Early hot rodders squeezed the best out of the junk they had. Fenders and running boards came off to save weight. Hop-up parts scored second hand from circle track racers made their way onto flathead eights for more horsepower. Keeping with this pioneering spirit but using modern technology and parts is the Truckster, seen here on display at the Painless Performance Products … [Read more...]
Ken Block Snocatbaru!
From the Subaru we wish we could have driven up to Mad River Glen back in 1978 department comes Ken Block's tread-powered Snocatbaru STI. The 0-60 Magazine crew informs us the modern STI was fitted with Matttracks treads at all four corners by the gang over at Vermont Sports Car. Today's handy Vermont trivia fact is that it takes over forty gallons of maple tree sap to make one … [Read more...]
Canepa Open Wheel Porsche
Crossing a dune buggy and a sprint car together by way of a Porsche engine made perfect sense to Bruce Canepa and Paul Newman in 1980. Front engine Sprint Cars and Indy Specials had been tearing up Pikes Peak Open Wheel ranks for some time, so Canepa figured a rear engine Sprint Car would be a winner for 1981. The original version sported a Porsche 911 naturally aspirated mill, … [Read more...]
Cony Light Van Deluxe
When it comes to mid-ships driving amusement, the under floor engine arrangement of the Cony Light Van Deluxe is unparalleled. This 1967 model was hauled over from a long nap in a Temecula field to attend the Japanese Classic Car Show in Irvine. The entire Cony lineup was manufactured in Japan by the Aichi Machine Industry Company. Cony was eventually absorbed by Datsun. The … [Read more...]
King Water Truck
From the form following function department comes this '50s-vintage REX water truck. Some said it may be a 1958 model. The mighty REX ruled to water the track surface at Petaluma Speedway for some forty years before getting dethroned just one short year ago. The Cummins diesel under the hood finally breathed its last. The REX not only has a Cummins engine, but also sports a … [Read more...]