Tatra T-613- 1978

Tatra T-613- 1978

In 1996, Tatra introduced the new T-700. It had the same layout and general body lines as the T-613. The T-700 originated one year earlier when British designer Geoff Wardle was asked by Tatra to update the original body structure. It had a v8 engine, an up-to-date powerplant with electronic multipoint fuel injection, and a three-way catalytic converter. Modernized chassis, bodywork with safety features, and the interior with leather upholstery and wooden dash were standard in this car. The T-700s were custom built to meet the exact requirements of the customers. But customers were hard to find and Tatra made only seven cars in 1998. The T-700 is the last passenger car made; Tatra ceased car production in 1998. Now only large industrial trucks are produced.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Tatra, a.s.

Country of Origin: Czech Republic

Drivetrain Configuration: Rear engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 3495cc, V8, air-cooled, 200 hp

Transmission: 5 speed manual

Top Speed: 130 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1996-98

Number Produced: 7

Original Cost: Approximately $40,000

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Tatra T-805- 1955

Tatra T-805- 1955

The 800 series produced by Tatra is a designation for “special purpose vehicles.” The 800 series was sold to the military and the construction industry. There were many versions–dump trucks, troop carriers, and vans (usually called caravans in Europe). The T-800 uses the same engine as the T-603 car. This is not a vehicle for the casual driver. Performance is sluggish at best. As the driver sits right next to the engine, the heat and noise are appalling. Turning the steering wheel alone is a real workout!

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Tatra, narodni podnik

Country of Origin: Czechoslovakia

Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, 2 or 4 wheel drive

Engine: 254cc, 2.5 liter, V8, air cooled

Transmission: 4 speed manual

Top Speed: 43 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1953-60

Number Produced: 13,625

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Trabant 601 Tramp Convertible- 1975

Trabant 601 Tramp Convertible- 1975

The Trabant is a small car built by the Nationalized Auto Industry in East Germany. In the late 1950s, a vehicle emerged and became the symbol of Eastern transportation--the Trabant. When cheap transportation was all the rage throughout Europe, the Trabant was the perfect means of transportation for the whole family with a little trunk in the back. Its downfall seemed to be that very few changes were made to the Trabant in its 33-year life. The style is essentially the same as when the car was introduced in 1958. When the Berlin wall fell, the days for Trabant were numbered. The body is made of a hemp-type material that was considered an inexpensive substitute for fiberglass. A military version, called “Kubel”, was also available, albeit with a different interior.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerk

Country of Origin: East Germany

Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, front wheel drive

Engine: 594cc, 23 bhp, 2 cylinder, 2 stroke

Transmission: 4 speed synchronized and reverse

Top Speed: 60 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1958-91

Number Produced: 3,000,000

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Triumph TR8- 1980

The Triumph name originated on bicycles in the 1880s. Motorcycles were added in 1902. The first car appeared in 1923. The TR series came from the desire to make a simple sports car similar to the MG TD and Morgan Plus Four, but with more up-to-date styling. The “TR1” was shown at the 1952 Earls Court Show. Here is a time-line of the production of triumphs:

TR2 was produced from 1953-55 with 8,628 being built.

TR3 was produced from 1955-57 with 13,377 being built.

TR3a was produced from 1957-61 with 58,236 being built.

TR3b was produced in 1962 with 3,331 being built.

TR4 was produced from 1961-65 with 40,253 being built.

TR4a was produced from 1965-67 with 28,465 being built.

TR5 was produced from 1967-68 with 2,947 being built.

TR250 (the TR5 for the N. Amer. market) from 1967-68 with 8,494 being built.

TR6 was produced from 1968-76 with 94,619 being built.

TR7 was produced from 1974-81 with 112,368 being built.

The TR7 was a controversial car; it introduced us to the wedge-shaped body seen in the TR8. The TR8 was produced for export only, although 18 right hand drive were built for the British market as a coupe or convertible, convertibles being more common. This is the last model Triumph produced.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: British Leyland Ltd.; BL Cars Ltd.

Country of Origin: Great Britain

Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 3528cc, 135 bhp, V-8

Transmission: 4 speed manual

Top Speed: 121 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1979-81

Number Produced: 2,722

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Volvo 144- 1971

Volvo 144- 1971

The first production model Volvo was completed in 1927. Volvo car and truck production continued throughout WWII on a limited basis due to material shortages and isolation from foreign suppliers. By 1949, with the production of the Volvo pv444, Volvo was producing more cars than trucks. In 1966, the Volvo 144 which you see here was introduced. It was hailed as ‘the safest car in the world’ and was voted ‘car of the year’ in Scandinavia. Bigger than its predecessor, the Volvo 144 was a milestone in terms of both active and passive safety. Disc brakes all round–a feature normally found only on exclusive sports cars–were standard, while the dual-circuit braking system was a major advance. The body was provided with energy-absorbent crumple zones and the steering wheel was of the collapsible type.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: AB Volvo

Country of Origin: Sweden

Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 1985cc, 130 hp, 4 cylinder

Transmission: 4 speed manual

Top Speed: 90 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1966-74

Number Produced: 1,205,111

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ZAZ Zaporoshets- 1965

ZAZ Zaporoshets- 1965

"ZAZ" stands for "Zaporozhsky Avtomobilny Zavod" or "Zaporozhet's Automotive Factory. It was conceived in 1958 as a result of a decision of the Soviet government to build a "people’s car", similar to the Volkswagen Beetle in Germany or the Citroën 2CV in France. This operation was limited by the Stalinist ideology that did not allow people to buy any type car they chose. The car you see here is the "965". This car was called "humpbacked" by the Russians because of the stumpy look. You may notice the resemblance of the front to that of the FIAT 600. That is because the Russian Minister of Industry ordered the engineers to copy the Italian car.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Zaporezhskiy Avtomobilnyi Zavod

Country of Origin: U.S.S.R.

Drivetrain Configuration: Rear engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 1197cc, 4 cylinder, air cooled

Transmission: 4 speed manual

Top Speed: 50 miles per hour

Years of Production: 1958-63

Number Produced: “Very many”

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Elvis Presley, what about his Cars

Elvis Presley, what about his Cars

Herewith an apology to the millions of Elvis Presley fans around the world. I never cared for your hero. I didn't approve of his Elvis-Pelvis stage mannerisms, hated his bouffant hair style, had no taste for his singing. This was not a generational thing for I was only slightly older than Presley during the height of his popularity. I was also part of the culture of the period, a renegade in some respects, definitely not a prude. So to understand my animosity you need to appreciate that musically I was dedicated to modern jazz, with a low tolerance level for pop and rock and a dislike of country music. By my standards Elvis was a third-rate guitar player and couldn't sing any better than most of the boring crooners of the day.

However I'm now willing to concede a grudging respect for Mr. Presley, for I've just learned that he was (gasp!) a car guy. Yes, Elvis Presley purchased more than 200 vehicles during his lifetime, including some real collectibles. Of course I knew that he'd owned a pink Cadillac Fleetwood because my ad agency art director Ray Fry recalled spotting the car in Pasadena when Ray was a student at the Design Center, leading to a brief "car guy" chat with the rock legend. But I didn't know that Elvis also owned, among others, the red MGA from "Blue Hawaii," a purple 1956 Eldorado Convertible, and a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk.

The cars from Elvis' garage will be on display during the inaugural Elvis Motor Classics International Car Show at Graceland from May 27 to 30, 2010. Many other collector cars will gather on the 70-acre grounds to celebrate the anniversary of his 75th birthday. The family-friendly four-day event will also feature music, competitions and tours. Classic car enthusiasts will be able to experience the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, tour Graceland and other Memphis highlights, and enjoy special discounts and accommodation rates. "Elvis was passionate about collecting cars, so Graceland is the perfect place for car enthusiasts to celebrate his 75th birthday" said Walt Hollifield, world-renowned collector and event organizer. "We've received calls from clubs and individuals from as far away as Colorado and Canada who are bringing their classic cars to Graceland."

My friends at Hagerty Insurance will be on-site, assisting with event registration and presenting trophies on Sunday.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at The Elvis Motor Classics International Car Show, you should visit ElvisMotorClassics.com or call (704) 455-1564. I won't be there unless Elvis is, but if that should happen I'll say to him "hey man... your guitar playing may not be cool but your cars are." I'm sure he'd appreciate the compliment.

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MG Dreaming

MG Dreaming

Imagine, if you will, acquiring a professionally restored example of the vehicle that first turned America on to sports cars. Then imagine that all you paid to own this 1949 MG TC (shown above) was $100.00. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? But it could be yours if you participate in a charity draw organised by the New England MG 'T' Register, an international organization dedicated to the maintenance, preservation and enjoyment of T-Series and Vintage M.G.s. Tickets are just $100.00 each and with only a limited number being sold you have a very real chance of winning. This, by the way, is an outstanding TC that features dual spare tires, a luggage rack, seat belts, temperature gauge, all the right lights, Alfin drums, and a walnut dashboard.

It was owned by the late David O. Hakanson, who was a very enthusiastic member with a TC, TD, and a TF in his collection, along with an MGA. According to the Register, Dave took great pride in his cars, and all of them were in great condition. Chuck Troast of New England Classic MG restored the TC about eight years ago and it probably has fewer than 2,000 miles on it since then. Dave's wife Liz has decided to let the Knudson Churchill Scholarship Trust use the 1949 TC as a fund raiser with a share of the proceeds going to the Hakanson Family Trust. The drawing takes place at 5PM, Friday, May 7, 2010. You needn't be there to win but you will have to pick up the car in Oneonta, NY, and drive it home. Not exactly a hardship.

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Woodrim Steering Wheel

Woodrim Steering Wheel

Back in my sports car days one of the most desireable accessories was a Nardi woodrim steering wheel. It could make an ordinary car seem special and told the world that its owner was a person of discerning taste. Nardi wheels were not inexpensive, which is why you didn't see them on every MG or Triumph Spitfire, and they were also standard equipment on several high-end automobiles, such as Ferrari. Of course, Nardi wasn't the only company to manufacture such wheels but the design was so elegant, so perfect, that a Nardi wheel remained apart from the others, as a Tiffany lamp or Saarinen Tulip chair would do.

Frankly, I'm not a fan of the thick-rim steering wheels of today, even though they have their origins in race car design. I know some drivers claim to get a better grip but those wheels make me feel like I'm steering with a pair of boxing gloves on my hands. In my humble opinion there's nothing to match a slim woodrim, not only for its appearance but because it seems to provide a closer connection with the road. Unfortunately modern safety regulations requiring an air bag in the hub would seem to prevent swapping a production steering wheel for a hand-made custom job so we're stuck with what we get. The girl you bring to the party is the one you dance with.

That said, owners of sports and vintage cars from model years preceeding the air bag rules should have no problem fitting a woodrim wheel. And in that respect, the handcrafted steering wheels of RichCraftedWheels.com stand apart, even from the Italian Nardi wheels which, by the way, are still in production. Only a limited number are made each year. Average time to make a standard wheel is 70-80 hours with some custom wheels requiring up to 100 hours. The Web site explains that "each piece of wood is hand fitted, hand filed, hand sanded, hand finished. The wood is then sealed in an automotive two-part epoxy that resists acids and UV rays. Because the wood grain has it's own signature and with the multiple wood combinations no two wheels will ever be exactly alike."

Exotic woods like teak, walnut, and even rosewood can be chosen. Company owner Paul Rich adds "I have made steering wheels for almost every kind of automobile you can think of, including boats and a John Deere tractor," so obviously whatever you have sitting in your garage, by your dock, or on your farm, will not intimidate him. As for me, I'm stuck with that big fat rim on my Focus ZX5 but when the day arrives that I finally buy a vintage automobile, you can be sure that very little time will pass before it has a handsome woodrim steering wheel gracing its interior. It just feels right.

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Used Car Parts

Used Car Parts

No one can argue that collecting cars isn't one of the fastest-growing hobbies in the world. I think there are a number of reasons for this. For one, the computerisation of the modern automobile, together with its associated gadgetry, has turned people off. That's not just older folk who still remember what it was like to drive an automobile without such aids; young people often tell me they wish cars could be more involving. As well, the modern car makes owner repairs difficult, if not impossible. Consequently more and more enthusiasts are turning to older cars as a hobby.

Once they make that commitment all sorts of opportunities open up. The thousands of collector car clubs worldwide welcome new members, offering a novice owner social involvement, with a chance to make new friends. There they exchange information on repairs and restoration and can participate in events that range all the way from local shows to major concours, and from club tours to international rallies. Those with an urge for track competition can even take up vintage racing, assuming they have a suitable car.

For the first-time buyer, many questions arise, not the least of which is defining the difference between an "old" car and a collectible automobile. That's often a tough one to answer but generally speaking, 25 years is the cut-off most licensing agencies and insurance companies use. Thus, any vehicle registered as a 1985 model and earlier qualifies. Don't hold me to this as it varies from state-to-state and province-to-province but you can try that as a guideline.

Finding a suitable car is another quandary, one that requires research online and in classic car publications. You also need to be careful about condition. A car that is cheap to purchase but demands long and costly repairs may not be the bargain it seems to be, thus you'll never get your investment back. Which is important because a collector car is normally a safe investment, often worth as much as you paid, and more.

The good news for the would-be restorer, or anyone who wants to keep an old car running, is that inexpensive used car parts can be easily purchased online. Forget about crawling through junkyards; buying online gives access to premium used parts suppliers all over the country. So if you've ever thought about becoming a car collector there's nothing to stop you providing you stay within your budget. Join a club, do your research, and be ready to have some fun.

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