The Champion Speed Shop 1934 Ford pickup truck is a running legend of hot rod history. Champion Speed Shop founder Jim "The Smiling Irishman" McLennan built the truck for his son Bob McLennan, who now owns and frequently operates the supercharged Chevy powered truck. Not so long ago an opportunity arose to drive this piece of history from South San Francisco to Bakersfield and … [Read more...]
Where Porsches Get Recycled
No matter how fancy or expensive a car is in the beginning, the good majority of the production run will almost always end up as junk. This is a good thing. Those that continue to drive any sort of aging classic will need parts, so the wheels don't fly off and the engine won't catch fire. For these and many more reasons the automobiles is one of the most recycled consumer … [Read more...]
Engine Room! Full Astern!
From the flagship of the fleet department is this Chrysler Newport seen on the side of the road with an asking price of a mere four hundred dollars. The 1971 Newport heavy has a 383 big block connected to a an apparently blown up TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The scrawled message on the side glass says the big block does indeed run. Even with a toasted transmission, … [Read more...]
Big Oly Revisited
When it comes to getting it right forever, there are few machines more awesome then the 1971 Ford Bronco known as Big Oly. Marshall Madruga certainly agrees. It took him two years to put this truck together as as a passionate tribute to the original Bill Stroppe Big Oly, driven by Parnelli Jones to greatness in the Baja 1000. Marshall started with a piece of a 1971 Ford Bronco … [Read more...]
Victory Econoline
Long before the Car Allowance Rebate System prematurely doled out billions for OK and used up automobiles alike, cars and trucks that outlasted their useful purposes met a natural dismantled end at the junkyard. A few chosen junkers of the highest order sidestep this recycling time line for a last go in the name of entertainment. Any automobile that makes a final pre-junkyard … [Read more...]