Category: 1A Auto Blog Home

Today’s Crazy Idea: Turn 1960′s Metal Into 1930′s Metal.

Jeremy Nutt 6 Comments

If you have been following the 1A Auto Nutt’s and Bolts blog, you have no doubt seen the pictures of the 60 Pontiac Ventura rot box that is waiting patiently awaiting some love in my garage.  If you are sick of hearing about it, I’m sorry, but it is weighing on my brain, and I need to get my thoughts straightened out.  So yea, I have spent a lot of time recently trying to figure out what the heck I’m going to do with it.  It definitely doesn’t make sense financially to restore it back to original, because you can easily find clean drivable examples for sale for less money than it would be to restore this (and that doesn’t include my 1000+ hours of my “free” labor.)  That fact has definitely been established.

So my latest wild and crazy idea is to turn it into a 1930’s style hot rod. (Disclosure: Yes, I was somewhat inspired from Gary Campesi’s paintings from the other day.)  Anyway, I would do this by cutting it up and shrinking the body into a 2 seater, almost like a T-bucket but with all the sexy 1960’s body lines.  Then I would drop it on a home made chassis and suspension. I’d probably power it with something more modern like a 4G64, L92, 2JZ, or maybe a KA24DET. No matter which I choose, it would be backed by a manual transmission, because that’s how I roll.  Wrap some giant brakes and big wheels around the whole thing, and I feel like it could be pretty slick.  Other than the injected engine, I would keep everything super simple, no crazy options.  Just simplistic beauty.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything similar on the internet (imagine that?), but these four pictures are the closest to the idea itself.  Obviously none are 1960 Pontiac’s, but…. well…. you get the idea…

So what do you think? Stupid? Awesome? or just plain “no”?

Picture Credit:

Willys: http://randyellisdesign.com/photo-gallery/custom-fabrication/willys-hot-rod/

Gary’s amazing art : http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/GaryC/vehicles

Hot Rod Art by Gary Campesi

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments

While cruising the wild wide world web of internet, I landed on an fantastic web page.  It seems to be the home of Gary Campesi’s hotrod renderings.  His work isn’t just a rendering though, they actually seems to capture a moment, just like a really great photographer does.  The word “amazing” isn’t strong enough to describe this kind of talent.  My eyes nearly popped out of my head when  I first spotted this.  Apparently he sells prints of his work, though I can’t seem to find prices or how to purchase them?  I personally think a hardcover book would be ideal so that enthusiasts like myself can enjoy the whole collection.  It would be a tragedy to have one by itself!  Enough of my 2 cents though…..  Be sure to check his website for all of the rest of his work, you won’t be disappointed.   You may want to grab a coffee though because there are hundreds of absolutely brilliant pieces of art to see.

See more of Gary Campesi’s amazing work at:

http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/GaryC/vehicles

Saab Sonett: The V-4 That You’ve Always Wanted.

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments

Today I was going to do a most vs least expensive car on eBay post, but then I saw this green gem hiding amidst some scrap metal on eBay. Let me start off by saying, I’ve owned a Saab before, but I never drank the kool-aid.  They do have many cool features, decent horsepower, well thought out designs, and comfy interiors.  They also built the Sonett.

The Sonett was a special little rascal that somehow made it into production between 66-74.  It was intended to compete with the Triumph’s, MG’s, and Austin-Healey’s, but it never really “took off” (ha!…Saab).  Now the V-4, let’s talk about it.  The Sonett was in fact powered by a Ford Taunus V-4 engine (Not Taurus……. TauNus, with an N). It made around 60 horsepower, had timing gears  instead of a belt or chain (pretty cool?), and sent power through the transmission to the front wheels.  Wait…front?..what? Yes, FRONT wheels. This car is not only filled with oddball V4 technology, but it is front wheel drive.  It’s almost like all the airplane engineers at Saab got together in the 1960’s and said “Let’s take everything we know about sports cars and throw it out the window! Then let’s build a sports car! Here Here!! ”   Ok, ok, the Saab crew did get the fiberglass body aspect nailed down and the car didn’t seem to have any weight attached that wasn’t 100% necessary.  Bonus points for that.  When the Sonnet equation is added up at the end of the day, you had a super light, ok handling, front wheel drive, underpowered (though not in comparison to it’s peers I suppose), low production sports car.   Win ? Lose? I’ll let you decide.

Now that you know the basics of the Sonett, it’s time to consider a purchase.  The car pictured is obviously awesome because of it’s color and aggressive hood bulge.  Don’t let the whole “I can see my feet when I look inside the rear window” thing scare you away.  The body looks fairly solid and straight, and it is honestly a very rare car. Not to mention all of the parts are there where they belong.  I’m thinking that in the right hands, this could be on on the road again in short order.  You won’t be winning trophies and sipping a perfectly aged glass of Merlot at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, but you will likely make some friends at cruise nights, and save a piece of rolling history.  That’s what this whole “car thing” is really about anyway.  For $800, somebody should grab this thing and hit the streets with it.

eBay Link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-Saab-Sonnet-III-Parts-/270662633731?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f04c00903#ht_500wt_1182

Question: Universal Studios Backlot Tour Cars?

Jeremy Nutt 1 Comment

Bluecoupes

Yesterday on Jalopnik, they had a story about Hollywood’s Hidden Parking Lot.  It was really a pretty cool read, and it got me thinking back to when I was about 13 years old.  I remember taking a family trip to Florida, and going on the “Universal Studios Backlot Tour”.   (It is a very vague memory so bare with me.)  I think I was on a trolley sort of thing, and I remember driving by a big parking lot that had a bunch of old movie cars in it.  The only part of the tour that I actually remember was the row of faded & damaged blue 1939 Plymouth coupe’s that were from the Roger Rabbit movie.  With a quick search of Google, I actually found an old picture of them.  Gosh I would love to have one of them.  Even the one with the missing roof!  Like most cars from 39-41, they just have great lines.

My question to you is:  Does anybody know if these cars are still there?  Got pictures? What else is there with them?  Bonus Points if you can find them on Google Earth! (I tried and failed.)

Photo by Jeff Lange, Found on:

http://jimhillmedia.com/Columnists/b/jeff_lange/archive/2006/09/06/5591.aspx

Help This Guy Find His Stolen VW in SoCal!

Jeremy Nutt 2 Comments

The automotive community these days is tighter than ever, which means that it is tough for criminals to get away with car related crime.  Today’s mission for car enthusiasts nationwide is to find this guys VW GTI! He went out to a restaurant to have some delicious chicken wings and watch some football, and ended the night staring at an empty parking spot where he left his much loved GTI.

The owner (HipHopDub) says:

“I was at buffalo wild wings on citrus and workman in west Covina watching football with a friend of mine. We left and I realized I didn’t have my keys so I went back to the table we were sitting at and looked around. We didn’t find anything and I spoke w the managers. They said no one turned in any keys. So I had my friend drive me home to grab a spare key. When we returned, my car was gone. I was bummed w the idea of having to replace a vw switchblade key because of how expensive they are…. But I never thought that someone would actually steal my car…. I took a picture of my car in the parking lot while I was leaving, never thought it would be the last time I saw it.

It’s a 2004 reflex silver gti. Black roof. Vw roofvrack crossbars. Lowered on 17″ arrietas. No tint, no front plates. License plate is 5HRS162. If anyone sees it, please call the cops right away. I’ve had that car brand new from 6 years ago. Not just another car to me. I’m devastated right now. Police report filed. car was parked outside of restaurants outdoor camera’s line of sight. management will check inside videotapes tomorrow.

I hope they find it. i dont care of its stripped, i just want it back. 🙁 ”

Readers in SoCal & Surrounding Areas > Keep your eyes peeled on the streets for this car, and possibly on Craigslist for it’s parts.  If you see it, call the police and get the scum of the earth thrown in the slammer.

Fingers crossed for a safe return!

Original post found here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5083475-my-volkswagen-was-stolen-tonight-in-socal


Junkyards: The Resting Place of Failed Invention

Jeremy Nutt 3 Comments

Junkyards are the final resting place of failed invention.  For those of you that frequent junkyards, I certainly do not need to tell you about the types of brilliance that can be found behind their prison-like chain link fences.  See, junkyards aren’t just about crashed cars; their awesomeness is far deeper than that.  Obviously there are a plethora of cars that are so horrifically crashed that they instill the fear of driving into you that you will never forget.  Then you see rows of burned-out motorhomes.  In tough economic times, as if by magic, those rows seem to grow.  Coincidence?  Hmmmm.  Around the outskirts of most junkyards is where you typically find the really old stuff.  Everything from old cars and trucks to farm equipment and machinery.  But we aren’t talking about any of that today.  We are talking about inventions.

These inspirational inventions in junkyards are almost always unfinished projects that were likely fueled by acetylene, oxygen, a bit of argon, and most of all, alcohol.  We all know that if you take two great things, and put them together, you obviously multiple the greatness and get something twice as nice.  Right?  Well, junkyards prove this because the merging of great things just so happens to be the most common invention found. Take this “Willy’s-Jeep-Nissan-Plow-Tow-Offroad-Truck” from the 80’s for example.  It features an 86 Nissan D720 up top, and what I believe is a vastly shorter Willy’s Jeep chassis and suspension below.  It’s a win from every angle.

Now, you are probably asking: What about the projects with less than 4 wheels though?  Do those end up here too? Ofcourse they do!  The junkyards don’t discriminate when it comes to great inventions.  Here we have this “Lawnmower-Scooter-Moped-Trike” for a 3 wheeled example.  I have always thought that my lawnmower had too many wheels.  Sadly, the previous owner of this super mower trike didn’t put it into production so that we all could reap the huge benefits of the rotational weight savings.

Oddly enough while at a swap meet over the weekend I spotted an invention that is strangely similar, yet equally genius.  Naturally there were a lot of comments like “Geeze, my (husband, wife, mother, son, grandmother, etc) could really use this thing!”  So was it purchased?   You’re darn right it was!  Sadly, I don’t know the purchase price.  We can only imagine that an invention of that caliber must go for top dollar.  Will it be a failed invention found in the junkyard someday? Who knows.

For those of you that don’t find yourselves loafing through the ever glistening, questionably non-freezing mud of your local salvage yards, I would like recommend letting down your hair and taking a stroll through.  It is a bizarre world out there, and the salvage yards are hiding the physical proof of it.  After all, it is the resting place of failed invention.