Car Parts 2011

5). Oh BTW, that wreck? Not planned. The pole was hit at 100 mph, and the only concern of the driver/director/producer/stunt-man was if they got that on film

I don't usually associate myself with any particular car or manufacturer.  However, my family has owned numerous Fords and they do hold a special place with me.  My uncle owned a '95 Taurus SHO and it was the fastest thing that my 9 year old self could fathom at the time.


Today was just one of those days where I felt nostalgic for some Ford.



Some Old Ford from Ben Pender-Cudlip on Vimeo.

Do you ever find yourself in the mood to watch a race and turn on the Speed Channel only to find Pimp My Ride or hour after hour of Barrett-Jackson auctions?  If you're like me, there's a series of reactions to this.  First, there's a feeling of anger/disappointment.  This is followed by being perplexed at how 18 TVs fit into one car.  Then, something on the auction block piques my interest and I settle in for a couple hours with dreams of buying some of those ridiculously priced concept cars from the 50s or maybe a nicely restored, numbers matching, overpriced Hemi Cuda.  Well, this post is here to slap you upside the head because there are much more interesting cars to find than what's at Barrett-Jackson, Mecum, or RM.

virginmedia.com

In the market for a vintage race car?  How about a 1938 Delahaye 135MS?
 In 1938 this car came with a 3.6 liter inline-6 which was good for about 135 horsepower.  It could do an incredible 100 mph with that amount of power.  Neither of those numbers sounds like much compared to today's cars but back then 100mph meant your face was about to peel off if you hit the accelerator anymore.

This car doesn't exactly have the history or panache of a fully documented, championship winner... but WHO CARES when it looks this good?!  If you're interested, it can be found here.

There's also this 1948 Delahaye 135M roadster for those that want something that looks more like a boulevard cruiser than a competitor at Le Mans.
This particular Delahaye has been restored in California.  It is powered by the same motor as the race car except for a few missing carbs and has as much power as a Scion xD.  Yet, those 115 horses only have to propel 2,450 pounds via the rear wheels.  I'm pretty sure you'd get more looks in this than a Scion also.

Not into French built roadsters?  Prefer being pampered and chauffeured?  There is nothing like old world British elegance in the form of a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
This 1934 model of the Phantom houses a 7.7 liter inline-6 for immense amounts of low end torque to whisk its passengers in quiet comfort.  Though when called upon, that monstrosity of a motor can generate ludicrous speeds as displayed on its 120mph speedometer.  Remember, this is from 1934 not the current Phantom which is loved by Cristal imbibing clientele.

For the rest of us, the meat and potato kind of guys, I present some American muscle, both old and new.  First up is a 1957 Chevy pickup restomod.

www.ironworksspeedandkustom.com

Not everyone wants to drive a restored old truck.  Some of us like new conveniences like brakes that work and engines that fire up reliably.  This 57 Chevy is pretty much a mashup of C5 and C6 Corvette mechanicals with modified pickup truck aesthetics.  It puts down 598 dyno verified horsepower from a built 402ci LS2.  Handling duties are controlled by a tube chassis and C6 suspension parts.  Pizza sized Wilwood brakes stop this black beauty.

When handling and stopping are less of an issue and going fast in a straight line takes priority, there's nothing like a muscle car.  In this case, it has to be a grabber blue 1970 Mustang Boss 429.
This is the most badass blue monster that I've seen since that lagoon creature ate the entire Smurf village my junior year in college.  This is a numbers matching car located in Missourri and seems to be in damn good condition.  Since it's numbers matching, the specs don't need to be regurgitated here.  Let's just say that if you drove any of these cars, Xzibit wouldn't need to pop your collar for you to be a pimp.

I'm about to let you in on a little secret. It's how to spot a real car guy from a poseur with one simple question:

What do you think about a Miata?

At this point, there will be one of two reactions. To the uninformed, the Mazda roadster will be mocked for its "cute" appearance, tiny dimensions, and lack of balls (usually it's a real macho dude who holds this car in contempt). To these people, driving isn't an experience to enjoy. Being at the wheel of a car is like being on stage for all the world to see.

Well, that's fine for them. The rest of us know that the Miata (why did Mazda change it to mx-5?) has a driving experience as pure as uncut coke and it's probably just as addicting too. Let's take a look at the recipe for this drug... err ...car.

The basics are all here. It has a front engine, rear wheel drive layout mated to a light and nimble chassis. How light is this car? The curb weights for the first and third generation are 2116 lbs and 2480 lbs, respectively. Horsepower? 116 and 167. In comparison, the iconic Corvette and Porsche 911 weigh about 600 lbs more. Ok, that's all well and good but numbers can't tell the story of why this is such a good car.


It's the feeling. That lack of weight carries more speed into the corners and immediately responds to direction changes. The driver just has to think and the car will be there in an instant. Find a good bit of twisty road, clip apex after apex, and mat the throttle in between. The tactile sensations are all there too. The steering wheel communicates every rock, leaf, and stripe to your fingertips. The clutch is perfectly weighted and matches beautifully to the perfectly spaced short throw shifter for those lightning fast upshifts or heal-toe downshifts.

So, next time you find yourself staring at the gauges of a Miata, pay no attention to the "bro" in the 'Stang with the blowout haircut sitting in the lane next to you. Let him dust you off the line and revel in the fact that you'll overtake him corner after corner. That is an addiction...

-Danny Chin-