The New Ted’s Garage Blog!

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 23rd, 2007
We have upgraded the ClassicCar.com blog with new software with many enhanced features.

- Fully searchable.
- Improved comment system.
- Integrated article archive.
- Integrated newsletter archive.
- Easily add posts to Digg.

New comments will not be registered immediately. Once you have an approved comment, you will no longer have to wait for your comments to appear on the post. Also, any comments that include links must also wait for moderation.

Enjoy!

Live Video of Kruse Auction

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 21st, 2007
Michigan Live Events is hosting live streaming videos of the Kruse International Classic Car Auction conducted at the Michigan Antique Festival. At the time of this writing they are auctioning off a very clean late-model Lincoln with 25,000 miles on the clock. The car sold for all of $2,350.

The lots appear to be mixed. A 1993 Chevy pickup was followed by a red and white frame-off restored 1972 Chevy Cheyenne. The Cheyenne went for $7,000 but apparently did not hit reserve. The auctioneer -- who was working his butt off trying to get top dollar -- mentioned they sold a similar Cheyenne for $52,000 at the Myrtle Beach show. The Cheyenne was followed by a nice looking 1971 Camaro Z28 clone fitted with a 454. The car went for $7,100 but again did not hit reserve. A few cars later a beautiful cream-colored 1966 Thunderbird convertible crossed the block for $15,000 -- reserve not met by almost half.

The event takes place over this weekend and is LIVE right now. Click here then click the big orange button with an arrow in it to launch the live video.

“Build-A-Bear” For Car Nuts

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 20th, 2007
Build-A-Bear is a retail shop that allows kids to select a teddy bear, stuff it, and choose accessories. The kids literally "build" their own bear. Now car enthusiasts have their own version of Build-A-Bear in a company called RIDEMAKERZ. You choose your body and chassis and then customize it to your liking. There's even an option to make your RIDE into a remote-control vehicle. Each RIDE is equipped with, "...body, chassiz, stock treadz, stock wheelz, RZ Mix SONICPOD, working headlights and taillights, Certificate of Title, Personalized License Plates, RZ Tool for assembly and RZ CRUIZECASE." RIDEMAKERZ just opened a shop in the Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota.

RZ SLING gold blinger

Hired! Vintage Chevy Training Video

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 19th, 2007
The first clip here is a not-exactly-politically-correct MST3K - Mystery Science Theater 3000 - parody of Hired!, one of the worst-acted, slowest, least-exciting, and rambling Chevrolet training videos ever made. If you want to see the real video, click through to view the rest of the post.

Hired! MST3K parody:


Continue reading "Hired! Vintage Chevy Training Video"

Kids’ Summer Camp at the Petersen

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 18th, 2007
Could this be the coolest summer camp ever? It sure would beat the heck out of picking wood ticks off your kids noggin' when they get back from a traditional summer camp out in the boondocks. Kids ages 7 - 12 get to explore the Petersen Automotive Museum collection and exhibits and participate in hands-on projects. Projects such as map making, clay sculpting, collage, 3D modeling, printmaking, design drawing, and a mysterious workshop called 'experimenting.'

The basic information from the Petersen Automotive Museum site:
ENROLL NOW!
Children ages 7 - 12 are eligible to participate

Week 1: Tuesday - Friday, July 24 - 27, 2007, 9:30 am - 3 pm
Week 2: Tuesday - Friday, July 31 - August 3, 2007, 9:30 am - 3 pm
Week 3: Tuesday - Friday, August 7 - August 10, 2007, 9:30 am - 3 pm

Enrollment Fees:
Museum members $190
Non-members $230

Extended Child Care (optional): $60 for each week
Extended child care is available 8 am - 9:30 am and 3 pm - 5 pm everyday during camp.

Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to 20 students per week. For information or registration, please call 323-964-6373 or email mcamacho@petersen.org.

2007 Art Center Car Gallery

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 17th, 2007
Autoblog has another nice gallery posted. This time it's of the unusual cars that were present at the 2007 Art Center Car Classic show. There are quite a few interesting cars in the gallery, including domestics and foreign models, both newer and older.

The example below is the trio of 1953 - 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT concept cars. BAT is an acronym that refers to Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica rather than specifically to the cars bat-like look.

More Miscellany From Iola

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 16th, 2007
Cleaning out the camera. Found some wheels with Hudson caps, a Ferguson 35 tractor, a military Jeep, a few gas pumps, and a literature display. That's about all I have. It was pretty slim pickings come noon on the last day of the event.




Continue reading "More Miscellany From Iola"

More From the Iola Swap Meet

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 15th, 2007
I made it to Iola. Sort of. By the time I walked through the gate the gatekeepers had abandoned their post and the banners were coming down. There were a few vendors sticking it out to the 3:00 official closing time, but most had long packed up. Even though the show was winding down there were last-minute deals to be had. Krause -- publisher of Old Cars Weekly -- had a tent full of remainder books on sale for $2 to $5 a pop. I picked up standard catalogs for Chrysler, Ford, Cadillac, Mustang, imports, a spotters guide, a book on muscle car advertising, another on concept cars, and a beautiful 752 page color hardcover about hotrods all for 52 bucks. Not a bad deal at all.

Here are a few of the cars that were staying put until the festivities were done:





The '67 Pontiac Lemans was a GTO convertible clone painted up like a Hot Wheels car. In the window was a dealer sticker that listed the MSRP at $3,429.77.

View the full post to see larger photos.

Continue reading "More From the Iola Swap Meet"

Iola Swap Meet Photo Gallery

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 14th, 2007
Can't make it to the Iola Swap Meet up here in Iola, Wisconsin? Me either, and I live an hour away from the dang place. The show promoter -- Old Cars Weekly -- has a photo gallery of what we are all missing. It looks like a really good event this year. There's still one day left... maybe, just maybe I'll make it. You can see even more at Angelo Van Bogart's blog.

If you are not a subscriber…

Posted by Todd Jensen on July 13th, 2007
this is what you missed in the July issue of Classic Motor News. We took a brief look at the life of William Harrah, the collector who assembled a 1,500 car collection which eventually became the National Automobile Museum. We linked you to resources that provide detailed information on how to do a $50 paint job on your car. And finally, we recommended Dean Batchelor's book, Harrah's Automobile Collection for those who would like to learn more about Harrah and his cars.

In every issue we also include tidbits on what is happening in the ClassicCar.com forum, a pre-war and post-war featured classified ad, and wrap up every issue with the best of Ted's Garage Blog. Get Classic Motor News in your mailbox every month for free. It arrives around the 10th of the month, it's easy to subscribe and unsubscribe, and it's available in both text-only and graphics-rich versions.

Click here to sign up.

All posts are coming via feeds from websites listed in contributers. 2008 Mens Blog.