Robbies Tees Collectibles

Ring Brothers 65 Mustang

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 14:46:00 +0000

History of the First Camaro

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 14:51:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 16:15:00 +0000

Congrats to Detroit Speed for winning a GM Design award for "Best Chevrolet G-Machine", at The SEMA Show 2015, with Moe'...
Posted by FORGELINE on Friday, November 6, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:59:00 +0000

Goodguys 2015 Gold Award winners Paul and Betty Gilliam from Birmingham, Alabama and their 1953 Studebaker. This black...
Posted by Goodguys Rod & Custom Association on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 16:11:00 +0000

Post by Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.

" 2014 " Competition Rules

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Post by Detroit Speed.

SEMA 2013: Ford Build Snakebit F100

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 14:29:00 +0000

Ring Brothers " 1965 Producer " Mustang

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:56:00 +0000

http://www.contracostatimes.com/contracostatimes/ci_23911767/hell-and-back-goodguys-car-show-honors-pleasanton

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 01:01:00 +0000

http://www.contracostatimes.com/contracostatimes/ci_23911767/hell-and-back-goodguys-car-show-honors-pleasanton

Super Muscle Car Shootout - Dream Car Garage

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 22:43:00 +0000

Built in BC a tribute to the Mooneyham and Sharp 554 34 Ford drag car

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:38:00 +0000

Mopar "Super Stockers"

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:26:00 +0000

Where’s the Last C3 Corvette?

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 02:05:00 +0000

Where’s the Last C3 Corvette?

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 vs. Mark Stielow's Red Devil '69 Camaro

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:24:00 +0000

David Freiburger meets up with Pro Touring legend Mark Stielow to compare old and new Camaros head to head. Mark Stielow is a GM engineer with a long history of building vintage, street-worthy Camaros with amazing handling prowess. His latest is the Red Devil, a '69 model powered by a 427ci, supercharged LS9 that tops 750 hp and 800 lb-ft. It runs a six-speed trans and complete suspension from Detroit Speed, and has won a number of shootouts with similarly built Pro Touring cars. But can his modified muscle car outrun the technology of the Magnetic Ride suspension on the new, 580hp, 2012 Camaro ZL1? We head to GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan to find out

Goodguys Rod & Custom's new project '69 Camaro G/RS

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:55:00 +0000

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association will be forever tied to the Thom Taylor-penned cartoon of Gary Meadors ’32 Ford sedan. Meadors’ famed sedan has stood tall as the company logo for close to three decades. The bright yellow sedan has crisscrossed the country dozens of times and racked up over 200,000 thousand road miles spreading the Goodguys spirit nationwide. It now has company. A new project is currently underway to build upon the Goodguys legacy. “Project G/RS” – a ground hugging, pavement-pounding ’69 Camaro Muscle Machine will be added to the Goodguys stable this fall. The Goodguy-yellow Camaro will essentially be used to further promote the Goodguys brand throughout the country on the open road as well as on the Goodguys AutoCross course and other driving events. Handling the build is Bret Voelkel and his talented Ridetech team in Jasper, Indiana. “ We are honored to be chosen to build the new Goodguys Camaro” said Voelkel. We’ve built 2 very successful giveaway cars for Goodguys over the years and now get a chance to do this Camaro – one that will be in the organization forever. It’s fun to work with people who share a common vision for what this car should be…I’m looking forward to the build, and to watching the Goodguys team enjoy the finished car for years to come!” The car will feature General Motors’ new LS8 engine, TREMEC six speed transmission, complete RideTech Suspension, Moser rearend, PPG Paint, Baer brakes, Forgeline wheels, BF Goodrich rubber, Vintage Air A/C, Dakota Digital gauges, Interior by Hudson Rod & Custom, RECARO seats, a fuel tank by Rick’s Tanks, American Autowire Harness as well as other goodies from Speedway Motors and Rick’s Camaro Parts. “The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and my dad’s yellow ’32 Ford sedan are known throughout the world,” said company president Marc Meadors. “Gary’s ’32 will be forever tied to Goodguys and all we do. We wanted to add to that legacy by building a muscle car and adding it to the Goodguys logo and company theme – something that represents the current landscape of hot rodding. Much like my father’s hot rod, this Goodguy-yellow Camaro will be driven hard and shared with cars guys and gals nationwide.” We’ll keep everyone posted right here on Hot News with progress reports throughout the year so stay tuned!

MeguiarsDirect.com: Ultimate Polish

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:32:00 +0000

MeguiarsDirect.com: Ultimate Polish

GM drops video of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept on the drag strip

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:52:00 +0000

If you are somehow unfamiliar with the Chevy COPO Camaro Concept, it is a purpose built race car set to compete with the likes of the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet and the Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak. The new COPO Camaro is fitted with interior and exterior modifications to make it legal and ideal for stock and super stock drag racing including a full roll cage, removal of non-essential items (radio, heating/air conditioning items, a back seat) but more importantly – there is a 2-speed PowerGlide transmission, a solid rear axle and the buyers’ choice of two high performance GM crate motors. The first engine is the supercharged 327 cubic inch LSX engine fitted with a 2.9L Whipple supercharger and the second is 427 cubic inch LS7 borrowed from the Corvette Z06 with modifications made to allow it to fit into the stock eliminator racing class.

Unfortunately, no horsepower figures have been offered thus far but those familiar with these two high performance engines know that the new Chevy COPO Camaro Concept will certainly pack the power to keep up with the Mustang Cobra Jet and Challenger V10 Drag Pak. Also unfortunately and like the two super stock competitors from Ford and Dodge, the COPO Camaro Concept is not expected to be street legal should it see production.

The Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept looks great in person and sounds even better but for those who were unlucky not to be at the COPO debut in Vegas, GM has offered up a video of the new COPO Camaro drag package on the track. GM is testing the car with what seems to be an intent to offer the car to racers for the NHRA Stock and Super Stock eliminator classes and their recent stop, which was caught on lots of cameras, was to Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. The result is a 2 minute and 32 second video featuring the COPO Camaro tearing up the drag strip with each of the two available engines. Between shots of the new COPO Camaro launching from the starting line and soaring through the top end of the track, there is a variety of interview segments with GM brass…all of whom express their satisfaction with how well the car performed. Towards the end of the video, Chevrolet Performance Parts Marketing Manager Cliff Cohen stated that the COPO Camaro “met or exceeded every expectation that (GM) had over the last three years to get to this point today. The vehicle went down the track…it turned the times that we thought it would and we’re leaving here today very, very satisfied.”

The good news is that the video is packed full of sights and sounds of the new Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept in action – the bad news is that the video doesn’t give us any idea as to what the purpose built Camaro turned in the quarter mile. We can expect that this video will lead to more and hopefully, soon, GM will tell us just how fast we can expect the new COPO Camaro to be when it reaches production. Check out the video below for a look at the COPO Camaro in action!

How to price your Classic Car

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:01:00 +0000

1
Gather information about your car.
Write down the year, make, model and trim level of the vehicle. If you have original paperwork from the first sale of the car, this is an important piece of history of the vehicle for any potential classic car seller, because it provides authenticity to a buyer as well as a bit of nostalgic memorabilia. The original paperwork alone in many instances can raise the value of a classic car. Also, collect paperwork about repairs and improvements made over the years.

2
Note the mileage on the vehicle and whether they are original miles or if the engine was replaced at some point.

3
Note how the car was stored by you and previous owners.
A car stored indoors away from sun and inclement weather is less apt to have body wear from rain, sun and changing temperatures; as such it will be more desirable for buyers and more valuable.

4
Assess the condition of the vehicle.
Rust on the body, door dings, paint scratches and worn upholstery will lower the value of a classic car.

5
Consider making repairs before selling.
Body work and engine repairs will not only increase the value of the vehicle but also make it more attractive to sellers. Consider having the car professionally detailed, which can cost as little as $100 and will make the vehicle more attractive to sellers.

6
Research classic car price guides.
Some good sources are the Collector Car Price Guide, the National Auto Dealers Association Appraisal Guides, Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds. The three latter organizations have websites to enter the details of your vehicle and its condition to set a fair market price; the former product is available at bookstores, Amazon and undoubtedly elswhere. A good practice is to set your classic car's price in the middle of the range and add or deduct depending on the car's mileage, condition and repair history. Low mileage, good condition, a garaged history and recent repairs render a higher price. Cars needing repairs should be priced lower than the median.

7
Price a bit higher than you hope to receive.
If you hope to get $6,000 for your classic car, price it a bit higher to give you bargaining room. Advertise the vehicle at $6,500, $6,999, an even $7,000 or $7,250 if that's not terribly unreasonable. If you get your selling price, then it is a bonus for you. If not, it gives you some space for bargaining.

Tips & Warnings
Do your research on selling prices of similar vehicles, because buyers will do the same and will want to negotiate the lowest prices.

Top 10 Vehicles of the 2011 SEMA Show

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:16:00 +0000

If there's a common theme to this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, it's that there's really no common theme at all. Trucks are in huge supply, as are sedans, sports cars, lowriders, donks, rockcrawlers, hardparkers, luxobarges, restomods, drift machines, patina, bling. Many of the cars draw from multiple categories. It's a feast for the senses, and the sensibilities. There's something for everyone.

With so much to choose from, you might think it's hard to decide which is the best stuff. It's not, since we already did all the legwork for you. Below are the top 10 vehicles of the 2011 SEMA Show.

1964 Cadillac Deville Convertible: Lounging outside the Central Hall is this stretch-forever Deville that simply stopped us in our tracks. This one hits the sweet spot — it's not one of those weenie restoration cars, nor does it stray too far into the realm of overwrought silliness. Don't write it off as a simply blingy lowrider. This car's detailing is exquisite in ways beyond your typical show car, complementing the Deville's inherent elegance. It's all about restraint — nothing on the exterior or in the cabin is over the top and it's all executed to an exceedingly high standard. Under the hood and in the trunk is a different story, but the attention to detail never falters. This is an absolute stunner.

1971 Alfa Romeo Furia: Whoa, an Alfa? This one was a heck of a surprise. In part because it's an Alfa, and in part because it's a particularly obscure Alfa. Tiny, almost toylike, this Furia is one of five built by the company. It spent the majority of its life in Brazil and has skirted abandonment, neglect and near-total destruction more than once. You can tell this one's been lovingly restored but shows the patina of regular exercise, which is something we can get behind. A mid-mounted 2.0-liter four with about 180 horsepower drives the rear wheels, and?wow, those Campanolos are kind of distracting in their awesomeness. And those quad headlamps, and the gullwing doors, and clamshell clasps, and wing mirrors, and?

AMC AMX: With an LSx swap. Need I say more?

Big Oly Trophy Truck: Finding a purposeful truck at SEMA is like finding a PhD candidate among its booth professionals, but the Big Oly Trophy Truck delivers. What's more, it's more faithful to its progenitor than you might think. That's because the original Big Oly of the '70s was essentially a trophy truck in the disguise of a Ford Bronco, so that's what this one is, too. It's got bucketloads of presence, impeccable build quality and the right kind of nostalgia. This one did the rounds at SEMA a couple years ago but still commands respect.

Homebuilt Rock Crawler One-Off: It doesn't have a name. It doesn't even have a purpose. It doesn't matter. Built in a home garage by a single deranged fabrication savant, this?thing is one of the most impressive vehicles we've ever seen. It has four-wheel steering and all-wheel drive yet lacks driveshafts. Instead, a rear-mounted LSx engine powers a pump that drives the wheels hydraulically. Torque can be shuttled to any wheel in any proportion in any condition, and driveshaft angularity is clearly no longer an issue. The chassis is comprised of stainless steel held together with about 12 miles of weld bead, and nearly everything has been fabricated from scratch. It's absolutely mind-boggling. Check it out in the Optima Batteries booth if you get a chance.

Mazda MX-5 Spyder: Before you bring up the Boxster Spyder, you should know that Mazda designers really, really liked that car, and they freely welcome the association. Think of the MX-5 Spyder as something of a hat tip to the Porsche. It's amazing what 30mm will do — that's how far the stock windshield was laid back to achieve the desired raked look. The result is a whole lot more aggression and a purposeful look. Surprisingly enough, permanent changes are limited only to A-pillar mods — it still uses the stock MX-5 windshield glass, weatherstripping and cowl panel and rear latch points. The remaining bits — a reshaped grille opening, airdam, sill extensions and hard tonneau — bolt right up. Don't go thinking the MX-5 Spyder is production-ready, though. This one's strictly a show car. For now.

Rodan: Indulge us this one deviation from our usual car-centricity. Bikes are heavily outnumbered by cars at SEMA, but most of them are executed very well. This one, however, takes the cake with its spare sensibility and eye toward proportion. Rodan started life as a 1969 Honda CB750 and was brought to its full cafe racer glory by Fuller Hot Rods. It just looks right. The gloss on the paint is low, but not trendily so. Those clip-ons have a terrifically simple wrap. Its seat is retro-ish without being distractingly so. It's got the X-factor — there's something about the way all the design elements converge into a cohesive whole. Do want.

Scion FR-S: This is possibly the 37th time we've seen the Scion FR-S. Yet it remains a very significant car, and it's one of the few examples at the show that's truly a concept car. And this version looks amazing. Check out its center-lock wheels that look as though they escaped from a Cuisinart factory, or the rear diffuser that might just ingest you whole lest you get too close. It's either funny or sad that we're seeing this modified FR-S before the production example has even been released. Still, the aftermarket has a tough act to follow after seeing this FR-S. We're ready. Bring it.

Scion iQ MR: Two words: midengine conversion. That get your attention? This Scion iQ was spearheaded by Tatsu Tsuchida as part of Scion's Tuner Challenge, and it's clearly going for the throat. The stock wrong-wheel-drive powertrain was binned, and a built 1NZ-FE 1.5-liter four from a first-gen xB now drives the rear wheels, which when finalized is expected to approach 200 horsepower. An SCCA-compliant cage suggests they're serious about finishing it, too. It'll only have to push around about a 100 more pounds than a stock iQ, so it ought to hustle. In the meantime, it's a treat to look at. The aesthetic is novel — that's not paint, it's Sharkhide metal protectant. It's pretty awe-inspiring, and that's something we'd thought we'd never say about an iQ.

SoCal Streamliner: Sometimes, all it takes is the right shape. A recreation of the Dean Batchelor-driven Streamliner that hit 187.89 mph in 1949, this Streamline is painstaking in its homage. The chassis and engine are an assortment of Model T and Model A components and the body is hand-formed aluminum sheet metal. Someone spent many an hour with an English wheel on this one. It's drop-dead-freaking gorgeous, and takes us back to the very early days of automotive enthusiasm. This is a respectfully authentic tribute to a special car.

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:01:00 +0000

It still hasn't really sunk in yet--it probably won't until our right foot goes to the floor--but the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 packs 650 horsepower. Six hundred and fifty. That's not just insane, it's totally crazy.

That's 50 more horsepower than the Dodge Viper, a car known for being so powerful and raw that it's essentially murder distilled into four-wheeled form. Of course, the 2013 Shelby GT500 is more refined in many ways, including standard traction and stability control (both of which the Viper lacked entirely), but still. That's a lot of power for a street car. A lot.

We're not complaining. We're just in pony-induced shock. !!!!

N2A Motors Z06 Chevrolet "789" 1957 1958 1959 Innovation beyond your expectation...

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

1) The 789 is built of fiber glass and carbon fiber composites on the C6 Corvette 2005-2008 Convertible, Coupe, and ZO6 platform.

2) The body of the Corvette is all removed except for the doors and new body parts installed. The doors are skinned with a new outer skin.

3) The seats have new inserts to color coordinate with the exterior colors.

4) Everything except for the body remains Corvette.

5) It is up to the customer to provide the C6 Corvette 2005-2008 of their choice (Coupe, Convertible, and ZO6) referred to as the donor car. We are set up with a local dealer here in southern California that will sell new corvette coupes and convertibles to our customers for $500.00 over invoice for the 789 conversion only.

6) The 789 is built upon order only, the cost of the 789 conversion is $75,000.00 including a $2,000.00 wheel and tire allowance. This does not include the C6 Corvette donor car. With the donor C6 Corvette at a price of around $ 60.000.00 for a 07 – 08 convertible and the conversion cost of the 789 at $75,000.00 the total cost of the 789 would be around $135,000.00.

7) To start with, a letter of intent (we provide) needs to be filled out, signed, and a $10,000.00 deposit check sent that holds a spot in the line of production. The $10,000.00 goes into an escrow account that is fully refundable should you choose to withdraw before production of the 789 begins. Once the donor car is received a contract will be signed and a first installment of $15,000.00 to go with the $10,000.00 already received will be required to begin (12 to 14 week) production of your 789. Half way through production the second installment of $25,000.00 will be asked for to continue production and the balance of $25,000.00 will be due upon delivery. The delivery of the donor car to n2a Motors and the 789 converted C6 Corvettes from n2a Motors back to customer is the responsibility of the customer. N2a Motors can help in connecting customer with a reputable transporter.

8) We started production of the first 789 orders back in June of this year; we are well on our way in producing up to 150 units with in the next three years.

9) Very unique, each 789 will be deferent, no two will be alike. Once a color or color combination has been selected it will not be duplicated.

10) The C6 Corvette comes in Coupe (with Targa top), Convertible, and ZO6 Coupe (no Targa top, it is fixed). Everything under the new 789 body is C6 Corvette from front to back the trunk space is the same as comes in the Corvette.

Anniversary Edition "427"

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:38:00 +0000

The Anniversary Edition 427 is a hand-built, high-performance crate engine. To locate, price, and purchase your Anniversary Edition 427, call the customer assistance center at 800.450.4150.
Visit the new 2011 GM Performance Catalogue at:
GM Performance Parts

Brent Jarvis's 1965 Chevy Corvette's - Maxed Out !!

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:44:00 +0000

One’s for show but will go,... and the other is all for go.For decades, HOT ROD has preached the sermon get out and drive your junk and has created several events to promote that agenda. While we can totally respect AMBR- and Ridler-level show cars and the amount of time, talent, and money that go into them, how many of us can really relate to that kind of detail without the enjoyment of sliding behind the wheel, slamming open the butterflies, and spraying an obscene quantity of rubber on the quarter-panels?

Brent Jarvis, owner of Performance Restorations in Mundelein, Illinois,is one of us. A lifetime addiction to speed led him initially down the dragstrip as one of the early competitors in HOT ROD’s Fastest Street Car Shootout in the mid-’90s. We featured his very cool, low-8-second, Pro Street ’59 Corvette back in the Apr. ’96 issue after having seen and photographed the car at one of the FSCs at Memphis Motorsports Park. (He still owns that car, and it’s in the low 7s today.) His quote to us back then was, If it looks fast, it better be fast. A few years ago he contacted us and said he was building another Vette, this one a midyear model, and he asked if we wanted to feature it. It looked all the part of a full-on show car, but remembering that statement, we couldn’t resist taunting him: Sure, we’ll feature the car, but only if you’ll put it on a track and drive it in anger.

That car had killer suspension and a ton of power, but like so many of the showy Pro Touring cars back then, we doubted it would perform to the level of its equipment. We were wrong. Brent not only took us up on the dare but he also beat on the car for a full day on a road course. And it was fast. The testdriver, GM engineer and Pro Touring hero Mark Stielow, was even impressed at its out-of-the-box goodness.

When Brent called again a few months ago and told us about two more Corvettes he was doing, set up for the road course, with one more show than race but both fully capable of either, we had to see them. The red car (named Maxed Out) was found on RacingJunk.com as an abandoned road race car with fender flares and all. Brent picked it up to build another track car, but after going through the whole Performance Restoration redo, the car looked so good he decided to chrome it up and take it to some indoor shows. All the parts are there to cut some serious lap times, but the summer of 2010 saw the car hit the ISCA circuit. However, Brent assures us that once the trophies are collected (many of which already have been), the car gets sticky tires and will see track time. It has already lost its road course virginity, though not in a hard-core way; while being displayed in the House of Kolors booth at the ’10 SEMA show, it was chosen to compete in the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational the Saturday after the show. Brent drove the ’65 on the mandatory 60ish-mile cruise, but having never been on Pahrump, Nevada’s Spring Mountain Motorsports track before and with the car not totally sorted out for that kind of action, he took it pretty easy. Knowing his history and attitude toward cars, though, we have no doubt this pretty piece will see plenty of track time.

Once the direction changed on the red car, the blue car became the hard-core road racer. Brent bought it as a Pro Touring street car but got rid of the street part of it. This Vette still has some custom touches and excellent attention to detail, but it sees door-to-door action in an outlaw vintage racing class all summer long. It has even won a race. It is street legal, but Brent has it set up to be competitive, so it doesn’t see many road miles now.

Both cars have big-blocks and stick transmissions, as every Corvette should, and both are also fully ’caged and suspended to be legal, safe, and fast on the road course. The blue car has the least radical parts, since Brent races it on the vintage racing circuit where rules limit what you can do. The red car is more radical, makes 200 more horsepower, and has more chrome and detailing than 99 percent of the angel-hair parkers you’ve ever seen. The underside is just as clean, which should make any potential off-track situation a little bit of a nervous affair for Brent.

There is plenty of room for show-only hot rods in the hot rodding universe there always has been but Brent Jarvis’ series of fast Corvettes shows how you can have your pretty cake and eat it too.

Carroll Shelby's Column: "The Legend"

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Nothing beats loving what you do in life...

I love what I do. Why else would I be doing it at 85 when it’s a full-time job tough enough to wear-out somebody half my age? Maybe it had to do with growing up in Texas then having to prove myself in all those early races I drove where the cars, most of them short on horse power, were only as good as how fast they could be run into a corner and whipped out again for the next straight.

That’s what racing sport cars in the early 1950s was and it gave me what I could take away from it to go on and do other things.

It wasn’t just cars that lit the fire in me to win. All the people in my life that I’ve known and loved have given me the strength to go for the top. So many of them will remain priceless friendships that are always with me and stay in my mind every day. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.

In 1956, around the time I was winning a bunch of races in John Edgar’s 410 Ferrari, I met a wonderful man from Albuquerque named Dick Hall who, like John, was an out-and-out enthusiast. I’d been talking of having a dealership in Dallas, and with Dick’s financial backing we opened Carroll Shelby Motors there, from which a lot of very good things came and awakened the eyes of Texas to sport car racing.

What happened was — I went to England to talk to Brian Lister and I bought ten Lister chassis. Instead of the Jaguar engine, in my opinion underpowed at the time, we put in Chevrolet V8s and the Lister-Chevys turned out to be very, very successful.

At the same time we took on the distributorship for Maserati, and I ordered five 2-liter Maseratis with 2.5-litre engines, five 4.5-litre Maseratis, and a couple of 3-litres, as well as starting a Firestone tire distributorship. I was up to my ears in it all and having the time of my life.

Things were rocking along well when Dick Hall developed a terrible eye problem that eventually caused him to lose his sight. Dick said his younger brother, Jim, had just graduated from Cal-Tech with honors and was interested in coming into the business. Their father was a wealthy oilman who’d been killed in an accident, and Dick had the responsibility of settling the estate. So Jim came into the business and immediately got very involved as a driver and had the resources to be a car owner, and that was the initiation of Jim Hall and probably the start of where the Chaparral came from. I’d had connections with Ed Cole, the president of General Motors, and I began building those three Scaglietti Corvettes that, when Ed told me to pull out of it, went to Gary Laughlin and to Jim Hall, and I sold mine to a doctor in Houston.

In 1959, after winning Le Mans, I decided to think about making my own race cars. I looked around Texas and didn’t see any opportunity, so I reckoned that the only place to do it was California where Lance Reventlow had been successful with his Scarab.

I moved there and took on the Goodyear distributorship and, after we got my Cobras going and were winning races, I became a Ford man. This left things open at General Motors and Hap Sharp and Jim Hall went over to General Motors and put their deal together to build the GM-powered Chaparral. Both of those cars, Chaparral and Cobra, stemmed from my relationship with Dick Hall and Hap Sharp.

I’d always wanted to build my own — just driving race cars was not my top priority. If it had been, I’d have probably driven for Enzo Ferrari when he asked me to several times, but instead I choose to stay with John Wyer because it was always peace and contentment in the Aston Martin team, whereas at Ferrari it was, well, a little difficult at times. Sometimes the difficulties turned fatal.

What Dick Hall financed never made any significant money, but it almost certainly initiated what turned out to be the Chaparral and the Cobra. I want to give Dick Hall this credit no else ever has.

Unfortunately we lost Dick years ago, but what a wonderful friend he was.

All of the rest of this story is history. But I thought you might want to know where the Chaparral came from, and where the Cobra came from, a long time ago.

I still spend some time in California, some time in Texas, and a lot of time in Las Vegas building the Shelby Mustangs. We just signed a new five-year contact, and I’m looking forward to a lot of affordable new performance cars in our relationship with Ford. Like I’ve said, I love doing this ..................

Bryan Fuller's 1961 Chevrolet "The Impaler"

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Holgate) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:31:00 +0000

Bryan Fuller's latest creation is a 1961 Chevrolet called the "Impaler," a car featuring a heavy aircraft influence in it's design and execution. A Hilborn injected ZZ572 powers the sled, and every panel has been massaged in some way. Check out the aluminum fabrication in the interior!