What is Your Favorite Classic American Car?

[dbacks fan]

Although not an American Classic, this is my favorite race car. It's a replica of a 1970's Porsche 917.

[AMP]

SWAMP RAT

[Porky]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Thanks dbacks, I had always heard about this model but I had never seen one. Wonder if it had the straight 6 in it or a V8?

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

I was the proud owner of one of these in Nassau Blue. Loved the car. 300hp 350 v-8 that would burn rubber in all three gears.

[sgrizzle]

Can't post a picture right now but mine is a 1971 hemi cuda.

[dbacks fan]

IF any one would like to have the file for my pics send me a PM with an email address and I can send it to you. The files are mostly 1meg in size.

[jiminy]

My all favorite would have to be the 70 LS6 Chevelle... Here is my El Camino, owned since 1981 in various incarnations:

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Porky

Anyone like Goats? []

Oh, yeah. The Judge was everything 1969 was about. Garish, fast, gimmicky. However, I most appreciate the 1966/67 goats which were upgrades of the Tempest/LeMans series (that's it in the background of your pic). My neighbor had the 389 with 3deuces set up. Neatly designed and I swear, it had so much power he could not keep the car operating in a straight line when he punched it at most any speed!

Do you remember why it was called The Judge?

Wasn't it called the "Judge" because of the popular "Here comes the Judge" skit on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In?  I always assumed so.  I fondly remember me and my dad laughing our asses off to Sammy Davis Jr. and the "judge" skits on Laugh-In!

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

Wow, isn't that the Olds F-85, the Oldsmobile version of the Corvette that came out as a show car in the early 1950s at the GM Motoramas?  I think maybe Buick or Pontiac had a version too.  Just produced as a show car or prototype, never a production model.  I understand that GM used to scrap or sell off its "dream car" prototypes back then; its amazing that this car still survives today.

[Steve]

Whatever happened to the "hardtop convertible" styling that was so popular in American cars from the mid 1950s through mid 1970s?  By that I mean truly pillarless hardtops, no "B" pillar and frameless side window glass.  The cars had a traditional steel roof, but with the windows down (in both coupes & sedans), they looked sort of like a convertible with the top up.

I have read that federal roll-over standards (or the threat of such) lead to the demise of the true hardtop convertible.  It was always a favorite design of mine, I wish U.S. car makers would revive this style.  Sporty and practical at the same time.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Porky

Anyone like Goats? []

Oh, yeah. The Judge was everything 1969 was about. Garish, fast, gimmicky. However, I most appreciate the 1966/67 goats which were upgrades of the Tempest/LeMans series (that's it in the background of your pic). My neighbor had the 389 with 3deuces set up. Neatly designed and I swear, it had so much power he could not keep the car operating in a straight line when he punched it at most any speed!

Do you remember why it was called The Judge?

Wasn't it called the "Judge" because of the popular "Here comes the Judge" skit on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In?  I always assumed so.  I fondly remember me and my dad laughing our asses off to Sammy Davis Jr. and the "judge" skits on Laugh-In!

They knew that every time one went by, someone would snicker, Here come da Judge! Here come da Judge!

BTW I don't why they discontinued the hardtop convertible. It was cool. My 56 BelAir was that design and when it rolled several times the top held up pretty well but did trap my hand between it and the steering wheel. Four of us came out ok with minor cuts & a few stitches. The lack of safety locks however was more dangerous. The doors popped open and accordioned nearly flat. No seatbelts. These old cars were beautiful but not as well designed for safety as todays cars.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

Whatever happened to the "hardtop convertible" styling that was so popular in American cars from the mid 1950s through mid 1970s?  By that I mean truly pillarless hardtops, no "B" pillar and frameless side window glass.  The cars had a traditional steel roof, but with the windows down (in both coupes & sedans), they looked sort of like a convertible with the top up.

I have read that federal roll-over standards (or the threat of such) lead to the demise of the true hardtop convertible.  It was always a favorite design of mine, I wish U.S. car makers would revive this style.  Sporty and practical at the same time.

It was the Rocket 88, and there were three that were built for Motor Rama back in the 50's. This one sold for $3.5 million in 2005 and is now in a museum in Colorado. I have a picture of the Pontiac version. And at home I have a couple of photos of one of the buses they built for that tour, that sold for $4.5 million and is now in Chandler Arizona.

[dbacks fan]

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

They knew that every time one went by, someone would snicker, Here come da Judge! Here come da Judge!

BTW I don't why they discontinued the hardtop convertible. It was cool. My 56 BelAir was that design and when it rolled several times the top held up pretty well but did trap my hand between it and the steering wheel. Four of us came out ok with minor cuts & a few stitches. The lack of safety locks however was more dangerous. The doors popped open and accordioned nearly flat. No seatbelts. These old cars were beautiful but not as well designed for safety as todays cars.

I love the fixed roof, hardtop convertible styling; I wish automakers would bring it back.

As for Mopars, in the late 1970s I owned a 1973 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus in lime green.  It was a "Roadrunner clone" type with the fake scoop hood and twin tailpipe chrome exhaust extensions.  Had a 400 CI motor, bucket seats with console shift automatic, dark green vinyl interior with lots of fake wood grain, and A/C.  It wasn't a Hemi or 440-six pack, but the 400 motor was plenty strong.  Would throw you back in the seat when you floored the gas.  I got it up to about 115 one day on the Crosstown Expressway, just glad I didn't kill myself or someone else!

On the downside, I remember the beast got about "eight gallons to the mile!"  I don't miss that aspect one bit!

[dbacks fan]

This place I drive by at least three times a day while I'm going to various sites around town and never know what to expect that he has out by the street. Alot of the cars are original cars. Check out the Studebaker Commander in the 50's section.http://www.steeldreamz.com/