Camaro SS

After decades of being the No. 1 brand in Northeast Ohio, Chevrolet fell behind Ford last year. Chevy dealers don’t want that to be a trend.

So when organizers of the Cleveland Auto Show tried to see if several different brands wanted to get together to create an indoor test track at the I-X Center, Chevy dealers said no. They wanted the whole track for themselves.

“I think it’s going to be packed from open to close,” said Rob Patterson, Chevrolet zone manager for much of Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

There will be two free indoor test tracks at the show this year – the Chevy track and Camp Jeep, a smaller course at that brand’s exhibit. The Jeep exhibit was a popular feature at several auto shows in 2007 and 2008, but it was not in Cleveland last year.

Patterson said at the GM track the visitor can drive either at Chevy Malibu, a Camaro or an Equinox crossover. At the Jeep exhibit, the show visitor is a passenger in a vehicle driven by a product specialist.

Auto show chairman Gary Adams said he was surprised when the Chevrolet dealers group snapped up all of the space for the test track. Because of the large amount of space needed, he had assumed that no brand would want to take on all of the expense alone.

“It’s costly because it’s indoor space,” Adams said.

Adams and Patterson declined to share the cost of the new exhibit, but both said it was a major investment by Chevrolet dealers.

Patrick O’Brien, general manager of Pat O’Brien Chevrolet in Westlake, said he was excited about getting show visitors behind the wheel of a Camaro. He said the muscle car could attract a lot of attention to the display.

“It’s a great car, and not a lot of people have gotten a chance to drive one,” O’Brien said.

Though it’s 1,000 feet long, the indoor test track isn’t the ideal place to try out such as powerful sports car. Adams said the show is hoping speeds will stay well below 20 miles per hour.

“I’d love to get it up around 80, but that’s probably not a good idea indoors,” Adams said.

Story by Robert Schoenberger, The Plain Dealer

Chevy Camaro SS indy Pace Car

This year, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS enjoyed the honor of pacing both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 – two races that could arguably be considered the traditional pinnacles of American motorsports. Now, it has apparently been decided that the Camaro’s performance was good enough to bring it back for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 with a brand-new livery.

This year’s Chevy Camaro SS Indy 500 Pace Car features the stock 426-hp 6.2L V-8, but adds an RS appearance package and a leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. Indy 500 logos can be found on the doors and on each headrest, while Indy 500 badges garnish the front fenders. New for this year’s Indy 500 Pace Car is a unique front grille that Chevrolet will add to the options list in the future, while the obvious light bar also takes its place in the rear window.

“Chevrolet has done it again with the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Pace Car, it is simply beautiful,” said Jeff Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation. “The car’s tribute to ‘500′ history and its sports car feel will be a big hit with our fans, and it will look great leading the Indianapolis 500 field on race day.”

The 2010 Indianapolis 500 is set to kick off Sunday, May 30.  Click here for more images

Source: Motor Trend

2011 Camaro Z28

There are unconfirmed reports that the supercharged, 500 plus horsepower Chevy Camaro Z28 program is back on track. The Z28 was to be the top-of-the-line option when the new fifth-generation car graced us in 2010, but it was shelved during GM’s financial crisis.

It looks like the Camaro Z28 might be back on track now and will likely feature a distinctive body kit, new hood, spoiler, and of course different wheels. Underneath the restyled hood will reside the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 that currently powers the Cadillac CTS-V and we expect in the neighborhood of 550 horses.

Mecum Auction Block

I wanted to write and tell you about my experience at the Mecum auction two weeks ago. What a great experience; Let me first start by saying, this is the largest and most extravagant auction Mecum holds every year. If you ever get a chance to go to the Indianapolis or Kissimmee auctions, I would strongly suggest doing so. The cars or I should say, creatively restored “to mint condition” cars were amazing!

Starting Wednesday, there were approximately 1500 cars that went across the block that weekend, and 80% of those cars were unbelievable. This was literally the “Holy Grail” of muscle cars! Everywhere you turned, there was a car that brought you back to your good ole’ days; Chevy’s, Buick, Pontiac, Ford, everything your heat desired.

The auction prices went anywhere from $2,000 – to 6+ MILLION! This was Indianapolis’ Concourse De’ Elegance, not the same type of classics, but they held their own with the big boys in Pebble Beach. Oh and by the way, Mecum set a record with the most cars sold by this company and the most revenue produced for the auction.

Lights! Camera! Action!

If you had a pulse, being in their environment, made your heart race! The anticipation, speed of the auction, the lights, the camera’s, the gestures, the people, the auctioneers, the experts, the clapping and applause was something surreal! You really have to be able to contain yourself or you can get caught up very quickly and find yourself going home with a beautiful car you couldn’t afford.

Before our car went across the block it was extremely intimidating. I decided to walk along side our car before it got to the block, but that also meant, I had to walk side by side with some real heavy hitters too, which were, a Chevy Impala 409 and a 70’ Chevelle Convertible, not that we didn’t have a beauty to sell, but if you know about muscles, you know how intimidated I was.

Everything goes through your mind at that moment; did we pick the right paint color? How does the body look? Should we have put the top up or down? What mistakes did we make in the process? Why is this person looking at the car that way? Did we set the right reserve price? Did I turn off the oven when I left the house on Thursday? Everything and anything goes through your mind – you really find yourself racing for answers before it goes across; and then all of sudden….there you are, in the front of everyone – Lights! Camera! Action!

I found myself yelling inside my head!

I thought; “Holy Smokes, my car looks HOT” but, there was no time for admiring my prize at that moment, it was game time! I had to put on my game time face! I had two guys asking me question after question. One guy was the actual auctioneer, leaning over the stage looking “larger than life” asking me, what’s the price? Will you take lower than the reserve? What color is the top? I found myself yelling inside my head “re-iterate the key points to them!!!!!” So I blurt out “make sure to tell the audience, it’s a 4 speed, bucket seats and a convertible” What? I thought “of course they know it’s a convertible you idiot – the top is down.”

I didn’t even notice how fast the price was increasing by $500 increments. Ok, Ok…calm down clammy hands! Breathe in, breathe out. At this point everything’s in slow mo and this guy’s talking to me as if I took some Hallucinogen…”dooooooo yoouuuuuuu waaaaannnnt tooooooo seeelllll iiiiiit aaaaaat tttthhhiissss priiiiiiice?” And then complete silence – I couldn’t hear a thing! I wanted to ask them my own question… “Can I go back to my Mother’s womb where it’s nice and warm?” But, you’ve got to answer the question now, remember…game face! Wake up, look at the screen and make a decision! I said, in slow mo…“nooooooooo” and he said “how much is it going to take to sell it?” I gave him a figure, which was lower than what I really wanted to sell it for; he then told me the price he thought I could get for it. After about, what felt like, an hour of silence I shook his hand and walked off the auction block with my beauty. The price wasn’t right for either of us and we ended up where we began…back in the waiting facility where all the cars go to the famous “the bid goes on”.

What a Rush!

It’s over! I looked at my watch to check the time, thinking “wow that seemed like forever” came to find out I was up there for 3-4 minutes. 3 to 4 minutes! All the driving, flying, restoring, preparing, discussing, decision making, thinking, worrying and everything it took to get to this point…it took 3-4 minutes. But what a rush! it was like being on some kind of extreme adrenaline drug for only 3-4 minutes. I would do it all over again just for the experience and the things I learned. It really was something amazing!

So next time you’re watching the Mecum auction on television, just remember, each person standing up at the auction block is going through the same thing that every other seller is going through; thinking…”can I go back to my Mother’s Womb where it’s nice and warm?”

2010 Chevy Camaro

The much anticipated 2010 Chevy Camaro has only been available for a few weeks, but the car has already suffered its first set back! Apparently GM issued a recall due to an exposed battery cable.

The problem came to GM’s attention when  vehicles were brought in for service due to frayed cable insulation.  Luckily the issue  only lies with the V-8 equipped Chevy Camaros and only 300 have been sold so far.

Flores a GM spokesman said they will tow the faulty Camaros to dealers and offer free loaner vehicles and oil changes.

It will take dealerships about 30 minutes to adjust the positive battery cable so it doesn’t come in contact with the starter motor housing.

“This is obviously a very important launch for us, and we want to do whatever it takes to keep the customers happy,” said Flores.

We all have high expectations for the Chevy Camaro and hope this is only a minor set back.

2010 Chevy Camaro SS

So I’m sure many of you have heard about the new Chevy Camaro SS coming out for 2010, if you haven’t you are probably living under a rock or are satisfied with your Dodge Neon. But for the rest of us motorheads who have been on the edge of their seat waiting and hoping this blessing to man will not disappoint. This Camaro is a beast, its bigger and faster than any other model before it, and many features to make you squeal like a little school girl. For a great read and excellent pictures check this article out: Click Here

Here are some of the specs:

• Price around $31,000
• 416-HP LS3 Engine
• 6.2 Liter Aluminum Shell Block V8 (and some other smaller engine )
• 6-Speed Manual
• 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum Wheels
• 21inch front and 22inch rear wheels
• 0-60 in….. wait for it….. 4.6 sec
• EPA -16 City / 24 Highway

I want to know who is going to buy one, and if you mind if I test drive it?

63 Chevy Impala Super Sport

I was thinking back on a trip me and a friend took recently to Indiana to look at a  Numbers Matching 1963 Chevy Impala Super Sport on the web. We knew this SS probably needed some work, but we decided to take the gamble and fly all the way from Florida. Other than running into some scheduling problems with the owner of the vehicle the traveling and trip itself didn’t have any speed bumps.

Click image to see photos from our Indiana trip

When we lost our foggy gazes we quickly snapped back into focus and realized we were here to FULLY inspect the entire vehicle. You could immediately tell the paint was starting to fade and the chrome striping was dinged and missing in some parts.  I thought to myself, it wasn’t that big of a deal and if everything else was good we would soon own a piece of American history. Once we opened the door I was surprised at how good condition the interior was for being a 46-year-old car. I decided  to start the engine and I tell you what, when I turned that ignition and heard the engine roar: I was in pure bliss, possibly even Heaven itself. I was immediately transported back to a time when the American Muscle Car reigned and was the fastest, most beautiful beast on the streets (and it still is in my opinion.) Needless to say the engine sounded excellent, we popped the hood and looked like two kids at a candy store. The sound of that engine was simply put… mesmerizing. As our eyes continually scanned the rest of the engine bay we noticed some rust spots but shrugged it off as wear and tear, nothing we couldn’t fix.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to and end. We quickly realized why this was a,  “too good to be true moment”. The owner probably didn’t want us to know that the entire underneath of the car was completely rusted out. To give you a good example of how much you could probably stick your fist in a hole where the shocks are mounted. The floor panels looked weak and about ready to cave in. The drive side door had two 8″ sections of Bondo where they had to piece the door back together.

Rusty Bottom

It doesn’t get any better from here on, as the trunk itself was missing the whole bottom. It looked like someone had tried to spray some black rubber material on the back quarter panel to hide something. These are things you should warn people about before they travel 900 miles to come see your vehicle. He knew that we were planning to drive this vehicle back and didn’t think of our safety, not only was this thing rusted but all four tires where dry rotted. I’m sure it would have fallen apart once we got on the highway.

We decided to hang our heads and walk away on this one. We spent the rest of the day looking at other classic cars such as a 69 Firebird and a 66 Impala Super Sport, but found the same problems of rust. Now let me ask you, is this typical of the Midwest? We see rust here and there in Florida since we are so close to the ocean but man, it sure does seem like these classic cars are sitting in the snow too long and are being destroyed by weather. Should we stay out of the area, or can you still make some good finds up North? Click here to see images of our trip

72 chevelle SS

Today’s market is highly driven upon bells and whistles it seems. You turn on the TV and you will find a lot of car shows talking about adding LCD TV’s and speakers to every nook and cranny of a vehicle.

The problem is where does it start and stop? Have we forgotten about the reason behind restoring cars?

My buddy and I were driving to pick up one of his projects that he was going to convert from a piece of junk to a beauty of a Chevy.

Unfortunately when we got there the car was so rusted we couldn’t even sit in the thing. But we got to thinking, why are we doing this? Is it about the money or about bringing works of art back to life? We then got onto the subject of modified or stock or as i like to say sizzle versus steak.

Should cars today have more eye popping features like chrome, fancy paint jobs, and rims or should they be re-done they way the manufacturer would have wanted.

I think both sizzle and steak is good, but there is a fine line between making something cheesy and too modern versus being stubborn and not adding any of your own touches. After all we do this to put our own little piece of art on the vehicles, to make them apart of us.

What do you guys and gals think? Do you like more sizzle or just plain steak when it comes to your classic cars?