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Friday, July 31, 2009

1965 Plymouth Satellite 440 Convertible - Classic Car For Sale (Click Here)

Description:

Mid 60's Mopars are definitely starting to get their due. From the cool styling to the neat trim and detailing these cars look great, and they're great traveling companions. Take this car—deep blue paint, a cool blue bucket seat interior, timeless American Racing wheels and a 426 wedge Six Pack and a four speed under the hood. That'll get you going!

Cool blue paint with restored and restrained stainless Satellite trim makes for a very cool looking car. Nicely re-chromed bumpers join a mint grille up front and a clean tail panels and original taillight set out back. The clean paint over the straight body looks awesome from any angle, the product of intensive straightening efforts. New headlight bulbs up front light the way while clean original taillight lenses in re-chromed housings out back bring up the rear. The side trim was treated to the same comprehensive restoration as the rest, and looks fantastic. Chrome trim from the vent window frames to the bumpers shine better than new. Even with the top up the car's cool—it's a newer white piece that just sets looks right. Four American Racing Torq Thrust wheels wearing 225/70 front and 245/70/15 rear B F Goodrich tires give the car a great, period correct stance. What's not to like?

Pop the hood and find a 1964 vintage 426 street wedge block topped by a full-on Six Pack setup. Sold new through William Pase, Inc. in Huntington, NY, the car was born with a 273 2bbl mill, so there's no harm in tripling the stock horsepower rating here! The chromed air cleaner lid matches the OE chrome valve covers (with appropriate Super Stock decals,) the motor itself is the correct turquoise and there's a chrome alternator hanging off the front. The rebuilt short block breathes much easier than stock thanks to the '68 vintage 440HP 906 cylinder heads and HP exhaust manifolds. Power brakes are an added option, working with a rebuilt master cylinder on the firewall. Power steering hangs off the driver's side of the engine—this is a cruiser! A Mallory electronic ignition lights the fires through Taylor wires while a high flow water pump and a fat aluminum 22” radiator keep temps under control. A new battery and a new voltage regulator provide more than enough power; combustion gasses pass smoothly down from the manifolds into the Flowmaster-equipped dual exhaust system. New belts, hoses and wiring mean trouble free motoring to your favorite hangout spot or a cross country run!

Sit down in the very comfortable restored interior. Re-stuffed seats with new blue covers are both comfortable and good looking. The original center console is in great shape with its working factory tach, re-chromed top plates, built in armrest and Hurst shifter with its classic white ball. The dash frame got a clean coat of blue paint and a restored dash pad, the restored gauges and bezel are clean and bright, the door panels are new as is the carpet. Auto Custom Carpet embroidered floor mats keep the floor clean. The car's builder must not have had much faith in the original gauges as there's a quartet of classic Auto Meter units hanging from the dash. New armrest bases, inside door handles and window cranks shine like its 1965 again—this is a cool ride!

The chassis is clean and equipped for cruising. The 8 ¾ rear with 3.23 gears and a Sure Grip out back is held up by heavy duty leaf springs while the big block torsion bars up front twist the front end level. Newer shocks, new steering and new brake components are a reassuring find, especially. A clean fuel system from the tank forward is in place, and the dual exhaust system with Flowmasters sounds fantastic and is the proper soundtrack for a cruiser. There's a thick layer of undercoating here to keep road noise and stone chips at bay—isn't that what you want in a cruiser?

Convertibles are always fun, and early B bodies are great drivers. Put them together and you've got a long distance, fun-in-the-sun hot rod cruiser. It's been well cared for, too, looking just as nice as it did gracing the pages of Mopar Action's February 1998 issue and with its first place trophy in B body modified at the '97 Mopar Nationals. That's holding up well! From its brilliant paint to its comfortable interior to its well sorted chassis and drive-train, this car is ready for the Power Tour or a trip to the local hot spot!



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Dodge Charger History 1966 to 1974

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The 1966 to1974 Dodge Chargers were high performance models based on the Chrysler B platform. The 1975 to1978 Chargers were based on the Chrysler Cordoba. This article will focus on the 1966 to 1974 era.


Birth of the Charger
In 1964, when the Pontiac GTO started the American muscle car era with strong sales, the rest of GM's divisions were quick to jump on the muscle car bandwagon. Buick followed with the Gran Sport and even Oldsmobile brought out the 442. Dodge, despite putting out cars that could meet or beat these cars on the street or strip, didn't have a performance image muscle car of their own. Even with available performance engines, the Coronet's styling and image was considered by most to be "conservative."

Burt Bouwkamp, Chief Engineer for Dodge during the 1960s and one of the men behind the Dodge Charger, related his experience during a speech in July 2004.

"Lynn Townsend was at odds with the Dodge Dealers and wanted to do something to please them. So in 1965 he asked me to come to his office - for the second time. He noted that one of the Dodge Dealer Council requests was for a Barracuda type vehicle. The overall dealer product recommendation theme was the same - we want what Plymouth has. The specific request for a Mustang type vehicle was not as controversial to Lynn. His direction to me was to give them a specialty car but he said 'for God's sake don't make it a derivative of the Barracuda': i.e. don't make it a Barracuda competitor.

"So the 1966 Dodge Charger was born. We built a Charger 'idea' car which we displayed at auto shows in 1965 to stimulate market interest in the concept. It was the approved design but we told the press and auto show attendees that it was just an "idea" and that we would build it if they liked it. It was pre-ordained that they would like it."

The concept car received a positive response, so Dodge put it into production.


1966 Dodge Charger
Carl "CAM'" Cameron would be the exterior designer of Dodge's new flagship vehicle, and on January 1, 1966, viewers of the Rose Bowl were first introduced to the new "Leader of the Dodge Rebellion", the 1966 Dodge Charger. The Charger's introduction coincided with the introduction of the new street version of the 426 Hemi (7.0 Ltr). Finally, Dodge would have the performance image to go along with this performance engine.

As the 1966 Dodge Charger's features would go, the "electric shaver" grille used fully rotating headlights, not seen on a Chrysler product since the 1942 DeSoto, that when opened or closed made the grille look like one-piece. Inside, the Charger used four individual bucket seats with a full length console from front to rear. The rear seats and console pad also folded forward, and the trunk divider dropped back, which allowed for a cargo area seven feet long. Many other things were exclusive to the Charger such as the door panels, courtesy lights and the instrument panel. The instrument panel was especially interesting as regular bulbs weren't used to light the gauges. Instead four electroluminescent dash pods housed the tachometer, speedometer, alternator, fuel and temperature gauges. In the rear the full length taillight read CHARGER.

Under the hood, the Charger meant business. The engine selection was all V8s. A six cylinder engine didn't make the option list until 1968. In 1966 four engines were offered; the base-model 318 in³ (5.2 Ltr) 2-barrel V8, the truck-sourced 361 in³ (5.9 Ltr) 2-barrel, the 383 in³ (6.3 Ltr) 4-barrel, and the new 426 Street Hemi. The majority of 1966 Chargers were ordered with the 325 hp (242 kW) 383. Total production in 1966 came to 37,344 units, which was successful for the mid-year introduction.

The 426 Street Hemi was the first Hemi that the average driver could use on the street. Advertised at 425bhp, it actual put out close to 500bhp when in street tune. The Hemi added $1,000 to the $3,122 base price of the Dodge Charger, resulting in only 468 built out of a 1966 production run of 37,344. Maybe that was because the Hemi came only with a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty instead of the standard 5 year/50,000 mile warranty. Furthermore, that warranty was void if the car was "subjected to any extreme operation like drag racing..

In 1966 Dodge took the Charger into NASCAR in hopes that the fastback would make their car a winner on the high-banks. But the car proved to have rear end lift around corners which made it very slippery on the faster tracks. The lift was because the air actually traveled faster over the top of the car than under it, causing the car to act like a giant airplane wing. Drivers would later claim that "it was like driving on ice." In order to solve this problem Dodge installed in a small lip spoiler on the trunk lid which improved traction at speeds above 150 mph (240 km/h). They also had to make it a dealer-installed option in late 1966 and through 1967 because of NASCAR rules (with small quarter panel extensions in 1967). The 1966 Dodge Charger was the first US production vehicle to have a spoiler. David Pearson, driving a #6 Cotten Owens-prepared Charger, went on to win the NASCAR Grand National championship in 1966 with 14 first-place finishes.

Production Numbers: 37,344


1967 Dodge Charger
Since the Dodge Charger was such a sales success despite its midyear introduction, changes were limited for 1967. Outside, new fender-mounted turn signals were introduced and would serve as the main outside identifier between a 1966 and 1967 Charger. A vinyl roof became available as well. Inside, the full length console was gone, due in part to customer complaints about entry and exit from the back seats. It was replaced with a regular sized console. Bucket seats were standard, but a folding armrest/seat and column shifter was an option allowing three people to sit up front.

As for engine options, the 440 "Magnum" was added and was introduced in1968 as the standard engine in the R/T package. The 440 was Chrysler's biggest engine and it was conservatively rated at 375bhp (280 kW) with a single 4-barrel carburetor. It was cheaper than the Hemi, could keep up with it until about 60 mph, and was easier to tune and race on the street. But for serious racing, the Hemi was still the boss. The 361 cid engine was replaced by a 383 cid engine. The 318 two-barrel engine remained, although it was now a Chrysler LA engine, unlike the 1966 polysphere "poly" design. The 383 4-barrel and the 426 Street Hemi remained as options.

Despite the Chargers' NASCAR racing success of 1966, sales slipped by half. In 1967 only 15,788 Chargers were sold. The Chargers faced competition from the Trans-Am Series, the Ford Mustang and the just introduced Chevrolet Camaro. Dodge decided that a major redesign was in order, rather than a minor face-lift.

Production Numbers: 15,788


1968 Dodge Charger
It was clear after the sales drop of the 1967 Dodge Charger that a restyle was in order. Dodge was going to restyle their entire B-body lineup for 1968 and decided that it was time to separate the Coronet and Charger models even further. What designer Richard Sias came up with was a double-diamond design that would later be referred to as coke bottle styling. From the side profile the curves around the front fenders and rear quarter panels look almost like a Coke bottle. On the roof a "flying buttress" was added to give the rear window area a look similar to that of the 1966-67 Pontiac GTO. The Charger retained its full-length hidden headlight grille, but the fully rotating electric headlights had been replaced by a simple vacuum operated cover, similar to the Camaro RS. The full length taillights were gone as well. Instead, dual Corvette-inspired taillights were added. Dual scallops were added to the doors and hood to help accent the new swoopy lines and there was a minimal use of chrome. Inside, the interior shared almost nothing with its first generation brothers. The four bucket seats were gone; the console remained the same as the '67. The tachometer was now optional instead of standard, the trunk and grille medallions were gone, the carpeting in the trunk area was gone, replaced by a vinyl mat, the rear seats did not fold forward and the space-age looking electroluminescent gauges disappeared in favor of a more conventional looking design.

In order to further boost the Charger's muscle car image, a new high-performance package was added, the R/T. This stood for "Road/Track" and would be the high performance badge that would establish Dodge's performance image. Only the high performance cars were allowed to use the R/T badge. The R/T came standard with the previous year's 440 "Magnum" and the 426 Hemi was optional. The standard engine was the 318 2bbl the rest of the engine lineup (383-2, 383-4) remained unchanged.

In 1968 Chrysler Corporation unveiled a new ad campaign featuring a Bee with an engine on its back. These cars were called the "Scat Pack". The Coronet R/T, Super Bee, Dart GTS and Charger R/T received bumble-bee stripes (two thin stripes framing two thick stripes). The stripes were standard on the R/Ts and came in red, white or black. They also could be deleted at no cost. These changes and the new Charger body style proved to be very popular with the public and resulted in a six-fold increase in sales from 1967. Out of the 92,590 Chargers produced for 1968, 17,665 had the R/T package with its standard 440 Magnum engine and "Scat Pack" bumblebee stripes on the rear end. Only a scant 475 came with the all mighty Hemi. The Hemi was strengthened for 1968 with a slightly longer-duration cam, new valve springs, and revisions which reduced oil consumption. It was still under-rated at 425bhp and still remained the engine of choice for serious drag racers.

A famous Dodge Charger was the four-speed, triple-black 1968 Charger R/T used in the movie Bullitt. The chase scene between Steve McQueen's fastback Mustang GT and the hit men’s Charger R/T is popularly regarded as one of the greatest car chase scenes ever filmed. During filming of the scene, the Charger proved to be extremely durable. When performing the various jumps over the hills in San Francisco, the Mustang GT encountered several suspension problems, while the suspension of the Chargers used supposedly never failed once. A similar 1968 Charger R/T was seen in the Blade films.

Production Numbers: 17,665


1969 Dodge Charger
In 1969 not much was changed for the popular Charger. Exterior changes included a new grille with a center divider and new longitudinal taillights both designed by Harvey J. Winn. A new trim line called the Special Edition (SE) was added. This could be available by itself or packaged with the R/T, thus making an R/T-SE. The SE added leather inserts to the front seats only, chrome rocker moldings, a wood grain steering wheel and wood grain inserts on the instrument panel. A sunroof was added to the option list as well, and it would prove to be a very rare option (only 260 sold). The bumble bee stripes returned as well, but were changed slightly. Instead of four stripes it now featured one huge stripe framed by two smaller stripes. In the middle of the stripe an R/T cutout was placed. If the stripe was deleted, then a metal R/T emblem was placed where the R/T cutout was. Total production dropped slightly to around 85,680 units. But in 1969 Dodge had its eye on NASCAR and in order to compete it would have to create two of the most rare and desirable of all Chargers: Charger 500, and the Charger Daytona.

The television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985) featured a 1969 Dodge Charger that was named The General Lee, often noted as being the most recognizable car in the world. "The General" sported the Confederate battle flag painted on the roof and the words "GENERAL LEE" over each door. The windows were always open, as the doors were welded shut. The number "01" is painted on both doors. Also, when the horn button was pressed, it played the first 12 notes from the de facto Confederate States anthem "Dixie's Land". The muscle car performed spectacular jumps in almost every episode, and the show's popularity produced a surge of interest in the car. The show itself purchased hundreds of Chargers for stunts, as they generally destroyed at least one car per episode. (Real Chargers stopped being used for jumps at the end of the show's sixth season, and were begrudgingly replaced with miniatures.)

In 1969, in order to help Dodge battle Ford/Mercury in NASCAR, two special Chargers were built. The regular production Dodge Charger wasn't aerodynamic enough to compete with the Ford Torino/Mercury Cyclone. The first year for the Charger 500 was1969. This car looked like a standard Charger, except that the rear buttress was filled in, and a flush-mounted 1968 Coronet grille was used with exposed headlights. The rear bumble bee stripes would also have a "500" cutout which would help to identify this new Charger. These changes would help the car aerodynamically. Only 503 copies were built to abide with NASCAR rules hence the name "Charger 500". The only engine choices were the standard 440 Magnum or the 426 Hemi. Only 67 Charger 500s were built with the Hemi. Despite all of the new changes, Ford/Mercury continued to beat the Chargers. Dodge did not stand idly by. They went back into the wind tunnel and unleashed a new Dodge Charger that changed everything.

NASCAR in 1969 stipulated that any car raced in their series had to be available for sale and must build a minimum of five hundred for the general public. Since the Charger 500 was not fast enough, Dodge went back into the wind tunnel and created one of the most outrageous and most sought after Dodge Chargers, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.

The Daytona used a pointed nose piece that added 18 inches (457 mm) into the front of the car. This gave the car the down-force that the engineers were looking for, but the rear end still tended to lift at speed. To solve this, they mounted a large wing over the trunk lid which would give the Charger Daytona and its sister car, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, the nickname of "wing cars". The wing was 23 inches (584 mm) tall so that the trunk could be opened without hitting the bottom of the wing (Some dealers had to remove them in order to sell the cars). Fenders and a hood from the upcoming 1970 Charger were used on the Daytona. Rear facing scoops were added to the front fenders, above the tires, which added an aerodynamic advantage. It was widely believed at the time that they were only used to help with tire rub in hard corners. In fact, they relieved the high pressure that would build up in the fender well at high speed.

Only 503 Dodge Charger Daytonas were built with either 440 Magnum or 426 Hemi power. All Daytonas wore red, black, or white bumble stripes that bore the name "Daytona" in the middle of the stripe. The wings were painted the same color as the stripes. Priced at $4,000, Weighing almost 300 pounds more than regular Chargers with the same engines, the Daytona's were hampered on the street but they could top out at over 150 mph on the track and it was completely street legal. This was considered by many to be the height of the performance mania.

The "wing cars" would prove to be so fast and dominating that NASCAR effectively outlawed them for the 1971 season, as a new regulation was introduced that restricted all "aero" cars to a maximum engine displacement of 5.0 Ltr (305 in³), down from the previous 7.0 Ltr (426 in³).

Production Numbers: 20,057


1970 Dodge Charger
In 1970 the Dodge Charger changed slightly again. This would be the last and rarest year of the 2nd generation Charger and it now featured a large chrome loop front bumper and the grille was no longer divided in the middle. New electric headlight doors replaced the old vacuum style. Side markers were now actual lights. The taillights were similar to those used in 69, but 500 and R/T models came with a new more attractive taillight panel. On the R/T new rear-facing scoops with the R/T logo were mounted on the front doors, over the door scallops. A new 440 or HEMI hood cutout made the option list for this year only.

In order to achieve the desired look, Dodge painted the hood scallop inserts black and put the silver engine callouts on top. New "High Impact" colors were given names, such as Top Banana, Panther Pink, Sublime, Burnt Orange, Go Mango and Plum Crazy (sometimes nicknamed "Statutory Grape"). The 500 returned for another year, but now it was just a regular production Charger unlike the limited production NASCAR Charger of 1969.

Interior changes included new high-back bucket seats, the door panels were also revised and the map pockets were now optional instead of standard. The ignition was moved from the dash to the steering column (as with all Chrysler products this year), and the glove box was now hinged at the bottom instead of the top as in 1968-69. The SE "Special Edition" option added high end luxury to a full on muscle car with its leather upholstery and for the first time, there was an available electric sliding sunroof. It was made available as the 500 SE and R/T SE models. The all new pistol grip shifter was introduced, along with a bench seat, a first for the Charger since its debut.

A new engine option made the Charger's list for the first time, the 440 Six Pack - it slotted between the 440 Magnum and the Hemi. The 440 Six Pack traded in the 440's 4 barrel carburetor for 3 Holley two barrels, increasing the horsepower from 375 bhp to 390 bhp (291 kW). It was one of the most exotic setups since the cross-ram Max Wedge engines of the early 1960s. The Six Pack was previously used on the mid-year 1969 Dodge Super Bee and Plymouth Road Runner and was notorious for beating the Hemi on the street. The Hemi was also improved, with the addition of hydraulic lifters, instead of solid tappets.

Despite this hot new engine, production slipped again to 46,576 but most of this was due to the brand new E-body Dodge Challenger and the high insurance rates of the time. Only 10,337 R/Ts were sold in 1970. Of these a mere 116 were 440 Six Packs and only 42 were Hemis.

In the 1970 Nascar season it was the 1970 Charger that tallied up more wins (10) than any other car including the notorious 69 Dodge Charger Daytonas and Plymouth Superbirds, giving Bobby Isaac the Grand National Championship. Lower sales, higher performance and more options has made the '70 Charger the most collectible of the 2nd generation Dodge Chargers.

Production Numbers: 10,337


1971 Dodge Charger
In 1971, the all-new third generation Dodge Charger debuted, this body style would last until 1974. It was completely restyled with a new split grille and more rounded "fuselage" body style. The interiors now looked more like those of the E-body and were now shared by the Plymouth B-body. Hidden headlights were no longer standard, they were now optional. A rear spoiler and a "Ramcharger" hood made the option lists for the first time. A special scoop was mounted in the hood, directly above the air cleaner. If the driver wanted to draw clean air directly into the carburetor, he pulled a small lever under the dash and the scoop popped up. The Plymouth Roadrunner used this device and called it the "air grabber hood". This device had been used on the Coronet R/T and Super Bees, but this was the first time it was used on the Dodge Charger.

Dodge also merged its Coronet and Charger lines. From 1971, all four-door B-bodies were badged as Coronets and all two-door B-bodies as Chargers. This change would add the one-year-only Charger Super Bee to the Charger stable.

The Dodge Super Bee made the move from the Coronet line to the Charger line for 1971 only, then the model was discontinued. Several other models were carried over from 1970, including the 500, R/T and SE versions. The R/T version was particularly bold with its standard blackout hood, simulated body side air extractors, Rallye wheels, tape stripes, and optional front and rear spoilers. A full range of bold colors were also available from "Green Go" to "Citron Yella." but the R/T's popularity was on the downslide thanks to higher insurance costs. Only 63 Hemi versions were built, and 2,659 were built with other engines that year.

1971 was the beginning of the end of the muscle car era. Rapidly rising insurance rates, combined with higher gasoline prices, reduced sales of muscle cars in general and 1971 was the last year of availability for the 426 Hemi "Elephant Engine" in any car. Rather than see the Hemi strangled by emissions standards, Chrysler decided to retire it when it was still on top.

1971 also saw the end of the high-performance 440 Six-Pack engine, although some Dodge literature stated that this engine was available for 1972, it was pulled at the last minute. However, a few factory installed six-pack Chargers and Road Runners were built very early in the production run.

Production Numbers:


1972 to 1974 Dodge Charger
The 1972 Dodge Charger bowed with a new "Rallye" option to replace the former R/T version. The SE model now had a more formal roof appearance than the others had. The 440 engines were still available, but now had to use the net horsepower rating instead of the gross horsepower rating. This would cause their horsepower ratings to go down substantially, although the net horsepower rating was actually more realistic. Also beginning in 1972, all engines featured lowered compression ratios to permit the use of regular leaded or unleaded gasoline rather than leaded premium fuel as in past years due to increasing tighter emissions regulations.

With the Hemi gone a low-compression 440 Six Pack with a 4 barrel carburetor became the engine of choice.. Its output dropped from 385bhp gross to 330bhp net. The regular 4 bbl 440 dropped from 370bhp gross to 280bhp net. The 383 was unable to meet the new emissions requirements and was dropped. A new 400 V8 which offered 255bhp net took its place. The use of the pistol-grip 4-speed Hurst shifter was limited to engines of 400 cubic inches.

The 1973 Dodge Chargers sported new vertically slatted taillights and a new nose (and no more hidden headlights, even as an option). The 318 was still standard, with the 340 (available only on the Rallye), 360, 400 and 440 remaining as options. The SE models had a new roof treatment that had "triple opera window" treatment surrounded by a canopy-style vinyl roof. The optional Rallye package added loud side stripes, a pinned-down hood with power bulge, anti-sway bars front and rear, fat tires with raised white lettering, and special instrumentation. All other models had a new quarter window treatment, ditching its AMC Gremlin-style window in favor of a more conventional design. Sales this year were around 108,000 units, the highest ever for the 1971-74 Charger generation.

1974 was a virtual rerun of 1973 Dodge Charger. Minor changes included all new color choices, a softer grain pattern on interior surfaces, and a slight increase in the size of the rubber bumper tips (brought on by ever-changing federal front and rear impact regulations). The biggest news was that the Rallye option was dropped and the 360 4bbl replaced the 340 as the small block performance engine. All other engine options remained the same with the 275bhp being the engine of choice. Several performance rear end ratios, including a 3.23 limited slip rear end were still available. A four speed transmission was still an option except with the 440 engine. Emphasis in these years turned to luxury instead of performance, hence the high sales figures for the SE model, but one could still equip a Charger with respectable performance options if one were so inclined and turn in decent performance figures for the day. The Dodge Charger, however, was no longer considered a performance car, and was gradually turned into personal luxury car, because all manufacturers "saw the handwriting on the wall." The muscle car era came to a close, and the 1975 Dodge Charger would be the final nail in the coffin. Although the Charger name would grace several future Chrysler models, none would ever match those of the muscle car era.

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

1965 Ford Mustang GT Convertible 289 - For Sale (Click Here)

Description:

Classic Mustang For sale:
NEW YORK—The world’s fair showcases the newest ideas, wildest visions of the future and one very special little car. The car itself isn’t that remarkable, as its underpinned by run-of-the-mill Falcon chassis gear and powered by a couple of Ford’s standard engines. Even the shape, attractive as it was, isn’t what was important. No, what changed the world was the car’s intended market: Youth. Never before had cars been built specifically for young, “hip” people. The Mustang was, and still is, the greatest symbol of a car built for the sake of fun.

Nothing screams "Mustang" like a bright red finish, a rumbling small block under the hood and a four speed in the tunnel! This one's extremely well finished from the bottom up—it's one to take home, enjoy and pass on to future generations!

Here's the trim tag decoded:

Year: 5 1965
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 08 Convertible
Engine: C 289 2v V8
Unit: 715398 715398
Body: 76A Convertible, Standard Interior
Color: J Rangoon Red
Trim: 26 Black Crinkle Vinyl, Standard Interior
Date: 05S May 05, 1965
D.S.O: 33 Detroit
Axle: 1 3.00:1, Conventional
Trans: 5 4-Speed Manual

Cars like this ’65 convertible are what started it all. Bright red over black, this car shows some of the neat, customizable touches that set Mustang apart. Bucket seats up front with a four speed shifter get things moving in a hurry. You hang onto a new Grant wood grain sport wheel while sitting on all new upholstery bolted down onto new carpet. There’s a set of color matched floor mats and new sill moldings below, new door panels on the sides and a new dash pad up front over the GT gauges and wood grain panels. New chrome pieces from the door handles in brighten things up without looking Lincolnesque. The red-on-black scheme was quite popular back then and is timeless today. The Rally Pac gauges are definitely the best part, though, with the clock and tachometer front and center on the steering column, and these are new, fresh and in perfect order.

Pop the hood and find a concours level C Code 289CI 2bbl engine and engine compartment. The valve covers and air cleaner are chrome per the GT trim level, there’s a full set of reproduction decals, new washer bottle (bag?) a new battery and more. A fresh tune up with new Autolite plugs, new date coded reproduction wires, new FoMoCo hoses and even "GAS-GAS-GAS" fuel lines ensure the proper look while running flawlessly.

The body is in awesome shape with a thick coat of brilliant red paint. New bumpers and emblems and a fresh grille really make things shine, but it’s the wheel set that makes the car. New mustang rally wheels from Wheel Vintiques wrapped in 205/70/14 B F Goodrich Radial T/A’s give the car the right stance. This car will turn heads from all demographics anywhere you go—this is one of the quintessential American cars.

The undercarriage is just about perfect, too, painted in the same bright red as the topside. That's a brand new dual exhaust system back to the tips, a new fuel system from the tank to the motor and new brakes all around. Front and rear sway bars work with a completely rebuilt suspension and those BFG tires to actually hold the road. And, thanks to this being a true V8 car and not a converted six cylinder, there are five-lug wheels at all four corners to go with that upgraded suspension. This is a car looking for its driver!

The trunk’s just as detailed as the rest, too, with a new mat, a new spare tire and the correct jack. Pull up the mat and find solid sheet metal and a new fuel tank pad. Throw in the lounge chairs and cooler and head to a show, or pack a couple weeks’ worth of clothes, pick up your best friend, and tour the country! This car can and will do it!

For the price of admission, there are few cars on the planet that can please everyone from owners to bystanders with just its presence. Far from rare, this car is a beacon of our love of cars and independence as a nation. Be a part of history—past, present and future! And, best of all, own a frame-up restored 4 speed convertible muscle car in red without having to mortgage what’s left of the equity in your home! With only 5 miles driven on this beautiful pony car since the restoration was completed two weeks ago, it doesn’t get any better than this one!

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Dodge Challenger History 1970 to 1974

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Introduction
The first Challenger was the division's late entrant to the pony car market segment in the United States, launched for the 1970 model year – the production for the new model commenced Friday, August 1, 1969. Intended as a competitor to the Mercury Cougar, it was based on the Plymouth Barracuda platform, but its wheelbase was stretched by two inches to 110 to provide more interior room. It also had substantially different outer sheet metal than its Plymouth cousin and four headlights to the Plymouth’s two. The Challenger debuted with an engine lineup that ranged from a docile 145 hp, 225 in³ Slant Six to the powerful 440 in³ wearing three two-barrel carburetors (a "Six-Pack") rated at 390 hp and the awesome 426 Hemi producing 425 hp - other pony cars could only dream of a line up like that.

The new Challenger had very little to do with the A-body cars from which previous Plymouth Barracudas sprang and was based on a new architecture known within Chrysler as the "E-body." Using components swiped from both the compact A-body and midsize B-body cars, the E-body was built to compete against cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang and to do it while offering virtually every engine in Chrysler's inventory. In the muscle-mad late '60s all this seemed like a very logical thing to do.

Exterior design was done by Carl Cameron, who also did the exterior for the 1966 Dodge Charger. For the 1970 Challenger grille, Cameron based it off an older sketch of his 1966 Charger prototype that was to have a turbine engine. The Charger never got the turbine, but the Challenger got that car's grille. It’s long hood and short rear decks was almost an exaggeration of the pony car style, but still somehow within the bounds of taste. The oversize engine bay meant that it was wider than the previous Barracuda by 5 inches and wider than both the Mustang and Camaro too. In fact, the styling of the Challenger was very similar to that of the first-generation Camaro and Pontiac Firebird (1967-1969) with an almost formal roof and drooping deck.

If there's one thing the Chrysler Corporation specialized in during the '70s, it was poor timing — it always seemed to have exactly the product the market didn't want. And never was this more apparent than with the Dodge Challenger. Although the Challenger was well-received by the public, it was criticized by the press, and due to market forces of the time the pony car segment was already declining by the time the Challenger arrived. Sales fell dramatically after 1970, and Challenger production ceased midway through the 1974 model year. Although considered by many to be a very beautiful car it was criticized by others for having poor outward visibility and for it feeling too bulky for its size.


1970 Dodge Challenger
The all new 1970 Dodge Challenger was available in two series, the Challenger R/T and the base Challenger; each series had a hardtop, convertible, and Special Edition, all with two doors. It was available in a staggering number of trim and option levels with stripe and option packages so that the cars could be either “loud & proud” or reserved according to the buyer's wishes. The car was also available in a wide variety of colors, 18 in total, including such names as “Lemon Twist” for the bright yellow option.

A huge choice of engines was provided - the 225 slant six, 318 V8, 340, 383 (two or four barrel, or Magnum), 440 (Magnum or Six Pack), and 426 Hemi. There were three transmissions offered, a three-on-the-floor, four-on-the-floor, or a TorqueFlite automatic - with the shifter either on the column or the console (A Slap-Stik Shift Gate was sold with the console-mounted TorqueFlite). Wheels were 5.5 inches wide, except for the 340 and Hemi, whose wheels were 7 inches wide.

The Challenger featured new flush pull-up door handles, door glass that had no vents and was curved, and an interior door lock recessed in the armrest. High-back bucket seats with built in head restraints could be tilted and moved fore and aft, or up and down, all manually; it was counterbalanced with springs to make the movement easier. Bench seats with folding center armrests were offered in the Hardtop. Safety precautions included a collapsible steering column, two-piece door impact beam, and a box-section roll bar for rollover protection. The more luxurious SE specification included leather seats, a vinyl roof, a smaller 'formal' rear window, vinyl bucket seats, various trim changes and an overhead interior console that contained three warning lights (door ajar, low fuel and seatbelts). A stereo tape player and cruise control were optional, along with power windows, FM stereo, rear defogger, and other luxury items. The convertible Challenger was available with any engine, as well as in the R/T and SE trim levels.

Dodge Challenger R/T

The performance model was the Challenger R/T (Road/Track), which came with the 335 bhp 383 engine. Optional were two 440 engines, the four-barrel Magnum with 375 bhp and the tri-carb Six Pack with 390 hp. Topping the list was the almighty 426 Hemi with 425 bhp. The Hemi cost an additional $1,228 and required heavy-duty suspension. The 440s and the Hemi came standard with TorqueFlite automatic. Optional was a four speed manual which included a pistol-grip Hurst shifter and a Dana 60 axle. The 440s and Hemi received 15 inch 60 series tires, although essentials such as power steering and front disc brakes were still optional. Inside they were given a Rallye instrument cluster which included a 150 mph (240 km/h) speedometer, an 8000 rpm tachometer and an oil pressure gauge. The R/T's standard hood had two hood scoops, but they did not feed directly into the air cleaner. For just $97, the buyer could specify the shaker scoop, which mounted to the air cleaner and stuck up through an opening in the hood. It was known as the "shaker" as it vibrated along with the engine. Performance for the R/T 440-6 was 0-60 in 6.2 seconds the ¼ mile in 13.7 seconds at 105 mph.

Dodge Challenger T/A

Built in 1970 only, at the Hamtramck plant, for competition in the SCCA's Trans-Am racing series was the Dodge Challenger T/A (Trans Am). In order to race in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans American Sedan Championship, it built a street version of its race car (a certain number of retail models had to be made for the car to be considered stock) as did Plymouth with its 'Cuda AAR which it called the Dodge Challenger T/A. Although the race cars ran a destroked version of the 340, street versions took the 340 and added a trio of two-barrel carbs atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, creating the 340 Six Pack which produced around 350 hp. The T/A could reach 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds at 99.6 mph.

It breathed air through a suitcase sized air scoop molded into the pinned down, hinged matte-black fiberglass hood. Low-restriction dual exhausts ran to the stock muffler location under the trunk then reversed direction to exit in chrome tipped "megaphone" outlets in front of the rear wheels. Options included a TorqueFlite automatic or pistol-grip Hurst-shifted four-speed transmission, 3.55:1 or 3.90:1 gears, as well as manual or power steering. Front disc brakes were standard. The special Rallye suspension used heavy duty parts and increased the camber of the rear springs. The T/A was among the first production vehicles to use different size tires front and rear: E60x15 fronts, and G60x15 in back. The modified camber elevated the tail enough to clear the rear rubber and its side exhaust outlets. Thick side stripes, bold ID graphics, a fiberglass ducktail rear spoiler, as well as a fiberglass front spoiler added to the this flamboyant image. The interior was strictly that of astock Challenger.

Unfortunately, the race Challenger T/A was not competitive (nor was the Barracuda AAR) and the street version suffered from severe under steer in fast corners. However it could turn mid 14 sec for the quarter mile, which would do any small block muscle car proud. The T/A would only be available for 1970 as Dodge would pull out of Trans Am racing. Only 2,142 T/As were made. A 1971 model using the 340 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor was planned and appeared in period advertising, but was not produced.

Production Numbers:
Base: 53,337
T/A: 2,142
R/T Coupe: 12,747
R/T Convertible: 1,070
RT/SE Coupe: 3,679


1971 Dodge Challenger
By 1971 it was already apparent that the muscle-car movement was fading, a fact that was reflected in the mildly restyled Challenger which received a new split grille and taillights. There was the addition of dummy brake cooling slots on the R/T models and the Special Edition Model (SE) lost the smaller rear window which now grew to normal size.

Emissions regulations brought with them drops in compression ratios, which began to strangle engine outputs (the engine's output drop was also exaggerated by the move from SAE gross to net ratings). There were now eight engines offered as the 440 with a four-barrel carb was gone from the lineup as was the 340 Six-Pack since both the AAR 'Cuda and Challenger T/A didn't return for a second year because of Dodge withdrawing from Trans Am racing. The Challenger T/A was advertised but never made and was officially dropped from the range. A retouched ad showing a 1971 T/A does exist but this was most likely a means for Chrysler to get rid of extra parts. The base 440 was dropped, but the 440-6, rated at 385 hp (down 5 hp from 1970) and the Hemi, still rated at 425 hp were still available. Both the R/T convertible and the Deputy models were dropped and the SE package was now only available on base model Challengers.

The R/T for 1971 had color-keyed bumpers, dummy brake cooling slots on its rear flanks, and new tape stripes. The 383 engine was still standard on R/T models, but it was detuned to 300 bhp due to a lower compression ratio to meet new government regulations. For those who were on a limited budget but still wanted to look the part you could now order a 340 R/T look-alike with a shaker, a go-wing, and most of the R/T paraphernalia but without the higher insurance premiums.

Despite being the Indy 500 Pace Car 1971 saw a severe slide in sales which were down over 60% in only the Challenger's second year. A small group of Dodge dealers tried to boost Challenger sales by providing fifty specially prepared examples as official Pace Cars for the Indianapolis 500 race. All of these cars were Hemi Orange convertibles with a white interior (although just two had high-performance options). The actual pace car skidded and crashed into a press box injuring a number of reporters - not surprisingly the Pace Car decal sets available through these dealers did not sell well..

Production Numbers:
Base: 23,088
Base Convertible: 2,165
R/T Coupe: 4,630
R/T Convertible: ?
RT/SE Coupe: ?


1972 Dodge Challenger
The muscle-car era was in full collapse by the introduction of the 1972 models. There were now only two models available; there was a Challenger and a Challenger Rallye hardtop - that was it. The Challenger gained new front end styling which included a new “sad mouth” grille which had down turned ends – Some critics noted that it was showing a sad face due to its own demise. The taillights now had four individual rectangular lamps, and the turn signals were rectangular and could be viewed from any angle. The Challenger now had the same body styling that would be virtually unchanged until its end in 1974.

Big changes were in effect for the 1972 Challenger powerplants - sadly, the engine choices had now dwindled down to a mere three. Base cars got the 225 six with 150 hp, the two-barrel 318 and (now the largest engine available) 240-hp, four-barrel 340 V8s were optional. A far cry from just one year before. The six cylinder, 440 triple-carb, and Hemi engines were dropped, along with the R/T, SE, and all convertibles. The Rallye replaced the Challenger R/T but sported only a 318 with just 150 hp. The big engines were dropped due largely to poor sales, which were exacerbated by high insurance costs on high-performance engines and the oil crisis. Full production was down to just over 26,000 units.

Production Numbers:
Base: 18,535
Rallye Coupe: 8,123


1973 Dodge Challenger
The six-cylinder engine disappeared for 1973 but the car was otherwise very much a carryover from the 1972 model. The only immediately apparent difference was the adoption of huge rubber bumper guards to meet the new government regulations. The 318 was now standard, as were vinyl front bucket seats with headrests; a floor-mounted 3-speed manual transmission; front and rear ashtrays; heater/defroster; day/night mirror; concealed two-speed wipers; dual horns; and an energy-absorbing steering column - those who wanted a passenger side mirror had to pay for it!

Sales actually increased compared to 1972 even though most of these cars had the 318 with 150 hp which could hardly be considered a performance machine. The Rallye edition was dropped although buyers could still build their own on the option sheet. Still available was the 340 with 240 bhp but was replaced at mid-season with a new 360 V8 debuted with 245 bhp. The increased capacity was the only way that Dodge could keep power up in the face of the ever tightening emissions control regulations.

Production Numbers: 32,596


1974 Dodge Challenger
By the time the 1974 models arrived, the muscle era was a receding memory and the Challenger was a marginal product being neglected by the company. It was practically indistinguishable from the 1973 model – This would be the last year for the Dodge Challenger. There were now only two engine choices the 318 and somewhat more powerful 360 for those that wanted any real performance. Sales collapsed during the 1974 model year with just 16,437 Challengers being made and that was it for the E-body platform - Challenger production ceased in mid 1974. Even though the Dodge Challenger lived just five short years it still made an indelible mark on the muscle car era.

The latter years (1972 – 74) saw little to no variation in styling. The only way to properly distinguish them is that the 1972s had flush mounted bumpers with no bumper guards, (small bumper guards were optional), while both the 1973 and 1974 models had the protruding 5 mph (8.0 km/h) bumpers in conjunction with large guards. These changes were made to meet US regulations of the time regarding crash test safety.

Production Numbers: 16,437


When the Barracuda and Challenger died, few mourned their passing. They had one great year (1970), one good one (1971) and three progressively lousier ones (1972-1974). In its short life, the Challenger turned out to be one of the best-looking cars produced in the muscle car era, and is today highly sought after. Its sales were probably never satisfying for Chrysler, which had invested quite a bit in the Challenger - probably because buyers found the interior space to be rather small for what was a fairly large car, the critics slammed the handling, and because the muscle-car market dried up rapidly with insurance company premium hikes and later the gas shortages. But with the passage of time their unique personalities and legends have grown. No one could have predicted just how popular they would become decades after their demise. The name was resurrected in the late seventies to be put on a Mitsubishi built compact (no less) and in 2008 for a visual clone of the original - the Challenger SRT8.


Did you know?

    • The "Western Special" was a version available only to west coast dealers. It came with a rear-exit exhaust system and Western Special identification on the rear decklid. Some examples came with a vacuum-operated trunk release.

    • Original "numbers matching" high-performance 1970-71 Challengers are now among the most sought-after collector cars. The rarity of specific models with big engines is the result of low buyer interest and sales with the correspondingly low production when new. For obvious reasons, the 440 and the 426 Hemi engines are considered the most desirable, and nowadays command sizable premiums over the smaller engines (with the exception of the limited edition Challenger T/A with its 340 six-pack).

    • With such options as "Shaker" hood scoops, pistol-grip shifters and "Panther Pink" paint, the Dodge Charger and the Plymouth Barracuda are still considered by many to be the ultimate expression of the muscle-car aesthetic. While much of the E-body legend surrounds the huge V8s that were available, many argue that the best of the species were the Plymouth Barracuda AAR and the Dodge Challenger T/A. In fact the rarest of these cars — the Hemi-powered coupes and particularly the Hemi-powered convertibles — now change hands for anywhere from $200,000 to well over $1 million in excellent condition.

    • The 1970 and 1971 models tend to generate more attention as performance and style options were still available to the public. With the popularity of these vehicles increasing, and the number of usable and restorable Challengers falling, many collectors now search for later models to create their own dream machines. Indeed, many "clones" of the more visceral 1970 and 1971 Challengers with high-performance drivetrains have been created by using low-end 6 cylinder and 318 powered non-R/T or T/A cars and installing one of the performance engine combinations (340, 440, or 426 Hemi) and adding the appropriate badges and hoods to look like the real thing. However although these clones may look the part, they are not worth nearly as much as an original.

    • Dodge Challengers were mainly produced for the US and Canadian markets. Interestingly, Chrysler officially sold Challengers to Switzerland through AMAG Automobil- und Motoren AG in Schinznach-Bad, near Zurich. Only a very few cars were shipped overseas each year to AMAG. They did the final assembly of the Challengers and converted them to Swiss specs. There are few AMAG cars still in existence. From a collector's point of view, these cars are very desirable. Today, less than five Swiss Challengers are known to exist in North America.

    • Chrysler exported Dodge Challengers officially to France as well through their Chrysler France Simca operation, since Ford sold the Mustang in France successfully in small numbers. However, only a few Challengers were exported and Chrysler finally gave up the idea of selling them in France. A few French Challengers still exist today.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

1964 Pontiac Catalina Ventura 389, Tri-Power - - For Sale (Click Here)


Description:

Early ‘60’s Pontiac fans, here’s a cool classic car for sale for you! How about a one-family-owned, ’64 Catalina, with its original interior, and only one repaint? We’ve got the ORIGINAL manuals with the Ident-O-Plate intact and TWO build sheets! Finished in crisp white with a striking two-tone red and maroon interior this car is as attractive as it is unusual to see. If you like you’re Pontiacs just a little larger this is the car for you!

Mr. A.V. Cockerham of Elkin, NC picked this car up at his local dealership, Rose and Day Inc. on August 30, 1964. The car came finished in Cameo Ivory with a really cool three-tone Ventura interior, with an 11H 389 2bbl engine, M35 Roto Hydramatic transmission, A49 seat belts (still not mandatory,) D31 tilt wheel, D33 remote outside rear view mirror, J50 power brakes, N30 deluxe steering wheel, N40 power steering, P01 deluxe wheel covers, U25 trunk light, U63 AM radio, W50 Ventura sport package and Y85 décor moldings. That’s a pile of car with all the options you’d ever need to cruise in style!

We’ve got some cool documents, too. We have the original owner’s manual, protection plan with the protect-o-plate, TWO build sheets, a very cool warranty sheet for replacement mufflers (in 1968!) and an unpaid PARKING TICKET from the fall of 1964! This makes for great display stuff, and adds to the value of the car, especially the second full build sheet. Full size Pontiacs for 1964 were large, but not overwhelmingly so. If you have visions of the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s models, rest assured that no one’s going to put Carnival Cruise Line stickers on the doors! These cars rode on very long 120” wheelbases, but only weighed 3750 pounds—barely 300 pounds more than a GTO! That means you car ride in style with PLENTY of friends, and still find parking spaces. This is a great car for touring as the ride quality from the long wheelbase really shines.

On the outside, this car just exudes cool. The Cameo Ivory paint glows, there’s just enough trim to make things interesting and the “dog dish” hubcaps give the car a purposeful Super Duty look. The chrome’s as you’d expect from a well-kept North Carolina car. There’s a set of “Yakuza-style” fender mounted mirrors, an excellent grille, very nice window frames, great bumpers and neat emblems. The trim is present and in great shape, the tires are new, the lenses are clear—get in and drive!

The interior is one of the coolest I’ve seen in a factory car—the W50 extra cost Ventura interior. With three colors of red and maroon, with Pontiac chevrons embossed in the seat backs, this is one of the last interiors that shows the craftsmanship that was slowly dying in the early ‘60’s. An awful lot of detail was lost the next year in a gentleman’s agreement among the Big Three to reduce spending and materials costs, and stainless trim and fancy interiors were the first to go. The armrests, door panels, headliner, seat covers, carpet (the only non-original part in the car) and interior chrome are in fantastic shape. Everything works inside from the parking lights to the AM radio to the wipers. There’s an under dash ARA A/C unit, and the compressor clutch still operates, and the compressor still spins. Grab the deluxe steering wheel and drive! The trunk is a four-body affair. Peel up the new trunk mat to find red spatter paint on virgin sheet-metal. Those side trim pieces in cardboard? They’re original, too! The SUPER BRIGHT U25 trunk light is awesome—it’s on a retractable cord long enough to work on the motor at midnight! Everything is as it should be from spare to jack, too. Throw a side of beef in there with a couple 30 packs and be the hit of the party!

Under-hood, something isn’t quite right. Pontiac installed a lone 2bbl carb, but somewhere along the line two more got thrown in! Looking the entire world like a legit Tri-Power car, it’s just one more detail that has people doing double takes. The rest of the compartment is as spartan as Pontiac made it, which makes the three deuces stand out just that much more. The correct satin black paint is nice and fresh, complimented by a new hood pad. There’s a new radiator, new hoses, new belts, new wires and plugs installed on the freshened motor—the car starts and runs right away.

Let’s go! With cool looks echoing the GTO’s stacked lamps, gloss paint, a totally cool, very original interior and big block power, this car is a road trip specialist. Familiar enough to recognize but different enough to stand out, this car’s quite the head turner for Saturday cruise action!



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Classic and Collector Car Glossary

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


A



ALL WEATHER - An early car term referring to the first convertibles. Commonly used in the twenties and thirties to denote a four door convertible sedan.

ANTIQUE CAR – In automotive terms it tends to refer to a vehicle that was built prior to 1915...
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A-PILLAR - The first pair of structural posts supporting the roof and windshield.



B


BAQUET - the literal translation is 'bath tub'. An early vehicle with two rows of seats on the order of a carriage. They typically did not have doors, roofs or windshields. Sometimes called a touring car in the US. Also see Phaeton.

BARCHETTA - Early open top sports car dedicated to racing without doors or a top. Typically with uniform and streamlined bodywork, it could have one or two separate seats.

BAROUCHE- a carriage term very rarely used for automobiles. The driver sat in an open front seat with two couples facing each other inside a closed cabin. There was a folding top over the rear seat.

BATEAU - The shape of the back end of early open topped race vehicles at the beginning of the century, such as the Barchetta. It looks like the bow of a boat and is commonly referred to as a Boat-tail.

BEACH WAGON - a term for station wagon used mostly in New England.

BERLINE - An early word for a two-door sedan.

BOAT-TAIL - The term literally describes the shape of the vehicle’s tail. It refers to a vehicle with a tapered V-shaped back end, like the bow of a boat. A common streamline effect used in early race cars, such as the Barchetta. Also known as a Bateau shape.

BODY-ON RESTORATION - Essentially the same as the more familiar ‘frame-off restoration’ but may not be as thorough.

BONNET - The panel that covers the engine - an English term for the hood.

BOOT - The panel that covers the rear luggage compartment - an English term for the trunk.

B-PILLAR - The pair of structural posts following the A-Pillars and front doors.

BRASS CAR - The brass era was named for the widespread use of the fancy brass fittings and brass lanterns that were a natural addition to the new 'horseless carriage'...
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BREACK - Station wagon (French)

BROUGHMAN - In early motoring this broad term signified a closed car for two or four persons. In later forms it was commonly used to describe a car with a closed in passenger compartment behind an open drivers seat. The term may also refer to any early vehicle with doors and a roof - also known as a Coupe Chauffeur and a Coupe Limousine. When coupled with sharp lines and flat surfaces it may also be called a 'Panel Brougham'.

BUILD - The term refers to a change or variation in the factory procedures, indicated by the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

BULLNOSE - a term commonly used in England during the 1920's to indicate the shape of the front end of a vehicle resulting from the style of radiator which supposedly resembled the nose of a bull. Ex. Bull-nose Morris.

BUSINESS COUPE - A basic low-end, two-door coupe that did not include unnecessary amenities such as a radio or rumble seat. Everyday transport for the middleclass as used by doctors, bankers and salesman etc



C


CABRIOLET - An early French term meaning folding top or convertible - generally this means a convertible car with windows. Concurrently in the United States, the term used was Convertible coupe. The equivalent in Great Britain was called a drop-head coupe using the term Cabriolet to mean a four door open top car.

CALIFORNIA TOP - A fixed rigid top applied to a touring car replacing the regular folding top, usually with sliding glass windows for weather protection.

CARSON TOP - A custom-made, one-piece, hard or rigid (non-folding), removable convertible top which may be specially made but are often created by removing the original top from a sedan or hardtop. Carson tops are frequently lowered / chopped by 2-3 inches.

CCCA CLASSIC - A term defined by the Classic Car Club of America to include only specific important marques built largely between 1925 and 1948. To read the complete CCCA definition
CLICK HERE.

CHARACTER LINE - A design incorporated into flat panels to give them strength.

CHOPPED or CHOPTOP - the process of lowering the top of a car, usually as part of a customized design.

CHUMMY - In England from 1920 onwards a chummy was used to describe an open top car with two full-sized seats up front with two small 'occasional' seats in the rear.

CLASSIC - The definition can vary widely.. According to the Classic Car Club of America this term refers only to specific or important marques built between 1925 and 1942. Other Consumer Guides place it in the 1960′s. It is however applied today by owners of almost any collectible car that is more than 25 years old.

CLOSED CAR – A vehicle with a hard top.

CLUB COUPE - A two-door hard-top (closed car) with a small rear seat.

COACH - A two door sedan.

COACH-LINE - The early name for a pinstripe: a thin line of paint contrasting to the body color.

CONCOURS (d'Elegance) - Literal translation, a gathering or show of the elegant. Ex. A vehicle that is described as ‘Concours’ would be considered condition 1++ (A++).

CONDITION NUMBERS - Any set of digits used to rate the overall quality of a car. The one most commonly employed is probably the ‘Six Value Condition Number Scale’. The number ‘1’ would represent a vehicle in excellent condition, whereas the number ‘6’ would define a vehicle suitable only as a parts donor.

CONTINENTAL KIT - A spare tire mounted on the bumper at the rear of the car, usually requiring a bumper extension.

CONVERTIBLE - In short, any car with a top and windows that can be either lowered or removed. Originally, all cars were of this design, but soon the protection of the closed in sedan gained dominance. Convertible coupes had two doors, whilst cars with four doors were called convertible sedans - in both cases four or five people could be seated.

CONVERTIBLE ROADSTER - A convertible is an open car with windows; a roadster is an open car without windows.? A contradiction in terms. - used by some manufacturers in the 1930s to intimate the feel of a sport car.

CONVERTIBLE VICTORIA - A four passenger two door two-window convertible.

COUPE or COUPE - A closed car with two doors for two or three people and a roofline that generally curves at the back. A coupe with a small backseat is generally referred to as a Club Coupe.

COUPE CHAUFFEUR - Chauffeur driven car with passengers fully enclosed and the chauffeur exposed. Body has rear quarter windows. Also known as a Brougham and a Coupe Limousine.

COUPE DeVILLE - Usually a four passenger two-door car with a permanently closed roof over the rear seats and a removable top covering the front seats. Also known as a Town Coupe. See also Sedanca.

COUPELET - A term used especially by Ford to describe a Model T two-seater Cabriolet.

COUPE LIMOUSINE - Chauffeur driven car with the passengers fully enclosed and the chauffeur exposed. Body has rear quarter windows. Also known as a Brougham and a Coupe Chauffeur.

COUPE MILORD - A four door touring car with a convertible top over the rear seats only. Also known as a ‘Victoria’.

C-PILLAR - The third pair of structural posts, following the B-Pillars, supporting the roof and rear window.

CRUISER SKIRTS - Optional accessory similar in function to fender skirts but are normally longer and fit on the outside of the body of the car. Most often used in customization work.

CUSTOM CAR - A custom car is a phrase that became prominent in American pop culture in the 1950s, and has enjoyed special interest popularity since that time…
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CUSTOMIZED - Refers to any modification of a car other than the restoration to the original condition. This may mean something as simple as adding a new engine or power options to changing the car so radically that its original nature is barely recognizable.

CYCLE FENDERS - Free standing fenders that conform to the shape of the tire, like those used on a bicycle or motorcycle. More commonly found on the front but sometimes found on the rear.



D


DECKED
- The process of removing the body trim or contour lines from the hood or trunk of a car, usually as part of a customized design.

DeVILLE EXTENSION - A sliding roof over the front seat with side arms that folded back into the remaining roof thus producing a Sedanca configuration in metal rather than the usual fabric.

DICKEY - An English term for an external seat that could be accessed by lifting a forward opening 'trunk-like' lid in the rear of the car - known in the US as a Rumble Seat.

DOGLEG - A popular name applied to the angle created at the door opening by the wrap-around windshields found on many mid to late '50's models.

DRAG PLATES - Metal plates that have a car club's name and logo identifying the vehicle and its driver as a member of that club.

DRAGSTER - Drag racing vehicles are special in that they are specifically modified to be lighter and more powerful than in their standard form…
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DROPHEAD COUPE - British term for the equivalent of the American convertible. Also known as the European Cabriolet.

DUAL COWL - A design of touring car, which saw the cab divided into two compartments with a front and rear seat. It also has a second windshield mounted on a folding Cowl to protect backseat occupants.


E


ESTATE CAR - A station wagon, or four-door, four passenger car with an extended roof line plus a gate or hatch in the rear for increased cargo capacity.



F


FAUX CABRIOLET - A fixed head coupe made to resemble a cabriolet.

FENCER’S MASK - The term used to describe a type of radiator grille design from the 1930's which resembled a fencer’s mask for its shape and fine weave of the grille.

FENDER - The part of the body specially shaped to accommodate a wheel and tire (British – Wing).

FENDER SKIRTS - Optional accessory that fits up in the wheel well and covers most or all of the cut-outs in the fenders at the rear wheels.

FINE-LINE - A body stripe (British).

FIXED HEAD COUPE or FHC - A hardtop coupe (closed coupe).

FODOR - A name used by Ford for a four-door sedan in the 1930s and 1940s.

FOUR ON THE FLOOR - The common term for a four speed manual transmission with the shifting lever mounted on the floor rather than on the steering column.

FRAME - The steel structure that supports the body, engine, suspension and drive train.

FRAME-OFF RESTORATION - A restoration method in which the car is completely disassembled with all parts cleaned or replaced as necessary. This includes the engine and all other mechanical components so the restored car meets the exact factory specifications of the time as closely as possible.

FRAME-UP RESTORATION - A less rigorous restoration than a frame-off in which the car has not been disassembled. Only certain components such as paint, chrome, interior, and maybe some mechanical items having been restored.



G


GOUTTE d'EAU - A ′tear drop′ body style, tapered to the rear.

GOVERNOR - A device used with the carburetor to restrict the maximum engine speed.

GP - Grand Prix or Great Prize.

GRAN TURISMO (GT) - Gran Turismo is an Italian term commonly used by car manufacturers meaning "Grand Touring"…
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GROUND-UP RESTORATION - essentially the same as the more familiar ‘frame-off restoration’ but may not be as thorough.

GT (GRAN TURISMO) - A Grand Tourer is a high-performance automobile designed for long-distance driving…
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GULLWING DOORS - Hinged to open vertically rather than horizontally. Two most notable examples are the Delorean DMC and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.



H


HARD TOP - A removable top made from fiberglass or steel that replaces the soft-top - usually painted the same color as the body of the car.

HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE - A type of convertible having a removable hard top. Such designs include tops that unfasten and lift off (early Ford Thunderbirds) and the retractables on the late 1950's Fords.

HINGE PILLAR - The second and third pillars that the door hinges are attached to.

HOOD - American terminology for the sheet metal panel covering the engine. Commonly called the bonnet in Great Britain and can also be used to describe a convertible’s soft-top.

HORSELESS CARRIAGE - a term defined by the Horseless Carriage Club of America applying to cars built before 1915 (See also Antique).

HORSEPOWER - a unit of work. 550 foot pounds per second or .745kw

HOT HATCH - A hot hatch is an informal or slang term for a high-performance derivative of a three (or sometimes five) door automobile…
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HOT ROD - A wide range of home made and backyard maintained vehicles from the 1930's through to the beginning of the Muscle Car era…
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I J K


KIT CAR - This refers to a reproduction of an existing automotive design sold as a kit that the builder assembles themselves.



L


LANDAU - Originally a limousine with an open drivers compartment, front and back seats facing each other, and a two-part convertible roof (like a Brougham). In recent years US manufacturers used the term to describe a cloth-covered fixed top.

LANDAU TOP - A roof style characterized by a (usually small) rear section being covered by vinyl fabric or otherwise set apart.

LANDAULET - A Landau limousine in which the section over the passenger / rear seats also opens or folds down.

LAND YACHT – An oversized luxury car, especially the huge chrome laden finned vehicles of the late 1950's early ‘60’s.

LATCH - The mechanism that grabs a striker to hold a door closed.

LEAD SLED - The process of smoothing and shaping body contours to remove lines between panels and minor imperfections. Often this would result in radically changed body shapes. Today plastic filler is used but originally lead was employed, hence the name ‘Lead Sled’.

LIGHT - A small window as in sidelight, quarter-light, skylight etc

LIMOUSINE - A chauffeured sedan designed for passenger comfort, often with a longer wheelbase and usually with a division between the driver and the passengers. The rear compartment has luxurious features with separate controls for heating and the opening and closing of the glass or wood division.

LOWERED - The process of lowering the chassis of a car, usually as part of a customized design.

LOWRIDER - Lowriders are very often classic cars from the 1950s which rode low to begin with…
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M

MARQUE - A make or brand of car.

MATCHING NUMBERS - A set of numbers on a car which specify and can be used to verify the originality of the components of a car ranging from color to the engine.

MM (MILLE MIGLIA) - A one thousand mile Italian road race that took place from 1927 to 1957.

MOTHER-IN-LAW SEAT - a single sideways-facing rear seat. - usually found in coupes or cabriolets.

MUFFLER CUT-OUT - a valve located on the exhaust pipe between the engine and the muffler. When opened it allows exhaust gas to pass directly to the open air which makes a great noise and slightly increases power.

MUSCLE CAR - A muscle car is an automobile with a high horse power engine, modest weight and capable of producing high levels of acceleration…
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N


NEW OLS STOCK (NOS) - New parts made by the original manufacturer at the time of production that were never used.

NOSED - The process of raising a small peak (nose) in the center of the hood of a car, usually as part of a customized design.



O


ORIGIONAL-
From the time of purchase or manufacture. A car that is ‘all original’ is one that contains only parts contemporary to its time (came with the car or NOS) with no substitute or after-market parts.

O.E.M. - Original Equipment Manufacturer. The term is generally used to distinguish between parts made by the original builder and the aftermarket.

OIL CAN - A condition where a dent in a body panel will ′pop′ in and out like the bottom of an oil can.

OPERA COUPE - a two door closed car with a small folding seat beside the driver. This allowed easy passage to a rear seat for two, usually offset to the right in left-hand drive cars.



P

PANEL BROUGHAM - see BROUGHAM

PARTS CAR -
A car that is suitable only for stripping it for its parts. Such cars are often wrecked, incomplete and do not run. Such a car would normally have a condition number of ‘6’.

PHAETON – A four door opened top touring car. French term taken from the Greek "Phaeton" who drove the chariot of his sun-god father, Helios.

PICKING-OUT - a molding color in contrast to a body color.

PINSTRIPE - A thin line of paint contrasting to the body color - originally called a coach-line.

PONY CAR - The pony car is a class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964…
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POST - The fixed column between the front and rear side windows of a sedan. The post is not present in a hardtop.

PRO STREET - A customized automobile designed for very high-performance and racing.

PROJECT CAR - An essentially complete usually running car that is capable of being restored. A project car usually has a condition number of ‘4’ or ‘5’.



Q


QUARTER WINDOW / QUARTER LIGHT -
A small triangular window between the windshield A-pillar and front door window, or between the rear door window and C-pillar. Also known as a ‘wind wing’.



R


RAGTOP -
A slang term for a convertible top made out of fabric. Also known as a soft top.

RETRACTABLE - A car having a mechanically retractable hardtop such as the late 1950's Ford Skyliner.

RIB - A bow made of metal or wood that makes up part of the frame for a convertible top.

ROADSTER - Is the North American term used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top…
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ROLL BAR –
Metal tubing fashioned in such a way to protect the occupants in the event the car should roll over.


RUMBLE SEAT -
An external seat that could be accessed by lifting a forward opening 'trunk-like' lid in the rear of the car - the British call it a ‘Dickey’.

RUNABOUT - A small light two-seater vehicle. Runabout was mainly an American term to indicate a very basic and cheap small open car.

RUNNING BOARD - A strip running between the fenders and below the doors of early autos used both as a step up into the car and to wipe the mud from one's feet.


S


SEDAN -
A closed automobile having two or four doors.

SEDANCA – An early body style in which the top extended for a quarter of a circle and covered only the passengers in the rear seats.

SEDAN DELIVERY - Essentially a station wagon closed behind the front seat resembling a small panel truck.

SEDANETTE or SEDANET - A two-door sedan having a slanted back with the rear window and trunk along one unbroken curve. This name for the early streamlined design is most often used for Buick and Cadillac models, but similar designs of other makes are known by various names such as "Aero" (Chevrolet), "Jetback," "Streamliner" (Pontiac), "Torpedo," and simply "fastback."

SHAVED - The process of smoothing lines by removing the body trim or contour lines of a car which would include filling any holes - usually as part of a customized design.

SIDE MOUNT - A spare tire mounted on the side of a car, normally on the fender just above and behind the front wheel.

SHOOTING BRAKE - This is a European term commonly used to describe a car that is a cross between a two-door sports coupe and an estate car. Originally, a car built for wealthy hunters, it now refers to custom built luxury cars like the Bentley.

SOFT TOP - A slang term for a convertible top made out of fabric. Also known as a ‘Rag Top’.

SPORTIF - a very tight or narrow type of Phaeton.

SPORT COUPE - a closed coupe with a cloth top and sometimes landau irons resembling a convertible.


SPYDER -
Is the European term used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top...
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SS or SUPER SPORT - A sporty designation used by General Motors.

STATION WAGON - a utility car built of wood, typically with four doors and a rear door or tailgate.

STRANGLER - a carburetor choke.

STREET ROD - A customized and usually modernized automobile designed for show or pleasure driving - often built from a classic car.

STRIKER PILLAR - The pillar that the door striker is attached to.

STRIKER - A post or pin that a door latch mechanism grabs to hold the door closed.

SUBURBAN - A seven passenger model vehicle / limousine.

SUICIDE DOOR- A rear hinged door, typically for the front seat. So named because at speed any chance opening would cause the door to whip backward with great force.

SUPERCAR - Is a term generally used for a high-end sports car, whose performance is highly superior to that of its contemporaries…
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SUPERLEGGERA - Super Light (Italian).



T


TAILGATE - The rear door of a station wagon.

TARGA - a two door coupe with a removable roof panel.

THREE POSITION COUPE - A Coupe de Ville which may be presented as a either a fully closed coupe, a deVille Coupe with the front section open or a fully collapsible convertible.

TONNEAU - Originally the rear seating area, but now the term is usually used to refer to a rear storage area.

TONNEAU COVER - A fabric cover to protect the ‘Tonneau’ area / interior of a vehicle from the elements when the top is down.

TORPEDO - An early touring car, like the Phaeton and Baquet with a long wheelbase. Usually with flat panel’s low doors and sides that offered no protection from the weather.

TOURING CAR - A four door open car without windows. US equivalent of the European Baquet.

TOWN CABRIOLET - A town car that can be opened like a convertible.

TOWN CAR - A chauffeur driven car with the passengers fully enclosed and the chauffeur exposed. Also known as a Sedanca deVille or Town Brougham.

TRAILER QUEEN - A term used for a collector car that has been restored and is transported to shows in or on trailers with little or no mileage on the odometer.

TRUNK – The rear storage compartment, known as the ‘Boot’ in Britain.

TUDOR SEDAN - Ford's term for a two door.


TWIN SIX –
The first twelve cylinder engine introduced by ‘Packard’ in 1915.



U


UNDERSLUNG
- Refers to a vehicle frame that runs under the axles.

UNIBODY - ′Uni′ stands for ′unitized′ and refers to a body and frame that are manufactured as one component.



V


VETERAN CAR
- It’s commonly held that the period from 1888 – 1904 defined the veteran car era…Click Here

VICKY or VICKIE - A nickname for a ‘Victoria’ mostly used by Ford over the years, but applied to a few cars by other companies such as Packard and Chrysler in early years. The shortened form is most often used for models cirça the 1930's.

VICTORIA - A close coupled two door sedan or an enlarged coupe with a rear seat - an ‘Opera Coupe’. Also a four door touring car with a convertible top over the rear seats only. Known in France as a ‘Coupe Milord’.

VINTAGE CAR - A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and through to the stock market crash at the end of 1929… Click Here

VIN - This is an abbreviation for the Vehicle Identification Number, the car's identification that carries its serial number, model, year of manufacture and basic equipment information.

VIS A VIS – A French term generally used to describe a seating arrangement where the passengers sit facing each other.



W


WEYMANN
- A patented body in which wooden frame members were joined by metal strips preventing the wood from touching and squeaking.

WINDOW STRAP - A strap attached to the base of a window allowing the window to be pulled up. The strap has a series of holes that can be hooked on an inside pin to hold the window at various levels. Predecessor to the window crank.

WINDSCREEN - The front window of a vehicle. British term for windshield

WINDSHIELD - The front window of a vehicle (British – windscreen).

WING - British term for fender.

WIND WING - A small triangular window between windshield A-pillar and front door window, or between the rear door window and C-pillar. Also knows as a Quarter Window or Quarter Light.

WINTER FRONT - A patented name by the ‘Pines Co’ for a radiator cover with louvers that can be opened and closed to control air flow that enables regulation of the engine temperature.

WOODY or WOODIE - Originally referred to vehicles incorporating natural finished wood as part of the vehicle structure. Now more commonly used as a slang term for a vehicle with wood covering part of the body.

WRAP-AROUND WINSHIELD - A type of windshield design found on many mid to late 1950's cars on which the vertical post on each side were ‘swept back’ to a vertical or a reversed position in an attempt to improve visibility.


XYZ


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