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 Friday, June 08, 2007
25 MPG Old Cars
Posted by John
As I mentioned in this blog recently, I think there is going to be a big swing in the hobby towards old cars with the best fuel economy. As gas prices rise and we start spending $60-$75 (oe more) each time we fill the tank on our old car, we're going to be forced into looking for ways to conserve fuel. Whether we like it or not, that 1947 Studebaker Champion that averages 19-23 mpg and gets 28-30 mog when driven at a nice, even pace, is going to start looking more and more appealing. While a Hemi 'Cuda might be worth a couple of million today, the Plymouth that's really going to appreciate (percentagewise) over the next few years is the short-wneelbase 1949-1951 model that used to win stock car races because it needed fewer fuel stops. Hobbyists are going to start buying, restoring and driving cars like these more and more each passing year. Since there's only so many old cars to go around, my advice is get in early. The 25-MPG old car is the hot collector's item of the future!
What do you think? Click "comments" below to post your opinion on this topic.
Friday, June 08, 2007 1:30:40 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Thursday, June 07, 2007
Heir Time
Posted by John
It was raining pretty good at last night's Waupaca Burger King Cruise (where you'll find me nearly any Wednesday) so the gathered car collectors had to stay inside and "bench race" for a few hours. Of all things, the hot topic of conversation was how to leave your cars to your kin when you're no longer around to drive them. The man who asked the question wondered if he should allocate his collection, one to the Missus and one to each kid. In that case, of course, you might have to sell or buy some cars to round off the numbers. Another view is to put values on the cars and equalize the inheiritance in terms of dollars. Still another way to plan (and the one I use) is to request that all the cars be sold and the money be split. That way, if the one heir wants to own the Airmobile, he can buy it with the cash. There are probably a dozen different ways to deal with this issue and you're free to pick your favorite, but here's my advice: DON'T PUT IT OFF! Based on personal experience, I can tell you that deciding what to do with your cars in not a pleasant thing to face, but it's important. The time to set the plan up is now! It may just be one of the most important choices you ever make.
What do you think on this topic? Click "comments" below and let us know, or email John.Gunnell@FWPubs.com, or call 715-445-2214 x248 or write John Gunnell, c/o Old Cars Weekly, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990.
Thursday, June 07, 2007 8:52:13 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 06, 2007
In A Class of Their Own
Posted by John
Recently I attended a car show that I thought had a strange group of judging classes. The first class was for all cars from 1900 to 1954. Covering so many years and types of cars in the same class seemed like the perfect way to cut down the number of entries, which is not a good thing. We all know that postwar cars are popular today, but shouldn't we do something to encourage prewar car owners to come to the show? The promoters of the show had so many classes for more modern cars and modified cars, that they created one class that no cars at the show fit into. I couldn't help thinking that the three trophies that were not given out could have went to three prewar car owners. The show also had a class for four-door cars to encourage sedan owners to come. That was nice, but what about two-door sedans and station wagons? There was a class for featured cars (which were 1957 models) and the judging sheet indicated it was for "1957 Chevys." However, a featured '57 Buick was registered in that class. On the other hand, a featured '57 Olds wasn't. That seemed a little confusing to me. There was a class for Corvettes and all sports cars. Everytime I have gone to the show, the Corvettes take all three trophies. I have noticed that fewer and fewer other types of sports cars show up each year. Overall, I liked the show and enjoyed seeing all the cars that came. I think the organizers work hard and want to do a good event. I just felt that they could have made it an even better show by putting some more thought into their class structure. In a broader sense, I think this is true of a lot of shows. Car events planning should always include a follow-up meeting where good things are expanded upon and bad things are thrown out.
What do you think about today's old car hobby? Click"comments" below, or contact me by mail, phone or email. John Gunnell, Automotive Books Dept., Krause Publications, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990. 715-445-2214 x248 or John.Gunnell@FWPubs.com.
(Thanks for listening.)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007 3:22:04 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Tool Time
Posted by John
Friday evening my friend Colin and I took a one-hour drive to our nearest Harbor Freight tool store in Appleton, Wis. Like two old dowagers, we grabbed our shopping carts and started going up and down the aisles. You could almost hear us asking the store clerk, "Hey sonny, can you reach me down one of those paint spray guns on the top shelf." The hardworking young folks employed at the store probably thought we got our retirement checks that afternoon and decided to buy some cheap pliers or screwdrivers to fix a broken kitchen drawer. I'll bet they were surprised when we asked them to run in the back and fetch a couple of sandblasters. "And we don't want the cheap one that's in the flyer," we said in unison. "Bring us two of the best ones you got and all the stuff that goes with them." Come to think of it, the great thing about old-car hobbyists is that we may be gray on top, but we've got buying power. And we don't need to buy "convenience" items like cell phones, DVD players, Palm Pals and laptops, but we do find it hard to imagine how anyone can go through life without an engine hoist or a drill press.
What do you think? Write me, call me, email me! Let me know what you're thinking about the old-car hobby. Gunner, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990. (715) 445-2214 or John.Gunnell@FWPubs.com
Tuesday, June 05, 2007 11:40:20 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, June 04, 2007
Gas Crisis
Posted by John
Gas prices are all I'm hearing about at car shows this year. It seems like we all have to adjust to the fact that our gas guzzlers and muscle cars may be a little less desirable than they were last year or the year before. That doesn't mean that car enthusiasts have to stop going to shows and events. Keep the big collector car in the garage or take it to local shows only. Then go out to the next car corral or auction and start looking for a collector car that gets 25 to 30 mpg. They do exist and they are available. Imported cars are one option. Cars made in countries like England, France or Italy were designed to use less gas. And there are very interesting variations from sports cars to sedans to station wagons. American automakers also produced cars that were good on gas. If you like them small, you can opt for a Crosley, a Hudson Jet, a Henry J or an Aero-Willys. If you need a little more room, take a look at the Nash 600, an entry-level 1950 Plymouth, almost any Kaiser or a Studebaker Champion. After all, they didn't call the later Champs "Scotsman" models for nothing. For an all around great combination of size, economy and convenient travel to shows, try the Corvair, Falcon or Valiant. Like I say, there are economical collector cars and we should all be buying at least one before the prices go wild.
Let's hear your thoughts. Click "comments" below or send me an email at John.Gunnell@FWPubs.com.
Monday, June 04, 2007 6:09:20 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Cushy Jobs
Posted by John
At last evening's Wednesday Burger King Cruise Night in Waupaca, Wis., the topic of Cushman motor scooters came up. Cushmans are those snazzy two-wheel jobs that cost a couple of hundred bucks back in the '50s. At that time, gas was cheap and people who bought Cushman scooters were usually more interested in smiles-per-mile than miles-per-gallon. Things are all different now and one man at the cruise was remarking as how he was going to buy an old Cushman to save money getting to the Burger King on Wednesday nights. It didn't take long for another fellow to pipe up and say, "I got news for you, a restored Cushman is going to cost you about $7,000 and it's going to take you a long time to offset the price of one with your fuel savings!" Well, he can always get a Vespa. In fact, I know a Ferrari dealer in Milwaukee who sells them (like crazy these days).
Got some thoughts on this blog or about others? I want to know what you think. Click "comments" below and send them to me. If that doesn't work on first try, make a second try. If that doesn't work reach me by email at John.Gunnell@FWPubs.com.
Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:38:54 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Home of the Free
Posted by John
Do you know what really "frosts" me? When I know a local show is coming up and I look in Old Cars Weekly for the event information and it isn't there. How do the promoters expect me to find their event if they don't bother sending the details to us? Some people think we go after the listings, but that's not possible. There's so many events we could spend 40 hours a week on that and there wouldn't be any stories in OCW. That's why the shows need to send their listings in. While we don't write the show calendar, we do give the space away for free. That's right, the show calendar is the "home of the free." If your club, or organization or even your business has a car event coming up, send your listing in right now. A timely listing could be the difference between a barn-burner and a flop.
Thursday, May 31, 2007 5:41:16 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Judd Kin's Coupe?
Posted by John
Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti and the drivers who challenged him on Sunday picked up their winnings Monday night at the Indy 500 victory banquet. The drivers took home a record purse this year. It totaled $10.6
million. Franchitti picked up $1.6 million of that for himself and the
Andretti Green racing team. Since the race winner is married to singer Ashley Judd, you could say that the orange Corvette convertible coupe he won has now become a "Judd-kin's coupe" (but remember, Duesenberg used that name first). If the 'Vette is a little slow for Dario, I'm sure Barrett-Jackson will be happy to take the car off his hands.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 7:59:31 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, May 28, 2007
Iowa's Automobiles
Posted by John
Iowa automotive historian Bill Jepsen is compiling a new book called Made In Iowa: Iowa's Automobiles: An Entertaining and Enlighting History. The 300-page-plus 8-1/2 x 11-inch coffeetable book contains more than 100 impeccably researched articles in seven categories. It also includes personality profiles of Walter P. Chrysler, Fred and Augie Duesenberg and William Galloway. The book can now be ordered at a pre-publication price of $29.95 through November 1. After that, it will cost $39.95 per copy. For information email willin@galynx.com.
Monday, May 28, 2007 11:30:36 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Sunday, May 27, 2007
Ms MGA
Posted by John
I just got off the phone with CeCelia Bruce ( www.mgaparts@aol.com), who I'm going to nickname "Ms. MGA." I was ordering engine parts for an MG Magnette sedan, which has the same 1500-cc engine as early MGA sports cars. CeCeilia's knowledge of both models is amazing. Since ordering engine parts is never an "exact science," CeCeilia has made up a little checklist that makes the process easy. It lists every item needed in a typical rebuild and indicates how many of each you need. After a couple of phone calls, I was totally convinced that CeCeilia was the right person to ask for help. By the way, if you're restoring a Marmon, rather than an MGA, you may still want to give CeCeilia a call. She told me that she was surprised by an order from a man who wanted two sets of MGA pistons. Turns out he was restoring an eight-cylinder 1930 Marmon and somehow found out that his car takes exactly the same size piston as an MGA. Using the MG pistons in the Marmon requires a bit of machining to fit the wrist pins properly, but apparently it works and the MG pistons are a lot cheaper than a set for a Marmon.
Sunday, May 27, 2007 11:07:43 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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