The 2012 race went the full 24 hours and was a terrific event. It was our first attendance at a 24 hour event but I am sure we will return very soon if not next year. It was recorded breaking attendance with nearly 80,000 fans on the infield and almost all of them camping in tents, trailers and motor homes. It was a very friendly environment and the racing was terrific. Katrina works for SunTrust Bank so it was a little disappointing to see the SunTrust Corvette break just after 30 minutes on the track. It was fast but some strange mechanical gremlin took it out.

We were very excited to see the new Ford powered teams do so well and take the overall win. Porsches dominated the GT class.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a race in Daytona do it! We have now been to the 500, the 400 and the 24 Hour and have never been disappointed.

Here are some photos of the action on the track. In Part 2 we will take you into the temporary museum where examples of winning cars from the first 50 years were on display.  For many this may have been the highlight of the weekend.

I learned a lot by my first attendance at a Mecum Auction. I have gone to other car auctions from the big and glamorous Barrett Jackson Scottsdale to the little small town private collection sales but this was my first Mecum. It will not be my last. Katrina and I neither bought or sold a car this weekend but we were very tempted to pull out the bidder card and take one home but resisted the temptation. This is reportedly the biggest Collector Car auction in the Country with over 2,000 cars.

There was a big variety of cars both in condition and style. We saw some we would be scared to drive because they did not appear safe and we saw some we would be scared to drive because they were so rare and valuable.

The crew at Mecum did and excellent job with organization and presentation. We were even able to park our motor home on site and camp for $15 per night! This really made the experience enjoyable and easy.

One recommendation; do not assume that just because a car is being sold at a highly respected auction that it is a great car and the seller is not misrepresenting the car, its rarity or its condition. As always DO YOUR HOMEWORK and KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING!

Here are some photos that will show the variety of cars at the auction.

Dodge showed up with what MOPAR fans thought was going to blow the competition away, the Dodge 500. It had a new aero package and a Hemi but it was too little too late.

LeeRoy Yarbrough in his Talladega showed them what the Blue Oval boys could do. It was the 11th annual running of the Daytona 500 and the finish was as thrilling for Ford fans as the 2011 Trevor Bayne and Wood Brothers win.

This weekend Speedweeks in Daytoan begins with the running of the 24 Hours of Daytona. We will be bringing you live photos and video from the track this weekend and more about the excitment of the event next week. Arguably, the Daytona 500 is the big event for most racers. If you are a NASCAR fan the big event is now just weeks away.

Back in 1968 and 1969 it was a special time at the Speedway. The aero cars were just comming into their own. In 1968 the new Ford sportback Fairlane and Mercury Cyclone introduced a new shape that could cut through the air with fewer horsepower. Today the smallest inperfection in a car’s shape can make it uncompetivie but back then a small improvement in air flow over the body could easily send the car into the lead.

Watch the video below to see what it was like that year in racing at Daytona. To get your own diecast model of the Cale Yarborough, David Pearson or Lee Roy Yarbrough cars visit our Online Store.

This time around it is the body that will get the attention and it is going to be a fast redo. We weren’t happy with the cheap paint job that was on it when we purchased the car. It looked great from the grandstands at the drag strip but not up to our standards even for a daily driver (our standards are pretty high). Our plan calls for all of the bolt on sheet metal to be removed and media blasted. They remaining sheet metal will be sanded down and all the panels straightened and smoothed. Every piece of chrome, stainless and aluminum will be redone or replaced. The black vinyl top is perfect so it will stay during the process. All new seals and gaskets will added throughout the body.

While we are at it we will also be detailing the underside of the car and sprucing up the interior a little but keeping the original leather.

Since this car is a former dragster and already has a great suspension modifications such as frame connectors and traction bars along with the 500HP thumper engine we have decided to go the “Day Two” approach with this rare beast rather than the more traditional complete restoration. Since we like to drive cars and sit around and look at them this seems far more practical.

As for tires and wheels, the jury is still out. Should we go with 15″ Magnum 500s with BFG white letters or more modern 17″ dark spoke Torque Thrust style wheels with modern rubber? What would you recommend? Send us an email, just click here.

We have included a few photos of the very first steps in the process but we really hope to also have this car finished and at the Nashville Good Guys show in May parked right next to the soon to be completed Barn Find AMX Project Car.

The Project Day Two Cougar is now off to our friends at Rod and Custom Fabrication for new paint and body work. We will keep you posted on our progress with regular updates over the next few weeks.

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 true they focused on small well built, safe and sane economy cars but they when they didn’t they went all out.

In 1968 they jumped into the sports car world to challenge Chevrolet and the Corvette with their AMX. It was a two seat version of the Javelin poney car. The following video briefly tells the story of the 24 hour speed records set by Craig and Lee Breedlove, and other co-drivers. It is an amazing story and one even more outstanding when viewed within the context of the small AMC.

This is a very exciting release. LeeRoy was one of the best drivers by many accounts but died way too soon. Both autographed (by car owner Junior Johnson) and non-autographed cars will be available. These will not be available until sometime this spring but you can order yours now, just click here to visit our Online Store and order yours. $69 for non-autographed and $89 for autographed.

Read more below.

We are going to start off with TWO cars both owned by Robert Pegler of New Zealand. Robert has visted with us on a couple of vistis to States over the past few years. Although these cars are being built in the US I am sure they will soon be tearing up the streets of New Zealand.

According to the team at Impatient Creations, Robert will be orchestrating this special build from New Zealand where the car will be delivered. One car is the rare Talladega SuperSpeedway car; the second is a equally rare Dan Gurney Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. The original engine was long gone, so the opportunity to build an incredible Resto-Ride presented itself. Robert wants the exterior to look like Cale Yarbrough just stepped out of his race car, but run better and retain a comfortable interior. Robert selected a new 4-cam 4.6 Fuel Injected engine with stacked DC&O injection system, 6-speed transmission, and comfort fitting seats.

These cars are valuable and rare as originals but when one presents itself a less than restorable it makes for a terrific platform for a wild driver. Like the old saying goes: “Anyone can restore a car, it takes a real man to cut one up.” I am anxious to see this car hit the streets here in the states before it heads downunder.

The second car is a Talladega and will be a great garage mate to the Cale Yarborough race car clone. It will be done up the same way but as a David Pearson Talladega! The car below IS NOT Robert’s car but was the inspiration for his creation.

As found, the project Talladega had been sitting for many years and in need of a lot of work.

The body did appear to be very solid and a great starting point for a project meeting Robert’s plans.

As shown by the date in the photo, the car was in race trim colors in late Novemeber of 2011. As soon as we get updates from Robert on these two car we will keep you posted.

Now, what are YOU working on?

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 a man who, by anyone’s definition is a Legend.

I don’t have a crystal ball and no special insight to the muscle car market but I do love cars and think I have a perspective that isn’t much different than a lot of the car hobbyist. There are those who collect for investment and there are those who collect for fun and enjoyment. Some like to show and others like to drive. I think we are seeing a return to the driver quality show cars. The economy has brought change to our hobby. It is now often cheaper to purchase a restored car than it is to do it yourself. The 100 point frame off restoration is beyond the reach of most of us and the thought of just looking at such a car without driving it soon becomes unfulfilling and unsatisfying. My Top 10 Collector Car picks for 2010-2020 were for the average car guy and were just a guess on my part based on what I wanted. These were what I thought the average “Joe” was willing to purchase and could afford. In this update I am not trying to predict how to save your 401k with a single purchase. No million dollar get rich quick cars in this pick. The theme remains the same; what do you want to have fun with and still be able to afford.

One thing that is different from two years ago is what I think are a couple of emerging trends. The first is the desire to drive something different than everyone else. This is also reflected in response to the demand vs supply cost issue. More hobbyist, I believe, are moving away from the highly sought after over priced cars such as the 57 Chevy, MOPAR Hemi etc. and moving towards the less common cars like Studebakers (50s low slung coupes) and any non-Chevy GM intermediate like the Buick Skylark, Olds Cutlass and Pontiac Le Mans derivatives. The second is what I think is an increase interest in real high quality drivers. These are not perfect restorations but they are solid high quality drivers. I would even put the lower cost resto=mods into this category. The best part of owning a car is driving it, in 2012 we will be driving our cars more!

Top 10 Collector Cars for 2010-2020; The 2012 Update

These are not presented in any order. I believe the economy’s depressed condition will have a major impact on our hobby for the remainder of this year. Few of us will be investing large sums of money in things we can’t use and have fun with. Since the year 2000 I believe we have seen a turn away from the Rat Rod rage but station wagons are hot, and trucks are growing even more in popularity. The high end museum collectors will still pay big bucks and will be looking for the rare and memorable cars of the past. The rest of us will be looking to have fun and drive the wheels off our cars before the gas is gone and electric outlets replace parking meters.

1. 1970-1972 Chevrolet Camaro: The second generation Camaro has been ignored for way too long. It is a wonderful car and far more refined than the first generation. As with all the cars on this list, they are currently under valued but the prices have increased significantly in the past two years. If you see 10 first generation Camaros at a car show today you will be lucky to see one of the second generation. In my opinion, these cars could easily end up more valuable in the long run than the 67-69 vintage. If you purchase one now restore it to original or make it a pro-touring car just get one of these before the price jumps $10,000 over night, I know I will be looking for a Z28 RS very soon. The Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am sister car also fits into this category.

2. Ford F 100 and Chevy Silverado pickups through the early 70s: Today’s pickups remain very popular and practical. They are far better than old ones. However, just like the modern muscle car is superior to the vintage from the 60s and 70s they build a desire for the old versions, people want one of each!

Older Ford and Chevy pickup have always been popular but now any truck over 30 years old is fair game for the restoration magic and love. Heck, even restore the camper and take your kids along.

3. 1968-1970 AMC AMX and Javelin: I already have my AMX! These are terrific cars, can still be obtained at a reasinabke oruce but I predict that will change in the next few years. These cars are far under rated and in many ways superior to the more recognised brands of Pony cars. A well done AMX or Javelin will stand out in a crowd and can be made to go like crazy. The market is starting to acknowledge their role in the history of having fun with cars. They didn’t make of lot of the AMX cars but they are out there and they have a great reputation on the drag strip. The Javelin was more plentiful and also won the Trans Am series championship twice. Bet you didn’t know that.

4. Rat Rods: This version of the legendary Rat or sometimes called the Rot Rod is going away; the rusted out hulks that are a danger to anyone on the road will disappear. I got to the point there were more Rat Rod Trailer Queens than high end Trailer Queens. Those Rat Rods were so bad they were not even capable of being driven on the road.

This theme of hot rod will morph into the creation of the Traditional Hot Rod.

5. Traditional Hot Rods: I believe this could be a very hot market this year. These will be reproductions made of more junkyard parts and less polished Billet. The owners of these cars will put lots a miles on them every year. Some will be traditional in every way and authentic Hot Rods; others will be recreations with a pro-touring flare. If it looks like it might be at home at a car show, it isn’t a traditional rod. If it looks like it is driven by a high school kid with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in his sleeve, it is a traditional rod.

These versions will have the old school look but will use some modern mechanical components to make them safer and more convenient.

6. 1966-67 Ford Fairlanes: These are arguably some of the most beautiful designs to come out of the Ford design studio. They are clean, simple and yet very attractive. Engine options were wide and there is no shortage of aftermarket stuff to make them fast. Fords in general (exception being the Mustang and Shelby) are way undervalued when compared to their Chevy and Mopar competitors.

There are lots of Ford loving gearheads out there and they are quietly building there machines.

When you show up with a unique Ford at most car shows there is no shortage of interested folks asking questions and admiring the car. It is about time that these cars get their due recognition.

7. 1969 Ford Talladega: Everything said about the 66-67 Fairlane is true about the Torino and especially the Talladega. These cars are hardly ever seen today but are terrific rides. They and the sister Mercury Cyclone Spoiler and Spoielr II cars are very rare but way undervalued. They are excellent drivers and with a 428 CJ engine are extremely fast. Why so many Chevelles are saved and so few Torinos is beyond me. You Bow Tie guys don’t start to scream and leave the site, we love them all. I am not suggesting fewer Chevelle restorations, just more Torinos. I, for one, just enjoy seeing a lot of variety when I go to a show.

These cars have seen recent increases in value just as some of the more traditional muscle car “must haves” have decreased. It is time to jump on one of these.

8. 1967-1971 Plymouth GTX: Roadrunners get all the attention but the GTX was an upscale car. MOPARS seemed to have gone flat in value. Has hobbyist want to drive their collector car the upscale models from each manufacturer should be more popular.

However, beware most MOPARS may continue to slip in value.

9. 1964-1970 GM Intermediates: This is a broad category that includes the Buick and Oldsmobile intermediate models.

As the population ages more and more of the potential owners will be happy to purchase one of the luxury, air conditioned muscle cars for less cost than a Chevelle SS or Pontiac GTO. These are similar cars but with greatly different personalities and cost points.

Other cars that fit into this category are the 1958-1966 Ford Thunderbirds, 1963-1970 Buick Rivieras and Chrysler 300 letter cars.

10. 1964-1972 Sleepers: As stated previously most of us have far less money to spend on our toys than we did 2 too 5 years ago. I believe this is going to lead to the traditional street look or Day Two look. These muscle cars and their lesser more traditional grocery getter two door sedan versions will be very popular this year. Many will be in primer or appear to be “under construction”. These cars are the muscle car version of the Traditional Street Rod. The GTOs and SS Chevelles bring top dollar because of what they are. The grocery getter versions are more common but provide nearly identical appearance at lower cost. Many times these were purchased new, taken home and modified to out perform the factory muscle car version. This year we will see history repeat itself. I am not saying everyone will be putting the correct muscle car badges and stripes on their cars to make more clones or tribute cars. The sleeper was king of the street back in the day. In 2012 the plain Jane two door will be the car to own. It will be the Day Two car with mags, intake, headers and other traditional modifications done in the vintage style. Owners will not be concerned with owning historically correct restorations. They want a cool look with high performance that is dependable, easy on gas and can be safely driven long distances weather it be on a Hot Rod Power Tour or just a couple of hundred miles to a big show in a neighboring state. Rock chips will be a badge of honor.

Being different, being driven and being built for reasonable cost will rule.

Well, there you have it, my 2912 Update to the Top 10 Collector Cars for 2010-2020! What do you think?

This car is owned by Doug Freeland. The car was built by Bart Spivey from BartsWorks. Bart was partners with Hal Baer in the early days of Baer brakes. He now builds cars and suspension systems for himself and customers. This car features a race tuned suspension that includes Koni coil overs; three link rear suspension and a BartsWorks Front suspension. He built the car as a mule for his suspension systems. Doug is planning on taking his Mustang and Bart is planning on taking a pre-production 94 Mustang he has been developing on the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2012!

We will get some more photos and video in the very near future.

Here is one of the most recent status photos.

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 a little special attention. If you want to know more about these cars we have listed as much as we know on this site. We would also direct you to our sister site www.TalladegaSpoilerRegistry.com where you can view even more photos and register your GT 500.

This car is not for sale so don’t ask.

Peppers states that he is planning on restoring the GT 500 for his cousin whose father bought it new. He hasn’t started on the restoration yet and based on these photos I think he should keep it original un-restored. What do you think? He is going to get a Marti Report before doing anything.

 

The Ford Aero cars are about to go big time. Hold on to your titles, pack your bags and buy a warm coat. On November 16, 17 and 18, 2012 the Blue Oval collectors are all going to gather in Chicago for the third Talladega Family Reunion! Like previous years the Reunion will be held within a larger show. In 2012 it will be the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. This is a terrific opportunity to display your 1969 Ford Aero cars at one of the most prestigious muscle car events of the year.

As a result of Jason Thompson taking his Red Banjo Matthews Ford Talladega Prototype car (Watch for this car at the 2012 Scottsdale Barrett Jackson auction) to the 2011 show Bob Ashton, the main promoter of the show, is creating room for a very special Ford Aero display in the 2012 Show. Jason states that he has been working with Bob for the last month and the show is considering having a group of winged MOPARs on one side of an isle and a group of Aero Ford family cars on the other.

This will be the 2012 Talladega Family Reunion event which includes all 1969 Ford Talladegas, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler and Spoiler II Dan Gurney, and Cale Yarbrough cars. (No clones!) This will be a huge show with lots of super rare cars.  Click Here and check out some pictures from the 2011 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals and see what others have said about the show. Jason estimates that they had approximately 540 cars on display this year but had over 2500 applications wanting to attend!

If you own one of these cars his is a great opportunity for your car to be placed on the same pedestal as all of the other super cars (This year they had eighteen ZL1 Camaros and five 1971 Hemi Cuda convertibles!). You will also have the opportunity to meet with other Ford Aero car owners and even Register your car in the Talladega Spoiler Registry.

If you are interested please contact Jason Thompson as soon as possible.  Send your email AND mailing address to:

 Jason Thompson

thompsons122@charter.net

865-621-4012

Once Jason has a group of names to send in Bob will send each of us a special invitation/application and hotel information. Don’t delay!

Here is another teaser/project update on our Barn Find AMX. At this point the car is getting its first buff of the clear coat. There is still the final buff yet to be done. However, I want you to take a look at the reflection in the paint in the upper passenger side of the hood. Think that is good enough for a driver quality paint job?

The guys at Rod and Custom Machine are doing a great job and I can’t wait to get my hands on it to hit the streets.

Two of the most modified Mustangs to ever come out of the Midwest are brought to you by Auto Kraft in Lincoln, Nebraska. The blue one was built in 1990 By Doug Kielian. It is a 1989 GT with a hand fabricated & widened 3″ chopped top! In addition it has BMW haedlamps, extended rear wing, GT 40 create engine with Paxton Supercharger. Remember this car was built over 20 years ago and was quite a head tuner back in the day!

The new “Kid” on the block  was built by ‘Johnny Sparks’ aka John Heermann. It is a 2011 Ford Mustang GT completely cut apart and fitted with aftermarket sheetmetal of 68 and 69 vintage Mustangs. The sheetmetal was hand fabricated to blend together with the new structure  to represent a look of yesteryears styling with today’s modern high tech features and comfort. It is powered by the new 5.0 Ford Coyote engine with 6 speed. The engine also has a set of Dynatech headers, a JLt cold air intake, SCT Tuner, with wheels and tires from Late Model Restoration Supply,  and engine cover by APR Carbon products.  It is the new head tuner today!

It was a cold today in Lincoln but a good day to play as well, thought you might like to see the two cars together.

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 NASCAR aero wars with the Talladega and Spoiler II Ford Motor Company had already made a lasting racing, “Total Performance”, name for itself around the World when it won the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. That effort was beyond any similar attempt by any Ameriacan car company.

This video provided by Mike Teske and Rick Toombs is not the highest quality but it extremely interesting and provides real insider’s look at Ford’s engineering department back in the day. This is the heritage our aero cars are built on!

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 that one of these videos or newsclippings comes around every few months just to remind us that we and our cars are not invinciable. Thanks to CNN for bring this to our attention.

Bristol Dragway

Mr Lopata will be leaving his position as president of THE FORGE INVITATIONAL MUSCLECAR SHOW and taking over the chores of co-ordinating the 2 day all FORD show.

While producing The Forge it was chosen by MSN as one of the top 8 shows in the Country to see. He has put together a display,along with the BOSS 429 registry,the first time in history every color of the 429 cars to roll down the assembly line in 1969 and 1970. With the help of Jason Thompson the largest display of Talladega and Cyclone cars in one place since they were built. He will be bringing that same experiance,along with already having an involvement with FORD RACING, in putting together what will not only be one of the premier events on the east coast but one of the best all FORD events anywhere.

There will also be a special BOSS display for all attendees from Tim’s FORGE SHOW and others at the 2012 event. We are going to see if we can provide MCA type judging for this category; also a 1964 – 2012 mustang display.

He will also continue to provide displays for the NHRA race and NASCAR / FOODCITY FANFEST event which fall on differant dates during the 2012 season. The event will also promote drag racing for the weekend and will have spacing for FORD and other parts vendors and even has swap meet spaces for the garage guy looking for that hard to find part.

All info to be added to the FFW website soon.

For vendor sponsor info contact:

Tim Lopata

copo427@charter.net

The re-assembly of the car is next up and should start next week. Once the exterior is all back to show/street ready condition we will be taking the Project Barn Find AMX back to our shop for installation of all the new interior parts. This should not be a long process but will include a complete insulation package, new speakers and radio with 8-track and iPod connection (a little old and a little new). We retained as much of the original interior as we could but that amounts to only the door panels.

We still have not 100% decided on the wheel and tire combination we will use. After trying a couple of different setups we mounted some of our BFGs on the factory original wheels until we make up our mind. Previously we put a set of 15″ polished aluminum 5 spoke Torque Thrust wheels and BFGs on during the early part of the build but they didn’t give us quite the look we wanted so those were put on the Project Mustang Gloriana/High School Hauler and they look perfect there.

By New Years we hope to have the car drivable and 100% complete no later than the end of January with it going to its first show in March and then onto the May Good Guys show in Nashville. From there it is miles and miles of FUN!

Watch for more up coming status reports.

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 but street racing is for punks.

Today, I have nothing but the highest disdain for the idiots that street race. I don’t mean the old stop light to stop light stuff we did as kids. Likely this was most often done from a rolling start and lasted a very short distance. When it was done it was often in remote areas without houses or people near by. Unfortunately, today it happens in front of elementary schools or in industrial parks with rows of young spectators. Or even more commonly on crowded freeways and interstate highways. You have seen them, usually small economy cars with loud exhaust racing through traffic. They rush up on cars passing on either side and cutting in and out of traffic like everyone else is simply an orange pylon cone to navigate as fast as possible.

I will admit to being guilty of some stupid actions in my youth. However, today I know what can happen. Many years ago I lost a very young and very close relative to a horrific auto accident that claimed the lives of several teenagers, and I have also seen friends scarred (physically and emotionally) for life from stupid actions in a car. Although I have witnessed terrible crashes and have come close I have never been involved. With all that said, I was an idiot in high school and would often street race down narrow alleys in the dark, speed around city streets and charge blindly through intersections. Although I had my own car, on special date nights I would get the family car. It was a red 1959 Rambler. What it missed in horsepower it made up for in smallness and good cornering.

On one Friday night back in 1964 a friend had his parents 1964 Ford Galaxy 2 door with a 390. I had a special date and my parents 1959 six cylinder Rambler. In those days I liked to play cat and mouse more than drag race. (Remember it was a six cylinder automatic Rambler; trying to drag race anyone would have truly been idiotic.) In cat and mouse you chase a friend and try to catch him or he chases you and you try to loose him. This was real TV type stuff accept no film crew to clear the streets for you. Like I said, I was a real idiot.

Not only were such actions dangerous but what was I thinking; a six cylinder Rambler against a 390 Ford? This should not have been a race at all. That big block torque should have eaten me up. However, I was the rabbit being chased by the big dog so I got to set the path.

The 1964 Ford Galaxy chasing me was like this but turquoise and white top.

On the straights that Ford could haul but I would dust it off in the turns. So, my plan was to turn at EVERY possible corner, the sharper the better and the narrower the road the better so I mostly went down alleys. Every time we got on a stretch of straight he was on my rear bumper.

I began to turn at every alley and looked for the narrowest ones I could find and I began to pull away. Suddenly, there were no headlights in my mirror. My thoughts were typical youthful optimism: “Wow, I am good! Can’t believe I got away from that new Galaxy with a 390.”

I figured I had some bragging to do!

Unfortunately, Monday at school I heard the rest of the story. It seemed that as I, the “mouse“, made my get-a-way from the “Galaxy cat” he got caught by the “black and white dog“! The Sheriff had spotted us and nailed the Galaxy. The “man” with the badge asked the Galaxy driver who he was chasing. With some “man in uniform” coaxing and a promise of getting only a warning ticket he gave me up. When I heard that, I knew I was in trouble, big trouble. I wasn’t worried about the ticket as much as what my Dad would do. I was sure my Dad would not get a call right away. This wasn’t the first time I had been in this predicament. The police knew that for most of us teenage idiots waiting was the worst part so it would be a few days before Dad would get THE call.

Are you like me, the waiting is the worst? I just can’t stand waiting for the call to come so I can get my punishment. I waited and waited but no call; every night when I got home from school I was waiting for the TALK. A week passed and then two. It had never taken this long before. The call never came!

Then I figured it out. We lived in a small town and there were only two other families in town with the same last name. I am sure the wrong father got the call! How cool is that?

I actually got away with that one, but not all of them. More on that on another day.

If you want to see a larger version of any of these photos simply click on the image.

]]> http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/2011/11/1969-ford-mustang-press-release-photos/feed/ 0 http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/2011/11/rad-rods-by-troy-update-on-talladega/ http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/2011/11/rad-rods-by-troy-update-on-talladega/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:59:08 +0000 Richard http://www.legendarycollectorcars.com/?p=14748 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 for this conversion. It is a regular Ford Torino with all new body work in the theme of the NASCAR Talladega from 69.

These photos show the car while it was still under construction. If you want to see more details check out Rad Rods by Troy web site.

This rear view with the spoiler is the way the real Talladega should have looked.

This picture gives you a unique look into the inner construction of this wild machine. Note the Boss 9 engine.

That called for a soda blast and minor body massaging to get it laser straight. New paint couldn’t be done without out putting a new interior in it and gosh new tires and wheels are a must. You get the idea!

The Barn Find was scheduled to be revealed at the Good Guys show in Nashville last May; its now November and little progress has been made since last spring. It was time for a new plan. After visiting with the Rod & Custom Machines Shop I told you about a few weeks ago I decided that was the route to go. I called Jeremy up at 615-496-1789 and asked him if he and his dad, Mike, would like to finish the AMX. His response as an immediate yes.

I asked what it would cost and when he could start. The answers to both questions were pleasant surprises. The price was excellent and the work could start as soon as I could get the car there. In two days I had all the parts sorted and loaded along with the AMX on the trailer and we were off to Mike and Jeremy’s 10,000 square foot shop in Middle Tennessee. I hope to be able to pick the AMX with fresh paint and all the exterior details and chrome placed back on the car in less than a month. I can then install all of the new interior parts along with the new tires and wheels.

This year’s Christmas present to me is going to be a bright red and fresh 1969 AMX with 390 4-speed and factory air! Think I’m not going to have some fun next summer with this set up?

As way of an update, the AMX has been primed and blocked and should get color around Thanksgiving week. I will bring you more photos then along with a little more info on Mike, Jeremy and their Rod & Custom Machines.

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 You Want To Go? The second is our Barn Find AMX.

Here is a sneak peek of the AMX update!

Today, we are going to give you the status of the Mustang and in a few days an update on the AMX.

One of the big problems in getting the Mustang done has been choosing a theme for it. I have owned the car since the late 1980s. I purchased it from a recent high school graduate who had gotten married and needed some cash for his new family. I drove it as a daily driver for awhile and then each of my 3 kids eventually drove it to high school. It was one of the “hot cars on campus” for several years. Unfortunately, high school kids learning to drive have a way of leaving their mark or dent on a car over the years. When the last little fender bender put it out of commission I retired it to storage for a long time with resultant deterioration.

With the interest in Rat Rods and Day Two cars I was struck with an idea. What if I took the Mustang and built it the way I would have done it if I was still in high school and only had the money from summer and part time jobs to keep it on the road? That is what I did!

Gloriana Mustang Fastback is AKA High School Hauler. The main part of the theme is that the body was roughed in, the paint was left faded and scratched with primer on body repairs; new tires and wheels were added; interior freshened but not redone; and the engine was tuned but not detailed; all of the soft hoses were replaced and the brakes upgraded. Next year if we drive it as much as I plan the factory air system will be refurbished to keep us cool during those hot summer days.

These pictures were take this past weekend and give you a good overview of the look. What is your opinion of the High School Hauler look? It is an inexpensive way to keep a classic on the road and harkens back to the good old days when these cars were used as daily drivers and not pristine pieces of mobile art. I can get in this car today and quickly travel back to when I was in high school and life was way different than today. Maybe I should name it the “Time Machine”?

Give us your comments on this approach.