Rhinebeck Nationals 2012
By Sparky Ferris

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Rhinebeck Nationals – Rod, Custom and Muscle Car Show, an event held at the beautiful Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. The Hudson Valley Street Rods will continue to be the host car club as in the past 20 years for this type of event. We will be holding a two day show on July 27 and 28 of 2012 that will end at 9PM on Saturday night following the awards ceremony of 100 trophies and entertainment at the grandstands stage.

The show area will be filled with vehicles 1977 and older for the spectators to enjoy. Along with the show cars there will be a car corral with vehicles for sale of any year and a swap meet that will host inside and outside vendors with all kinds of goodies. Artisan’s Alley will have custom made crafts created by a variety of talented people for purchase and enjoyment by all in attendance.

The response from the public as well as the car community has been very positive on the plans for this event. Registrations for the event are already coming in for the show cars and swap meet and the date has only been set and announced for four weeks. This will be a premier show for the venue and we have people attending from a variety of states to enjoy all that will be offered. We hope that you will be one of those in attendance to celebrate and enjoy the event. If you need more information, please contact me at: rhinebecknationals@gmail.com.

Thank you
Sparky Ferris

More Show Information:

Hundreds of Rods, Custom & Muscle Cars
thru 1977
Car Corral – All years allowed
Swap Meet – Automotive Related Items
“Artisan’s Alley” ‐ Crafts and other things
Children’s Activities and fun for all
Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 9pm
Registration and Information available at
www.hudsonvalleystreetrods.com or www.dutchessfair.com

Participants
$40.00 Pre Registration / $45.00 Day of Event
(includes 2 Adult Admissions and their children to age 16)
Spectators
“The Affordable Alternative”
Friday 8am – 6pm and Saturday 8am – 9pm
Adults $12.00 per person ‐ $2.00 Senior or Military Discount
Children 12‐16 $5.00 per ticket, under 12 are free
Advanced purchase discount tickets available online at www.dutchessfair.com
Contact: Sparky at rhinebecknationals@gmail.com

Packard and Studebaker
By Greg Zyla

Q: Hello Greg. I am a lover of the Packard and would like if you could tell me when the last official Packard was built? My late husband always drove Packards in the Fifties, and even had one when it looked like the Studebaker. Thanks, Jean, Spokane, Washington.

1956 Packard advertisement featuring the last of the true "Packard built" Packards. In 1957, the Studebaker-Packard merger started to go sour, and Packard was nothing more than a Studebaker with Packard badges. (Ad compliments former Studebaker-Packard company).

A: Jean, Packard was another of my favorite makes as my grandfather, who drove a Buick, told me his second choice would have been a Packard. The decade of the 1950s found Packard losing market share to the big three, as did the other independents during that period. Several independents merged, most notable Nash-Hudson to form American Motors in 1954 and Studebaker-Packard also in 1954. And, although it was Packard that purchased Studebaker, the end result was the Packard nameplate folding up and Studebaker brand surviving.

By 1958, the merge of Packard and Studebaker came to judgment day as the Studebaker design and reputation took over the now extinct “true Packard” line. Packard felt that the larger Studebaker dealership network along with a Packard badge on a Studebaker for 1957 would sell.

They were wrong.

Thus, the Packard for 1957 came available in just two models, a 4-door sedan and a Country Sedan Wagon. The consumer knew immediately it was a Studebaker, and sales dropped to 4,857 units sold. In 1958, even less Packards were sold, and the Packard-Studebaker board announced it would end all Packard production midway that year.

Notable, too, was a Pan Am lawsuit versus Packard in 1955, which charged that Packard’s use of the names Clipper, Caribbean, Constellation, Pan American, Panama and Pacific, all of which Pan Am used in its marketing programs and all models produced by Packard, was copyright infringement. The lawsuit, filed by Pan Am, dragged on for three years until Packard dropped the names, with Studebaker’s help. Pan Am agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, although millions were already spent in defense. Packard also found out too late that the strength of the Studebaker balance sheet, which was “puffed up” when the purchase took place, crippled the new company beyond a short-term fix.

As for me, the last official “true blue” Packard came in 1956, when the floundering company released some beautiful models still under its assembly platform. Packard’s design for 1956 included a facelift from the 1955 new generation, which replaced the famous “bathtub” Packards we came to love beginning in post war 1948. Today, a 1956 Caribbean Convertible tri-tone is worth big money on the collector auction stage, complete with Packard’s first ever overhead valve V8 which also debuted in 1955.

This reality is a very sad ending to the Packard brand, which shared much glory with the best luxury vehicles of the previous decades. Studebaker would go one to find solace in the “all-new” Lark, which it debuted in 1959 as a new body on a same old chassis. But by then, the Packard we knew was gone forever.

Canfield Swap Meet Kicks Off This Weekend!

Dave & Ed’s Super Auto Events kicks off the Canfield Auto Swap Meet schedule this weekend! The event will be held at the Canfield Mahoning County Fairgrounds in Canfield, OH. Thousands of vendors will show up selling everything from auto parts to collector cars to roast beef sandwiches.

Over 30,000 spectators are expected to turn out for this one-of-a-kind swap meet. Come on out this weekend and enjoy the friendly STAFF of Dave & Ed’s Super Auto Events and find that missing auto part you need to finish you winter project that’s still in the garage.

Additional information is listed below:

VENDOR INFO:
MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Money Orders
Ohio Transient Vendor License
No Refunds on cancellations
Indoor 9′x9′ approx / Outdoor 15′x30′ approx
One vehicle pass, includes 2 person *Wristbands Required
No Food Concession Vendors *Rights Reserved
No Selling Food/Drinks
Raffles Not Permitted

Car Corral:
Opens 8am Fri/Sat/Sun *Cash only
$25 wknd-incl/driver per vehicle, trailers, bikes, boats etc
$7ea addtl passengers
$10 tow vehicle hook-ups
*For-Sale Signs prohibited in General Parking lot
*Selling of parts prohibited

Car Show: (Sunday 10a-3p)
Car + driver Free! Passengers $7ea
Dash plaques, Goody bags – Limited qty
Casual judging, trophies awarded at 3pm
Trophies sponsored by:
Firm Fitness & Spray Tan – 330-702-1400

For more information, visit www.autoevents.com now.

Dragging The Club Plaque: A Lost Art
By Scott Strenzel, aka Scooter from Scooter’s Garage

The main man at Auto Round-Up, Mr. Ron Smith and I were talking a while ago. He was telling me that their readership has grown leaps and bounds. And would I re-do a few of the things I threw out years ago. Reason being to let you newer subscribers and over the counter readers get informed and hopefully enjoy old Scooter’s writings…

Up first is the lost art of dragging a car club plaque. I might mention here that I know that there are a large number of people with old cars that are not in an organized club. But if you happen to own the accepted style of an old car you too can drag a plaque. And, if you are into this crazy old car hobby as deep as old Scooter, it’s nice to be able to tell the informed or non-car spectators why this is a lost art. If you are in an organized club, maybe you can bring up the idea of your club having custom plaques made. Or, if you are not a club person? Just grab your copy of this publication and order up or Google the following advertisers: Ron & Joyce over at Wirth’s Custom Automotive, or C.J. & Elaine at Brockman Mellow Tone. They both have dragging plaques.

Now, for the straight skippies on that getting lost practice. Buy the one you want, or gosh darn it. Make one yourself. They are usually about regular license plate size. First up. There are about 3 or 4 ways of holding your plaque in the center of your rear bumper. Some supplier’s list special $7.00 drag plate mounts. They simply screw clamp on the edge of your bumper and if you place a piece of something like plastic, wood or whatever you can figure out on the outer edge it will not mar or scratch your show chrome. Then, use heavier than you would expect marine stainless steel chains to your plaque. Or you can drill two holes and use SS eye bolts to hook the chain to. Do you have a Rat Rod or Old Skool custom? Just use a torch and braze the chain etc., on or use small C clamps that have patina on them for more Kool. The way it was done was, that most times only cars that were in a car club had plaques. And it seems that they were mostly lowered custom sleds. But no matter, you would want to have your chains long enough to have the plaque actually drag the pavement when you slowed down below maybe 15 mph! The reason is to be “slow n’ low” as you cruised into the local malt shop. The clang. Clink, scrape etc., noises, announced. “Here comes a Kool car and guy with his gal from the Cam Busters Car Club! Get the idea? When you are driving at speeds above 15 mph the plaque and heavy chains will let it fly up some and stay off the concrete until you are ready slow down again to announce your arrival. Plus, it is almost mandatory for that kool of a guy to not have flowmasters, but cherry bombs, steel or glass packs to rack just little before you shut her down. Then you are ready to have the car hop take the order for a couple of chilly barbs, and fries with root beers, for the two of you in your sled. I have to ask if any one knows who and where the “chili barb” got to be famous?

Next up. If you were able to cruise “slow n’ low” enough to scrape the bottom of your club drag plaque to where the club name can’t be read, you got a free second plaque!

Next up, and Bo Hopkins even knows why, and told me so in a telephone interview years ago. If you don’t know who he is and who he played in a movie? To be frank. You ought not to be in the hobby. Go collect anything not car related. Or possibly if you are real young? Maybe you had best ‘try’ to absorb some of the important things that formed 50’s and 60’s nostaligia era. Ok. Moving on to another accepted way to display a plaque. Now take note here. I did not say drag a plaque.

If your club was “bad” or your club cruised in an area that had punks, juvenile delinquents or gangs? There was a different known way to display the fact that you were in a club.

In-fact as I have hinted at there was a mega movie that had an old lead sled Merc in it. A guy named Richard got to ride in the back seat, with an above mentioned actor, and behind his shoulder was a plaque mounted on a wooden bracket, bolted down to the flat rear shelf that had the clubs name on it. The reason for this was that this club was two things:
1. In a bad area.
2. Had bad people that might steal it or deface it if it was dragging from the rear bumper.

So, if you would not want to drag one? Then just mount it up there. But dog gonnit! No matter which way you do it? KNOW and tell the story to everyone that will listen. It’s the way our old car hobby was and still must be or it will disappear forever!

The garage is closed, Harv is hungry.

Vintage Torque Fest 2012
Over 400 cars are already pre-registered!

Last year we had 335 old cars pre-register and we had a total of 545 cars. (Plus another 100 that were in the VIP section) If this kind of growth continues we could have close to 700 cars plus the Coronados Classic and Chrome section.

The show has taken on a life of its own and we are trying to steer this beast in the right direction. We hope you will come to the show with your ride and be ready to have a good time. This show is all about a good time and raising money for the foundation.

Please understand that the gate proceeds are going directly to the non profit foundation. If you wish to help out the Wells family directly – please purchase an event shirt or help at the art auction which benefits the Hannah Wells medical trust.

We will see you there rain or shine. We are updating facebook at least once a day. Here are the links:
John Wells – http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=525390559

Vintage Torque Fest – http://www.facebook.com/VintageTorqueFest

There will be a pre-party on Thursday night in Maquoketa. The Coronados are hosting this. This is open to ALL cars.
Remember that the Cave Cruise is open to ALL cars on Friday as well. Details are on the site.

Only $10 for a Weekend pass! There is no extra charge to show your car. There are no hidden fees. Come out on Friday to see all the racing we have in store for Friday night – then take YOUR car on the dirt on Saturday.

Visit www.vintagetorquefest.com for more details.

May 4/5, 2012 Maquoketa IA
16 bands, Art Show, Swap Meet, & Lots of Vintage Hot Rods, Customs, and Cycles
www.ironinvasion.com

October 6, 2012 Woodstock IL
Traditional hot rod/custom/cycles – details on the site.

1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer
By Greg Zyla

Reader Stan Mills purchased this 1957 black and blue Dodge Coronet Lancer 2-dr. hardtop in 1957 from Meredith Motors in Towanda, Pa. He sold it after driving it for over two years (Owner's Photos).

Q: Greg, I was reading the Norwich Bulletin and your article about the 1960 Ford Starliner. I was born in Towanda, Pa. and I see you live in Sayre, Pa. After I got out of the Army , I needed a car and bought a beautiful 1957 Dodge (pictured) finished in blue and black. I drove it for two and a half years and sold it to a man in Sayre in 1960. I never saw it again.

I then moved to Connecticut, and recently and starting looking at the classic car magazines like Auto Round-Up for a 1957 Coronet to buy. I retired from AT&T in 1991 and in 2003, I found a ’57 Coronet (also pictured) in Auburn, Colorado. I flew out, bought it and then had it shipped to my home. I still have it to this day.

I enjoy driving it and going to car shows and wonder if you’ve seen a car like it around Sayre, Pa. or your area in Pennsylvania. Thanks, Stan Mills, Danleson, CT.

A: Stan, thanks much but I haven’t seen that blue and black 1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer at any of the shows thus far. As for the 1957 Coronet, it was one of Dodge’s most popular all-new cars of the era, featuring a 325 V8 engine producing 245 horses, 3-speed push button Torqueflite transmission, lots of chrome and beautiful interior.

Mills re-purchased a beautiful red and white and identical mechanically 1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer in 2003 in Colorado. (Owner Photos).

The 1957 Dodges were an all-new design featuring a longer, wider, lower stance and excellent fin style. The ’57 front end featured one large headlamp and one small “parking” lamp encased by the front fender brows. In 1958, Dodge switched over to a “Twin Beam” headlamps arrangement.

I really loved the two tone models as my favorites were blue and black, black and gold, white and red and white and gold. I see you found a beauty in Colorado, which proves if you keep looking you’ll find what you are after.

As for the names Lancer and Coronet, Lancer would switch over as the badge for the corporation’s new compact car in 1961 (sibling to Plymouth’s Valiant) while Coronet would disappear for a few years and then reappear as a new Dodge mid-size in 1965, with a “muscle car” image and up to a 426 V8 Hemi available.

Good luck with your beautiful 1957 Dodge as you own a true classic car.

1957 Was Best Year For Car Designers
By Greg Zyla

Q: Greg, if you had to choose one year from the decade of the 1950s as the best overall for cars, what year would it be? Gail M., email from Endicott, NY.

A: Gail, if we’re talking about overall design, I’d select 1957 as the very best, as all of the big three and the independents had some great looking cars.

A Studebaker advertisement (Courtesy former Studebaker Corporation).

Off the top of my head, the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawks were gorgeous, although the design appeared in 1956. But in 1957, Studebaker made some impressive hood design changes to adapt to a new Supercharger version, which produced 275 horses from the powerful V8. Today, this car is still one of the very best from 1957, and was commemorated by the USPS with a special stamp in 2008.

Other independents that had great cars were Rambler, as its 1957 Rebel was the first “unofficial” muscle car sleeper thanks to a powerful 327 V8 under the hood. This engine motivated the car to unheard of performance for a “family sedan.”

GM had some great looking cars, especially the 1957 Chevy Bel Air, available with fuel injection, and the 1957 Pontiac Bonneville with a Tri-Power 347 inch V8 with 317 horses. Joining the GM group were the always good looking Buicks, Cadillacs, Corvettes, and Oldsmobiles.

Over Chrysler way, the 1957 Chrysler 300 and Desoto Firedome with Hemi motivation are still highly regarded collector favorites, as are the Imperial and Dodge Royal Lancer. Plymouth also cashed in, especially with its beautiful 1957 Fury, which was “christened” as “Christine” in the hit movie of the 1980s. The movie was directed by “Halloween” director and horror master John Carpenter and written by the highly accomplished horror/
suspense author Steven King.

The 1957 Fords featured its last two-seater Thunderbird, and the powerful 1957 Ford Custom and T-Bird Supercharged versions for NASCAR. I always felt the Ford Fairlane was one of the best looking cars for 1957, with smaller fins and well done front end treatment. The 1957 Mercurys, however, weren‘t as nice as the Fords, although the 1957 Continental Mark II and the regular full-size Lincolns made up for Mercury’s “profoundly chromed” and heavy looking front end.

Thus, I’d have to go with 1957 as the year of the best designs of the decade. Also noteworthy were the station wagons, as they were also good looking and very popular with families.

Thanks for your question.

SEMA Show 2011 Coverage
By Mark C. Bach

1956 CADILLAC - Won nationwide contest sponsored by winningride.com and sported a monster blower. (All photos by Mark C. Bach).

Great weather, new car products and spectacular vehicles dominated the annual SEMA Show recently held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in November 2011 and gave over 2,100 exhibitors the chance to spread out over a million square feet of indoor convention space to show off their latest and most popular products.

The first official SEMA show actually was held in 1967 at Dodger Stadium under the organization of famed publisher Robert Petersen. It eventually moved to Las Vegas in 1977 and is a staple of what is labeled the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW). The Las Vegas Convention Center is presently booked through 2015 for the SEMA show.

More than 60,000 buyers were present this year and there was a lot of buzz in the air. Auto/Truck Round Up Monthly was distributed to attendees to the SEMA show and is an official media partner.

One of the best parts of this trade show is that many vendors bring out cars to help show off their products or lure the crowds into their booths.

1959 FORD WAGON - PPG displayed this wild ride with intricate lace panels.

Moreover, various sections within SEMA, like the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), offer their own opportunities to network, honor achievements in their business categories and see some additional great hot rods. SEMA keeps expanding the show to include more space for their New Products Showcase and increased the number of awards they issue to industry leaders and trend-setters.

SEMA picked four current models for recognition with the Chevy Camaro winning for Hottest Car while the Ford F series won for Hottest Truck. Also winning awards were the Jeep Wrangler as the Hottest SUV/4×4 while the Fiat 500 won for Hottest Sports Compact.

Not only do cars dominate the vendors’ booths, but a large portion of the exterior parking lot and sidewalks (another nearly million square feet) are taken over for some eye-popping cars. This year for the first time, SEMA highlighted the cars leaving the exhibit area on the closing day by having a “cruise” out of the Las Vegas Convention Center and then having a quick car show in a nearby lot that was open to the public. Since this is a trade show, only “qualified” attendees can actually go in to the show, so this Friday night car show was the public’s chance to see the cars that they were seeing all week on the local television newscasts.

Many celebrities from the automotive industry were present; either roaming the aisles or at specific sponsor’s booths. It helps that the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) just concluded a competition at the local strip that previous weekend. Therefore, many drivers hang around for their sponsors, like John Force and his drivers signing autographs at the Castrol Oil booth. Of course, NASCAR had a show of force out with drivers and crew chiefs visible at the show.

Looks like the Auto/Truck Round-Up’s went like hot cakes compared to the other publications!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. actually rode shotgun when GM rolled out their ‘70 Chevelle to the media at a private party on Monday night before the official start of SEMA.

Beyond the SEMA show, there is also the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) show held at the nearby Sands Convention Center. Ironically, many vendors are at both shows, but the AAPEX show historically caters to the garage trade and the off shore manufacturers displaying their products and skills. Unfortunately, there are usually substantially less show cars being exhibited there as well.

As mentioned, SEMA is a business-to-business trade show, so the general public cannot attend the exhibits. The best they can hope for is to read coverage in their favorite magazines. Next year’s show is scheduled for Oct. 20 – Nov. 2, 2012 and more pictures of the cars and the show can be found at www.semadigital.com.

See ya’ on the road.

Greg Zyla’s Readers Respond
By Greg Zyla

More advanced transmissions necessary

Q: Greg, the Ford Model T had an accessory you could buy called a Ruxell 2-speed (rear axle). In the late 1930s early 1940s, they had an aftermarket Columbia 2-speed axle. With the price of gas so high, why don’t manufacturers offer things like this today? I have a 2006 pickup 2500 truck for hauling my camper and boat, and I need the 410 gears. When I am not hauling it would be nice to have some higher gears.
With the new transmissions today maybe you can’t do that, what are your thoughts? Thanks, Wes Jewell, Spokane, Washington.

A: Wes, after talking with several car manufacturers, your hopes will all come true as transmissions with up to 10-speeds are in the working, even for the heavy duty pickups like yours. Most companies already offer six speeds, and a few have 8-speed automatics. It’s just a matter of time.

Remembering Richie Evans

Richie Evans at speed at Stafford Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT., in 1984. Evans, who ran in NASCAR’s Modified division regularly, was named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2012, the first non-Cup driver to be named. (Photo compliments of Stafford Speedway and the Richie Evans Collection).

Q: Greg, I enjoy articles in the newspaper here in Owego, N.Y. How about an article about Richie Evans and his induction into NASCAR Hall of Fame? Richie pitted next to us many times, and is still missed by many. Ron Messemer, from near Owego, New York.

A: Thanks Ron. Richie Evans is still the most beloved NASCAR Modified driver of all time. He lost his life in a racing accident at Martinsville Speedway back in October of 1985, stunning the racing fraternity. Evans, from Rome, NY, won nine NASCAR National Modified Championships including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985, and was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011. As a member of the Class of 2012, Richie is the first Hall of Famer from outside NASCAR’s premier series of Sprint Cup, formerly known as Grand National, Winston Cup and Nextel Cup.

Model lover

Q: Greg, you bet I remember building models! After a few years of building car models I got a 1960 Bonneville convertible. It was so long and sleek. It remained my favorite for a few years over many other cars, ships, boats and planes. My brother and I assembled Ala Cart, a pair of ’32 Vickies, ’56 Ford Pickups, ’39 Ford and customized a few too. Ships and planes took over for a while. The companies were still making many WWII planes and ships. PT 109 was a favorite.

A: My son did a somewhat short stint in model building in the ’80s and I did one or two with him. His favorite was a high end P-51 Mustang. Thanks for your article and for the trip down memory lane. Car model building was a great experience. Don Davis, Sagle, Idaho.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto writer who welcomes reader comments on collector cars, auto nostalgia and old-time motorsports at extramile_2000@yahoo.com or at 116 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848.