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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Details, Details, Details

Prepare to Show – Indexing Wheels and Tires



The Portland Roadster Show had some fine entries this year. This cool little Chevy truck is one example. It looks like it would be right at home delivering some flowers or at least posing like it’s working to take some pictures. In any case, this truck illustrates a show detail that very few show car participants get right.



Indexing your wheels and tires simply means aligning them all in the same orientation. First let’s talk about indexing your wheels. This would be something you’d probably do for an extended indoor show much like what is seen in the picture above. When presenting at a show like this, you’ll have ample time to set up and pose your vehicle. Bring a small jack and take the time to raise each wheel and position it in the same direction as all the rest. The picture above is a good example of this. The valve stem is centered at the top of the wheel and the hubcap is horizontal and easily readable. This technique is missed by most participants and could easily garner them some points.

It’s really not worth rotating your wheels at a typical cruise in or afternoon show but the next step is something you’ll want to do no matter what type of show or get-together you attend. Best of all, it’s free and only requires some attention to detail. That is indexing your tires. OK, it’s only free when you have your tires mounted. This is where you have the tires indexed to the wheels. Use the valve stem as your orientation. Some tire shops will install your tires like this as a matter of policy though I expect those are becoming more and more rare. Most times you’ll simply need to ask the installer to orient them in the way you want.



At first glance this wheel looks pretty nice but you’ll notice that there are a few things that could be improved. The hubcap isn’t quite horizontal. The valve stem also isn’t in what appears to be a ‘chosen’ position. If you click on the picture to see the image a bit bigger, you can see the lettering on the tires aren’t indexed to the wheel referring to my previous point.

My personal favorite positioning is to have the valve stem at center bottom of the wheel. If there are hubcaps or wheel covers, they should be oriented horizontally to be readable. The final item would be to have the manufacturer lettering on the tires be centered at the top of the tire. With all these details in place, I would give full points for this item. It’s the attention to detail that gets the points, not necessarily the particular way you orient your wheels and tires. Of course this isn’t related to wheel/tire quality or detail.

Enthusiast cars are always being judged whether they’re at a scored event or simply sitting on the side of the road. When people look at the car, they’re judging it. Focusing on the details and improving what you do have control over doesn’t have to cost a lot. When all the details are attended to, the spectator may not notice any individual detail but the package will shine even if it’s a work in progress. Maximize what you have.
For more tips and techniques, get a copy of my book Prepare to be Judged at Amazon.

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Did you have an opportunity to read our last news/blog " Do You Remember When?"

Monday, June 27, 2011

Do You Remember When?

Remember When...



June 20, 2011
In 1969, a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am started at $4,366 and a gallon of gas was 39 cents. Here’s a look back at some other bits of automotive trivia—and some amazing prices—from a bygone age.
1933: Franklin Roosevelt was in The White House and Richard Hollingshead opened the first movie Drive-In in Camden, New Jersey. The Depression was at its peak with unemployment at 25 percent. A gallon of gas cost 10 cents and a Plymouth 6-Car cost $445.

1946: Gas was 21 cents per gallon, minimum wage was 40 cents per hour, and the average income in the United States hovered around $3,150 per year. Automotive factories had only recently switched back to making cars after years of World War II production of military vehicles and tanks. A Buick Roadmaster Sedan started at $1,822. Price for a Chevrolet Fleetmaster: $1,280.

1958: Toyota and Datsun cars went on sale in the United States the year Elvis Presley joined the army. Cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette ($3,631), the Nash Metropolitan ($1,626), Chrysler New Yorker ($4,347), Ford Edsel Corsiar ($3,346) and Oldsmobile Super 88 ($2,958) went for prices that today would be considered a steal.

1969: The year Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Sesame Street and Monty Python’s Flying Circus made their television debuts, a Toyota Corona sold for $1,950, a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was $4,438 and gas was 35 cents per gallon.

1980: With American car makers reeling from the recession and foreign competition, two of the most popular cars in recent memory—the Camaro Coupe ($7,571) and the Pontiac Trans Am ($7,179)—were taking a backseat to more fuel efficient, subcompact models. A Datsun 210 sedan cost $4,516, a Toyota Celica around $5,964 and the national average for a gallon of gas was $1.19.

1990: With home prices averaging around $123,000, the Ford Mustang Convertible was moderately priced at around $14,289. Gas cost $1.34 per gallon and imports like the Toyota Camry sold for around $9,989


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Did you have an opportunity to we our last news/blog " Central PA, What About US??!!" .

Friday, June 24, 2011

Central PA, Why Not US??!!

An article by Jean Jennings, President and Editor-in-Chief at Automobile Magazine, is tooting the horn for a Hershey Car Show, "The Elegance at Hershey". In the article she tells us, the reader, that Hershey is having a revival to its car show status it once enjoyed. This is great for Hershey but what about Central PA?
 
I have been a Classic Car Nut for many years and slowly but surely I have come to realize that Central Pennsylvania, is rich in Classic Cars however, you could say that Central PA is much like the Pittsburgh Pirates. How? Well, like the Pirates we have some of the best players,or in this case, the best cars. Sadly,
in spite of this fact, the top ones end up going to the major leagues. They go to Barrett Jackson Auctions and to Hershey Car Shows. Now is the time for the Central Pennsylvania Classic Car Business to stand up on its own!

Here's the thing, Central PA is alive with Car Shows and Events all summer long. Take a look at just few examples:

Classic Shine at the Lake  Curwensville Lake

Snow Shoe Annual Fall Festival & Car Show  Snow Shoe

Super 322 Drive-In Car Show  Bigler

Bellefonte Cruise Downtown Bellefonte

Fezell's Shop n Save 11th Annual Car Show  DuBois

Central Mountains Region, Antique and Custom Car Show Clearfield

Leonard Street Car and Bike Show Clearfield

Back to the Fifties Weekend  New Castle

Galleria Super Cruise Johnstown

Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival Butler

Country Boys Custom Car, Truck and Bike Show  Lewisburg

Oil City Heritage Days Car Show Oil City

Central PA Street Machines  Lockhaven

The Rodfathers Of Butler    Butler

Roar in the Mountains Car Show Altoona

Allegheny Mountain Region Car Show  Boalsburg

Annual State College Cool Cruise Car Show Boalsburg

ACC Car Show DelGrosso's   Tipton

Fabulous Fifties Fourth Annual Car Show  Raystown Lake

Altoona Corvette Club Car Show  Tipton

Blair County Antique Auto Club Car Show  Williamsburg

Altoona Corvette Club & Zeigler Chevrolet Cruise-In Altoona

Portage Cruisers Cruise-In (2 shows)  Portage

Jaffa Antique & Classic Vehicle Show  DelGrosso's Park Tipton

BCAAC Car Show  Prince Gilitzin State Park 


It is time for someone to assemble a Central PA Car Show Extravaganza. Perhaps a show the size of Carlisle with a high end car auction. A show that will bring car enthusiasts from all over the US and Canada. Music, swap meets, food vendors and more. We all know it can be done. how does it start?

I can not think of a better place than the Clearfield County Fair Ground. Ample space, ample parking, ample vendors, ample hospitality. All that is needed is organization of about a thousand cars and a few sunny days. 

If I missed your favorite car show or event please let me know and I will add it.

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Do you love Classic Cars like we love Classic Cars? Join us at All About Detail.

Did you have an opportunity to read our last new/blog " What are the Most Expensive Cars in the World?"

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

What are the most expensive cars in the world?

 There are cars and then there are cars. Lets examine cars that are cars, real expensive cars. You know, the cars that most or us can not afford to drive. Bentleys, Bugattis, Lamborghinis. These will certainly empty the wallet but there are cars that are even more expensive. Classic cars with history.



Here is list of  ten car of the most expensive cars in the world :

1962 Ferrari 250 LM   6.9 Million

1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe  7.25 Million

1904 Rolls-Royce 10 HP 7.3 Million

1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK  7.4 Million

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante  7.9 Million

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster 8.2 Million

1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM  9.3 Million

1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Kellner 9.8 Million

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder 10.9 Million

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 12.1 Million


Submitted by viewers:

Citroen GT  1.8 Million

Ferrari 250 GTO (4675 GT)  20 Million

Look at these The SuperCars.org a super Bugatti Veryon  at 8.4 Million

Bugatti L’Or Blanc – the first Car in Porcelain  1.65 Million

1936 Bugatti Type 57C Atlantic 27.0 Million (TOP of HEAP so far)

1970 Mustang Boss 429  275K



These will not only empty the wallet, they will take the IRA's, Stocks, Bank Accounts and the Mortgages. 

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