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Debut of the signature Chevrolet bowtie badge

by | Dec 23, 2020 | 0 comments

Debut of the signature Chevrolet bowtie badge

The signature Chevrolet “bowtie” badge, as it debuted in 1913. (GM)

In 1913, Chevrolet co-founder William C. Durant introduced the signature Chevy bowtie on the 1914 Chevrolet H-2 Royal Mail and the H-4 Baby Grand, centered at the front of both models.

“Billy” Crapo Durant. (GM)

The Baby Grand was part of Durant’s idea to build a car to compete with the popular and affordable Ford Model T, according to Wikipedia.

“When it first came out, it was priced at $875 as a four-door, 5-passenger touring car (a 1914 Model T touring was $500).

“A speedometer was standard. One advantage over a Model T Ford was that a Baby Grand could get an electric starter. (The Model T did not get them until 1919).

The 1914 Chevrolet H-4 Baby Grand. (GM)

“In 1914 the Series H debuted with the H-2 Royal Mail Roadster and the H-4 5-seater Baby Grand Touring model, both with a 104-inch wheelbase.

The 1914 Chevrolet H-2 Royal Mail roadster. (GM)

The 1914 Baby Grand. (GM)

“In 1916, the Royal Mail model H-2½ was introduced, which was the first integral trunk for Chevrolet with gas tank in the rear between the frame rails.

“The Series H models were moved upmarket when the $490 Chevrolet 490 was introduced in June 1915 to compete directly with the Ford Model T.

“Total Chevrolet production for 1913 was 5,987.”

1956 Chrysler Norseman concept

by | Dec 16, 2020 | 0 comments

1956 Chrysler Norseman concept

The 1956 Chrysler Norseman was lost at sea. (FCA US photos)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The Chryser Norseman was a four-seat fastback concept coupe built in 1956. Although designed by Chrysler’s stylists, the actual construction was contracted out to the Italian coach-building firm of Carrozzeria Ghia. The concept car was lost during the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria.

According to Wikipedia, “Chrysler wanted a fully drivable vehicle, not just a rolling mockup, so all normal systems for the powertrain, braking, suspension, were installed. Power was from a modified 5.4-liter, 331 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi engine producing 235 hp with a pushbutton-controlled Powerflite automatic transmission.

“The body panels on the car were made of aluminum with “a sharply sloping hood, upswept tail fins and a covered, smooth underbody for aerodynamic efficiency.” The Norseman combined a “sweeping fastback rear end design and Chrysler’s own take on a tailfin and bumper treatment.”

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

by | Dec 16, 2020 | 0 comments

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

The most conspicuously styled Dodge of all time. (Stellantis)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The 1969 Dodge Charger was the most conspicuously styled Dodge of all times and served as the homologation model for the Dodge stock cars entered in NASCAR races. Only 505 units were built for NASCAR homologation.

U.S. pricing started at $3,860 U.S. dollars.

The road-going version of the model was powered by the 7-liter, 425-horsepower Hemi 426. The tuned race version reached speeds in excess of 200 mph on oval racetracks.

Overview

The Dodge Charger was introduced on Jan. 1, 1966. It was built off the Dodge Coronet chassis, but it had its own fastback body.  It featured many styling cues from the Charger II concept car like a fastback roof design and full-width taillamps.

The Charger was positioned to take on AMC’s conceptually similar Rambler Marlin. The Charger was better looking but somewhat more expensive. Pricing ranged from $2,850 to $3,100 —  or $22,733 to $24,727 in 2020 dollars.

Significantly, the Charger’s interior was different from all other cars, with a full-length center console and “all bucket seating” front and rear.

Also an innovation, the rear’s pseudo-buckets could be folded down to create interior space accessible via the enormous rear hatch.

The Charger wasn’t intended to compete head-to-head in performance with pony cars but was available with Chrysler’s famed 426 Hemi V8.[9]

The Charger came with a standard 5.2-liter, 318 cubic-inch V-8 engine delivering 230 horsepower. Other available engines included a 265-hp 361 cubic-inch V-8 engine, or a 325-hp 6.2-liter, 383 cubic-inch V-8.

However, it was the availability of a massive 426 cubic-inch Street HEMI engine that provided 425 horsepower and 490 foot-p;ounds of torque that forever defined the vehicle.

The 1969 Dodge Charger body style carried over from 1968 with minor exterior changes like a new grille and taillamps.

The HEMI engine was installed in less than 2 percent of ’69 Dodge Chargers, yet contributed immensely to the image and desirability of the Charger lineup.

The 1969 Charger gained fame as the tire-squealing getaway car driven by Bo and Luke Duke for seven seasons on the TV series, Dukes of Hazzard.

1965 Dodge Charger II concept

The Dodge Charger featured many styling cues from the Charger II concept car.

Dodge Charger At the Track

The 1969 Dodge Charger 500, featuring a flush rear window to improve aerodynamics, was introduced especially for NASCAR.

The Charger Daytona was introduced in September and built specifically for NASCAR competition.

The Daytona featured a large aerodynamic nose and a huge “wing” spoiler in the rear that stood 58 inches above the trunk.

All Dodge Charger Daytona models were powered by either a 440 Magnum cid or 426 HEMI engine.

Dodge Charger Daytona won its first NASCAR Grand National race at Talladega (Ala.) in September followed by a win at Texas International Speedway.

From September 14, 1969, through the next year, Charger Daytona and the Charger 500 won 45 out of the next 59 races.

The car dominated racing so much that NASCAR eventually placed restrictions on the HEMI engine by forcing the use of carburetor restrictor plates on Chrysler models featuring the HEMI engine and limiting engine displacement to a maximum of 305 cubic inches on Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird models.

Driver Buddy Baker, behind the wheel of a HEMI-powered Charger, became the first to top the 200 mph mark on a closed-circuit course in 1970.

Vin Car Pic: 1936 Buick Century

by | Dec 4, 2020 | 0 comments

Vin Car Pic: 1936 Buick Century

The first Buick to reach 100 mph was the Century, in 1936. (GM archives)

“The banker’s hot rod”

The Buick Century was long the quintessential American comfort-mobile. The Century nameplate was first used by Buick for a line of upscale full-size cars from 1936 to 1942 and 1954 to 1958, as well as from 1973 to 2005 for mid-size cars, according to Wikipedia.

“Buick renamed its entire model lineup for the 1936 model year to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their 1935 models, introducing a “streamlined” appearance.

“The first Buick Century debuted in 1936 as a shorter and lighter model featuring the same engine as the bigger Roadmaster and Limited series giving it more performance.

“The Century name was then used on six generations of cars of varying sizes as well as performance and trim levels.”

“The basic formula for the 1936 to 1942 Century was established by mating the shorter behind-the-engine cowl Special bodies to the Roadmaster’s larger straight-eight engine — and consequently longer engine compartment.

“In contrast, the 1940 Series 50 Super combined the larger Roadmaster body with the smaller Special engine.

While the Special was powered by Buick’s 233 cubic-inch inline-8, rated 93 hp, Centurys produced between 1936 and 1942 were powered by the 320-cubic-inch producing 141 hp, making them the fastest Buicks of the era and capable of sustained speeds of 100 mph, hence the name Century (100), earning the Century the nickname “the banker’s hot rod.”

Vin Car Pic: Walter P. Chrysler

by | Aug 18, 2020 | 0 comments

Vin Car Pic: Walter P. Chrysler
A black and white photo of Chrysler founder Walter P Chrysler standing along side a a1924 Chrysler Six

Walter P. Chrysler with his first eponymous named car in 1924. (FCA US archives)

BY MARK MAYNARD

On this day in automotive history, the founder of the Chrysler Corp., Walter Percy Chrysler, died on Aug. 18 1940 after succumbing to a cerebral hemorrhage.

According to AutomotiveHistory.org, Walter Chrysler was born in Kansas in 1875 and began his career as a machinist and mechanic in the railroad industry. His railroad career peaked as works manager of the Allegheny locomotive erecting shops of the American Locomotive Co., also known as Alco.

His introduction to the automotive business would come in 1911 when he was approached by James J. Storrow, an investment banker who was critical in the formation of General Motors just a few years prior.

Walter P. Chrysler with a 1924 Chrysler.

Walter P. Chrysler with a 1924 Chrysler. (FCA US archives)

Walter Chrysler made his final resignation from railroading to become works manager (in charge of production) at Buick in Flint, Mich., according to Wikipedia. He found many ways to reduce the costs of production, such as putting an end to finishing automobile undercarriages with the same luxurious quality of finish that the body warranted.

The Chrysler 70 debuted with a six-cylinder engine in January 1924. It was marketed as an advanced, well-engineered car at a more affordable price than the competition. (Elements of this car are traceable back to a prototype that had been under development at Willys when Chrysler was there.)

The original 1924 Chrysler included a carburetor air filter, a high-compression engine, full-pressure lubrication inside the engine, and an oil filter, at a time when most autos came without all these features.

a black white photo of a 1924 Chrysler Touring model

The 1924 Chrysler Touring. (FCA US archives)

Among the innovations in its early years would be the first practical mass-produced four-wheel hydraulic brakes, a system nearly completely engineered by Chrysler with patents assigned to Lockheed.

Chrysler pioneered rubber engine mounts to reduce vibration, Oilite bearings, and superfinishing for shafts.

Chrysler also developed a road wheel with a ridged rim, designed to prevent a deflated tire from flying off the wheel. The auto industry eventually adopted this safety wheel worldwide.

Vin Car Pic: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair concept

by | Aug 6, 2020 | 0 comments

Vin Car Pic: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair concept
Dina Shore “See the USA” with the 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair. (Chevrolet PR archvies)

It was 1956 when the “Dinah Shore Chevy Show” debuted on TV, with Shore singing “See the USA in your Chevrolet” at the close of each show. The show grew out of Shore’s earlier 15-minute programs and she was the first woman to host her own TV show. Shore had sung “See the USA” since the early 1950s and the song was used in Chevrolet advertising after Shore’s show ended in 1963.

Chevrolet is now recalling a version of that enduring tagline for its weeklong virtual festival Aug. 10-16, hosted on Chevy’s social media channels. “Cruisin’ the USA in your Chevrolet” will be a tribute more than a century of the brand’s automotive history, technological innovation, design and passion.

Each day of the festival will have a different theme and will highlight historic footage, guest appearances, trivia and more. Chevy experts will provide in-depth looks at some of the brand’s most iconic vehicles in the General Motors Heritage Center https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/ — and even some of their own custom builds.

The week will begin at the year 1911, when Chevy was founded by Louis Chevrolet and Billy Durant. The segment will feature rare archival photos and videos from the last 109 years.

Louis Chevrolet at the wheel of a racing car in 1911. (Chevrolet)

Schedule of events:

Aug. 10: The Origins and Innovations of Chevrolet 
Aug. 11: Chevy’s Most Iconic Designs
Aug. 12: The Proud Truck Tradition
Aug. 13: The Peak of Performance
Aug. 14: Team Chevy – A Culture of Winning
Aug. 15: Chevy’s Heritage – A Fan Celebration
Aug. 16: Race Day – Cheering on Team Chevy at NASCAR and the NHRA Nationals

To gear up for the event, fans can download a 18-by-24-inch high-resolution printable poster featuring a 1967 C10 CST pickup, 1957 Corvette convertible, 2020 Corvette C8.R and 2020 Camaro ZL1.

Follow for festival on Chevy’s social media channels: @Chevrolet on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and @TeamChevy on Race Day.

And enthusiasts are encouraged to share their own fan photos using the hashtag #ChevyLove.

markmaynard@cox.net