New Detroit Billboards

[gran398]

They were cool...I remember you had to jam a match book in there to get them not to  "drag".

And then they would switch tracks in the middle of the song..."Bernadette" by the Four Tops for example.

[MarshMarlowe196]

You guys are making me jealous... I wish I was around for the "glory days".   :king:

My first car was a 78' Trans Am with the 6.6 shaker scoop.  That car was cool, but it handled like a bath-tub.

2nd car (my all time favorite) was a 87' IROC-Z Camaro, all black, decals removed (a sleeper  :twisted: ).  All the kids in my highschool thought it was an RS, and I was more than happy to make their ricers look ridiculous at the stoplights.  That car was real punchy handled like a dream, but I threw a rod in it while pushing it upwards of 140mph.  Don't tell Dad...

3rd, and final sports car:  94' LT1 Z28.  I liked the car, it was fast, but there really wasn't anything special about it.  I tried to race a cop in it one night, and the resulting hike in insurance was the end of me owning a sports car.  :eye:

Then I got my first boat- 1991 Key West 170 (the old one that was built with wood and simply would not cavitate), and my first (and last) experience with a Jeep; a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.  You've never owned a POS until you've owned a Grand Wagoneer... it sure was pretty with the boat behind it though  

[bondobill]

Couldn't resist guys
3rd car I owned was a 1969 Vette @ age 20. That was 37 years ago.  Here she is today, still got it.

[seabob4]

Couldn't resist guys
3rd car I owned was a 1969 Vette @ age 20. That was 37 years ago.  Here she is today, still got it.

OH, MAN!!!!    

[Boatdood]

I confess, I have sold quite a few American Classics. Several of them were immortalized in song by classics such as Don McClean and The Beach Boys. If I could have any one of them back I'm not sure what I'd pick. The Old Goat? My Impala SS? The '57 Chevy? Or maybe the IROC? Those and more have a special place in my heart, but I'm convinced that today I drive one of the best vehicles on the road. A paid off since I bought it dependable as they come Free Ride!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seabob4]

You guys know me, I'm not adverse to a little controversy.  Not all serious HP comes out of Detroit...



'86 911 Turbo.  I WILL have one someday...Hell, my old Volvo 245 Turbo wagon kicked you in the butt at about 3200 with a dinky little 2.1L...

[gran398]

Couldn't resist guys
3rd car I owned was a 1969 Vette @ age 20. That was 37 years ago.  Here she is today, still got it.

Serious money there. The "Mako Shark" second generation Stingray was introduced in 1968. With much fanfare initially.

Normally first intro's are worth the big bucks. But not in this case. The 68's had fit/rattle/quality  problems which were addressed late in the run leading to '69.

So in essence...the '69 Corvette Sting Ray was the first desireable/collectible example of the next-gen Stingray.

So sweet...thanks bondobill!

[RickK]

Couldn't resist guys
3rd car I owned was a 1969 Vette @ age 20. That was 37 years ago.  Here she is today, still got it.

Very nice :!:  :!:
Almost bought a '66 ragtop dark green vette back in '71ish - was out of my pocket range at $1600  

[DOCREED]

You've never owned a POS until you've owned a Grand Wagoneer.


You are correct about that truck.  It was like a boat--always dumping money into it.

[MarshMarlowe196]

You've never owned a POS until you've owned a Grand Wagoneer.


You are correct about that truck.  It was like a boat--always dumping money into it.

You aint kidding.  Did you have the displeasure of owning one Doc?

The truck was some kind of Frankenstein.  The parts were a mix of AMC, Chrysler, Ford, & GM.  What was strange is that when you looked under the hood, it looked like any other fairly reliable American Truck, but I guess all the mismatch parts just fought against each other.

 It wasn't a completely horrible experience with the wagoneer- I learned how to turn a wrench better than most backyard mechanics, and the times it was running with all 7 windows down and the floor vents open with the boat behind it was a real cool feeling.  Almost made me forget about the smell of burning oil coming in from the leaking exhaust and the slipping transmission that felt like it was shifting from 3rd to 1st at 55mph.  That would last for a while, then it would randomly shut down for unexplained reasons.  Sure was a pretty truck though

[John Jones]

One of my neighbors had TWO of them a while back.  He spent more time under them than behind the wheel.

[Keith Knecht]

Wish I still had my 67 Vette.  Marina Blue with a white convetrible top.  Had a 427 with 3-2s.  Side pipes and frosted American mags.  You could be going along at 55 mph in 4th gear, shift back into first and stomp on it.  It sounded like the world was coming to an end when those other two carbs opened up. Like they used to say, passed anything on the road but a gas station. Gas was an outrageous 36 cents then.

Had three different 57's that were all 210's and one 57 Bel Aire. It was the only one I ever saw that had factory tinted windows that were electric and factory power steering,brakes, and air but it was the ugly bronze color.  Had a 67 RS Camero too and 17 different motor cycles ( not all at one time). Oh, I almost forgot the 68 vette.  It only had a 327 with a single 4 barrell but it got 18 miles to the gallon around town as long as you kept your foot out of the 4 barrel.  

All of that didn't seem to be as important as starting a family, so I got a 68 Pontiac Tempest 6 cylinder.  And after five children and 41 years of marriage I made the right decision giving them up.  

Who knows, maybe one day....

[gran398]

Keith, that big block '67 Stingray is one of the most collectible of all.

It had all of the upgrades introduced in '65 (big block, four wheel disc brakes, etc.), AC, PS, PW, PB plus many interior refinements specific to '67.

It came at the end of the introductory Stingray model run ('63 to '67) and is considered by the experts to be the cream of that run. And that run was what made the Corvette the "Hearbeat of America."

The only other 'vette of that era which brings more money now is an original, mint condition unrestored '63 split window coupe, 327 fuel-injected 365 hp.

Man...these are some beauties.

About 20 years ago I bought a '63 roadster, saddle tan (champagne color) 327 with solid lifters, 340 hp. Body-off restoration. It was a beautiful car. Bought it as a college-fund investment.

Sold it about eight years ago. Don't really regret selling it. It was too nice to drive, you were always worried about scratching it, somebody hitting/dinging it, etc. And it really wasn't a sports car...the cornering wasn't there. It was a beast on the straightaways...but then, because of the drum brakes...you really couldn't stop it.

It was pretty tho

Here ya go Keith

http://www.vintagecorvettes.com/67mbconv.html

And here is one like my old one

http://www.vintagecorvettes.com/63saddle.html

[Keith Knecht]

Hey Gran,

That's it if you add the side pipes,the mags, and some more horsepower, I think.  Thanks for the pics.  Sure brings back the memories.  It was my understanding that my engine was 435HP. Maybe not.  Unfortunately it kept eating push rods so I traded it in on the 68.  My wife to be drove it once from Tampa to Brandon, Florida and was afraid to shift it out of second.  Was a great car.  The passengers door would not open from the inside-never fixed it- on purpose. Great on dates.  Captive audience so to speek.  Remember that old saw about putting a hundred dollar bill on the dash.  I think it might have been true about this car.

[DOCREED]

You've never owned a POS until you've owned a Grand Wagoneer.


You are correct about that truck.  It was like a boat--always dumping money into it.

You aint kidding.  Did you have the displeasure of owning one Doc?

The truck was some kind of Frankenstein.  The parts were a mix of AMC, Chrysler, Ford, & GM.  What was strange is that when you looked under the hood, it looked like any other fairly reliable American Truck, but I guess all the mismatch parts just fought against each other.

 It wasn't a completely horrible experience with the wagoneer- I learned how to turn a wrench better than most backyard mechanics, and the times it was running with all 7 windows down and the floor vents open with the boat behind it was a real cool feeling.  Almost made me forget about the smell of burning oil coming in from the leaking exhaust and the slipping transmission that felt like it was shifting from 3rd to 1st at 55mph.  That would last for a while, then it would randomly shut down for unexplained reasons.  Sure was a pretty truck though

One day i woke up and i had a Grand Wagoneer, black and a CJ7, white in the driveway.  They were both problem children.  Dont even get me started.  When i moved to Florida, I sold the cj and drove the wagoneer down here.  On Rt 95 at 55 with the cruise on......i got as high as 12 mpg!!!!!  pretty good huh  I do have to give them both credit...they would go through anything.



This was a nice car... i wish i still had it.  55 Porsch 356


This one too.  i loved the suicide doors.  62 Lincoln