I always had a very soft spot (between my ears, I think) for Pontiac.
I was bitten hard by the car bug as a 13 y/o in the back seat of a '76 Trans Am with Micky Thomson M50s on the back, a built 400/4sp, and open headers. When it hit a buck-twenty on the blacktop in front of my dad's house out in the country, I knew I'd have to own something like it, or die trying.
My first car was a '68 Firebird 326/Powerglide I bought when I was 15 from a police impound yard. I couldn't even drive it home. But when I got it there, I pulled the motor and transmission, and over the next 2 years painted it and put a "built" (by me, a 16 y/o) 400/turbo 400 in it. I called it "Stan's Am".
So yeah, I love me some Poncho.
That said-- the Town Car is an order of magnitude cooler to me as an old man. I'd still love a gen 2 F-body TA (as long as it was a 455 HO/4 sp), but the Town Cars of the era were "American" with a capital "A".
That T/A should probably have someone go over it to get measurements and other information to assist in restoration efforts by others with their own projects.
Tom, I figured that you may have needed medical attention upon spying that Town Car!
Shame about that Cutlass! Wonder what happened to the drinker’s side!
That Buick wagon is a looker, too!
What’s with the wheels on that Chevelle at the top of the article? Keep it stock if the rest of the car is that good! (And what is with those headlights??!!)
I prefer no signs, no rickrack, no fake plastic pouting dolls, and really, keep the hood and trunk closed. You see a line of cars with hoods open and it looks like they all broke down, lol. If you want to show info on the car, put it under the wiper or on top of the dash. I really don't care who painted it, who detailed it, who you bought the tires from, etc.
Totally agree. My 70 Cougar has a "beak" on the hood that strangers *and occasionally the owner* will bang a noggin on when peeking at the engine. I save lives and stitches by keeping my hood closed. I prefer to see them all closed for the aesthetic. Let the lines do their job.
It's funny how small the 1957 Chevys are when you stand next to them. Their proportions somehow exude more substance then they have. That example is pretty sweet.
I concur that this week's winner is the Trans Am. That shaker hood is the icing on the cake.
My parents were depression era kids and never spent the money on a ride with crushed velour seats just to get from A to B in extreme comfort but I always enjoyed it when I rode in others' plushmobiles. I wish those pillow-topped velour seats would make a comeback, but faux sportiness is the watchword these days to separate the fossils from the hip, trendy over 60 year old youths of today.
Power Glides are O.K., kinda slow with the i6 engines, if you properly tune a 265, 283, 327 or 350 CID stock V8 it'll move right out, no need to do " ! RACING !" foolishness that will make the car unpleasant to drive .
Lots of simple things one can do to wake them up, one of my favorites is fitting the cam shaft from a 3/4 truck application this will still start easily well below zero and idle smooth as silk .
Yeah…you can just leave me the keys to that Trans Am. What a looker!
the trans am is obviously the coolest but man that continential would be like driving a smoking jacket
My parents had a 1975 Town Coupe finished that same combination, and you are absolutely correct.
I always had a very soft spot (between my ears, I think) for Pontiac.
I was bitten hard by the car bug as a 13 y/o in the back seat of a '76 Trans Am with Micky Thomson M50s on the back, a built 400/4sp, and open headers. When it hit a buck-twenty on the blacktop in front of my dad's house out in the country, I knew I'd have to own something like it, or die trying.
My first car was a '68 Firebird 326/Powerglide I bought when I was 15 from a police impound yard. I couldn't even drive it home. But when I got it there, I pulled the motor and transmission, and over the next 2 years painted it and put a "built" (by me, a 16 y/o) 400/turbo 400 in it. I called it "Stan's Am".
So yeah, I love me some Poncho.
That said-- the Town Car is an order of magnitude cooler to me as an old man. I'd still love a gen 2 F-body TA (as long as it was a 455 HO/4 sp), but the Town Cars of the era were "American" with a capital "A".
Stupid-cool.
“Stan’s Am” - brilliant! I didn’t know one end of a spanner from the other at 16.
Oh, I thought I was brilliant all right -- but even then my tongue was planted firmly in my cheek on that one.
Wait, is that possibly the last surviving Merkur xr4ti?
Weird then. Weird now.
Haha
You’re not wrong
I saw TWO parked next to each other at a show recently. It was a big show and that's literally the only picture I took.
The favorite car of Cascadians who wanted to rally a Sierra and have all their replacement parts shipped from Ford UK.
That T/A should probably have someone go over it to get measurements and other information to assist in restoration efforts by others with their own projects.
Tom, I figured that you may have needed medical attention upon spying that Town Car!
Shame about that Cutlass! Wonder what happened to the drinker’s side!
That Buick wagon is a looker, too!
What’s with the wheels on that Chevelle at the top of the article? Keep it stock if the rest of the car is that good! (And what is with those headlights??!!)
I always think of those stupid looking headlights as 'zombie headlights.' Just dumb looking.
Certainly there are still dual-element round bulbs available in spades! (As long as there are OG Mustangs!)
That mustard Buick is n-i-c-e.
No supper club review?
My Gen Z son calls those signs like in front of the Pontiac, Boomer Boards.
I prefer no signs, no rickrack, no fake plastic pouting dolls, and really, keep the hood and trunk closed. You see a line of cars with hoods open and it looks like they all broke down, lol. If you want to show info on the car, put it under the wiper or on top of the dash. I really don't care who painted it, who detailed it, who you bought the tires from, etc.
Yeah. I agree with leave the hood, doors, trunk closed. I never thought about that it looks like you broke down.
Totally agree. My 70 Cougar has a "beak" on the hood that strangers *and occasionally the owner* will bang a noggin on when peeking at the engine. I save lives and stitches by keeping my hood closed. I prefer to see them all closed for the aesthetic. Let the lines do their job.
Personally, I appreciate an informative sign. 🤓
It's funny how small the 1957 Chevys are when you stand next to them. Their proportions somehow exude more substance then they have. That example is pretty sweet.
I concur that this week's winner is the Trans Am. That shaker hood is the icing on the cake.
My parents were depression era kids and never spent the money on a ride with crushed velour seats just to get from A to B in extreme comfort but I always enjoyed it when I rode in others' plushmobiles. I wish those pillow-topped velour seats would make a comeback, but faux sportiness is the watchword these days to separate the fossils from the hip, trendy over 60 year old youths of today.
Yeah, everyone loves the debut Trans Am. It was beaten with the styling stick they only half used on the Zed 28.
That's fantastic .
I didn't realize there were any stock '57 Chevy rag tops left .
I really love that ? '78 ? Dodge pickup, I used to have a well optioned '79 short bed, never shoulda sold that one .
-Nate
Almost wondered if the transmission was a “three-on-the-tree,” but then I saw the brake pedal.
Power Glides are O.K., kinda slow with the i6 engines, if you properly tune a 265, 283, 327 or 350 CID stock V8 it'll move right out, no need to do " ! RACING !" foolishness that will make the car unpleasant to drive .
Lots of simple things one can do to wake them up, one of my favorites is fitting the cam shaft from a 3/4 truck application this will still start easily well below zero and idle smooth as silk .
That Cutlass: https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/06/04/9d138f74-a644-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/1240x930/a8e66258d946ec33966fcba155e16495/trucker-damage-face_web.jpg
The Jade Continental is peak, as the kids say. The "Trams Am" is begging for some burnouts, tomorrow, after the G&Ts wear off.