugiaro. This led to a further meeting in Turin, which in turn resulted in the procurement of a bright red Mustang (non GT) fastback with a 289cu in V8, four-speed ’box and whitewall tyres. This was transported to Italy by Alitalia Airlines which became a partial sponsor of the scheme. The car was subsequently stripped to its foundations for a substantial makeover. Giugiaro produced a deliciously exotic outline with his trademark slim pillars and expansive glasshouse look. The front end, by contrast, was rather more Detroit in outlook: it comprised a full-width grille with retracting headlight covers. The only body parts carried over was the grille mascot (itself modified…) and the filler cap. The interior, meanwhile, was trimmed with the
finest tobacco-coloured Italian vinyl, with factory Rally Pac gauges being sited in a bespoke centre console. Mechanically, however, the car was completely stock save for the radiator which was canted slightly due to the lower bonnet line. Painted in a striking shade of metallic turquoise, the finishing touch was a set of Giugiarodesigned, Campaganolo-made magnesium-alloy wheels shod in Pirelli rubber. The Bertone Mustang was met with much hoopla when unveiled at the April 1965 New York International Automobile Show, Automobile Quarterly basking in the reflective glow of positive ink, which was rather the point of the exercise. The car was advertised by Carrozzeria Bertone shortly thereafter for the princely sum of $10,000 which its makers claimed was a third of the actual build cost. The intriguing part, however, is what happened
next, not least because nobody knows for sure. Giugiaro claimed in 2001 that it was acquired by a Greek shipping magnate, but admitted that he wasn’t certain. Some websites insist that the car was stolen from a Monaco dealership in the late Sixties, while one forum dweller insists that he knows the current owner’s identity, but is unwilling to reveal his details… And if you cannot trust the Internet then who can you trust? Bailey, meanwhile, placed ads in the specialist press enquiring as to its whereabouts shortly before his death in 2012, but with no joy. It’s a mystery that has enthusiasts the world over salivating at the prospect of a dream barn find. As for Giugiaro, he would rework a Pony Car again via his ItalDesign concern, but his 2006 Mustang Concept was nowhere near as memorable as his Sixties showstopper.
Drive train remained stock.
Richard Heseltine’s weird and wonderful American cars from the past.
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classic-american
Huw Evans
Across
the
pond
A lot of people love the idea of a classic car, but are afraid of the problems they imagine are part and parcel of old school technology; however, new American legislation could be the answer to their prayers: classic-bodied replicas with modern running gear!
M
any of us yearn to find that true survivor, a piece of classic Detroit steel that’s been tucked away for decades and is to all intents and purposes a brand-new car. The trouble is, most of us might find it hard to consider driving such an example, plus the romance of nostalgia can sometimes be lost when you have to contend with the fact the car has drum-brakes, bias-ply tyres, a two-speed Powerglide and… well, you get the picture. Nonetheless, stateside at least, there’s been a major development during the course of 2015 that in some aspects could change the old car hobby forever. A provision in President Obama’s Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (HR.22) now allows small volume vehicle manufacturers to build turn-key replicas for sale. What this means is, that say you’ve always wanted a 1965 Ford Mustang or 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, you now have the chance to purchase one that’s brand new and ready to drive. Under the new provision, replicas are deemed to be new-build vehicles that look and represent cars or trucks that are at least 25 years old and as a result, not subject to current safety or crash test standards. Nevertheless, in order to qualify as lowvolume manufactured vehicles, these replicas must feature a powertrain from the model year in which they were assembled (so for example, a replica 1966 Mustang built in 2016 must be powered by
an engine from the 2016 model year). Additionally, the replica vehicle manufacturer must install the engine in accordance with the instructions provided by the engine manufacturer and provide the customer with an EPA certificate of conformity and emissions control warranty information. Provisions will allow each replica vehicle manufacturer to build up to 325 units a year and given the proliferation in aftermarket parts in recent years – everything from plug-and-play late-model powertrains designed for vintage cars and trucks, to availability of complete, brand-new body shells for classic vehicles like early Fifties Chevy trucks, first generation Chevy Camaros and Ford Mustangs – there’s every chance that the demand for turn-key replicas will further spur demand for such products. The idea of building classic-looking, turn-key cars has been around for years, though previously required companies to use original, vintage cars as a starting point (not really practical in this day and age) or build one-offs that did not come with a warranty nor emissions compliance. For many of us, classic American cars offer styling, pizzazz and character that’s decidedly lacking in modern, mainstream vehicles yet in many ways, ownership isn’t often always practical, especially if you plan to drive the thing on a regular basis. The new SEMA led Treatment of Low Volume Manufacturers provision contained within HR.22 essentially allows classic car nuts to have their cake
and eat it – the opportunity to buy something that’s great to look at and infinitely usable, while at the same time, still having the chance to tinker on their own original classic or custom build in the garage. The fact that this legislation became part of the HR.22 bill demonstrates just how popular and significant the classic/custom/performance aftermarket industry is over here. The interesting thing will be however, is that as mainstream automakers are forced to meet ever stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards – culminating in a fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon (US) by 2025, will we still be able to buy a replica vehicle with a V8 engine underneath the hood? Given how inventive the motor industry tends to be and that CAFE (despite its controversy and complexity) is designed to allow fuel-sippers to somewhat offset gas-guzzlers at the OEM level, the answer is likely a resounding yes. It’s not often that you really get to hear such a significant milestone for the classic car hobby, but HR.22, thanks to the hard work and persistent lobbying efforts of classic car enthusiasts has really made a difference – not only in giving us a new option for vintage vehicle ownership and enjoyment but also creating new employment opportunities in the auto sector while at the same time, paying homage to and preserving a significant part of America’s rich history. Huw Evans – news & views from North America
18 classic-american.com