Dem Bones, Dem... Rolling Bones Rods! FIF T IES FANCY '55 BUICK 33 '72 P'o67ntPialycmLeouMthanDsa&rt E'6L6CCAHMEVINYO ReluThcetant WHDEAEYLS Restoration Paint strip-down PLUS ■EVENTS GUIDE & 100s OF CARS FOR SALE
Ben Klemenzson Viewpoint IMAGINE THAT?! Irecently had the rather disappointing you’re behind the wheel of a real American experience of trying to book a rental car in the car, preferably V8 and preferably rear-wheel US for a forthcoming trip in August. Gone are drive. About the only thing left supplying the days when you’d be perusing which boat that experience is the hoary old Chrysler 300 to book – “Hmmm, Lincoln Town Car, Chrysler which must imminently be facing euthanasia New Yorker LHS or Cadillac DTS…? that’s the now it’s not far off entering its third decade in question”! No, now it was a depressingly long list production. Well, if that’s all there is, so be it! of appliance-like Japanese/Korean and German cars (okay, I know they’re built in the US!): After a two-year absence, Wheels Day was Camrys, Sentras, Kias, Jettas… back with a vengeance and what a great show it was, helped no doubt by superb warm weather In fact, actually finding an American car was (you can read all about it on page 69). And like finding a needle in a haystack (sorry, a Taurus with the Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year just doesn’t cut it!) although there’s still the good Competition back in full swing, well things old SUVs… even convertibles were thin on the are starting to feel like they’re getting back to ground, with Mustang supplying the only wind normal – hoorah! in the hair experience but were all sold out. Gone are the days when you could rock up at a Hertz Ben Klemenzson, editor dealership and rent a Shelby Mustang… Gosh, [email protected] imagine that?! Yet, for a lot of British folk, an American road trip across the States is only the real thing if classic-american.com 3
on page 20 37 SEE PAGES 28 51 84 & 86 44 61 69 EDITOR GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER PUBLISHING DIRECTOR ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Ben Klemenzson Sue Keily Dan Savage Jane Skayman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DESIGN ADVERTISING TEAM LEADER COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Tel: 01507 529423 Fran Lovely Tania Shaw Nigel Hole CONTRIBUTORS [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION Paul Bussey, Richard Coney, ADVERTISING EDITORIAL ADDRESS Full subscription rates (but see page 20 for offers): Simon Cooke, Huw Evans, Dale Haberfield, Emma Thurman Classic American Magazine, PO Box 99, (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK Steve Havelock, Richard Heseltine, [email protected] Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ £58.80. Export rates are also available – see James Mann, Paul Moore, Mike Renaut, 01507 529453 page 20 for more details. UK subscriptions are Matt Richardson, Will Shiers SALES AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER WEBSITE zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. PRODUCTION EDITOR Carl Smith www.classic-american.com Pauline Hawkins MARKETING MANAGER DISTRIBUTION PUBLISHER Charlotte Park BACK ISSUES & PRIVATE ADS Marketforce (UK) Ltd, Tim Hartley [email protected] Tel 01507 529529 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London Telephone lines are open: E14 9AP. Telephone 0330 390 6555 Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm. 24hr answerphone PRINTING [email protected] Acorn Web Offset Ltd www.classicmagazines.co.uk Normanton, West Yorkshire
76 JUNE 2022 REGULARS 06 News 37 1955 Buick 16 Here to Obscurity Century Riviera 18 Across the Pond 44 1965 Chevrolet 20 Subscribe! El Camino 24 Letters 51 PCelaospsliec American 76 Discoveries 61 The Reluctant 78 Reviews Restoration 80 Scale Autos 88 Service Directory 91 Classified F E AT U R E S EVENTS 28 1967 Dart GT 69 Wheels Day and 1972 Pontiac 84 Events and Le Mans Cruises 76 W W W. C L A S S I C - A M E R I C A N . C O M Independent publisher since 1885 Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine? Why not just ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month ON SALE DATE NEXT ISSUE JUNE 16 © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
1972 Buick Riviera, this year’s first Car of the Year contender. Classic NewsAmerican Gotta love the boattail! CAR OF THE YEAR KICKS OFF! The first heat of the Kingstown If you’re thinking this car and Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year 2019. Shipping Car of the Year contest owner look familiar, that’s because was held at this year’s inaugural it appeared in Classic American in show, Wheels Day, which was February last year (issue #358) and cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due was in fact the cover car. Owner to Covid. And boy, was it back Adam Pearce cut his American car- with a bang! Sunny, hot weather owning teeth with this bodacious and a field full of cars – and even Buick and hasn’t looked back since. more public – made for a busy “I just love driving it!” he enthuses. event. Likewise, after an absence As befits Buick’s top-of-the-tree of two years because of ‘you know model, it’s dripping with all the what’, Car of the Year is back for bells and whistles Flint could shoe- 2022, bigger and brighter than horn into their flagship. ever thanks to sponsorship from Kingstown Shipping. With such a Power comes from a four-barrel packed field of cars, it was going 455cu in V8 and of course there’s to be tough to pick one car as power steering and power brakes, the first candidate in this year’s as well as air con. That dazzling series; however, we found an Burnished Bronze paint sure will absolute cracker in the form of this look a treat on the Classic American magnificent 1972 Buick Riviera, stand at the NEC in November, so belonging to Adam Pearce. make sure you go along to check it out and meet Adam! CAR OF THE YEAR 2022 Over the coming months we’ll be at the cars are judged, usually by independent biggest and best American car events all judges, and one overall champion is picked, ■ July 10: Rally of the Giants – Blenheim over the UK picking more heat winners for winning a cheque for £500 and a prestigious Palace, Oxon the grand final on the Classic American trophy, plus their car will feature on the front ■ July 17*: Damn Yankees Show – North stand at the NEC this autumn. Heat winners cover of February’s issue. Weald, Essex get a prestigious brass trophy, £200 prize Further heats will be held at the following ■ July 30-31: Mopar Nats – Santa Pod, money and are invited to bring their car shows: Northants down to display on the Classic American ■ June 19: Beaulieu Hot Rod and Custom, ■ Nov 11-13: Classic Motor Show, NEC, stand at the Classic Motor Show held at Beaulieu, Hants Birmingham Birmingham’s NEC over the weekend of ■ July 2-3: Stars & Stripes – Tatton Park, *Date to be confirmed. November 11-13. Over the weekend the Knutsford, Cheshire 6 classic-american.com
Classic American’s Stars & Stripes set to shine! The clocks are ticking to Classic American’s very own show, the Stars & Stripes Show, held over the weekend of July 2 and 3 in the beautiful grounds of Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Now in its fifth year under the management/ ownership of Classic American’s parent company Mortons, the Stars & Stripes has become Prizes galore! a must-do event for any American car enthusiast in the UK and is easily reached by including some familiar names motorway from all over Britain. from Classic American, including As in previous years, attractions Kingstown Shipping, North Hants include just about every type of Tyres and many, many more, so American vehicle imaginable, from make sure you pay them all a visit! pick-ups to hot rods, customs, There’ll be plenty of autojumble, as military vehicles, big rigs, Harley- well as a Wild West shoot-out, wall Davidsons… even Airstreams. of death and live music. There’ll also be traders aplenty, Don’t miss the Classic American stand where we will be dishing out subscriptions, back issues, T-shirts, merchandise and the latest issue of everyone’s favourite American car magazine. Last, but not least, don’t forget to check out the beautiful grounds of Tatton Park, which are truly stunning and worth a visit alone! It’s not too late to enter your American vehicle to display. Simply do so online at: www.tattonstarsandstripes. com/private-booking/ American car shows and events 2022 Classic American’s Events listings/Blue pages take pride of place on pages 84 and 86 in this issue. If you have an American car show, event or cruise you would like listing, or more information adding, please email the details to: [email protected] or send them in by post to: Classic American magazine, Mortons Media, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR. classic-american.com 7
Classic Falcon was featured in the May 2017 issue. NewsAmerican 1963 FORD Deluxe interior. FALCON SPRINT A TIME MACHINE? From time to time, cars that have appeared in “At some time in the recent virtually all of its parts as supplied new in 1963; Classic American come up for sale. This stunning past the car had a quality respray even the exhaust still bears a 63 stamping. The ’63 Falcon featured in our May 2017/#313 issue in the original colour. interior is in stunning condition and the seats and is now being sold by owner Lou Lusardi. We are very comfortable. Headlining is excellent. asked him for a few words on the car and this is “The collector passed away Original lap belts are included as well as a set what he had to say: “Assembled in the San Jose around eight years ago and his collection of cars of harnesses for modern safety. Mileage is just Ford plant in California in April 1963, this Falcon was put up for sale as part of his estate. It was over 40,000 and reputed to be genuine. The Sprint was delivered to a doctor in Springfield, purchased by another collector in Vancouver, engine runs well and does not use any oil. The Oregon. The good doctor ordered the car in Canada who owned the car for 18 months, two-speed Fordomatic transmission is smooth Corinthian white with black interior and also replacing its original tyres with a new set of and silent. 1963 Falcon Sprints are rare, this specified almost every available extra, including whitewall Firestones and a professionally applied example is a time warp machine that has never automatic transmission, power steering, radio, offset black stripe which is period correct been restored – try finding another!” The car is interior mats, dome light and the now very rare and appears in some of the Ford advertising priced at £35,000 and is located in Bridgend, dashboard clock. literature from 1963. The car appeared for sale South Wales. For more information, contact Lou again in 2015 and was shipped over to the Lusardi, tel: 07799 897996, email: loulusardi@ “After a couple of years the car was purchased UK and registered in 2016. For the past few btinternet.com (photography: James Mann.) by a collector in Washington State with whom years it’s been used on several tours around the the car resided for almost 50 years, stored Midlands and Wales as well as three weddings Handsome stripe. in a temperature and humidity controlled (no funerals!). The car featured on the cover of environment. The collector employed a couple Classic American magazine in 2017. of mechanics who looked after the collection, keeping them in tip-top condition. “This unique car is now for sale. It’s a one-of- a-kind, totally original Sprint which still retains 260cu in V8. 8 classic-american.com
1980 Chevrolet Corvette. AUCTION few American ones, including a WATCH 1956 Ford Thunderbird which sold for £33,750. Not as popular was H&H a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette with an estimated value of £12,000- Buxton Pavilion, £15,000 but it didn’t sell. Likewise Derbyshire a very nice-looking 1975 Lincoln April 27, 2022 Continental Mark IV Lipstick Edition, with only 52,000 miles on the clock There were some interesting didn’t sell, despite an estimated cars going under the hammer value of £13,000-£15,000. Not at H&H’s Buxton auction last American, but American hearted month; sadly there were only a (it’s got that lovely Buick Rover aluminium V8 motor we all love so much!) was a 1973 Rover P5B Coupe which sold for £14,625. For more info, see www.handh.co.uk Mark IV. ’56 T-Bird. Rover V8. classic-american.com 9
Classic LINCOLN’S STAR SHINING BRIGHT NewsAmerican Profile is distinctly ‘Range Rover-esque’... According to sources from within Ford (Ford scents, and lighting combinations Authority) Lincoln is hoping to launch all-electric variants of all of its vehicles no later than 2027, to provide a truly relaxing travelling while also adding at least one new EV model to the lineup by that same deadline. Lincoln hopes experience. Add to this transparent to release three new all-electric vehicles by 2025, and a fourth by the end of 2026. This should pillars and a skylight-style roof (with include a Lincoln Aviator EV, which was meant to be launched in 2023 but had to be delayed a digital shade of course!) and the until 2024. At the start of April Lincoln offered a glimpse of its new electric concept: the Lincoln concept has an incredibly airy feel Star Concept, more details of which have been recently released. to it… This exciting new concept introduces a Up front, there’s a large full-width completely new look to the luxury brand, with a remarkable new shape, packed with exciting new horizontal display that seamlessly ... although interior features, including the brand’s signature ‘Lincoln’ integrates with the centre control is more Jetsons. star on the front which illuminates. There are screen and second-row screens. The plenty of other unique exterior features too – lighting also plays a big role inside, with backlit instrument panel is wing-shaped doors and seats that “provide a sanctuary-like” experience (who doesn’t need a bit of ‘sanctuary’ and ‘floats’, like something you might find in electrical architecture to create unimaginable in today’s crazy world?!). an aircraft, while there’s a ‘Lincoln Attaché’ experiences for customers,” said Jim Farley, Lincoln’s Star Concept is built on Ford’s flexible rear- and all-wheel-drive EV architecture in the back which acts as a digital briefcase president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “We and uses the next-generation version of the Lincoln Intelligence System, which offers users a that can store items and charge them too. Up can truly revolutionise how people engage with ‘digital assistant’ enabling vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure capabilities. The concept’s flexible front there’s a large front trunk (or ‘frunk’ like the brand and scale it across an exciting lineup architecture also offers designers the possibility of completely reconfiguring the interior layout. a Porsche or Corvair!) featuring a lid made of products that catapult Lincoln into the digital, Inside the Star Concept there’s partitioned from electro-chromatic glass that changes from connected age.” Amen to that; the big question limousine-like first- and second-row seating areas, with wraparound seating which can be transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. is: will we see the Lincoln Star or its eventual reclined, as well as individual leg rests, and storage space that can store everything from “This is a shining example of what happens real-world vehicle on the roads of Britain? Watch electronic devices to your slippers (yes, really!). A drinks cooler sits between the rear seats, along when we combine Lincoln luxury with flexible this space… (Source: Ford Authority.) with controls for what Lincoln calls “rejuvenation moods,” that harmonise different types of audio, No missing that on the highway... To pre-order your next issue of Classic American, head to classicmagazines.co.uk/pre-order-ca Alternatively, scan the QR code on this page and order your next copy today. We will send it directly to you! 10 classic-american.com
Alan Lee Mustang cocks a CLASSIC SPORTS wheel at chicane. CAR CLUB RACE MEET THRUXTON, HANTS April 23/24, 2022 Lee versus Sharich at race start. Alan Lee enjoying the Mustang. Words and photography: Steve Havelock They were bought together as a job lot at yet. I’ve rallied and raced loads of cars over the the beginning of Covid lockdown from a racer last 40 years but nothing comes close to the The Classic Sports Car Club’s second race in America who was retiring. Chris said that the ‘Vette for putting a smile on my face.” meeting of the year was held at a bright, ‘Vette ran in ST2 spec in the National Auto Sport breezy and somewhat chilly Thruxton circuit Association series and has an upgraded 500bhp As for his 320bhp Mustang, Chris said: “It was in Hampshire on Saturday and Sunday, April 23 motor. He has since added a carbon driveshaft, built as a race car from new and was nominated and 24. I chose to pop along on the Saturday larger rear brakes, diff braces, better intakes, by Ford as one of three cars to score points in the as there were three American race cars that different suspension and loads more. Motorola Cup Series in the US. It won at Sebring, grabbed my attention on the entry list. Watkins Glen and Daytona. It then ran in Trans- He said: “I always wanted a Corvette. I am Am fitted with a 500bhp motor.” Since buying First treat was the bright red Dodge Viper closer to 70 than 60 and developing this is my it, Chris has handed driving duties to 1970s ex- of Mark East from Hungerford and Iain McBay retirement project. Everything is available and we International motorcycle racer and more recently from Kenton in Devon. Twenty years ago these can keep developing it as much as we want or Mini racer Alan Lee from Norfolk who told me: Vipers were racing everywhere but I really can’t until we run out of money. It’s really involving. “I’m now in my early seventies. This is my first remember the last time I saw one being club You’ve really got to drive it. I went for a C5 time at Thruxton since racing bikes in 1978. It’s a raced. Mark told me: “I started racing with rather than a C6 because it’s got a steel chassis fast circuit but it suits the Mustang. There’s a fair Iain 40 years ago but I haven’t raced for over rather than an aluminium one. More easily bit of power there and you’d get in trouble with 20 years. The kids are now moving away from repairable. I am going to put in a sequential it if you have a heavy right foot. It’s quite a heavy home so I thought I’d do something for myself gearbox. Round here we are only really using car so you have to think ahead and line it up for for a change and bought this, sight unseen in two gears. On the back straight we are doing the corners. A bit like an aircraft carrier.” Alan December 2021. It’s a 2000 ACR, the American nearly 160mph in fourth gear and we are not on finished 14th and 16th in his races. Club Racer version. It was raced for four or five the rev limiter. Ridiculous isn’t it?” years in the States, then went to Sweden where Chris concluded: “Bits for the Ford are a lot it was used as a trackday car and ended up with Chris was sharing the car with hotshoe Ben cheaper than the Corvette and the Ford is very a Danish Drift Champion in Denmark but he Sharich and they did one race apiece. In Ben’s strong and much simpler to work on. It has never never got around to using it. It’s been dry stored race, a rear wheel worked loose and he had to failed to finish a race since I’ve had it.” and not run for maybe 15 years.” retire while Chris finished 13th and said: “The ‘Vette is running well and I’m comfortable It will be interesting to watch the development Mark and Iain work on the car themselves driving it but I’m not getting the best out of it of these three cars and their enthusiastic owners. and since buying it have upgraded all the safety All good fun! equipment. This was the first race for the Viper and the comeback race for Mark. However, the car just wasn’t behaving itself and had fuel pump issues and then developed a misfire. Mark said: “Not really surprising after standing idle so long. It’s definitely a dream realised to drive such an amazing machine at my local track having watched them win their class in Le Mans back in the day. And it sounds awesome.” The other two cars both belonged to long- time racer Chris Tilly. First was his yellow 1999 Corvette C5 coupe (not a Z06) and the other, a 1999 Ford Mustang Cobra. Mark East and Iain McBay with Dodge Viper. Chris Tilly and Ben Sharich with Corvette C5. 12 classic-american.com
Classic NewsAmerican PRE-’50 AAC BRISTOL Henry and Sam. SHOW RETURNSEst.1965 The 30-plus-year-old Bristol American Car accompanied children under 16 years old Shed & Buried is back! Show returns on June 5 with a new and have free entry. bigger venue at Keynsham Rugby Football Henry Cole and Sam Lovegrove are back on screen, on Club, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 2BE. This Gates open at 9am for show exhibitor a mission to find vintage treasures in the nation’s sheds, Pre-’50 AAC event is open to American entry and members of the public can gain in new episodes of Shed & Buried. In this hugely popular cars, pick-ups, vans, hot rods, bikes and entry from 10am. returning series, motorcycle-mad Henry Cole and his best military vehicles. friend, engineering genius Sam Lovegrove, resume their Visit the Pre50AAC website www. quest to discover amazing vintage vehicles to buy, fix up Vehicle admission on the day is £5 per pre50aac.com for more information. and move on for a tidy profit. car (including two adults); additional adults will be charged at £5 per adult, Any enquiries please contact Luke Motorbikes, cars, tractors, yachts, military vehicles, Passmore 07886 027783 or email auto-memorabilia ... whatever it is, Henry and Sam will [email protected] snap it up, as long as they think there is some money in it for them. Over the years this double act have found more often than not that the very best deals to be had are buried in Britain’s sheds. Ten brand new 30-minute episodes of Shed & Buried are due to broadcast on Quest (Freeview channel number 12) in May and will also be available to stream on the discovery+ website at www.discoveryplus.co.uk For more information visit www.henrycole.tv 14 classic-american.com
Richard Heseltine From obhsecreutroity Electric cars may be all AMC Amitron/ the rage at the moment, Electron but the American car industry had a fair few attempts at presenting its vision of how an electric car would look in the Sixties. Richard Heseltine looks at AMC’s offering, the Amitron… Unveiled in a Detroit hotel conference room a range of 241km and could cruise at 50mph, There were, however, a few barriers to it in December 1967, the Amitron may have having taken 20 seconds to get there. It also making the leap from prototype to manufacture. been on the small side, but you could boasted regenerative braking which is now a First of all, with fuel still costing relatively little argue that it cast a long shadow. Designed standard feature of hybrids and EVs but was then stateside (relative to the rest of the world), AMC’s under AMC styling czar, Dick Teague, this practically unheard of anywhere in the world. management concluded that there would be minuscule electric car was built in conjunction This was unquestionably the first time it had insufficient demand on the home front. There with battery manufacturer, Gulton Industries of been trialled on an American car. were also serious doubts from some quarters Metuchen, New Jersey. Barely 2159mm (85in) that the technology was anything like ready to long, 1765mm (69.5in) wide and 1168mm This being a concept car of the Sixties, the be rolled out in the real world. Some reckoned (46in) high, it boasted three abreast seating but, Amitron didn’t feature anything so conventional it was at least a decade away from being according to marketing material of the time, as doors. Instead, you entered and exited the tested sufficiently to make sense. It has also weighed in at just 499kg (1100lb). cabin with its three abreast seating arrangement been suggested in some texts that the Amitron via a one-piece, clamshell-like canopy. It became wouldn’t have passed crash tests without Despite its stubby proportions, the Amitron a media darling, too, and not just in the US. major revisions. was relatively practical for its size. Novel features It was a cover star the world over and made included inflatable seat cushions: the passenger umpteen media appearances elsewhere. There Nevertheless, the design influenced the Pacer cushions could be deflated when driving solo so was even talk of variations on the theme production car, not least its seating arrangement. as to free up storage space. AMC claimed it had entering production. What’s more, the styling still looked remarkably fresh a decade later. This point clearly wasn’t lost Amitron weighed less on AMC. Following the 1973 Oil Shock, small than 500kg! cars rapidly took on greater relevance in North America. And how. The Amitron was dusted down, repainted, and given a pair of exterior mirrors before being presented as the Electron in 1977 as part of the firm’s ‘Concept 80’ series of experimental prototypes that included the AM Van, Grand Touring, Concept I, Concept II and Jeep II. For better or worse However, distinct from the car in 1967 guise, here there was no powertrain. Nor was there much by way of description in the PR material. Predictably, there was no talk in this instance of the ‘car’ being anything other than a concept teaser. As to the fate of the prototype, we would love to know. It may have been more micro than muscle car, but this was a typically intriguing AMC design, and one that foretold the future for better or worse. That, after all, is what a concept car is meant to do. Richard Heseltine’s weird and wonderful American cars from the past.
1982 Chevrolet Camaro. Huw Evans tAhecrpoosnsd Remembering the rebirth Evans looks back to 1982, a time that wasn’t all that different from today… It’s sometimes amazing just how quickly time influence being felt through the corridors of factory V8s. Ford’s swoopy new ’83 Thunderbird passes. I look at the subject of this month’s Dearborn. The smart, sensible Fox platform redefined the personal luxury segment, while at Across the Pond as an example. The year cars were proliferating in numbers, led by the Chrysler a revolution was under way with the 1982 doesn’t seem that long ago to me, but Mustang, which for 1982 got a major shot of launch of the 1984 model year T-wagons (better four decades have passed since then. And in the oats thanks to its reborn 302cu in (5.0-litre) High known as the pioneering Dodge Caravan and world of American motoring a lot has changed. Output V8. Plymouth Voyager minivans). Forty years ago, nobody had heard of crossover utilities, Teslas, advanced driver assist systems, Although its 157 net horsepower rating might As the decade wore on, we’d see even more or autonomous driving, which from a certain not seem like much today, we need to remember exciting and powerful cars emerge from the perspective probably isn’t a bad thing. that in early Eighties America, this was a big deal Motor City, creating a legacy that spans to this in a factory car. The fact that the Fox chassis very day. And while here in 2022, the world faces When we look back at 1982 from a classic Mustang was also light didn’t go unnoticed. Back economic uncertainty and the auto industry American car perspective some things do stand in the day, Motor Trend clocked its 1982 Mustang seems unsure about its future, perhaps it’s time out. This year represents both the final days of GT test car at 6.9 seconds in the 0-60mph dash, to reflect back to 1982 and learn a few history the so-called smog era, where many Detroit cars which still isn’t too shabby, all things considered. lessons. Back then fear and uncertainty was were emasculated under a plethora of emissions At Chrysler meanwhile, the humble K-car twins, running rampant, much as they are today. hoses, electronic feedback carburettors, the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant were restrictive exhaust systems and tall gearing, but it helping revive fortunes at Highland Park, leading The world felt as if it was on the cusp of also represented the first fruits of a rebirth. By the to a whole host of derivative models including nuclear conflict, with tensions between the summer of that year, there were signs that the some of the first factory Detroit convertibles since USSR and NATO at their highest since the early American auto industry was re-emerging from the mid-Seventies. Sixties and many economies were also grappling one of its darkest periods and when the 1983 with high inflation and unstable energy prices. models debuted later that year there was cause By the following year, things were really In the US, the worst recession since the Thirties for celebration. starting to look up. The early Eighties recession took hold during the early Eighties, with was starting to fade into memory, fuel prices unemployment running at close to 11%. Yet as Key examples of course were the pony cars. were stabilising and an increasing assortment we saw with the nation’s automotive industry At General Motors, the Chevrolet Camaro and of exciting and dynamic cars could be found during this period, things would turn around. Pontiac Firebird were newly redesigned for 1982 in American showrooms. The 1984 Chevrolet Inflation was tamed, unemployment fell, fuel with sharp looks and by the standards of the Corvette (released in ’83) was a prime example, prices stabilised and East-West relations thawed. time, world-class handling. Over at Ford, the along with pony cars that were now pushing Things got better, and I’m sure they will do the Euro-inspired era had begun, with international the magic 200 horsepower mark from their same again, 40 years later… Huw Evans – news & views from North America
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Classic Email us at: [email protected] or write to: SLTetAteRr Classic American magazine, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ MailAmerican YOUTUBE REVIEWS? Dear Classic American, peculiar language traits.... both are Freeview and satellite (and terrestrial for I enjoy your reviews of both models and entertaining, yet very educational. that matter) channels: Classic American TV literature, but can’t remember ever seeing Shows – Lockdown 2020… But you’re quite any YouTube channel reviews. Given the And if anybody is into airplanes I’ll right, we haven’t done anything similar plethora of channels out there I wonder throw in Jimmy’s World... Or anything on YouTube channels. Funnily enough, you whether it would even be possible. So, mechanical including cranes, forklifts and haven’t mentioned any of our favourites: Jay I was wondering whether it might be steam engines... Jonathan W. Worth a Leno’s Garage and Charles Phoenix’s Joyride appropriate for you to invite your readers thought? Channel… watch this space! to make recommendations, and if I could, Simon Oldroyd I would start with Vice Grip Garage and Via email Sleeperdude. I have been watching both for a while and have started to develop Hi Simon, well we have done reviews on the plethora of car-related TV shows on all the Electric dreams Jim on Route 66. Route 66 memories Dear Classic American, I have been a subscriber for a year now and a long- Dear Classic American, time buyer of the magazine and a long-time admirer of Just going through some of American cars, mainly hot rods and muscle cars. Sadly, I my old Route 66 pictures have never owned one, having neither the funds nor the when I came across this one. storage. I was going to buy a Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 Having driven the road and many years ago, £2500 at the time, but my wife told me seen many articles written she was pregnant, so that was that! and read many books on the subject, I was wondering if Regarding electric car conversions I think this may be you, or any of your readers the way forward for these wonderful rolling works of art. have seen this monument With the way gas prices are going recently it might be the before… I would be very only way to keep these cars on the road. Infrastructure is interested to find out if getting better (slowly). you could. Jim Quirk Hydrogen doesn’t seem to be viable at the moment; Ashton-under-Lyne although Yamaha and Toyota have developed a hydrogen- Lancashire powered V8, I think it will be many years before it’s an alternative. I love the sound of a rumbling V8, but they I’m afraid Jim, we’ve drawn will be gone eventually, so maybe it’s worth considering. a blank… any readers out Peter Armstrong there familiar with this Via email monument? Hmmm, we can hear the sound of a thousand copies of 1960 Chevy Classic American being thrown at the wall! Still, each to their Impala Coupe. own, maybe this will keep our beloved classic Americans on the road… ‘Where are they now?’ dept... Dear Classic American, I had a 1960 Chevy Impala a few years back. Unfortunately, I had to sell it for lack of garage space. It was a two-door coupe and had 17-inch Centrelines on and had been lowered. It was blue and white with the registration number XSV 332. I would dearly love to find out where it is now. The last I heard it was with a dealership somewhere last summer. Is it still around, what condition is it in and would it be up for sale again, as I would dearly love to own this car again – I had it for nine great years and miss it lots. I know your readers are usually very good at knowing where these cars turn up; if anyone has any information on this car, I would be grateful if they could let Classic American magazine know or please phone me on 0203 764 7549. P Clarke Valencia, Spain Anyone seen or know the whereabouts of XSV 332?! 24 classic-american.com
With his dad Howard being a dyed-in- shows and use on weekends, but didn’t have a in Corby ship the Dart to the UK in summer 2019 the-wool hot rodder, it was inevitable specific model in mind. and it turned out to be in much better condition that Jamie Webster would before long than I’d expected.” want some interesting cars of his own. Yet when “I knew I didn’t want a Mustang since there’s he bought this 1967 Dodge Dart GT, it was always one at even the smallest car show,” smiles The previous owner of the Dodge, Andy Howard who then followed his son’s example Jamie, “but otherwise I was open to whatever Keyser of Oro Valley, Arizona, had first and bought the other American car you see came along. I spotted a Dodge Dart on eBay in customised the Dart in 2007 and it appeared in here, a 1972 Pontiac. “My dad has always been the UK and really loved its shape. When I went Hemmings Muscle Machines that same year. into hot rods and custom cars,” explains Jamie, to view it, that car wasn’t all that good close up “so that heavily influenced me, although the and seemed expensive, so I got back on to eBay “I tracked Andy down via Facebook and he only modified cars I’d previously owned were and found this 1967 Dart being sold at Gateway was delighted the Dart had gone to a loving new a lowered Volkswagen Santana on AirRide Classic Cars. It was the best example I could home. He’d redone the Dart again in 2014 and suspension and an Audi estate. But we’ve been find and looked much like it is now, except it then only driven it 5000 miles before selling it to building a customised Ford 100E for a few years had Minilite wheels and a modern-style steering build another car.” too. I was looking for an American car to drive to wheel. I then had Dean at Skippy’s Classic Imports (07583 665453/www.skippysclassicimports.co.uk) According to the Hemmings article the Dart had previously been in Idaho and came to Andy with a bored ’69-vintage 340cu in V8. 28 classic-american.com
1967 Dart GT and 1972 Pontiac Le Mans When Jamie Webster bought himself a 1967 Dodge Dart, his father Howard decided Jamie couldn’t have all the fun, so he bought a 1972 Pontiac of his own… Words: Mike Renaut Photography: Matt Richardson classic-american.com 29
According to a previous Although on the same floorpan as previous Keeping cool article the Dodge hailed Darts, the fourth-generation Dart’s bodywork from Idaho originally. looked all-new for 1967, boasting innovative Although Jamie was very happy with his Simple black vinyl interior. curved side glass and thick rear roof pillars. purchase and the car was in great shape, he and Wagons were dropped from the range which Howard wanted to make some changes. “We 30 classic-american.com comprised base Dart, 270 and GT models, with put in a new four-core radiator to replace the a GTS joining late in the year. Engines were a three-core that was in there,” remembers Jamie, standard 170 or 225cu in slant-six or 273cu in “added an uprated water pump and thermostat, V8, with optional 318, 340 and 383 cube V8s, then tidied the wiring which, although done and even Hemi cars in 1968. Although the front safely enough, just looked messy. I also put on and rear of the Dart was facelifted annually, the an aftermarket steering wheel that looks closer centre section of the body remained the same to the original and replaced the rear tail-light until a new body arrived in 1976 and production lenses. That’s one of the difficulties with certain of the fourth-generation Darts continued in years of cars; this being a 1967 Dart they were South America until 1981. made in smaller numbers than the later cars so parts are harder to find – 1968 tail-lights are Jamie’s Dart was around the 5400th produced. about £150, these 1967 ones are £400-500.” One of about 21,600 eight-cylinder GTs built for the 1967 model year, it rolled out of Chrysler’s Under the bonnet sits a 360cu in Dodge Los Angeles plant as a red GT with a 273cu in small-block V8, bored and stroked out to 408cu V8 and black vinyl top. It’s now a custom-mixed in. “Built by Arizona Race Company it has maroon called Cherry Dr Pepper, and that neat J-heads, a custom camshaft and forged internals, dart graphic on the bootlid was already hand- it’s around 495bhp, which is plenty in a small painted on the car when it arrived. car. The transmission is a strengthened 904A TorqueFlite while the rear axle is an eight and In all, about 21,600 V8 GTs three-quarter Sure Grip with 2:73 ratios.” The were built in ’67. heater was removed, it obviously didn’t need one in Arizona, and the original hubs have been replaced for items with a more popular PCD to allow a better choice of aftermarket wheels to be fitted. “We put on a set of Magnum 500 wheels that were intended for a Mustang so we flattened out the domed centres on the lathe and Andy from Waterman Motorsports made new stickers for the centres in the style of the Mopar badges on the B-posts.” Aftermarket disc brakes are fitted all round and you can’t fail to notice the rear sits a little higher than stock due to superstock-style rear springs with uprated leaves. “It actually handles really well,” says Jamie, “the superstock springs act as anti-tramp bars so it rides really nicely. I’ll probably fit a rear anti-roll bar in future.” Inside, the seats are the factory optional buckets in black vinyl; since the car apparently had 170,000 miles on it before Andy Keyser rebuilt it, they’ve obviously been retrimmed at
360cu in Dodge small-block V8 is bored and stroked out to 408cu in. “IT ACTUALLY HANDLES Aftermarket steering wheel REALLY WELL,” SAYS is a nice touch. JAMIE, “THE SUPERSTOCK Paint is a custom-mixed SPRINGS ACT AS ANTI- maroon called Cherry Dr Pepper. TRAMP BARS SO IT RIDES REALLY NICELY.” some time. “I made a repair to a small tear, but otherwise it’s all in great shape. “Driving it for the first time, it was a lot different from anything I’ve had before,” laughs Jamie. “It was a lot of firsts. The first American car I’d driven, first left-hand drive, first V8 and first rear-wheel drive; in fact, the first time I’d been behind the wheel of anything over 200bhp. But I’ve been careful and so far, it’s been great. Of course I respect the power, especially in the wet – it’ll spin the tyres at 50mph in spite of the Sure Grip. Those narrow rear tyres don’t help, but it’s too nice a body to cut out the arches or tub the rear. I’ve even been getting about 17mpg.
Le Mans had spent time in California, New York and Florida. “I’ll be adding Bilstein shocks on the front to make any other changes to the Dart. To be “I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived,” as it’s a bit floppy and the race-style exhaust honest, I almost sold it to buy a 1961 Cadillac continues Howard, “and I went over it with a manifolds tend to scrape since they mount low recently, but now I’m glad I didn’t.” fine-tooth comb, even putting an endoscope to go under the control arms. Currently, it’s got up into all the cavities and I could not find any exhaust pipes that end Hemi Dart-style part way Farewell gift rust anywhere. There’s still factory undercoating along the floorpan and they sound muffled, under there and, wherever the line workers so I’m going to extend them beyond the rear Having really enjoyed helping with son Jamie’s missed with that, is the original paint. The axle. I’m part of a club called Liberty and Lows Dart, Howard was compelled to buy this 1972 previous owner had bought it in California then (find them on Facebook) and all my Volkswagen Pontiac Le Mans. “I’m a mechanic and was into taken it to New York in 2017 before moving to mates say to lower it more, while the American English Fords for a long time,” explains Howard. Florida, although the Le Mans was actually built car owners say it’s great just as it is. I’ve no plans “Pops, Cortina GTs, Escorts, a Fiesta SuperSport in the Detroit, Michigan, factory.” − all of them hotted up – I built street and rally Power windows all round. engines and I was hot-rodding another Ford Pop We keep referring to this Pontiac as a Le before we got the custom Ford 100E project Mans, but you’ll have no doubt spotted that we’re doing. But once the Dart arrived, I wanted GTO badges adorn it front and rear. Howard an American car even more and, again, we were continues: “I put those on. By the early 1970s browsing websites when I saw the Pontiac at a muscle cars were getting expensive to insure, so dealership in Florida. Since I was retiring in 2022 a number of buyers went for the Le Mans model I’d been looking for a Challenger or Barracuda, then ticked the boxes for all the GTO options. but prices were increasing almost weekly. I That way you could have the GTO experience liked the paint colour on the Pontiac, loved the but still insure the car as a Le Mans. This Le Mans interior and from the description it sounded left the factory essentially as a GTO just without ideal, so that was my retirement present to the badges and it’s full of options.” myself and again we used Skippy’s to ship it over. It certainly is. Options include power steering and power brakes, air conditioning, electric windows, heated rear screen, the Rallye Pack, Formula steering wheel, genuine functional Ram Air hood and manifold, Safe-T-Track limited slip differential, boxed suspension arms and the hood-mounted tachometer. “Since buying it, I’ve picked up all the Pontiac books and magazines I can find. Being a very early 1972 model, it apparently came with the 1971 interior too. Hood-mounted tach. Four-barrel 400cu in V8. 32 classic-american.com
Tilt steering wheel. “For 1972 the boot spoiler became optional months; a switch under the dashboard opens TH400 auto ’box. and that’s the only option it doesn’t have, a cut-out in the exhaust to turn the pipe into Howard added GTO stickers. otherwise it looks like a GTO.” A big part of that a straight through system. “It sounds like a look is the T41 Endura front consisting of GTO dragster then,” laughs Howard. fenders, hood scoops and impact-absorbing body-coloured ‘bumper.’ That was a $42 “It’s also lowered an inch and with the gas option for all other models, even base wagons, shocks and front/rear anti-roll bars, it rides better but could be deleted on the GTO in favour of than my modern Mercedes. It had been dropped chrome front bumper and grille. two inches at the rear, but that was too much so I put on new springs. I also replaced the hoses, Smaller muscles but otherwise it’s not needed anything doing to it. When I first got the Pontiac I had to wait In 1972, the GTO reverted from a separate months for it to arrive since it was shipped right model back to an optional trim package on in the middle of the Covid-induced container the Le Mans (it had launched in 1964 as an crisis, then it took the DVLA ages to issue a option on the Tempest) and the Le Mans range number plate to me. Everyone was telling me comprised four different trim levels: GTO, Luxury, American cars of this era don’t handle and Sport and Base. Styling was facelifted again on wouldn’t go around corners, but it holds the a body which could be traced back to 1968. road perfectly and it’s really comfortable. It While Le Mans could be ordered as a hardtop just feels right. I’m going to add a finned deep (pillarless) coupe or pillared coupe, the Le Mans aluminium gearbox sump to both our cars since Sport came only as a hardtop, like Howard’s. that helps with cooling, but I’ve no plans to do A six-cylinder engine was standard in the Base anything else; just like Jamie’s Dart, this Pontiac is while 350-, 400- or 455 cube V8s were options – definitely a keeper.” ★ happily, the 400cu in V8 and TH400 gearbox in this one are the original number matching parts – and 80,383 two-door hardtop Le Mans were built for the 1972 model year. Considering it has the 400 cube V8 and bucket seats, this Le Mans is almost certainly a Sport model. The Pontiac is all about subtle upgrades, another example being the Rally II style wheels which are aftermarket rims measuring 9x17 inches rather than the original 7x15 and cover uprated four-wheel disc brakes. Howard’s Sundance Orange Pontiac also has a retro- fitted VOE (Vacuum Operated Exhaust) option, briefly known as the ‘Humbler.’ Only fitted to 1970 models, and available for just a couple of “EVERYONE WAS TELLING ME Pontiac has been lowered by an AMERICAN CARS OF THIS ERA inch and rides on adjustable DON’T HANDLE AND WOULDN’T gas-filled shocks. GO AROUND CORNERS, BUT IT HOLDS THE ROAD PERFECTLY AND IT’S REALLY COMFORTABLE.”
Texas New to the American car scene and really loving it, Jerramy and Anna Topping embrace an altogether different take on classic motors after a traditional English diet of Jags and Jensens. 1955 Buick Century Riviera two-door pillarless coupe Words and photography: Paul Bussey Jerramy and Anna Topping have over the years developed Anna quips: “We had a nice weekend in Yorkshire anyway, a great penchant for English classic cars, notably Jaguars the first of quite a few associated with looking at cars or and Jensens; however, their 1955 Buick Century Riviera having work completed on them!” marks their first foray into American car ownership. The spark for American cars was first ignited when he was a child: “I Next, Jerramy and Anna travelled to East Anglia to look remember my father had a win on the horses one day and at a 1955 Buick Century Riviera two-door pillarless coupe. A after he had collected his winnings in town on a Saturday friend had previously purchased an Oldsmobile from the same morning, we went into a toy shop and he treated me to source and was extremely happy with it, so this was perhaps a a model of a Sixties Buick Riviera, complete with a boat good omen? It’s easy to see why this Buick really floated their and trailer in tow,” he recalls. “I still have that model in my boat. The vendor was an avid enthusiast of Fifties American collection today... cars and the car ticked a good many boxes. It was a blend of originality and a little personal customising by a previous “I’d been looking for a Fifties Buick to purchase for a while, owner in Texas, from where it was imported into the UK in spending quite a bit of time on the internet. One day we February 2020. “We went to view the car in the summer of took a trip to the north of England to view an earlier model, 2020 and decided there and then to purchase it, but what powered by a Fireball Eight engine. I had been informed that it with Covid-19 restrictions, we didn’t actually take delivery had zero rust, but when inspected, it was indeed quite rusty.” until December 28, 2020,” Jerramy explains. classic-american.com 37
Jerramy and Anna Topping. “I was quite keen to see if I could trace any of the car’s Subtle custom touches. previous history, and in amongst the paperwork I found an invoice, dated 2005, for a car cover supplied by Owens Salvage of Wellington, Texas. I contacted Bob Owens by email and had a response within a few hours. Bob informed me that three of his friends had owned the Buick. Jason Duggan ran it from 2002-2008, then Cliff Waller owned it between 2008- 2016, both of them residing in Wellington, Texas. Bob’s email started with, ‘It’s great to see an old friend’, as I’d sent him some photos of the Buick. “Bob’s email continued: ‘That car has been around the area for 25 years and it came from Tulsa, Oklahoma, but I don’t know of its history before that. A guy I know in Amarillo, Texas, purchased it and brought it into our area. Over the last 20 years, three different friends of mine have owned it. The last one had the engine rebuilt and a few other things redone. We have had some great long trips to California in that car and it always did a great job. You should have a great time with it in England. I happen to run an auto salvage in Wellington, Texas, so if you ever need some parts, please call or email me anytime.’ Isn’t it such a fine thing to find more history about the car that you’ve just purchased and know that it’s been well looked after and enjoyed? Knowing that the engine had been rebuilt is always very reassuring. “The bodywork, which features the wrapped panoramic windscreen, first introduced in 1954, has been repainted to a very good standard, retaining the original colours of Cherokee Red (paint Code S) and Dover White (paint Code B); the two-tone colours suiting it admirably,” enthuses Jerramy. The brightwork remains in excellent condition (the bumpers, complete with Dagmars, which reached their zenith on Fifties cars, look to have been rechromed) as are all the stainless-steel mouldings. Even the petrol cap has its own chrome moulding. Indeed, there’s great attention to detail wherever you look on this Century Riviera model. “However, the Smoothie-style chromed steel wheels are not original and a set of new radial whitewall tyres are a definite plus point for sure-footed road holding. 38 classic-american.com
Smoothie wheels are another mild custom touch. The interior (trim code 462) has been retrimmed at some Interior has time, using the correct original material of charcoal-pattern been retrimmed. nylon with bolster material red and grey Cordaveen. Other Turned dash. nice original features include the Sonomatic push-button radio and Buick tissue dispenser fitted underneath the aftermarket Wards Riverside Clutch Matic air-con unit, which remains in full working order. A subtle custom touch is the replacement conical chrome steering wheel centre cap which fits in very well with the Smoothie wheels’ centre cap and Dagmar bumpers. Indeed, if you study the car’s brightwork in detail, the chrome conical shape theme is replicated at the front and rear and perhaps that is why a previous owner decided to fit Smoothies with chrome conical centre caps? The original glovebox paper placard has survived, as has the jacking instructions placard to change the spare wheel, located on the underside of the bootlid. On the back of the bootlid, just above the central chrome moulding, is a small red pinstriping design which completes the custom touches. The initials JZ denote who applied the striping. Buick’s pillarless hardtop Period ad. profile was known as ‘Riviera’. classic-american.com 39
The car is powered by its original 235bhp 322cu in Glamorous convertible (5.3-litre) Nailhead V8, with a most impressive 330ft-lb publicity still. torque at 3000rpm (the company’s first pushrod V8 engine) which features a brand new Edelbrock four-barrel carburettor which has replaced the original Carter/Rochester set-up. The transmission is the optional column shift two-speed Dynaflow automatic. No doubt, using the Special’s lighter bodywork and the Roadmaster’s more powerful V8 it’s easy to see why the Century was also referred to as Flint’s ‘factory hot rod’. These cars could easily achieve in excess of 100mph and were pretty quick off the mark too, with a 0-60mph time of under 10 seconds, yet still returning around 20mpg, if driven with a careful right foot. Front wing portholes varied from three in 1954, four in 1955, 1956 and 1957, but deleted for 1958. Buick had a great year in 1955, selling 738,814 cars – the most for one year in their entire history – only eclipsed in 1973 with 821,165. 235bhp 322cu in Nailhead V8. Four ‘Ventiports’. Dagmar overriders. Jerramy and Anna have attended a number of shows Original condition boot. during 2021, following a full service completed by Mike at Tornado Autos of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (www. 40 classic-american.com tornadoautos.com). However, it was noticed that the Dynaflow automatic transmission was slipping very slightly, so this was rebuilt by Tornado Autos. “This took a little while, as we had to wait for replacement parts to arrive from the US,” explains Jerramy. “The Dynaflow is now working beautifully with seamless shifting, and the car shows a good turn of speed with a comfortable 50-60mph cruising, though it’s slightly more agricultural in comparison to my other Jaguars. Assuming the Dynaflow transmission was original, after 66 years of stalwart service it was entitled to receive some TLC, as had the engine, some years before. “We enjoyed attending the Rally of the Giants at Blenheim Palace in 2021. Of course, we are very new to the American car show scene but are really loving it. During the winter of 2021, I’m having the entire car Waxoyled to help keep corrosion at bay. This will entail removing the door cards and getting the Waxoyl into as many crevice, nooks and crannies as possible. I had one of my Jaguars done this way a few years ago by Rustbusters in Lincolnshire (www.rust.co.uk), which took two days. At the moment I’m unsure whether or not to leave the boot area as is, or to fit new carpets and brighten it up…” For your first Yank, the Buick Century Riviera is certainly way up from an entry level ‘cooking’ classic, and sure cuts an impressive dash. Jerramy and Anna intend to drive it just as often as possible in the coming years, in order to gain maximum pleasure from ownership. Looks like their Jaguars may be spending more time in the garage?! ★
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1966 Chevrolet El Camino pick-up Words: Mike Renaut From the front it looks “I got it with Rallye wheels and I thought Photography: Simon Cooke like a Chevelle... it might look nicer with some 18- and 20- inch Rockets from North Hants Tyres (01252 When Martin Bishop fancied getting around 2000 and brought to the UK in 2003,” 318666/www.northhantstyres.com). I also a Chevelle, he ended up instead continues Martin. “Supposedly, the engine bought a tonneau cover, but didn’t fit it with a pick-up, but it was far from a was used in a ‘Budget 396’ feature in Chevy when I realised I’d have to drill into the body compromise: “I bought this in June 2014 as Performance Magazine and bored out to − until Bonfire Night, when someone threw a a bone stock El Camino with factory-fitted 406cu in with 425bhp. It was originally blue lit cigarette into the bed, then I fitted 396cu in V8, four-speed manual transmission with cream interior and built at the Fremont, the tonneau. and 12-bolt Positraction rear,” explains California, plant then spent some time in Martin.” I’d been looking for a 1969 but Spain. If anyone does recognise it, I’d be couldn’t find one in the UK, then as I was interested to hear... leaving for the Nostalgia Nationals a friend asked if I’d seen the ’66 for sale in Classic American. I stopped off to pick up a copy of the magazine then left a message for the seller. He phoned back on the Monday and it turned out he was in Norfolk, over 250 miles from me. He had someone else interested, but when I said I’d drive up right now he realised I was serious. The El Camino was nicer than I’d expected; the bed was unmarked and the body had great paint. As soon as I saw it on his driveway, I knew I was buying it, although, in many ways it was more truck than I wanted.” The El Camino didn’t come with much history. “I believe it was restored in America 44 classic-american.com
Original 396 motor was starting to have issues, so was replaced. Martin Bishop bought this “The rear main seal on the engine started “I was impressed with CPP’s kit, the whole 1966 Chevrolet El Camino leaking, throwing oil on the flywheel and thing bolts on to the original mounts and uses completely factory stock, exhausts and creating smoke, which was a Corvette-style calipers and pads with 13-inch but it’s since evolved and bit embarrassing, so I pulled the engine and discs on the front and 12s on the rear. I had improved into a 9.0-litre fitted new seals and gaskets over Christmas. to buy a handbrake cable because the one in Pro Touring custom… I also bought some alloy heads and a F.A.S.T. the kit was too short, but the only cutting EFi fuel injection to replace the carburettor. was removing the end of the steering column … but out back is a Then I decided while it was apart, I might as to fit a new rack and pinion, which was a pick-up bed. well make some improvements. I ended up vast improvement. buying Classic Performance Products’ (www. classicperform.com) Stage 4 Pro Touring “After 50 years of wear, the old steering package including adjustable coilovers, box wasn’t even as good as it had been tubular arms, radius rods and full brake in 1966. upgrade. It had factory disc brakes – they were about the size of the ones fitted to a “The front suspension was lowered Mk2 Escort, but no servo, so while it stopped via Gearheads Performance (www. it was hard work. gearheadsperformance.com ) dropped spindles, since fitting shorter springs messes up the suspension geometry.” classic-american.com 45
Complete rebuild Under the hood is a 650bhp Martin Bishop. 540cu in Dart iron block V8. “The rear axle went to Zane Llewellyn at ZaNNetec Motorsports (www.zannetec. details and explained there was absolutely no com) for a refurb and I rebuilt the four- hurry since the truck was still in pieces. Soon speed Muncie gearbox myself with a kit after, the carpet arrived. They’d airmailed it at from 5speeds.com (www.5speeds.com). a cost of $375, which completely ruined any Then I wire-wheeled and painted the engine savings on that low price deal,” laughs Martin. block, fitting a new flywheel and clutch. The engine bay was still matt black, so my friend Bigger block Alan Sweet repainted it when we fitted the Unisteer (www.unisteer.com) rack and The El Camino was back on the road in 2019. pinion steering. Alan noticed some welds in “But I’d broken my golden rule about always the firewall and asked if he should smooth rebuilding everything while it’s apart. The them over. We couldn’t work out if they were engine was now making a tapping noise, not factory-applied until he stripped the paint badly but enough to concern me. I spoke to and realised they were holes from a BB gun Trevor Hurst of ASD Engines explaining that – obviously someone had shot at the firewall although the 396 was refurbished, I’d noticed in the past. I also got an American Auto Wire a little corrosion and I’d had to Helicoil a (www.americanautowire.com) OEM loom couple of threads. Trevor suggested it might which my business partner and electrical guru, be better to start with a new engine rather Mike Coward, helped me fit. than rebuild the old technology. He built me a 540cu in Dart iron block V8. It’s 650bhp on “I was lucky the body was straight and the dyno and complete overkill for this car, completely rust-free, and the paint still looked but I thought ‘why not?’ great despite being 20 years old, with just a couple of stone chips. “Next up was the interior, and since my partner Sandra Molton runs Bitchin’ Stitching, she offered to reupholster the lot in red leather. The original bench seat was badly sagging so I fitted a pair of Alfa Romeo 146 seats with the headrests removed, which not only fitted perfectly but meant I could add a Chevelle centre console. Sandra also recovered the vinyl tonneau in mohair.” National Parts Department (www.npdlink. com) in Ocala, Florida supplied various repro parts including new chrome trim, dashboard clocks and that centre console. “While on holiday in Florida, I visited NPD for a new screen washer pump, but their one looked nothing like mine. After doing some research, I discovered the one I had on the truck was wrong, so I then had to drive back across Florida to NPD again. I’d previously phoned them from the UK for a carpet set and they were doing a special deal for just $160. It was on back order so I gave them my credit card The 18- and 20-inch Rocket wheels came from... ... North Hants Tyres. 46 classic-american.com
A car and a truck Camino for 1961. It returned in 1964 on the Chevelle/Malibu platform and Car-based pick-ups were nothing new; gained many of the same performance the Model T pick-up was a car with a options as the cars. Martin’s is one of truck bed on the back and Australia had 35,119 sold in 1966 and would have cost a wide range of ‘ute’ models, but making around $2500. trucks luxurious was an innovation. Chevrolet launched their El Camino The El Camino wasn’t officially badged (Spanish for ‘The Road’ or ‘The Journey’) as an SS396 until 1968, but it effectively in 1959 in response to Ford’s Ranchero; was one. The models followed the both were pick-ups based on full-size, muscle car trends with large engine and two-door station wagon models. While performance options until 1988 when the Ford downsized the Ranchero on to the model was discontinued. 1960 Falcon, Chevrolet dropped the El “I swapped over the EFi from the 396 then Aftermarket steering wheel did a short drive, since the injection system is a mild custom touch. has to ‘learn’ the new engine. When I got Hurst shifter. back, number three plug lead was on fire. After dousing the flames, I realised the new heads had exhaust ports that were 0.3-inch higher up, putting the pipes closer to the spark plugs. I also realised I couldn’t get a plug spanner into the gap either. So the next step was some new headers, and I bought some fireproof plug socks. To be honest, what with Covid and other demands on my time, I haven’t got around to making the new headers or commissioning someone to do them for me; there’s not much space around the steering column. It’s definitely a priority though. Seeing the Chevy in Classic American should inspire me to get on with it… “I really like this pick-up,” admits Martin. “I did my first ever quarter mile run in it (a 13.6 – not bad) and many other miles when it was mechanically stock. It’s a lovely old car although it’s useless – I’ll never use it as a truck (other than once collecting some fencing) and it only has one passenger seat, but Sandra would hate me if I ever sold it. If it had been a genuine Chevelle SS I’d have left it alone, but the modifications have improved the El Camino in every respect. It used to have about five inches of play on the steering, now it looks, handles, stops and definitely goes far better than it ever did. I have no regrets about anything I’ve changed. Nothing is irreversible either. It could be returned to stock – but not by me…” classic-american.com 47
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