Is This Spot Taken? KTHXBYE.

Car shows are always great time, but the Broke Down 2011 car show flipped my world inside out, wrapped it in hickory smoked bacon, and then dipped it into an enthusiasm bisque. It was 1000+ cars, thousands of great people, fantastic music, and delicious food.  Oh yea, there were some cars there too.  Tons of people took far better pictures than I will ever be capable of and posted them on the Broke.Down facebook page.  If you have a few dozen hours to use up, I recommend flipping through some of the albums that are on there (at your own risk of course!)

Now, you may be saying to yourself “Jeremy, did the wacky chameleon painted Karmann Ghia make it to the show?”  Well, no. However,  it wasn’t due to lack of effort, that’s for sure. Let’s just say that the ol’ KG automatic stickshift input shaft seal wasn’t quite ready for 1600cc’s of spiciness.  That’s a story for another day though.  Who knows, I may even have some pictures!

Imagine For A Moment That You Have A 1969 Camaro With 6 Cylinders…

One of the reasons that I love old cars so stinkin’ much is because of the colorful history behind them. Each car has a story to tell, and each year that passes makes the tale that much more interesting. For me, it’s often the cars that started life as lowly base models that end up being the most interesting, because they are often the ones that people cared least about. Who the heck wants a slow muscle car, am I right? :: raises hand ::

The handsome car in this photo is exactly what I need more of in my life.  It has somehow survived the last 40+ years with merely SIX cylinders under the hood, and THREE speeds on the floor. How?  I really have no idea.  It’s like seeing a honey badger riding a unicorn, it just doesn’t happen. If this were my car, I would not change a single thing about it.  I love it for everything it is, and everything that it isn’t.  My question to you is, if somebody were to hand you the keys to this car, what would you do with it?  Could you keep the straight 6 in it, or would you take the road more often traveled?

Update: The 1956 Chevy Truck With the 22.5 Inch Wheels

Recently we posted a picture of an awesome 1956 Chevy truck with some massive wheels tucked under the fenders.  Today I have an interesting update on it.  A nice guy named Tim sent me an email with some pictures of what the truck used to look like when he owned it back in the late 1990’s.  As it turns out, this thing used to be a Massachusetts fire truck!

The story goes that Tim bought the fire truck around 1997 (Lucky guy! Who doesn’t want to own a fire truck!?).  He then removed the fire truck parts, and turned it into a flat bed with some storage boxes on the side.  He had it for a couple of years, and then sold it.  The truck then seemed to lay low for several years. During that time, it apparently got a chopped top, shortened wheelbase, lowered stance, “normal” truck bed, and some seriously subtle custom touches here and there.  Here is the evolution in front of your very eyes.

 

Special Thanks to Tim W. for sharing the pictures and the history with us!

22.5 Inch Wheels on a Mid 50’s Chevy Truck

I’m not sure that this picture does justice for the ungodly size of the wheels and tires on this truck.  In person, this truck is massive, and disturbingly awesome.  The tire size was claiming 22.5 inch, and I’d agree.  The rear differential must have weighed about 800 pounds, and the brake drums looked big enough to stop a large locomotive.  I’m not sure who’s idea this was, but they deserve a high 5 and a free sandwich or something for pulling it off.  Just gawk at the rear tire for a while and let me know what you think.