A long-time friend of Carlisle Events, and a beloved icon in the automotive industry has passed away. Norm Kraus, affectionately known industry-wide as “Mr. Norm” and “The High Performance King” died on February 26, 2021 at the age of 87.

Known for his sales and promotion of Dodge muscle cars and his nationally popular club, his legendary status ranged from high-performance Mopars to funny cars, to die-cast cars, to his co-ownership of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago from 1962 through 1977, which became the No.1 Dodge dealership in the world.

His dedication to high-performance Dodges was embodied in his efforts in bringing Dodge vehicles to another level. He got his start and his nickname, in the 1950s, when he and his brother Lenny began specializing in selling used performance cars. They employed the tagline "Call Mr. Norm" in their classified ads, and the name stuck. Soon, Dodge offered the brothers an opportunity to open a new car dealership. Promoting muscle cars and exploiting his nickname, Kraus explained, “’Mr. Norm’ was an image that was built into the dealership. When I walked out at the end of the day, I wasn't ‘Mr. Norm’ anymore; I was Norm Kraus. I learned to be a humble winner on the track and a gracious loser. I'm just glad I didn't have to be gracious too much."

According to Kraus, one of his proudest accomplishments, was when he sought to install a 383ci V8 engine in a compact Dodge Dart body. He was positive that this combo would be a great sell, since a lightweight Dart with a powerful 383ci would be competitively fast. However, Dodge's engineering team turned him down; saying it placing a 383ci V8 in Dart’s engine bay couldn't be done. Undeterred, in 1967, he ordered a new Dart and a crate 383 V8 engine, and after a few days' work, the Dodge Dart Grand Spaulding Special (GSS) was born. Soon, the dealership was offering GSS conversions involving larger 440ci engines. With this focus on performance and ingenuity, Kraus was able to make Grand Spaulding Dodge the largest Dodge dealership by 1972.

Kraus took his car work racing, and after a minor sponsorship one weekend turned into five sales by Wednesday, he was ready to go racing in a big way. Not wanting to compete against his customers, he decided to build a match-race car. He recalled that his first 1964 supercharged car “became one of the first Funny Cars in the country, because when we went out racing, we were running against all the gassers and the rails. There weren't any other Funny Cars to run." A 1965 ex-factory lightweight car allowed them to run well into the eights when the competition was in the nines, putting ‘Mr. Norm’ on the map nationwide.

The Kraus brothers grew their dealership selling trucks, vans and standard cars along with the high-performance models. And when others were turning away the younger crowd, Grand Spaulding courted them. In 1977, Norm sold his share of the dealership, which closed within a couple of years. Still in his forties, he wanted to spend more time with his family, something not possible when on the showroom floor from Monday through Friday and then at the race track all weekend. He later had a furniture business on the site of one of the dealership buildings and then sold used cars again. He followed that up with two decades of marketing products in his name under license and he continued to appear at shows, promote Mopar and keep his hand in funny cars.

Recognized for his efforts, Kraus was inducted into the Mopar Hall of Fame in 1989, and then in 1996, was inducted into the A/FX Funny Car Hall of Fame

A celebrity guest and supporter at many Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals over the years, some of his more memorable appearances at Carlisle include:

1998 – He was the featured guest celebrity of the event.

1999 – The return of Mr. Norm's Sport Club, after nearly a 30-year hiatus. Launched at the Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals, the gathering saw support from hundreds of loyal fans from around the United States and Canada. Kraus signed limited-edition lithographs of the legendary Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge dealership circa 1970, at the height of the muscle car era. The artwork was created by David Snyder.

2007 – Kraus’ 1968 GSS Hemi Dart was displayed at the event.

2008 -- Mr. Norm’s Dodge Ram Super Truck was displayed with Kraus at the show.

2010 – A dozen of Kraus’ high-performance Dodges were displayed and he was on-hand at the Mr. Norm’s Garage exhibit.

2011 – Kraus oversaw a Sport Club exhibit featuring his 2011 GSS Super Charger, the Mr. Norm’s Ram Red Xpress Truck and two Super Challengers.

2012 – A full display of fully equipped current-day vehicles from Kraus’ stable were shown, with ‘The High Performance King’ on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.

Norm Kraus … Mr. Norm …“The High Performance King – 1934-2021. He is already missed.  He will be remembered at this year’s Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, July 9 – 11 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The largest Mopar event in the world, it features more than 2,800 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand. Classic, muscle cars and high performance new models are all showcased at this Mopar-lover's paradise.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Tip # 1: Purchase or download a color wheel.

Using the color wheel, locate the closest primary color to your car. Directly across will be complementing colors in varying shades. These colors will give your car a much stronger presence in your photo when used as a background. Which color background contrast your car better?

Tip # 2: DE-CLUTTER!


We want to see your car, not the dumpster behind it. Pay attention to the background. Are there trees or mailboxes growing out of your car? It's a great car, but a cactus riding shotgun?

Tip # 3: Don't forget a tripod!

Raise tripod legs so your camera is at, or just above door level for more dramatic shots. Keep height the same and shoot from many angles and distances.

No radical turn here, a slight adjustment makes a big difference!

Tip # 5: It's a great shot, but something's missing...

Don't lose a keeper by cutting off part of your car.

Tip # 6: Ever wonder how to see through glass and avoid harsh glare like below?

Always use a polarizing filter to reduce harsh glare. Don't have one? Buy a pair of cheap polarized sunglasses and shoot through the lens!

Tip # 7: Cars with three wheels.
If you can't see them all, move a foot to either side.

Tip # 8: Know your subject!

Muscle cars were made for the street! Save the grass for the brass! You be the judge.

Tip # 9: Angles grab attention!
Shoot your car at a 5 degree angle and watch it jump off the frame. How do you measure 5 degrees? Angle your camera about the width of you pinky!

Tip # 10: When using a digital camera, always shoot in RAW format if so equipped.

This will allow you to produce higher quality images, as well as correct problem images that would be unrecoverable if shot in the JPEG format.

Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

Good things happen when you follow your instincts and follow the signs…especially when the sign is a blue oval with the word “Ford” inside it.

It took only three years for Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founders of Carlisle Events, to expand a new genre – car shows celebrating all cars, rather than simply pre-World War II vehicles – from one show to two. The two friends were enthusiasts of all cars from all eras, and brought their joy to thousands of like-minded car fans, beginning with the “Post War '74” swap meet at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. By 1977, the pair jumped on their success and brought the “Spring Carlisle” swap meet to the Fairgrounds.

As their family of vendors and visitors grew with each show, the Millers quickly sold vendor spaces on their 82-acre display site, and in 1995, the pair expanded again, launching the inaugural Carlisle All-Ford Nationals.

The Ford show has become the largest all-Ford show in the world, and it has expanded to accommodate more than 3200 display and for-sale vehicles encompassing Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Blue Oval-umbrella cars, trucks, performance parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more are on-hand and for sale in the world's largest Ford Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products on display within the Manufacturers Midway. Carlisle Events Ford Nationals Event Manager Ken Appell proudly affirms, “This is the world’s largest Ford show and swap meet. There is nothing bigger in the Ford world than this show.” 

Bill Miller Jr., Co-Founder and Co-Owner Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip Miller recognized the need for a Ford-focused event. Bill Miller was steered in that direction by his background and contacts. Miller said, “I was a Ford dealer when we started the All-Ford Nationals. My Ford dealership representative was an old-car guy too, so the Ford Show was a natural for me. Not many big Ford shows were around at that time, so it became a hit from the start. Once Ford Motor Co. became involved, they helped us to make it the world’s largest All-Ford event, including not only Ford, but Mercury and Lincoln, too.” 

The Millers also found a fan and supporter in John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance. Clor has been involved since the beginning in helping Ford embrace the show while he has helped grow the Carlisle experience for Ford clubs around the nation. According to Appell, “it is the clubs, the vendors and the Carlisle visitors who are the backbone of this event.”

Clor said there are currently more than 100 clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs.  Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com). He has seen the support grow from the beginning. “In 1995, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity,” said Clor. He added that due to aging of the original club members, and evolution of legacy clubs, “the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival, and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”

Recalling that first show, Miller said, “Ford grew to understand what we were about, what we shared and what our concept was. Ford Motor Company is a family-owned business just like we are, and they value their history. So they realized that if you love your old Ford, you will buy their new products too. You certainly would not trailer your old Ford pickup to a show with a Brand-X pickup, now would you?”

As visitors and clubs are the lifeline of the All-Ford Nationals, Miller lauds loyal vendors, who are the life’s blood of the event. Over the past quarter-century of the show, Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events, followed us to our first Spring and Ford events. They were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today.”

Miller continued, “When we started the All-Ford Nationals it quickly became ‘the place’ for enthusiasts to bring their old Ford and show it off. Spring and Fall Carlisle were only cars and parts for sale with no show field, and with the All-Ford Nationals, the show field added a whole new dimension to Carlisle Events. Our visitors came with their cars, and vendors found that they were also looking for parts, while Ford recognized that our visitors loved Ford, old and new, and gained bonding with those who loved all things related to the Blue Oval.”

Over the years, Miller has seen an evolution of the event. “With each yearly Ford Show, Ford Motor Co. involvement has boosted the show to new heights. Each year they work with our staff to make it the biggest and best Ford event in the nation,” he said.

Miller added, “At that first event, three marketing staff members from the Ford Special Vehicle team arrived with a 1995 SVT Mustang Cobra, a Cobra R model and an SVT F-150 Lightning pickup packed with about 1,000 posters and a 10x10 tent. They were the first and only Ford Motor Company representatives in attendance. Now we get full Ford teams, engineers, executives, celebrities, full vehicle line-ups and full support.”

Clor credits added Ford involvement to the additions Carlisle Events makes to broaden the audience. Clor said, “Our club members now bring their families. What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their rides, is gaining more and more family attendance. Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event, and Ford sees this as a means of family bonding with THEIR fans.”

You can see everything Ford at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's, held at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. Historically, more than 3,000 vehicles appear on the National Parts Depot Showfield and this year guests can see a celebration of 1971-’73 Mustangs, a display of comic, TV and movie themed Fords by way of Comic Car-Con, a 50th anniversary of the Pinto showcase, Broncos, trucks and Blue Oval icons across the decades.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Generally speaking, car shows are a difficult place to shoot cars. Foot traffic, harsh lighting, close quarters etc make most anything other than general shots a realistic expectation. That doesn’t mean however that taking a little time to prepare prior to the event (and even when you're there) won’t increase your chances of finding your ride in print, and quite possibly the opportunity for a closer look!

Here are a few tips (and tricks) to help your car stand out.

DO: Clean and detail your car. This should be a given but you’d be surprised how many really great cars get passed by because someone didn’t invest a little elbow grease into cleaning it.

Don’t: Forget the inside of the car. Look, we get it, most cars are driven to the event. Debris, grass, gravel, dust etc are to be expected. Know this and prepare for it. It only takes a few minutes once you’ve arrived.



DO: Speaking of interiors, open your windows! Anyone who is interested in your car will make the interior their second stop when checking it out. Let them see what’s inside!

Don’t: Ignore people who take a closer look.

DO: Raise the hood. This is the eye candy. A clean, well maintained engine compartment is a must. Unless the event is closed hood only, lift’em up!

This is the number one stop when checking out cars on the show field. The chances of someone proceeding to any other part of your ride decrease nearly 70% if your hood is closed.

Don’t: Confront people who may have a different opinion about your car. Bite your tongue if you need to and let them be on their way. Trust me.

Don’t: Giant binders of photos documenting the restoration are great, just not sitting inside the engine compartment.

Don’t: Giant poster board or obnoxious signs leaning on your car.

Do: Consider first impressions: Not every car is a trailer queen, but every car can make a great first impression. What is your car saying?

Don’t: forget to periodically dust off your car during the show. Remember, not everyone was able to see it an hour ago.

DO: Be available. Look, we’re not saying sit by your car all day, but your cars chances of a possible feature improve greatly if we have the opportunity to speak with you.

DO: Check out your surroundings. Is there trash, leaves, debris on the ground around your car? Pick it up.

Secret Do: Discretely pull your car up a foot after other cars around you have parked. Subtle, but effective.



Do: drop the top if you can.



Don’t: Forget to straighten you steering wheel.



Do: Remember that shows are supposed to be fun.

Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation) were cars guys and friends, who saw a need for events that catered to like‐minded individuals who hunted for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. They also recognized that automobile-specific swap meets were rare and were generally sponsored by local car clubs as fundraisers. They saw that existing events were generally small and exclusively attracted local enthusiasts – there was little regional attention. One of the biggest industry deficiencies to the friends was that they had mutual interest in Post-WWII cars – specifically cars of the 1950s – and automotive events of the day were limited to a pre-War car-focus.

As the Millers embraced all cars, they created a genre for all car enthusiasts on September 26, 1974, by renting the Carlisle Fairgrounds, to produce “Post War '74”, an event for enthusiasts of more-recent vehicles. Later known as “The Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Car Corral”, it quickly became so successful that the pair branched out to produce a similar Spring event in 1977. In short order, the Spring events became complete sellouts for vendor and car sale (or “car corral”) spaces, and over the years, the pair bought the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds, upgraded it, and they currently produce 11 specialty events and five collector car auctions in Pennsylvania and Florida, attracting more than a half-million guests.

What has become their most popular show is the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral, one of the largest automotive flea markets in the world, and an auto enthusiasts’ cavalcade of all things automotive. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, the event is an annual “must-attend” to its loyal following.

Most often called “Spring Carlisle,” the event has grown to include a Collector Car Auction, (with hundreds of classic cars for sale), Manufacturers Midway (28 vendors), Automotive Flea Market, Car Corral, ARMO (SEMA council that preserves and promotes the automotive hobby) Hot Products Showcase, Antique Automotive Club of America display, Women’s Oasis (filled with goods, arts, crafts and vendors), parts hauling services, hand cart rental, taxi service, scooter rental, games, attractions, food and concessions (more than two-dozen food stands offering a wide variety of delights), T-shirts, souvenirs, a notary, collector car insurance (from American Collectors Insurance), on-line ticketing and apps for auction credentials and purchases, and a sea of auto parts and after-market parts, lubricants and auto care offerings.

Bill Miller, Jr. Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip, decided to expand the one-event schedule (Fall Carlisle) to fill the void. He said, “As Chip and I realized winter was such a long time without a car show in the northeast, it just seemed natural that there would be a pent-up demand for something in the spring. With outdoor car activities all summer, fall seemed to be a more diluted time of the year, though traditionally, both Carlisle and Hershey (PA) fall events do well as enthusiasts can gear up and attend both shows.”

Miller said it was a risk to expand. “We gambled with a spring event when we first started in 1977, with no Hershey event to pair with us. It turned out to be an excellent move as Spring Carlisle is now our largest event of the year,” said Miller.

While the event has grown from just over 1000 vendor spaces to 8100 spaces, and draws many times the original number of guests, several things stand out in Miller’s mind regarding the show’s evolution. He said, “Spring Carlisle grew by leaps and bounds every year after 1977. It kept doubling in size until it became a sellout. Spring is such a happy season for people, knowing winter is behind us, and car enthusiasts welcome our show as a renewal and beginning of the car season. We recognized that people needed parts for their collector cars that they worked on during the winter season, and they looked forward to an event where they could find what they needed to continue their projects and talk cars with like-minded car people.”

Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today. They have been the lynchpin to our success, in marriage with our loyal visitors -- many who have been to every Spring show since 1977, and they have expanded their support to include generations of their families.” 

Miller has noticed some tech changes for the good since the inaugural event. He said, “In 1977, there were no walkie-talkies, cell phones or golf carts. We used to have to run from one end of the field to the other and it was really hectic. And of course, we do a lot of registration, sales, customer support and vendor support through the internet now.”

Miller is proud of the show and takes satisfaction in its consistency and growth. He said, “Spring Carlisle is the same great show it was from the beginning, only today’s Spring Carlisle has more vendors, more concessions and food, and more visitors. What really stands out in my mind is that the Manufacturer’s Midway is a central part of the show and was not present in the early days. Additionally, many companies now remanufacture old parts that are no longer available from the original manufacturers to keep our old vehicles on the road. Those manufacturers help keep old-car projects alive and by displaying at Spring Carlisle, are the life’s blood for many of our visitors’ automotive needs.” 

From car parts, to cars-at-auction, to cars for sale on the grounds, to just about everything automotive, the Carlisle Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral (Spring Carlisle) is a “must-go” April 21-25 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Across the street is the Carlisle Auctions, Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction from April 22-23.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

 

“If I could go back I would…” Who hasn’t thought that a time or two?  “I can remember when...” Yeah, guilty of that one also.



Unfortunately we haven’t perfected time travel just yet, but that doesn’t stop us from being able to actually go back. Over the years there’s been a stable full of daily transportation and others some may call “performance” vehicles on standby. They get you from place to place in a vanilla sort of way with an occasional hint of wild cherry thrown in for variety. But in the back of the garage, off to itself sits another class of vehicle. The keeper.

The very thought of a perfectly good automobile sitting idly by seems to some folks, foolish. Throw in the fact that the car is one of the most sought after original classic muscle cars, and you’ll hear the word sacrilege more often. It seems not using a car as it was intended garners little more than a shrug if we are talking about a brand X econobox, but let one set of prying eyes see “what’s under the cover” and the conversation begins.


“That car was meant to be driven! If I had that car I’d drive the wheels off of it!” I’ve heard them all and frankly, I don’t care. The classic car market doesn’t give a damn about my half decade of memories with the car. “There’s no value” in that I was once told. That’s where you’ve got it all wrong. 

Each day I walk past the car, I live life with it all over again. I still get to feel the cold steel of the same skinny door handle as my thumb pushes inward as the door pops open to greet you. The smell of original vinyl and 50+ year old loop carpet welcome me. A reel wood shift ball with pattern worn from use cradles my right hand while I pull the driver’s door closed with a truly solid sound, completely foreign today, behind me. Nothing about this time machine screams modern. Yet the others seem envious.

Pumping the gas pedal sends wafts of octane laden fumes into the cockpit like an aphrodisiac as the building clatter of a solid lifter engine blends harmoniously with the low guttural growl as the dual exhaust monster awakens. Many of today’s drivers scoff at the sight of this gas swilling, unapologetic dinosaur of another time, choosing instead to measure my carbon footprint from behind their disposable cups of overpriced coffee with a double shot of irony.

At some point in our lives we realize that while we are not old, we are no longer young. That days and weeks do eventually become years and those endless summers do one day in fact, end. Fortunately for us we were lucky enough to live in a time where pictures could be held, not just sent. A time of meeting friends, not friending people, and working delivering newspapers, cutting grass or flipping burgers was viewed as an opportunity and not a job looked down upon.



Coming of age was a driver’s license, not a cell phone. The open road, not the internet, and the cars that transported us there. Much like, actually exactly like the keeper that still occupies a coveted spot in my garage over a half a century later.

“If I could go back”…yeah, I hear it all the time and honestly I wouldn’t change a thing. Mostly because thankfully, I still can.

Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

France has been a pioneer and lynchpin of the automotive industry since French military engineer and inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the world's first full-size and working self-propelled mechanical land-vehicle, the “Fardier à vapeur” in 1770. It was, effectively, the world's first automobile, though many point to it as more of a wagon than a car.

Steam-powered wagons were sold in France and the United States until the late 1910s, but as steam was replaced a century earlier, by the internal combustion engine, demand declined steadily. The French played a part in that, as in 1807, Francoise Isaac deRivaz invented a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine with electric ignition and described it in a French patent. In 1808, he fitted it into a primitive working vehicle often referred to as “the world's first internal combustion powered automobile”.

Fifty-two years later, engineer Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir developed what is considered by many to be the first commercially successful internal combustion engine, and in 1863, the Hippomobile, with a hydrogen-gas-fueled one cylinder, internal combustion engine, made a 3-hour test drive from Paris to Joinville-le-Pont at a top speed of 9 km per hour.  

In 1884, Édouard Delamare-Deboutteville built and drove the first gas oil-powered 4-stroke internal combustion four-wheeled vehicle, but some of the vehicles exploded during use and they never went into production. Within a few years, several manufacturers got into the game including Panhard (now owned by Renault Trucks Defense) and Peugeot. De-Dion-Bouton, Delahaye, Bollee and Renault all got into the market before the turn of the century.

By 1903, France was the top auto manufacturer in the world, producing nearly 49 percent of the world’s total. In the first half of the century, Hotchkiss et Cie, Delage, Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Aviona Voisin, Citroen, Talbot-Lago (which later became Simca, which built Fiats), Amilcar, Salmson (later bought by Renault), Matford (which built Fords), and other French auto manufacturers were launched.

From 1950 to the present, French auto manufacturing ceased its leadership position in production and most manufacturers were restructured, absorbed, merged or ended production. However, new players emerged including Facel Vega, Alpine, Matra and Venturi, and several foreign car builders put up manufacturing facilities in France. Of more than 400 auto manufacturers that have been in business in France, historically, today, there are about 20 French car builders remaining, and the top car manufacturers include Renault, Peugeot, Citroën / DS, Alpine and Bugatti.

Along the way, French cars have been exciting and have made history on the world’s tracks and streets. There have been many along the way, and there are some awesome current-model automotive works of art and power on the road today, but paying homage to the past, here are some of the more memorable wheeled-wonders born in France.

Citroën

Often called an umbrella on wheels, the 1948 Citroën 2CV was built as an affordable urban commuter. With innovative engineering and strengthened corrugated bodywork, the vehicle was part of a tax program that taxed owners based on horsepower, so 2CV, at 9 hp, was actually called the "two tax horsepower" since it only had two taxable horses.

The 1955 Citroën DS replaced the Traction Avant at the top of the Citroën line-up in the mid-’50s, and was outfitted with the revolutionary hydraulic suspension Citroën began testing in 1954 on the Traction Avant’s rear axle. It was innovative, architecturally alluring, comfortable and high-tech for its era.

The Citroën GS was an aerodynamic pioneer from 1970-1986, gaining a fastback hatch in 1978. The front-engine, front-drive, four- or five-door, five-passenger family car was technologically advanced, with class-leading comfort, safety and aerodynamics.

Renault

The Renault Megane may have captured the European “hot hatch” movement. Since 1995, the Megane has been comfortable at ralleys and at home. It won the hearts of those who see it as a daily driver and it won British and European racing championships.

The Renault 12 was a mid-size family car praised for its spacious, comfortable interior, styling, performance and low fuel consumption. In 1970, a high-performance Renault 12 Gordini model was introduced, equipped with the all-aluminum 1565 cc block from the R16 TS that was fitted with two double-barrel Weber carburetors and five-speed gearbox. The car achieved a top speed of 115mph.

The Renault 18 was produced between 1978 and 1994, and was intended as a replacement for the Renault 12. The 1981 Renault 18i was available in the US as either a sedan or a station wagon. Power was delivered by an inline overhead-valve four-cylinder displacing 100.5 cubic-inches and offering 81 horsepower. They had a four-speed manual transmission with disc brakes in the front and drums at the rear.

The Renault 5 Turbo was a 160hp rally competitor. Designed with aluminum body panels to save weight, later Turbo 2 Models in the 1980s got steel panels. The Renault 5 Turbo kicked off a hot hatchback revolution and the R5 Turbo inspired the Clio V6 Trophy model.

Alpine

Alpine merged with Renault Sport in 1976, but before that, Alpine put out the A110 as technologically advanced evolution of the A108. With a mid-engine configuration, the rear-wheel-drive A110 was a winner on the track, winning at Monte Carlo and several French ralleys, and was an eye-catcher on the road. Brought back in 2017, today’s version is a 288hp show-stopper.

Bugatti 

Where do you start and end when talking about Bugatti? From its founding in 1909, it gained a rep for design beauty and race championships. Today’s Bugatti – Chiron and Veyron -- feature cutting-edge design, tech and power. But looking to the past, Bugatti earned its cred with many models.

The Bugatti Type 35 was the most successful of the Bugatti racing models, winning more than 1,000 races including 351 races in 1925-26, going on a run in which it averaged 14 race wins a week,  and capturing the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926. The Type 35 set 47 records in those two years and it remains one of the most recognizable racers ever made, thanks to its innovative alloy wheels with inboard brakes. Introduced in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 was light, reliable, fast and elegant, producing 90hp with the Type 35 and 135hp with the Type 35B.

The Bugatti Type 51 was a track star and a celebrity finder … Jay Leno has one.

The original Type 51 was launched in 1931. Its engine was a 160 hp, twin overhead cam evolution of the supercharged 2.3-liter single overhead cam straight-8 found in the Type 35B. The obvious external differences of a Type 51 include the supercharger blow-off outlet situated lower in the bonnet’s louvered section than in the Type 35; one piece cast wheels instead of bolted-on rims; twin fuel caps are behind the driver and the magneto of the 51 is off-set to the left on the dash.

The Bugatti Type 57CS Atlantic racer was built as a Touring car from 1934 to 1940. It sported a square-bottom horseshoe grille. The sides of the engine compartment were covered with thermostatically controlled shutters. It was a taller car than most for the era and it produced 135hp.

There are so many French works of automotive art that deserve spotlighting, we’ll have to save some for next time. They include, but are not limited to the 1959 Panhard PL 17, 1956 Facel Vega Excellence, 1962 Simca Coupe 1000, 1991 Venturi Coupe 260, 1947 Delahaye 175 and a collection of Peugeots from the 1987 205 GTI Rallye to the 106 Rallye and 406 Coupe, as well as many more from the badges of yesteryear to the supercars of today.

You can see a full display of 1980s-era Renaults and French cars galore, as well as a comprehensive assortment of international vehicles at the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, May 14-15. The event showcases more than 2300 unique and stunning vehicles from around the world as well as domestics, kit cars, motorcycles, trucks and high-end performance rides. 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Seldom do we have the opportunity to meet an individual who, upon spending time with them, leaves an indelible impression. Rarer too, is that person who’s path to becoming a household name has just begun. 

If Kat Redner isn’t someone you already associate with fast cars and television, mark this down, it will be.

“I’ve been around cars my whole life” Kat tells us. “The main reason I got into cars was because of my family. My dad has been restoring cars ever since I was born which is cool because my papa had a ‘66 Mustang convertible that my dad and he restored together.”



“I think that is why we are a Mustang family and probably the reason we all have Mustangs” says Kat. “One of my favorite and earliest memories was when I was about seven and my dad and I took a daddy-daughter trip to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle. It was my first ever plane trip and we made a whole vacation out of it.

Dad rented a Mustang and we went to Hershey Park and the Carlisle all Ford Nationals where I got my first Ford Mustang poster” Redner recalls with a giggle. “I put it on my wall as soon as I got home” and like her dad, she was hooked.

Today, Kat saddles up in her ’08 Mustang “which I call My Little Pony” she laughs. “But my dream car has always been a ’67 fastback. I've loved the ‘ 67 fastbacks and had been looking for one at a decent price for the longest time when my mom located one on line.



I was lucky enough to have saved up the money to purchase the car and we flew out on my mother’s birthday and brought home my night mist blue factory “S” code 390 fastback. I absolutely love it” and fittingly, with no shortage of helping family hands to correct some minor issues and tidy up the new addition to her stable, Kat regularly puts “Ellie” through her paces. 

Blazing her own path

Wise beyond her years, Kat acknowledges the future of the automotive hobby depends on new generations sharing experience, telling the stories and driving it forward. Perhaps more than any other, Kat Redner eagerly accepts that challenge. 



“I really like meeting people and speaking with them” Kat tells us. “I’d like to improve my skills working on the cars because I don’t think I’m where I should be in that area, but I am improving. 

I love driving my car and attending events in the area but I believe ultimately, I would love to do something like Cristi Lee does. To have my own television show or work on a show with other talented women.” 

To that end, the multi-platform journalism major and self-proclaimed car nut brings one of the most unique skill sets to her workbench. Whatever preconceived notion perpetuating women in the field is quickly shattered by Kat’s impressive list of accomplishments. 

The already ridiculously talented Redner recently added journalist, video production and television host to her jaw dropping resume, and did we forget to mention, jet car racer? 



That’s right friends, while this rising star appreciates the stance of a classic muscle car and the artistic lines of a sweet exotic, it will take more than talk to earn the respect of a woman who routinely launched herself, a quarter mile at a time, at speeds approaching 300mph!

 “I consider myself super ambitious” she says almost shyly. “I want to do everything which is good and bad sometimes but there are so many things in life I feel like I have to get done right away.”  I know my parents were probably terrified because their little girl had never raced anything before and was now jumping directly into a jet dragster which can reach speeds of 300 miles per hour but they always supported me."

“I'm not going to lie I was terrified when I first started” admits the 23 year old, “I mean who wouldn't be, but I think that nervousness is almost a good thing when you're racing because you're always on the edge, you're always concentrating and you're always focused.”

It’s with that same laser focus Kat has successfully transitioned from behind the wheel to in front of the camera. “I would say my experience in racing would definitely be a strength because I had the opportunity to meet and speak with people all over the country and build relationships.”

Kat adds “I believe women in motorsports are appreciated now more than ever because we have to know and understand every part of the car from top to bottom” which instantly earns Redner credibility and trust. 

“Believe it or not” says Kat, “I was always pretty shy. It wasn’t until the last five years or so that I really saw myself coming out of my shell. If you can find something that you're really passionate about you’ll really start to open up and that's exactly what I did! 

I have a love for cars and I think if you love what you're doing you can speak about it so much better. I’ve had some great mentors and people I look up to encourage me to follow mine and I hope one day I can be that person for the next little girl who has a dream.” 



Currently, this amazing young woman is looking forward to sharing great stories on Discovery’s Destination America channel and reminding the next generation who will undoubtedly look up to her, to “be kind and always believe in yourself.”

Always a winning formula.

Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

All vendors, past and present, are treasured Carlisle Events family members; and all have played a huge part in the 47-year history of the event company. They have been part of the foundation of the Carlisle Events story since the beginning.

On September 26, 1974, Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events for “car guys and girls just like them,” on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, when “Post War '74” took place. It was the first car event promoted by the company, and in a year notable for its gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.

Those 600 vendors and 800 spaces gave grown considerably since, and along with loyal attendees, the vendors remain family members, and the lifeline that continues to drive Carlisle Events’ success.

Tim Demark, Carlisle Events Vendor Manager said, “All 3000 vendors in 8200 vendor spaces today, and all vendors historically, as well and all of our customers – past, present and future -- are instrumental in our enduring success and in our tapestry, and have been key here since the beginning.”

As each member of the vendor family is considered essential by Carlisle Events and all have stories that make historical and entertaining reading, each one could be the focus of a fun and enlightening story. However, in the interest of keeping this an article, and not a book, here are a few stories included as an illustration of what drives the original vendors to continue year after year.

Prior to Carlisle Events' emergence, anyone interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars had few options. Over the past 47 years, Carlisle Events and the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds have become a Mecca for collector car enthusiasts all over the world. The presenter of 11 automotive events annually, Carlisle Events shows and flea markets in Pennsylvania and Florida attract more than 100,000 visitors each year.

When Carlisle Events began, Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller, who became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s, began attending car shows and swap meets, where like-minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles, and saw a need for more events that focused on more than simply pre-WWII automobiles.

Bill Miller Jr. said, “Back in the day, the Antique Auto Club in America held one big event and there were a number of small local events held. Chip and I went everywhere, talked to vendors and handed out fliers. Back then, anything that wasn’t 35-years-old or older wasn’t considered antique and wasn’t presented. We were in our 20s and liked 20-year-old cars, so we established the market on post-war vehicle shows with ‘Post War ’74.’ But it was the vendors, then and now that allowed us to proceed and grow.”

Miller said that early on, “Old Cars Weekly and Hemmings Motor News were instrumental vendors who supported us and helped build a niche for us and for them. They mingled with vendors to learn from them and to sell subscriptions. They provided great coverage and helped establish this new market.”  

Miller continued, “In the beginning, our vendors were guys who were restoring cars and they brought extra parts here to clean out their garages or to swap parts for money to buy parts for their ongoing projects. Over time, that evolved, as many of these people grew to understand that parts that are hard to find could be reproduced and sold at shows or by mail order. Our first vendors largely were folks and enthusiasts rather than business people FOR enthusiasts, and the business has evolved to that scope today.”

Miller added that the original vendors also helped event growth and support, as they achieved good business, and helped promote events by word of mouth and by handing out fliers at their shops and within mail order shipments.

Dianne Vaughn, who, for nearly 38 years served as promotions manager, facilities director and director of customer relations of Carlisle Events, said that there are 36 of the original vendors still selling their wares at the events and promoting the shows today.

While Vaughn and Miller have stories about nearly all of them, they gave a shout out to an original vendor who has passed.

Miller said, “We lost Dennis Carpenter recently. From the beginning, he sold antique Ford parts and had grown his business from a pop-up tent to huge tents selling reproduction parts.” Vaughn added, “He passed away over Thanksgiving and he is already missed.”

Vaughn and Miller reminisced about a few original vendors and smiled when they spoke of Chuck Begley. Miller began, “Begley sold a little bit of everything. He is still here, and very knowledgeable.” Vaughn summed up, saying, “He is always on top of the market and he has a part for everyone.”

Miller thought back and said that many early vendors helped prepare the venue, even helping place location discs in the ground at appropriate vendor and car display spots on the field. He said, “Craig Hollar is one of the original vendors that helped with disc layout back in the day and continues to vend at some of the events to this day in Building Y.”

Miller brought up the many original vendors who have introduced subsequent generations them to the events, “There are so many multi-generational vendors still with us …S&S Sales comes to mind. They sold tools here and have expanded into car tires and through multi-generations of their family.”

Vaughn also recalled multi-generational vendors and for example, remarked, “Richie DiFabrizzio sold OEM Chevy parts and was big into VW in the beginning. He and his dad sold here every show and we watched his sons grew up. It is the neatest thing when contacts and their families become our family. We often see three generations of vendors and when they bring their grandchildren to start a fourth-generation with us, it makes us smile.”

“These small businesses have grown, but most are still family businesses, and they keep the family atmosphere at Carlisle, which is still a family-owned business, “added Vaughn. “The vendors have shared their families with us and created an atmosphere in which we all knew each other’s lives. That atmosphere has remained the same.”

Miller expanded on the family feel, saying. “Our vendors and our attendees consider us family as well. They hold weddings here on our stage. Some have named their children ‘Carlisle’, for the love of the hobby, and their business has grown from swap vendor to full business BECAUSE they loved the hobby.”

Over the years, the events, the markets and the vendors have adapted to current trends. Miller said, “The vendors are more professional than they were in the beginning. Swap meets were not sophisticated business, and today, vendors realize that they may have only sold Pennzoil back in the day, but now they may need to sell tires, memorabilia, parts and a variety of targeted items to do business. I talk to vendors and they know what they need to do. Their product sophistication is so good now that, while they may have sold everything they owned, in the ’70s, they now have full facilities stocked up before and after the shows.”

Another difference between then and now, according to Miller, is repro parts. Miller said, “The parts sold here used to be all original. Our vendors learned that original parts are still valuable, but remanufactured and new repro parts mean business and sales.”

If there is one thing Miller and Vaughn say they have learned about their vendors since the beginning, it is, and they agree.  ”Car people are good people. They make life fun.”

Be part of the vending fun April 21-25 at the fairgrounds as part of Spring Carlisle 2021 presented by eBay Motors!  The fun starts at 7 a.m. and continues through the weekend.  In addition, Carlisle Auctions offers a two-day collector car auction, April 22-23 at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center.  The auction starts at 12 p.m. daily.  

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

 

If you are a devout truck enthusiast or even a casual fan, you find something special in the genre. To those of us who are “truck people,” every truck is special, but some stand out more than others do.

The evolution of trucks, from steam wagons in the 1770s, to the internal combustion trucks of Karl Benz in 1895 and Gottlieb Daimler in 1896 has evolved into today’s diesel and turbo trucks and electric and hybrid models. The genre of truck may have started with pick-ups, 18-wheelers, tow trucks, and three-quarter-ton representations, but the niche has grown to include, vans, compact trucks, sport trucks, and the most popular derivation outside full-sized trucks in today’s marketplace, the sports-utility-vehicle, or SUV. In fact, as a group, SUVs are currently the world's largest automotive segment, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the world's passenger car market in 2020.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the popularity of SUVs greatly increased, and along the way, sports-ute stars have come and gone. During that time, another genre has gained popularity, the sport truck. 

A sport truck is for the “more power” crowd. A sport truck is any truck that has been modified for enhanced appearance and/or performance.

Today, the power, the cosmetics and accouterments are limited only by imagination, but back in the day, a sport truck and an SUV stand out. Limiting the scope to just these two, a turbocharged SUV and its sibling, a sport truck, attacked the market. These pioneers brought performance, big horsepower, and sportscar-killing performance to the truck and SUV niche before the uptweak became commonplace. These two vehicles were GMC’s Syclone compact pickup and Typhoon SUV, revered and followed today by numerous “SyTy” forums.

GMC SYCLONE

The GMC Syclone was a high-performance version of the GMC Sonoma pickup truck, with 2,998 units produced in 1991 and ’92 by GMC along with Production Automotive Services (PAS). Following the Syclone, the 1992 GMC Sonoma GT truck was offered as a sport package with the looks of a Syclone but without the price and performance of its turbocharged predecessor.

Legend has it that Syclone with an "S” was an homage to the “S-10” or “Sonoma”, but Mercury had already produced the Cyclone (with a “C”) from 1964-’71 and GMC did not want to copy that name representation.

Measuring 180.5 inches long, 68.2 inches wide and 60.0 inches high on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, Syclones powered up with a 280hp 4.3-liter turbo V-6. Weighing in at 3,599 lbs., and mated to a 4-speed 4L60 automatic transmission, Syclones were timed in a 4.3-second zero-to-60mph sprint and a 13.4-second quarter-mile.

Engine modifications included lower-compression pistons, special intake and exhaust manifolds, a multipoint fuel injection system, bigger twin-bore throttle body from Corvette's 5.7-liter small-block, and a Mitsubishi TD06-17C turbocharger with a Garrett water-to-air inter-cooler.

Syclone was meant for the street. Its cab carried a warning: "This vehicle is not intended for off-road use. The reduced height of this vehicle will not allow it to clear obstacles commonly encountered in an off road environment. Off road operation could result in serious damage to chassis and drivetrain.” In addition, it wasn’t meant to haul.  Syclone had a 500-pound payload capacity, low for a pick-up, and towing was not recommended by the factory.

Syclone only came in black, except for a few third-party exceptions: The Red Marlboro Syclones customized by American Sunroof Company, and the Indy Syclone, used at the Indianapolis 500 race in 1992. Although there were three of these unofficial pace cars, only one (the PPG version) got a multi-colored silver, magenta, and aqua paint scheme, while the other two got sticker packages.

Marlboro Syclones featured Boyd Coddington wheels, Recaro leather seats, a Momo steering wheel, and a targa-style removable roof panel. The Indy had a racing fuel cell, a built-in halon fire suppression system, water-cooled brakes, and color matched leather interior to the exterior paint scheme. The bed had a multi piece tonneau cover that accordion folds with the tailgate to reveal the fuel cell, halon canister mounts and a molded in light bar in the roof.

A GMC ad for the Syclone compared it to a Porsche 911 Carrera 4, with the ad headline: "Think of it as a Porsche 911 that really hauls.”

GMC Typhoon

Based on the GMC Jimmy, General Motors produced 4697 Typhoons from 1991-1993. The two-door mid-size SUV was powered by the same modified turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 that powered the Syclone, although Typhoon’s transfer case was a BorgWarner 4472 – Syclone used a BorgWarner 1372). Like the Sy, the Ty system also produced 280hp and 350 lb-ft. of torque. The Ty had a 100.5-inch wheelbase and measured 170.3 inches long, 68.2 inches wide and 60.0 inches high, weighing in with a curb weight of 3822 lbs. The manufacturer touted a 5.3-second zero-to-60mph dash, and the SUV ran a 14.1-second quarter-mile.

Typhoon paint colors included Forest Green Metallic, Radar Blue, Raspberry Metallic, Frost While, Royal Blue Metallic, Aspen Blue, Bright Teal, Apple Red, Garnet Red, and black, and it was a favorite among celebrities.

Among those big names who owned Typhoons were Clint Eastwood, John F. Kennedy Jr., Bob Seger, and two Miami Dolphins players – Brian Cox and O.J. McDuffie.

You can see Syclones, Typhoons in Building Y this year presented by the SyTy’s at Carlisle club display.  In addition, also at Carlisle are all manners of trucks, from the early days to the present, from the antique to the modern and from the iconic to the obscure, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores August 6-8 at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds.

 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Celebrating its 84th birthday in 2021, MOPAR® now encompasses the portion of Stellantis brands (the parent company) that includes, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep – some automotive enthusiasts even envelope all 14 Stellantis badges as Mopar, but it wasn’t always that way.

The term “MoPar” was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and was introduced as a brand starting in 1937. The name "MoPar", a derivation of “Motor Parts,” was created by marketing executives to use on cans of “Chrysler Motor Parts” antifreeze. The term has since become an inclusive word for any Chrysler-built vehicle—most any Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Imperial, DeSoto or RAM, and often includes AMC, Eagle and JEEP following Chrysler's 1987 buyout of American Motors Corp.

The change may have begun in the postwar years, when the division’s involvement with racing, coupled with internal efforts to develop high-output parts for production cars, merged the Mopar name to high-performance. Mopar has gone from being spelled “MoPar”, to “Mopar,” to the current “MOPAR®” after a 2002 logo redesign.

The Culture
Car culture is often defined as “a society or way of life characterized by excessive use of or reliance on motor vehicles.” But we think “excessive” is a wrong term … we define it as a “love or devotion to motor vehicles as an integral part of car fans’ and mainstream America’s lives and personalities.”

Chrysler is considered by many to be the original pioneer of the “muscle car” boom in the post-war era following the Second World War. With its 300-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine introduced in 1955 C-300 production, the concept of sky’s-the-limit horsepower may have begun the Mopar culture.

Arguably, the strongest, most exciting and fervent Mopar culture era occurred 50 years ago, in the early 1970s, when Mopar was spelled in lower case, and was led by those who were brand loyal and who championed vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto and Imperial; and to whom the phrase "Mopar or no car" was a way of life. The culture included cars as well as items that have since become nostalgic collectibles, such as posters, T-Shirts, team jackets, logo items and hard-to-find parts.

The People
The car culture of the 1970s was led by “Baby Boomers,” who craved muscle and graphics. Excitement was their daily bread. But not taking a backseat in terms of who was buying and powering-up their street rides were the groups known as the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation, specifically WWII and Korean War vets who lived through the Depression and craved excitement, horsepower and a device to stay young … embodied in their cars.

The “Mopar or no car” people … embraced horsepower and car wings, heralded Detroit’s Woodward Ave. drag racing, loved bright colors such as “Plum Crazy”, “Panther Pink,” “Go Mango”, “Sublime”, Sassy Grass” and “Top Banana”.

The Stars
Stars can be taken several ways … the celebrities who touted Mopar, the cars themselves that appeared on the screen, and the drivers who brought Mopar power to success and visibility on the track.

In the world of entertainment, Mopar culture made its presence felt. On TV, Mopar culture was represented by spokespersons Robert DeNiro for the AMC Ambassador in 1970, Don Knotts -- Dodge Tradesman “Strong Box” truck, and William Shatner -- 1971 Plymouth Fury and Satellite in 1971.

TV shows that featured Mopars included: "Adam 12” -- 1966 Plymouth Belvederes and Satellites as well as AMC Matadors; “Breaking Away” -- 1967 Coronet and 1972 Charger; “Chase” -- 1970 Plymouth Satellite; “Mannix” -- 1968 Dodge Dart GTS convertible customized by George Barris, 1970-71 Plymouth ‘Cuda convertibles; “Mission Impossible” – everything from a 1968 Dodge Charger, to Dodge Polaras, Dodge Coronets, Chrysler Imperials and New Yorkers; and “The Mod Squad” -- 1970 or 1971 Challenger R/T convertibles. For 1972, both the “Mannix” ‘Cuda convertible and the “Mod Squad” Challenger convertible from the previous season were converted to look like 1972 models because Chrysler stopped production of all convertibles after 1971. The same goes for the Barracuda from “The Brady Bunch” as well as the Challenger from “Medical Center.”

Dodge sponsored “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Lawrence Welk”; Chrysler sponsored “NBC Adventure Theatre”, “NBC Action Playhouse”, “NBC Comedy Playhouse” and “NBC Comedy Theater”.

In movies, the big stars were the 1968 Charger in “Bullitt” with Steve McQueen, the ’69 Charger in “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” and the 1970 Challenger’s appearance in “Vanishing Point.” There are many others, but these are regarded as some of the most famous Mopar muscle cars to grace the silver screen.

Mopar track and street racing stars were many, and included some household names and some lesser known, but just as important, Mopar drivers.

Richard Petty -- A tried-and-true Mopar fan, Petty once stated, “If you cut me, I still bleed Pentastar Blue”. “King Richard” Petty, the Hall-of-Fame face of NASCAR for many years, piloted a 426 ci. Hemi-powered 1970 Plymouth Superbird to 18 wins and 31 top finishes in the 1970 NASCAR season, and a 426-Hemi 1971 Plymouth Road Runner to the 1971 Daytona checkered flag, 21 race wins and 38 top-five finishes.

Bobby Allison – Bobby Allison ran his Dodge Charger Daytona in NASCAR events and while he switched rides often, his Mario Rossi winged Dodge was iconic.

Buddy Baker – Buddy Baker became the first driver ever to exceed 200 mph on a closed course (at Talladega), and his blue Dodge Daytona rides were historic.

Don Garlits -- Drag racing’s “Big Daddy” Don Garlits introduced the Chrysler Hemi engine to the drag racing circuit. Garlits and his 1971 Hemi-powered rear-engine dragster known as Swamp Rat 14 won the 1971 Winternationals.

Don Prudhomme -- Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and his buddy Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen sold sponsorship rights of their two Mopar Funny Car drag racers to Mattel’s HOT WHEELS group. Prudhomme drove a yellow, Hemi-powered ‘Cuda and took many Top Fuel Funny Car drag events.

Buddy Arrington – NASCAR racer Buddy Arrington never won the checkered flag but ran Dodges and Chryslers competitively for 25 years. Among his race cars were Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Imperial and Dodge Mirada. Buddy Arrington was the last person to drive a Chrysler product in NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series, which he did in 1985.

Ronnie Sox -- “Mr. Four-Speed”, Ronnie Sox, made the move to Plymouth in 1965 and never looked back. The red, white and blue Plymouths of the Sox & Martin team were always a force to be reckoned with and Ronnie’s ability to shift a four-speed gave him an advantage over most of the competition. Ronnie was there for the beginning of Pro Stock in 1970 and won the championship in ’70 and ’71. The NHRA changed the rules for 1972 and the Hemi was defeated by a pencil.

Dick Landy -- “Dandy” Dick Landy’s blue, red and silver 1970 Hemi Pro Stock Dodge Challenger was his main ride and his team drove a Hurst Hemi Dart, a ’68 Charger R/T and Coronet R/T … all to the winner’s circle. Landy conducted performance clinics at Dodge dealers across the US much the same as Sox & Martin did at Plymouth stores.

Jimmy Addison – Jimmy Addison drove his 426-Hemi ‘67 Plymouth Silver Bullet GTX to become a drag racing legend on Detroit’s Woodward Ave. It was something that would never get past the suits and lawyers of today, but the Silver Bullet was actually supported by Plymouth as a way to show the brand’s dominance on the street and not just the track. It was ultimately all about sales.

Bobby Isaac – Bobby Isaac had a successful NASCAR career and is best known for driving the No. 71 Dodge. At the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1971, Bobby Isaac set a land speed record in a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona with its nose cone, rudders, and a 426 Hemi to break an average run record of 210 mph. Isaac literally walked away from NASCAR in 1973 at Talladega when he radioed for a relief driver during the race.

The Cars
During the 1960s, America’s car culture was muscle-oriented, with an emphasis on ponies, powerful engines, wings, smoking tires, street racing, tinted Plexiglas windows, hood scoops, raised front ends with beam axles and open headers. The 1970s saw less muscle as gasoline became precious and fuel prices soared. Fuel efficiency and emission laws reduced horsepower, but Mopar held on to performance longer than most. They also continued the excitement with cosmetic mods, a broad color palette -- “Vitamin C Orange”, Moulin Rouge”, “Curious Yellow” “Tor-Red”, “Hemi-Orange”, “Butterscotch” and “Light Turquoise”, for example -- external graphics and creative architecture.

The cars were the REAL stars of 1970-1971’s Mopar culture and included, but were not limited to, the following:

Plymouth ‘Cuda -- Considered by many to be the lynchpins of the classic days of the Chrysler muscle car culture are the Plymouth Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. In 1970, Plymouth presented up to 425 hp in a sleek street beast shell that came in vibrant colors and was one of the fastest, most iconic muscle cars ever. The new E-Body platform was specifically designed with a wider engine bay to accommodate the massive Hemi engine.

Dodge Challenger -- A sister to the ‘Cuda, with the same platforms, track widths, engines, and proportions, Challenger’s 110-inch wheelbase is two inches longer than the Plymouth’s and its overall length of 191.5 inches is three inches longer. The 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and 1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda were the first American muscle cars with staggered tires—wider rubber in the back than the front …15-inch E60 white-letter Goodyears up front and wider G60s in back. 

Plymouth GTX -- Plymouth introduced the GTX in 1967 as a luxury option in the Belvedere lineup to compete with the other luxury cars and was equipped with either a 440 Super Commando engine or the optional 426 Hemi.

Dodge Coronet Super Bee -- The Coronet was an intermediate sedan in the Dodge lineup in the late ’60s, but the Coronet got a powerful engine, so it could be turned into a fast street fighter. Dodge presented the Super Bee model in 1968 as their answer to the Plymouth Road Runner and was outfitted with either a standard 383 or the 426 Hemi engine. The new 440 Six Pack engine, with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, became an option starting in mid-1969. The 440 four barrel was an option in 1971 only, the final year for the Super Bee.

Plymouth Superbird – A unique muscle car built with aerodynamics in mind, and a nose cone, hideaway headlights and huge back spoiler. The rear glass deviated from the standard concave shape with a wind-tunnel-tested flush design. The Superbird was built in 1970 only and was Plymouth’s way to lure Richard Petty back to the brand after he switched to Ford for ’69. Much like the Hemi in Pro Stock in 1972, the Superbird was defeated by a pencil as NASCAR changed the rules to make the “wing cars” less competitive.

Plymouth Road Runner -- Road Runner models featured the animated bird character from Warner Bros. Road Runner was a low priced, creatively designed people pleaser with muscle. Road Runner started the trend as the first muscle car with creative graphics. The Road Runner had a bench seat, no luxury options, and manual steering, but was powered by a 383 V8 as the base engine, or Hemi 426. Just like Dodge’s Super Bee, the Road Runner received the 440 Six Barrel as an optional engine choice beginning in 1969 (Six Barrel is Plymouth’s name for an engine with three Holley two-barrel carbs).

Dodge Charger Daytona – The Daytona was even faster at Daytona and Talladega NASCAR tracks than the Superbird. The Charger Daytona was one of the first cars developed in a wind tunnel using new materials in construction. The standard engine was a 440 V8 and had a 426 Hemi option.  

AMC Javelin -- American Motors hit the muscle scene from 1968-1970 with AMX and Javelin models. Tricked out with hip styling, AMX was a shortened Javelin with only two seats.  

AMC Rebel – Once known as the Rambler Rebel, and replaced by the AMC Matador in 1971, Rebel’s top power model, “The Machine” was outfitted with a 340-hp 390 ci. V8.

Plymouth Duster 340 – The Duster had all new sheet metal when it debuted in 1970 with its fastback styling, but underneath it was still a Valiant. In fact, in 1970, it was actually badged as a Valiant Duster. The largest available engine (1970-1973) was the 340. While never available with a big block, it’s no secret that a 340 Duster (or its Dodge sibling, the Swinger 340) when equipped with a 3.91 Sure Grip rear and a 4-speed transmission, could beat up on many big block intermediate cars.

Plymouth Fury GT -- A two-door coupe version of the Fury sedan, it had full-on power with a 440 V8, 375 horses. The Sport Fury GT was full-size muscle at its finest. In 1970, a handful of Sport Fury GTs were built with the 390 hp 440 Six Barrel.

Dodge Demon -- The Demon was a new nameplate for 1971. The A-body Dodge Dart Demon for 1971 was offered with a 198- or 225-ci. Slant Six or the 318 V-8 engine, but it soon earned a reputation as a low-buck supercar in Demon 340 trim. The Demon started life as a Plymouth Duster shell, save for the Demon-only taillight panel, with Dodge Dart front sheet metal. Even the side marker lights and the wheel lips didn’t match from front to back because of the blending of the two different brands. But that never stopped the Demon from becoming a favorite among the Mopar faithful.

More ’Cudas – The Plymouth Barracuda 440 V8 was a monster pony car, with 375 horses and a tight build. The AAR ‘Cuda was a limited-production model to commemorate Dan Gurney’s All American Racing team, which used ‘Cudas in the Trans Am championship. It came with a 340 V8 small block, with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, a rear spoiler and unique side graphics that included the big AAR logo.

That’s a quick look and you can see all variations of Mopar culture as a showcase of 1971 Mopar muscle at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals at Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, July 9-11.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Americans clamored for a muscular, powerful, sporty car for the street and for tire-smoking bragging rights in the early 1960s, and Ford answered the bell with Mustang in 1964, launching the Pony Car Wars. Chevrolet’s stable of competing vehicles at that time was limited to the rear-engine Corvair and the Chevy II Nova, with “Super Nova” on engineers’ drawing boards. GM answered the call, attacked the genre, and in two years, put out a vehicle to compete for the 1967 model year … the Camaro.

Camaro began as Project XP-836, code-named “Panther”, but the vehicle was always intended, by Chevy leaders to have a “C” letter name to perpetuate the legacy begun by Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II and Corvette. Legend dictates that when marketing leaders discovered a slang French word meaning “pal, friend or comrade,” Camaro was born (though “Camaro” is not recognized in the French language). When Chevrolet product managers were asked what “Camaro” means, they responded with “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” And The Pony Wars of American muscle was born.

Down the boulevards, across the highways and on the track, Camaro enjoyed a stellar reputation for being sexy, fast and reliable. Camaro was one of the prominent vehicles in the SCCA-sanctioned Trans-Am Series, as Chevrolet contracted with Roger Penske to operate their "unofficial" factory-backed Trans-Am team. The team won the title in 1968 and 1969 with Mark Donohue behind the wheel, and Jim Hall’s Chaparral team replaced Penske for the 1970 season. Beginning in 1975, Camaro was the official car of, and used in the International Race of Champions until 1989, making it the first American car of the series. Camaro has been an Indianapolis 500 Pace car eight times, and a NASCAR Xfiniti Series, stock car since 2017.

Through six generations, 5.5 million Camaros have been sold, with its first four generations produced from 1967 through 2002, and its most recent two generations built from 2010 through the present. From its inception, Camaro has been fast, exciting, popular with the public and a frequent star of the Silver Screen, from appearing in “The Gumball Rally” in 1976 to “2 Fast 2 Furious” in 2003 to “Transformers” as “Bumblebee” in 2007, and dozens more featured roles.

Each of Camaro's generations has had its own Camaroesque personality and its own following.

1967-1969
Hitting the streets in two-door coupé or convertible with 2+2 seating, and a choice of 230 ci., 250 ci. inline-6, or 302 ci., 307 ci., 327ci, 350 ci., and 396 ci. V-8s, on a new rear-wheel drive GM-F body that was eventually shared with the Pontiac Firebird. The First-Generation offered standard, Super Sport, and Rally Sport editions. Power during Gen-One ranged from 140hp for the 230 ci. Six-cylinder, to 425hp for a 427. The 427 could do a quarter-mile in 13 seconds, and the popular 327 was a 10.7 zero-to-60 mph car with an 18.2-second quarter-mile.

1970-1981
Restyled larger and wider for Gen-Two, the new Camaro had a similar frame, subframe and suspension, but later in the run in 1980 and ’81, Z28 models included an air induction hood scoop with an intake door that opened under full throttle. Engine size went from a 5.7-liter, 360-hp LT-1 engine to an emission-requirement drop in 1975 to only 155 horsepower. Track times were often disappointing at 11.0 seconds for a zero-to-60 run and a 17.4-second quarter mile. However, the Z28 could blast a 5.8-second sprint and a 14.2-second quarter.

1982-1992
Gen-Three was the first Camaro with modern fuel injection, four-speed automatics or five-speed sticks, 14-,15- or 16-inch wheels, and hatchback models. The cars were nearly 500 pounds lighter than the Second-Generation model.

Convertibles, discontinued in 1969, returned in 1987 and all base models were outfitted with a 2.8 L V6 (OHV). In 1985, the direct-injection 305 ci. small block V8 was available and in 1987, the L98 350 ci. V8 engine became a regular option on the IROC-Z. Top power models could track run at 8.6 seconds for the sprint and 16.4 for the quarter.

1993-2002
Gen-Four saw an updated F-Body platform and returned to 1967’s coupé body style with 2+2 seating (with an optional T-Top roof) or convertible (reintroduced in 1994). The standard powerplant from 1993 to 1995 was a 3.4 L V6, and a 3.8 L V6 was introduced in 1995. The Z28 trim utilized Corvette’s LT1 275-hp 350 ci. small-block V-8 engine and in 1996-’97, a limited number of Camaro SS models came with the 330-hp LT4 small block from the Corvette, although most were equipped with the 275 hp LT1. Again, Z28s were speed performers with track times as quick as a 5.4 sprint and 14.0 seconds for the quarter-mile.

2010-2015
Bumblebee was the “Transformers” star and Camaro came back after an eight-year hiatus with a complete redesign. Gen-Five saw LS and LT models powered by a 3.6 L V6 producing 312 hp mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with manual shift. The SS had the 6.2 L LS3 V8 and 426 hp. Top stock Camaros could finish off a dash in 6.1 seconds and a quarter-mile in 14.5.

2016—present
The Sixth-Gen Camaro, built on the GM Alpha platform, comes with such engine choices as a 275-hp  2.0 L turbo-charged inline-four; a new 335-hp 3.6 L V6 and for the SS trim, a 455-hp 6.2 L LT1 V8. The super-powered ZL1 has a supercharged 650-hp LT4 based on the Corvette Z06. For 2021, the ZL1 can blaze a 3.5-second zero-to-60mph run and a 12.2-second quarter-mile, and outfitted for today’s high-tech capability, they come with a rear camera, navigation, 8-inch diagonal color screen and all the connectivity demanded by today’s drivers.

You can see all six generations of Camaro, as well as more than 1,000 GM cars that cross more than 100 years of GM history, at the Carlisle AGM Nationals, at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, June 25-26.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Car clubs have been organized and filled with enthusiasts since the early days of the automobile. Many point to the Paris-based, Automobile Club de France, in 1895, as the first car club, expanding to England in 1898, and Austria, Germany and Switzerland by 1900. The concept came to America by 1902 with the American Automobile Association, and by the 1930s, the first of what we would now consider current-concept car clubs were being formed.

The movement took off in America, in the 1950s and 1960s, and by the time the first Carlisle All-Ford Nationals was held at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds in 1995, car clubs were eager to gather at large events to come together, and show off their cars and their clubs.

Since the beginning of the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals, John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance, has been involved in helping cultivate the Carlisle experience for Ford Clubs around the nation, to such an extent that there are currently more than 100 active clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs.  Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com)

Clor, a veteran journalist and automotive journalist, has owned, raced, worked on and written about Fords and Mustangs for nearly 45 years. He joined the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in 1995 and spent most of the next decade working on SVT Communications, PR and Marketing. Clor is an Iacocca Award Winner, and hosts a show called “Cars In Context” that has evolved from local cable access to YouTube. In 2007, he developed a club outreach program for Ford Racing that is now known as Club Connect, and today manages enthusiast communications for Ford Performance as well as enthusiast content on FordPerformance.com.  He calls Carlisle, “The Super Bowl of Ford Events.”

Clor said, “Through Ford Club Connect, which has 383 registered clubs, we learned that cars resonate on an emotional level and the club people often have names for their cars … they are going to keep their cars and show them off … not trade them in.” The mission of Ford Club Connect was to get out into the community and contact every club. Clor said, “Every club has its own character, and we looked for events to meet them.  Ken Appell, Carlisle’s Ford Nationals Event Manager runs the Ford Nationals attuned to the clubs. We attend, and clubs attend Carlisle because they engage with the clubs. They help make it a 3-day party for the brand and the clubs.” Clor added, “I could go on the road to 20 venues and see 20 clubs, or I can go to Carlisle and meet with 100 clubs. I can see 200 vehicles at a typical event, or I can see 3200 Fords in one weekend at one place (Carlisle).”

Clor has seen the club scene change and grow at Carlisle since the beginning. “In 1995, with the Ford Special Vehicle team, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity.” He said, “Because of aging and evolution of legacy clubs, the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”

What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their ride, is now gaining more and more family attendance. “The experiential owners get their families involved and bring the enthusiasm to the next generation – their kids,” said Clor. “It used to be by word of mouth and phone calls, and now clubs build with Facebook groups and cruise groups and that attracts even more YOUNG families. There used to be just events and displays for guys, but Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event.”

To help celebrate the clubs at Carlisle, Clor selects The Coolest Club Hangout Award. “For years, clubs would come to the show with a theme. A T-Bird Club came with poodle-skirted ladies, juke boxes, t-shirts with Lucky Strikes rolled up in their sleeves, jeans and a ‘Happy Days’ feel. A Red Mustang Club once had a pirate theme and the winner of the “Coolest Club” was who had the biggest party. He said the selection process, as with the clubs, has evolved. “I visit the clubs and they present an environment where you feel at home. It is now about the group that had roasters and a family dinner … making turkey so that it is like going home for the holidays. That is what is ‘Cool’ to me … how do they make this feel good. How do they make it fun, from trading war stories, celebrating with family and friends and appreciating brand. That club is where I want to be and hang out … they enjoy the show and each other’s company. That is cool.”

Carlisle Events helps clubs gather together with a tent program. Tent rentals are available at most specialty events to use as club headquarters. Carlisle Events offers free or discounted tents to clubs who register a specific number of Showfield cars as a way of showing appreciation for club participation.

To entice additional involvement, Carlisle Events challenges all clubs to show their strength in numbers. The top three clubs (based on number of registered show vehicles) are recognized at each event's awards parade. Further, the top three also get a special banner, which can be displayed when you come back to Carlisle, or with your club at other events. Contact Carlisle Events for more details.

Ford enthusiastically embraces the clubs and the show. Clor sums up saying, “Ford celebrates at the event, it doesn’t try to sell…the brands mean something and nostalgia sells. The Ford Nationals is for enthusiasts, and the clubs make an emotional connection.”

Car clubs with a focus on the Ford family of vehicles past and present are encouraged to register to be part of the 2021 event, June 4-6.  Not only does the event offer a plethora of cars and trucks for you to enjoy, it makes a great "home base" for your club to gather, socialize and recruit.  Officially recognized Carlisle Clubs may also qualify for a FREE tent to host your hangout as well.  There's even a pair of club awards; largest and coolest.  The coolest club honors are chosen by Mr. Clor himself!  Learn more about the event and the club scene at Carlisle today at CarlisleEvents.com. 

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Auto swap meets and flea markets are great places to find that part you need for your project, that special item for your collection, or that car that you’ve always wanted to drive … or fix up and flip.  But what is the best way to get the best deal? 

We all want the best deals … to pay as low an amount as we can for what we want. But it may pay off for you in the long run if you follow a few steps.

Go to a Big Show

First, time is money, so you may want to attend the bigger shows with the most vendors and sellers at the venue. One such event is Spring Carlisle, scheduled for April 21-25 at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds. The Spring Carlisle event showcases 8200 vendors, selling a vast array of cars, automotive parts, and accessories. The items run the gamut from aftermarket pieces to reconditioned parts to original parts to car care products. It's almost certain that you won't go home empty handed if you are serious about finding and buying what you need … or even some things you don’t need.

Mindset

Go with the proper mindset. In addition to being hunting grounds for affordable parts for your projects, swap meets are very much a social gathering … a chance to see old friends and meet new ones with similar interests. Be on site with an attitude of camaraderie. Proper mind-set is also proper prep. So determine for yourself just how MUCH you need the items and bid appropriately. And put yourself in the mindset to have fun … that goes a long way to getting a good deal.

Be Prepared

Get organized and do everything you need to do before attending. Bring enough cash to make your deals – not all sellers take cards or checks. Do your research (see below) to find out part numbers and pricing of the items you seek. Dress comfortably, bring sun block, water and protein bars, check out any pre-show maps or information and make a plan for the show. Some shows, as with Carlisle, have hauling available, but just in case, bring a cart or something that will enable you to haul your buys back to your car.

Be Friendly

The best advice we can give you to afford you the opportunity of getting the best deals is: Be friendly. Engage in friendly and respectful conversation. Talk cars, or if the seller is wearing a baseball cap, talk baseball. Being friendly may yield a better price as people tend to want their items to go to a friend rather than to someone they don’t hit it off with. Talk about your project or your hobby or your needs for the item. Giving the part or car a good home may also yield a better seller-buyer relationship. Be respectful, do your homework and make a realistic bid or counter-offer. Low-balling is not a good or friendly strategy. Have fun negotiating … that is part of the deal.

Play the Game

Do your due diligence. Do your research on a part’s or car’s availability, prices, part numbers and history. The game involves haggling. Always haggle, but be respectful. Vendors are there to make money and don’t want their time wasted and their reputations disrespected by low-balling shoppers. Haggling is a fact of life at flea markets and swap meets unless posted prices are firm. Generally, the first price you hear from a vendor is not the lowest they will go, so try a 15 percent to 25 percent lower counter-offer if that fits in to your price research. It seldom hurts to try. And pick up the pieces. Handle them and see if they are quality or rusted or broken or perfect. 

Dress Appropriately

Playing the game also includes dressing the part. Don’t appear too wealthy, or haggling won’t work, but don’t dress like you live in a dumpster either. A middle road seems to work well. And wear comfortable clothes and shoes; because at events such as Spring Carlisle, a lot of walking is involved and you’ll want to see it all … YOUR treasured piece might just be at the vendor spot you DIDN’T get to. But, if you see a good deal, grab it while you can, or it may be gone when you return.

Be Prepared to Say ‘No’

Be ready to walk away. If you have done your pre-show work, you know how much an item is worth and how much you are willing to pay. If a seller wants too much money for an item, it’s time to move on … you may find the same piece at another seller’s space. But be ready to compromise. Is $5 or $10 worth coming home empty handed?

Network

These are enthusiast shows and other shoppers have that in common with you. Enjoy the experience and talk with them. Ask fellow attendees if they have seen a part or car you are looking for. If a vendor doesn’t have what you seek, ask him if he can get it for a follow-up sale, or if he has seen it anywhere else on the grounds. Chances are the seller will try to help, or someone overhearing the conversation might jump in.

Look Everywhere

At big shows, lots of sellers have similar, but slightly different wares. Don’t miss anything … looking and exploring is part of the fun of the show, and you just might be surprised by something the NEXT seller has on display.

Go for the deal, but also go for the experience. Enjoy the show … have fun.

The thing about having fun is that you can do it at Carlisle multiple times a year.  Of course Spring Carlisle starts it all locally.  That is THE automotive flea market event, but other than Fall Carlisle in late September, there really is something for everyone in between.  Specialty events that are brand or style specific also have parts swaps, merchandise, collectibles and more available.  Visit CarlisleEvents.com to learn about these events, the 2021 schedule and more.  

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

The General Motors family is just that…a family. Once, the manufacturer of such different, since discontinued car badges as LaSalle, McLaughlin, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, Hummer (brought back within GMC), Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, Daewoo  and Holden, GM has been lean and mean since its restructuring and reorganization cut redundancy and remaining brands down to a core four, by late-2010. Under the GM umbrella today are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Wuling (China). Those eliminated brands are gone, but not forgotten. They remain part of the GM family of vehicles that their supporters fervently defend, show off, refurbish and compete with, particularly at GM-inspired events such as the Carlisle GM Nationals, set for June 25 - 26, 2021 at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds.

The supporters are part of the GM family of loyalists. It is a happy family, but at events, as with any family members that squabble about which brother or sister is favored, which uncle is stronger, and which cousin is more successful, GM event fans create a great divide. They stick together as a whole – the GM team fans celebrate the heritage since William C. Durant capitalized GM in 1908 and speedily acquired Buick and more than 20 additional companies to become the top-selling automotive manufacturer in the world. But they separate as fervent badge proponents and debate and compete against each other at major events. 

It is not exactly the sports animosity you have with Yankees-Red Sox fans, or what you see with Lakers-Celtics, Red Wings-Blackhawks, or Steelers-Eagles, or the contempt fans had for each other from Ali-Frazier … but there is a real division among fans even when the cars are conceptually similar, as with Firebird vs.Camaro, GMC vs.Chevy trucks, or Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme vs. Pontiac Grand Prix vs. Chevrolet Monte Carlo vs. Buick Regal. Historically, it follows, as each division had its own engineering, marketing and production assets and managed its own dealership network. In specification and output there may not have been much difference between an Oldsmobile and a Buick V8, but no Olds division manager in the 1950s and 1960s would ever consider putting a Buick engine into one of his 88s or Starfires. An Olds was an Olds, a Buick was a Buick, a Chevy a Chevy, a Pontiac a Pontiac, and Cadillac stood alone. And each division had its own look, feel, tweaks and customer bonding. Even the individual engineers were so proud of their own designs that they competed against fellow engineers on other projects. So it became easy for an enthusiast to follow and buy one division for life, excluding all sister or brother badges within GM.

Sometimes the divide even comes from different generations of the same vehicle as with early- and late-model Corvettes, original and more recent Camaros and the Old School vs. New School evolution of Cadillac. Often, there is competitive debate within the same badge as with Pontiac’s Bonneville vs. Firebird or Firebird vs. GTO, Oldsmobile’s 88 vs. 98, or Chevy’s Nova vs. Chevelle (even though Chevelle was a midsize and larger than Nova). 

Now this isn’t to suggest animosity or enemy camps. It is more of an overwhelming pride in the vehicles or badged cars the fans grew up with, work on, drive or collect. And this pride supersedes any close relationships with other family members … stay away from Uncle Charlie; he will talk your ear off about his ’57 Bel Air.

There are exceptions. Corvette seems to have earned niche approval among most family members and is largely held in esteem like the favorite uncle or aunt that all the kids love. And Uncle Cadillac has evolved into a luxury sedan with as much power as his nephew Vette, and is revered by many family members for his history.

As car lovers, we can appreciate something about nearly all makes, models, badges and concepts, but if you have spent your life driving, working on and monitoring everything available on a specific badge … fandom keeps revered place for it in the hearts of car people.

In the case of Camaro vs. Firebird, the competitive fires burns logically, as both shared the same platform and were big players in The Pony Car Wars starting in 1967. With similar styling, one difference between the two cars was under the hood, and Firebird was marketed as an upmarket version of the Camaro, while Camaro became “the people’ car.” And both won at the racetrack. 

Another internal GM battle subject is the 1973 Olds Cutlass Supreme versus 1973 Pontiac GTO. That is a great topic that we might hear argued at a show, but probably not as spirited as the engine wars that pitted iron-headed big block engines -- 454 Chevy vs. 455 Pontiac vs. 455 Olds against each other. The conversations are spirited and part of the fun of attending big GM car events.

It comes down to this…GM is a family…of cars and enthusiasts, and as with any family, there is competition. Part of the fun and value of attending big car events is discussion and friendly rivalry. The Carlisle GM Nationals is the perfect stage for such a showdown, one in which the enthusiasts win.  As noted, the event runs June 25-26 and all aspects of registration are now open.  This includes registering for the National Parts Depot Showfield, becoming a vendor or simply purchasing spectator tickets (discounted if purchased online in advance).  There's also a bevvy of special displays planned, all of which are open for submission and consideration.  Get full details on the event by way of the show's page today and don't miss out in June at Carlisle!  

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Ford began its off-road SUV experience in World War II, when they built GP (General Purpose) vehicles for Allied forces, and gained further GP experience building the troop utility vehicle, MUTT in the 1950s and ’60s. Following WWII, GIs returning home sought and bought familiar Army surplus GPs for work and outdoor play, but they did not provide the civilian comfort Ford was marketing. In the early 1960s, Ford began developing a more refined, spacious, yet durable off-road vehicle to meet this need – Bronco, which it referred to as a “sports-utility vehicle,” the first SUV developed by the company and first American manufacturer to use the term.

The original Bronco was nicknamed G.O.A.T. by Donald Frey, the Ford vice-president who helped initiate both Mustang and Bronco nameplates, He challenged engineering teams to deliver “go anywhere roadability.” The G.O.A.T. terminology was indicative of the desire to develop a “Goes Over All Terrain” vehicle. However, since the public already nicknamed the Pontiac GTO “GOAT,” and the Dodge Ram insignia was a mountain goat (ram), that terminology was eliminated. Not a company to forget, Ford has brought back Bronco for 2021 and has included a “G.O.A.T.” 4x4 system with an exclusive drive mode set-up, and unique Bronco-variant architectures with class-leading levels of capability and suspension technology. Ford markets the arrangement as a “go over any terrain” system.

The earliest sketches for the Bronco show the now-familiar box-shaped vehicle with the recognizable round headlights and two-door layout. The vehicle underwent constant revisions as its features were molded, and Frey described it as “neither a conventional car nor a truck, but as a vehicle which combines the best of both worlds. It can serve as a family sedan, as sports roadster, a snowplow, or as a farm or civil defense vehicle. It has been designed to go nearly anywhere and do nearly anything.” 

Brought out for the 1966 model year, Bronco was offered in three body styles: the Roadster (open-air model,) Sports Utility (with pickup bed,) and Wagon (two doors, tailgate, full top.) The Roadster was the most basic and least expensive of the three with doors and roof as options. The Sports Utility featured a short top, seating for two or three with a bench seat and a pickup style bed. Over time, the Sports Utility was known as the “half-cab.” The most popular model was the Wagon with a full-length hardtop roof and seating for up to five people with rear bench seat. While there were a large number of optional packages, all three models came with standard four-wheel drive, a 3-speed manual transmission, and a 105-horsepower, 170-cubic-inch, six-cylinder engine. On March 2, 1966, the 289-V-8 was offered as an upgrade and the Bronco’s horsepower and torque rating increased to the top of the sports-utility field.

Five generations of the Bronco were manufactured and sold from the 1966 to 1996 model years, with a sixth generation of the model line brought back for the 2021 model year. The 1966 Bronco joined Mustang as the second Pony in the Blue Oval stable, and originally competed against Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout.

The public quickly took to Bronco as a vehicle that could take you over any terrain and get you wherever you wanted to go in comfort. A personal case in point: in the late 1960s, my brother-in-law and I went backpacking and trout fishing in the High Sierras of California. Before we backpacked up, we drove my bro-in-law’s 1966 Red-and-White Bronco off-road, over rocks, through tightly situated trees, up steep access and across very rough terrain, as far as we could move on four wheels. We parked it and set off on our hike, and after rock-climbing, river crossing and tree skirting, we came upon an old-timer driving HIS Bronco across bigger rocks, steeper inclines and some flowing water. When I asked him how the heck he got his vehicle up here, he said, “A Bronco can go anywhere, fella.” He shook his head at us and Bronco’d on.

While upgrades were made to the Bronco after its introduction in 1966, the vehicle remained essentially unchanged until 1973, when power steering and automatic transmission were introduced as part of a “Bronco Revolution.” The 302 V-8 option came with the SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed transmission, and a new 200-cubic-inch six replaced the 170-cubic-inch six that had been standard since the introduction. 

In 1978, Bronco was entirely redesigned as Ford enlarged the Bronco as a short-wheelbase version of the F-Series pickup truck, Now a full-size SUV, Bronco set out to compete against larger sports-utes, and it offered two different V-8 engines and for the first time did not have a V-6 option. Additionally, the interior was completely redone as well, offering more space and more comfortable bucket seats in the front and, with a new recessed footwell, and much more legroom for the passengers in the rear seats.  The new model also had two first-time features -- air conditioning and AM/FM radios offered as options. 

The 1980 to 1986 third-generation Bronco became smaller, lighter, and more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient, based on the shorter F-150 platform featuring both V-6 and V-8 engines, coinciding with rising gas prices and attention to fuel economy. The third-Gen Bronco was the first to offer independent front suspension replacing the monobeam front end. A revolutionary front-wheel-drive independent front suspension and new frame were well received by the buying public and automotive press.

The Bronco II was introduced in March 1983 as a 1984 model. The smaller brother to the Bronco, the Bronco II was built through 1990 and was based on the smaller Ranger platform. Popular options included an Eddie Bauer trim package. Advertising touted the rugged toughness of the Bronco and Eddie Bauer gear. After 1990, the Bronco II was discontinued as the new Ford Explorer was introduced in that segment.

The 1987 to 1991 fourth-generation Bronco received an aerodynamically redesigned front end and a variety of modernized features. This generation saw the introduction of electronic fuel injection, rear anti-lock brakes and, after 1988, 5-speed manual transmissions.  Custom trim packages included a special 25th anniversary edition with a special Currant Red exterior and charcoal leather seating. 

The final Bronco generation between 1992 and 1996 included minimal body and styling tweaks, but showed enhanced safety and utility features. Ford advertised the 1992 Bronco as the “Smartest Bronco ever.” This generation was the first to feature driver’s side airbags, three point seat belt systems and, by 1994, an air conditioning system that used a refrigerant that was free of chlorofluorocarbons. It was a 1993 Bronco that O.J. Simpson was a passenger in during his two-hour slow-speed chase in June, 1994.

Dormant for a quarter-century, Bronco is back for 2021, with an all-new Bronco outdoor brand of Built Wild™ SUVs. The current Bronco family includes a two-door, first-ever Bronco four-door model and all-new rugged, small SUV, Bronco Sport – the only domestic brand of SUVs with standard 4x4.

Race-bred EcoBoost® engines plus class-exclusive 7-speed manual and available 10-speed automatic transmissions give the all-new Bronco the optimal combination of power, torque and gear ranges to perform in a wide variety of terrains and uses. The available 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine delivers 310 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, while the 2.3-liter EcoBoost provides 270 hp and 310 lb.-ft. The 2021 Bronco is touted to provide on-road comfort, off-road and rock climbing capability. Purpose-built and ready for action, Bronco continues its heritage as a Goes Over Any Terrain beast.

From its birth, Bronco has held a special place in popular culture and has been featured in more than 1,200 films and 200 songs. Furthermore, since Ford ended its first production run in 1996, Bronco SUVs have gained a following with collectors and enthusiasts. The reemergence of Bronco has helped jump vintage valuations, with premium auction results showing a doubling of Bronco sales prices over the past three years from $39,763 to $74,820 with the 1966-77 Broncos gaining some 75.8 percent -- among the highest vehicle price increases of all collectible SUVs over the past three years.

With the new Bronco available to consumers, expect to see some at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's this summer, June 4-6 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  In addition to what will be on the National Parts Depot Showfield, Ford will likely have some as part of their display too.  Finally, Ford Nationals weekend spotlights all things Stroppe!  From the Stroppe Baja Broncos to the Lincoln and Mercury Stroppe racecars of old, a nice Stroppe themed mix will be on display inside and outside of Building T.  There are even some display specific surprises planned.  Stroppe owners are encouraged to be part of this display by applying for consideration at CarlisleFeatures.com.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

 

 

Drifting – the art of car sliding in competition, may be the fastest-growing motorsport. Made popular in America by such drifting-focused films as “Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift,”  “Mischief 3000,” “Evolusi KL Drift,” “Drift The Sideways Craze” and the manga anime “Initial D,” along with an homage to the skill in the animated “Cars” film, drifting is as much about performing as performance, as putting on a good show is what enthusiasts like to see and how points are scored.

To maintain the best speed possible during rallies, races or just entertaining fans by showing off, drivers employ a technique known as drifting, in which the driver purposely oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner. This practice causes the rear slip angle to exceed the front slip angle so that, in many cases, the front wheels point in the opposite direction to the turn – so if the car is turning left, the wheels are pointed right or vice versa. This situation is also called opposite lock or counter-steering. Drifting differs from “four-wheel-drift” used in Grand Prix and sports car racing, in which cornering at high speed is aided by clutch kicking, then purposely oversteering and countersteering.

Sliding sideways at high speeds has been an American practice since the automobile got into the hands of those who saw the car as more than simply transportation, but the genre of drifting has its beginnings in Japan … or Sweden.

The most widely accepted origin story is that in the 1970s, Keiichi Tsuchiya introduced sliding during races, a technique he developed after watching motorcycle racer/auto racer Kunimitsu Takahashi drift in the All-Japan Touring Car Championships. Tsuchiya honed his skills while racing on Japanese mountain roads and became known as “Drift King”. A lesser-known beginning is credited to a Scandinavian practice of “flicking,” a technique of initiating oversteer using the handbrake, to prevent the vehicle losing momentum on the track during rallies. This thread goes on to say that Japanese racers picked up the technique, revolutionized it and led to a sport all its own. From there, we still go back to Tsuchiya, who starred in the first drifting video, “Pluspy,” which inspired racers and organizers to hold the first major drifting event: the D1 Grand Prix, in 2000.

D1, founded by Option drifting magazine magnate, Daijiro Inada, was originally called “The All Japan Professional Drift Championship,” and was not the first organized drift event or even first drift competition, but it was embraced by Japanese media and was publicized in magazines and videos. Early drift events migrated to America, and even before D1, Inada, presented a drifting event in 1966 at Willow Springs (CA) Raceway. Drifting has since evolved into an international sports phenomenon in which drivers manipulate their rear-wheel-drive (in most cases) modified performance rides in various maneuvers to earn points based on judges’ scoring. One such maneuver is having the driver keep the car sliding for extended periods of time, often linking several turns.

Few competitions are for speed as with typical races, so there’s no checkered flag. Most events involve a figure-skating (complete the maneuver) regimen, or follow-the-leader approach in which drivers must follow the line of the lead vehicle and NOT pass. Other points can be awarded to those with the highest speed for the angle carried through the course. The fewer corrections needed through the course are also worthy of style points. Spinning is a point-loser, unless the lead driver spins in a follow-the-leader event. Tire smoke counts and when allowed, a legal pass gains points. In case of a tie, there is often a solo demonstration of the pass … and just like in a slam dunk contest, style prevails. Judges, generally a three-judge panel, award points on speed, angle of attack, precision, control, keeping the car in a straight driving line and style-style-style. 

Drift cars are usually light- to moderate-weight rear-wheel-drive coupes and sedans, and power levels vary widely. Often, competitors will convert all-wheel-drive cars to RWD, as AWD rides have been banned from most of today’s events. Popular AWD conversions include Nissan GT-R, Subaru WRX, Toyota Avensis, Scion tC and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

In early events, the top performing cars were Nissan 350Z, Dodge Viper and Charger, Nissan 370Z and Scion tC with healthy competition from Mazda RX-7 and Pontiac Solstice.

While any performance vehicle that has been modified to take on the genre can compete, today’s most popular drift cars cover badges from across the world, with heavy emphasis on Nissan. Among the top performers are Nissan’s 370Z, 350Z, 240SX, 200SX and Silvia S14; Toyota 86 and the old Corolla AE86; Scion FR-S; Honda S2000; Lexus IS300; Subaru BRZ; and Mazda RX-7 and MX-5. Germany is represented with Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63S, and BMW slides with E36, E46 and the M5. It is the M5 that holds the record for longest continuous drift, breaking the mark set by Toyota GT86. America comes to the fray with such performers as Ford Mustang, the old Goat -- Pontiac GTO and Ford Focus.

So get your motor running and slide with style…fast and furious with your styling drift.  In fact, if you want to drift AND enjoy a car show, the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals (May 14-15) offers you both.  From an international Showfield to drifting and autocross by way of NICOFest, the weekend gives you a chance to have fun, all while pushing your ride and driving skills to the test.  Register for the event, purchase discounted spectator tickets or learn more about NICOFest at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855 today. 

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

 

Since automotive swap meets began in the late 1940s or early ’50s, they have been a treasure chest of items for collectors, enthusiasts, project builders, professional auto shops, amateur “car people”, the curious, and families who embark on a bonding “car history day.” For many attendees, automotive swap meets are a bargain hunters’ paradise, but they are more than that. Swap meets offer the bargains, the collector pieces and hard-to-find parts, and they are also family events, networking hubs and can be annual can’t-miss experiences for car and car-part lovers.

The Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market and Corral at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, in Carlisle, PA, is an evolution of the Fall Carlisle Collector Swap Meet & Car Corral in 1974, which led to a similar Spring event in 1977. Held on an 82-acre cornucopia of everything automotive, Spring Carlisle showcases 8,200 vending spaces, each filled with items from aftermarket to reconditioned parts to original parts to car care products. Event-experience motives aside, the primary goal of most who attend automotive swap meets, is finding the right part or parts … and finding them at the right price.

Tim Demark, Carlisle Events Vendors Manager said, “Vendors show classic used parts from tires to the top of the car, new parts for currents to antique parts for classics. They encompass all projects and needs. These parts can be had for the right price…if you understand the process.”

To be successful in swap meet shopping, have fun and be prepared. Demark said, “Swap meets are a picker’s haven if you adhere to these five Golden Rules:

1. Be methodical. Always write down the space marker of a vendor space at which you see an item you want to buy. If you see it and temporarily pass it up, you might not remember where it is.  

2. Work the field in quadrants and sections and take notes on maps or directories.  Break the field up using landmarks (e.g. the stage and grandstand; the infield and car corral; the north hill, etc.).

3. Wear comfortable shoes … it’s a large field.

4. You may need two three days to get it right. At Carlisle, we have 8,200 vendor spaces. Take your time or take a few days to see it all. And wear comfortable shoes … it’s a large field. Have fun seeing it all.

5. Bring something to haul your purchases, or remember that at Carlisle, we have free parts hauling that covers our 82 acres.

Demark added, “When shopping, the best tip is: Be aggressive. You can always ask, ‘is that the best you can do?’  The more aggressive you are, while being respectful and not low-balling too low, the better you can do. Don’t start a battle, but look for the truth … a true fair price.

Demark added, “Have fun and be flexible. Look hard and don’t be afraid to talk to the guy across from you – vendor or fellow shopper – he may have the answer or part you are looking for, or know where to find it.

Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Spring and Fall and Imports Manager added, “ANY item can be had for a bargain. However, large items are typically the best for bargaining because they take up space and space is important. If someone sells a large item, it makes more space in the truck/trailer for the trip home.”

Buczeskie cautioned, “I would NOT recommend trying to bargain on something that’s already priced well. It’s already a deal. Take it and walk away. Why risk offending the seller if it’s already a good deal? But if you’re planning to negotiate, it helps to ‘read’ the seller before trying to bargain. Before even talking to the seller, try to watch how he/she deals with other potential buyers first if possible. Once you have a read on the seller, try to ‘match’ the seller’s demeanor. No matter what, BE RESPECTFUL. Respect can get you a better deal … sellers like giving deals to nice people. But in the end, it never hurts to try to negotiate if you are reasonable.”

Some of Buczeskie’s tips for buyers include:

1. If you find a deal, or it’s something you really need and you’re not likely to find another one, BUY IT NOW. If it’s a deal to you, it’s probably a deal to others, so someone else WILL buy it if you don’t.

2. Be prepared. Make a list of what you need before you come to the event. This will help you to remember what you’re looking for. You can share your needs with your buddies so they can also be on the lookout, and you can share with a vendor who might have similar item or know where to get it.

3. Do your homework on the parts you are looking for before you come to the event – what’s it worth, how hard is it to find, etc. This way you’ll know if you find a good deal.

In short, the top shopping tips to consider include:

1. Be prepared. Do your due diligence … research what you want to obtain.

2. Arrive early and look at everything you can, you might find a treasure you aren’t looking for. Also, by arriving early, you may get the deal before someone else does.

3. Haggle. Get the best respectful deal you can.

4. Network and talk to others. That’s part of the fun, part of the experience, and it could lead to the best deal or best item you can find.

5. Have fun. It is an event, after all. Enjoy the location, the conversations and the experience.

Next month, we’ll talk about how to make a deal (Swaps), after all, Spring Carlisle itself starts on April 21 and runs five days at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  To learn more about the event, purchase spectator tickets, secure vending space and more, call Carlisle Events at 717-243-7855 or visit them online at CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Do you go to movies for the action? The special effects? The acting? The plot and characters? Certain actors and actresses? Those are all good reasons, but some of also go for the real scene-stealers … the cars that star in the films.

Since the 1920s, cars have played roles in “action films.” From silent movie days to current tire-smoking, gorge-jumping thrillers. Doc Brown’s time-machine 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 and James Bond’s weapon-loaded 1964 Aston Martin DB5 may top some lists, but for this treatment of the subject, let’s only consider GM’s four-wheeled movie stars … and there are plenty that don’t finish second to any other film cars. 

Now, my Top 10 list is arbitrary and you may have your own iconic cars of the stars, so let us know your choices, if we didn’t include them here. The list below is filled with action stars, sometimes style over substance, but vehicles that in many cases overshadowed the plots and the acting. Let’s start with a river-jumping, bet-winning icon of the movie ’70s.

1. Smokey and The Bandit's 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
This T-Top 6.6-liter big block only delivered 185hp, but this was style over substance. Appearing in “Smokey and the Bandit” I and II, with a “Screaming Chicken” decal on the hood, Burt Reynolds’ car was supposed to be a ’77, but since that model-year ‘Bird wasn’t out during filming, General Motors provided 1976 cars with front clips from the 1977 update. The differences between the two include the ’77’s rectangular quad headlamps instead of only two round lights, a unique slanted and V-shaped nose, and a center-mounted hood scoop. Including stunt cars, some dozen were used in the movie, but only four were ’76-’77s supplied by Pontiac. It sure SEEMED to have more than 200 horses. Burt drove a red “rocket-powered” 1978 Pontiac Trans Am in his ’78 film, “Hooper,” and “jumped a gorge” in it, but Smokey wins on style points.

2. Transformers 1977 and 2007 Bumblebee Camaro 
In the first “Transformers” movie, Bumblebee, which had been an autobot based on a VW Beetle, is a junkyard 1977 second-generation Camaro, and during the adventure it becomes a 2007 Camaro. Yellow, with black racing stripes, the ’77 was a Z/28 with only 185 hp. The 2007 delivered over 300 and in later films, the 2010 version was up to 400 ponies.  Hey, it was a robot, “more than meets the eye.”

3. Tim Burton's Batmobile Corvette/Impala
This GM Batmobile made for the 1989 “Batman” movie and for “Batman Returns” in 1992, was a modified 1970 Corvette body on a 6th-Gen 1985 Impala chassis with a Chevy V8 engine. It was rated at 400hp, though in Batmobile lore, the Dark Knight’s car can go 329 mph on 10,000 horses. And it had shields, remote control and a turbine.

4. Knight Rider 1982-1984 Pontiac Trans Am
OK, this was a TV show and not a movie, but I mean, “Knight Rider” … it was a talking car. “K.I.T.T.” Knight Industries Two Thousand, was a customized 1982 Trans Am (upgraded to a 1984 during its run). A supercomputer on wheels with artificial intelligence, and a red front-mounted scanner bar. Turbo Boost was used to allow KITT to accelerate in excess of 200 mph forward or backward.

5. Two-Lane Blacktop 1955 Chevrolet 210 
An homage to Route 66, with singer James Taylor doing the driving, racing for pink slips. He’s got a 1955 Chevy 210 in primer gray and a 454-cu.in. V8, fitted with dual four-barrel carburetors on a vintage Weiand manifold. Rated at 390hp, Taylor defeats Warren Oates and his 1970 Pontiac Judge. Side note: the same ’55 Chevy was used in “American Graffiti”, painted black as Bob Falfa’s (Harrison Ford’s) ride.
 
6. Route 66 1961-1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Back on Route 66, and back on TV, Tod and Buzz -- Martin Milner and George Maharis (later, Glenn Corbett as Linc) -- solved others’ problems each week, touring Route 66 in their Corvette from 1960-1964. The first episode used a 1960 model, followed by a 1961 for the rest of the season. The show upgraded its models each season in a series of colors and finished up with a 1963 Corvette Stingray and a ’64 during the last year of the run.


7. Ghostbusters Ecto-1 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor
Who ya gonna call? The Ecto-1 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance, with its siren wailing and sliding proton cannon storage “wasn’t afraid of no ghosts.” The Futura Duplex limo-style endloader combination car (ambulance conversion) weighed 3 tons and was more than 20 feet long. 

8. Days of Thunder 1989 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
 “Days of Thunder” is a NASCAR fan’s movie that stars a 650-hp Lumina Z34. Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) drives into Victory Lane with a trick move and pilots the No. 46 City Chevrolet, the SuperFlo Chevrolet and later the No. 51 Mello Yellow Chevrolet.

9. American Graffiti 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Bob Falfa’s 1955 Chevy 210 was also used in “Two Lane Blacktop” (above), but it gets beat by Steve's 1958 Chevy Impala, white with red pin striping, driven by Terry the Toad. According to Toad, the Impala has a 327 Chevy V-8 and for the film, it was built with no specification to open doors from the outside. 

10.  Hollywood Knights 1957 Chevrolet 210
The Yellow, 1957 supercharged "Project X" is driven by Tony Danza in this 1980 film. The true star of this film, the ’57, featured a blown 383ci stroked small-block Chevrolet engine with a Dyers 6-71 supercharger, mated to a Turbo 350 automatic transmission with 3200 stall converter. It was tweaked with a number-1 pool ball shifter knob, a 9-inch rear-end with ladder bars and leaf springs, Cragar s/s wheels, and no hood. 

Honorable mention: “Breaking Bad” 2004 Pontiac Aztec, “Rockford Files” 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit, “Corvette Summer” 1973 Corvette, “Stripes” EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle, “Better Off Dead” 1967 Camaro, “48 Hours” 1964 Cadillac DeVille Convertible, “Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke” Customized Chevrolet Step Van, “The Car” Customized and possessed 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III, “Rain Man” 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, “The Monkees” 1966 Pontiac GTO, “Cannonball” 1970 Pontiac Trans Am and “McQ” 1973 Pontiac Trans Am SD455 (John Wayne’s car). 

Since cars can be the star of a movie or show and HAVE ALWAYS been recognized as the stars at the Carlisle GM Nationals, 2021 brings the stars together with Carlisle Comic-Car-Con.  At Carlisle in June you can see your favorite Comic, TV, and Movie cars pop off the pages or out of the screen and into one of the special displays in Building T.  Event planners are still gathering cars for the showcase, but if you have one that fits the theme, be sure to visit the event page direct at CarlisleEvents.com to learn more, apply for consideration, purchase tickets and more! 

Great movie cars, all. Which GM actors are your favorites?

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.