Over a million Renault 4CV sedans can't be wrong. Sales of the 4CV hit half a million units in 1954, and surpassed the million mark by 1960. The 4CV was sold here in America, and manufactured under license as the HINO 4CV in Japan. And what's not to like? Rear engine. Developed in total secrecy by a German-occupied WW2 France. Rear wheel drive. Cheap to buy when produced. … [Read more...]
Frozen Volkswagen in Vermont
A rusty old Volkswagen Beetle similar in condition and proximity to this Bug is where it all began. The machine that started our continuing saga of 500-dollar automobiles was a mostly oxidized Bug, just a few years younger this engineless 1968 model. The archetypal Clunkbucket was purchased just north of the Gulf station on Route 7 in Salsbury, Vermont where we saw this blue … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week: Bench Grinder Buffer
The pine-like Little Tree® was famous long before Miller handed one to Otto the '80s classic movie Repo Man. You find one in every car. You'll see. The shop or home garage is another place this object based continuum occurs. Be it on a bench or pedestal, most every garage or workshop in the land has at some point in its existence contained one (or more) bench grinder … [Read more...]
Full Race Jalopy
The American Heritage Dictionary defines jalopy as a word used to describe an old, dilapidated motor vehicle - especially an automobile. The origin of the word itself is hazy. The Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary goes further, suggesting the word may have come into being as a result of many dilapidated automobiles sent to the Mexican city of Jalapa. The second definition of the word … [Read more...]
Javelin AMX proudly wears 1978
Pedro Ramirez bought this yellow 1968 Javelin in 1978. Over thirty years later the AMX rolls as a time capsule of how a car owner would mod out a pony car ten years after it rolled off the assembly line. While the engine and mechanicals have been gone through a few times over the years, the car remains largely as it was purchased from a co-worker in late seventies. Pedro first … [Read more...]