These days, there are many smartphone-based apps that monitor driving behavior. Parents can set up alerts to let them know when a newly-licensed driver exceeds a certain speed, or electronically block vehicle performance above a certain rate. Some insurance companies have even started offering incentives to customers who authorize GPS tracking when it comes to acceleration, aggressive cornering, and braking.
1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88
But Oldsmobile was way ahead of the game in offering visual alerts about speed control, and that innovative technology is showcased in today’s spotlight vehicle.
Included in this Olds is a trademark “Safety-Spectrum Speedometer.” The ribbon-style bar that moves along the 120-mph speedometer increments is engineered to modify color according to speed: it is green from 0 to 35 mph, orange from 35-65 mph, and red at speeds above 65 mph.
The listing reads, “This ’59 Oldsmobile Scenic coupe spent the first 60 years of its life all with one family in Thompson, North Dakota. The frame and body are rust-free. I purchased the vehicle about a year ago and have invested more than $4,000 into it.”
This car comes from the fourth-generation of the 88 model which shared General Motors’ B-body platform with cars including the Buick LeSabre and the Pontiac Catalina. Oldsmobile called the design language “linear look.” The seller states, “The special features of this vehicle are the full amazing bubble-top glass which allows for maximum scenic viewing while you are cruising the countryside.”
371cid Rocket V8
Power comes from a 371cid Rocket V8 mated to a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Recent mechanical work included replacement of the exhaust manifolds, muffler, power steering hose, air conditioning, dash lights, and heater core. The seller believes that the motor received a comprehensive overhaul sometime in the 1990s under prior ownership.
As for that special speedometer, it was more a novelty than anything else, but it’s interesting how even 63 years later, auto manufacturers continue using visual cues to convey speed-based feedback. A segment from Jay Leno’s Garage in 2013 illustrated the speedometer in action at 13 minutes in here.
“Must have a good size garage,” the listing concludes. “It’s a full-size vehicle. This is a special classic which gets plenty of thumbs up!”
The seller is asking $35,000 or best offer for this well-kept Olds, which looks like it would easily make a capable cruiser in the red speedometer zone.
Customized modern meets classic muscle in this 1966 Ford Mustang convertible built as a show car!
GAA Classic Cars Auction is proud to offer this Pro Tour Ford Mustang convertible that received a professional ground-up restoration documented with build receipts and photos. The spectacular build quality of this Pony Car led to its selection in Builder’s Showcase under Elite Builders at the 22nd annual Street Rod Nationals in 2021.
Image courtesy of GAA Classic Cars Auction
The House of Kolor Shimrin Kandy Root Beer exterior features a custom 4-inch widebody rear, an aftermarket hood scoop done in period-correct style, and a Haartz power cloth top complements the sleek profile. This custom Mustang has turn signals built into the door mirrors and a backup camera provides a greater perspective when reversing.
Image courtesy of GAA Classic Cars Auction
A custom tan leather interior by Catoe features low-back bucket seats up front and the rear seats are split by the full-length console. The matching tan full-length center console is complemented by wood and metal trim, and features built-in air conditioning controls, a touch-screen entertainment and navigation system, and four cup holders. Amenities for the driver and passengers include a Modern Audio stereo system, power windows and power door locks.
Image courtesy of GAA Classic Cars Auction
Under the hood is a factory-rated 460 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 Coyote engine with electronic fuel injection. The engine is paired with a Tremec six-speed manual transmission with a Science Friction Street Slayer clutch that sends power to the rear wheels through a Strange 9″ rear axle. A Dynomax exhaust with electronic cutouts gives this Pony Car a low rumble.
Image courtesy of GAA Classic Cars Auction
It rides on an Art Morrison chassis adjustable QA-1 coilovers. Power rack & pinion steering and Baer four-wheel disc brakes provide safety and control for the driver. This Mustang rides on staggered Scott Venom wheels, 18×7″ front and 20×12″ back, wrapped in low-profile tires.
Ringbrothers will have an unprecedented unveiling of four separate custom builds at the 2022 SEMA show on November 1st.
SPRING GREEN, Wis. – Ringbrothers, the world-renowned custom car builder and parts manufacturer, is set to unveil four custom builds for the first time ever at the 2022 SEMA Show.
Representing nearly 35,000 combined build hours, each vehicle has been extensively modified to showcase the full breadth of automotive design, production and craftsmanship Ringbrothers is known for. The highlight of the show is expected to be the 1948 Chevy pickup. Codenamed “Super Truck,” the ’48 represents more than 10,000 build hours and promises to be like nothing else on the road.
A sneak peak at the chassis of “Bully”
Ringbrothers
“BULLY” 1972 K5 Blazer: The 1,200-horsepower, big-tired and purpose-built Blazer is meant to dominate on or off the road. BULLY is equipped with a supercharged Wegner Motorsports-built LS3, a triangulated four-link suspension with off-road racing coilovers and a fully custom bespoke interior.
BULLY will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at the HRIA booth #23295
A glimpse of “Strode”
Ringbrothers
“STRODE” 1969 Chevy Camaro: With a widened, fully carbon-clad body and extended wheelbase, the Camaro exemplifies stance and the remarkable work of digital design. Under the hood is a Wegner Motorsports-built LS3 topped with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger producing 1,000 horsepower, while the Ghost White paint pays homage to STRODE’s origins.
STRODE will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. at the Keystone booth #21249
A snippet of “Patriarc”
Ringbrothers
“PATRIARC” 1969 Ford Mustang: The high-revving Mustang is built to play in the wind, minimizing rear-end drag with groundbreaking aerodynamic innovation. Power from a Ford Performance Aluminator 5.2 XS engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a fully bespoke interior makes this one unique Pony. PATRIARC will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 11:30 a.m. at the Centerforce booth #23813
“Enyo”
Ringbrothers
“ENYO” 1948 Chevrolet Pickup: With the original steel cab narrowed, lengthened, chopped and wedge cut, ENYO’s body was crafted with extensive use of carbon-fiber components, including a single-piece carbon-fiber belly pan. The design incorporates cantilevered independent suspension at all four corners and is powered by a 1,000-horsepower big-block marine racing engine. It’s a ’40s work truck meets Formula 1 racer for Ringbrothers’ most extreme build yet. ENYO will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Mothers booth #22357
Ringbrothers LLC – (www.ringbrothers.com) – Based in Spring Green, Wisconsin, Ringbrothers has established itself in the automotive aftermarket as a premium parts builder and world-class car designer. Among its many accolades are several Chevrolet Best in Show awards, Goodguys Street Machine of the Year awards, Mothers’ Shine awards and a SEMA Battle of the Builders win in 2019. Ringbrothers has also been featured in some of the world’s largest automotive and mainstream news outlets. Ringbrothers proudly designs, fabricates, packages and ships its products from its headquarters in the United States, focusing on quality materials, craftsmanship and customer service. Revolutionizing the way resto-mods are done, Ringbrothers continues to innovate its products and builds every year with the goal of unveiling at least one new car at each SEMA Show. Learn more about Ringbrothers products and builds at Ringbrothers.com.
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Fourteen prized vehicles from the John White/Ramshead Collection will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ January 26th Scottsdale auction.
Rear L-R 1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4; 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400; Front: 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
Bonhams
Bonhams – A trans-Atlantic trio of rare mid-century Chrysler Ghia show cars, offered from the prestigious Ramshead Collection, will bring a touch of La Dolce Vita to Bonhams in the New Year as highlights of the Scottsdale Auction on January 26, 2023.
Leading the glamorous group is the unique 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 concept car which was displayed at that year’s Torino and New York Motor Shows and most recently won a class award at the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This striking, futuristic one-off showcased what was to come in automotive design and was equipped with Chrysler’s powerful 400hp Hemi V8 powerplant.
1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400
Bonhams
This highly original and preserved example has covered just 49,000 miles with three owners from new.
Also displayed at the New York Auto Show was the 1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4, which in later life was a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance entrant. Largely hand built in Italy at Ghia’s Carrozeria, the L6.4 had a limited production run of just 26, with owners including Frank Sinatra. Stunningly preserved, this treasured collector car – one of just 17 surviving – is another low mileage example with just 33,000 miles recorded.
1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4
Bonhams
Completing the automotive triptych is the 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé, its striking turquoise over tan livery complementing its lines, inspired by Virgil Exner, the Chrysler designer known for creating the marque’s ‘Forward Look’. The elegant show car was one of nine examples produced, of which only five remain. The subject of an exceptional restoration, the GS-1 is a three-times class winner at Pebble Beach.
1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
Bonhams
The three showstoppers are the headliners of the Ramshead Collection of 14 cars, curated by the late John White of California, a renowned and respected collector and frequent exhibitor at Pebble Beach and other prominent events.
CARS OF THE JOHN WHITE/RAMSHEAD COLLECTION
1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400
1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4
1961 Chrysler 300-G Convertible
1948 Dodge D24 Custom Coupé
1953 Buick Skylark Convertible
1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1992 Wayne Davis Custom Trailer
1962 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix Convertible
1955 Chrysler Imperial Newport Hard Top
1953 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon
1949 Dodge Wayfarer Two-Door Roadster
The son of a Dodge automobile dealer, Mr. White was a ‘petrolhead’ from an early age. His childhood collection of model cars developed into the curated Ramshead collection of mid-century Americana which was kept in a private museum that resembled a showroom of the era.
The impressive collection offers 13 collector cars, representing the great names of the American automobile industry, from Buick and Cadillac to Lincoln and Ford, mostly offered at No Reserve.
The 2023 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction will be the eleventh sale hosted at the prestigious Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Arizona. Further important collector cars are being invited through December 1. Contact motors.us@bonhams.com for more details.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewelry, watches, wine and whisky. The main salesrooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com
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An in-depth look of what’s to come at the October 28-30 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance to be held at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Car Enthusiast Jay Leno Will Serve as Grand Marshal and Appear at the Event Hosted at the Only Resort Golf Course on the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance
LAS VEGAS – The third annual Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance™, one of the world’s most prestigious automotive events, debuts at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Oct. 30. The luxury automotive experience pays homage to remarkable cars of the past, present and future at Wynn Golf Club, the 129-acre championship golf course at Wynn Las Vegas.
“The Concours d’Elegance and its legendary display of design, craftmanship and grandeur is precisely the type of elevated experience that our guests will thoroughly enjoy for years to come,” said Brian Gullbrants, President of Wynn Las Vegas. “Rare and priceless automobiles displayed upon the fairways of our Wynn Golf Club is a perfect match for this annual Wynn Las Vegas event.”
Hypercars add to the excitement in 2022
A Superior Set of Supercars Join the Event’s Lineup, Some Debuting at the Resort Prior to October 28. photo – Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance
More than 60 ultra-elite hypercars join the previously-announced 2022 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance™ lineup at Wynn Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas will display a small selection of the 200 antique and contemporary vehicles being showcased during Concours weekend leading up to the event.
Many of the appearing hypercars are limited-edition, showcasing sleek and seductive design from the world’s most sought-after manufacturers – such as McLaren’s open-rooftop Elva, the Bugatti Chiron Pur R6.002, the Bugatti Divo, and the four-seater Koenigsegg Gemera, among others. Some of the featured vehicles are also traveling to Las Vegas from prestigious museum collections, including The Nethercutt Collection, Petersen Automotive Museum, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, Mullin Museum, and the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection). In addition, the event will feature four McLaren Speedtails, a must-see for any automotive enthusiast.
Now through Oct. 28, a variety of vehicles – some modern hypercars and other vintage classics – will be on display at the resort, including:
2020 McLaren Elva, named after the lightweight open-top race cars developed by Bruce McLaren. The 2020 model celebrates vintage speedsters, features an open-cockpit design and can go from 0-62 mph in under three seconds. The McLaren Elva is currently on display at Wynn’s main entrance.
2018 Bugatti Chiron, the fastest, most powerful, and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history. Each produced is one-of-a-kind. The Bugatti Chiron is currently on display outside of Jardin, in the Encore Esplanade.
1960 Maserati Tipo 61, commonly referred to as the “Birdcage” because of its then-unique light spaceframe construction when it premiered in 1959. This model is one of the most original Birdcages in existence. It will be on display in front of Terrace Pointe Café, near Wynn Golf Club, starting Oct. 19.
The Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance will also pay homage to remarkable cars of the past, present and future at Wynn Golf Club, with hypercars joining the previously-announced classes of Sports Racing, Race Cars, and more. The 2022 event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 28 with its annual gala at XS, followed by the weekend’s centerpiece exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 29. Renowned car enthusiast Jay Leno will serve as the grand marshal of the Tour d’Elegance, the grand parade of automobiles on the Las Vegas Strip that closes out the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 30.
As part of the Concours weekend experience, guests may choose from a variety of food-and-beverage experiences such as the Chairman’s VIP Tasting at the Grand Rotunda to the lively Concours Cookout. Room packages that showcase the resort’s newly re-designed accommodations are also available. For additional event information, please visit www.lasvegasconcours.com.
The lineup of weekend events will include:
The Gala Concours Dinner, kicks off festivities on Friday evening and offers live entertainment, tasting stations and curated cocktails at Wynn Las Vegas’ premier nightclub, XS. The exclusive evening will showcase the Helene Awards™, a ceremony signature to the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance that honors visionaries in the automotive industry.
The centerpiece of the weekend, the Concours d’Elegance exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 29 will display a collection of rare and unique automobiles from around the world. The event is expected to showcase more than 100 exceptional collector cars from both pre- and post-war periods. Each year, Concours d’Elegance highlights a different Marque, which is a distinctive automobile model or brand. The 2022 Marque is the Ferrari F40. The event also consists of nearly 20 judged, non-judged and contemporary classes, such as British Post-War Sports and Sports Racing, American Luxury (1925-1942), European Luxury (1925-1942), Antiques (pre-1924), Race Cars, and more. Starting at 2 p.m., an esteemed panel of judges will present Best of Show winners and standouts with the coveted Helene Award statuette.
The Chairman’s VIP Tasting on Oct. 29 is a premium lunchtime tasting experience underneath the grand rotunda on Wynn’s event lawn, and features select hosted bars alongside a range of tasting stations designed by executive chef Kelly Bianchi. Assorted tasting stations include: a sushi station with sashimi and assorted rolls; a beef tenderloin carving station; a slider station featuring Maine lobster and surf and turf, among others; a made-to-order pizza and pasta station; and a whimsical donut station.
The Concours Cookout will feature a variety of grab-and-go options and select hosted bars amid the beautiful greenery of Wynn’s event lawn, also on Oct. 29. Grab-and-go offerings include a salad and sandwich station, a kebab station, a taco bar, backyard-inspired barbecue such as wagyu beef hotdogs and a spicy fried chicken sandwich, as well as desserts like custom ice cream sandwiches and caramel corn.
Guests may also purchase a VIP experience that combines Concours d’Elegance exhibition viewing with entry to the fairway tasting tents. The Concours d’Elegance + Hosted Bar includes a selection of the fine- and casual-dining options Wynn Las Vegas is known for, as well as select beverages.
The weekend of festivities conclude on Sunday, Oct. 30 with the Tour d’Elegance, a motorcade down the famous Las Vegas Strip where Jay Leno will serve as grand marshal.
For additional event information, to buy tickets, or to apply for entry, please visit www.lasvegasconcours.com.
About Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Resorts is the recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and in 2022 was once again honored on FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas consist of two luxury hotel towers with a total of 4,748 spacious hotel rooms, suites and villas. The resort features approximately 194,000 square feet of casino space, 21 signature dining experiences, 11 bars, two award-winning spas, approximately 513,000 rentable square feet of meeting and convention space, approximately 155,000 square feet of retail space as well as two showrooms, two nightclubs, a beach club, and recreation and leisure facilities, including Wynn Golf Club, an 18-hole, 129-acre championship golf course. For more information on Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, visit press.wynnlasvegas.com.
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Editor’s note: This article was originally published on November 18, 2021.
Having an air compressor in the garage makes so many jobs easier, including the most-obvious task of inflating tires. Or footballs. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
The tire (or football) inflation in itself makes a home compressor worthwhile. Really, who wants to schlep down to the convenience store to feed quarters into their bitty machine? Yes, children, there was a time long ago when air was free.
A basic explanation of air compressor parts | Brian Elliott/Wikipedia Commons
But there are so many other chores that can be accomplished with an air compressor, particularly those involving cars, trucks and motorcycles. Compressed air provides extra muscle and versatility, and there are a myriad tools and pieces of equipment that operate efficiently via the power of air.
Compressors come in many shapes and sizes, from the massive units seen at auto shops to scaled-down versions for home use, and all the way down to small portable compressors that run on your vehicle’s 12-volt system, made specifically for filling tires.
A 6-gallon pancake compressor, good for portability | Amazon
You’ll often see contractors and construction crews on the job site equipped with small-capacity compressors capable of containing a few gallons of air generated by the attached electric pumps. These most often are used to provide immediate, short-burst power for such tools as nail guns and staplers.
For a home garage, a somewhatbigger compressor with larger capacity should be considered so that there’s more air contained in its tank for continuous use. That way, the pump motor is not constantly – and noisily – running, which also makes it wear out faster.
My garage contains a fairly typical home-garage compressor with a 25-gallon tank that can generate as much as 130 psi, runs on 120-volt house current, and draws 15 amps. Easy and convenient, it stands against the wall and, when cranked up, will fill the tank in about five minutes, with a pump that is maintenance free.
There are bigger and much-bigger compressor/tank combinations, some of which require 220 volts and sometimes special high-capacity wiring, but that’s generally overkill for the home auto hobbyist.
A space-saving vertical compressor can be easily moved around | Home Depot
I originally got my compressor (actually, a Christmas present from my dear wife) so that I could power an impact socket wrench and, of course, inflate tires and such. But compressed air can be used for so much more, as I gradually found out.
Here are a few of the things that can be done with an air compressor:
Cleaning things. With a blow-gun nozzle attached (hand actuated by a lever), high-pressurized air can be used to blow the dust and grit out of many things, including screens and filters. Most usefully, it can be used to blast out those little niches and crevasses in your car’s interior way more efficiently than a vacuum alone.
Quick-connect fittings are a must for switching tools | Home Depot
If so inclined, you can even blow dirt and leaves out the door, or clear away sawdust. I have an extra-long hose attached to my compressor, which I occasionally run into the house to blow off accumulated dust (we live in the desert). Sure, I know that’s a real Tim Allen/Tool Time (or maybe Red Green) solution, and I hope you don’t think less of me for it.
Powering pneumatic tools. Besides the aforementioned impact wrench, there’s a wide assortment of automotive hand tools that can be hooked up to the compressor, such as powered ratchet wrenches, grinders, rotary saws, sand blasters, drills, grease guns and air brushes.
An upright 20-gallon compressor would be a good choice for a garage | Craftsman tools
Some of those would require a compressor with the higher air-storage capacities. My 25-gallon unit would suffice for most. Although, running low on compressed air is a good excuse for a short beer break while the pump refills the tank.
Spray painting. Compressed air is the way to go for achieving a professional-quality paint job, from small items to entire vehicles. Practice is important, so if you’re a newbie, you might try out your nascent skill on a disposable piece, such as an old car hood from a junkyard. And don’t make the rookie mistake of trying to paint with air pressure that’s set too high. That’s a recipe for a mess. There’s plenty of detailed instructions about spray painting available online.
Pressure washing. Compressed air can be used to pump water through a specialized device to pressure wash driveways, equipment, even vehicles.
Blowing up things. OK, you can’t discuss air compressors without talking about inflation, which might be a dirty word economically these days but still the most notable use of a compressor. Car, truck and motorcycle tires would be the obvious targets, and a moderately sized compressor, at least, makes the job easier, especially with big truck tires containing large volumes of air.
But how about the other things in life that require inflation, such as that football? Or basketball, volleyball, beach ball, pool toy, etc. For the flimsier objects, such as beach balls and pool toys, a judicious use of the pressure gauge is required so that you don’t explode them.
Same with bicycle tires, which can too quickly blow up beyond their capacity because of their small air volume, especially skinny tires on lightweight road bikes, for which a regular hand pump would be the more-judicious alternative.
I’m sure you can conjure up, and most likely already have, other ways to use your air compressor. If you would like to share your ideas, add them to the comments section below.
Mercedes-Benz has several vehicles that rank at the top of automotive history, but the 300 SL “Gullwing” may be the one that wins out. The combination of styling and engineering can be seen as art to some, Andy Warhol being one. His gallerist in Germany, Hans Mayer, came up with the idea for Warhol to collaborate with Mercedes for a commissioned set of works based on its vehicles throughout history. The first one was a 1955 300 SL—this one—and now it can be yours.
This Silver Grey SL was originally purchased in Paris in August 1955, complete with blue leather interior and Rudge knock-off wheels. In 1981, it was sold to a doctor in Germany, who kept it until it was purchased in 2020 by Brabus, the German tuning company.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing”
Brabus invested more than 4,500 hours in the restoration as part of the Brabus 6-Star Restoration program, of which the company devotes hours and hours of labor combined with 40+ years of experience working with Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The result is new-car character that surpasses the condition when the vehicle was new.
So how is it known that the car in the Warhol illustration is this car? Look at the license plate, then check out an image of Warhol’s SL. German registration records link EI-DR 1 to this very vehicle before your eyes.
Sotheby’s Sealed, Sotheby’s online platform where some of the world’s most significant cars are auctioned, will handle the sale of this 300 SL starting on November 10, 2022, with bidding closing on the 17th. It is being offered without reserve, with estimates ranging from $1,500,000-3,000,000. That’s much more than the opulent Rolls-Royce Sceptre we wrote about a few days ago.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing”
Warhol only managed to finish 49 out of the 80 works for Mercedes when he unexpectedly died in 1987. Though art is a subjective medium, one would be hard-pressed to argue with Warhol’s choice to put this vehicle on canvas.
While Ford did have its own turbine program, largely focused on powering heavy-duty trucks, it was General Motors and Chrysler that put significant and long-term investments into the engine technology for automotive use, often touting it as an engine that would power the cars of the future. Chrysler arguably came closest to implementing turbines in production cars with the 1964 Ghia-bodied Turbine cars that a select few in the public got to experience first-hand before most of the cars were subsequently scrapped, and the company spent far longer investigating turbines with multiple generations of its engine design spanning several decades. But let’s not forget that GM had its own multi-generation turbine program in the Fifties, that it too looked into using turbines to power big rigs, and that GM returned to turbines in the Eighties and Nineties.
But which automaker really sold the public on the potential for turbines? To decide that question, let’s look at how they both showcased their turbine programs. The body of literature between the two certainly far exceeds one promotional video from each, but that’s just what we’re going to highlight here today, starting with GM’s introduction of its bubble topped and befinned Firebird III gas turbine-powered concept car from 1958.
GM Firebird lll Gas Turbine Car Promo Film – 1958
Then from just a few years later, Chrysler’s pronunciation that “tomorrow is today” with the Turbine.
Tomorrow Is Today, Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car (1963)
Now, before anybody wonders where Rover fits into this comparison, yes, the company also spent plenty of time investigating turbine technology for automobiles, but I’ve yet to come across any more substantial videos about the Rover gas turbines than Pathe and AP shorts. If you know of anything longer that Rover produced, send it along and I’ll add it here.
Rover T4 GAS TURBINE CAR
That said, which is the most convincing and makes you wonder why we all weren’t driving gas turbine-powered cars over the last half-century?
This 1966 Impala was refinished in metallic red with a metallic silver roof. The metallic red exterior is complemented by an aluminum grille, chrome bumpers, and full-length bodyside trim. It rides on a set of chrome reversed 14″ x 7″ U.S. Wheel Supreme wheels with chrome center cap and Remington whitewall tires.
1966 Chevrolet Impala
“The front bucket seats and the curved rear Thunderbird seat are upholstered in black vinyl,” the listing states. “Features include black vinyl rear trim and door panels with manual windows, a black center console, a floor-mounted B&M automatic transmission shifter, black carpeting, and black floor mats with Impala logos and red piping. Additional features include a chrome tilt steering column and an AM/FM touchscreen stereo with Bluetooth.”
Under the hood is 350ci V8 engine featuring an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor with an electric choke, an HEI distributor, and tube exhaust headers. The engine is dressed up with chrome valve covers, a chrome air cleaner lid, and an aluminum radiator keeps everything cool.
The engine is paired with a floor-shifted TH350 transmission.
350ci V8 engine
The sale includes a clear California title in the seller’s name. One hundred miles have been added during current ownership and the odometer reads 72K miles but the true mileage of this Impala in unknown. The listing states an oil and filter change was completed within the last two months.
The original Chevrolet Corvette with the screened-over headlamps, like this 1954 model listed for sale on Hemmings.com, has a bit of a milquetoast reputation. Though built in the then-high-tech (and lightweight!) material of fiberglass, and with lines intentionally reminiscent of the Jaguar XK-series roadster, the Corvette’s combination of 235-cu.in. Blue Flame Six and two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, even with 3.55:1 gearing, didn’t match up to the roguish promises of a two-seater that still made use of side curtains.
In fairness, Harley Earl’s purported target was not actual sports car enthusiasts, but collegiate types who wanted sporty transportation with Chevrolet convenience. It delivered that, but there weren’t enough people in its imagined niche to justify its production for long. It was only after the V-8 came along and turned it into a real contender on the burgeoning SCCA sports-car racing circuit—and the looks were re-styled to bring to mind Ferraris instead of Jaguars—that Chevrolet considered the Corvette a successful model.
Imagine this with three pedals, a floor shifter, a Stewart-Warner tachometer, and the simple horn button of a 150 passenger car. Just enough to tell the observer that there’s more going on here than a mild 235 and Powerglide.
Imagine, though, if one of those early Corvettes had been turned over to a pack of engineers with instructions to build something with some real power—a worthy American equivalent to the XK140. The standard Chevrolet three-speed at that time wasn’t sporty or robust enough to put behind the hopped-up 235 that came standard in the 1953-’54 cars, so it certainly wouldn’t have done the trick if the Corvette engine had been breathed on even harder. Four-speeds like those actually found in Jaguars (a Moss unit with an unsynchronized first gear) were expensive and exotic, but there was a robust and well-respected transmission already in the GM parts bin. Known to hotrodders as the “Cad-LaSalle ‘box,” it was a three-speed used in Cadillacs, LaSalles, and Buicks starting in 1937. In that first year, it used an integrated top shifter, making it the sought-after transmission for high-powered engines in the days before T-10 four-speeds and Hydra-Matics became the norm.
Would its 2-3 shift beat the 2-3-4 combo of a Jaguar trans? Certainly not, but it would be a lot of fun to drive compared with the Powerglide. Especially if we really went wild with the engine.
The 155hp 235 was not your typical Stovebolt six, but it was still super mild and tractable. A 12-port would wake it up.
The 155 hp 235 was an improvement over the 115 hp unit found in Chevrolet sedans, no doubt, but in the 13 years since the 235 came out, hot rodders had found numerous ways to make the Blue Flame a worthy competitor to the hopped-up flatheads that were the staple of the American performance scene in 1954. Two important names were Wayne Horning and Harry Warner, who had gotten into the business of producing 12-port (six intake/six exhaust), cross-flow cylinder heads for Chevrolet six cylinders and the large-displacement GMC “Jimmy” sixes. By 1953, the partners had gone their separate ways, but Harry Warner was still producing the Wayne 12-port for the Chevrolet engine and both men offered 12-port Jimmy heads.
A Jimmy 302 would be my first choice for this car, but it’s larger externally than the Chevy, and likely would require making some chassis mods I wouldn’t care to perform. A cammed-up 235 (or the nearly identical 261-cu.in. version) with a Wayne 12-port, three Carter YFs (they used them to feed 312-cu.in. V-8s in boats, so I think they’re up to feeding a 12-port 261), and two stainless 3-into-1 headers turning into dual exhausts with glasspack mufflers would completely turn around the attitude of the Corvette roadster.
That nose-high, speedboat stance actually looks pretty good. To contribute to the cosmetic toughness, I’d swap on body-color steel wheels, blackwalls, and the little bowtie hubcaps used on cheap Chevys.
Beyond that, I wouldn’t change things much. I’d hang the wheelcovers on the garage wall and instead paint the wheels Polo White, wrap them in blackwalls, and top them with ’52 Chevy center caps. That, along with the clutch pedal and the exhaust note would tell the complete story.
