1949 FORD: The In the RUMBLER 17 36 CLASSIC CAR Car, SUMMARY
RUMBLER The Workers & The 1 1969 Camaro Z/28 CONTENTS Innovation 39 Upcoming Events 1 CLUB MEETING 18 JAMESTOWN ELKS 40 SWAP SHOP Time & Place 19 JAMESTOWN 40 ABANDONED IN THE 2 LOOKING TOWARDS CLASSIC CAR CLUB SHEYENNE RIVER THE FUTURE 19 SCENES FROM VALLEY Club President "Skovy" READERS 42 CAR CLUB SITES 2 2014 MOONLIGHT 22 CLASSIC CAR 43 2014 AWARDS MADNESS SUMMARY BANQUET FORM 4 BIRTHDAYS 1951 Buick XP-300 44 CLUB APPLICATION November JOHN FORCE IS 24 4 ACTIVE MEMBERS LOOKING AHEAD 5 2014 4TH ANNUAL NOT BACK DAN WILHELM
MEMORIAL CAR 26 CLASSIC CAR
SHOW SUMMARY
AUTOMOTIVE 1957 DeSoto 7 TRIVIA Sportsman RUMBLER 11 28 MUSCLE CARS YOU MINISTRY SHOULD KNOW: Scott W. Block 1969 Royal Bobcat 13 1970 DODGE 31 CLASSIC CAR CHALLENGER T/A SUMMARY
14 UP IN SMOKE 1965 Corvette Brian Kamlitz FOREVER 34 16 BUFFALO CITY FINTASTIC: TOURISM Cadillac Ranch Still
Standing Tall at 40 Searle Swedlund
P a g e | 2 Awards Banquet Puzzle 6:30. Again we’ll have Prime Poker Run. It’s going to happen $100.00 Best Picture (with all the items Rib, Potato, & Salad. You may again next year. Good luck! worn from the Scavenger Hunt at the have received a sheet from us via Place from the Hints). You must attend e-mail looking for a count for the the Awards Banquet on December 16th to Awards Banquet and also “Early collect your money. Bird” dues whereas you will get LOCATION your Awards Banquet dinner for “WHITE CLOUD STATUE AT a greatly reduced price. THE FRONTIER FORT”
SCAVENGER HUNT There will be a sheet at the back Big Smile, Big Flower, Loud Tie, White of the “RUMBLER” magazine. Ankle High Socks, Green T-Shirt, Red Make sure you take advantage of Pants (Same pair with 1 long leg & 1 the “Early Bird” dinner special. Short leg), Sunglasses, Face Paint
LOOKING TOWARDS I haven’t received any pictures for this year’s Scavenger Hunt. I THE FUTURE Story & Photos by Skovy guess I’ll be taking the $100.00 purse home because darn it, I’m going to snap that picture of myself and have fun!
Our November meeting at the Buffalo City Rotisserie Grill this month. Come on over and have some fun! Want to get on the “RUMBLER”
email list? “RUMBLER” issues to date … 8678! Where in the heck did this year go? If feels like just yesterday we [email protected] were getting ready for the summer activities and now boom, 2014 MOONLIGHT winter is around us again. MADNESS Story & Photos by Skovy 2014 was a great year for the James Valley Street Machines. Summer cookouts, Black Top Tour, 4th Annual Dan Wilhelm Car Show, Moonlight Madness, GTO unveiling and the list goes on.
Next year there will be some great surprises with functions and doings to keep everybody happy.
Our 2014 Awards Banquet is slated for December 18, 2014 at A great time was held by all at the KC Hall here in Jamestown. our 2014 Moonlight Madness Social Visitation is from 5:00 to
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Troy Thomas and Eric Winters were the big winners with 4 Aces ($150.00 Cash)
Team Schauer came in 2nd ($100 Cash)
Larry & Cindy Gilge Came in 3rd ($50.00 Cash)
P a g e | 4 Christianson, Glenn & Lucinda Dewald, Joel & Della Dodd, Jim & Mary Jo Emo, Paul Erdahl, Shawn (Shady) & Dawn Frank, Tracy Gaier, Craig & Johnston, Ruth Collin Godfrey and Taylor Olson Came in 4th. (Each received a 1 year membership to James Gehring, Duane & Kathleen Valley Street Machines) Geisler, David Gibson, Teddy & Diane Gilbertson, Mike & Murray, Kim Gilge, Larry & Cindy MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS Godfrey, Collin Gray, JeriLynn & Andy Craig Gaier 11/02 Greenlund, Ron & Darlene Roger Nenow 11/03 Gums, Robert & Candace The Nogoseks Came in 5th. (1 year Dale Redinger 11/03 Guthmiller, Neil & Linda membership to James Valley Street Machines) Bryan Stromberg 11/03 Heiman, Tyler Wayne Berg 11/06 Holzkamm, Al & Cindy Lois Nenow 11/07 Houge, Jason & Ann Marie Dean Tracy 11/10 Jacobson, Verdell (Jake) & Linda Rod Wilhelm 11/16 Jaskoviak, Steven (Skovy) Judy Mischka 11/17 Jensen, Paul & Sue Tricia Thomas 11/22 Johnson, Brandon & Sonia Randy Miller 11/20 Kamlitz, Brian Kim Anderson 11/28 Keim, Lyman & Darlene Paul Jensen 11/28 Kessler, Michael & Mary Wayne Balvitch 11/29 Kleinknecht, Delno & Phyllis Darlene Keim 11/29 Lang, John (JR)
Layton, Viril & Mary Miss your birthday? Please Loose, Larry & Bonita contact me at 701-202-7067 Lulay, Bob & Alma whereas I can update your Lynn, Randy records. Mathias, Roger & Bonnie ACTIVE MEMBERS McCreedy, Terrance Allmer, Michael McCullough, Gary & Billie Andersen, Jeff(Andy) & Karla McIlonie, Bernie & Darlene Anderson, Roger & Meleia Meidinger, Jamie Anderson, Scott & Kim Meyer, Ken & Annie Bachmeier, Donovan & Karla See ya next year hehe Miller, Randy & Crystel Balvitsch, Wayne Mischka, Kenneth & Judy Behm, Earl & Connie Mitzel, LeRoy Bensch, Paul & Janis Moser, LeRoy & Gloria Berg, Wayne & Tami Nenow, Roger & Lois Beyer, James Nogosek, Aaron & Amy Block, Scott & Pat Obrigewitsch, Les & Sheryl Brandenburger, Max & Williams, Laura Olson, David & Adele Carow, Billy & Candace Olson, Taylor
P a g e | 5 Patzner, Elroy & Elayne 2014 4th ANNUAL Petrek, Gary DAN WILHELM Poppe, Jerry & Ardie MEMORIAL CAR SHOW Ravely, Thomas & Rhonda SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 Redinger, Dale Sponsored by the James Valley Street Schauer, Ronald & Cindy Machines, Don Wilhelm, Inc., Stutsman Harley Davidson. Seckerson, Kelly & Tricia Seher, Jeff Specht, Gary & Margaret
Specht, Leslie & Debra Thomas, Troy & Tricia Titman, Nick Tracy, Dean & Martha VanFleet, Richard Vining, Taylor Westerhausen, Leon & Mary Jane Wiest, J.P. & Judy Wilhelm, Jeff Wilhelm, Rod & Sandy Wolf, Cameron Wolff, Clayton & Beverly Wonnenberg, Douglas & Robyn
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Answer: Hurst/Olds 442. In 1968, Oldsmobile had to do something to compete with the runaway success of Pontiac’s GTO and Chevy’s Chevelle. This was a clever way to beat them in the cubic inch department, if AUTOMOTIVE TRIVIA not in sales. Very handsome cars.
Question: The 1964 GTO is Question: In 1969 any AMC generally regarded as the car dealer could order you a “Big that kicked off the muscle car Bad AMX”. What all was boom of the 1960’s. What does included in the Big Bad option? GTO stand for?
Answer: Gran Turismo Answer: Your choice, Big Bad Omologato. Named after the Ferrari 250 Green, Orange, or Blue paint, to GTO, Car & Driver even pitted the new Pontiac against the Ferrari in a 1964 issue. include the bumpers. Just a color but man are those colors loud! Question: Before 1970, no GM “A” body (Chevelle, Cutlass, Question: In 1970, Plymouth Lemans, and Skylark) could be debuted the 340 six-pack AAR factory equipped with any engine ‘Cuda. What does AAR stand over 400 cubic inches. One for? manufacturer skirted the corporate ruling by contracting Hurst Performance Industries to install 455 cubic inch engines in the “A” bodies in 1968 & 1969. What car was the result of this rule bending?
Answer: All American Racers. The name of Dan Gurney’s racing enterprise. Plymouth collaborated with Gurney/AAR in 1970 to race the AAR ‘Cuda in the SCCA
Trans Am series.
P a g e | 8 Question: Two 1966 Shelby 427 Cobras were specially equipped by Shelby himself. Chassis numbers CSX3303 & CSX3015. How are they different than a standard 427 Cobra?
Answer: Yenko Super Car. Early Yenko’s were factory 396 cars with the motors Answer: Boss 429 Mustang. Not a yanked out and 427’s dropped in at the true Hemi combustion head design, like dealership. By 1969, it was easier for the Chrysler’s, but close enough. The motor was dealership just to order 427 Camaros from designed for NASCAR racing used in the the factory through the COPO program, Torino Talladega and Cyclone, but installed which they did. (COPO-Central Office in the Mustang chassis for the street by order Production Order, a GM program used to of Ford’s then new President, Bunkie order fleet vehicles and illegal (GM corporate Knudsen. policy-wise) muscle cars. Question: In 1969 Dodge started Answer: Twin Paxton Question: In wind tunnel tests it advertising their complete line of superchargers were installed. was determined that the 69 muscle cars as the ______? Shelby kept one for himself. Comedian bill Dodge Daytona’s and the 70 Cosby got the other one. Cosby talks all about it on his record album “200mph”. Plymouth Superbird’s rear spoiler actually worked slightly Question: In 1969, Pontiac better if lowered. Why did they introduced a new GTO called the keep it so tall? “Judge”. The Judge name was inspired by a skit from what TV show?
Answer: Scat Pack. Plymouth had “The Rapid Transit System”.
Question: Which color is NOT a Answer: To clear the trunk lid MOPAR “High Impact” color? when it was opened. NASCAR rules then demanded that if you’re going to race it, Answer: Laugh In. Apparently John it has to be available to the public. In order Delorean watched a lot of TV. Wonder what for John Q .Public to use the trunk on his ne he would have called it if Hogan’s Hero’s was MOPAR, it had to be able to open fully. The his favorite show? tall spoiler obviously still worked good enough to win races. Question: Canonsburg Pa. Chevy dealer, Don Yenko, is Question: This 1969-70 Ford V8 famous for the 427 Camaros, was called the “Blue Crescent” Chevelles, and Nova’s he sold by FoMoCo engineering, but is nationwide. Each car has the better known as “The Shotgun Answer: They were all MOPAR letters “sYc”adhered to the head Hemi” or the “Semi-Hemi” “High Impact” colors. By 1970 all 4 major Detroit car manufacturers had retina rest. What do those letters stand among enthusiast. What is the piercing colors to adorn your factory street for? only FoMoCo car it was made rod with. MOPAR had the largest selection publicly available in? though.
P a g e | 9 Question: Chrysler’s 426 Hemi Question: When did Dodge Question: What Dodge car was engine is legendary. It commonly chargers stop having flip-out the Plymouth Barracude referred to as what nickname? lights? equivalent?
Answer: Elephant. A name given Answer: 1973. Chargers stopped having Answer: Dodge Challenger. The because of its overall huge proportions. To flip-out lights in 1973, because Dodge now Challenger was the Barracuda’s Dodge twin. see one installed in ay Chrysler vehicle leaves considered their muscle car a “family car”. You can tell by the body shape and headlights. you wondering how they made it fit. Question: Which car started Question: When did Dodge stop Question: What Chevrolet Plymouth’s muscle car lineup? building the Charger in the U.S.? muscle car had a factory installed 302 cid motor, during its first generation?
Answer: GTX. Before the GTX, Answer: 1987. Didn’t see that one Plymouth was considered a bland car coming did you! To be honest, neither did I. In Answer: Z-28 Camaro. SCCA Trans manufacturer. Then came the GTX. Some 1979 Chrysler launched two new sport Am racing rules required no more than 305 people might consider the Barracuda to be hatchbacks, the Dodge Charger 2.2 and the cid motors for any factory T/A racecar. The Plymouths first muscle car. But it was a pony Plymouth TC3 based on the Omni and factory’s street production variant had to car to compete with the Mustang until the late Horizon. These cars weren’t hard to spot, it displace no more that 305cid, also. Chevy 60’s when both became muscle cars. was a return to the sports car for Chrsler. made this motor only for the 67, 68 & 69 Z- (kind of)The original base Charger had 84 hp 28’s to meet the homologation requirements Question: How much but in 1985 a turbocharged model was of the time. released with 146 horsepower. In 1987 both horsepower did a Hemi usually cars were discontinued, while the reign of the “real” American Dodge Charger ended in put out? 1974, this was the official end to the model that kicked people in the behind and said,
“race me!” Thanks to singdancr and allpar.com for the information.
Answer: 425. Hemi engineswere rated by Chrysler at 425 HP to keep insurance as low as possible, but the true rating just over 500 hp! These were put in Chargers, Challengers, GTX’s, Barracudeas, and more!
P a g e | 10 Question: How many 340 four- with a 428 SCJ motor. Whatdoes speed 1973 Barracudas did SCJ stand for? Plymouth make?
Answer: 1965. 1965. The only year a Corvette was factory optioned with a 396. If you wanted a big block ‘Vette from 66 Answer: 1,718. Plymouth only made onward, you had only 427’s and the later 1,718 340 four-speed Barracudas in 1973. Answer: Super Cobra Jet. Heavier 454’s to choose from. Now they’re a collector’s item. connecting rods and forged pistons were just some of the major differences between the SCJ 428 and the CJ 428. Question: In 1967, you could Question: What is the name of order a Coronet R/T from you this hood where the air scoops Question: If I were to beat a friendly Dodge dealer. It came stick out of the top through a Porsche 911/SC in a local standard with the 440 ci motor hole? autocross with my 1967 Stage IV and the only other engine option optioned Yenko Stinger, what was the venerable 426 Hemi. kind of Chevrolet would I be What does the R/T stand for? driving?
Answer: Shaker. The “Shaker” hood was a popular option in the 1970’s. You probably see them most on a Hemi Barracuda. Answer: Corvair. The corvair is not a Answer: Road & Track. Nothing Question: What was the first Muscle car per se, but if Don Yenko re- under a 440 or Hemi available in the early year Dodge Chargers had the engineered it and it develos 240 hp in a R/T Dodge’s. 2500lb. car, it’s pretty close. vertical split grill? Question: Introduced mid- decade, this second generation Chevrolet big block motor was designed to replace the antiquated 348 & 409 big blocks from previous years. What year did Chevrolet introduce this new big block engine, starting off at 396 cubic inches?
Answer: 1969. This year of Charger was used in the show “The Dukes of Hazzard”.
Question: In 1969 you could order a Mustang Mach 1 from your favorite Ford dealership
P a g e | 11 RUMBLER MINISTRY Story & Photos by Scott W. Block
Answer: Nova. LT-1 350 powered Nova/Chevy II, hence “Deuce”
Question: In 1970, Buick offered its potent Skylark GSX available with the Stage 1 455 cubic inch motor. Only 2 colors were offered by Buick for this car in 1970. What were they?
Question: In 1968, Dodge Waiting needed a quick response to Plymouth’s popular Road Runner Last week, Friday I think it was, I “stripper” muscle car. Dodge tucked the Z28 in bed for the fired back with the mid-year winter. Hibernation time as I like introduction of the …? to call it. It is sort of the same Answer: Apollo White and thing that humans do during the Saturn Yellow. Other colors were winter in North Dakota. Hunker available from 1971 on. This car is an animal down; ride out the cold and the with the Stage One 455 motor. Ask any Hemi snow. Kind of like the other kind owner. of animals too….
The Camaro was dusted off with the big red duster and two blankets were placed on top, draping them over the trunk, roof, Answer: Super Bee. The Super Bee and hood. Yeah, I know, I don’t sold fairly well, but with a six month lead, Plymouth had already captured the public’s have a “proper” car cover, but imagination with the Road Runner. this works okay. The only problem is that sometimes when Question: If I raced a 1970 the garage door is open, and it’s Yenko “Deuce” through the windy, the blankets roll back and quarter mile in 12.98 seconds, the car becomes partially what kind of Chevrolet would I uncovered. So this year, being the be extremely smart man that I am, I driving? placed two car catalogs on the spot where the blankets overlap and a piece of 2x4 on the hood. Sure, I know what you are thinking, that piece of wood,
P a g e | 12 somehow will flip over or roll off come in and give you the WAIT for it with patience.” in some very strange and diagnosis. Waiting for your boss (Romans 8:24-25). spectacular manner and put a to call you in the office and give dent in the car. I will be writing a you the yearly evaluation. Even Ahh, still in God’s waiting room. column about that next spring! waiting for Christmas, which is But now I have hope. And hope Sea Foam was poured into the just around the corner, can be is one of the greatest gifts ever. gas tank, hoping it will do its filled with anxiety and Waiting is bearable with hope. It proper work and keep things anticipation. There are times I doesn’t take away all the anxiety, clean and varnish free. There would like to punch the person but it helps quite a bit. used to be a time when dryer who said “good things come to sheets were placed all around the those who wait.” Yes, we know So in your waiting, may you have car, inside the car on the floor this to be true some of the time. hope? I pray that God gives you mats, and in the trunk and engine But not all of the time. In some faith and hope in your heart, even compartments. Moth balls were weird manner, it is comforting, in the midst of your waiting. May put in small containers and but not always. I never really your waiting be bearable as you placed around the vehicle on the liked it either when, as a little wait upon God? May God look floor. The odor was sometimes boy, I would ask my mother for upon you with favor and give you overwhelming. But it did the something and she would reply peace, and above all, may God be trick to keep mice away. Now with “We’ll see.” Arrgghhh! with you in your waiting. however, there is no mice More waiting! problem so I forego that ritual Keep on cruisin’. Blessings to all these days. In the Bible, there is lots of of you. waiting. The great Apostle Paul And there it sits, waiting. said in the book of Romans that even “creation waits with eager And here I sit, waiting. longing.” That really speaks to me today. I have a longing, an Waiting for things, waiting for an eager longing, waiting for event, or waiting for people, can fulfillment, and waiting for God. be difficult. In my line of work I It is still hard, but here I sit, call this “God’s waiting room.” waiting. Oddly enough, we can You get the picture right? “move” and “wait” at the same Imagine you sitting in the time…that’s exactly the place doctor’s office, waiting. Nobody where I am, right now, this really talks to you. Maybe there moment. is a television on. The volume is turned off, so only the pictures The farmer waits for the harvest. flicker by as you stare aimlessly The Camaro waits for summer. at the screen, lost in your The plants, trees, flowers, all wait thoughts. You look at your for spring; they wait for new watch, or these days, your smart growth, once again. phone to see what time it is. Really, is that all? Only two What are you waiting for? minutes have passed? Sigh.
The Bible tells us, “For in hope And there you sit, waiting. we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes Waiting can be filled with for what is seen? But if we hope anxiety. Waiting for the doctor to for what we do not see, we
P a g e | 13 1970 DODGE was a cultural phenomenon. His CHALLENGER T/A ads on the back cover of Drag Story & Photos by classicshoptalk.com News pulled in buyers from all over the country, many of whom had their airfare paid for by Krause when they headed back home with a bill of sale for a new car. Mr. Norm’s showroom could feature a Hemi-powered FX drag racer one day, and attract hundreds for an indoor rock-and- Roy J. Gagnaro walked into the roll concert the next. His fully- legendary Mr. Norm’s Grand equipped dyno testing shop Spaulding Dodge and sat down bustled night and day with a with the salesman to order his constant stream of customers of 1970 T/A 340 Six Pack 4-speed taken to their extreme by dealers all makes seeking those extra few Challenger. He had a clear vision like Mr. Norm. Indeed, Chicago horses to win the next stoplight of his new car: Most importantly, was the epicenter of the first grand prix. And if you wanted a it would incorporate all the muscle car era, during which Mr. combination that wasn’t available features that defined Dodge’s Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge on the factory order form, he entry into the SCCA Trans-Am turned out hyper-tuned muscle would put it together for you. inspired pony car wars: Mopars at a breathtaking pace. Chrysler’s potent and free- wheeling 340 Six Pack small block V-8 complete with triple Holley 2-barrel carburetors and lightly rated at 290 horsepower; a Hurst Pistol Grip-shifted heavy duty 4-speed, fiberglass fresh air hood, power front disc brakes, But even out-of-the-box heavy duty shocks and springs, machines such as Roy Gagnaro’s Sure Grip 3.91 rear end and well-documented 1970 chromed megaphone side Challenger T/A 4-speed were exhaust. Finally, it would arrive subject to the Grand Spaulding at Mr. Norm’s famed high- tuning treatment that drew out performance Mopar emporium every last ounce of potential. finished in Hi-Impact Banana Today this Mr. Norm original not Yellow paint and adorned with a only remains a Chicago resident Black vinyl roof. after all these years; it is also in splendid Grand Spaulding It was a combination of searing showroom-fresh condition as a performance and head-turning result of a comprehensive good looks that made the rotisserie restoration. In addition Challenger T/A a commanding to its correct special-casting T/A presence on the street, even in the If you were into Mopars in those engine block, it retains all the rarified atmosphere of Chicago’s days, Norm Krause was the man features listed on the original muscle car scene, where to see. His place of business was paperwork, including such details horsepower and image were more than just a dealership; it as the locking flip-top gas cap,
P a g e | 14 remote-controlled dual outside - Remote left and right racing UP IN SMOKE racing mirrors, rear spoiler, 15x7- mirrors Story & Photos by Brian Kamlitz inch Rallye wheels with - Power disc brakes, space saver staggered-size Goodyear spare Polyglas tires, center console, - Heavy duty shocks and AM radio and space-saver spare. suspension - Flip-top gas cap, rear spoiler Once a part of Mike Guarise’s - Mr. Norm's paperwork includes Chicago-based collection of the new car order form, dealer premier muscle cars, this 1970 order checklist, deposit receipt, Challenger T/A was featured on bill of sale, two page shipper, the cover of the November 2012 IBM card, deal jacket, license issue of Muscle Car Review, plate envelope and inventory card where it was one of four - November 2012 Muscle Car machines comprising a look at Review cover car archetypal Chi-Town muscle - Formerly part of the Mike cars. Its extensive documentation Guarise Collection includes the new car order form, - Mr. Norm autographed the dash dealer order checklist, deposit receipt, bill of sale, two page In May of 1987 I had 2 cars go shipper, IBM card, deal jacket, up in flames because of not license plate envelope and having that one red canister inventory card, all issued by Mr. looking like a savior...... a fire Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge. extinguisher. The car even bears Norm Krause’s autograph on the dashboard praising its eye- popping Banana Yellow paint.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sold new at Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago - Documented with Mr. Norms dealership paperwork and factory Chrysler IBM card - Frame-off nut and bolt restoration - Hi-Impact Banana Yellow paint - Correct Trans Am 340 Six Pack engine - Original Six Pack intake and air Early May of 1987 my 1971 cleaner Camaro RS started on fire - Factory 4-speed, Pistol Grip burning up the engine shifter compartment. There wasn’t a lot - Fiberglass hood, Black vinyl of damage, but enough to make top for a lot work. On a Saturday the - Sure Grip 3.91 rear end weekend before Memorial Day, - AM radio, console my buddies 1966 Chevelle SS396
P a g e | 15 4 sp burned to the ground. One of A 2 lb ABC extinguisher is ok drive home that 1963 Mercury the most depressing days of my but a 5 lb ABC extinguisher is Comet Convertible, I had a fire life watching it burn up. Neither best, as this will cover all the extinguisher in the car. But if we car had a fire extinguisher in extremes. Please make sure you would have needed it on the road, them. These were both gas fires mount it securely in your ride as it was there right behind the seat. from bad rubber fuel lines. well. You don't need the extinguisher rolling around and Please go and buy one if you do damaging your ride or it going not already have one in that off prematurely while you’re Street Machine, Classic Car or driving down the street. even your everyday ride, get one mounted and ready. Service your car fire extinguisher in the same way that you would 2015 is going to be an exciting service your home extinguisher. year for the James Valley Street Yes, you should also have Machines, please tell all your extinguishers in your home. It friends about our magazine. should be recharged or replaced I have a 1968 Plymouth GTX after every use. Even if the clone right now that I have extinguisher wasn’t completely owned for 24 years and have put discharged at the time of use. a lot time and hard earned money Regular maintenance includes a into my Street Machine. Looking monthly inspection and an annual at it recently I have noticed I service that typically involves need to replace my fuel lines as recharging. they are starting to crack and split. But I have carried a fire Some rides even have chrome extinguisher in that car for over ones, not sure if they are an 22 years and even in my personal actual working extinguisher, but ride as well. You just never know looks very cool with the other when you may need it either for $50,000.00 worth of chrome on yourself or to save that one their ride. special ride that you come across driving down the street. These days we have got to try to save every old classic out there. When I have gone to car shows They are getting harder and and look at the old classic cars, I harder to get, such a shame to see often see cracked and split rubber them burned up and un- fuel lines. I am so amazed there repairable. are NO fire extinguishers in their cars; someday they might need it. So in the spring I am putting a I hear so often “Oh I won’t have message out to all that read my a fire in my car or my car doesn't article here to check those tranny get driven enough to have one in cooler lines, fuel lines around the there.” I personally have 3 in my fuel pump, carburetor and brake shop and I always say to them “I lines as well. Keep that old would put one in the hot rod just classic up to par every year and in case.” Some guys and gals go keep it running and drive it each all out and have one in the trunk year. It's not good to have them and on the tranny hump in the set for years on end. Even my front. That's a great site to see. adventure last month to Seattle to
P a g e | 16 Yet we are connected to our heritage and roots in a way our Minnesota neighbors are removed. Story & Photos by Searle Swedlund Hanging in my office is a photo of my grandfather and his family circa 1925 with his family in front of their home. On the very edge of the photo you can see the original sod house that John Dockter built when he homesteaded the property in Buckeye Township, Kidder County. To think I could ask my grandparents, “What was it like to live this homestead life?”
My mother can remember the winter of 1954 when he father ND Turns 125 would drive her to school in a horse drawn sleigh. She On November 2, 1889, President remembers bath night when the Benjamin Harrison approved the family would take turns using the admission of North Dakota to the same tub of water. She can Union. The Dakota Territory remember a particularly difficult was split into two states, both winter when she boarded with a admitted on the same date. Robinson family and their 13 History is vague as to North children in a 2 bedroom house. Dakota’s place as the 39th or 40th State, but it often referenced as It’s our rugged beginnings that the 39th due to its alphabetical have made North Dakotan’s order. That same week, Montana people of character and strength. was accepted into the union on November 8. On November 2, the Heritage Center on the capital grounds in To imagine the experience of Bismarck dedicated the North Dakota’s settling expansion and renovation to a forefathers in the 1880’s seems facility built in 1981. Governor unconceivable. The barren land, Jack Dalrymple stated during a exhibits. Geologic Time features the extreme temperatures, the press conference, “Yes it did cost several dinosaurs and highlights a absence of communities and $51.7 million, and it’s worth time when the state would have people – all of this seems a every penny.” been at the bottom of an ocean million years away from the floor. The Early People gallery is current luxuries of transportation, The expanded facility tells our devoted to the Native America climate control and a world wide story as North Dakotan’s 125 people of the area. And web of connectivity. plus year history and beyond. Yesterday and Today examines The four galleries capture distinct the impact of agriculture, We’ve come a long way in 125 periods of our states past as well military, transportation and years. as provide room for traveling energy have made on North
P a g e | 17 Dakota. Finally, the Governors Americans thoroughly enjoyed involved with the 1949 Ford gallery features traveling and is still very popular today. project were as follows: Mr. exhibits. Mercury and Lincoln also offered Ernest R. Breech, Mr. George consumers new, attractive body Walker, Mr. Joe Oros, Mr. There are places in this world styles as well in that year. Elwood Engel, Mr. Dick Caleal, that may not think to celebrate However, it was the popularity of and Mr. Bob Gregorie among 125 years of existence, yet in our the 1949 Ford models that began many others. own Scandinavian stoic way to sell extremely well within the applaud softly the automotive industry. accomplishments of our time as a state. I encourage you to travel to Bismarck and enjoy this humble display of the great state of North Dakota. 1949 FORD: The Car, The Workers & The Innovation Story & Photos by classicshoptalk.com During the developmental stages of the 1949 Ford models, men The most popular Ford model of and women were involved with that year was the custom Tudor interior designing, working with sedan which was a nicely styled thousands of upholstered fabric family car priced at $ 1,590 pattern samples to bring new dollars. For this vehicle, Ford ideas to life. Engineers and adopted the squared off, slab-side designers also evaluated many concept design which attracted scale models of miniature cars in In automotive history, 1949 is the attention of many consumers all different colors in order to known as the year of big change. on announcement day. make the right choice for these This story is about how it all special production models. began. With just a simple idea Finally, after many months and sketched out on a piece of paper, thousands of ideas were the developments that followed considered, full-size clay models from factory to finish attribute to were produced for the top Ford Motor Company’s executives including the Ford successful year. The men and family members to vote on. They women who helped with design would decide on every individual and build these remarkable feature until the selective model automobiles made automotive would become chosen for history. Ford Motor Company wanted to manufacturing and production. produce a car that would set new It has been said throughout highs in styling and performance. Later, hundreds of draftsmen automotive history that the In the beginning, a group of would design the direction for the production and design of the engineers and stylists got production workers to follow. 1949 Ford helped saved Ford together and drew a map of their The tool design department Motor Company. The 1949 Ford ideas, a car designed from the would then begin to create the model was a totally different inside out. Designers looked into special tools that would be designed vehicle. It featured new the future and drafted unique needed to produce Ford's great styling features that many shapes on paper. Some of the looking automobiles of 1949. It talented individuals directly took weeks to smooth out and
P a g e | 18 finish the tooling in order for the slinky”. In conclusion, the 1949 JAMESTOWN ELKS #995 workers to start manufacturing Ford models made history by CLUB NEWS the 1949 Ford models. Raw saving Ford Motor Company. Story & Photos by Craig Gaier (Exalted materials like iron ore were This great looking automobile Ruler) brought in from Minnesota in will forever be a part of our company boats to start producing automotive history. Ford models along with other materials.
Along every step of the way in production, quality control was on the job! Only products that were approved could move onto Hello everyone. Things are the next phase of production. rolling right along this fall season When the last part was installed at the Jamestown Elks Lodge. on the very first vehicle, the Woody's Porch (our inspector assessed it. Then, the A special thanks to Robert Tate, meeting/party/dining room with dramatic moment occurred when Automotive Historian and kitchen facilities, named in the test driver stepped in, turned Researcher, for donating the story memorial of one of our passed-on the motor on, and the wheels to the MotorCities Story of the members, Craig Woodward) has rolled for the first time. They Week program. Photographs are been active and still has dates knew then that the model was courtesy of the National open for anyone who needs a ready for the consumer market. Automotive History Collection. place to hold their fall and winter (Bibliography: Lamm Michael & festivities. Just contact Scott Holls Dave. “A Century of Anderson at the Lodge or at the Automotive Style 100 Years of Cork & Barrel Off-Sale (Elks # American Car Design”1996. 252-3642/Cork & Barrel # 952- Dammann H. George. “Illustrated 9463). History of Ford” 1971. “The Ford Dealer Graphic Forty- Niner We have just started the month Makes Ford History” . Published off with our annual Stag night by the Ford Motor Company For and a great time was held by all Ford Dealers 1949.) with plenty of food and drink; The 1949 Ford models were football and baseball on the big featured at the Waldorf Astoria screen TV’s and lots of prizes. Hotel with an estimated crowd of You just can't miss the next one about 55,000 people. These when it comes around. visitors came to see the spectacular displays featuring the The Hope Dinner After party at 1949 Ford models. Ford had the Elks Lodge will be over by taken giant strides. Never had the time this goes to print and any new car been received with that is also a large event if it will such whole-hearted enthusiasm be anything like last years was! from the buying public. News Week magazine said “The new The Lodge Clubroom/Tavern is car was certainly, as advertised, open to "everyone" (non- Ford's most radical face-lifting members welcome) Monday since the Model A. It was through Friday from late definitely modern and definitely afternoons until the patrons leave
P a g e | 19 in the evening. So come on SCENES FROM READERS 2. The Legend of Giants, down and check us out and if you 23 Pieces Of Street Art That Biastok, Poland. like what you see and what we Creatively Play With Their do, we're always seeking new Surroundings membership (no strings attached and low cost dues). Story & Photos by Thom Taylor (Hot Rod Magazine)
JAMESTOWN CLASSIC We all know that street art can CAR CLUB NEWS be pretty cool, but it takes an Story & Photos by Craig Gaier (President) extra spark of creativity (or luck) to create the sort of street art that can cleverly make use of its surroundings and location to give it extra depth. These clever site- specific arrangements take these pieces of street art above and beyond. Rather than just painting a preconceived painting on a public canvas, these artists found locations that work together with their artwork. Whether it's The Jamestown Classic Car Club meaningful, beautiful, funny, or a held its monthly meeting by bit of each, these clever and cruising to Kensal, ND and 3. World Going Down The Drain, imaginative pieces of site- having a dinner meeting at the Spain. specific street art are definitely Kensal Cafe. We had a great worth checking out. meal and there were a number of neat cars that made the trip. 1. Face Of The City, Toronto, We’re already working on getting Canada. ready for our annual Winter Wheels Car Show at the Jamestown Civic Center to be held January 31st. Watch for our event special for the show.
Next meeting October 28th; watch the Jamestown Sun in the 28th edition for time and locale to be determined.
P a g e | 20 4. Sideshow Bob, France. 10. Bruce Lee, Saint Etienne, France
8. Hair, Fort De France, Martinique
5. Pom Pom Girl. 11. La Caravane Passe, France
9. Sluggo On The Street
12. Girl, George Town, Malaysia 6. Satellite Dishes, Birmingham, UK.
7. Calvin & Hobbes, France.
P a g e | 21 13. Dead Drainage In Paris
21. Glasses, Russia 17. Sum Times
14. Bird, Athens, Greece 22. Germany
18. Ostrich, Rome, Italy
15. Seeder, Kaunas, Lithuania 23. The Straw
19. Bicycle, George Town, Malaysia
16. Lost Eye, France 20. Shining, France
P a g e | 22 CLASSIC CAR SUMMARY of the future,” which was brought himself was featured in a Life 1951 BUICK XP-300 to life as the 1938-’39 Buick Y- magazine article! CONCEPT Job. In overall concept, the Y-Job and the XP-300 are virtually the Before leaving Buick in 1951 to Story by John Gunnell, Photos by Al Rogers same; the ’50s dream car was just move up the GM ladder, Chayne (Old Cars Weekly) a more modern interpretation approved construction of the XP- from the sketchpad of Nickles, a 300 and a companion dream car self-taught car designer of called the LeSabre. Both cars enormous talent. shared styling motifs and pioneered the wraparound windshield, although overall the LeSabre was a little more of a rocket ship. With its lemon- sucker grille and upswept tail fins, the silver-blue LeSabre was There was a time when the truly futuristic, but it was not as people who ran automobile pretty as the cleaner-styled, white companies were genuine XP-300. automotive enthusiasts. Charles A. Chayne, Harley J. Earl and In a wonderful series of articles Ned F. Nickles were three of in the Wrightstown (Wis.) Area those enthusiasts whose passion Spirit, automotive historian Tom for beautiful cars led to the Collins traced how Nickles — a creation of the Buick XP-300 paper mill worker in Kaukauna, (originally labeled XP-9), a true Wis. — saw a story about Earl, dream machine. the Y-Job and other GM cars in Life magazine. According to The year was 1951, a time when Collins, “Nickles took the bold it was hard to imagine a 16-foot- step of packing up some sketches long convertible that glided only with a cover letter and sending 6-1/2 inches above the ground. them to Harley Earl at General Part sports car and part space Motors.” ship, the car had an “electric Nickles was hired to work at GM shaver” grille, a wraparound in 1941. One of the first projects windshield, a tri-finned tail with Nickles worked on was the the electric radio antenna stillborn Chevrolet Cadet protruding from the center fin compact car. In 1949, he was and flashy side trim that would credited with crafting the According to Buick historian have looked right at home on company’s trademark “porthole” Larry R. Gustin, the LeSabre Buck Rogers’ interplanetary decorations, which originated as reflected the thinking of Harley cruiser. It even had push-button holes punched into the hood of Earl, who drove it frequently and power seats and windows! his own ’48 Roadmaster put many miles on it, while the convertible (Nickels was always XP-300 characterized Chayne’s Chayne, in addition to working as a bit of a hot rodder and sports idea of what future Buicks should Buick chief engineer, was a car fanatic). The XP-300 was one look like. The front end design of pioneer American car collector. of his next achievements, the car actually previewed the More than a decade earlier, he followed by the Buick 1954 Buick. Chayne was also and design chief Harley Earl had sweepspear and the Buick responsible for the engineering of teamed up to create the first “car Skylark. By 1954, Nickles both dream cars. In “The Buick:
P a g e | 23 A Complete History” including the rear convertible and several other GM Motorama (Automobile Quarterly, 2004), window—were heavy and added show cars were displayed for the Gustin quotes Chayne talking extra pounds. The car also used antique and classic car tourers to about the difficulty in wider and heavier brake drums enjoy. No doubt Chayne was engineering very low-slung cars that required two sets of brake involved in arranging this display and explaining how the two ’51 shoes at each wheel. The rear and he may have drove the XP- dream cars were green-lighted for brakes were also mounted 300 himself. Both of the “future both far out styling and inboard on the drive shafts, cars” were made for PR use. engineering. flanking the rear differential. The weight reduction achieved by The two cars shared common using aluminum was very mechanical make-ups including necessary. the use of a supercharged 335-hp aluminum V-8 that burned a methanol-gasoline fuel — talk about futuristic! This in an era when production Buicks were still straight-eight powered. Both cars stressed Earl’s love of long, low, sleek and heavily stylized designs and the use of bright metal trim, which he had a taste for even when it became passé. The XP-300’s beauty and Both Buick dream cars had heat- innovation went beneath its treated aluminum bodies. aluminum skin. Four hydraulic jacks were hidden under the body work and elevated either the driver or passenger side of the car. Upon shutting the doors, steel bars hydraulically slid out so that the car was more rigid, as these bars completed the rollcage-like framework within
the body. Both Buick dream machines Over the years it has been well received good exposure locally publicized that Earl tooled and nationally. Detroit-area around in the LeSabre just as if it newspaper photos showed the was his personal car, but Chayne XP-300 being loaded into a used the XP-300, too. Chayne brand-new, stainless-steel reported that he attained a top Fruehauf trailer that carried the speed of 110 mph in the car, slogan, “Smart Buy’s Buick” and The use of aluminum body panels which bears his initials on the the caption for the photo said the reduced the overall weight of the trim panels at each front fender. car was going off to shows XP-300 to 3,100 lbs. This was A number of years ago, an Old around the country with $1 important, because the body and Cars Weekly reader submitted million worth of insurance frame structure were welded as a photos of an early-1950s Glidden coverage. According to Gustin, solid unit and the many push- Tour that included a stop in the Ralph Watts of the Detroit News button power accessories— Detroit area where the XP-300 was one writer who went to a
P a g e | 24 “breakfast for brass” promotion JOHN FORCE IS Wednesday to get the news out at the GM proving ground late in LOOKING AHEAD NOT and to allow him to keep his 1951. It was he who reported that BACK focus for the final two events of Chayne and GM president Story & Photos by Doug Marion (NHRA.com) the season, the NHRA Toyota Charles Wilson drove the car 110 Nationals in Las Vegas and the mph, and he also wrote that Auto Club NHRA Finals in Buick general manager Ivan Pomona. Wiles then took it up to 140 mph. “I don't want to go to Vegas and For the record, it was in 1952 that have to spend my days there the cars hit the auto shows explaining to the media what's nationwide. Both of them were taking place,” he said. “I don't popular attractions with want to have to do it at the final attendees. This legacy continues race at Pomona. today with the XP-300 being one of five Buick dream cars among “I got a call early this week from the many other classic cars a number of team owners, but exhibited at the Sloan Museum in one that was being straight up Flint, Mich. with me: ‘I'm talking to some of your employees, and I'm talking to your crew chiefs.’ I was a little surprised that we're in the middle
of the Countdown, but whatever. It certainly wasn’t John Force’s It's called business. I'm a big boy, plan to enter the final two events and I understand it. of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in pursuit of "I approached Jimmy, a great kid, yet another Funny Car brilliant, that won a championship without his crew championship with Robert Hight chief, but as with everything that and a championship with myself. the 16-time champ has overcome When I approached him, he in his life, he’s up for the couldn't give me an answer. We challenge. danced around for a few days. Finally I said, ‘I need to know On Wednesday, Force announced because I have sponsor contracts that he had not only accepted the that have been signed, contracts
end-of-year resignation of crew that are on the table. I'm selling chief Jimmy Prock, who guided this powerhouse race team of him to the 2013 Mello Yello title, power teams. Jimmy said, ‘I'm but also dismissed him probably going to leave at the immediately to start moving end of the year.’ I said, ‘I need to forward with his plans not only to know for sure.’ He said, ‘If I finish 2014 in glory, but also to have to tell you, basically I need head into what he hopes will be a change.’ I said, ‘I respect that.’ an equally successful 2015 He turned in a resignation campaign. yesterday for the end of the year. I met with my brain trust [and] told Jimmy I would accept his Force took part in a national NHRA teleconference resignation, but I was accepting it
P a g e | 25 now; I'll take it right now. So as of right now, Jimmy Prock is no longer employed by John Force Racing.”
Force is No. 2 in the Mello Yello Funny Car points standings, 36 points behind rival Matt Hagan, with two races left.
“I know it's in the middle of the Countdown, and you think I'm committing suicide, but I'm not,” he explained. “I race from the heart. I'm about principle, I'm about camaraderie, I'm about loyalty. If a man's heart is not here with me, his job is to protect his family, he's got to do what he's got to do, and John Force has got to do what he's got to do.
“I have to make a decision because I'm not racing for this championship. I'm racing for this championship and the next 20 years. Right now, I've got to start building a team. Why wait till Pomona to start building a team next year in '15? I'm going to start tomorrow. The outcome will be what it is. But at least I know where I'm going. I couldn't wait any longer. Jimmy, we shook hands, he walked out and understood; I think he understood what I was doing.”
Force also laid to rest any questions about whether all four of his teams would be competing dipped into my savings like I've next season. done before, my wife and I, two and a half million dollars. With “We'll be making announcements that, I have the budget if no more way, my four teams can race. I at Las Vegas. We'll be making sponsors come onboard, but I've have a love and passion for announcements in SEMA and got calls this morning and NHRA. I feel I owe NHRA. I right on through the winter, right yesterday. Things are looking owe the sponsors, and I owe the up till opening day at Pomona,” good. I hope not to have to invest fans to race.” he said. “Financially, I even that money, but I will if I have to.
P a g e | 26 CLASSIC CAR SUMMARY “It was on a big, fancy estate on a 1957 DESOTO lake and the caretaker had it and SPORTSMAN he had to get rid of it because the Story & Photos by Brian Earnest (Old Cars owner of the property didn’t want Weekly) him to keep it in his garage anymore,” Baker said. “I was just looking for a cool car with fins and this came up and it’s like, well, it’s a four-door, but when I saw what it was, I thought I couldn’t pass this up.”
Baker became the latest in a short succession of owners who have As Jimmy Buffet might say, all treated the gorgeous DeSoto “there were fins to left, fins to the gently. He has added 9,000 miles right.” The year was 1990, and to the clock in the past 23 years, Jeff and Sue Baker were at a bringing the total to 22,000 miles large car show and were and change. Actually, Baker has The original owner was a man surrounded by big 1950s big-fin added more miles a year than the named Edwin Keuhn, of cars that we being spotlighted at car had traveled in two of its Madison, Wis., who traded in his the event. previous stops. “The guy I 1951 DeSoto and got $1,117 bought it from had bought it at an towards the new Sportsman four- door on Aug. 7, 1957. The total “My wife said, ‘Boy, those are auction. He said it was estate bill came to $4,617. A nice list of cool,’ and after that I was always auction,” Baker noted. “He said accessories and options kind of looking for one,” recalled some kid was bidding on it that accounted for $620 of that total, Jeff, a resident of Franklin, Wis. wanted the car just for the motor. including: power steering ($99), “Then I finally saw this one for He was going to put it in a hot power brakes ($40), tinted glass sale in the Milwaukee Journal, rod. He couldn’t see that ($35), undercoating ($35), dual and it was only $3,500.” happening, so he bought it. He saved it! [laughs] It was going to antennas ($16), dual headlamps be torn apart for a hot rod.” ($35), and the cool — and rare — The car seemed to have a bit of a steering wheel clock ($15). The mysterious past, but the 1957 Before that, the Sportsman had Fireflite’s “Group 1” option DeSoto Fireflight Sportsman package also included a dual four-door hardtop was a fantastic been in hibernation for many years, although the duration of its exhaust, heater, radio, windshield surviving specimen with a paltry washer and rear speaker. 16,900 miles on the odometer. slumber isn’t clear. “Yeah, it sat Baker knew he had found the car for a long time out in Heartland “Some of these cars you can find he had been looking for. [Wis.] area. I think I am the fourth owner, and one of the with power and air conditioning other owners had died and it sat and everything, but this one is in a garage for many years,” pretty basic,” Baker commented. Baker added. “The original owner had it until at least ’68 and And, of course, there was those he had low mileage on it. That’s fins. They were a big part of [11] years and it had under Virgil Exner’s Forward Look 13,000 miles.” design that debuted across the Chrysler landscape in 1955. It’s
hard to argue there were any
P a g e | 27 better fins in the Mopar history The Fireflight menu included the stuff. The motor has never been book than the 1957 Desotos, with Sportsman four-door hardtop, a apart,” Baker said. “The their racy, shark-like fender four-door sedan, two-door carburetor has never even been design and tri-tower tail light Sportsman hardtop, convertible apart. It just runs fine. Plugs and arrangement. and six- and nine-passenger wires are about all it’s ever station wagons. needed. Oh, and at the time I did have to put a water pump in, but Edwin Keuhn’s lovely Spice that’s it.” Brown and Sahara Tan car was one of 6,726 Sportsman four- “A year or two later we did a doors built for 1957. Baker paint job on it in a friend’s considers himself an unlikely garage. It’s not a professional owner of such a car. He wasn’t paint job, but it still looks good.” necessarily a tail fin guy previously, and four-doors Other Changes at Desoto for the weren’t his preference either. “I 1957 model year included new mostly had muscle cars,” he says. bodies that were lower and “I had a Coronet R/T, some longer; new side trim and color Challengers and stuff — mostly sweep treatments; a large new muscle cars. bumper grille combination; and a new Firesweep series, which was “I figured I’d just take this one built by Dodge Division. home and have some fun with it. Standard features included And I’ve still got it.” Baker had the bench seats in Torsionare torsion bar front front and back redone after suspension, Oriflow shocks, The Desoto definitely needed tracking down some of the Safety-Lock door latches, Total some freshening up and attention original peach and charcoal Contact brakes and Power-Tip when Baker dragged it home, but upholstery material. “I was lucky spark plugs. with so few miles on the car it enough to find the original seat definitely wasn’t worn out, and it material. Some guy in Texas had wasn’t rusty. The brakes were it,” he said. “The driver’s seat seized and the paint had lost a had some rips in the cloth part. little luster. For the most part, And he sold me enough material though, the Fireflite was ready to to redo all the seats. I took it to get back on the road. an upholstery shop and they fixed them all up. It’s the original style and the material looks perfect.”
The Fireflite was so authentic, it Under the hood, the Fireflites even had the 34-year-old original featured the 341.4-cid, four- tires on it and the original spare barrel Hemi V-8, which churned in the trunk when Baker brought out 295 hp. Push-button it home for the first time. “It has automatic transmissions were the original spare yet and I have standard on the Fireflight and two of the original tires. I had the Adventure series offerings, which “I went through it mechanically other two but they went bad from were the top two tiers in the and did whatever it needed – you the heat in the garage where I had Desoto lineup, ahead of the base know, brakes, tune-up and that them stored. They bowed and Firesweep and Firedome lines. bulged.”
P a g e | 28
For all its head-turning looks, “There is so much chrome. You MUSCLE CARS YOU Exner-inspired “Foreward” don’t realize how much chrome SHOULD KNOW: 1969 thinking and a healthy does Hemi there is until you start cleaning ROYAL BOBCAT brute force in the hood, the the car. It’s everywhere. There is PONTIAC GTO RAM AIR Desotos were a startlingly fast no plastic on these cars,” Jeff V track to extinction by 1957 — chuckled. “And it just floats Story & Photos by Kevin Shaw (Street Legal arguably the company’s high- down the road. It rides really Magazine) water mark when factoring in nice. It’s got plenty of power sales success and the memorable because the Hemi has almost 300 machines the model year horse in it. It’s got plenty of produced. With 117,474 car’s power to move this heavy car. It built, DeSoto ranked 11th among rides like a dream. You go down U.S. automakers, but that figured the road and you don’t feel any plunged sharply for 1958 — a bumps. difficult year for the American auto industry. Possibly one of the most The Fireflite model lasted only legendary Pontiacs to ever heat through 1960, when it was up the asphalt, the 1969 Royal relegated to bottom-tier status as Bobcat Pontiac GTO Ram Air V only the Fireflite and Adventurer all started with a befuddled father lineups remained. In November unclear to how to knock some of 1960, Chrysler pulled the plug sense into his unruly, street altogether on the DeSoto brand, racing son. Asa Wilson Sr. leaving only a handful of 1961 decided to get his progeny, Asa models for dealers to try to Junior – known to friends and unload. fellow racers as “Ace” – off the streets of 1950’s Detroit by There’s something cool about buying him a Pontiac dealership. owning an orphan today, While seeming unimaginably especially a big, beautiful late- drastic, the decision to purchase a ‘50s cruiser with high-rising fins car dealership with a fully- and oceans of chrome. They tend equipped service department was to attract lots of attention and “I’ve had it quite a while. I’ve Asa Senior’s attempt to tap into make for enjoyable Sunday bought other cars in between his son’s interests. afternoons in the summer. The there that have come and gone, Bakers’ Fireflite shines on all but this one I’ve held onto. We’re The Wilson family was quite accounts. just going to keep enjoying it.” wealthy, making their fortune via the Ira Wilson and Sons Dairy which was as large as it was
P a g e | 29 successful. Breaking from the went ballistic and would not let family business, Ace was more me out of his office until he interested in head-to-head signed a contract,” Wangers racing. While the senior Wilson recounted. “I told him besides failed to understand his son’s lust selling high-performance parts, for high performance street he had to put a car on the machines, and while father and dragstrip and he did.” son failed to ever meet eye-to- eye, Ace’s efforts elevated Royal With full factory support, Royal Pontiac to one of the brand’s successfully campaigned a ’59 most profitable dealers during its Catalina in the National Hot Rod short lifespan. Association (NHRA). On Labor Day 1960, the Royal-tuned Super Located in Royal Oaks, Dutys won three races at three Michigan, the newly opened separate venues. Right then, Royal Pontiac quickly became Royal Pontiac had solidified the stomping grounds of groups itself as the performance Pontiac of street racing kids. Droves of headquarters. Customers seeking performance-loving teenagers high-performance Pontiacs came and young adults were regularly in droves to the Royal Oak, found hanging around Royal’s Michigan. Initially, and because service department just wanting of their prior success, 99-percent to see what the gearheads at of the “Royal Bobcats” sold were Royal were up to. Royal had Catalinas. Wangers recalled, “We quickly risen towards the top of had to come up with a special the national performance emblem so we took the letters we dealership list with its close-nit needed to spell BOBCAT from participation with Pontiac the block letters PONTIAC and corporate. BONNEVILLE and they fit right into the pre-drilled holes on the A decade before the ’69 Royal Catalinas.”
Bobcat Pontiac GTO was a reality, a major core shift within Next, Knudsen contacted Pontiac’s management Wangers to help and to try sell occurred. In 1959, Semon Pontiac as a performance brand “Bunkie” Knudsen was made on a wider scale. Meeting strong general manager. Despite an internal resistance, Knudsen image of selling “stodgy, killed his initial proposal of Fortuitously, when GM pulled underperforming cars,” Bunkie selling a three-day seminar to all out of racing in 1963, Royal demanded that Pontiac’s 27 Pontiac dealer zones, but Pontiac jumped at the engineers eke out 100 more pulled Wangers aside and told opportunity to modify and tune horsepower out of their V8, him to go out and find a dealer Pontiacs on a far larger scale. As which “lead to the development willing to take on the task of Royal’s customization efforts of over-the-counter high- helping make Pontiac a full- swelled, so did Pontiac’s efforts performance parts in 1959,” said fledged performance into performance with the former Pontiac marketing guru brand. When Wangers gave Ace introduction of the GTO. Almost and GTO founding father Jim Wilson Jr. the sales pitch, “[Ace] immediately, Royal was Wangers. was so enthusiastic about it, he performing their famous
P a g e | 30 “Supertunes” on new ’64 GTOs. a white valence panel, hood counter” engine, the 428 was the Already the most powerful mid- stripe, rocker panels stripes, and stuff of Pontiac legend. If so sized car on the market, Royal trunk lid over Crystal Turquiose equipped, the Royal Bobcat GTO took the GTO – rechristening it with all the Royal Bobcat RAM V came to the Royal Oaks the Bobcat GTO – and created a badging. dealership hollow from the street machine worthy of national assembly line. notoriety. The factory did not install the At its peak, Royal Pontiac was engine (as it was adamantly selling more than 1,000 Royal against GM’s plus-400ci policy), Bobcat conversions per year. but did build it exclusively for Royal’s best year was 1966 Royal Pontiac and provided the thanks to their modded GTO and full RAM AIR V motor Grand Prix. Surprisingly, Ace separately. Skirting the cubic- sold more Royal Bobcat kits inch policy, the official Pontiac through the mail than by factory paperwork read physically installing them, Beginning with the Royal Bobcat “Engineering Development making them, in essence, the first performance kit above, Royal Demo” with a cost of $2300 high-performance mail order went a little further by while the completed car was dealer. blueprinting, CC’ing, and milling selling for around $3400. the cylinder heads. This was to Since Royal Pontiac purchased The mail ordered kit consisted of equalize the compression and the rolling body from Pontiac’s a large box packed with thinner chamber volume for all eight factory floor, Royal was the first head gaskets (0.022-0.025- cylinders. Working with the owner to title the car. Even inches), blocked heat riser intake thinner head gaskets, this though there were a little over gaskets, a distributor re-curve kit, modification spiked the cylinder 200 RAM AIR V engines which included Mallory points compression well over 11-to-1. produced, most were sold and condenser with a new Additionally, Royal measured disassembled or to a small advance stop with lighter weights and shimmed the valve springs so selection of well-connected and springs, larger jets for the all 16 springs were at the exact persons and race teams. carburetors, rocker arm locknuts, same height. While nothing colder-running Champion groundbreaking, these efforts J10Y spark plugs, and the provided a level of quality necessary valve cover and valley control unattainable in mass- pan gaskets to perform the produced vehicles. modification. The kit also included Royal Racing Team But it was in 1968 when Royal club decals, Royal Bobcat body started installing the venerable stickers, a “GR-RRR” license 428ci engines into GTOs (against plate, and Royal Pontiac license GM’s pleas, demands and plate frames. threats). This level was the most drastic, and subsequently, the A prototype GTO equipped with Considered the lowest level of most expensive of the Royal the 428 package reportedly Royal’s “Bobcat” performance Bobcats. The Ram Air V was a clocked a 5.2-second 0-60 mph modification packages, those special 400ci block with newly time and a quarter-mile pass of who craved more power opted for designed high compression 11.5 seconds at 123 mph. In early a car prepared and sold directly tunnel port heads and a special 1969, a Royal Pontiac-prepared through Royal Pontiac and high rise intake manifold. GTO, driven by Royal’s Milt featured a unique paint scheme of Available only as an “over-the- Schornack, showed the world –
P a g e | 31 and Popular Hot Rodding – how Pontiac was able to turn a bland, then and I still like Chevys. And potent a mid-level Bobcat GTO run-of-the-mill brand of equally I’ve always really been attracted (running a Royal-blueprinted unexciting cars into a family of to this body style. Ever since they Ram Air IV 400ci) truly was. rip-snorting, in-your-face street came out in ’63, I’ve always performers. No other dealership loved the way these cars looked.” The ’69 GTO was equipped with could be more instrumental in power disc brakes, a manual 4- Pontiac’s Apollo-rocket ascent Scheidt, a resident of tiny Custer, speed, a 3.90 posi, a Schiefer into the stratosphere of muscle Wis., had gone through several Rev-Lok pressure plate and car hierarchy, and the few Corvettes by the time he bought clutch, Doug’s Headers (with 2- existing Royal Bobcat GTO Ram his 1965 back in 1978. At that inch primaries and 3 1/2-inch Air V’s are evidence of it. point, he viewed the car as a bit collectors), and 8.00-8.50 x14 of a well-used “fixer-upper” and Goodyear cheater slicks. With CLASSIC CAR SUMMARY had no great plans for it other open headers and slicks, the big 1965 CHEVROLET than to keep it running and enjoy Ram Air IV Goat ran a 12.62- CORVETTE driving it. The odometer had second pass at 109.52 mph. In spun 105,000 miles in the street trim – closed pipes and Story & Photos by Brian Earnest (Old Cars Corvette in the car’s first 13 Weekly) street tires – the same GTO ran 8- years, and Scheidt had visions of tenths of a second slower at 13.42 adding quite a few more. @ 108.42 mph on a very cold day for testing with stiff head winds.
Story and photos by Brian Earnest
Ask 10 Corvette lovers what their favorite Corvette year was and you’re liable to get 10 different By the end of 1969, Ace had had answers. For Ken Scheidt, the enough of the infighting with his magic year was 1965. demanding father and Pontiac’s general manager, Tom McQueen, “I like the ’64 through ’67s, and I who equally really like the ’65s because that’s despised performance and wanted the year I graduated from high Pontiac to have nothing to do school and I remember it being in “It was a 20-footer then. From 20 with it. So, in 1970, Ace sold his the magazines and everything. I feet away, the car looked really Royal Racing Team to John like the disc brakes and the side good. When you got close to it, it DeLorean’s brother, George and pipes, which was an option in was cracked in a lot of places, walked away from the very thing ’65,” Scheidt says. and something had to be done… that made Royal Pontiac a spot When I got it, it was pretty tired, on the map. “I come from a Chevy family. so the first thing I had to do was My dad always had Chevys, and rebuild the engine. And after that Despite this turn of events and when Corvettes first came on the I just kind of chipped away at it the years that would prelude the market I was a young, through the years and did little dealership’s closure, Royal impressionable guy. I liked them things to it, until 2005.”
P a g e | 32 That was when the white coupe One the major steps of the credit. Fuel injection was phased got a big present for its 40th remake would be restoring the out at the end of the 1965 model birthday — a complete remake coupe to its original Rally Red year. A new tough-looking side from nose to tail. Scheidt hadn’t color. The car had been repainted exhaust set-up and telescoping planned on any major restoration, white during the 1970s, but steering wheel were among the but that all changed when he Scheidt wanted it returned to its coolest options on the menu. spotted some other 1960s original combination of red with Corvettes undergoing major a black interior. The Corvette renovations at Corvette Sports, a was one of 3,688 examples Corvette specialty shop in painted Rally Red for the 1965 Sheboygan Falls, Wis. “It was model year, when Chevrolet built just going to be a driver, I never a total of 23,564 Corvettes, expected [to restore it]. And including 8,187 fastback coupes, every year that went by, those starting at a base price of $2,947. restorations got more and more expensive, and they sort of Two years removed from its intimidated me,” Scheidt said. major restyling for 1963, the The base engine was a 250-hp second-generation ‘Vette reached version of the 327-cid V-8. From “I finally took it over there [to its midway point in 1965 with a there, buyers could go up the Corvette Sports] and there were a model that was cleaned up ladder for the 300-hp 327 (RPO couple of them in there that they slightly in the exterior styling L75), 350-hp 327 (RPO L79), were doing from the ground up. department and debuted a few big 365-hp 327 (RPO L76), 375-hp When I saw that I thought, ‘I’m performance improvements. 327 (RPO L84), or the new 425- not going to piecemeal this car. Chief among them were four- hp 396. I’ve gotta do it right.’ It’s just too wheel disc brakes, and the mid- much a part of my life to just do a year introduction of the big-block A three-speed manual halfway job, even though it was 396-cid engine option. A new transmission was standard, but more money than I wanted to hood without indentations was almost 90 percent of the 1965 spend.” standard, but cars with a new big- Corvettes rolled out the door with block used a special hood with a a four-speed. funnel-shaped “power blister” air scoop. Interior updates included The new disc brakes and instruments that were changed to powerhouse engine availability a flat-dial, straight-needle design made the 1965 ’Vettes arguably with an aircraft-type influence. the best yet up to that time, and The seats had improved support for guys like Scheidt they remain and one-piece molded inside door that way. Road and Track panels were introduced. Standard magazine editors at the time were equipment included: tachometer; certainly fans of the 1965 model, safety belts; heater and defroster; noting in a review at the time that windshield washer; outside “in many ways, the Corvette is rearview mirror; dual exhaust; the original ‘build to suit’ sports electric clock; carpeting; car. There is a complete range of manually-operated top options that make it possible to (convertible) and sun visors. satisfy almost any driver who might consider buying such a car. The four-wheel disc-brakes were It can be had ‘mild’ with standard, although drum brakes automatic transmission, power could be substituted for a $64.50 steering, power windows or you
P a g e | 33 can have it ‘wild’ with everything under that hood, however. “It’s a that he didn’t expect to have to up to and including the fuel- manual steering car and a manual replace or address. “Like the injected 375-bhp engine, heavy brake car. It’s a hard enough car glass,” he pointed out. “I had all duty suspension, cerametallic to steer the way it is. You put a the glass in the car, but the competition brakes, fast steering, big-block in there and they’re windshield had some issues and wide-base cast-alloy wheels and really difficult to turn!” he it was showing its age. So it was the whole biz.” laughed. “I kept the original hood like ‘If we’re going to do the and painted it red also… And I glass, we’re going to do all the did find out that at the end of the glass, not just the windshield.’ model year in 1965, they ran out Well, I wasn’t counting on that. of the regular hoods and had Those are the kind of things that some of these so there are cars came up, but you don’t do one that came from the factory with thing and not do the other. the big-block hood and the small- block engine. “The only thing we didn’t have to re-do was the engine, because I “I kept them both, but I like that had that rebuilt earlier when I hood. It’s a ’65 hood, I don’t first got it,” Scheidt said. “The have a problem with it on.” only thing we left original was the crank. It got new pistons, new The restoration process also rods, new everything. At the time included putting in a new, correct it was smoking and using oil and rear end because “the old one had it was bad. It had to be done. a wrong gear in it.” New glass was installed all round. New “The frame was real good on the leather upholstery, carpeting and car. There was a little surface headliner were added. The rust, but we didn’t have to cut existing gauges and dash were all anything or do much to it. All Scheidt’s coupe is equipped with freshened up and made to look the suspension was worn out, but its original 300-hp/327-cid V-8 new. The side pipes and shields the frame just had a little surface and four-speed. Inside are leather were replaced, and all the shiny rust. We didn’t have to cut out seats and a teak wheel, which he bits on the outside were re- anything or do much to it. I added himself. “It does not have chromed and still shine like new, rebuilt all the suspension, all the power windows, does not have even 10 years later. bushings and everything. We power brakes and does not have acid-dipped the frame and power steering,” he notes. “That powder-coated it; put in new was something that really interior; new glass. Everything is attracted me to the car in the new.” early days because that meant it was a real sports car. Now I think The coupe’s odometer now sometimes it wouldn’t be too bad shows about 126,000 miles, and to have power steering, but I’m that number is growing very not going to change it!” slowly. Scheidt puts more miles on his 2006 Vette and saves the Scheidt’s one concession to Scheidt admits that the whole 1965 for special occasions, like originality is the hood. He simply restoration was a good learning the Iola Old Car Show in Iola, liked the looks of the big-block experience — and a painful one Wis., where it was displayed this hood better, so he put one on the at times. There were plenty of past July with a group of other car. He’s not pining for a 396 unexpected hiccups, and things impressive ‘Vettes.
P a g e | 34 Stonehenge, Cadillac Ranch is so preferred style for “the third”). A famous, homage has been paid to self-proclaimed Texas eccentric, it in the animated movie “Cars,” multi-millionaire businessman and it has been celebrated in song and philanthropist, Marsh was by rockstar Bruce Springsteen. happy to tell us about the recently Old Cars broke the story of completed Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch just weeks after it was completed in 1974. In Marsh at first claimed that he was
observance of the globally known having a hard time taking his new art installation’s 40th “I’m just a afraid to drive it. It’s art installation seriously. He said anniversary, we’re revisiting its one of those deals, and I get a lot he liked to tell curious onlookers story here. of heat about it, especially from that Evel Knievel wanted to jump the guys at Corvette Sports!” the 10 finned Caddies. Later in Scheidt admits with a laugh. our conversation, Marsh “They’re really mad at me. They conceded that he truly considered think I should drive it a lot more Cadillac Ranch to be, “…the than I do. most amazing piece of sculpture in the 20th century.” “I promise I’m going to drive it more.” Marsh told us that Cadillac Ranch was created by a San Francisco “art collective” known FOREVER FIN-TASTIC: as the Ant Farm. At his CADILLAC RANCH STILL suggestion, we called Ant Farm’s STANDING TALL AT 40 In August 1974, California Chip Lord for deeper insights publisher Ray Miller, who into the thinking behind Cadillac Story by Terry V. Boyce & Photos byWyatt advertised his Evergreen Press Ranch. McSpadden (Old Cars Weekly Magazine) collector car books in Old Cars, sent the staff snapshots of 10 old Cadillacs sticking out of the ground with tailfins pointing skyward. A neighbor and fellow car collector, Tom Howard, had taken the pictures after spotting the cars near Amarillo while passing through the Texas The Cadillac Ranch cars were originally panhandle. “They have to have a planted in a Texas panhandle pasture near Thousands of graffiti artists have added their Amarillo; they were moved in 1997 to a new marks to the Cadillac Ranch cars, which were story,” Miller wrote. location, still along Interstate 40/Route 66. first planted in the Texas earth in 1974. (Wyatt McSpadden photo) Miller’s letter arrived just weeks Among the man-made attractions after your author began his four- Lord explained that he and fellow peppering the pathway of year stint at Old Cars (the Ant Farm members Doug America’s legendary Route 66 “Weekly” part came later). Michels and Hudson Marquez “Mother Road,” none is more Assigned to the story by then had conceived the sculpture as a iconic than Cadillac Ranch — a Editor Dave Brownell, we called tribute to America in the 1950s, a “sculpture” consisting of 10 the Amarillo daily newspaper to period they remembered as vintage Cadillacs quite literally ask about the Cadillacs. They put youths. Lord told us that, in the planted in a Texas cow pasture. us in contact with the project’s wake of the cultural and social Sometimes called a later-day patron, Stanley Marsh 3 (his tumult of the ’60s, those
P a g e | 35 relatively tranquil years already told us in 1974. The ’49 fastback the decades since, McSpadden’s seemed almost mythical. coupe that represented the work for Texas Monthly and original 1948-’49 finned models others has made him one of the Looking at “The Fifties” through had been the most expensive, Southwest’s best-known and a cultural prism, the Ant Farm while the ’57 had been hardest to most-admired photographers.) felt the optimistic era began in find. the post-World War II American Old Cars ran the Cadillac Ranch boom year 1948 and ended on story, accompanied by Nov. 22, 1963 — the day McSpadden’s photos, on the President Kennedy was cover of its Oct. 16-30, 1974 assassinated. “Hershey Issue.” (That issue, incidentally, got extra The Ant Farm time line also The 10 Cadillacs chosen by The Ant Farm to distribution at the “Postwar ’74” represent the evolution of the marque’s happened to span the period in famous tailfins are shown as they appeared swap meet debuting in nearby which Cadillacs had tailfins. The shortly after Cadillac Ranch was completed in Carlisle the week before GM luxury car had introduced the summer of 1974. (Wyatt McSpadden Hershey.) photo) them on its 1948 models, and last featured them on its 1964 models It was with a bit of serendipity — introduced just weeks before that Cadillac Ranch ended up so three rifle shots in Dallas close to Route 66, the legendary changed America forever. American highway that led to Southern California — the Both the Ant Farm trio and “promised land of the 1950s.” Marsh were completely aware Marsh wanted his art works near that in the 1950s, Cadillac him. As a result, the tailfin represented the ultimate in tableau was placed in a family- American prestige and quality. owned wheat field/cow pasture “Cadillac was always the best surrounded by open land near one,” Lord said of the automotive Amarillo. Old U.S. 66 (already This 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville was only status symbols that were so reborn as I-40 in 1974) ran 15 years old, but already considered an iconic important to Americans in the design when it became part of the Cadillac nearby. Ranch art installation in 1974. (Wyatt 1950s. To be called the “Cadillac McSpadden photo) of…” any sort of consumer good The Cadillacs were laid out in a in that time implied superiority. straight line facing west. They In an Oct. 23, 1974, letter, Marsh What better artifacts, then, to were set to the same slant as the wrote that Old Cars had “scooped represent and celebrate American sides of the Great Pyramids. the world” with its Cadillac prominence in the 1950s than Ranch report. After Esquire tail-finned Cadillacs? Shortly after our interviews with featured the nostalgia-laden Marsh and Lord, a large envelope sculpture in its December 1974 The Ant Farm made a list of 10 bearing a Texas postmark arrived issue, general media coverage Cadillac models that would at Old Cars. Inside were became widespread. illustrate the evolution of the oversized photos of the cars at tailfin from 1948 to 1964. They Cadillac Ranch. The images were Marsh said in 1974 that the purchased the actual cars for the taken by a young Amarillo Cadillacs would never be moved. installation over a period of about photographer named Wyatt But, in 1997, with urban sprawl two weeks. Some were running, McSpadden, who had encroaching on the original site, some not. The team paid $200 or documented the construction of the 10 old cars were in fact less for most of the cars, Lord Cadillac Ranch for Marsh. (Over relocated to another pasture. The
P a g e | 36 installation was placed farther prohibited at Cadillac Ranch. since he bought it new as a away from Amarillo proper, but Consequently, the cars are today college kid. still along Interstate 40. Clearly covered with layers of graffiti visible from the freeway, and their graceful forms, so “I guess I could never see not Cadillac Ranch is called “The carefully sculpted by Harley having it,” opines the resident of hood ornament of Route 66” by Earl’s GM stylists, are battered rural Mosinee, Wis. “When I Amarilloans. and scavenged. While the bought it, I wouldn’t have Cadillac Ranch cars demonstrate thought about having it for 50 a continuous and ever-changing years, but I never wanted to get melding of America’s past and rid of it. I guess I always just present, their tailfins still stand as wanted to keep it. So has he ever reminders of that golden considered selling it? American age known as “The Fifties.” “Never,” he answers flatly. Of course, his choice to keep the hot Camaro is vindicated every time he turns the key and the dual exhausts rattle the windows of his garage. The Lemans Blue Z still looks great, is loads of fun to drive, and still packs all the appeal it had when Bucholtz scraped up all his nickels and bought it new — with a little help from his dad.
“I was going to college, and I had worked a few summers at Allen-
Bradley in Milwaukee, trying to In 2011, with Marsh in ill health save a little money,” recounted CLASSIC CAR SUMMARY Bucholtz, 68, an allergy and and facing civil lawsuits and 1969 CHEVROLET potential criminal charges having asthma doctor at the Marshfield to do with revelations of alleged CAMARO Z/28 Clinic in Marshfield, Wis. “I Story & Photos by Brian Earnest (Old Cars always liked the looks of the improper relationships with Weekly) minors, ownership of Cadillac Z/28 Camaros. When they first Ranch was reportedly transferred came out … they didn’t make to a trust. (Marsh died, at age 76, very many of them, and I liked on June 17, 2014 — four days the looks of them, and their before the 40th anniversary of the performance. Well, when I completion of Cadillac Ranch.) finally got a little money, my dad At present, it appears that those agreed to pay the remainder of it who continue to come from — actually it was most of it around the world to view the [laughs] — and we went down to famous Cadillacs won’t be Braeger Chevrolet in Milwaukee. disappointed. Dr. Gerald Bucholtz has a pretty The salesman was our namesake simple explanation for why he’s – I think his name was Ron Bucholtz — and he gave us a Hands-on interactivity with the hung onto his 1969 Z/28 Camaro deal on it. We got a big discount cars by visitors has never been of $307, but at that time,
P a g e | 37 anything counted. The car wasn’t here, and it ended up on the right left off the chrome trim around on the lot yet. At the time, it was side of the road, which is Clark the wheel wells. “Water gets en route. We didn’t order it, but County!” The deer’s landing under there and doesn’t drain, we selected the one we liked, and place added to a little confusion then you have to worry about that was the blue with white. over which county cop should rust,” he says. have been handling the accident “I remember the first time I drove report, but in the end, Bucholtz it off the lot. I couldn’t believe nursed his Camaro home and how close the gear ratio was. It decided it was time the car got seems like shift, shift, shift. And the restoration it deserved after so that was just on the ramp to get many years of service. “It just out!” broke a headlight and damaged the little plastic grille. It wasn’t much damage, but the bill was $1,700 and I took that money and put it towards the restoration – which turned out to cost a lot more than $1,700!” he says.
That was 45 years and about 125,000 miles ago. The car has never been off the road or in hibernation for long. For about 17 years, Bucholtz lived and practiced in Florida, and the Z/28 came with him. In 1991, he returned to Wisconsin, with the car still intact except for a suspension upgrade that included bigger shocks and some stiffer springs. Bucholtz didn’t go overboard seeking a concours-quality The car might still be a largely remake. He knew that he was untouched original survivor had going to keep racking up the it not been for a meeting with a miles on his favorite car — and deer about 12 years ago. That Bucholtz had previously had the only hobby vehicle — and there fast-forwarded a restoration engine balanced and blueprinted was no point in trying to make it project that Bucholtz probably during his Florida days, so he perfect. Actually, he was more would have gotten around to didn’t mess much with the interested in simply making the eventually anyway, given his drivetrain when it came time to Z/28 less attractive to rodents. “I affection for his Z/28. “It was at do the restoration. The Camaro had some problems with mice in dusk and we were driving from did get a new coat of Lemans it,” he laughs. “The restoration Marshfield to Medford and I Blue paint, though, along with a took care of that problem and got clocked a doe,” he says. “It came new headliner, driver seat rid of any kind of reminder or from the left side of the road, covering and carpeting. When the scent with the mice. which is Marathon County up car was reassembled, Bucholtz
P a g e | 38 “It cost me about $17,000 to get The basic Z/28 package listed for performance goodies. The engine rid of the mice!” $358, but other options were exhaled through dual exhausts mandatory and jacked the price with deep-tone mufflers. There Bucholtz was exactly the kind of up north of $4,000. The price were special front and rear guy Chevrolet had it mind when included a heater, but air suspensions, rear bumper guards, it decided to market a Camaro conditioning was not available. a heavy-duty radiator with a that could qualify for the Trans- And for those with serious racing temperature-controlled fan, Am Cup racing series. Guys who in mind, even the heater could be quick-ratio power steering, 15 x 7 wanted a performance car that deleted. rally wheels, E70 x 15 special wasn’t too hairy to drive and white-lettered tires, a 3.73:1 rear didn’t cost an arm and a leg The Z/28 performed very well. It axle and special hood and trunk found a pretty sweet option with had plenty of straight-ahead stripes. Chevrolet mandated a the debut 1967 Z/28. acceleration, and could handle four-speed manual transmission and brake with the best cars on and power disc brakes and the market. The 1967 first-year recommended a positraction rear model could move from 0-to-60 axle. mph in 6.7 seconds and did the quarter-mile in just 14.9 seconds Bucholtz says his only real at 97 mph. Its top speed was 124 lament about his Z/28 is that it mph. was equipped with disc brakes only in front. If he had his druthers, he’d have the discs at all four corners. Beyond that, he’s always loved the car, even its manual steering. “Hey, I never have to worry about my wife driving it,” he chuckles.
Chevrolet Motor Division built 602 Camaros with the Z/28 Trans-Am Cup competition at the package in the first year and time required that engines be no 7,199 cars in 1968. Things really bigger than 305 cubic inches. picked in showrooms after that Chevy’s entry was a maximum- when 20,302 Camaros went out output small-block V-8 with 302 the door as Z/28s. cid. This RPO Z/28 option had Bucholtz added some extra other high-performance parts, The restyled 1969 Camaro body gauges under the dash during the like a giant four-barrel carb, an featured more defined sculpturing car’s early days, when it was his aluminum high-rise intake and and a squarish, race-car-like look. daily transportation during non- L79 Corvette heads, that The 302-cid engine featured a winter months. The extra dials squeezed out about 350 hp and 4.002 x 3.005-inch bore and weren’t for looks. “They’re just 320 lbs.-ft. of torque at 6200 rpm. stroke, big-valve heads, forged to know what the engine is doing. The general consensus was that steel crank, new four-bolt-mains I just like to know,” he says. “I the Z/28 was more potent than block with larger webbing, put in a left and right temperature the 290 hp and 290 lbs.-ft. of nodular iron main bearing caps, gauge — the V-8 is actually two torque at 4200 rpm that the new pistons, 30/30 solid-lifter different engines. The left and company advertised. camshaft, 11.0:1 compression right actually run at a little bit ratio and numerous other different temperatures.
P a g e | 39 “I disconnected the gas pressure wanted something stiffer than the concludes. “It’s not the fastest car gauge… It’s also got a more stock suspension, and it was just around. It’s not the best road car sensitive oil temperature gauge about right,” Bucholtz remarked. in the world, but for the money, and a vacuum gauge. These “It does ride a little more like a it’s a pretty good deal. It’s a things weren’t on the car. All it truck, and my wife will attest to pretty good package. had was a speedometer, that.” tachometer and fuel gauge. That “You pull into a gas station and was it. The rest was just idiot half the people at the gas station lights. And I don’t want to rely are going to come over and look on idiot lights. I want to know at it. You always get thumbs-up what is going on.” no matter where you go”.
The four-speed floor shifter has a Hurst handle, but it controls the original factory manual transmission. Bucholtz isn’t shy
about using that performance Later, Bucholtz had to swap out shift handle to wring the high- the original steering wheel after it revving 302 out occasionally and cracked – perhaps from the heavy make sure it’s still in fighting stress on it every time Bucholtz condition. has to wrestle the car into a parallel parking spot. “I do open up the secondaries. I don’t let that gas sit in the secondaries forever,” he says with a grin. “I do get fresh gas in there, otherwise you’ve got troubles with it! UPCOMING EVENTS “I’ll open it up, for just a brief period. Responsibly and safely, 11/06 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing of course.” to The Strip at Las Vegas 11/09 Las Vegas, Nevada James Valley Street Machines Bucholtz will occasionally drive Monthly Meeting. 7:00 the Camaro to work at the 11/12 Watch the "RUMBLER" for hospital, but most of its trips are meeting times. short jaunts for fun around the Jamestown, North Dakota NHRA Mello Yellow Drag north-central Wisconsin 11/13 Racing countryside. Scenic, winding and to Auto Club Raceway hilly roads abound — a perfect 11/16 Pomona, California test track for a car with plenty of James Valley Street Machines giddyup remaining and an owner Awards Banquet 7:00 The aftermarket suspension setup that never tires of driving it. 12/18 Prime Rib & Potato. has been in place for many years Live Auction @ the KC's Jamestown, North Dakota and continues to give the car a “Sure you do (get a charge out of stiffer ride. “I didn’t want to race it). I still do,” Bucholtz it. I wasn’t going to do that, but I
P a g e | 40 SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Vehicle inspections done at ‘34 Plymouth Sedan hot rod. Dallas Kustoms in Hillsboro, Ready to cruise. Info: 701-678- ND. Call 701-436-6399 2908 Bugs
FOR SALE: ABANDONED IN THE ‘46 ½ ton Ford Pickup with flat SHEYENNE RIVER head V8. Would make excellent VALLEY Rat Rod! $1200. 701-220 6771 Eldon Story by Troy Larson (Ghosts of North Dakota ghostofnorthdakota.com) & Photos by R. David Adams FOR SALE: 10 Bolt Chevy Differential (rear end) ‘66-’67 Chevy II (Nova) 3.08 Gear Ratio, 57.75 outside width. Been stored inside since removed from the car 25+ years Swap Shop ads are taken from James Valley Street Machine members, NDSRA “Street ago. $80.00 701-258-4805 Tom Talking” magazine, “Cars for Sale in Jamestown” on Facebook. FOR SALE:
8 inch Ford Differential (rear FOR SALE: This is an abandoned farmstead right along end). Would have come from the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway, just ‘68 Chevy convertible, 307, 2 a few minutes south of Valley City, North ‘67-’70 Mustang, Fairlane, bbl, AT. New top, have new Dakota. Comet, or Cougar. 59.25 outside carpet. $6000. ‘68 Chevy 2 dr HT width, has 2.79 gear ratio. Use it coupe, 350, 4 bbl, driver. $2500. in your hot or rat rod project. ‘68 Chevy 2 dr. HT Fast Back. $100.00 701-258-4805 Tom 396 V8, 350 AT. Have all new interior for this car. $9000. 701- WANTED: 290-3360 Duane ‘63 - ‘64 Chrysler products door locks (all makes the same) keys FOR SALE: not required - will re-key to my ‘60 Ford F100 4 X 4. 292 V8, 4 own. 701-293-5335 Jim We passed this farm once before and we speed. New: brakes, wheel couldn’t get close due to a wet field. cylinders, master cylinder, clutch WANTED: cyl and slave cyl, front brakes Original (usable/patina ok/ This farm is often visited by drums, tie rod ends, gas tank, repairable) parts for ‘40 Willys photographers. We’ve seen radiator, front shocks, dimmer Model 440 Pickup - Front &/or photos from lots of other people switch. Typical rust in front rear bumper, tailgate, tailgate who have visited this place, fenders. $4000. 701-290-3360 pivots, both front grille halves, likely due to it’s incredibly Duane headlight lens (1 or 2), gas tank beautiful location nestled in the (usable or pattern), seat cushions rolling hills of the Sheyenne FOR SALE: & seat base. Any help / leads River Valley, just off the scenic ‘86 Ford Bronco. $2500 or trade. appreciated. Need items suitable byway which is one of the state’s ’85 Ford F350 4 X 4 dually. 460, for “Shop” truck, not “Show” most beautiful drives. AT. Needs exhaust manifold truck! 218-681-7073 or 218-686- gasket. Extended cab. $2500. 5611 Phone, text, pictures. Randy 701-290-3360 Duane
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The driveway which once led to this farm no longer exists, making this an isolated outpost on what was once a wild prairie.
There was at least one collapsed structure on-
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CLUB SITES
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