Vintage Cars, 1930 Cadillac V-16

The 1930 CADILLAC V-16 ALL WEATHER PHAETON, is one of several hundred interesting vehicles in THE EARLY AMERICAN MUSEUM, Silver Springs, Florida. This has one of the thirteen aluminum bodies built by Fleetwood Body Corp. of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, for Cadillacs debut of the V-16. Fleetwood was acquired by Fisher Body in 1925, the year prior to General Motors purchase of Fisher Body Corporation.

The cars first owner was Mr. Harold Pryor, a V.P. of GM’s Frigidair Division who retired about ten years later, taking the car with him to his farm at Midway, Ohio north of Dayton. The car was stored on the second floor of a large barn during the war years due to gasoline rationing and it’s six tires turned to “aid the war effort”. Here the car remained for almost another ten years until purchased by Mr. H. Boyd Keys of Dayton, Ohio with only 11,300 miles on the speedometer. The only 19” tires available at the time were Montgomery-Ward Riversides and aside from the tires everything was original as when it left the factory twenty-years before. Mr. Keys drove the car very little over the next year before selling it to John C. Delameter of Richmond Indiana – a student at Purdue at the time, so it caught the eye of many wishful owners on the Lafayette Campus for another couple of years until acquired for $1,500.00 by the Early American Museum in 1954, the year of it’s opening.

With only 22,083 miles it is possibly the lowest original mileage V-16 in almost original condition throughout, with it’s like new Bedford-cord upholstering, top covering an two-tone paint job, with but one slight alteration in the color of the two-tone from light brown to cream. The interior is intact in every accessory, even the Jaeger 8-day wind clock. To lift the hood for a look at the massive V-16 power plant it is as sparkling as it looked years ago. This is not a restored classic, it’s age has been added gracefully over the years.

Model - All Weather Phaeton
Motor - V-16
Bore & Stroke - 3" x 4"
Horsepower - 57.60
Wheelbase - 148"
Tire Size - 7:50-19
Weight - 5675 lbs
Factory List - $6,650.00

American Muscle Cars, 1965-1966 Ford Galaxie 500XL

1966 Galaxie Convertible 428cid V8(7-Litre)

1965 Galaxie 2-Dr Hardtop Coupe

1964 Galaxie 2-Dr Hardtop Coupe

The typical definition of muscle car does not always fit the standards set as an intermediate or pony size car. Such is the case with several makes and models of automobiles produced in the classic and muscle car category. Muscle cars can be engineered by mechanics to perform as they desire. There were several models of the big name car manufacturers that fit this category.

Ford produced such a car that has been overlooked by many as a contender in the muscle car bracket. The Ford Galaxie 500 and 500XL grew from their birth in the late 50’s to becoming a candidate for enthusiasts to experiment with. With few changes and modifications, the 1965 Galaxie 500’s were improved for street rods. Although the body style was changed from the long sled look in 1965 to an intermediate size look that boasted boxier and more angular styling with stacked quad headlamps, and a sturdier new frame engineered from Ford’s experience in the stock car world. Ford’s big stockers in 1965 gave the division its best winning season in NASCAR, taking 48 wins out of 55 “Grand National” events.


The 65-66 Galaxie 500XL was a sporty extension of the Galaxie 500. The bodies of the 500XL were stronger and quieter than the previous year’s model of Galaxie. The XLs were given sporty bucket seats and console interior and had power options up to a 410/425hp 427cid V8,although the Galaxie came standard with a small block 289cid. A manual four-speed was available with the big block engines; most Galaxie XLs were built with the trusty 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic. The Galaxie, regardless of it’s weight, averaging 3497-4059lbs, could be quite fast and rewarding to drive. Their popularity declining in years reflected less on their abilities and more on buyer’s preference for the speedier and lighter mid-size muscle cars being engineered. The long overlooked 1965-1966 Ford Galaxies 500XLs are worthy of collector esteem.

1965 Ford Galaxie 500XL Production:

• Hardtop Coupe: 28,141
• Convertible: 9,849

1966 Ford Galaxie 500XL Production:

• Hardtop Coupe: 25,715
• Convertible: 6,360 w/7-Litre engine-428cid
• Hardtop Coupe: 8,705 w/7-Litre engine-428cid
• Convertible: 2,368

Engine Size Horsepower Year

• 289 cid 195/200 1965-1966
• 352 cid 250 1965-1966
• 390 cid 275/300/315 1965-1966
• 428 cid 345 1966
• 427 cid 410/425 1965-1966

1961-1963 Buick Special Skylark

The Buick division of General Motors introduced the Skylark model in 1961 to place itself in the muscle car bracket of automotive manufacturing and engineering. Their performance stand was to appeal to the younger generation of car buyers that were being targeted by several other manufacturers of muscle cars. After Buick Special had a seven year absence from the automotive market, Buick engineered the Special Skylark with same chassis as the Chevrolet Corvair, the Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile F-85 and Buick Special came with front engines which differed from the Corvair.

Introduced in the middle of the 1961, and based on the 1960 Buick Special two-door coupe, Buick Special Skylark was given unique Skylark emblems, lower body side moldings, taillight housings, a vinyl roof, and turbine wheel covers. It also featured plush interior and optional bucket seats. The basic Buick Special came with a 215 cid all aluminum block with 155 hp at 4600 rpm. The Buick Special Skylark was given a little more muscle with a version of this engine with a higher compression ratio and added a 4-bbl carburetor to produce 185 hp.

The 1962 Buick Skylark had the same distinctive design as 1961 models, but was made a model of its own branding – Skylark instead of Special Skylark. The 1962 model had the same basic sheet metal, but was available in two different body styles; a two-door pillarless hardtop that was unique to the Skylark, and a two-door convertible coupe. Also added to the 215cid V8 was additional horsepower rating it at 190hp.

In 1963, the Skylark was given a considerably different look of full length body panels giving it a boxier style and five inches added to the length of the Y frame from 188 inches to 193. Again the 215 V8 was given additional muscle, boosting it to 200hp at 5000 rpm. Transmission choices were, “three on the tree” manual, a floor shift Borg Warner T-10 manual, or a two-speed “Dual Path Turbine Drive” automatic, a design specifically by Buick and had no common parts like the “Power Glide” by Chevrolet.

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A search for information to add to your knowledge of auto mechanics or to find an answer or viewpoint about a particular area concerning the project you are working on can be a cumbersome task.

One of the best information sources for Ford enthusiasts and automotive motor heads to find answers to their technical questions is fordmuscle.com This site is well informed with a wide variety of answers and sources. Also included in this well informed site are forums with a broad range of members to get feedback from. As I browsed through this site, it was impressive to see the abundance of resources for automotive information.

This site is highly recommended as a great place to check out for information.

Classic Chevrolet, 1953 Chevy 210 2DR Sedan

This 1953 Chevy 210 two-door sedan was recently featured at a Classic Muscle Car show sponsored by KODL radio station in The Dalles, OR, in conjunction with a local Cherry Harvest festival. Owner Bob Peickert (a current resident) has a long history of classic car restoration. Over the last 38 years he has been involved in full or partial restoration of at least 17 vehicles.

The first restoration, a 1949 English Ford (different form American Ford) was his inspiration in seeing what could be accomplished in the hobby of car restoration. Other restoration projects he was involved with were a 1953 Chevrolet F10 pickup; two 1965 Chevy pickups; a 1949 Mercury; a 1953 one-ton truck; a 1950 Ford Club Coupe, and he also took two MGB’s and made one good car.

The 1953 Chevy 210 he currently restored, which he named “Hugo” was found alongside the road on a trip through Hugo, Colorado. Hugo was brought home and disassembled in Bob Peickeret’s shop, fully equipped with a car lift, air conditioning, heating and professional lighting, all of which makes any lengthy project like this bearable. It is a must to have such a quality shop like this to be able to put in approximately 3000 hours, which were put into the restoration of “Hugo”.

He did all of the work himself, with the exception of the paint, an “Atlantic Blue Pearl Coat” – which was done by Sky’s Collision Repair of The Dalles, OR. The upholstery was done by an upholstery shop in Portland, OR.

Engine: GM HO 305 Crate engine
Transmission: GM 5350 automatic

Other specifics:
• Power brakes – front disk, rear drum
• Heidts front suspension
• 73 Nova differential
• Power rack and pinion steering

Interior options added:
• Hot Rod air conditioning
• Dakota digital cruise control
• Power door locks & a power trunk

Since completion of “Hugo” in January 2008, it has won awards at every Classic Car show it has been entered into, such car shows as, the 1949-1953 Resto Rod class at the Portland Rod and Custom Show (second place award), and the Judge’s Choice Award at another in Heppner OR. Other car shows such as the Peach City Cruise, Pentiction B.C. in June and Salmon River, Idaho are just a few of the events planned for the future.

1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT

Throughout the muscle car era (1960’s thru 1970), car manufacturers were constantly looking for new engineering and design to introduce new cars into the market. This quest for bigger and better ideas by Ford/Mercury division led to several designs in the 60’s for a marketable automotive design to present to an already competitive platform of muscle cars.

Introduction of the 1967 Cougar gave Mercury its own version of pony car based on that year’s second-generation Mustang. The Cougar’s design came with a 3 inch longer wheelbase than the Mustang; a full width divided grille with vertical bars defined the front grill with hidden headlights. This design was sometimes called the electric shaver grille (the 1964 Dodge Charger came with the same style grille), Cougar’s design went one step further with the rear having a similar style as the front, surrounding the license plate on both sides with the vertically slatted grille-work concealing taillights and sequential turn signals, a styling touch taken from the Thunderbird. Mercury’s design was deliberate to give the car more of a “European” flair than the Mustang, attracting American buyers’. The Cougar continued for seven years to be a twin to the Mustang and was available with options to be a genuine muscle car.

The Cougar was available with two styling options, the base and the XR-7, but only came in a two door hardtop body style. Only one trim package was available for both the base model and the XR-7. The XR-7 model had wood-grained steering wheel, a simulated wood-grained dashboard with a full set of black faced competition instruments and toggle switches, an overhead console, T-type center shifter for the automatic transmission and leather or vinyl upholstery. Engine choices varied from the 200 hp 289cid 2-bbl V8 (standard engine in the base model) to the 335 hp 390cid 4-bbl V8. A GT performance package was available on both the base and XR-7 Cougars. This option included the 390 V8 along with an adequate performance handling package. The Cougar would become Mercury’s muscle car icon for several years.

As early as 1970 the Cougar started to shift from performance to luxury evolving the Cougar into a luxury pony car. The change in emissions control and rising fuel prices also deemed the changes necessary to continue Mercury’s Cougar to keep a place in an ever changing automotive market

american muscle cars

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird

In 1970 the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was one of many muscle cars that served a dual purpose along with other muscle cars like, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino GT, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler GT and Plymouth’s basic Road Runner. They were not only prime candidates for the ultimate in street rod muscle, their characteristics were noted by NASCAR to be worthy of using on super speedways. Car manufacturers took this interest very seriously. NASCAR meant big advertising for the manufacturers, what could be better endorsement for companies than having big named drivers such as Richard Petty , Buddy Baker, Norm Nelson or Cale Yarborough win the Daytona 500 in a car designed and made by your company.

With big named drivers of NASCAR endorsing muscle cars like Plymouth Superbird it gave the company incentive to get the project into high gear. In 1969, Richard Petty, who until then had raced and driven numerous Plymouth’s to victory, did the unexpected and moved over to the Ford racing team. Petty was not happy with the new 1968 Plymouth Road Runner body style, he felt it was not aerodynamically friendly compared to the Ford equivalent. Buddy Baker made a good showing with his ‘69 Charger Daytona, with unheard speeds of 200 mph. Plymouth was determined to win Petty back and was willing to do anything necessary to accomplish this. After Dodge discontinued the Charger Daytona in 1969, Plymouth applied the aerodynamic technology to the Road Runner in 1970, in respect, winning Richard Petty back to their team.

With some similarities between the ’69 Charger Daytona and the ’70 Superbird, the only true similarities are the front fenders and the windshield, which like the Charger Daytona were borrowed from the 1970 coronet. Their nosecones and tall rear wings looked identical, but were not interchangeable. The nose cone on the Superbird points downward with the grille on the underside, as on the Daytona it’s in the front center of the nose cone. The headlights and turn signals are different as well. The rear wing is more swept back on the Superbird, but adjustable like the Daytona.

Although Plymouth made many more of the Superbirds than Dodge’s Daytona, that doesn’t say Plymouth had better luck with the public buying these long nosed tall winged unsightly (as perceived by public opinion) aero cars. As did the Daytona, the Superbird sat on dealers’ lots as far ahead as 1972, until most dealers removed the nose cones and tall spoilers and installed standard Road Runner equipment to move them off their lots. Even with the sales problems then, today the sale prices range from $100K to $300K and up, making them one of the most sought after Mopar’s today.

Engines: 426 Hemi – 425bhp@5000 rpm&490 lb-ft torque @ 4000 rpm, 440 V8 – 375 bhp @4600 rpm & 480 lb-ft torque @ 3200 rpm. Total production of 1920 – 1162 with a 440 4bbl, 665 with a 440 Six pack, and 93 with 426 Hemi’s.

american muscle cars