This is a biggie…so get a
comfy seat and take your time reading it!
This edition kind of took on a life of its own! Just when I thought I had it wrapped up something else made its way in!
What a way to start off the summer! A HUGE Newsletter packed with more stuff than you can get through in one sitting!
All the articles and features are great, so don’t shortchange yourself and skip anything. Read each section in order, you can always come back later to finish up the rest! There are 12 sections, and I left a few things out for next time! (thank goodness)
I am even including a table of contents for the first time! Here it is;
Editor’s Introduction
New Advertisers
Clubs and Events
Special Promotional Discounts
Cruise Nights
Guest Writer’s Columns
Andy Vourlos
Lou Refano
Rich’s Tech Tips
My Car Story
The Archive
Editor’s Closing
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Gas We
all have it…no...not that kind.
Gasoline I should say. Fuel. Petrol. Go Juice.
Where would our cars be without it?
In a word…..parked.
While we are all at the whims of world producers, import/exporters, organizations, governments, politicians, oil companies, (yes the list goes on and on), and even your “friendly” local neighborhood retailer; we can still have some kind of power if we all band together and try to do something about the prices.
I am sure most of you have seen or heard about all of those internet petition messages that have circulated the last few years regarding boycotting certain retailers. If you haven’t here’s the gist of it:
The idea is, that if we ALL refuse to buy ANY GAS WHATSOEVER at ANY TIME from Exxon/Mobil, they will have no choice but to lower their prices in order to sell any to the public. Then at some pre-determined level, say $1.50 per gallon, everyone would start to visit them again. In turn, all other retailers would then have to lower their prices to compete.
Sound interesting doesn’t it? Even plausible!
When you think about it, it would probably work! The countries largest oil manufacturer/retailer couldn’t afford to just sit on their product. After all, it’s a supply and demand consumer world!
We demand it adinfinitum, they supply it. When we demand too much or the supply is lower than normal, they raise prices. Sometimes dramatically! (We know that as Gouging)
Simple economics.
Conversely, if they supply it, and we DON’T demand it, they will be sitting on vast quantities of it. That in turn will make their heads spin and tempers flare! Executives, marketers, and even the politicians that are in their pockets will scream, rant, and rave about all their lost tens of millions of dollars every day!
What will they do?
Well, they will have no choice, they will lower their price to make their product more appealing than the next guy’s.
Then, when WE the consumer feel their price is something that we wish to pay, we will then buy it again.
Of course at that point, all the other retailers selling at say, $2.00+ a gallon will have to drop their prices to compete.
Hey…just like the neighborhood store that nobody shops at. If they want to stay in business and attract customers what do they do? They have a SALE!!!
I know, I know, you all are thinking “What will that accomplish? They’ll just raise their prices again once we start buying it!”
Oh contraire!
The minute they raise it past the $1.50/gallon price we STOP buying it instantly and go to the other retailers only!
Exxon/Mobil will have NO CHOICE but to lower their prices and keep them down (or buy up every other gas retailer in the country) if they want to do business!
Then when we buy at Exxon/Mobil, all the nearby retailers will have to lower their prices to compete as well.
Think about it. Really think about it. In numbers there is power.
Now,
on a more local level….
Another thing we have all seen, is when on the SAME DAY different retailers of the SAME BRAND sell their gas for DIFFERENT PRICES. In some case…drastically different!
That is another form of gouging the public. It can go unnoticed. Not by me, I notice almost everything. (That’s why my head rattles around sometimes.)
Let me qualify the above sentence:
It is not always gouging, as they have every right to dictate their own prices. If they are within a couple of cents of each other we can live with it. After all, one place might sell 20,000 gallons per day while another one sells only 2,000. Or it might be simpler such as the guy across the corner selling it for a few cents less, so he matches their prices, and the guy elsewhere has no such competition to keep up with.
But……and it’s a big but….
Many a time the retailers are indeed FAR apart in what they charge. I have seen this constantly and it really irks me.
For example:
(These are actual numbers)
On January 4th, 2005, I drove around to check the prices at several Gulf dealers in my area. Here’s what I found;
I started my trip in New Hyde Park.
At the intersection of New Hyde Park Road and Marcus Avenue the guy was selling regular for $1.83 a gallon.
At the corner of Hillside, Denton, and Marcus Avenues in NHP, the guy was selling his regular for $1.83 a gallon.
Next I passed a Gulf station on route 25a in the Brookville Area. He was selling his regular for $1.93 gallon. That’s 10 cents higher!! Big difference! If you buy 20 gallons worth you forked over an extra 2 bucks!! Multiply that by all the cars he gets a day, and he is raking it in!
Wait!! It gets better!
Correction… it gets worse!!!
I continued my trip eastward on 25a, then turned north on Route 106. In Oyster Bay the Gulf station was selling his regular for $2.05 a gallon!! Holy crap!! What a rip off!! Twenty two cents higher EACH gallon!
Finally, I entered Bayville, the Gulf station there had the ultimate insult to me, his regular gas was priced the highest of all at a whopping $2.07 a gallon!!!
I felt my wallet sucked clean as I drove past!
That’s 24 cents a gallon higher than the New Hyde Park Gulfs!!!! C’mon!! There is NO explanation for that whatsoever except gouging pure and simple! I guarantee you he does not pay 24 cents a gallon more for his gas than the NHP guys do!
If you buy 20 gallons worth you forked over an extra $4.80!! That’s almost 5 bucks a tank extra!!
Multiply that by all the cars he sees in a day and you can bet your asphalt he is raking it in!
Any other towns out there (small or large) getting ripped by gas prices? Let us know!!
We’ll do a comparative expose about it!
Filling up a 20 gallon tank with regular at Gulf in New Hyde Park on that January day would have cost you $36.60.
Filling up a 20 gallon tank with regular at Gulf in Bayville on that same January day would have cost you $41.40
So
here’s my idea;
What I’d like to do in addition to some comparisons as I mentioned, is to have all of you out there in reader and car land,
e-mail in the BEST prices you can find. The lowest at major branded stations. Let us know where we can go to save a few bucks and not get fleeced on a daily basis!
We will post these prices (only high-test of course) and perhaps we can visit those local guys and let them know with a simple thanks that we appreciate them and will patronize their establishments.
We’ll post their prices on Long Island Classic Cars.com and tell them about it!
Again, numbers = power!!
Perhaps eventually we will find a local merchant who will give a discount to anyone coming in with a vintage car!
Not a bad business decision to make!
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Please take note of our new advertisers:
Auto Restorations of
Long Island.
Here
is a company that does it all! Fabrication, metal work, custom design, repair,
restoration, modifications, paint, interiors, driveline, and ….well you get the
idea! They do race, street, custom, and classics. Give them a call and get down
there to check out their work! You’ll be pleased. Tell them Long Island Classic
Cars.com sent you!
Appel Auto Service.
Run
by an enthusiast with 40 years experience, these folks will take the ultimate
care of your car while it is there. No worries man! They wear covers on their
clothes to protect your ride, and they have a dedicated area for the specialty
cars! Pride and workmanship….a nice
combination! Tell them Long Island Classic Cars.com sent you!
___________________________________________________
Clubs and Events
More car clubs are listing their events, meetings, cruises, and shows for the current season.
You can check them out in the EVENTS section on the main page of the
website. http://www.liclassiccars.com
There are over 400 of them now!!
If you are in a car club, get your club and your stuff listed ASAP! The sooner it is up on the site and everyone has access to it, the more people will plan on attending your events! Remember to list your rain-dates as well.
They are all featured in the CLUBS section of the main page of the website!
http://liclassiccars.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi?
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Here are some special deals and offers from some of our advertisers!
Ahhh… summer is finally here (almost) and our cars our out in their
glory. We thought it would be a good time to re-acquaint you with what these
folks offer when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com.
All of these businesses below advertise on Long Island Classic Cars.com
in the underlined section of the website.
Let’s start with TRANSPORTATION.
When you buy that new car or sell one of yours, Phil at ABRO MOTORSPORTS is offering special rates for those who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com! He has all new equipment, fully enclosed, insured, and door to door service by the owner himself!
Call him for a free quote today!
Mike at S&S ULTIMATE AUTO TRANSPORTING has been serving liclassiccars.com readers since last year and he has reported some nice business from you folks. Call him and mention us for a very nice rate to go along with his very nice service!
Hmmm….maybe you are buying something to add to the fleet!? In that case check the INSURANCE section.
Call VEHICLE APPRAISERS NETWORK. Dave Smith is an accredited appraiser of the International Appraisers Network. What that means is that his services are reliable and accepted by major members of the collector car market. If you need an appraisal of your car, or an experienced and accurate assessment of a specialty or classic vehicle that you are considering purchasing, Dave is the guy you should call upon. Don’t make that purchase without a professional appraisal! Spend a little now to save thousands later!! Tell him he was recommended by liclassiccars.com!!
For good rates, and more importantly; great service, check out THE RASKIN GROUP. Ask for Ray and tell him we sent ‘ya! They will help you out and give free quotes with no obligation.
Perhaps you need a little monetary help with that new purchase? Go to the FINANCE section and see…..
Keith Adler at CLASSICAUTOLOANS.COM. Tell him you saw his ad on liclassiccars.com and he will certainly help you out! He specializes in all kinds of classic, exotic, and luxury car loans.
Also try Jim at CLASSIC CAR FINANCIAL. He can help you if your
credit is less than perfect. They finance classic and modern machinery.
How about PARTS for your springtime freshening up?
The folks at A&M AUTOMOTIVE HARDWARE have all the auto body supplies, hardware, and specialty tools you could need. They are giving 10% off when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. They also carry the Wizard product line.
Call or go to PARTS AUTHORITY. They have everything automotive and locations throughout the area! They are giving 10% off to all who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Get your repair, maintenance, and performance parts all in one place!
AUTOMOTIVE UNLIMITED has a huge selection and stock of classic and modern day parts. Give them a call and ask for Eric or Dave.
Is your radiator or cooling system steaming you up? Then Bill Carberry at CLASSIC HEATERS and CAP-A-RADIATOR SHOP is the one man who has what you need! Whether it is parts, service, or a custom build, this guy does it all. Mention liclassiccars.com for a discount that will certainly cool you off!
How about some NOS, reconditioned, or used parts for your Chevrolet vehicle? Don at EAST COAST RESTORATIONS and RESTO TRIM is offering 10% off now through the end of May when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Minimum $100 purchase. He can give you the parts you need, or refurbish yours to showroom new condition! Don also does beautiful work on vehicles. Stock, modified, or custom, he does it all!
If you need Mopar parts, HERBEE DODGE is giving 5% off when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Whether you need resto, performance, or daily driver parts, call or visit them. They are a great bunch of guys in the parts department! Ask for Bob or Ronnie.
More GM stuff you say? DAVE’S GM PARTS is also offering 10% off for all who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. He has three (3) warehouses full of parts! Dave also owns and operates BANNER ROD & CUSTOM. I have seen his work and man his cars are scary fast! He performs surgery on all types of cars, whether you want repairs, fabrications, customizing, restorations, engine or chassis building, paint and body, dyno-tuning, and more!! Again mention Long Island Classic Cars.com for 10% off any work! That can be a monstrous savings for restorations and custom work!
Need some RESTORATION or REPAIR?
APPEL AUTO SERVICE is operated by a classic car nut! He is more protective of your cars than you are! Call him, get free quotes on all types of work. Tell him LI Classic Cars.com sent you and he’ll take car of you and your car for sure!
Jan at ELITE COACHWORKS takes tremendous pride in his work. He can make your modern, classic, or anything else look gorgeous! He has good prices, turnaround time, and most important he is a quality guy to deal with! Tell him LI Classic Cars.com sent you and get a discount as well!
Try AL & SELWYN. Paul is a serious pro at classic car and performance mechanical work. He takes great care with your vehicle and has a true interest in the art. He offers great prices and service to begin with, but mention Long Island Classic Cars.com for a nice discount.
You don’t have to be nuts to be CAMARO CRAZY. But you must be nuts if you don’t visit Anthony and Ken for your Camaro and other muscle car needs! These guys do repairs, restorations, and custom building of all kinds of cars. They are offering 10% off on all labor costs for any kind of work when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Sweet deal!
STREETSIDE RESTORATIONS specializes in fabricating, roll cages, and complete restorations! Tell Christian that liclassiccars.com sent you! He will take care of you and your ride.
You saw them mentioned above for your transportation needs, however Mike also owns S&S ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE. They specialize in 55-57 Chevy’s, but also do work on all kinds of specialty vehicles. Tell him we sent you! Mike’s a real nice guy too!
BARNWELL HOUSE of TIRES offers a nice 10% discount to folks who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. They do all kinds of front end, suspension, and mechanical work in a very neat and modern facility. They also can “hook you up” with a new set of stickies for your vehicle at a great price!
Many of our readers have foreign cars that need love too! Lou Palumbo at GULLWING MOTORS INC. is THE specialist to see for all your repairs on British, Italian, German, and other foreign car makes. They have over 25 years experience! Tell them you saw their ad on liclassiccars.com and they will take care of you and your car with “kid gloves”.
Paul Rawden who sells and restores vintage license plates is now also offering a duplication service. If you have one good plate and the other one is damaged or even lost, Paul can duplicate the good one for you so you have a full set again! How about that?!
Warm weather means top down cruising! Just in time, Jim at PHOENIX AUTO INTERIORS is offering 10% off on convertible top repairs and replacements! Just mention Long Island Classic Cars.com and he’ll have your car ready for the road in style!
Another professional upholstery shop is RP INTERIORS. They do many of the custom and classic rides you may have seen at the shows. Tell Rich you saw his ad on liclassiccars.com. They do cars, boats, bikes, even airplanes!
And what’s better than driving with the top down and the radio on?! Nothing if you ask me! The problem is most of us don’t have a good working radio and speakers. Robert at ELLIOT’S CAR RADIO can fix your “box” and speakers and have you driving and singing along with the music. (Hopefully that’s a good thing.) He is offering free shipping on your radio purchases and/or repairs for the month of April. Just make sure you tell him Long Island Classic Cars.com sent you!
While you’re parked or driving, THE REFELECTED IMAGE can ensure that you properly see where you are going and what’s around you! They are offering 10% off on all mirror restoration, customizing, and re-silvering! What that means is simple: if your rear or side view mirrors are cloudy or gray, they can make them brand new again! They also create stock and wild custom etchings and graphics for any kind of ride!
Want some collectible or show stopping AUTOMOBILIA? Check the PARTS-BUSINESS AD section.
Alan at CARZIGNS is offering free shipping on all custom made signs for your pride and joy! These are the highest quality show signs out there and he offers a design service that no one else does! Put your orders in now for the show season!
Just make sure to mention LI Classic Cars.com for the free shipping! (By the way, his design service is outstanding! I know, he did a beautiful sign for my ’69 Super Bee that you may have seen at the shows.)
TOYS TOYS TOYS! Who can have enough? Not me! Call DIECAST MUSCLE. They have one of the largest stock of die cast items that includes ultra-rare and limited edition models you can’t find anywhere else. I have many of their items and their service is fantastic! Ask for Mark or Dave. They will give you free shipping if you mention you saw their ad on liclassiccars.com and spend $100 bucks. Good deal!
How about these great deals!! Just don’t wait folks, some of these
offers are for a limited time only!
Brought to you by Long Island Classic Cars.com
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2005
Cruise Night location updates:
TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69th Road, Forest Hills, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots
TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY
Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
WEDNESDAYS: Long John Silver's/A&W. Union Blvd, South of Sunrise Hwy. West Islip, NY.
Public gathering
WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s. LIE South Service Rd at Exit 62. Holtsville, NY.
Sponsored by The Fabulous 50’s & 60’s Car Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY
Sponsored by Still Cruisin’ Car Club
FRIDAYS: Huntington Shopping Center. (Toys R Us) Route 110. South of Jericho Tpk. Huntington, NY.
Sponsored by Greater NY Region of the A.A.C.A.
SATURDAYS: *AM Cruise* Steve’s Collision. 618 North Bicycle Path. Port Jefferson Station, NY.
Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.
SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots
SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.
Public gathering.
SATURDAYS: King Kullen Shopping Center. William Floyd Pkwy. North of Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.
Public gathering.
More Cruise Night updates as they develop in the next Newsletter.
Be sure to check the EVENTS page daily!!
http://liclassiccars.com/cgi-bin/events.cgi?
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GUEST WRITER(S)
COLUMN(S)
Andy Vourlos returns this month. He writes a great article
of a nostalgic nature. This will hit home with most of you. It’s about the
Bellmore Cruise Nights we used to enjoy for many years. It’s a nice personal
take on it from a real car guy.
Lou Refano gives us the last column of his Independent’s
series. Another well written, informative, and enjoyable read! Thanks Lou for a
terrific series! Wonder what you’ll come up with next?
“Rich’s Tech Tips” Leave it Rich to have
perfect timing! Summer is here, and he has some great advice about cooling your
ride! You can’t get free and expert advice like this anywhere else!
In this month’s “My
Car Story” feature, Elliot Weiner tells the amusing tale of
his 1976 Thunderbird “Cream & Gold Edition”. A nice car that has won many
awards. You don’t see many of these around!
Enjoy…
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“You Going to Bellmore Friday Night?”
by Andrew N. Vourlos
How many times did I ask that question to fellow gearheads? I can’t remember, it was so many.
The first time I passed it, I was in awe. I was rolling down Sunrise Highway when I caught my first glimpse of chrome, and lots of it. Hoods were up, trunks were up. There were crowds of people. A friend of mine had told me about this mystical place. He would say, “Yeah, hotrods keep coming in even as the train stops to let people off from the city. It’s nuts.”. So you know I had to go.
For those of you who remember, or have heard the stories, I
am referring to the glory days of Friday Night Cruisers’ cruise-in at the
Bellmore Long Island Railroad (LIRR) station in
When I bought my ’74 Charger in February of 1998, I couldn’t
wait for Spring to begin, because that meant
Thursday night; one day till
Friday morning; B-day.
I’d take the Charger to work, one of the few times that she would
actually make an appearance there. The
plan would be to leave around
The ride to the train station would be loaded with
anticipation. Would I see anyone else
cruising down the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to
Between
It always seemed like some groups had their favorite (and regular) places to park. The “Mopar Contingent”, as I would call it, would line up to take spots against the guardrail that lined the westbound side of Sunrise Highway. I will always remember a few special Mopars that would arrive early, like a blue 1971 Barracuda with a white interior, Weld wheels, and a 4 speed. Another was a beautiful, gold 1966 Satellite with a 4 speed. Funny thing about Mopar guys, they like to park together by body code. For instance, the E-bodies (1970-1974 Barracudas and Challengers) would all want to be next to one another. The B-bodies were the other group, myself included. Road Runners, Super Bees, Chargers, Satellites, Coronets, would line up in our own clusters. Being a completely stock and unrestored, 27,000 mile, 318 2-barrel Charger, I think I didn’t fit in too well with the Mopar “muscle” crowd. That was OK by me; I usually had a good time hanging with anyone. I enjoyed the comments from many passersby that would identify with my car by saying, “Hey, I used to have one of those.”. By far, the “muscle” versions of everyday cars were the rarity, and although they are entirely deserving of all the attention they got, it’s nice once and awhile to see a well-preserved example of what was daily transportation for most of us folks.
Cars from every decade and nationality would be at
It was truly a car party. People would be out in their canvas “director” chairs, congregated around their cars. Hoods up, engines and memorabilia on display. Who could forget the fellow with the ’70 Road Runner that he owned since new, with the blown big block sticking out of the engine compartment, sans hood, big Mickey T’s on the back. It was his baby, and he always parked it in the same spot (center row, about 3 spaces from the main turn). I forgot its original color, but one year he painted it bright yellow. Those of you who know, know.
The local food establishments loved us. Girlie-girls would come out with coupons, or take orders for pizza from the pizza place just down a ways. The deli would start grilling hamburgers and hotdogs outside. You’d wish Friday night could go on forever. It was heaven. It was American.
Sounds like a great story, huh? It was true, all true. And I wish it had a happy ending. Unfortunately, the ending to this story is a
sad one. I don’t know exactly how it
happened and why. Everyone I talked to had a different story, but it had to do
with the permit no longer in effect to hold a cruise meet at the
It ended just like that for me. The party was over. It was no longer a discussion topic amongst
us gearheads. Friday cruise nights
became something of a ‘twilight zone”.
Little cruise meets started up here and there;
Cheers, old friend.
Andy
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Independents' Day, Part 6 of
a series...1953-56 Studebaker
by Louis Refano
Those poor independent carmakers...in their day they just never got enough
respect. Even when they produced landmark designs, at the end of the day
they were still "Second-Tier" instead of "Big Three".
However, time has been kind to the independents...over the last two decades,
they are getting their due by collectors who are fiercely loyal to their
brands' uniqueness, quirkiness, underdog appeal, or just because they want to
drive something different. And as I learned last Sunday, no group of
independent car fans can claim more loyalty than fans of Studebaker motor cars.
And why shouldn't they? Yes, Studebaker was an independent
carmaker. But it also was the most popular independent, because their
management had vision and daring. It started in '47 with the all-new
envelope bodies that startled the auto industry.
Legendary creative designer Raymond Loewy, assisted by another brilliant
designer, Virgil Exner, created the first completely redesigned cars soon after
the end of World War II. These cars were low, sleek, and mostly
slab-sided except for the rear fenders. They were also more
space-efficient and modern compared to the old-style, big-fendered cars from
the competition. They caught the Big
Three completely off-guard. These '47s were actually introduced in April
1946; it would be two years before GM, Ford, and Chrysler would bring out their
new designs. The ads proclaimed, "Your dream car is here and in
production." They created a sensation. The Starlight coupe
with a large four-piece wraparound rear window was a fresh new approach,
although some folks joked that they couldn't tell if the car was coming or
going. With this car Studebaker was also the first independent
carmaker to offer a postwar overhead-valve V-8. Then the 1950 models were
introduced in August of '49. These were called "The Next
Look"...they were the same basic body shells, including the Starlight
coupe, but they featured a bullet nose designed by Bob Bourke. This car
helped Studebaker set a new sales record...320,884 units for the 1950 model
year. Some people still sneered at the strange styling (once again,
Studebaker was Rodney Dangerfield and got no respect by the masses) but the
dealers were happy. '51 saw a slight revision in the front end but sales
were still strong, despite material shortages caused by the Korean War. Studebaker hoped to have an all-new model
ready for '52, the company's 100th anniversary, but Loewy's design team had
trouble finalizing the model. So they reworked the '51 and substituted
the bullet nose for a more conventional twin grille. However, the delay
in bringing to market an all-new car would be fortuitous.
A masterpiece was just around the corner.
First, some background. In late 1950, Loewy told Bourke to come up with a
show car to get the company some publicity, much like the LeSabre show car did
for GM (see "The Man in the Hat" in the liclassiccars.com
archive). Loewy set up a competition among Studebaker's designers for the
show car, and what an all-star roster that was! They included Holden
"Bob" Koto who was the principal designer of the '49 Ford; Albrecht
Von Goertz who would serve up the first Datsun 240-Z; Bob Andrews who did the
trendsetting '48 Hudson and the unique '63 Avanti; and Vince Gardner who helped
create the revolutionary '36 Cord. Chief designer Bourke took ideas from
each and added them to his own design, to produce the car that would become one
of the most celebrated designs of the 1950s...the 1953 Studebaker coupe.
Studebaker's president, Harold Vance, took a great interest in the "show
car" and pushed for it to go into production. The result was a
sporty car with an unusually low 56.3" height, about seven inches lower
than the typical 1952 2-door. The car also had a down-thrusting nose and
headlights, and canted taillamps inspired by the Lockheed Constellation
airliner. The sides of the car featured a distinctive curved L-shaped
crease from the back of the headlight to just ahead of the back of the front
door, similar to what Mustang would have a decade later. Chrome trim was
restrained. The dashboard featured four gauges at steering wheel
level. Advertising called it "The
European Look". The coupe won several design awards including The
Fashion Academy Gold Medal for outstanding design and distinctive
styling. The hardtop coupe was called the Starliner, the pillared coupe
was the Starlight. They were sold under the Champion (low end) and
Commander (higher priced) model names. In the Champion line you could
have selected (in ascending price order) a Custom, DeLuxe or Regal. The
Commander came in DeLuxe, Regal and Land Cruiser sedan versions.
In addition to the sport coupes there were also 2-door and 4-door sedans
offered which used a taller body and a shorter wheelbase; the sleek profile of
the coupe didn't seem to work as well on these sedans. Because of this
consumers were clamoring for coupes; demand for the Starlight and Starliner
topped the sedans four-to-one, to the surprise of Studebaker executives. The
design team did have a mock-up for a low-slung four-door, but unfortunately, it
was rejected early in the game. Had it gone through to production, the
overall sales might have set another record as it was a decade ahead of its
time in classic sportiness.
Another sure-fire winner would have been a convertible, and the factory
produced one prototype but this style was also overlooked for production.
In the engine department, Champions featured a 170-cubic-inch L-head six, while
Commanders came with a 120 hp OHV V-8.
For '54 the cars were basically unchanged except for vertical lines in the
grilles, flush taillight lenses and other minor trim changes. Brakes were
also made larger, and the V-8 was tweaked to 127 hp. Also, a new 2-door
station wagon called Conestoga was introduced, in DeLuxe and Regal trims, named
after the Conestoga wagons of the 1850's that Studebaker had built before they
were an automobile manufacturer.
The '55s also used the same basic bodies but had still more powerful
engines. The names Starlight and Starliner were dropped (they were simply
called the coupe and hardtop now), and the Land Cruiser became the President
State. The President series' top-of-the-line coupe was the
Speedster. It came with a 185-hp V-8, twin exhausts with special
extensions, an engine-turned instrument panel, leather upholstery and wire
wheel covers along with available tri-tone or
tri-level two-tone exterior color schemes, including lemon/lime and
pink/black. The Studebaker marketing department pushed for a lot more
chrome on the '55 cars to compete with GM. Studebaker Marketing VP Ken
Elliott felt that Buick's success had a lot to do with its big chrome-happy
grille and chrome side spears, so he convinced Vance and Loewy to apply it with
abandon (check out the '55 sedan pic). Midway in the '55 model year, also
following GM's lead, sedans went to a wraparound windshield.
For '56 the coupe design evolved into the handsome quartet of coupe models
called Hawks. Studebaker called them "family sports
cars". All had a new square grille and hood scoop. Underneath
they had new engines with impressive power. The top-of-the-line Golden
Hawk carried a 352-cubic-inch V-8, borrowed from Packard, that produced 275
hp. The Sky Hawk had a 289-cid V-8 with 210 or 225 hp. The Power
Hawk held a 259 V-8 making 170/185 hp, and rounding out the line was the Flight
Hawk six cylinder. Golden Hawks and Sky Hawks were hardtops; Power Hawks
and Flight Hawks were pillared coupes.
A big issue associated with the '53s was the spotty build quality issues and
chassis flex because of 13-gauge steel used rather than the normal
11-gauge. This was corrected in '54, but
Studebaker's image for build quality took a major hit. The '54s through
'56s proved to be extremely reliable and fun to drive (I base that on several
discussions I've had over the years with folks who owned these). The
original Starliner/Hawk body stayed in production until '62, when it was
replaced by a more modern looking restyle
by Brooks Stevens.
-----------------------
Tom Portesy is the owner of the
two-tone blue '54 Studebaker Champion Starlight coupe you see pictured
here. He's one of those loyal Studebaker owners I mentioned earlier; in
fact he owns THREE '54 Studebakers! He purchased this one in 1968, and
was considering hot-rodding it until he drove by Marjorie Post Park in
Massapequa one day in 1970, and saw a gathering of old Studebakers. He
realized then, hey, there are other people who like these cars! So he
restored it in '72, and one of his fondest memories of the car is the day he
brought his daughter home from the hospital in '75. 
Tom has driven the car twice to South Bend,
Indiana, the former home of Studebaker, for national meets. Once in South
Bend, he went over to the old Studebaker building. There he ran into Nate
Altman, a former Studebaker dealer who bought the tooling for the Studebaker
Avanti and produced that model himself from 1964 on. Altman had bought
the building and was basically having a garage sale of in-the-box factory fresh
Studebaker parts. Tom was able to buy a bunch of new old stock parts for
his ride, including a new '55 Studebaker motor for $120! As you can see, Tom's car is a remarkably
clean, handsome departure from typical '50s motoring. It's easy to
understand, if you are familiar with cars of that era, why this car was such a
revelation back in '54.
Wait, this is a story about an independent with a HAPPY ENDING! (sort of)
It's true that Studebaker ended production in 1966 in Canada, but the name is
back! That fellow Nate Altman, whom I mentioned above, bought the rights,
tooling, equipment etc. from Studebaker and built Avantis until 1982, when the
company was sold to Stephen Blake. Since then the company has had a few
different owners, and today is known as the Avanti Motor Corporation. 
They produce an Avanti coupe,
convertible and a brand-new SUV called Studebaker. The Avanti Studebaker XUV, as it's known,
comes with your choice of 6.0 liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel, or 6.8 liter
Triton V10. The V8 Turbo Diesel produces 325 hp and 560 ft.-lb. of
torque, while the V10 is rated at 310 / 425. This massive truck as a
height of 85.5" and a curb weight of 5900 lbs. As you can see this
is a serious truck. Welcome back, Studebaker!
For more info see avantimotors.com. Long live independent thinking!
Sources: www.avantimotors.com, Collectible Automobile magazine, Cars of the
Fabulous Fifties by James M. Flammang and the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide,
The Dream Machine by Jerry Flint
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Join
the Fan Club – Shopping for an Electric Cooling Fan
By Rich Fiore
Well the weather is finally beginning to act like it is supposed to. No
Spring and just downright hot. With these warmer temps its not too soon to
talk about the possibility of overheating, especially if you like to put the
ride in parades or dare to venture out to the beach with your
classic. Since hot happens, an electric cooling fan may be your
solution there hot rodder.
So one
needs to know what to look for when shopping for a fan.
Like what size, features and construction you might
want. Keep in mind, bigger is not always better. To start off; a
cooling fan is good for additional cooling up to speeds of about 40 MPH.
Anything faster you should have sufficient air flow. A 14" fan usually
works well in most vehicles but it is more so the efficiency that really
counts. It will not fix a cooling problem that takes place at highway speeds
There could be an internal ( maybe mechanical ) problem. So the trick is to
balance what you need at low speed and not block off too much flow at high
speed.
Placement
is crucial. Ideally the fan should be placed on the upper third of the radiator
since it is the hottest at this point. On cross flow radiators where the
radiator is wider than tall, two 8" fans might work better than one
14". Less radiator core would be blocked with more air flow across the
top.
Electric
fans are usually advertised using CFM ( cubic feet per minute ) as their
rating. Those numbers are good sales tools but not a true indicator of the
final output. It depends on how thick your radiator is, the number and
arrangement of tubes, and fins per inch. A fan that delivers 1600
CFM might only have a flow rate of 1100 after installed.
As
far as construction goes, ball bearing motors are the most durable. They will
last longer and draw less current than the bushing type. Fan blades obviously
effect efficiency. More is usually better. 10 blade fans are usually the norm.
A more aggressive pitch will require a larger motor, but move more air and make
more noise.
Fans
can be mounted 2 different ways. Fans on the engine side are known as pullers
and are about 20% more efficient than the pusher type. Some can be reversible.
The puller type are used to replace an existing fan when there is limited
space. Along with fan pitch there are different blade shapes. Straight blade
fans are best but can be noisy. The "S" blade fans are usually a
little quieter. Mounting is also important. Some use nylon ties that slide
between the cores. To me that is not the way to go. It can wear down the core
and you know what that means ... there goes your prom night.
Use
the supplied bracket or get creative.
When
it comes to electric fan thermostats I'm not a big fan ( how ironic ) of using
them. First off, its one more thing to go wrong and have to troubleshoot. I
would rather turn it on and off and be in control of the situation. If you
insist on using one; electric fan thermostats can be mounted in the block
( via a tee for the engine temperature sending unit ) or can be installed
in the radiator which I don't recommend..
Finally,
remember you can keep your ride running cooler with the basics. Like a clean
cooling system with new coolant, proper thermostat ... you may want
to drop the temp for summer use. Changing the number of blades on
your water pump which varies the rate of flow, making sure there is a spring in
the lower hose, a good pressure cap, clean radiator core, and the proper fan
shroud. Keep in mind if you have a thermostatic type of fan, make sure it is
working with no leaks!
If
all else fails you can always turn up the heat. (Big smile.)
Smoke
‘em if you got
‘em!
Quick and Dirty : When was the last time you cleaned and straightened your radiator cooling fins and installed that coolant recovery tank you have been meaning to get to ?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Elliot Weiner:
1976 Ford Thunderbird - Cream & Gold Edition
A Sad Story with a Happy Ending,
And We All Like Happy Endings
Once upon a time in the small village of Weinerville (not be confused with the Kids TV Show) there was a big white bird in need of a nip, and tuck. So the old bird keeper (emphasis on old) took the bird to the local body shop, with the premise of repairing or replacing many, many parts.
All kidding aside folks, I bought my first 1976 Thunderbird in 1988. It was triple white, with only 44,000 miles on its big body, and the odyssey began. In the first year of existence not too many problems, but don’t get too comfy, because we have not come to the good part yet. To give you an idea how many repairs were made from 1989 and on; a close friend of mine nicknamed the car “The Great White Sponge”. Also the car was at the repair shop so often that people thought I worked there.
In 1991 with guidance of another good friend of mine (Let’s call him Uncle Bob) I entered my first car show, and now the story goes into warp phase. The car became a typical old Ford: Fix Or Repair Daily, or Found On Road Dead. At the end of the year 2000, I think I had almost $40,000 invested. Yep $40,000. And my left lung.
The car had many cosmetic repairs done to it (quarters and fenders replaced, holes steel patched) I’m sure your getting the big picture now. Time to repaint the bird, but let’s pick a place that will make it look like new. Enter Uncle Bob again with a suggestion to use his guy. So at this point in time we are ready to enter THE BLACK HOLE. So six weeks, and twenty five hundred dollars into the paint job, the place goes belly up. Enter Uncle Bob one more time, and another suggestion. How about taking the car to a guy who owes me a favor and it will not cost you any more money. Now the key word here money.
So we are off to Fast Eddies body shop, and of course you realize I cannot use their real name for fear of reprisal. So I was introduced to Eddy, and he assured me it will be finished and back to me before Richard Nixon gets elected again. Well it’s been three years, and it’s still not done. Many excuses and I believe the car has become an Ingmar for him. You know in life, they say you learn by your mistakes. I have.
Now the good news, enter the new bird. With depression running at high tide I decided to start looking around for another Thunderbird. I had retired a few months earlier, and had some money left from my buy out funds, so I was ready. I subscribe to Old Cars Weekly, and in the May 30, 2002 issue on the back page was a full color ad from Duffy’s Collectables in Cedar Rapids Iowa. There it was a 1976 Cream and Gold Edition Thunderbird for sale with only 35,500 original miles on it. It was a California car, and sold at an estate sale in Arizona, and then bought by Duffy’s.
I bought this car from e-mails, and phone conversations. The cost was close to $10,000, with another thousand to ship it. I gave a $500.00 deposit over the phone, and the car was delivered to my front door three weeks later. I was the second owner, the car was originally from San Diego, and it was loaded. Climate control air, cruise, 8 track stereo, 460 under the hood, and it was in great shape. It even came with previous owners expired California license plates.
Hey, I paid $10,000, and have put another $5,000 in it to keep it alive (That is equivalent to your right lung). It has been to the last three ITC conventions, and placed first all three times. It has also been to the last three North Jersey shows, placing first in 2004, and beating out a perennial first place winner every year. (Boy was he upset). The license plate reads “1 Big Bird “, its weighs almost 5,000 pounds, loves gas stations, and only the good stuff. Its hood is so long you could land a small plane on it! And it is my pride and joy.
Yes, I miss my white one; it gave me a lot of good memories. The static parade in Dearborn in 2000 at the annual ITC convention. In the 1996 June issue of Hemmings Motor News, right smack on the color page, and its picture again in “T-Bird 45 years of Thunder” book. I even had a wooden seven foot Big Bird build for my car shows, and it folded in half for transportation. Well I’m done, stick a fork in me, and see you soon.
Peace
___________________________________________________
Here
is where you can access previous editions of the Long Island Classic Cars
Online Newsletter.
October 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct03.html
November 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov03.html
December 2003
http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec03.html
January 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan04.html
February 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb04.html
March 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar04.html
April 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr04.html
May 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May04.html
June 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun04.html
July 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul04.html
August
2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug04.html
September 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep04.html
October 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct04.html
November 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov04.html
January 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan05.html
February 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb05.html
March 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar05.html
April 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr05.html
May 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May05.html
You
can also access the previous Newsletters through a link on the main page of the
website.
___________________________________________________
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed this edition! It was probably our largest and longest to date!
In May’s Newsletter I asked for someone to step forward and write a column for us regarding Car Shows for the summer season. So far no takers. Anyone out there with some interest? Simple to do; just write some articles about the shows you attend and the cruise nights if you like. Put it together once a month for three months. I’ll edit it, you don’t have to be an English major or professional writer.
Don’t forget…lets get some feedback about those gas prices too!
June is upon us! Make the most of the summer. Enjoy your cars, families, and friends.
And stop by and say hello if you see us out there!
Pete Giordano
Long Island Classic Cars.com