Its
March!
Almost time!......
I hope everyone has had a productive winter so far in regards to fine tuning your vehicles. Soon, very soon, it will be time to take them out and hit the streets!!
So get done what you need to do, ‘cause come April, car season begins!!
PS A few buddies of mine have padded their collections with even more cars! Wow! What a life!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Speaking about collections; in a previous edition we asked for some
feedback regarding the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction that took place in
January. We got feedback and here it is for your enjoyment:
The
Barrett-Jackson auction is an example of how foolish men with way too much
disposable income can artificially inflate the value of collectable cars. The
prices paid at this auction generally don't equate to what cars are fetching in
the real world, our world. If they did, many of us regular people wouldn't
be able to afford this hobby that we are so passionate about.
Ken Adams
Westbury,
L.I.
Hey Guys,
Just
to let you know that the Barrett Jackson Auction again is not in touch with
reality. If anyone of us wanted to own a muscle car, how can we with the
prices. And with people who own like a #2 or #3 car, they want a million
dollars for them. It only shows you that unless you are a millionaire or are a
single gentleman with a very high paying job with no girlfriend you cannot
afford these cars.
Great newsletter a keep up the
great job.
Googags @aol.com
I think that the Auction that was on TV was interesting, but I couldn’t watch it for too long. I don’t see what all the big fuss is. I’d much rather go down to a local car show and see real world cars and people. Talk to the owners, and if I want to buy something, do it there. You get a much better price without all the hype!
Garlin Thomas
Mufreesboro, TN
Read on;
Regarding the Barret
Jackson Auction on Speed Channel: great entertainment, but could you believe
what people were paying for these cars!
I think everyone of them
is nuts!
I will stick to dealing
with normal people in the hobby that know the real value of cars!
But, hey! I guess if you
have as much money as some of those yahoos at Barret Jackson then who cares
what you spend! Count me out!
Paul S. (via internet)
Belmont. Michigan
PS Great website!! I read
your newsletter every month! I wish we had a local thing like that around here!
Hello Pete and the LI Classic Cars.com readers,
I kind of enjoyed watching the auction. I think they do a great job of promotion and marketing, and that in turn makes for a great turnout and an interesting event.
I like the close-ups of the cars and the excitement of the spectacle. My husband didn’t enjoy it as much as I did. He thinks the prices were ridiculous, I guess he’s right, but it was fun to watch anyway.
Carla B.
Plainview, NY
Gimmie some car show
and I will watch no matter what it is! The Barrett Jackson auction was very
interesting, and I was always amazed at how high the prices kept going! Do I
think they are out of touch – absolutely!!! But I will continue to watch since
it is so much fun! Keep up the nice work on the site!
Freddie Platos
Yaphank, NY
Hello,
I think the auction was fun to watch, but it is a real shame how everyone with a car now, thinks that theirs is worth that kind of stupid money. Good luck trying to buy something when everyone thinks they have a car worth 50 grand.
(anonymous letter)
A few more;
BUY BUY BUY!!! SELL! SELL! SELL!
What a market driven commodity! I tell you this though, no car on the street is going to fetch money like they pulled down at the auction. Especially when dealing with real life people who have budgets, experience, and knowledge of what cars are truly worth!
Sam H.
Ridgefield, NJ
Hey Classic Cars.com
That Barrett-Jackson Auction
was a feast for the eyes, but that’s about it. Some real cool cars. My buddies
and I were laughing at what these guys were forking over for cars! You ain’t
gonna pay money like that anywhere else. Don’t buy at auction people! It’s a
rip!
Tom R.
Brooklyn, NY
Well – there you have
it. The people have spoken!
PS It was great to hear from some
out of state readers! The internet is a wonderful tool and it is rewarding to
know that our site is accessed from around the country and internationally! I
get a few e-mails from time to time from people overseas!!
___________________________________________________
More car clubs are starting to list their events, meetings, cruises, and shows for the upcoming season.
You can check them out in the EVENTS section on the main page of the
website. http://www.liclassiccars.com
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.
Another new club has come on
board:
Long Island Vettes:
Founded in 2002, the club has grown quickly. Started by 12 Corvette owners, membership is now almost 100! Their club is made up of men & women from all walks of life and social backgrounds. New members are welcome.
They are featured in the CLUBS section of the main page of the website!
___________________________________________________
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
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
More Cruise Night updates as they develop in the next Newsletter.
Some of these will be starting in April, so check the EVENTS page for up to date listings.
___________________________________________________
GUEST WRITER(S) COLUMN(S)
Tom Sebastian returns with the second
of his multi-part installment of “The Nordic Cars”. They are a most interesting
variation of the automotive breed. Tom’s experience and knowledge about them
helps to shed some light for many of us about these little known vehicles here
in the U.S.
One more thing: as you may or may not know, Tom is
also a published author! Here is a link to one of his books. Check it out.
GREAT reading! If you are a fan of his articles, you will no doubt enjoy this
novel too!
https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=15360
“Rich’s Tech
Tips” It seems that Richie couldn’t pack all of his vast knowledge about h e -
s i - t a - t i o n into one article. It would have been way too long! In this
issue he supplies more information, this time about fuel injection systems.
In this month’s “My Car Story” feature
we have an article about a most interesting vehicle. Steve Goldsmith
owns a 1967 Chrysler Imperial affectionately known as “The Table Car”.
Wait ‘til you see what this vehicle has inside!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tom Sebastian
Tom goes from this…
…. to
this! 
When Being 'Preppy'
Meant Something
The Nordic Cars – Part II
The 1800 ES
The Jetsons.
That’s what it looked like. Some futuristic design that only the Scandinavians could come up with. (And maybe one guy in the GM design studios back in mid-fifties – remember the Chevy Nomad? -- And could his grandson, in turn, be responsible for the new, Dodge Magnum RT?)
Long before being a Yuppie meant driving Beemers and Volvos – someone came up with the idea of a sports car station wagon.
(A strange enough concept – I would never have thought of it.)
Sports Wagon, Estate Car… Whatever you call it, it ‘almost’ never worked. The Jaguar and Corvette experiments in this arena looked like just that, ‘experiments’ better kept in the lab and off the road.
But almost is the operant word here. Between 1973 and 1974 some 8000 of these exotic Swedes were made. And this one really did work. It was pleasing on the eyes in almost every respect.* -- And there couldn’t have been a more unique driving experience.
First, the Swedish penchant for structural integrity: This was one, solid car. You felt secure in… whatever it was, especially in rough, winter conditions. This was the sui generic, pseudo-sport family-wagon that started the rumor rolling among all intelligent, college-educated, pre-soccer-era moms regarding all things Scandinavian. They correctly intuited that little Eddie Jr./Albert/Cody was as safe in this car as he could possibly be banging away with his rattles… And Eddie Sr. loved it! -- Which she also couldn’t help but notice.
Who ever heard of a station wagon with a 4-speed tranny on the floor plus an electronic overdrive – essentially, a 5th gear? The latest, B-20 engine with Bosch fuel injection pumped out up to135 hp. And the ride at cruising speed was, well, svelte! How could it be otherwise with orthopedically designed seats with adjustable lumbar controls? And all that extra space weighed in well south of 3000 lb. Hey! Who cares about getting older!? Not only could you live with it, you could live in it!
(If the Swedes failed anywhere it was in thinking American road conditions were anything like theirs in the early 70's. The soft ride, narrow tires and high ground clearance must have been great for chasing reindeer over pitted hill and snow-covered dale, but on our better-paved streets, it caused unnecessary body roll. -- Or. maybe they were just being Swedes; you know, just experimenting with SUV before SUV was cool.)
I had heard of them and seen them in photos. Never as common as its two-seater relative, the venerable, P-1800, I finally came across an ES on Stanford’s campus back in the 80’s. (Hmmm… already a thinking man’s car.)
Some vehicles are destined to play a political role. The Hittites had their chariots and the Kerryites had their Volvos. And this may well have been the ‘seedling’ car that eventually grew to Volvo & Saab’s current stature as Blue State Specials – the Kerry-er wheels of choice. (Red State people -- W. Virginia, Arkansas, etc. -- weren’t even given delivery of these cars so, they weren’t even tempted to part with their Fords.)
It was flat-out gorgeous. You could easily carry a step-latter/bicycle/lawn chair/bassinet or whatever in the back… yet it looked fast! It was as if that expanded rear-end wasn’t put there for mere suburban practicality, but because sophisticated wind-tunnel algorithms demanded it for better performance. And that deep frameless, rear hatch looked, well… like pure sex!
Volvo
-- not known for beautiful cars -- has tried several times to reiterate this
gem. At the 2003 Geneva Auto Show they came up with the Versatility Concept
Car - the VCC. Trying their best to do Retro Eclectic (or
something...), the car had a tailgate inspired by the P1800 ES and a grille
from the 1964 model 164; anyway, it was a far better result than their actual
production attempts. The V40 and V70
models -- which they claim is a direct descendant of the ES --
really aren't. There’s a bit of
the ES style visible in the rather ubiquitous, 240 DL Wagon – as venerable a
Volvo as any, I suppose, and a car I may one day have to consider
collectible… but not yet. … (Please
God; don’t ever make me that hard up for a collector car while I can
still function without a bed pan.) But,
anyway, the VCC really was a nice car - if looking a small bit too much
like the Chrysler 300 in the Fourth Dimension.
(OK... So I take to drink when I write... ) But does anyone know why Concept Cars rarely,
if ever, make it through the Finance Division?
Who wouldn't kill for the 1991 Audi Avus??
OK, so the original ES wasn’t really as fast as it looked, and the young maidens (18 – 24-ish) were not overly impressed -- and haven’t been since you gave up the Jag. But that next age group – the one that includes beginning nesters in their starter homes in the ‘burbs with their proverbial and loudly ticking, body clocks – was just beginning to see in you something hopeful…
I swear I helped sell the neighbor’s house just by parking it out front.
At first, the realtor must have been ticked off. No one was looking at the bathroom fixtures. They were always making excuses to ‘get some air’ when, it was obvious, they wanted to take a closer look at that sleek thing next door. The agent must have caught on though, because she asked me to use the empty driveway if I wanted. OK -- How many times have you read that one in those Sunday Real Estate Suggestions on how to increase home values? (And you can tell this one to the little woman when she asks what it is you think you’re doing with that thing in the driveway.)
Ah,
but yes… it was but one more victim of the early 70’s gas crunch. (I have no idea why we were so upset when gas
went above 50 cents a gallon!!.
Considering what we’re paying now, that was no reason to
give up on all those great cars.) Volvo packed it in after the 1974 production
run, after a scant two years on the assembly line.
With so few copies out there, I was not at all surprised when none other than Hemmings Motor News(!) grabbed mine and hauled it back to Vermont as one of their promo vehicles.
I sighed some… but not for long. I hadn’t yet had my fill of Nordic wonders.
*Among the many foreign cars that Americans are not privy to was one, Reliant Scimitar. This, too, definitely 'worked' as an estate car. The author has never even seen one on these shores. -- But I'll surely find one if you're interested!
And
his next car was…????
Next
Time: Part III -- Northern Lights... A Car That's Really Worth Going Retro
For!
AND
REMEMBER LIFE'S BIGGEST LESSON: IF YOU
DRIVE A NEW CAR, NO ONE CARES.
BUT IF YOU DRIVE A CLASSIC... EVERYONE DOES!!
tmoore3us@yahoo.com
( I
couldn’t agree more Tom! Well said ) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Hesitation and Stalling
Part 2 - Its Still Ugly - Fuel Injection Cars ”
By
Rich
Fiore
In a previous
issue I talked about hesitation and stalling on our rides equipped with
carburetors. This month let’s keep up with the times and move on to the
vehicles equipped with fuel injection and computers. Not such a bad idea since
most of our daily drivers today are so equipped.
Fuel
injection vehicles come in 2 flavors: Throttle Body; which is basically a carb
with an injector down its throat. The other system being Port Fuel Injection;
which translates to an individual injector for each cylinder. These systems
when they work are a beautiful thing. They are more fuel efficient ( which
translates to more power ) and put out much less in the way of emissions ( if
you so care ). What I really appreciate about them is the drivability -
especially when cold. To rely on a choke butterfly to open at the correct rate
as opposed to a high speed computer is like comparing a match to a blow torch.
The only downside is when something goes wrong it can be much
more involved to troubleshoot. So let’s start with covering some of
the basics before we jump into that pool of high tech stuff.
As
in the last installment let’s always start with the basic tune-up. Plugs,
cap, rotor, wires timing ( if adjustable ) and idle speed.
I.A.W. the label under the hood. Don't forget those fuel and air
filters which are so often overlooked. If all is ok with the tune-up, then
start with the visuals first.
Look
for vacuum leaks in all the typical places like you did in part one ( which you
committed to memory – remember? ) . Starting with the intake manifold and it’s
gasket and working up. Check the throttle body base gasket ( if so
equipped ) and all underhood vacuum lines for brakes and proper routing.
Check the EGR valve for operation ( a vacuum pump can be used to
check for movement ) and proper routing of hose. Remove to check for
carbon buildup. Another common item to look for is a
plugged up PCV port in the throttle body. The throttle body should
be clean where the throttle blade seats against the throttle bore. Carbon
buildup behind the blade can cause rough idle and stall when cold. It
usually smoothes out when warm. When dealing with Mass Air Flow (
MAF) systems, a boot is usually used between the MAF sensor and the
throttle body. When removing the MAF sensor to check the throttle body for
buildup, inspect the boot to ensure that there are no cracks. Any leaks at this
point will cause the engine to run rough or stall. If equipped with a
Manifold Air Pressure ( MAP ) sensor, check the vacuum line for leaks,
mushiness, or plugging.
The
next area of visual inspections would be all the electrical connections. Make
sure all wires to all sensors are connected. Check all connections for
corrosion. The computer itself must have a good ground with very
little resistance.
The
next area to think about would be that of fuel. If the fuel filter has been
replaced ( were you paying attention to our earlier steps? ), check the
pressure regulator with a hand vacuum pump. If ok - test fuel pressure and
flow. Pressure gauges are available from automotive tool suppliers. The
usual pick up point is a Schrader valve on the fuel rail. Specs will be in your
shop manual.
If
all of this yields nothing to this point it may be time to start thinking about
cleaning the fuel injectors. Try a good additive in a low tank of gas and see
if it make any difference. If not, you might want to purchase a fuel injector
cleaner apparatus which is used through the Schrader valve. The fuel pump is
disabled when using this set up. That could be a costly investment for most, so
you would want to pay someone to do it. Another possibility is carbon
build up on the intake valves. It can absorb hydrocarbons when cold and cause a
lean mixture condition when cold. There are induction cleaners which can be used.
The
next area to go to is the computer and look for stored trouble codes. On the
earlier OBD 1 systems code retrieval was easy. On the OBD 2 and 3 systems the
use of a scanner is required. The earlier systems give you a general idea of
the troubled circuit while the newer systems hone in a little better.
Sensors can and do fail. Rarely does a computer go bad.
Other
than that there may be other internal problems going on within your
engine.
Overall
the most common problems are the weak areas so to speak, like the vacuum lines,
throttle body boots, corroded sensor connections, and poor computer grounds.
The fuel filter is sometimes neglected and creates a problem. I have seen many
electric fuel pumps go bad too, especially when warm. It’s a good idea to keep
the tank above half to keep the pump cool. It’s not a bad idea to buy gas from
a good brand name company. The trick is to keep up with the routine
maintenance and if problems do arise, start with the visuals
before breaking out the tools.
Quick and Dirty: When was the last time you put some fuel
additive in your tank ?
( Rich, your vast knowledge never ceases to amaze me! How do you sleep at night? ) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Steve
Goldsmith: 1967 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe
As a Mopar fanatic I always wanted to own a
car from all four Chrysler divisions. So when it came time for an Imperial, I
knew it had to be a special one. Favoring the 67-68 style, the most interesting
feature offered was the Mobile Director option. Because only 75-150 were
built, when one came up on E-bay, I knew I had to have it.
What makes this car so special is that the passenger bucket seat
swivels 180 degrees and a folding walnut table/armrest on a chrome pedestal is mounted
on the rear center floor. It was marketed as a conference room on wheels.
It was only available on the Crown Coupe because the seat would hit the B
pillar when turned on the four door models. Because the option was only
available on the 67-68 Coupe and the option cost $597.40, very few were
ordered. It also came with a high intensity goose-neck lamp that plugged
into one of the many lighter outlets. ( I have been trying to find an original
lamp since I got the car last year and feel confident I will find one someday.
)
Other features on the car include tilt and telescope steering
wheel, six way power drivers seat, power disc brakes, auto pilot speed control
(works like a lazy cruise control), auto headlamp dimmer that turns off high
beams when oncoming cars approach, and automatic headlamps with time delay
feature also known as safeguard sentinel lighting. The groovy sound system
consists of power antenna, front and rear speakers, foot pedal station changer
(next to high beam foot switch), with an am radio. Also on board is a power trunk release. Power
door locks and vent windows were not ordered on this car.
The car is in very nice shape for it's age and miles; currently around
124,000.
It is very comfortable, reliable, and all the options work well, including the
front and rear air conditioning.
Imperials of this era are very affordable to buy, but be prepared for heavy
fuel costs, especially with the 25 gallon fuel tank.
The list price on my car was a $6,011.00 base price and $7,966.65 with options.
(Wow Stevie, that’s a chunk ‘o
change in ’67! What a rare and exotic piece. Some of those options are being
touted in today’s cars as “revolutionary”, and Chrysler – long known as the
technology and innovation leader – had them back then!) Pete
___________________________________________________
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
You can
also access the previous Newsletters through a link on the main page of the
website.
___________________________________________________
Great articles again from our contributors! Many thanks to them.
Don’t forget to check out Tom Sebastian’s book.
Also, all you car clubs out there – get your listings in quick. People are already asking me about show and cruise night schedules!!
Thanks
for reading.
I
leave you with a little poetry this month:
We will meet again soon out on
the asphalt dear friends.
And once more, the rapturous
revelries of automotive passions shall be heard from all directions,
whilst they thunder down the road
towards unlimited vistas of vehicular splendor.
Heed not your practical worries,
leave them to the tunnels of the past.
Take forth your pride and spirit,
set sail into the reaches of your hearts yearning…
Claim the great freedoms you are
born to..
Drive, drive, and drive again!
Pete Giordano
Long Island Classic Cars.com