Happy Holidays

We just returned from a much needed vacation in Florida, and I'm having a hard time adjusting to this cold weather. I just want to take the Camaro out for a ride! While in Epcot, we came across a prototype of the new C7 Corvette. The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette is set to receive its world debut on January 13 at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and it probably won't look anything like this. There will be a real focus on the interior, check out the latest teaser video below below. I feel it is kind of fitting to end 2012 with a post about a Corvette, as this was the year I let my beloved Stingray go.

Classic racers take on Laguna Seca

Check out the sights and sounds of Laguna Seca, as classic cars take the famous track's turns in stride, then ride along with SPEED Network's Mike Joy in a 1970 Dodge Challenger.

Hood Springs Restored

I was excited to see the UPS delivery of our new Camaro hood springs, so Zach and I headed out to the garage to fix the Camaro. We cut a piece of wood to hold the hood up, then removed both springs. We scuffed up the springs with a Scotchbrite pad and masked up the entire front end before painting the hinges. After we installed the new springs, the hood opens and closes perfectly, and looks great!

We also decided that the Chevelle needed some new plug wires, after our close inspection found 4 bunrt boots. We installed a new set, but this time we put some fiberglass heat insulation boots on at the plug ends. It rubs much better now, and I'm just waiting for a call from my local armature up the road....they are building us a new hi-output alternator.

67 Camaro Hood Spring

Feeling guilty about not getting to the garage yesterday, I woke up and immediately remembered the hood would not stay up on the Camaro. Why was that? Hinges look great, springs are new....let's go to Google. There it was, the answer. Apparently the stock hood used a spring with 26 coils, the SS hood required two additional coils for the added weight. I spoke to Michael, and he told me what he had done when restoring the car. I checked with my usual parts supplier, he had only the 26 coil spring, but I did find the correct ones at Rick's Camaro. I placed the order, and found the easiest way to pull the hood springs off here. I have a nice cable with a loop on the end that works perfectly. The plan is to pull off the old springs, paint the hinges, and install the new springs without scratching ANYTHING. Zach and I spent some time this afternoon washing and vacuuming the cars, they all needed it. Then my friend Kelly stopped by and we pulled the 2,000 lbs tree stump to the curb with her bad-ass Jeep and winch. It was awesome! We got to get another Jeep again.

Goodguys Southwest Nationals

It's been a bit crazy hear the past few weeks. We had Hurricane Sandy, which uprooted the massive tree in my front yard (no car damage..whew), and even our first snowfall. I had planned to take the Camaro for a ride today, but it was cold, and I was lazy, and nothing happened. I watched some car shows, and wished that I was here... the 15th annual Goodguys Southwest Nationals.

 

Chevelle and Camaro

It has been a busy week here. I was tired of hearing Sarah's rear brakes squeaking, so  i fixed that Monday. Zach blew the trans cooler line off the Chevelle, and then broke a rear brake line a few days later. The best thing about building your car from the ground up is knowing exactly what is wrong and how to fix it. Both of Zach's issues were fixed for under $20 combined.

I also got the parts for the Camaro in this week. New floor mats, some manuals and literature, and the tune-up parts I needed. I installed the new headlight motor and some 1157A bulbs in the parking lights, so the lights are all set now. The vacuum advance wasn't working on the Camaro, and it didn't help that the timing was set at 4 degrees after TDC, not the 6 degrees before TDC that is the factory setting. I rebuilt the distributor with a new Accel electronic points conversion kit, 8140 coil and new vacuum advance, a little tuning of the carb with the vacuum gauge, and she runs much better. I took it out for a ride today, and Zach and I stopped in the park for a quick photo. We also installed a new waterneck and gasket to stop the weeping/leaking of the coolant on the intake. On our last drive around town we ran into my neighbor Vinny with his '68 Camaro convertible, and spent a while swapping stories till it got dark and were hungry for dinner.

1967 Camaro RS

I've been recovering from the motorcycle accident over the past few weeks, and just haven't had the enthusiasm to post anything lately. I know...pretty lame excuse, but the leg is still hurting and I don't want to blog about that. Damn, I just did it.
Anyway, I traded the '64 Stingray for a sweet 1967 Camaro RS. It is a numbers matching car that has been totally restored, and looks great. I've got a bunch of great photos to post of the restoration, maybe I'll make a video or slideshow with them. (Thanks Mike!) 

The previous owner, that would be Mike, did a great job on the body work, however there were a few things I had to fix. The radiator must have had a leak, because it was full of Bars Leak, and he added an electric fan to compensate for the resulting overheating of that crap in the cooling system. A good flushing, new thermostat and new radiator, and now she sits at 160. He also had installed an Edelbrock carb, and you need to install a  Edelbrock #9266 heat insulator gasket on those things like I did with the '71 Chevelle or the fuel will percolate when it gets hot, making hot starting a bitch. I fixed both of those items today.

The RS hideaway lights were not functioning correctly, and after a ton of research, I found out that they were wired incorrectly. The system on the '67 is electric with 3 relays and 4 limit switches and a flux-capacitor....man it is a pain to get right. I finally has it, and all I needed to do was to remove the drivers side motor and tighten up the bolt after shimming it up. Yup, I broke it. Snapped that sucker right in half. So, I'm of to the swap meet to find a new one this weekend.

Westfield Car Auction

Zach and I headed over to the Westfield Armory to check out the car show and auction being held there today. We met a nice guy who brought a few of his cars...two 1970 Cudas (a green 440 and a purple Hemi) and his '08 Ferrari 430 Scuderia. The Italian flag stripe on the Ferrari was a $9,000 option. Unbelievable. He also had a 1969 Charger, but didn't bring that one...damn. I wonder if I choose the wrong career path...

I just finished my 1972 Honda CB450 Cafe Project, got a whopping 93 miles on it, and some idiot blew a stop sign and broke my leg. The pic is from after the accident. It needs new forks. This bike has 6,600 miles, new paint, seat, shocks, chain, Mikuni carbs, rearsets, clubman bars, brakes, tires, tubes, exhaust, custom led taillight with integral signals. Starts right up...but I am done riding.

Goodbye Stingray...

After 14 years, our 1964 Corvette Stingray is no longer with us.

1971 Chevelle Wheels

I finally got around to making a new video of the 1971 Chevelle with the "new" wheels. They have been there for over a year now, so I can't really call them new anymore. Although the car is dirty, you can't really see it from the video (whew!), and Zach has been driving it now regularly.

Cafe Racer Video

I've been enjoying the cafe racer this summer, occasionally taking it to work or just running around town. It is so much fun to ride, and to be able to kick start a bike is such a great feeling. Hard to explain to someone who has never done it, and who isn't a gear-head.

Check out my latest video for the Honda CB450 Cafe Racer project
 

Summer vacation

I feel kind of bad that I haven't posted anything this month. I did take the cafe racer to a car show in downtown Woodbridge last week, and got lots of nice compliments. I have plans on making a few new videos and posting them, so maybe I'll work on that this week. I've been enjoying life and time with the family, and not spending too much time in the garage. I started to do some fiberglass work on Cary's motorcycle fairings, and Tommy wants the extra small block I have, so those will be worked on soon too. Ahhhh...just a relaxing summer.

Happy Birthday America!

It's July 4th, and I'm ready to start up the BBQ, have a beer and relax with the family. I realized this morning that I haven't blogged in a while, and that's because I have been enjoying the motorcycle rides to work and days at the beach this summer, and not sweating in the garage. There will always be something to work on, and I enjoy that, but not all the time. South Hill Customs is slowing down, at least for now...

Tuning and Tweaking

After talking with my pal Mr. King about the trials and tribulations of my rearsets, I decided to pull the Loaded Gun shifter off and "tweak" it a bit. A little bit of the torch and vise, along with some rarely used upper body muscles, and the shifter was adjusted so that it actually works now! I bent the arm to move the toe bar out a bit. I took her for a spin around the block, and was able to shift, although my throttle control and braking were another story, so on to the next issue.

The carbs still don't run worth a damn, and I've been through them twice (and by the looks of them, so has everyone else....abused like a whore house on dollar day). I got the OK from the spousal unit for a new carb purchase under the guise of a "Father's Day present", well who am I to argue. A happy wife = a happy life, right! 

So I'll check in with Dime City Cycles on Monday to make sure I'm not missing any parts, but my order will be for a set of "The Coveted" Mikuni VM32mm carbs pre-jetted for my CB450, along with new linkage, air filters, intake, etc. 

I think the used master cylinder I purchased is leaking, because I am not getting the pressure I need from the front for adequate stopping, and I also see the fluid around the lever. I either need a rebuild or replacement, and will look into that this afternoon.

Red Rider...almost

I haven't posted anything recently, and if you look below you will see why. Despite the rainy weather and a lot of Diablo III, I managed to finish up the body work and paint the CB450. I found just enough red Centari acrylic enamel in the garage, and my plan was to shoot a base coat of that and to clear over top with ChromaClear. After three coats of red, I liked the outcome so much, I said' "done". 

I tweaked a few things during reassembly, like new fuel lines and clamps and some double-sided tape to keep the tank emblems on. So then I took her for a quick spin around the block, but I need to make some serious adjustments to the rearsets, which are barely functional at this point, and shifting and braking are kind of important. I guess I don't need to run out for that new helmet just yet.

Cafe Racer Seat Pad

This morning Zach and I finished making the seat pads for the CB450 project. It was pretty easy overall, and I have enough material to do another set in case I don't like these. I also started to lay down some new fiberglass to the seat cowl (after I cut the back down a bit) to make the room for the rear tail light. I just put one thin layer down, that will be the foundation for the rest of the fiberglass and body work.

Seat Construction

I spent the entire day working on the seat bracket, and rear bodywork, and seat pads. I had the usual trips to Home Depot for metric bolts, got to make 2 or 3 of those each day now. I also picked up some nice material for the seat pads, and can't wait to glue them up tomorrow. The seat pad backs are all cut to size and the mounting screws are glued in and hardening over-night. The plan is to finish up the seat tomorrow, and then figure out how to mount the tail light and what to do with the license plate.

 

CB450 Rearsets

I spent the evening fabricating up my CB450 rearset mounts out of some 1/4" aluminum plate and stainless cap screws. I mounted the mounts onto the existing rear foot peg brackets, and then installed my Loaded Gun rearsets. Hopefully tomorrow I can mock up the rear brake rod, and see if the rear brake light switch is able to be hooked up. I also need to remove the stock rear brake arm (you can still see it in the pic above) by removing the center-stand. That should be fun. The seat frame is complete, but I still need to cut down the seat cowl, it is too long.

In Memoriam: Carroll Shelby

In Memoriam: Carroll Shelby 

 

 

Carroll Shelby has died.

 

The automotive icon whose innovation and influence spanned more than a half-century was 89.

 

Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market and American Car Collector, commented, "Carroll Shelby will be forever remembered as the man who single-handedly took the fight to Ferrari and beat them at their own game on their own race tracks. His spirit, his ingenuity and his ever-present sense of humor will be missed."

 

Shelby's early career as a successful racer, driving for Cadillac, Maserati and Aston Martin, concluded in 1959, the year he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He then turned his vision and drive to building cars.

 

Shelby fitted a Ford V8 into the AC Ace body, and the potent Cobra was born. Its continual refinements and ever more powerful engines were typical of Shelby's relentless pursuit of perfection. Over the years, Shelby worked closely with Dodge and Ford in the development of many performance cars, including the Dodge Viper and the long-running Ford Mustang Shelby line.

 

Shelby will be remembered not just as a racer and technological performance guru, but as a charismatic entrepreneur who was never afraid to risk it all. His by-any-means-necessary approach to innovation continually advanced the industry until his death.

 

Shelby is survived by his three children: Patrick, Michael and Sharon; his sister Anne Shelby Ellison; and his wife Cleo. For more about Shelby's life, click here. Donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation are encouraged in lieu of flowers.

 

Cafe Racer Pinata

I've been so busy working on the cafe racer, I forgot to blog about it. Let's see, I finally got the new tires installed at the local Honda dealer, and now the bike is back on the ground again. I was calling it my "cafe-racer pinata", because it was hanging from my engine hoist for the past week. The tank has been stripped of paint, and then I got to work on the inside of the tank. I filled it with a box of drywall screws, and shook it up for 10 minutes, then followed it up with a nice acid wash. It was like new inside! Then I coated the inside with the Caswell epoxy tank sealer and let it dry. This stuff is awesome, and I know I will not have any leaks or issues with the tank now.

Today I installed the new chain, although I think I could have left an extra link in there, because it is just a bit short...hopefully it will stretch some. Then I fabricated up the brackets for the new mufflers, and put them on. Oh, I almost forgot about the new gators for the front forks, they look sweet! My seat pan came in, and I'll be working on that soon too.

CB450 clean up

I almost lost my mind trying to figure out a way to get the front brake pad un-stuck from the caliper on the CB450. I tried for hours/days with little success, then went to Fisher Machine. Bobby wasn't able to budge it either, and he recommended we drill it from the back and simply push it out, but I could only find one replacement on eBay for $699, so that wasn't going to happen. Then I went to see Chris at Ace Motorsports, and we just tapped the holes I drilled, and ran some bolts through to push the pad out. It was almost too easy.

As I wait for my part to arrive, I stripped almost everything off the bike, cleaned and painted the frame black (not shown in this photo). I pulled the rear wheel, and will bring it to the Honda dealer along with the front wheel in order to get my new tires installed this week.

1972 Honda CB450 Cafe Project

I've been tinkering with the latest project, and '72 Honda CB450K5, which is on it's way to becoming a cafe racer. I rebuilt the carbs, and it is running much better now. After draining the tank, I found a bunch of rust and crap in the petcock and tank, so I am going to clean it out and coat the gas tank with the Caswell Epoxy coating I used on the Buell.

The front brake didn't work when I bought it, but I knew the master cylinder was stuck, so I ordered a replacement from eBay. The front caliper was completely stuck, I can NOT get the pad out...so I'm working on a replacement one if possible.

I found a great site for parts, Dime City Cycles, and plan to order parts from them tomorrow too!

'66 Chevele - SOLD

It saddens me to report that the '66 Chevelle has been sold, and has left the SHC garage. I really wanted this car, but truthfully I just didn't want to make the investment of time and money required to complete it. Zach likes the '71 Chevelle better, so he will get that for his first car and I will probably get a little cafe racer to keep me happy this summer.

I received dozens of calls for the Chevelle ad from six states (yeah, probably should have asked for more $$$), and one in particular was a pleasant surprise. Craig and I spoke about the Chevelle, our old Buells, and his ’79 Suzuki GS550 project. His objective was to build the bike for the least amount of $ as possible – just a personal goal he set out seeing if it could be done. Admittedly, he cut some corners here and there(skateboard seat pan instead of purchased fiberglass molded) and bartered for some parts(clubman handlebars, etc..). "I’ve just about taken it as far as I want – probably build a seat pad for it soon, but believe it or not, the skateboard kinda conforms to my butt and is pretty comfortable. I may look for something else shortly."

I am inspired, thanks Craig!

66 Chevelle Progress

So, I am on vacation this week, and have been working steadily on the '66 Chevelle...which is good news. I did however place an ad on Craigslist offering to sell the car. I must be off my meds or something. I finally got the car in primer, and just have to get the dings out, the body blocked and painted...but I am at the point that I can cut my losses and walk away before I sink another couple grand into it. Isn't that what I wanted though? A nice 1966 Chevelle? And if I sell it, what then? What would I drive? Aghhhhhh!!!

I have a bunch of calls to return from interested buyers, this is going to kill me. If it doesn't go quick, I'm probably going to order my parts from the swap meet, finish the build and forget about this whole week.

Maybe it's all the paint fumes getting to my head.....

Barrett Jackson Palm Beach 2012

The 2012 Barrett Jackson Auction from Palm Beach is this weekend, April 5-7, 2012 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. As its only collector car auction on the East Coast and the celebration of Barrett-Jackson’s 10th anniversary in Palm Beach, this year’s event is sure to bring thousands of visitors from South Florida and beyond to view millions of dollars’ worth of Classics, Muscle Cars, Hot Rods, Resto-Mods, Exotics, and Contemporary Collectibles as they cross the auction block.
Of course, I should be playing the Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game and watching the live coverage!

In Memoriam: Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, the brilliant engine tuner and NHRA icon, has died. He was 81.

Jenkins' legacy dates to the earliest days of Pro Stock, where he was an accomplished racer, known as well for his stick shift mastery behind the wheel as for his gifted wrench-spinning under the hood.

In the 1960s, more than 30 Jenkins-prepped cars set national records. At the 1970 Winternationals, he achieved the first nine-second run in Pro Stock, hitting 9.98. Chevrolet fans will fondly remember Jenkins' small-block racers besting many Hemi-powered Mopars.

"Jenkins' competition cars were always the ones to beat," said Jim Pickering, editor of American Car Collector magazine.

Among the pioneering innovations brought to drag racing by Jenkins are full tube chassis, strut-style suspensions, dry sump oiling systems, kickout pans, gas port pistons, cool cans, and slick-shift manual transmissions.

Underlying Jenkins' famed gruff demeanor was a true devotion to the hard work of drag racing.

Bodywork Started

I ran out to the body supply store early Saturday morning to get my Rage Gold body filler, some 2K primer, and DP90LF sealer. I'm not going to make the same mistake as I did on the '71, the '66 is getting a coat of epoxy sealer before the base coat! I cleaned off a few areas and started applying my filler and sanded it down. The bodywork has officially started on the 1966 Chevelle. Now I just need to keep on it, as Zach has reminded me that he is getting the keys to the '71 in 4 months. The pressure is on.

*UPDATE* I found this article "Using Body Filler", by Reed Overson, who lives in Bismarck, North Dakota, and has been a bodyman, painter, sales rep, and technical rep for thirty years. Reed used to work as a technical sales rep for the company that makes Rage filler, and knows the chemists that developed the resin for it. Good read here!!!

I did Something!

I know it isn't much, but I got out to the garage and did some work! I cleaned up the drivers-side glass and painted the channels and tracks, along with a few of the parts I had sand-blasted a few months back. I even removes the quarter glass weather stripping, which needed to be replaced, and am ready to put the glass back into the drivers side. I'm afraid if I remove the other side, I'll never figure out how to get in all back in again. It's like a puzzle in there! I should get some sealer and more body supplies soon, it's getting warm enough now.

No Progress

There has been no progress on the 1966 Chevelle in recent weeks. I haven't even made into the garage. I've so consumed with work lately, and I have not even ordered the parts I need to finish...this isn't good. The weather is starting to get better, a few days here and there. Today I have to get back to it and do something, anything, to get me back moving in the right direction.

Daytona 500

Forty-three of the top drivers in the world compete in “The Great American Race,” NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious motorsports event... The Daytona 500. NASCAR President Mike Helton said Monday morning that the start of the Daytona 500 has been postponed until 7 p.m. ET tonight. FOX will televise the race live.

According to weather.com, the forecast at Daytona today is a 65 percent to 100 percent chance of rain up until 3 p.m. ET. At 3 p.m., the chance of rain drops to 30 percent and then down to 20 percent at 6 p.m.

Drying the track takes about two to three hours, which makes 7 p.m. a realistic start time.

It is NASCAR’s intention, Helton said, to run the Daytona 500 to full distance. If weather continues to interfere, Tuesday is still an option. No matter when it ultimately gets run, it will be televised on FOX.
“We hope to have ‘lady and gentlemen, start your engines,’ at 7:02 (p.m.) and then warm up and go to green flag,” Helton said Monday morning at Daytona International Speedway. “We believe this is a reasonable expectation, and we also believe in a modern world with the technology that we have to interpret weather, forecast it and try to stay on top of it within a reasonable amount of time, that having everyone sit around and wait for several hours today up until the point where we're confident or have more confidence that we can run the race was more prudent to do it this way.”

After yesterday’s rainout, the original plan was to run the race at noon today. But more rain made that impossible.

“The last thing we wanted to do was have our fans wait through another long day of rain delays and jet dryer activity,” said track President Joie Chitwood III. “So we felt like this gives them some clarity so they can come up with their plans, and hopefully that means stay at home, stay at their hotel, rest, whatever it is they need to do and they can come out and enjoy the event this evening.”

While the weather is expected to clear, the Daytona 500 could be run as late as tomorrow.

“Tuesday is an option,” Helton said. “We're focused on today and this afternoon right now, but just so everyone knows, Tuesday is an option before we'd have to reconsider packing up and leaving. But tomorrow is an option.”

For the teams, racing Tuesday would be a logistical challenge, since they have to be in Phoenix on Friday.

“I was just looking at the schedule earlier today and we aren’t on track until midday Friday,” said Daytona 500 pole-sitter Carl Edwards. “If we were to put this out until Tuesday then it would be real tough but I am sure it will be fine. We have guys that can do it. I know our Phoenix stuff is ready to go and I think there might be an issue with some of the engines, especially with our FR9’s. You would have to ask Jack (Roush) but I know it was tough for Doug Yates and those guys to get the amount of engines ready for these first two races, so I am sure they will be running engines back and forth and turning things over.”

Atlantic City Car Show 2012

After a weekend of cleaning up the mess in the garage (a lot of it was from my recent Nerf modifications), I am ready to kick things off with my annual pilgrimage to the Atlantic City Car Show on February 24-26, 2012. We came across a few nice stock Chevelles (no 1966) and as always, I am sizing them up against ours for condition and value.
We also saw this 1963 Corvette convertible custom cross the auction block, which has some of the same modifications that ours does. The headlight buckets were removed, fender flares added, LeMans style gas cap, etc. He wanted to get $45k, but his top bid was at $31,000. That is what I think ours is valued at today, and we have a better engine, 5 speed trans, disc brakes...

I also found a few customs that I liked, but luckily, we left empty handed!

Dodge Macho Power Wagon

Alright all you MOPAR fanatics, now is your chance to get your hands on one sweet truck. Up for sale is a 1978 Dodge Macho Power Wagon, 4x4, with a big block 440.
The ADULT TOYS by DODGE were designed to be noticed. The MACHO POWER WAGONS were the most outrageous of all the Factory Built toys. Sporting big tires, black and yellow accents, roll bars, and massive POWER WAGON callouts, MACHOs were easy to spot.

For Sale! Call 732-668-5576
$12,000 obo

Nerf War

There are a many thing that can delay the restoration of a car. Lack of funding, loss of enthusiasm, and the cold winter weather have all plagued me recently. But these are not the current issues I face with the restoration of the '66 Chevelle, no, there is something else. WAR. A Nerf War. OK, lets be honest, the war hasn't really started, just a few little outburst in the kitchen or living room, and the kids have the upper hand with the best firepower. So, I've focused my creative talents for the time being on modding a Nerf Alpha Trooper CS-18 into something like what you see below. Why? Well, it keeps my creative/artistic side happy, it's cheap, and it's fun. I picked up a bunch of cheap parts off of eBay, like a stock, extended mag, red dot scope, and even made a suppressor from some PVC and a little JB Weld. I have plenty of paint, so I'm going to have fun giving it a realistic or "steam-punk" look. I even picked up an Orange Mod Works kit to pump up the power. I think when I'm done, even Terry Crews will be impressed....

Best eBay Item Ever

I spend a lot of time browsing eBay and Craigslist, looking at the prices of vehicle that I already own and trying to gauge the value of some of my project cars. Occasionally I even find that great deal. Well, today I looked up the '66 Chevelle just for fun, and found a guy who is trying to sell a very nice and expensive Pro Touring 1966 Chevelle convertible. His buy it now price is a whopping $75,000 but his item description has got to be one of the best I have ever read. Check it out...

"OK, let me start off by saying this Chevelle is only available for purchase by the manliest of men (or women). My friend, if it was possible for a vehicle to sprout chest hair and a five o'clock shadow, this Chevelle would look like Tom Selleck. It is just that manly.

It was never intended to drive to the mall so you can pick up that adorable shirt at Abercrombie & Fitch that you had your eye on. It wasn't meant to transport you to yoga class or Linens & Things. No, that's what your Prius is for. If that's the kind of car you're looking for, then just do us all a favor and stop reading right now. I mean it. Just stop.

This car was engineered by 3rd degree ninja super-warriors in the highest mountains of Japan to serve the needs of the man that cheats death on a daily basis. They didn't even consider superfluous nancy boy amenities like navigation systems (real men don't get lost), heated leather seats (a real man doesn't let anything warm his butt), or On Star (real men don't even know what the hell On Star is).

No, this brute comes with the things us testosterone-fueled super action junkies need. It has a 701HP engine to outrun the cops. It's got special blood/gore resistant upholstery. It even has a first-aid kit in the back. You know what the first aid kit has in it? A pint of whiskey, a stitch-your-own-wound kit and a hunk of leather to bite down on when you're operating on yourself. The Chevelle also has an automatic transmission so if you're being chased by Libyan terrorists, you'll still be able to shoot your machine gun out the window and drive at the same time. It's saved my bacon more than once.

It has room for you and the four hotties you picked up on the way to the gym to blast your pecs and hammer your glutes. There's a tow hitch to pull your 50 caliber anti-Taliban, self cooling machine gun. I also just put in a new windshield to replace the one that got shot out by The Man.

My price on this bad boy is an incredibly low $90,000 but I'll entertain reasonable offers. And by reasonable, I mean don't walk up and tell me you'll give me $50,000 for it. That's liable to earn you a Burmese-roundhouse-sphincter-kick with a follow up three fingered eye-jab. Would it hurt? Hell yeah. Let's just say you won't be the prettiest guy at the Coldplay concert anymore.

There's only 500 miles on this four-wheeled hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo. Now, go look in the mirror and tell me what you see. If it's a rugged, no holds barred, super brute he-man macho Chuck Norris stunt double, then contact me. I might be out hang-gliding or BASE jumping or just chilling with my ladies, but I'll get back to you. And when I do, we'll talk about a price over a nice glass of Schmidt while we listen to Johnny Cash.

On a serious note this Chevelle has a Fresh 540 Big Block making 701Hp, Art Carr 700r4 transmission, Moser 12 bolt rear. The wheels are Billet specialties 18". Wilwood 4 piston Brakes front and rear. The audio system was 15K alone. One of a kind Tru Technology super billet amp, alpine processor and head unit, Focal front and rear speakers with custom sub woofers mounted in the center console. The whole car has been custom built and is a one of a kind. Over 160K has been invested into this beautiful 66 chevelle.

Thanks for looking."

2012 Camaro Super Bowl Commercial

Zach Borst, a 26-year-old filmmaker from Long Island, N.Y., wrote, produced and assembled a one-minute ad about a graduate getting a Chevrolet Camaro as a gift for a Chevrolet competition. When you see it, you'll realize why Chevy picked it to air in the upcoming Super Bowl to an audience of 110 million people.

Barrett-Jackson Live!

Live stream of the Barrett-Jackson auction from Scottsdale, AZ.

Barrett-Jackson 2012

Well, it's my favorite time of the winter season, the 2012 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction from Scottsdale, Arizona. From January 17-22, 2012 Speed TV will be covering the event live (program schedule here) and hosting the Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game. The game starts on the 19th, and features prizes including $500 gas cards, iPad2s, and even a 60" 3D LED LCD TV! I will try to provide a live stream of the coverage here.

Here is a brief slide-show of some of the featured vehicles this year...

2012 - A New Year

Well it's 2012 already, and I've got to be more productive on the '66 than I was in 2011. I did go and work on the '69 Stingray with Dave this past weekend, and we were able to get it running, finally. After many unsuccessful attempts at starting the Corvette, we determined that the fuel pump was not working. So we replaced it with another used one, that didn't work, and then got a new fuel pump that did. Then we had a few fuel leaks to sort out, and a carb or two later...we almost got it. The vintage Holley still needs to be dialed in, as well as the timing, but it did start and idle with no smoke!

I started restoring a nice steering wheel I picked up for the '66 Chevelle, which also came with a column. I disassembled it, and built a nice new column with the parts I had already acquired to make it a floor shift car. Now I just need to prime and paint it.

I found this video to motivate me...

Roadster Shop '66 Chevelle at El Toro from Illking on Vimeo.