NOVEMBER 2008 (Newsprint version with main graphics)
1 President's message
Upcoming Events 2 ELECTION MEETING & Film Screening Celebration 3 Cruise-In at PW's 4 Holiday Party 5 WARL Holiday Donation Drive
Recent Events
6 Armed Forces Retirement Home Car Show (album) 7 Rockville Car Show 8 October Cruise-In at PW's
Feature Articles 9 Italian Auto Design and History - Part 2 10 Driving Vintage in Tough Economic Times
Member Interests 11 Straight Eights ZAZZLE! (stuff for sale on line) 12 Business Ads Now Available on Our Web Site
For ALL features of the newsletter, including additional “visuals”, please visit the Straight Eights member web site … http://www.straight8s.net Classified Ads http://www.straight8s.net/member_cartalk_2008/classified/classified.htm
1
President’s Briefs
It is hard for me to comprehend that three years have passed since I first ran for President of our Club. On Saturday, November 15, 2008, it will be time for you to elect another representative. All things being equal, it has been a memorable journey, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with a particularly committed Board in service of the collector car hobby. Most gratifying is that our freshest ideas and greatest successes have stemmed directly from the creativity of our membership.
It was a Member who first suggested that we consider PW’s Sports Bar as a location to hold an event. That event became our region’s first and only regularly-scheduled GLBT Monthly Cruise-In. Having this “open door” for new members to easily experience the Club is a significant reason behind our Club’s continued growth.
From the outset of my tenure, I hoped to see our Club use the magnetism of our vehicles to support a worthy cause. It was a Member who saw a way to combine his love for cars with his passion for pets. The result is our highly successful partnership with the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL), an international model for animal welfare for which we have collected thousands of dollars in donated goods.
The above speaks to another goal: to encourage focused, “interest-based volunteerism,” where members feel comfortable integrating the best of themselves with their Straight Eights Car Club experience. I felt strongly that this would make the volunteer experience at once less daunting, and more fulfilling. While we’re still building it, we have the beginnings of defined volunteer committees. It has been most visibly successful in the work of our Webmaster on our greatly-expanded Members Website, and our vibrant “Car Talk” Online Newsletter.
Particularly gratifying is the fact that we have successfully deepened our connection with the larger GLBT community. Our proactive reengagement in regional GLBT Pride celebrations and our ongoing partnership with Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens have helped to keep the Straight Eights squarely in the public eye, with numerous articles in the regional GLBT media.
If nothing else, I hope that during the last three years we have demonstrated that all things are possible within this organization with your participation. Not doing what we’ve always done, the way we’ve always done it offers an opportunity to grow and prosper. We have room in our Club for new voices. We have the flexibility to go to new places and to try different things. When all is said and done, this Club is yours to nurture through what you – personally – are willing to bring to it.
So, I extend my thanks to the Membership and to the Board for the opportunity to help expand the platform for you to continue the creative evolution of this successful organization. And, thank you in advance for continuing to bring your talents to bear as we all continue to grow together in the years ahead.
Jim Byers
President Straight Eights Car Club
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“Vote & View”
Straight Eights Board Election 2008 (and Film Screening)
Saturday, 11:30 am, November 15
Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, Arlington, VA
Capping an exciting year of growth and achievement is the Straight Eights' Annual Election Meeting, at 11:30 am, Saturday, November 15, at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 North Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia (at Wilson Blvd, beside the former Newseum, where “Bodies” was exhibited last year). Located just 2-blocks from the Rosslyn Blue/Orange line Metro station, there's FREE underground parking. An optional lunch of gourmet pizza will be offered for a cost of $12 per person. For this reason, we ask that you RSVP by C.O.B. Wednesday, November 12, by email ([email protected] ) or by calling the Club Hotline at 703-624-0918.
The individuals who have stepped forward to run for elected positions on the Board this year are:
Milton Stern – President Howard “Smitty” Smith – Vice-President Joe Grimes – Treasurer [pending– Secretary] Mark Jordan – Membership Frank Adinolfe – Member-at-Large Jim Byers – Member-at-Large Howard Ghee – Member-at-Large John Lefever – Member-at-Large
Matinee Film Screening & Lunch
Once again, in our effort to make the voting process as enjoyable as it is essential, we're offering an Optional Lunch of gourmet pizza from Arlington’s amazing Lost Dog Café (a frequent mention on area ‘best pizza” lists, that also runs a thriving adopt-a-pet program), which you can bring into the Theatre to enjoy this year’s car-filled vintage film selection. The story of three very different automobile executives (Van Heflin, Cornel Wilde, and Fred MacMurray) is largely overlooked today, possibly because of its incongruous title.
WOMAN'S WORLD (20th Century Fox, 1954) finds these executives from industry giant “ Gifford Motors”
• Ford’s Advanced Styling Studios, design renderings & working tech models • Test-track scenes and smash-ups of 1954 FoMoCo. products, and • An extended driving tour of old Manhattan in one of Ford's most exciting and influential “dream cars”: the1953 Ford X-100!
“1953 X-100. This is one of Ford’s first dream cars. Many of the styling features found their way into production. The torpedo slab-sides [and taillight treatment] were seen on 1961-63 Thunderbirds. The hood ornament is used on ’58 Fords. The hooded headlights and front fender outlines would show up on ’56 Lincolns. And the wraparound windshield hit the streets on the ’55 Fords and Mercurys .”
“Standard Catalog of American Cars (1946-75)”
This "A-List" Technicolor "transpor-tale" was directed by Jean Negulesco (fresh from his smash-hits Three Coins In the Fountain, River of No Return, and How to Marry a Millionaire), and features fab-fashions by Charles LeMaire (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, and Niagra) – all set against a backdrop of new and “futuristic” vehicles from Ford Motor Co., for an entertaining but seldom-seen mixture of high-drama and flashes of wit (Lauren Bacall and June Allyson’s frenzied shopping trip to Filene’s is a standout).
The Rosslyn Spectrum is located in the Rosslyn Plaza office complex located beside the former Newseum building ("The Dome"), just two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station (Blue/Orange lines). There is FREE Garage Parking in the building's PMI Parking Garage. The garage is accessible from Arlington Ridge Road (follow N. Kent Street all the way around to the back of the office complex, bordering Rt. 66). For directions click this link: http://www.arlingtonarts.org/cultural_affairs/RosslynSpectrum.htm#Directions
Again, please RSVP by COB, Wednesday, November 12 (and indicate whether you’ll join us for lunch) by emailing us at [email protected] , or by calling the Club Hotline at 703-624-0918.
We look forward to seeing you there! 3
All Cruise-Ins of 2008 to Help Washington Animal Rescue League “Pet Treat and Creamy Peanut Butter Drive”
On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at 3:00 pm, the Straight Eights will hold their next “Cruise-In” of 2008 at PW’s Sports Bar and Grill parking lot (www.pwssportsbar.com), 9855 N. Washington Blvd., Laurel, MD, 20723. (301- 498-4840). The “Cruise-Ins” occur on the third Sunday of every month, weather permitting.
The Straight-Eights continues holding a “Pet Treat and Creamy Peanut Butter Drive,” benefiting the Washington Animal Rescue League (www.warl.org). Any kind of treats for cats and dogs from Snausages to Milk Bones are appreciated, however, they do ask that we do not donate rawhide chews as they can be problematic for canine digestive systems. If you don’t want to shop for treats, bring a jar of creamy peanut butter. The peanut butter is used to fill “Kong” dog toys, which keep our four legged friends occupied for hours. They are not in need of dog or cat food as the good people at Science Diet provide our furry friends with their meals.
Give all your goodies to Milton Stern, who will deliver them the Friday following the Cruise In.
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Annual HOLIDAY PARTY
Saturday, December 6, 2008
You’re invited to come and share some holiday cheer and help support a worthy regional animal rescue charity at the Annual Straight Eights HOLIDAY PARTY, Saturday, December 6, held once again at the home of Member John Lefever, 4416 Tonquil Street, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. We do ask that you RSVP by C.O.B. Monday, December 1, by calling hosts John Lefever and Howard “Smitty” Smith directly at 301-937-2364 or 301-937-4541 or emailing Smitty at [email protected].
If you have several events to attend, just “pop-in” for the HOLIDAY SOCIAL from 4 :00 pm onward for beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Or, plan to spend the evening for our traditional BUFFET DINNER served at 7:00 pm. And those who attended last year remember that the food was SCRUMPTIOUS! Soft drinks will be provided by the Club, however, attendees may choose to bring the holiday spirit of their choice.
Admission: As ever, the Holiday Party is FREE for current Members bringing a Side Dish or Dessert (one dish per partnered-couple, where applicable, is fine), or $20 per person for your non-Member Guests ( and Members without a dish). Please indicate what dish you will be bringing when you RSVP. but wait... THERE’s MORE!!!
Party WITH A (PET) PURPOSE!
Straight 8’s Holiday Party Helps Area Animals ( see related article)!
It was at this very event last year that The Straight Eights Car Club inaugurated our Donation Drive for Animal Supplies for The Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL), a wonderful organization that brings shelter and comfort to our fuzzy friends, who have yet to find a loving home! Collection Boxes will be placed at the Holiday Party for items such as: Dog or Cat Toys, Blankets, Towels, Animal Grooming supplies ( see complete list in related article) (maybe knit something yourself, as Sarah Palin would do before she shoots the animal from a helicopter). Even basic Office Supplies are needed to keep WARL’s engines of assistance revving in service of animals in need. On December 13, we will deliver our donations in a Straight Eights Car Club “Wheels of Comfort” Caravan!
Be part of a “Win-Win-Win” effort: a Win for your Holiday Spirit; a Win for WARL; and most of all, a Great Big WIN for the animals!
We hope you’ll come out and celebrate the blessings of 2008 with us on Saturday, December 6!
Meanwhile, warmest wishes for the Thanksgiving Holiday! 5
Straight Eights Second Annual Holiday Donation Drive Benefiting the Washington Animal Rescue League
By Milton Stern
This year, the Straight Eights will hold its Second Annual Holiday Donation Drive Benefitting the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL ( www.warl.org )). Boxes for donations will be located at the Annual Straight Eights Holiday Party on Saturday, December 6, 2008, at the home of John Lefever (4416 Tonquil Street, Beltsville, Maryland 20705 (see related article)).
If you are unable to attend the holiday party but want to contribute, you may deliver items directly to me (email [email protected] to arrange a time).
The following weekend, noon, Saturday, December 13, we will deliver our donations in a vintage car or two, including a cute hatchback with a disintegrating interior. If you would like to participate in the caravan to WARL, contact Milton Stern at [email protected] .
There are specific items The Washington Animal League needs (see list below). For further information or to participate in the delivery, contact me at [email protected] .
The Washington Animal Rescue League ( www.warl.org ) needs the following, and judging from the extensive list, you may have some of this just sitting around your home:
Cat equipment
• Tunnel • Round Sherpa fleece cat beds • Cat trees
Cat toys
• Wand toys • Ball in ring toy • Swat exerciser • Jingle balls • Fake mice
Dog toys (no latex, please)
• Kongs • Rope toys • Nylabones (small and medium) • Durable dog toys • Vienna sausages and hot dogs (for treats)
Kennel Use
• Blankets • Towels • Wet/dry vacuum • Laundry detergent • Peanut butter • Dog biscuits • Training treats (small bites) • Feliway (cat pheromone dispenser and refills) • DAP (dog pheromone dispenser and refills)
Grooming Supplies
• Fans • Dog/cat nail clippers • Brushes
Administrative use
• Color copier • Flat screen computer monitors • Copy paper • General office supplies • Mailing supplies • Staples gift card
Hospital needs
• Computer printers • Ultra sound machine • Portable otoscope (eye pressure gauge) • Rolling tool box • Tonopen (ear scope) • Baby scales • Fast acting thermometer
Humane education
• Gift cards to Politics and Prose, Borders, and Barnes & Noble to purchase humane-themed children books • Index cards, all colors and sizes • Packages of new, water soluble markers • Gift cards to Michael’s and AC Moore to purchase photo albums and picture frames • Poster board • Dog and cat stickers
WARL really appreciates all we have done for them, and I hope we make as great a showing this year as we did last year.
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Armed Forces Retirement Home Car Show
pics by Jim Byers
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ROCKVILLE CAPS OFF CAR SHOW SEASON!
In the aftermath of Beach Ball, our participation in the Rockville show is our traditional activity for October. The absolutely gorgeous weather brought about a noticeably larger turnout than last year, with well over 400 cars to admire – including an extraordinarily strong showing of rare and exotic imports from Ferraris and Bristols to Triumphs and Austin-Healeys! As usual “we were indeed ‘everywhere’!”
Among the Members who entered vehicles, a couple were singled out to be pictured in the brochure as part of the “100 Years of General Motors Heritage” theme: Neal Herman’s swank 1972 Buick Riviera and the wonderfully original 1979 Buick Electra sedan owned by Charlie Dunbar (who brought the car’s original owner – a life-long friend – with him to the show)!
Also among those attending were: Jeff Masoner and his 1973 Plymouth Valiant sedan; Andy Garland with his 1978 Pontiac Grand LeMans; Ken Smith with his 1959 DeSoto 9 passenger wagon; Roger Bentley with his 1954 Lincoln Capri convertible; Thomas Chaney and his 1961 Buick Electra sedan; a brace of Chrysler Imperial coupes (John Lefever’s brown 1981 and Pat Patterson’s white 1983); Dan Murray with his 1955 Ford Thunderbird; Jim Byers and his 1967 Imperial Crown convertible; Charlie Dunbar’s 1979 Buick Electra Park Avenue sedan; Paul Massaro’s 1964 Mercury Montclair Marauder hardtop coupe; Smitty Smith’s 1962 Chrysler Newport sedan, and we must make mention of.…
Tim Bernadzikowski’s lovely 1978 Lincoln Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition, which we were elated to learn had recently won an award of note at the prestigious show in Hershey, Pennsylvania! We’re hoping TJ will write up a brief story about his recent honor!
About 50 Straight Eights Members besieged “Mopar Hill” for our traditional “Pot Luck Picnic.” Members brought an array of scrumptious sides and desserts, complementing a display of wraps from Whole Foods. Special thanks to Event Manager Mark Jordan who, although not displaying his fabulous 1979 Lincoln Continental sedan on this day, came out to facilitate the picnic set up and “strike” of our picnic area.
Thanks to all the members who came out!
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OCTOBER CRUISE-IN RECAP!
by Jim Byers
In all honesty, each month I wonder “will we have a good turnout for the Cruise-In?” October in particular brought that question to mind, as we’d just completed the marathon of “Beach Ball” and had a great turnout at the annual Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show only the day before. Well, once again the “Cruise-In” proved itself a solid “hit” for our Club. Not only does it continue to draw consistent support from the existing Membership, it also serves as an ever-entertaining “open-house” for new members and an always surprising array of vehicles each and every month..
Member Allen Smith debuted his newly-acquired 1986 Mercedes convertible that, with an odometer reading in the low teens, looks, runs and even smells as if it is fresh off the showroom floor. Tom Chaney “shocked” everyone with his 1961 Buick Electra. Rich Domros came out with his 1950 Oldsmobile 88. Recent member Michael Cull and his partner arrived in their 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible (parking right beside Jim Byers’ 1967 Imperial Crown convertible for an interesting comparison of Elwood Engel’s design aesthetic). Andy Garland brought out a seldom seen downsized (but full-sized) 1979 Chrysler New Yorker. And, Milton Stern represented the economy class and the last American independent with his 1982 AMC Spirit DL.
The cars were still arriving when your author was leaving for another engagement.
We’ll keep on Cruisin’ and collectin’ on behalf of WARL in November! See the related article.
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Italian Automobile Design and History Trip of a Lifetime Part 2 of 3
By Gregg Kelley
A continuation of the story that first appeared in the September 2008 edition of CarTalk in which Gregg Kelley, Straight Eights member, visits Italy on a special Smithsonian tour of Italian factories, museums, designers, private collections and more.
Wednesday, May 14
After yet another cappuccino and pastry filled breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and hit the road for Stile Bertone before heading to Milan. Bertone, founded in 1912, is another coachbuilder that is quite famous. Some of the most brilliant designers have worked for this design house – Tom Tjaarda, Giorgetto Giugiaro (who went on to open Ital Design, a rival company), and Marcello Gandini to name a few. Some of the truly spectacular show and road cars came from Bertone – Lamborghini Miura & Countach, Alfa Romeo B.A.T. series from the 1950s, the lovely Iso Grifo, Lancia Stratos, etc.
Stile Bertone is located in the foothills of the Piedmonte Mountains northwest of Turin. A beautiful campus with and equally beautiful view to inspire the designers. To reach the main building, our bus driver managed to maneuver a very narrow bridge over a stream that I would have hesitated to cross with my Miata. Unbelievable! Once inside, we were given a tour of Nuccio Bertone’s office that has remained the same since he last used it. He passed away in 1997.
Afterward, the marketing director and one of the designers took us to the museum on the grounds that contained several road and show cars. To everyone’s surprise, they said that all the cars were open and that we were welcome to sit in any of them, open the hood and poke around the engines, etc. We all just stared in disbelief at them for a moment before descending upon all the cars. Here were one-off concept cars and road cars that I had been reading about for over 30 years – at our disposal. We were like kids in a candy store!
Luckily, I managed to sit in scores of dream cars without knocking myself unconscious again like I had done at Pininfarina. I would be hard pressed to say what my favorite car was since it was so overwhelming. One of the highlights and the only car we were not allowed to sit in was a private customer’s Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 11 – the continuation of the series of three concept cars built in the 1950s that were an experiment in aerodynamics. Apparently this very well-off customer loved those cars so much that he had Bertone design a fourth version that would be relevant to the 21 st century. Pretty heady stuff.
Once we had our fill of dream cars, or in reality, after being forced to leave to keep on schedule, we set off for Rivarolo Caravese to visit a hidden jewel of a museum in this small town out in the countryside on the way to Milan. First was a wonderful – you guessed it – five-course meal with lots of wine on the garden terrace of an intimate bistro. Once again the food was spectacular and the setting unforgettable. The museum was in a very odd location hidden behind an unmarked stone wall and then beyond a huge construction site. The bus driver managed to thread our bus through the narrow gate with only inches to spare on either side. I think everybody had their eyes closed while this was happening.
This new car museum, Galleria della Locomozione Storica, was terrific fun. They had an exhibit entitled “Spyders,” which featured all open topped cars – my favorite! Unfortunately, my camera had run out of juice back at Bertone, so I didn’t get any pictures during our stay, which is quite a shame given the quality of the cars that were inside. One of my favorites was the stunning Cisitalia 202MMS race car that Nuvolari was driving when the detachable steering wheel snapped off, and he had to steer the car by grabbing hold of the stub where the wheel was supposed to be! A beautiful car despite its infamous history. The museum also had a wonderful collection of vintage scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles including a very daunting 19 th century bike with the enormous front wheel that must be ten feet in diameter. How did they ride those things? No wonder they called the bikes that eventually were sized for real human beings “safety bikes.” I will certainly need to get some photos from my traveling companions of this terrific museum.
On to Milan!
Yes, Milan is known for its fashions, but it also happens to be the banking capital of Italy. Combine the two and you get thousands of beautifully dressed Italian men and women roaming around the city center. One of our group, Ignacio, the extremely personable and oh-so-handsome architect (who happens to live about 20 miles from my parents in Texas), exclaimed, “You can tell that Milan is pretty wealthy. The cars have trunks here.” Molto bene!!! Jonathan, our journalist car expert on the trip, took several of us to his favorite bookstore located about a mile away from the Hotel de la Ville where we were staying. Not surprisingly, the store was completely dedicated to automobile publications. The owner recognized Jonathan and kept the store open an extra hour past closing so that the group could browse and purchase books and magazines.
Ten of us from our tour group decided to dine together that evening. Meeting in the lobby, I had one of my less glorious moments when I asked the clerks at the front desk for a map. I think it was combination of being tired, and not having a great command of the Italian language, but I managed to insult everyone behind the desk with my rather bombastic hand gestures and abrupt request. Basically, what transpired can be translated to: “I am American tourist who needs a map, and you need to give me one right away you lousy hotel clerks!” Randall, our tour guide, just looked at me and then rolled his eyes. “That,” he said, “is going to be the story that I tell everybody back at the Smithsonian when I have to give a recap of this trip!” Charming…
Dinner was more of the same glorious food we had been enjoying. We had asked the hotel for a recommendation on a relatively modestly priced restaurant that had traditional food from the region. The suggested venue was several blocks away, but the evening weather was pleasant and the walk took us past Piazza della Scala where the famous opera house, La Scala, is located. La Scala was built in 1778 and houses the largest stage in Europe. Although we did not get the opportunity to go inside, the grand exterior was quite magnificent.
Arriving at the restaurant, we noticed that the menu was anything but moderate, and even more amusing was the fact that two other members of our group were having dinner there, and then another couple showed up! My guess is that if we had asked for a nice expensive restaurant, we would have been sent to the same place. Ah, the Italian way! Needless to say, dinner was wonderful. I ordered a caprese salad (fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomato) that caused jaws to drop when it was placed in front of me. The mozzarella was the size of a softball! Everyone eyed my meal with jealous looks, so of course I shared it. After all, what was I going to do with two pounds of the most delicious cheese I had ever had in my life? I probably would have wolfed it down in minutes if I had been by myself. It was a big hit on my end of the table.
Thursday, May 15
We departed the hotel in the morning for Arese to meet a representative from Alfa Romeo for a private tour of their museum. This was certainly going to be a highlight for Dave, one of the three architects in the group. He is a huge fan of the marque and currently has something like 19 in his collection at home!
The museum is enormous, with an impressive collection of Alfas from the very beginning. Our guide is another fashionable young woman who reminds me very much of my friend Kathy back in the States. I have my picture taken with her at the end of the tour for this very reason. It is one of only five or so pictures I have from the trip that are not of an automobile — a fact that several of my friends have remarked upon. “That was not the point of the trip,” is my usual reply.
One of the things about Italy that I really found fascinating was that more often than not, our guides just let us roam all over the collections without worrying about us touching anything. Of course, the extreme was at Bertone, but our guide at the Alfa Museum didn’t hesitate to touch or demonstrate something on a car’s exterior. It is a refreshing change from the DO NOT TOUCH signs you see plastered everywhere in the United States.
One particularly fascinating car was a dual motored racecar from 1931, the Monoposto G. Premio “Typo A.” Not only did it have two motors, but also it had two transmissions and two drive shafts so that each rear wheel was powered independently. A single shifter lever would work both gearboxes! It was fascinating and scary at the same time. I had visions of spinning out of control at over 100 mph if one of the drivetrains failed. I have tremendous respect for race drivers from the early days of racing. They were fearless, or just plain crazy, or both!
My favorite car was the 1935 “BIMOTORE,” a coupe with two connected inline eight cylinder engines that was designed by Touring. This was the supercar of its day. It sports a long hood leading to a very short back end that tapers in a small boat tail. Absolutely stunning.
Lunch was another grand affair, at a place called Ristorante Castanei located across the street from Alfa Romeo’s headquarters and on the appropriately named Viale Alfa Romeo. They printed up a special menu for our visit to the museum. Once again, many delicious courses along with many glasses of wine. I was starting to become rather used to this, much to the detriment of my waistline. After lunch we headed off to Zagato, another design house, located just a few miles away. Understandably, Zagato is famous for its work with Alfa Romeo, but is also very well known for its signature “double bubble” roof designs that were meant to give drivers more headroom without raising the overall profile of the roof.
Zagato has a very modern feel. The facilities were striking, with a great hall where several of their cars were on display. Interestingly, there was an orange Lamborghini prototype that we weren’t allowed to photograph for some obscure reason. It apparently was based on the Diablo, which was the model that was produced when Chrysler owned the marque.
Our tour was engrossing. They took us out to the modeling studio where they were working on an enormous cabin section of a very large boat. I was one of the first to see this part of the facility and accidentally managed to catch a glimpse of a full-scale mockup of a small compact car that the workers quickly hid under a cloth. It was very amusing to see them scurrying to cover the car, and a very large burly man stood right in front of me trying to block my view, as if to say, “Go ahead, take a picture and I will break your arms after I crush your camera with my bare hands!” Automotive intrigue at its finest.
We were also taken into the design studios and were allowed to watch the designers working on various stages of industrial modeling. Captivating stuff. We were then taken into the Virtual Reality Studio where Zagato meets with their clients to review the work being done. It is a small room with a large screen where the designs are shown and then manipulated in real time. This was very exciting to watch. They presented the Bentley Continental GT show car that had been displayed at the 2007 Geneva show. They could alter the color, or the roofline, or make it longer or shorter all at the whim of the client. They also showed us the Maserati Coupe that was on display in the great hall, and how it started out as a Maserati Spyder (convertible) that a private individual wanted modified. Everybody was duly impressed by this amazing show of technical skill.
That evening I went out with my new best friends, Carl and Alice. I had seen an enormous, multi-storied Ferrari Store around the corner and wanted to take them there since they were Ferrari collectors. We had a great time. I have already mentioned that they both have great senses of humor, but I was just about to find out how crazy Alice was as she wanted to buy a wig for our expert Jonathan because they had been joking about his balding head. Here we were, in the world’s leading city of fashion design, and Alice was looking for a cheesy wig. We eventually made our way into a large department store where Alice tried to explain to several horrified sales clerks what she was looking for. Priceless. I would have been laughing harder if I weren’t so embarrassed!
They then bought me dinner at a fun pizza ristorante that had Ferrari and Porsche memorabilia decorating all the walls. We car people are so hard core! I then took them to the Galleria Emanuelle to get gelato at a great shop that I had discovered the night before. You can never have too much gelato as far as I am concerned. The Galleria Emanuelle is a truly spectacular building with an amazingly ornate glass ceiling. Unfortunately, the architect managed to fall to his death just before the building was opened when he was inspecting the ceiling back in the 1800s. Talk about suffering for your art.
Friday, May 16
After checking out of the hotel, a bus took us to an industrial park in San Cesario sul Panaro outside of Modena to visit Pagani, a small manufacturer of extremely expensive super cars that are not available in the United States. We are greeted by (shock!) another fashionable young woman who would be our guide. She was extremely enthusiastic and very funny, the perfect host. She was particularly excited to show us the pair of handmade driving shoes that come with every car, made out of the same leather as the interior!
The Pagani Zonda is a spectacular car. The body is built out of carbon fiber, it uses a Mercedes V-12 engine modified by AMG, and almost every part on the car has been designed specifically for Pagani. This is very unusual as most small companies use parts from larger manufacturers to save time and development costs. It is also the reason that these cars cost the equivalent of $500,000+. They take about four months to build. The factory is spotless and the work is first rate.
While we are wrapping up our visit, a group of wealthy Italians pulled up in a large group of exotic cars. They also happened to be very rude as they pushed their way into the small showroom. This was an unusual experience as up until this moment we had all found the Italians to be extremely polite and very gracious. One of the women pushed past Carl, a member of our group to get into the small restroom. He later said to me, with a now familiar smirk and chuckle, “She didn’t flush.”
Soon we headed off to Maranello to visit the Galleria Ferrari, the factory’s museum. Traveling to Maranello is like visiting Mecca for automotive enthusiasts. When we passed the factory, which has grown substantially since I visited this town in 2001, the excitement was palpable. Galleria Ferrari was interesting, but disappointing. It felt as though it was only half complete as only modern cars are represented. This is odd because it felt the same way on my earlier visit, except that they only showed older cars that time. The feeling of disappointment was not mine alone, as several others mentioned this fact. The parking lot was more fun because of the running of the Mille Miglia Storica through Modena later that day, several car enthusiasts were visiting the Galleria. A beautiful vintage Aston Martin DB2/4 was my favorite.
The disappointment of this visit soon dissipated due to our lunch at the very well regarded Ristorante Montana. Located by the Ferrari factory, this restaurant features a wonderful regional menu. Thankfully, the meal lived up to the hype. Not surprisingly, many a famous Ferrari race driver and executive have eaten there, and the restaurant is decorated with many things Ferrari. Once again, I had another gay moment when I noticed that on a shelf right by our table was Scuderia Ferrari Barbie. Fabulous! And once again, I was the only one of our group who appreciated this. Oh, well…
After finishing up our meal, we were in for a real treat. We had special access to the RM Ferrari Legenda e Passione Auction at the famous, and heavily guarded, Fiorano racetrack owned by Ferrari! The hardest thing about writing this story is being able to come up with enough superlatives to describe everything we saw without being repetitive. Here’s a new one – AWESOME! Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would have the chance to visit Fiorano. Needless to say, the quality of the Ferraris was exceptional. In fact, upon returning home one of my friends mentioned that they had just read that a Ferrari “just like the one in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” had sold for $11,000,000 and set the record for a car sold at auction. Well, it just so happens that the car she referenced was the black California Spyder that was my favorite car among the scores of favorite cars at this auction. Remarkable.
Our time at Fiorano was enhanced by the sound of Ferrari F430 Challenge racecars practicing on the racetrack. I took a few pictures of the track, only to be reminded later that no pictures of the track were permitted due to the incredible security of the facility and the fact that they test their all conquering Formula 1 racecars and new production cars there. Maybe I was secretly hoping that some burly Italian Ferrari security officer would wrestle me to the ground to make me stop taking pictures! “Officer, I’ve taken lots of pictures and I need to be stopped!”
We then headed into Modena to visit the Maserati showroom at the factory. This was a truly impressive facility. FIAT, the parent company of Maserati, has pumped tons of money into their production facilities. As a result, Maserati has become extremely successful; turning a profit for what is probably one of only a few times since they started back in the 1940s. The showroom was beautiful, as well as the cars. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the factory since they were in the middle of new car introduction. In fact, the press was there to test the new Gran Tourismo Sport when we arrived. Thomas Bryant and John Lamm from Road & Track were there. I have been reading that magazine for over 30 years, so I am very familiar with their work. Very cool.
Our tour guide at Maserati happened to be an adorable college student who was (shock again!) dressed impeccably in a beautiful suit that no college student should be able to afford. Seems he does this in his spare time because he loves Maseratis. Not surprisingly, I was thinking for the 1,000,000 th time that I need to move to this country where everyone, young and old, male and female, is so lovely to look at. Can’t remember the last time, if ever, I actually thought that I would want to date my taxi driver in D.C.
Back to Maserati. In the showroom my eyes were drawn over to the small boutique store in the corner. Finally, I found the one thing that I would splurge on that would always remind me of this trip – a pair of tasteful Maserati trident (the symbol of the company) cuff links. Bellisimo!
We soon left and checked into the Canalgrande Hotel in the historic center of Modena. This is a very quaint hotel that I am familiar with because it is the place I stayed when visiting back in 2001. Alejandro de Tomaso, the car manufacturer entrepreneur who built the Pantera (that Tom Tjaarda designed) and Mangusta (designed by Giugiaro when he was at Bertone), owned and lived in the hotel until he died. Rustic, but with plenty of charm. My room was small but that really didn’t matter, and it had a lovely view of the garden that was behind the hotel. That night I didn’t make dinner plans and went out to walk around the city. I happened to run into two of my travel mates enjoying gelato in the palazzo and suddenly decided that gelato would be an ideal dinner! Although I thought I had ordered the standard small cup of the stuff, the waiter delivered this tall glass of gelato floating in about 16 ounces of Gran Marnier liquor. What a yummy error! Sometimes not knowing the language works in your favor.
In the next and last part of this story, we visit Lamborghini’s impressive factory and museum, as well as several private collections. In addition, we spend several hours watching the Mille Miglia Storica, the historic rally, run through Modena. The story ends up in Bologna, one of Italy’s great historic cities, before heading home.
10
Driving Vintage in Tough Economic Times
By Milton Stern
As I was preparing to leave Rehoboth Beach after a wonderful time at Beach Ball this year, I settled behind the wheel of my 1982 AMC Spirit DL with its efficient 258 cid six-cylinder motor and TorqueFlite automatic transmission and curb weight of 2600 lbs. I rolled down the window because I am too cheap to get the AC fixed, and the gentleman parked next to me rolled down his electric passenger-side window. He was driving a most gorgeous teal 1964 Imperial Sedan, and he asked me the following question:
“What kind of gas mileage do you get?”
I answered, “30 miles per gallon.”
He rolled up the window, pushed his drive button and left.
I usually get this reaction, and I think, “If you don’t like the answers, why do you ask the questions?” It is a good thing I didn’t tell him I burned a little less than a quarter tank of gas from Washington, DC, to the beach, including all the driving around and that 25-mile trip to the Dairy Queen. He also didn’t need to know I have a 21-gallon gas tank.
When one is 6’4” and drives a subcompact, as I often have, one gets asked one of two questions:
“How do you get into that car?” and of course, “What kind of gas mileage do you get?”
I already answered the second question. The answer to the first question is “Getting in is not the problem; getting out is the problem!” Exiting a subcompact requires much contortion, knowledge of spatial geometry and a high tolerance for pain. Even with all that, I still cannot figure out why I am still single, even though a lesbian friend of mine calls me in the middle of the night every three months to tell me her theory. My theory is that when I do manage to get a date, it is interrupted by my lesbian friend who calls me in the middle of the night to tell me why I am single.
However, I am not going to go on about subcompacts, big men and graceful exits. I’ll save that for my next book. What I do want to share is my advice for driving vintage in light of the recent and ongoing economic mess we are experiencing and probably will experience for the next year or two if history is our guide. I know we are heading for rough waters when I read about Chrysler possibly merging with GM. This would be the worst merger since Packard and Studebaker did so without looking at each other’s books. Does this mean we will get fiberglass fish-mouthed Cadillacs or pink Chrysler station wagons with cathedral taillights? I hope we get the station wagons! Only a true car-nut will get what I just said.
I have always driven, or attempted to drive, fuel-efficient cars. My 1976 Dodge Aspen was the exception. Even though it was equipped with a slant six, it was choked by so much California emissions control equipment that three- year-olds would pass me on their tricycles while I was getting barely 11 mpg. Don’t get me wrong. I do like big luxury cars, and I came very close to buying a 1984 Cadillac Sedan De Ville, a 1977 Lincoln Town Car (it was green and fabulous), and a 1951 Buick Special that was big, black and beautiful. I came the closest to buying the Lincoln, but the tightwad in me won out, and that was when I ended up with my 1966 Valiant. I should have bought the Lincoln.
Of the 12 cars I have owned, five were subcompacts and the other seven, compacts, so I feel that I am somewhat experienced in the art of choosing what car to drive during tough economic times. I have decided to consider the following when making my suggestions:
• Price – What is the point in buying an economical car if it costs you more than $10,000 and an additional $10,000 to find parts? • Efficiency – Thirty mpg is great unless your top speed is 45 mph. • Durability – If you hit a pot hole and your car splits in half due to all the rust, where does that leave you? • Cuteness – Luxury cars get “ooohs” and “aaahs,” economy cars get giggles and smiles (this is something you will need to get used to or get over). • Reactions – When you are passed on the Interstate, you will no longer get the “wow” factor, you will now get the “huh?” factor. People will ride right up to your bumper to see what the hell you are driving. With a 96.7- inch wheelbase and a huge hatch, this can be quite alarming.
You may be surprised at some of the cars I include and those I have left out, especially since I include a whole line- up of “standard-sized” cars from a manufacturer I rarely consider, and I exclude an entire line-up from a manufacturer I worship daily.
One more thing to keep in mind: Most economy cars were treated as throwaways, so finding one, especially a base model, can be a long process, but think of all the fun you’ll have when you do. You will also notice that 90% of the cars I recommend are equipped with straight six engines. Straight sixes usually last forever with few problems. They may lack excitement, but they provide plenty of low end torque and return good gas mileage. Who doesn’t like a straight six?
As an interesting side-note, cars today weigh an average 700 lbs more than their ancestral counterparts due to all the added safety equipment, which is why a Valiant will get gas mileage with a slant-six comparable to a four-cylinder car of the same size today. Also, many standard-sized cars of yesteryear with their durable yet plodding flathead sixes were quite economical.
Remember the opinions that follow do not reflect the views of anyone associated with Straight Eights, except for the know-it-all Newsletter Editor who does not lack for opinions on a variety of subjects whether he is knowledgeable or not.
WHAT NOT TO BUY
There are some fuel efficient cars that are just too costly to consider because my goal here is to save you money with your initial purchase, at the repair shop, and at the pump. I also do not go further back than post-WWII cars. A 1940 American Bantam will deliver 40 mpg, but good luck finding one, and when you do, good luck finding parts. But, if you do find one, please, please, please take me for a ride in it. I just love small cars. Some of the ones in my “What to Buy” list have their drawbacks, but they have enough plusses to stay in the running. Below are those economical cars to cross off the list.
1946-1957 Nash (all car lines, including Metropolitan) – Are you kidding? Milton not recommending a Nash? Are donkeys flying out of his behind? Did he actually say ALL Nashes from 1946 to 1957? OK, you may begin breathing again. I know it is difficult to believe, but stay with me here. We are talking vintage rides on a budget. For as long as they had the Mobil Economy Run, a Nash usually finished first or second or took all top honors. The seven-main bearing Nash six was probably the most durable and fuel efficient engine ever produced and had a more than 30-year run to boot. They didn’t call it a Nash 600 for nothing – 600 miles on a tank of gas! If you love fender skirts, you’ll absolutely adore the AirFlytes for you get skirts front and back and an average 25 mpg in a large car. However (and this is a big however), Nashes were notorious for rusting out as most cars from the 1950s were. They are also quite rare, making parts very difficult to find. But, what about the Rambler you say? Lois Lane looked just fetching in her 1951 roll-top convertible (hence, our featuring one on the Website when asking for newsletter contributors), but there may be only 30 of these still running and one in pristine condition can go for as much as $18,000. When the economy goes into recovery, buy a Nash. I know I will, preferably a 1950 Ambassador – green with a matching interior and those seats that become a bed. The Metropolitan seems to be the exception when it comes to rarity and durability. For a car that barely sold more than 18,000 in its best year, there are always two or three on eBay at any given time and in pretty good shape, too. However, they usually sell for over $10,000. So, the Met does not make the list due to its high demand and value, which is too bad because they were capable of achieving 40 mpg and are pretty good cars.
AMC Pacer – Has Milton gone mad? First a Nash, now an AMC he would not recommend? Oh the horror? What next? Will he go out and buy a 1958 Chrysler New Yorker? Is this Bizarro World? Cool your jets. I have not suddenly gone fin crazy, nor am I suffering from mini-strokes. The Pacer, although a fun car to watch, is no picnic to own. To begin with, it weighed 3,300 pounds, yet it came equipped with a 258 cid six-cylinder. Had GM followed through on the Wankel rotary engine project, the Pacer would be on the list below. Due to its bulging weight (no offense big girls), the Pacer is slow and terrible on gas (again, no offense big girls). You can expect barely 18 mpg with the six-cylinder and worse with the 304 V8 that was shoe horned in after 1978. In addition, the Pacer steering gear is a nightmare as it was the first American car to offer rack and pinion steering, but remember first is not always best. Somebody stop me or my AMC buddies will put a contract out on me, but I do have to say one more thing. There is no straighter car than a Pacer. Buy a Pacer, and your gay card will be revoked on the spot. You can thank Wayne’s World for that. When the economy recovers, consider a Pacer wagon with the wood trim as that might pass as slightly gay.
Chevrolet Vega – With an engine held together with AquaNet and Scotch tape and a body that disintegrates while you are looking at it, what can I say? But, if you do find one of those rare survivors and drive it to a Cruise-In, imagine all the looks you’ll get. When the economy recovers, look for a Cosworth Vega with the 16 valve OHC engine and Bendix fuel injection, with black paint and gold accents.
Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare – Can you spell R-E-C-A-L-L?
WHAT TO BUY
Now, the fun part begins. While I do recommend the following cars, I have tried to list their drawbacks as well, so you don’t get stuck with any surprises. So, let’s get started.
ANY 1946-54 Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, or Desoto with a flathead six – OK, now Milton has truly lost it. First he nixes the entire Nash line-up, and now he includes an entire class of Chrysler products. Quick, go get a martini. I’ll wait. Ready? Here goes. No cars were better built, more resistant to rust, and had more durable engines than ANY post-war pre-Forward Look Chrysler with a flathead six. Find one with Fluid Drive, and you have hit the jackpot as it will last almost as long as the engine. Even your partner, who refuses to drive a stick, will be able to handle Fluid Drive. I just love saying Fluid Drive. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of these still on the road, and many are not in the hands of collectors but being driven by someone whose family bought it new. They are efficient, roomy, and rarely considered by collectors, so prices are low, low, low. These are also clean-looking three box design cars, especially the 1949-54s. For those like me, who don’t quite get fin appeal, these Chryslers are perfect.
Cons – The flat sixes are slow, slow, slow. But, how fast do you really need to go?
Pros – Milton will write nice things about your car in Car Talk. You can wear your Easter Bonnet while driving.
1958-69 Rambler American, six cylinder – See? Everything is OK now! For 1958, Nash revived the 100-inch wheelbase Rambler, opened up the rear fenders, priced it as an economy car, and called it Rambler American. These cars in all generations, 1958-60 (Pininfarina), 1961-63 (Breadbox Bodies), and 1964-69 (Richard Teague beauties), sold in very high volumes, so finding one is relatively easy as long it is a dry climate or garage-kept model. As with most cars from that era, they tend to rust. The 1960 four-door was a one year only body style, so these can be quite pricey. Stay clear of the convertibles, for they will cost you a pretty penny, which is a shame, for they are truly breathtaking – even the Breadboxes look good as ragtops. The third-generation American was one of the most beautiful American economy cars ever built and looks good in any color. The Nash 195.6 cid flathead six was offered from 1958-64, while an OHV version joined the option list in mid-1960. Both versions were good engines although a bit slow, yet they delivered excellent fuel economy and years of trouble-free service. The Typhoon sixes of 1965-69 Americans follow in that great Nash/Hudson tradition of engineering durable, efficient six-cylinder engines that will carry you for over 150,000 miles with few problems and highway cruising ability. In addition, American Motors used quite a bit of component sharing, so mechanical parts, especially 1964-88 AMCs, are quite easy to find, making these cars a breeze to repair and keep up.
Con – You will have to endure snotty looks from A-listers who don’t quite understand the appeal of a Rambler American. Screw them.
Pro – Those of us who are D-listers will absolutely worship you, and I will scream like a ten-year-old girl every time I see your car. I absolutely love ALL Rambler Americans.
1960-70 Ford Falcon/1960-67 Mercury Comet, six cylinder – I owned two Falcons, and I would never own another, but that doesn’t mean you cannot have the joy of owning two of the original throwaways. I think the early and final Falcons are the best looking of the bunch, and the Comets always looked good. Whether equipped with the 170 cid or 200 cid six-cylinder, these cars were quite efficient and probably the easiest cars I ever fixed (F-O-R-D = fix or repair daily). I never had to take mine to a mechanic. I performed all the repairs on these two cars, and they needed a lot of repairs, most of which could be done with a butter knife and eyebrow tweasers. They are inexpensive to maintain, and their engines do run well. I don’t consider the Ford OHV I-6s to be the best of the breed. I did have to rebuild one once, which was the only six-cylinder I ever had to rebuild. Carry a quart of oil with you at all times. Ford managed to sell anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 Falcons and Comets every year, so finding one is very easy, and there are many that are not rust buckets or customized. If you do find one, try to steer clear of the multi- drive automatic as the unit used for the Falcon/Comet six was less than reliable to put it mildly and tends to lose second gear. I once saw second gear on a milk carton. The two-speed automatic or good ole three-on-the-tree will suit you just fine. I actually swapped out a multi-drive on my Falcon Futura for a two-speed unit.
Cons – They overheat and spit out radiator fluid every time you turn off the engine on a summer day. Put in a make-shift overflow container, and this problem will be solved. They also have exhaust manifolds and gaskets made of cardboard, so try to find an aftermarket replacement that is made of some kind of metal.
Pro – Comets are cool, especially the almost-Edsel batwing editions.
1960-76 Valiant then Plymouth Valiant/1963-76 Dodge Dart,slant six – Whichever year, whichever model, you will not go wrong with a Valiant or Dart. I owned two Valiants, and I might own another some day, preferably a 1960-62 with a toilet seat on the trunk in case I get stuck in a traffic jam on I-95 South on a Saturday night for four hours again. The 1960-62 Dodge Lancer is not included here because they are quite rare and demand a hefty price when they are in good/excellent condition, but if you find one for less than $5,000 that is rust free, grab it. You’ll be the only queen on the block with a Lancer. The Valiant and compact Dart (pre-1963s were standard sized) are perhaps the best cars ever built. Their slant six engines will last for at least 250,000 miles. I put 292,000 on one of mine. They are almost as easy to work on as a Falcon, except that the slant-six makes changing a distributor cap difficult if you are a big-boned girl like me. I once got my arm stuck while changing one. You can usually find one for less than $3,000 that is in very good condition, and again, don’t let one with over 100,000 miles on it scare you as it will run forever.
Cons – Carry an extra voltage regulator with you at all times. They cost around $15 and take five minutes to replace. I’ll show you how. Valiants are like Lays potato chips, once you buy one Valiant, you just can’t stop. I have never known anyone who owned just one Valiant or Dart.
Pro – You’ll get to hear all my Valiant stories! Or, is that a con?
1970-76 Ford Maverick/1971-76 Mercury Comet – I only recommend these cars because my brother has two automotive passions, 1964-67 Ford Galaxies and 1970s Mavericks and Comets. These are very inexpensive because other than my brother no one else wants them. If you like swinging from side-to-side and listening to the constant squeak of the front strut bushings, while you try to remain stable as the rear-end hops every time you hit a bump, this is the car for you. I have a neighbor who bought a two-door, one owner with 50,000 miles on it for $300, and he uses it as a daily driver. It is also pea green – so 1970s. Seriously, even an out of work car collector can buy one of these. Underneath, they are Falcons through and through, so repairs are easy as pie. My grandmother could have tuned up a Maverick. See if you can find one with the 250 cid six, as this was the best of the Ford straight sixes.
Con – Even I won’t get excited when you pull up in one of these.
Pro – Even I won’t get excited when you pull up in one of these.
1971-80 Ford Pinto – This is the only four-cylinder on the list. Forget all you heard about exploding gas tanks. As long as you protect your rear, nothing will get burned. Now, finding one may be difficult as these were also treated as throwaways, but Ford sold between 400,000 and 500,000 a year during their peak, so I know there are some Pintos out there. Many families bought more than one. Remember those Pinto family commercials? Now, the reason to buy one – Sabrina Duncan drove an orange one with a white vinyl roof. Do you know how to tell if someone is gay – male or female? Ask them who their favorite Angel was. If they say Kate Jackson, aka, Sabrina Duncan, Bingo! Just for the coolness factor alone, you should consider a Pinto. Some may tell you they were crap, but I disagree. Their little four- bangers were durable for the times and delivered decent gas mileage. They are easy to work on, and parts should be easy to find. Be sure to install a Bell telephone between the bucket seats, so Bosley can call you with an assignment.
Con – Drivers may tailgate you just to see the expression on your face.
Pro – Bosley or even Charlie may call you on that Bell telephone. Be sure to wear your high-waisted, polyester, flair legged pants and platform shoes and have your hair cut with wings. You have a job to do.
1970-1978 AMC Gremlin, six cylinder – I have written a great deal about the Gremlin. Let’s just say they are quirky enough to make everyone smile. I want one. Even those who do not like AMCs like Gremlins. I hesitated putting the Gremlin on the “what to buy” list due to the rarity of six-cylinder models. There are still a few out there that have not been chopped up. Their six-cylinder engines are durable and efficient, and their front seats are as roomy as a Hornet – for good reason. With the exception of 304 V8-equipped Gremlin Xs, owners were either high- school students or housewives. This may allow you to find that rare survivor from a responsible housewife. However, a decent, rust-free, low-mileage six-cylinder Gremlin still commands at least $4,000. I have seen bidding go even higher on eBay. Gremlins are also the one subcompact that collector’s are reluctant to sell. They usually buy two and use one as a parts car.
Con – Smart Alecs will come up to you and say, “Hey Lady, where is the rest of your car?”
Pro – You will be the only guy at Beach Ball driving a Gremlin – guaranteed.
1970-77 AMC Hornet, six cylinder – Whether a two-door sedan, hatchback, four-sedan or Sportabout, the Hornet is a winner. These were treated less as throwaways than their competition. The best part is that Hornet owners were mostly mature adults. In their day, Hornets were not cool, which makes them cool now and a good buy. Unlike the Gremlin, you can find a decent Hornet for less than $2,500, and mechanical parts and repairs are a breeze. You can also expect around 25 mpg combined city/highway while getting a car with a nice ride. The downside is that you are better off getting a dry-state model as Hornets had a great tendency to rust, especially the tops of the front fenders.
Con – Dummies will come up to you and say, “Is that a Maverick?”
Pro – Smart people will say, “Oh wow, a Hornet; those are so cool!”
1980-83 AMC Concord and Spirit, six cylinder – I purposely skipped the 1978-79 Concord and 1979 Spirit because AMC first offered Ziebart rust proofing and galvanized steel in all exterior body panels in 1980. Now, you really did not think I would have a list without including these two cars, and I lump them together due to the fact that they share so many components and were advertised together in the company brochures. Also, my Spirit came out of the factory with the Concord script on the glove box, making it the “Upside Down Jenny” of cars. The good news is that these two AMCs totally found favor with senior citizens. By 1980, AMC’s buyers were pretty much die- hard Nash/Hudson customers left over from the 1950s and Rambler fans who never gave up on good ole Number Four. Their upgraded front suspensions with their deep-set coils made these cars nice handlers with a decent ride, although most enthusiasts are reluctant to admit this little-known fact about AMC compacts. With the Ziebart rust protection and the age of the drivers, most available Spirits and Concords are in really good shape, and you can have either model for less than $2,200. I paid $660 for a garage-kept, one old lady owner, Spirit that was regularly maintained and in pretty good shape with low mileage for its age. From 1982 onward, they came equipped with front disc brakes. I missed out on a brown, one owner 1983 Spirit with 45,000 miles in Florida as I was outbid, and it went for $2,400. Even at that price, it would have been a relatively good deal. The best of the bunch is the Concord DL or Limited wagon with the wood trim that holds up really well. I totally want one of these. These were the best sellers, so there are plenty of these to be had. Have you noticed I make no jokes about Spirits and Concords? That would be sacrilege.
Con – Every time you clean the interior, a piece of it will fall off in your hands. I am not kidding.
Pro – You will be the envy of everyone everywhere you go! I am totally serious.
1982-88 AMC Eagle all models, six cylinder – Beginning in 1982, the AMC Eagle offered Select-Drive, which allowed you to switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive by pulling down a switch and sliding a lever with your well-manicured hands. 1983 was the last year of the Spirit-based SX/4 and Concord-based coupe. The four-door sedan would last one more year. This is another bargain as most Eagle buyers were women, mainly mothers looking for a car they could drive in harsh weather. With a little bit of hunting, one can be had for less than $2,400, and you’ll get an average 25 mpg to save you even more cash. Also, the four-wheel drive system was the same used in the Jeep and a great unit, known for its durability. These also have those cool fiberglass fender flares. Con – You’ll be asked if your car is on its tiptoes.
Pro – You’ll be the only one to drive vintage in a blizzard!
Before I tell you my opinion of the ultimate vintage economy car, I want to discuss one car that did not make the list – the Chevrolet Nova. When equipped with the 250 cid Chevy straight six, this is a great economy car, but good luck finding one. For some reason, people who buy Chevy six-cylinders have the incredible urge to drop a small-block V8 in them. I think I have seen maybe two six-cylinder Novas offered on eBay at any one time. You could look for the Buick Apollo/Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, or Pontiac Ventura with a six-cylinder, but I think you’ll run into the same problem, and while I am on the subject, why did the world’s largest automaker not go to any trouble to distinguish the Nova X-body quadruplets? Seriously, these four cars could not look any more alike. So let’s give them an honorable mention and leave it at that.
Now, the ultimate vintage economy car – drum roll please:
1975-1980 Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch, six cylinder – How many of you guessed this one? If you regularly read the newsletter, you should have expected it. What car best embodied Detroit’s efforts to offer big car luxury in a small package? Forget that it is a Maverick underneath with engineering dating back to the 1960 Falcon. The standard six cylinder was the 250, a pretty good engine, delivering very good gas mileage. These are just fabulous. They are nerdy and pretentious at the same time and just magnificent to behold. If I ever own another Ford, it will be a Ford Granada Ghia Coupe, green on green. Oh my! What I wouldn’t give to see one pull up at PW’s one Sunday. Now, Ford sold a boatload of Granadas, so finding one should be a breeze. Since cool people didn’t buy them originally, many are still in good shape; however, as used cars they were favored by those who didn’t really take care of their wheels. The funny thing is there are many people who still drive Granadas as their daily transportation who don’t even realize they are driving vintage. If maintained, these cars last a long time. Try to find a one-family owned model. You should be able to get one for less than $2,500.
Con: It rides and handles like a Maverick; just don’t offer rides or let anyone drive it.
Pro: People will ask if it is a Mercedes. Carry a tape-recorder, as I want proof someone actually does this.
So, there you have it. My biased opinion of how to beat the “Recession-It-Is-Not-Another-Great-Depression” blues. I don’t expect to see any of you luxury car owners rushing out to buy a Concord, Pinto or Dart, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one Granada show up at an event next year. The real question is after reading the above recommendations, how many of you are actually pondering what it would be like to drive vintage economy? Think of it as flying coach. Your knees may suffer, but you’ll save enough to go out to eat and buy gas. And hey, years of being a tightwad may allow me to pick up some gas guzzler that no one wants during these trying times. I may get that 1984 Cadillac Sedan De Ville after all. See, it works both ways!
Happy thrifty motoring! 11
Straights Eights Apparel and Other Fun Stuff Now Available
Did you ever wonder what T-shirt to wear to the monthly cruise-in? Is your apron becoming threadbare? Do you need another magnet for your refrigerator or perhaps a beach bag?
Well, the answer to all your problems is just a click away. The Straight Eights now has its own storefront on Zazzle, and the best part is the Club earns 10% of every purchase with no upfront costs. The store is located at http://www.zazzle.com/straighteights, or you click on the link on the Straight Eights home page.
You can order magnets, key chains, mouse pads, aprons, beach bags, travel mugs, and three different styles of T-shirts. Yes, there are three different styles of T-shirts, which include the large Straight Eights logo on the front, the large logo on the back, and the Thurston Howell version with the small logo over your breast, or you can order a hoodie, sweatshirt or baseball shirt by scrolling through the various styles available.
But, wait there’s more! Also, when you order a beach bag or several of the other items, you have many styles and colors to choose from, so don’t let the one design on the home page fool you. You can pick from many fabulous colors and sizes to fit your fabulous figure and complement your lovely complexion. And, those beach bags are going to be a hit when you go to the pool, and they are big enough to hold your bathing cap, Harlequin Romance, and Copper Tone as well.
So, buy some cool stuff and support the Straight Eights at the same time.
12
Business Ads Now Available on Straight Eights’ Website
In addition to our successful automotive sale ads, the Straight Eights are now offering business ads. For $25 a month, you can run an ad on the public, private or both sites; whichever option you choose, it is only $25 a month.
Also, you can run three types of ads:
• Business Card + Text – Send a high res jpeg of your business card to [email protected]. Your business card can just sit pretty, or we can link it to your business site! In addition, send us 25 words of text about your business. • Logo + Text – Send a high res jpeg of your logo to [email protected] + 25 words of text about your business, and we will link your logo to your site. • Text only – Send the 35 words of text for your ad to [email protected] + a Web address for your business.
As with all ads, let us know if you want it to run public, private or both. Once you have contacted the Newsletter Editor, he will give you payment information. It is that easy! All proceeds will help the Straight Eights plan wonderful activities for you to enjoy.
But wait, there’s more! You don’t have to be a Straight Eights club member to advertise with us. Everyone’s money is accepted here!