All Entries in the "Car Stories" Category
Craig Breedlove and AMX Set World 24 Hour Speed Record
Since we are about to have our Barn Find Project AMX back on the road I thought is might be time for a little history lesson. Many car enthusiasts think of the American Motors Corporation (AMC) as builders of little economy cars. Some of you younger guys probably don’t even know that AMC ever existed! It’s [...]
What Are You Working On?
I know most of you have some project underway, just finished one or are about to start a new one. The other thing I know is most of the people who visit this site like to see what others are doing. With that in mind I am adding another feature on our Legendary Collector Car site called [...]
Carroll Shelby; Innovator
Is there anyone who is into cars that doesn’t know who Carroll Shelby is? Have you ever met him in person or listened to him give a talk? I have been fortunate enough to do both. Here is a clip of an interview you might enjoy. It is a good overall and brief snapshop of [...]
Our Pick for the Top Ten Muscle Cars for 2012
In 2010 we did our pick of the Top Ten Collector Cars for the new decade 2010-2020. We thought it would be fun to go back and revisit that list and see how we might tweak it for this year. If you would like to see the original story just Click Here. I don’t have [...]
Mercury Cyclone GT 500
We don’t talk much about the 1968 Cyclone GT 500 because we know so little and there just aren’t any around. It has been a great draw for this site and people seem to really want to know more. We recently received an email from K. Peppers with some information and photos that we thought deserved [...]
Wild Mustangs
The following information and photos were sent to us by: Doug Kielian; Auto Kraft Body & Paint, Inc. DSK Auto Products, LLC (shop – 402-474-2344 & cell – 402-475-9968). I hope we can get Doug to send us some more info and progress photos of the build on the red Mustang; I just love it! [...]
24 Hours of Le Mans Ford GT 40 engine testing
We sometimes have historical paperwork and videos donated to us which provide invaluable background context to our collector cars. On our sister site, www.TalladegaSpoilerRegistry.com, we have been providing a series of Ford Intra-Comapny memos regarding the development of the 1969 Ford Talladega, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II and Boss 429 engine. Prior to jumping into the [...]
Collector Car Pileup
The next time you are out with your collector car and feel the need to do a burnout or accelerate around some corner just keep this video in mind. I am sure each of the owners/drivers of these high dollar exotics never thought they could wreck their car let alone all their buddies. It seems [...]
Car Idiot
By: Anonymous I was Car Crazy plus I was a Car Idiot! Dad’s 1959 Rambler was similar to this picture. This is an anonymous story on “The Most Idiotic thing I ever did With a Car, To a Car or In a Car!” Send in your “Idiotic Car Story” NOW. I am not an angel [...]
Rad Rods by Troy Update on Talladega
One of the least seen cars at a car show has to be the 1969 Ford Talladega. Having one at a show modified is even more unusual. However, having a 1969 Ford Talladega reworked by a legend like Rad Rods by Troy is a real treat. Fear not Ford diehards, no real Talladgea was sacrificed [...]
Barn Find AMX Project Car
Originally this Project Car was going to have the engine and suspension freshened and paint buffed and put back on the road after sitting for nearly 30 years in a barn. Like most Project Cars I decided I wanted more out of this little bomb. After rebuilding the engine, suspension and detailing the underside of [...]
Project Cars Update
We have two Project Cars that have been getting neglected as of late. However, we are now back on both of them full speed and will have both on the road very soon. The first is our Gloriana Mustang. It is the 1967 Mustang that was featured in the Gloriana Music Video, How Far Do [...]
Vintage Drag Races at Bristol, TN
Here is another of the great vintage drag racing films provided by Tim Lopata of the Forge Muscle Car Show. This includes a feature on Danny Ongais when he was a drag racer before he went Indy Car Racing.
Cougar GT 500 Update
We have some new information on the 1968 Cougar GT 500 we told you about last week. We have known about these cars for sometime but we are just now beginning to get some good details on an actual car. The owner and I still need a lot more information about these rare Cougars and [...]
Rod & Custom Machine & Fabrication
A big part of what we do here at Legendary Collector Cars is to bring you pictures and stories about car related events and places that you might not ever get to see on your own. This includes car shows, museums, private collections as well as restoration and custom speed shops. We recently completed just [...]
1968 Mercury Cougar GT 500
We are often contacted by individuals wanting assistance in locating or selling very rare cars. We also obtain a great deal of our knowledge about these cars from our readers. It is next to impossible to be an expert or even knowledgeable on all the various collector cars. Each of us tends to have a [...]
Drag Racing at Bristol Tennessee 1970
Our friend Tim Lopata has a large collection of vintage racing moving from back in the day and agreed to share some of them with us. Here is one that all of you drag racers will find interesting. It is vintage 1970 lots of action from the Bristol Drag Strip. This is a little long [...]
Crusin the Coast 2011
One of the events I keep hearing about but have not yet participated in is Crusin the Coast. Our friends Steve and Nancy Whitaker just returned from one of their many visits to this Gulf Coast event and forwarded some of their photos. Click on any photo to enlarge it for better detail. We thank [...]
Introducing the Mako Shark Corvette
I was always a Corvette kid more than a hot rodder back in the day. When I first saw photos of the Mako Shark my heart would not stop pounding. Living in Iowa it was several years before I actually got to see this car in person and up close. It had been on the [...]
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aero Cars on Track
We participated in a very special event this past August. It was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in conjunction with the 2011 NASCAR Brickyard 400. Participants came from all over the Country and included 1969 Dodge Daytona, Ford Talladega, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler and Spoiler II cars as well as 1970 Plymouth Superbird and vintage [...]
2005 Ford GT 40 Road Test
When the first GT 40s were built by Ford they were legendary in design and accomplishments. I was a Corvette lover at the time and wondered why Chevrolet couldn’t build a Corvette like this for the street. I remember reading an article about how Mr. Ford tried to drive one on the street as his [...]
Chrysler Turbine Car Video
I remember this car from when I was a pimple faced teenager in love with cars and this was a dream machine. It was like nothing else out of Detroit. It was like the futuristic 50s show cars but this one drove and the public could drive it even if they couldn’t purchase one. [...]
Mug n’ Bun + Speed and Wings
What would you do if you and the family went out on a Friday night to the local Mug n’ Bun, A&W or Dairy Queen for a little summer fast food and found yourself surrounded by fabulous and rare Superspeedway Muscle Cars from the late 60s? That is just what happened to some folks in [...]
Corvette ZO6 Mom + Laguna Seca = Laughs
I just found this video on YouTube and about wet my pants watching it. A young guy in his C6 ZO6 Corvette takes his mom for a Sunday drive around Laguna Seca race track. Every time they go through the Cork Screw I can’t help but laugh out loud! She is scared silly but loves [...]
Indy 500 Museum, 100th Anniversary Winning Cars
On Memorial Day 2011 the Indy 500 celebrated the 100th year since the first Indy 500 Race was run. There were special events everywhere but in the Museum every winning car was on display! It was a spectacle that could humble any true race fan. Katrina and I were fortunate enough to be able to [...]
Dennis Albaugh Collection of Chevrolet Convertibles
I was a happy camper trying to decide which Yenko was best! Private car collections are often the most fascinating and the most difficult to visit. Friend Andy Snetselaar arranged for me to visit him at his “best job” in the car world. He is the curator of the Albaugh Collection in Ankeny, Iowa. I [...]
“Barn Finds” in a Pasture!
I was taking a trip through Central Iowa not long ago and driving down a main road outside of Pella just about sunset. It had been a long day of driving with about 12 hours under my belt when what should my wondering eyes should spot but a 50s style junk yard right beside the [...]
Project Barn Find AMX Update
The Barn Find AMX is progressing slowly but steadily. It is currently having all of the little body waves and dings removed prior to getting its final bath of red and black paint. Here is the body fresh from having the last of the paint removed and the body scrubbed. Second is a skim coat [...]
Best Deal of the Day; Back in the Day
We were recently looking through some old Auto Week newspapers and stopped in the classifieds to see what we could find. Now this particular Auto Week was from February 1969 and had a lot of interesting finds. My next step is to find a “way back machine”; scoop up some old greenbacks and see if [...]
Shania Twain and Taylor Swift do Thelma and Louise in our Bird!
Here it is, the final product of the Thelma and Louise video staring Taylor Swift and Shania Twain. We had a fantastic time I set Monday when all of this footage was shot outside of Nashville in near 100 degree temperatures. This was a really great experience and we are so proud of the final [...]
Thelma and Louise Parody with Taylor Swift and Shania Twian
Since all the other sites are trying to catch up on this story we thought we better start giving you the on site photos from the shoot. We have hundreds more but will not do them all right now. It is our 1965 Thunderbird that Taylor and Shania along with Kid Rock are using in [...]
CMT Awards Video with Taylor Swift and Shania Twain-Thelma and Louise Parody
Ok all you car guys take 5 minutes out of your Wednesday evening and tune into the CMT Awards on Country Music Television (CMT). It will have something for everyone! If you have young girls in the house, make sure they watch with you! I just got back from spending 14 hours on the set [...]
Deuce of Spades by Faith Granger
We sometimes do reviews of car books on this site and we are currently reading one we will be telling you about in a couple of weeks but today is all about a very special DVD video we really like. You won’t find this on Netflix or at the neighborhood video store and it was [...]
100th Anniversary of the Indy 500; The People
The infield at the Indy 500 is always a party. Not the best place for a race fan though. We went to our first Indy 500 back in the early 70s and have really enjoyed returning on a regular basis. We don’t go every year but the 100th Anniversary of the first Indy 500 back [...]
Good Guys Nashville 2011 Day 2
We just posted some more photos from the Nashville Good Guys Show. These are from Saturday and attendance was not what I expected. The car count and attendance appeared to be way down from the “good economic times” of a few years back. However, the quality of cars was fine and the Autocross event had [...]
Good Guys Nashville 2011
We just returned from the first day of the 2011 Good Guys Show in Music City, Nashville! We have over 50 photos from the first day, Friday posted on our Show page. We will be posting many time that over the next few days. These are only the very first photos to give you just [...]
What is the Craziest thing you ever found in a Car?
A friend just sent me an email about finding strange stuff in a parts car. The story goes like this: “I was in a parts yard the other day getting some parts for a car we our building . I removed this dash pad and under the pad was this ticket for a swap meet [...]
First Cruise of the Year!
OK, it is officially car season here in Middle TN, the Murfreesboro Cruise had its first night on Friday with over 600 estimated cars in attendance. The early birds started showing up in the middle of the afternoon and when we left at the end of the evening there were still cars pulling in. It [...]
Part 2 of the “Bunkie” Knudsen Talladega Restoration
Back in January we brought you Part 1 of the “Bunkie” Knudsen 1969 Yellow Ford Talladega. If you have not previously read the Story by Michael Troell regarding the Bunkie Knudsen Talladega please read it now before reading today’s post, Click Here then back here and read Part 2. This is a great car and a moving [...]
Dodge Daytona, Superbird, Talladega and Spoiler II at Texas Motor Speedway
Recently, the big guns returned to where they never were. When these gun fighters were shooting it out on the Super Speedways in 1969 the Texas Motor Speedway did not exist. The Dodge Daytona, Plymouth Superbird, Ford Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II were the aero cars that dominated the sport back in the day. [...]
Project Barn Find AMX is off to Paint!
This is what she looked like the day we pulled her out of the Barn she had been sitting in since 1982! Our Project Barn Find AMX is off to paint. We had to change our plans at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts and a buddy of ours has agreed to paint the [...]
Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen gets his Motion Phase III Camaro!
Joel Rosen, left, Howard Tanner After the announcement on the new 2011 Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen Phase III Camaro I thought you might like to see some photos of the delivery and learn a little more about this Super Car. Mr. Motion took delivery of his Synergy Green #01 MOTION Phase III 427-SC Camaro from [...]
1968 Pontiac Firebird and Royal Bobcat
Part of the enjoyment of old cars is that they take you back to a different time. It may be a time from your high school years or when you sat on your dad’s lap and he let you steer the car. For some it is simply the ability to relive a time they never [...]
Willys Dream Becomes a Reality
This story was provided by Dave Semel with photos by Mike Hacker; Story edited by Richard Fleener. Back in the 60’s and 70’s drag racing was becoming a popular form of motor sports and Marty Hacker, like most of us, loved to drag race whenever he got a chance. At the track one car would [...]
1969 Plymouth GTX 440 Road Test
Plymouth made a big splash with its cartoon based Road Runner. The Beep-Beep horn and cartoon logo on the side was a big hit with the young generation that wanted a fast car at a price they could afford on their new to the work force incomes. Plymouth new they had a winner but there [...]
Cartoon Truck
The following article was provided by: Robert Luczun, 20 Breen Court, Clifton, N.J. 07013 robertluczun@yahoo.com 973-341-4748. If you have any questions about the truck or would like to see it at one of your events contact Robert. CAR * TOON TRUCK The idea for the truck came about in 2001 when I purchased an unrestored [...]
The AMX Story
Starting today we are going to add a new regular feature to the site. Over the past few weeks we have been showing you some old vintage Road Test videos and they have seemed to be very popular so we are going to expand on that theme. We will continue with the videos but will [...]
Steve McQueen and Bullitt
Arguably, the best car chase scene in movie history was between Steve McQueen’s Mustang and the villain’s Dodge Charger. There are web sites devoted to it and uncountable stories been written about it. Enthusiasts try to recreate the iconic green Mustang and spend hours debating what happened to that very special Mustang from the film. [...]
Bones Zoot Zooter 1937 Packard Burns!
Jim “Bones” Noteboom has been building hot rods since the age of 15. His work was on the cover of car mags since he was 19. You don’t get on the cover of Car Craft or Rod and Custom without doing outstanding work. With that brief introduction you need to brace yourself for what follows. We [...]
Hemmings Announces the Talladega Spoiler Registry
By: Richard Fleener When Katrina and I decided to start another website, the Talladega Spoiler Registry, we had a lot of reservations. Keeping a web site fresh and interesting is a challenge and takes a lot of time. Our efforts on this site have been rewarding in terms of people met but not yet financially [...]
Introducing the 1953 Corvette
The 1953 Corvette was a long way from the Corvette we see in showrooms today. However, put it in perspective; look at the 1953 Chevrolet or the 1953 MOPARS and Ford! The Corvette was totally different and so new looking. It was not an immediate hit with its BlueFlame Six but it lived on and [...]
1971 Camaro Road Test
I purchased a new 1970 Z28 off the show room floor and it remains one of my very favorite cars of all time. It wasn’t great for a young family but it was great for fun! Today’s cars are much better but they just don’t seem to have the soul of the old muscle cars. [...]
Daytona 500 winning tribute car; Wood Brothers Trevor Bayne
The Daytona 500 is hardly over but we have the Wood Brothers Trevor Bayne 2011 Daytona 500 winning Limited Edition Race Car! This will not be available for shipping until August. However, you can pre-order yours now for $79 including shipping. Obviously we are not sure what this diecast is going to look like or [...]
Trevor Bayne and Wood Brothers Win Daytona 500
Ten years ago we lost Dale Earnhardt but today the Wood Brothers were reborn! I don’t care if you are a Chevy fan, MOPAR addict or a Blue Oval nut you have to appreciate what the Wood Brothers have done at Daytona. They are the history of NASCAR; they are not one of the mega [...]
Wendell Scott Race Car goes to High School; Continued
Wendell Scott story continued: The information for this part of the Wendell Scott story is provided by one of our readers. You are going to like what this high school class is doing! By: Chris Overfeld This is a previous project of this Salem, VA High School class! In the first part of the story [...]
Wendell Scott by Ned Jarrett
We sometimes forget about the history and the stories behind the cars we find and collect. One of the things I love most about car collecting are the people and the stories. Most of us get a kick out of Barn Finds and even strolling through junk yards. We enjoy the vintage iron in its [...]
2011 Talladega Family Reunion Registration Due NOW!
You have read here before about all the fun and knowledge sharing of the first Talladega Family Reunion. You have also read about the next Talladega Family Reunion on September 9 and 10 of 2011. What you haven’t read before is there is a deadline! YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE 2011 TALLADEGA FAMILY REUNION NO [...]
1970 Torino on Muscle Car TV
This weekend tune in to Spike TV and watch PowerBlock TV and catch a beautiful orange 1970 Torino that belongs to Jamie Guess. We see Jamie at car shows here in Middle Tennessee all summer long. We didn’t know Jamie before he started working on his beautiful orange Torino but we understand he perceived through [...]
Met Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee on the Freeway!
This Post is based on a comment left by Dean Moore on our Bobby Darin DiDia 150 Feature Car Page. First, if you don’t know who Bobby Darin is shame on you, but that just means you didn’t grow up in the 50s/60s. Bobby Darin was a very special musical talent who died much to [...]
1969 Studebaker Avanti II Road Test
Previously we showed you the introduction to the original Avanti in 1963. Unfortunately, these cars soon went the way of Studebaker and were no more. Thanks to some believers and investors the car was reborn and by 1969 it was powered by a Supercharged Corvette engine and hand built at the rate of 3 cars [...]
Introducing the 1963 Studebaker Avanti
This SCREAMS the 60s When these Avanti cars by Studebaker were first introduced in the 1963 model year I was blown away even as a youngster. I was always interested in cars but at that time I was also just starting to learn to drive and I soaked in everything I could about the new [...]
1969 Dodge Charger 500 Road Test HEMI
When the Chrysler Corporation got tired of the new for 1968 Ford Torino sportback kicking their Dodge and Plymouth butts on the NASCAR tracks they developed the 1969 Dodge Charger 500. It employed the newly discovered aerodynamics to add top end on the Super-speedways. This Road Test done back in the day used a HEMI [...]
President Obama Assumes Control of NASCAR
News Release: Obama Administration Takes over NASCAR Sighting a need to redistribute winnings among less successful drivers and owners as well as wanting to eliminate the heavy fuel consuming cars that currently race in NASCAR and replace them with newer more efficient electric vehicles, President Obama today announced the take over of NASCAR by his [...]
Breaking News, Classic & Muscle Car Auction
I have just been informed that Tim Lopata is planning a Classic and Muscle Car Auction for Saturday September 10, 2011 as part of the Forge Muscle Car Classic and the Talladega Family Reunion. That is all that is known at the current time. If you didn’t have enough reasons to come to the 2nd [...]
1958 Corvette Restomod
We recently asked you to send us some of your car stories and we had no more than posted our article and Dave Semel responded with this story of building his outstanding 1958 Corvette Restomod. Story by Dave Semel This Corvette sat in a field in Alabama for 20 plus years. During that time the [...]
Your Car Stories Wanted
SHARE YOUR STORY! We get the most comments on stories you provide. It seems our readers really like to hear what the rest of you have to say and what stories you have to tell. Do you have a special story about your car; how you found it or maybe the one that got away? Perhaps you [...]
Baldwin-Motion Fantastic Five
RETURN OF THE FANTASTIC FIVE: MODERN MUSCLE CARS WITH LEGENDARY HERITAGE! Baldwin-Motion’s Joel Rosen partners with DeNooyer Chevrolet’s Performance Division and Redline Motorsports to build and market 2011 MOTION 427 and 454 Camaros. More than 40 years ago Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen, a young Brooklyn dyno-tuner, hot rodder, street racer and national record holding drag [...]
1966 427 Corvette Road Test
I have driven and owned Corvettes for over 40 years and this reminds me of why! Love them or hate them the Corvette of the 60s was a completely different animal than today. The new Corvette is a beast but it is refined and tours like a Cadillac. In the 60s you had to be [...]
Registration Due for 2011 Talladega Family Reunion
It is time to once again to prepare for the 1969 Ford Talladega Family Reunion. No, this is not a bunch of redneck Alabama family members getting together to drink moonshine; well maybe just a couple. If you are new to this site you should know we are really into the 1969 Ford brand NASCAR [...]
1970 AMC AMX Road Test Video
This is another of those old TV Road Tests from back in the day. This one is especially interesting because it is a 1970 AMX prototype and not a production car. There are some obvious differences. Most notably are the race style gas caps on the “C” pillars and the “Big Bad WHITE” bumpers front [...]
Bunkie Knudsen Yellow 1969 Ford Talladega
George Troell (deceased) and his prized “Bunkie Knudsen” Talladega I have said it many times: “The people are what make the cars so much fun.” Yes, I love the thrill of acceleration that pushes you back in your seat, and the beauty of the car’s lines as well as the physical sensations of cornering on [...]
1968 Shelby Mustang KR
There is something about a Shelby that will always make you smile. Here is an old Car and Track road test of a 1968 KR. Enjoy.
Powerwheels Gone Wild!
This is one of those videos any car guy is going to like. Anyone else built one of these and have a video to share? I can only imagine how many little kids who got a Powerwheel for Christmas are now watching dad whack it up and do a Tim Allan “Tool Man” job on [...]
David Pearson and Bobby Allison NASCAR Diecast
I have a very limited supply of a very rare duo. If you like vintage NASCAR these have to be on your Christmas list. The first is the Bobby Allison Mercury Cyclone #12 Coke machine and the second is the 1969 Championship winning David Pearson Talladega.These are both extremely well detailed and produced at a [...]
1954 Oldsmobile F88 GM Motorama Concept Car
Before there was a Corvette in 1953 there was the GM Motorama show that toured the Country. It was full of the most beautiful Dream Cars ever collected. In 1954 it included concept sports cars from each of the GM brands, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, and this one from Oldsmobile. Each was similar in format [...]
1969 Ford Talladega Prototype; Banjo Matthews Update
For sometime I have been telling you about the great work Jason Thompson and his father Clarence are doing with the restoration of the Banjo Matthews Ford Talladgea Prototypes. There is the red one that was done just in time for the 2010 Talladega Family Reunion. This car will soon be featured in Muscle Car [...]
Reproduction Exhaust Tips; Ford and Mercury
Press Release December 2 2010 Marty Burke Motorsports in Leonard Tx has been given permission by Ford Motor Company Restoration Licensing Division to reproduce the exhaust tips for the 1969 Ford Torino & Cyclone Ford part number C9OA-5263-A along with 1970 Torino/Cyclone exhaust tip D0OA-5263-A. These tips will carry the Ford logo along with the [...]
Ford 378 cu in Nascar Cleveland Engine
We don’t usually get real technical on this site. We are more about the entire car and having fun with it than building the biggest engine you can. Although we do have some good friends who live to make maximum horsepower. Rick Stanton is one of those. You know him from the Boss 429 Powered [...]
Holman & Moody; Burnouts and Moonshine
Most of us will take in a major car show or two a year. This usually means driving a distance out of town or even out of state. It is a weekend of fun and grand cars but then it is a rush back to work and the normal routine. I also know from experience [...]
1969 Camaro RS/Z28 Barn Find
When was the last time you saw a 1969 Camaro RS/Z28 in this shape? How about in a Major Car Show? When we first saw this car at the 2010 Forge Muscle Car Show we knew we had to get some photos. After all this is one rare Camaro. It is a 1969 RS/Z28 with [...]
Collector Car Tires
Legendary Collector Cars is proud to announce that we are now a retail dealer for some of the best Good Year Collector Car tires you can find for your pride and joy. The OEM style tires are not for everyone or every collector car. We love BFGs and put them on every car we plan [...]
1968 Mercury Cyclone GT 500
We have spent a lot of time researching and reporting on the 1969 Ford Talladega and Mercury Spoilers but there is another Blue Oval car that continues to make us scratch our head. It is the 1968 Mercury Cyclone GT 500. Note, I didn’t say GT; it is a GT 500! The differences are small [...]
Billy Chandler’s 1955 Chevy by Detroit Speed
We spotted this remarkable 1955 Chevy at the Forge Show and fell instantly in love. Going to a car show and seeing a 55 Chevy is no surprise; there are lots of nice 55s out there. For one to catch your attention it has to not only be well built but also clean and different. [...]
Bobby Allison 1969 Dodge Daytona Race Car
There are few race car drivers that I respect more than Bobby Allison and few race cars that make the juices flow like his number 22 1969 Dodge Dayton. When I heard the sound of that Hemi and looked up and saw the number 22 roar into the Convention Center at the 2010 Forge Muscle [...]
Ford Talladega Banjo Matthews Prototype
Without question this was the standout car at the First Annual Ford Talladega Family Reunion held in conjunction with the 2010 Forge Muscle Car Show. This car was restored by and is owned by Jason Thompson. Jason also owns the another unrestored Talladega prototype, a white Banjo Matthews car. Ford built this car on September [...]
First Annual 1969 Ford Talladega Family Reunion Participants
The car in front is the Banjo Matthews Prototype, the white car is the very First Production Talladega, the maroon car is the Last Production Talladega. I will start off apologizing for anyone I missed at the show. There were some beautiful and exceptional cars in attendance. I tried to get a picture of every [...]
Talladega Family Reunion Show Report
By: Richard Fleener From left to right: Last Talladega, First Production Talladega, Banjo Prototype Talladega Katrina and I just returned from the First Annual Talladega Family Reunion held in conjunction with the 2010 Forge Muscle Car Show in Kingsport, TN. It was both an excellent collection of cars and a family reunion for people who [...]
National Parts Depot (NPD) Car Collection
I recently had the opportunity and honor to view the fabulous car collection of National Parts Depot (NPD). We all know this company has a great collection of parts for most any collector car or truck out there. However, did you know they also have one of the best car collections you will ever see [...]
Ford Talladega Family Reunion
Just one week from now the first ever Ford Talladega Family Reunion will be getting underway. It is being held in conjunction with the Forge Muscle Car Show in Kingsport, TN. You never know at these kinds of events who will and who will not make it but here are some of the cars we [...]
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler; Overview
If you have been following along for any time at all you know that the Forge Muscle Car Show in Kingsport TN on Oct. 1 and 2 is going to be home of the First ever Ford Talladega Family Reunion. The “Family” consists of three 1969 Ford products. The first is the Ford Talladega, the [...]
Forge Muscle Car Show and Ford Talladega Family Reunion
We are now down to less than 30 days until the doors open on the 2010 Forge Muscle Car Show and Ford Talladega Family Reunion in Kingsport Tennessee. On October 1 and 2, 2010 you will have an opportunity to not only view some of the best muscle cars in the Country but you will [...]
Race a Mustang; Go To Jail?
By: Richard Fleener Recently Katrina and I were traveling through Indianapolis and had the shock of our life. There was a herd of Mustang GTs roaming the interstate. We were driving a large motor home with a horse trailer behind and never got close to breaking the speed limit so there was no threat of [...]
Orange County Speedway Hillsborough, NC Celebration of the Automobile 2010
Every once in awhile I come across something that I think needs to be shared with the rest of you. This is an article that was written by Tim Leeming a radio personality. I was not able to attend this event but from his description I will try to in the future. He very colorfully [...]
David Pearson Street Legal NASCAR
Harlow and his Purolator #21. We love these street legal race cars! Some are real race cars converted over to be driven on the street and provide a wild ride. I did this way back when with a 1965 Corvette dragster that had all aluminum interior, straight axles front and rear plus a 500HP+ 454. [...]
Transporting a Prized Muscle Car
As you most likely have guessed from the looks of this site, I am a car collector. I recently purchased a rare find in CA. Unfortunately, the car did not run. Its condition was that of a barn find so it did not need to be in an enclosed trailer but I did want it [...]
Another Rare Barn Find becomes a Project Car-Part 2
Part 2-continued from 8-12-2010 It seems even though the ad had run out and he got some tire kickers, no one was interested in a 1969 Mercury. Before I showed up he had made arrangements to re-list the ad. The new ad was running even though I had purchased the car and this time the [...]
Another Rare Barn Find becomes a Project Car-Part 1
Part 1 We recently received an email from a friend in Southern California. He knew Katrina and I had been looking for a 428 CJ Dan Gurney Spoiler for many years, eight to be exact. Not once in all that time did one ever surface that we know of. My friend’s email gave the details [...]
Ford Talladega Art Work
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that Legendary Collector Cars announces the first of our very limited edition 1969 Ford Talladega Artist Prints. These 3 prints are the first of the “Legendary Collector Car Series”. Each print in the series will be had signed and numbered by the artist. Each print will come with [...]
Hurst Olds, one of one 1980 Style
You know that the names Hurst and Oldsmobile go together like bacon and eggs. Hurst built cars for other manufactures but it was the Hurst Oldsmobiles from the 60s and 70s that most of us remember and lust over. Unfortunately, the conversions became fewer in numbers and less and less common as the years went [...]
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler History
This is a continuation of our history of the Ford Talladega, Mercury Spoiler/Spoiler II 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Cale Yarborough Special 428 CJ Ram Air As you may remember, Ford had to build 500 Talladegas to get the body modifications authorized for the track; this was also true with the Spoiler IIs. There was an [...]
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler and Spoiler II History
When Ford began running its Special Order of 1969 Torino Talladegas the Product Development Group over at Mercury wanted its own version of the NASCAR Aero “Going Thing”. By” Rick Ochs and Richard Fleener In a 1969 intra company letter sent to the Production Development Group at Mercury, Ford spelled out what changes were made [...]
Marti Report, Ford Documentation and more; Talladega Prototype
Continued from: Building the Ford Talladega Prototypes by Rick Ochs We have been talking a lot lately about the two rare 1969 Ford Talladega prototypes known as the Banjo Matthew’s cars and today we have even more. The paperwork that follows is the same kind of things you should be looking for on your cars. [...]
Building the Ford Talladega Prototypes, by Rick Ochs
The following article was provided by Rick Ochs; a fellow who loves the Ford Talladega. Unlike many of us who also admire these cars, Rick is the Guru when it comes to the real details. Here is his historical research and perspective on the two very rare Banjo Matthew’s prototype Talladega cars. In August of [...]
Build Your Own ZO6 or ZR1 Corvette Engine!
Chevrolet has changed the rules! Order a new Corvette and now you can build your own ZO6 or ZR1 engine; at the factory. Can you imagine the attention you will get at the next club meeting or cruise when you start to talk about how you went to the Corvette engine plant and built the [...]
Austrailan Race Shop and Car Museum
We are all sitting in lawn chairs at car show here in the US during the top of summer heat while car guys in some parts of the World are dealing with winter and working away in their garages. Recently, I was sweating away at a cruise and wondered what our friends in Australia and [...]
Idiotic Car Story Contest; 51 Ford and Alcohol don’t mix
Here is our second story from a reader for our Idiotic Car Story Contest! Email us your story and have a chance to win one of our great prizes from our Online Store. By Fred McDonald: When I was 16, I had bought a 1951 Ford with flathead and three speed overdrive. By then the [...]
Idiotic Car Story Contest with not so happy of an ending.
Not all Idiotic Car Stories have a happy ending. Here is another entry in our contest. Send us your story and you might just win a prize from our new Online Store. By: George Houk This thunderbolt was owned and driven by John Donilson in 1964-1965. He died in this car at Union Hill when he [...]
69 Ford Talladega Family Reunion: Benny Parsons ARCA Car
We are only three months away from the first ever 1969 Ford Talladega Family Reunion. It will be held in conjunction with the Forge Muscle Car Show in Kingsport, Tennessee on October 1 and 2, 2010. Because it is a “Family Reunion” the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler and Spoiler II cars are also invited and will [...]
Contest: Idiotic Car Story about “Scooping the Loop”
This is another example of an Idiotic Car Story. Send us your “Idiotic Car Story and you might win one of our great prizes! If you want to know the rules just click here. I was 18 and had just graduated from High School and was leaving for Iowa State University at Ames in a [...]
Idiotic Car Story involving a Thunderbolt
Our Idiotic Car Story Contest continues with another story from a friend that involves a Comet Thunderbolt! Send us your Idiotic Car Story for a chance to win a prize from our Online Store. By: George Houk In 1964-65 a good friend of mine, Dick Hoffman, a couple of other friends and I were on [...]
Another Idiotic Car Story from a Reader
Here is our second story from a reader for our Idiotic Car Story Contest! Email us your story and have a chance to win one of our great prizes from our Online Store. By Joey: “I’m a pretty dumb guy sometimes, but I guess the best place to start is my first, “Dumb Guy With [...]
Idiotic Story Contest: $250 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
By: Anonymous Here is our first entry in the “Idiotic Car Story Contest.” Send in your story NOW! My first car was a 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I bought it from a family friend in 1987 just after I turned 15, hoping to get the kinks worked out of it before I turned 16. I [...]
Idiotic Story Contest: 53 Plymouth on a Hoist plus Jay Leno
By: Richard Fleener Yesterday we started a new contest for the “Most Idiotic thing you ever did To a Car, With a Car or In a Car” and today you get two examples. The first is my story and the second is a Jay Leno story video. Enjoy and send us your story. You might [...]
Contest for Most Memorable “Idiotic Thing I did To, With or In a Car story”
He’s an Idiot! Have you ever said those words or worse, heard them? We are macho gearhead men, right? We never do anything wrong; we never get lost; we never drop a screw down an intake manifold on a newly built engine; we never put diesel fuel in our gas powered car; we have never [...]
Bill France Sr. Ford Talladega Autograph Car
We have some very notable 1969 Ford Talladegas registered for the Forge Muscle Car Show on October 1 and 2 of 2010. The very first Ford Talladega Family Reunion will be held in conjunction with the ever popular Forge Muscle Car Show. One of those very special Talladegas will be the Bill France Senior Signature [...]
Corvette C7 Prototype
There was the Stingray Corvettes, then there were the Sting Ray Corvettes but will the C7 Corvette be the STINGRAY ! If the Prototype we saw is any example, the next new Corvette body may very well be the wildest Stingray ever. If you have missed this GM Prototype of the next possible C7 Corvette [...]
Betty Boop gets a Cougar
By: Richard Fleener Going to a car cruise can be a lot of fun. Owning a collector car is definitely fun. Meeting great people is the best and that is just what car people are, the best. The Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club has some great people in it and visitors from all over Middle Tennessee [...]
Data Plates and Vins, Part 4 It’s Mine Officer
Part 4: It’s Mine Officer, Honestly! This is part four and the final part of an article written by guest author Bill Culp. All VINs used in these photos have been altered and do not show all numbers. Here is another 1971 Dodge, only this one is a 340 Demon. Even these slightly different screws [...]
Data Plates and Vins; Part 3 What Does it Say?
Part 3: What Does it Say? This is part three of a four part series written by guest author Bill Culp. All VINs used in these photos have been altered and do not show all numbers. If you decipher the data provided by AMC and most other manufactures it will tell you the original color [...]
Data Plates and VINs; Part 2 Altered Plates
Part 2: Altered Plates This is the Second Part in a four part series contributed by guest author Bill Culp. All VINs used in these photos have been altered and do not show all numbers. As the use of modified or switched data plates became more of a problem the use of rivets and vinyl [...]
Data Plates and VINs
We are continuing with our new feature on the site with today’s Post. We are welcoming guest Articles from writers with interesting or informative articles they would like to share with the rest of us gear heads. If you have a technical article, a story about your first street race or a driving impression of the first [...]
Working With Smokey Yunick, Part 3
Some of the most visited pages on our site are those relating to Smokey Yunick. It seems everyone is interested in his Hot Vapor engine as well as the stories behind the man. He was a true inventor and built some controversial cars as well as some outstanding race cars. There are books and stories [...]
Working With Smokey Yunick, Part 2
Some of the most visited pages on our site are those relating to Smokey Yunick. It seems everyone is interested in his Hot Vapor engine as well as the stories behind the man. He was a true inventor and built some controversial cars as well as some outstanding race cars. There are books and stories [...]
Working With Smokey Yunick
Some of the most visited pages on our site are those relating to Smokey Yunick. It seems everyone is interested in his Hot Vapor engine as well as the stories behind the man. He was a true inventor and built some controversial cars as well as some outstanding race cars. There are books and stories [...]
Cars and Music
If you haven’t been paying attention we have been adding new stuff to the web site on a regular basis. This will continue! Not only are we adding new cars, new projects and new tours to shows we have added music videos! What goes with fast cars better than great rock and roll and beautiful [...]
Exotic Cars at Amelia Island
When you think of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance you think of older perfectly restored exotic legendary collector cars. That is the focus without question but remember the people that own these cars are also likely to drive today’s equivalent. A look around the parking lots confirms this. Take a look at these photos of [...]
Amelia Island Sporting Group Photos
We have just put up another batch of photos from Amelia Island. This is still just a small portion of what is to come but hope you enjoy them. These are the Sporting Cars including race cars and Motor Trend cover cars! Click Here.
Collector Car Scams
Over the years we have purchased a lot of different cars for our own personal use. Some have been brand new off the show room floor, some were special orders to the factory and some have been private party purchases. It used to be if you wanted to buy a used car your best bet [...]
So You want to Buy a Collector Car! Part 5
We have begun another new feature on Legendary Collector Cars. We invite guest authors to submit their articles for publication in our Blog. Today’s contribution is from Bill Culp of Decatur, Alabama. If you would like to make a submission for consideration please send it to: Richard@LegendaryCollectorCars.com. Part 5 Probably the last two areas to [...]
So You want to Buy a Collector Car! Part 4
We have begun another new feature on Legendary Collector Cars. We invite guest authors to submit their articles for publication in our Blog. Today’s contribution is from Bill Culp of Decatur, Alabama. If you would like to make a submission for consideration please send it to: Richard@LegendaryCollectorCars.com. Part 4 Even with a favorable appraisal performed [...]
So You want to Buy a Collector Car! Part 3
We have begun another new feature on Legendary Collector Cars. We invite guest authors to submit their articles for publication in our Blog. Today’s contribution is from Bill Culp of Decatur, Alabama. If you would like to make a submission for consideration please send it to: Richard@LegendaryCollectorCars.com. Part 3 Value can be determined by Internet [...]
So You want to Buy a Collector Car! Part 2
We have begun another new feature on Legendary Collector Cars. We invite guest authors to submit their articles for publication in our Blog. Today’s contribution is from Bill Culp of Decatur, Alabama. If you would like to make a submission for consideration please send it to: Richard@LegendaryCollectorCars.com. Part 2 Speaking of value, I find that [...]
So You want to Buy a Collector Car!
We have begun another new feature on Legendary Collector Cars. We invite guest authors to submit their articles for publication in our Blog. Today’s contribution is from Bill Culp of Decatur, Alabama. If you would like to make a submission for consideration please send it to: Richard@Legendary CollectorCars.com. Part 1 I have purchased a few [...]
Data Plates and VINs; Part 2 Altered Plates
Part 2: Altered Plates This is the Second Part in a four part series contributed by guest author Bill Culp. All VINs used in these photos have been altered and do not show all numbers. As the use of modified or switched data plates became more of a problem the use of rivets and vinyl [...]
Barn Find AMX restoration is on schedule!
If you have been following the progress on our Barn Find AMX you know we haven’t told you much lately. That is because we have been in the garage working! We are on track for having the car ready for the first big show in Nashville this spring. We hope to unveil the little red [...]
New Barn Finds
We were out this past weekend enjoying a brief taste of spring and came across some more “Barn Finds”. Unfortunately, these were more “Pasture Finds” and not as well preserved as true Barn Finds. Some of these are too far gone to be salvaged but others still may find there way to be included in [...]
Banjo Matthews Prototype Ford Talladega to appear at Forge Muscle Car Show
The “Banjo Mathews Prototype Ford Talladega” will be at the Talladega Reunion in the Forge Muscle Car Show this coming October 1 and 2 in Kingsport, Tennessee. This is only one of the very rare Ford Talladegas that will be featured at this show. This car has been unseen for decades and is now undergoing [...]
Lowering your car the hard way!
In 1969 Ford wanted to lower its Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II race cars so they would corner better and have less aerodynamic drag. However, NASCAR had strict rules about how low the car could be. The officials measured from the bottom of the rocker panel to the race track surface. The light bulb [...]
Ford Talladeg 1969 News Article
Talladega guru, Rich Ochs sent me an interesting article from back in the day on the “New Model T Ford”. It is about the Talladega! The article is dated April of 1969 and the cars were only weeks old at that point. It even contains a photo of one of the prototype cars. As with [...]
Detailing the Past
When I was a youngster there were no video games or computers. When school let out it was either a pinball machine or model cars that filled my evening. That is until I discovered girls! Once I aged sufficiently I was able to advance into real cars and real girls! Back to when I was [...]
Another Great Private Car Collection
There has been an email going to car buffs for sometime now about a private collection of Chevrolet Convertibles in Ankeny, Iowa. Well, now you have an opportunity to see for yourself. This collector has one of every Chevrolet Convertible ever built up to 1975. If you want to see more, CLICK HERE.
Show Car for Go! The Ultimate Street Car!
There is always the debate to show or go. Well, here are some guys who show but really put the go into there machines. These are fast and safe. Let this be an inspiration to anyone building a car for the street. Do it right!
Ford Talladega Family Reunion at the Forge Muscle Car Show
Once in a lifetime opportunity if you love Fords or just enjoy rare cars! Several of us are working with Tim Lapata and his Forge Muscle Car Show to put on a very special “Family Reunion” for the Ford Talladega at this fall’s Forge Muscle Car Show. There will be an indoor show with a [...]
Corvette Damage at Russo Steele in Phoenix
Here is one example of the “minor” damage at Russo Steele Auction. Look closely at photo.
Russo and Steele Tent Collapse
This is what our friends in the Collector Car Hobby were dealing with at Russo and Steele in Phoenix on Friday. Could this happen to you? Think twice. Very glad no one was seriously injured and the cars can be repaired. We have all seen similar things happen at a smaller scale at car shows [...]
Russo-Steele Disastor in Phoenix!
This is a terrible situation, my thoughts and prayers go out to all who had cars at the auction and those of you attending.
Larry Shinoda
Brand Loyalty or Bigotry? In our last post we raised the question is Brand Loyalty Bigotry. There are lots of examples of people going overboard thinking their brand of car is the only one worth driving and all the rest are just stupid, dangerous, slow junk! Well, maybe these folks should do a little thinking [...]
Brand Loyalty or Bigotry?
Is Brand Loyalty Important? Are you a die hard Chevrolet person? Are you one of those people who bleed blue oval blood or would you rather push your MOPAR than drive either a Chevy or a Ford. I can appreciate these feelings but can’t quite understand them. Personally, I love cars; if its got 4 [...]
1969 Trans Am Racing
I found this video and it brought make some great memories. It depicts the 1969 Trans Am racing series. Better yet, it gives wonderful insight into the entire life style of the late 60s and early 70s. You will see some of your favorite pony/muscle cars doing four wheel drifts on the track, girls in [...]
Studebaker; Subculture or Life Style?
In my last post I talked about the love of a Studebaker and how the brand was and is under appreciated. However, Studebakers also have a strong following and each car has a unique story that goes with it. Well, I got an email from Mike at Mikes-Show and Shine telling me about a post he did [...]
