M3 – A Mashbat Brothers Film

Several months ago I shared a really cool short film made by the Mashbat Brothers which featured a new Subaru WRX, and a guy that clearly knew his way around the basketball court.  I wasn’t sure exactly how to describe the video, other than it feeling like an awesome commercial for something. It had great music, terrific filming, and being a car-guy, the new WRX was obviously a win.

Fast forward to today – Bishrel Mashbat, who made that first film, just sent me the newest one that he and his brother have made. Sure enough, it is equally fantastic. I have now seen it about 4 (…okay now 5) times in a row, and it’s quite addicting to watch. The music is incredibly intense, and the featured car for this short film is a slick looking BMW M3.  If you were a fan of the first video, like cars, love music, or are simply alive, you will probably enjoy this video. Again, I am left wanting so much more.

Thanks Bishrel! Excellent work again!

Also, Like Mashbat Brothers Films on Facebook

1966 Pontiac GTO Tin Indian Part 4

This is a continuation from yesterday’s Part 3

Part 4:

“Most of my understanding of drag racing has come from limited observation, from a husband who is interested but does not claim it as one of his areas of expertise, and from conversations with Pete McCarthy, well known both in the annals of Pontiac drag racing and as an author of Pontiac performance literature, and with Greg Sharp, noted hotrodding historian and curator of the NHRA Motorsports Museum. Both national and local drag racing  have evolved from the hot rodders of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. Those guys were, however, frowned upon, even stigmatized as the bad boys of the open road. It was to provide them an alternative, not actually to initiate a national drag racing organization, that Wally Parks established the NHRA in the early ‘50’s. Additionally, Robert E. Peterson’s creation of Hot Rod magazine in 1948 was, at that time, considered a very daring move. By the ‘60’s, however, the evolutuion was well under way, and the quarter mile track was a popular spot for a weekend’s recreation and/or entertainment. For a while factory or individually backed teams that could afford to hire fast reacting drivers to race expensively optioned stock cars dominated the scene. Now, with the integration of bracket racing at he local level, anyone with a good reaction time who can put together a consistently running car has a good chance of winning. The races that Tin Indian V participated in were probably very similar, though not exactly the same as bracket races are today, since even drag racing at the national level had not evolved to the levels of sophistication and expense that it has today. Read More

1966 Pontiac GTO Tin Indian Part 3

This is a continuation from yesterday’s Part 2

Part 3

“Actually Pontiac Historic Services had not quite materialized yet. A gentleman named Fred Simmonds had unearthed old files at Pontiac Motor Division (PMD) of General Motors Corporation (GMC or GM), and shortly thereafter, those files would be turned over to Jim Mattison who would launch the business Pontiac Historic Services. At one point during the fall of 1989, Merle had occasion to talk with Fred Simmonds, and, in the course of the conversation, mentioned that he wished he could see the original build sheets for his cars, so he would know what options they were assembled with and where (to what dealership) they were first delivered. Simmonds offered to do a bit of research, so Merle sent him the vehicle identification numbers (VIN’s). Soon the information arrived in the form of photocopies of the original build sheets. Basically, a build sheet is a dated purchase order that gives instructions to the factory about how to build a car and where it is to be delivered afterward. The instructions are in code, and the translation of the numbers into words is not always immediately obvious without research. The build sheet for the green car was vibrant with blue marker. Anticipating Merle’s excitement, Fred Simmonds had parenthetically listed several of the build sheet codes and identified them: “Safe-T-Track Performance Ratio (733), 4.33 axle (74 S), 4-speed close ratio (778), HD Metallic brakes (484)”; and finally “(08-197)” the codes designating zone (section of the country) and delivery dealership were followed by big, bold, believe-it-or-not, capital letters: “KNAFEL PONTIAC, AKRON, OH.” Read More

1966 Pontiac GTO Tin Indian Part 2

This is a continuation from yesterday’s Part 1

Part 2

“About a year earlier and a week before the birth of our third child and only daughter, a white, though less than pristine, 1966 GTO convertible had wandered into our yard. Frankly, I remember feeling overwhelming joy at the arrival of only one of these two priceless blessings acquired almost simultaneously. In honest fact, I had to be recently reminded that the two blessed events occurred in such proximity. But that was 1978; this was 1979, and this car was even worse than the white one. Yet my husband, ever the optimist, could see only its potential. This facility, this ability to foresee the image of a restored old car I see as absolutely amazing, since he is totally incapable of picturing the finished effect of new flooring, new wall covering, or even new matching bedspread and curtains. In a way, I suppose I do understand this inclination but from the opposite end of the spectrum, since even the vision of a well restored old car does not fill me with carefree thoughts of happy, trouble free excursions off the beaten path. In this case anxiety quickly clenched the pit of my stomach. I knew what was going to happen. Merle assumed that the car had been raced, but he was unable to trace its origin back farther than 1972, so he simply shrugged and, while happily contemplating the sale of my lovely little Luxury Lemans station wagon, restored it for me to drive. Read More

1966 Pontiac GTO Tin Indian Part 1

Around 5 years ago, we had a very “early” edition of the 1A Auto Blog.  It wasn’t nearly as fancy as the work of art that you are reading today (wink-wink), but it did have some really great content on it. Unfortunately during the update from the old “Nutts and Bolts Car Blog” to the amazingly awesome “1A Auto Blog”, some content didn’t quite make it all the way over. Luckily, I saved it all! Over time, I have posted a few things from these archives, but today I am sharing quite possibly my favorite post that has ever been on the 1A Auto Blog. It isn’t just a post though. It is a 4 part story written by Janice Green, about a very special 1966 Pontiac GTO. So, I will roll out 1 part per day for the next 4 days.  You’ll want to grab a coffee and a comfy chair for this one, it’s quite an incredible true story.

Part 1:

“I should have known what to expect when Merle told me that he had been reading General Motors (GM)/Pontiac literature since he was sixteen years old. I should have known when parting with the 1940 Chevy, which he had tinkered with and driven around the field behind his childhood home throughout adolescence, all but drew tears. I should have known when I was closing out my savings account during the second half of my senior year in college in order to help my then fiancé make a down payment on a bright Montero Red, 1966 GTO convertible. Later, I should have known every time I belted kids into my station wagon in order to trek out into the country to follow some derelict Pontiac home. I should have known when we sold my station wagon, and I began driving my kids around in a 1966 GTO hardtop. I should have known. Read More

In Car Video: Hill Climb Crash in a BMW E30

As it turns out, I know a few guys that do hill climbs in really fast cars. Actually… I’m not sure if the cars are really fast… or they are just driven really fast? In any case, I can assure you that this whole hill climbing thing is pure madness. Back when I was young and fearless, I used to ride down metal slides on freshly waxed cookie sheets (I don’t want to brag…). To this date, it was probably the fastest that I have ever traveled, so needless to say I have a very healthy fear of speed. Driving on a narrow road at ridiculous speeds with nothing but gigantic trees and mysterious creatures on both sides? Hmm. I’m guess I am probably not meant for that. I’ll be honest, when I walk by trees, I feel slightly uncomfortable knowing that if I bump into one of them it will probably scrape my arm. So speeding by them in a car at 100 miles per hour on wet pavement sounds absolutely horrifying to me. Maybe my cookie sheet sliding endeavors as a youth taught me all that I needed to know about going fast. I’m not sure, but I know that I would never do it again. I’ll let the more fearless friends of mine enjoy these fruits of life, and I’ll stick to spinning wrenches while the cars stay still.

For those of you that are far too impatient to watch the whole video above, feel free to skip ahead to about 2:05 mark. As soon as Matt (the driver) cuts the steering wheel hard left, you will probably want to pick up your feet, and shout “wwwweeeeaaaaOOOOHHHH!!” out loud.  Watch it twice or thrice if necessary. Heck, share it with a friend. It’s a fact, hill climb drivers are totally fearless.

Can’t see the video? Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5jXNIfT3UQ

Must-See: Subaru WRX with Tank Tracks

Just when you thought that the automotive world had nothing left to offer this week, I bring you this.  It’s a 2002 Subaru WRX with what I would call “tank tracks”, instead of wheels.  Now, I know what you might be saying “I already saw one of these in the Ken Block video, so it’s not cool anymore…“. Yea, I know, but Ken Block’s wasn’t able to be bought either. This one most certainly is. Just imagine if you added an external roll cage and some spot lights to the roof. Not only would you be ready to take on a pack of rabid wolverines, but this car would instantly be a force to be reckoned with in our Zombie Apocalypse vehicle collection. No doubt!

The seller says:

“This WRX literally floats through the deepest of snow as its ground pressure is only about 1.25 lbs per square inch.   It handles great and turns very well.  Its also amazingly quick!   The car includes decent tires and wheels.  When you don’t need the tracks, you can put the tires back on and use the car as a daily driver.  It takes about 30 minutes to remove the tracks and put the wheels back on.”

So if the vampires, zombies, and cyborgs don’t end up attacking, you can swap the summer tires back on in less than an hour, and take a leisurely ride through the country roads to get an ice cream with your family. Is buying this car your destiny in life? Does 196,000 miles in a turbo Subaru make you nervous? Is $17,500 cheap for an AWD turbo snowmobile? Well, those are questions that you are going to need to sleep on tonight. Until then, this Subaru WRX Tank will be waiting for you on eBay.

eBay at item number 251027905304

Can’t see the video? Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHM9bh-qlec