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<channel>
	<title>The Big Block Blog</title>
	
	<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog</link>
	<description>30 Years of American Performance 1960-1990</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 20:08:17 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>July 9 is now Collector Car Appreciation Day</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=191</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=191#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 20:08:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=191</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[...they asked for the government resolution "to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society." Senators Jon Tester (D-Mt.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), both members of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, put Senate Resolution 513 on the docket.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Well, it&#8217;s about time we classic car owners got a day!</strong></p>
<p>This is great news for all who toil over their classic cars and pay big bucks to keep the aftermarket parts market in the black.</p>
<p>How can government ever pass laws <em>against</em> our hobby now that we actually have a day to commemorate the rich automotive history of the US automakers and <em><strong>we the people</strong></em> &#8211; the car owners &#8211; who have preserved these prizes?</p>
<h3><strong>Here&#8217;s the skinny:</strong></h3>
<p><strong></p>
<ul class="il-unordered-list">
<li>July 9 is now Collector Car Appreciation Day.</li>
<li>SEMA gets U.S. Senate to declare the new day of recognition.</li>
<li>The new day will be commemorated by &#8220;car cruises, club gatherings, and other educational events&#8221; that SEMA will spearhead nationally.</li>
</ul>
<p></strong></p>
<p><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> — Get to the Hallmark store for this one: July 9 is now Collector Car Appreciation Day. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring the new day of recognition, spurred on by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization.</p>
<p>The organizations said they asked for the government resolution &#8220;to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.&#8221; Senators Jon Tester (D-Mt.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), both members of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, put Senate Resolution 513 on the docket.</p>
<div id="attachment_192" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-192" title="72_gto_455ho__2" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/72_gto_455ho__2-300x168.jpg" alt="My '72 is somewhere in NY right now and I'm sure she's happy about the news!" width="300" height="168" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My &#39;72 is somewhere in NY right now and I&#39;m sure she&#39;s happy about the news!</p></div>
<p>The new day will be commemorated by &#8220;car cruises, club gatherings, and other educational events&#8221; on July 9 that SEMA said it will spearhead nationally.</p>
<p><strong><em>If you own a muscle car, classic Euro touring model, or any old &#8220;clunker&#8221; (as the Obama administration calls &#8216;em), be sure to get &#8216;em out there this July!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Let&#8217;s not let this day ever become another &#8220;Arbor Day&#8221; or other forgotten day on the calendar!</em></strong></p>
<h4><strong><em><em>Sorry about the delay since my last post. I had a deadbeat landlord who allowed my home to go into foreclosure! Then I had the fight, the 90-day federal mandated stay (mwaaaah- ha-ha!) but then the necessary move to another house.</em></em></strong></h4>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-193" title="macswax_purplered" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/macswax_purplered-300x117.jpg" alt="macswax_purplered" width="300" height="117" /><br />
<strong><em><em>Here&#8217;s the <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">Mac&#8217;s Wax product of the week</a>: everything!<br />
Yes, everything on the website is on sale! It&#8217;s spring: get out and wax your car!</em></em></strong></p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/n_lfBowJEL-KO4YwldRkLYs3x80/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/n_lfBowJEL-KO4YwldRkLYs3x80/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/n_lfBowJEL-KO4YwldRkLYs3x80/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/n_lfBowJEL-KO4YwldRkLYs3x80/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBigBlockBlog/~4/kNZRSw-t45I" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What We Lost in the Clunkers Program</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=186</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=186#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:43:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Camaro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cash for Clunkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Motors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GM bailout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mustang]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=186</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[...recent numbers exposed the sadder part of this wonderful Cash for Clunkers deal: it cost taxpayers $24,000 per car sold! That is absolutely ridiculous! And people are congratulating each other and the president for that?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2><em>Lot&#8217;s of people think it was a total success.</em></h2>
<p>But if you&#8217;re an American muscle car enthusiast, the Obama &#8220;Cash for Clunkers&#8221; program was not a good as it sounded.</p>
<p>First, as you may have read, many new car sales were for imports, in fact, I&#8217;ve read it was almost 85%! This means all those profits zipped across the oceans to Germany, Japan, Korea and France. Not good.</p>
<p>Next, recent numbers exposed the sadder part of this wonderful deal: it cost taxpayers $24,000 per car sold! That is absolutely ridiculous! And people are congratulating each other and the president for <strong><em>that</em></strong>?</p>
<p>Finally, let&#8217;s take a look at the toll it took on our potential resto projects. What will our kids find and rebuild as we did when we were kids? There are 700,00 old cars out of circulation now, but the list below is the saddest part of all of this:</p>
<p>1,611 Mustangs were crushed &#8211; (one of them was an SVT Cobra and many were GTs)<br />
2 Roush-equipped Stage 3 F-150 trucks are gone.<br />
2 Chip Foose resto-mod F-150s. (Are you kidding me???)<br />
3,000 Thunderbirds (some were Super Coupes and Turbos – even an ‘05 2-seater!!!)<br />
107 Ford Taurus SHOs  (Special Vehicle Ops at Ford are probably sick over this!)</p>
<p><strong>But let&#8217;s look at the General!</strong><br />
131 Chevy Corvettes! (34 of which were ‘verts. Who could crush a Vette? Are these people NUTS???)<br />
1,000 Camaros (1984-2000 – Think we lost any IROC Zs? I certainly do.)<br />
1 Buick GNX -  A collector&#8217;s prize&#8230;gone.<br />
1 20th Anniv. Trans Am (plus hundreds more F-body Ponchos!)<br />
61 Fieros</p>
<p>This is really bad: it really <em>saved the planet</em> and juiced our economy didn’t it?<br />
I am so pleased with Obamas performance thus far. (Not.)<br />
1,000 Camaros are crushed&#8230; and unemployment is about to hit 9.9% as I write this.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll be back next week!</p>
<p><strong>Modern Survivalist: The world is changing. Maybe we should all prepare for &#8220;different times&#8221;?</strong></p>
<div id="attachment_187" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><strong><strong><a href="http://www.modernsurvivalist.com"><img class="size-medium wp-image-187" title="modsurvival" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/modsurvival-300x55.gif" alt="I recommend this site." width="300" height="55" /></a></strong></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">I recommend this site.</p></div>
<p><strong></strong></p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9fsZuqs2GVMJnAKdv_VlBJ5RrFA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9fsZuqs2GVMJnAKdv_VlBJ5RrFA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9fsZuqs2GVMJnAKdv_VlBJ5RrFA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9fsZuqs2GVMJnAKdv_VlBJ5RrFA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBigBlockBlog/~4/FLQ11G4Kbn8" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>“Muscle Car Fast”?</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=178</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=178#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:23:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car wax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cragar wheels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GTO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pontiac 400]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Z28]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=178</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Driving in a jacked-up 1968 GTO was not exactly an experiment in European touring. The front seats were so angled that you'd have to brace your feet against the firewall at hard stops. (Who ever heard of seat belts back then? We used to hide them under our seats!) I cringe when I think of the weight transfer to the front suspension now. No wonder it handled like a tobogan.

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Misguided devotion killed the whole concept.</h2>
<p>I remember the first thing I did when I purchased my first muscle car. It was a 1968 Pontiac GTO convertible with a 400 cid, 4-speed Hurst and not much else. It had been repainted in &#8217;69 Carousel Red &#8212; the same color you see on most &#8217;69 Judge models. The day I took hold of the title, that poor car was headed for the slaughterhouse. Poor thing.</p>
<div id="attachment_180" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-180" title="69pongto" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/69pongto-300x147.jpg" alt="69pongto" width="300" height="147" /><p class="wp-caption-text">This is a &#39;69 convertible Judge, but you get the idea. Right?</p></div>
<p>It was in 1974, and we&#8217;d just come off a major gas shortage for the first time since WWII. Some of us young people claimed that oil tankers were sitting off the coast of the US, just waiting for the price of gasoline to go up another ten-cents, so they could earn millions more on their deliveries. True or not &#8212; we all had to curb our driving for several months and purchase smaller quanities of gas on odd or even days&#8230;.depending on your IQ.</p>
<p>When I bought this Goat, the seller owned a body shop in Salem, MA. He didn&#8217;t do much collision work, but rather spent his days fixing wrecked muscle cars, painting them-up and selling them for profit. I remember he had several mid-60s Vettes in his yard; I wasn&#8217;t interested, I wanted a GTO. It may have had a bent frame, but I didn&#8217;t care,  nor did I ask &#8212; as long as it was a GTO.</p>
<p>But this guy recognized the value of a GTO with better gas mileage, so he bastardized the car with a two-barrel carb and a set of highway gears that were absolutely maddening at best. He advertised it as a <em>gas-saving muscle car</em> and I took it &#8212; hook, line and sinker. All for 800 bucks, by the way.</p>
<p>The first thing I did was purchase a set of rear air shocks. I ran the long plastic lines to the rear bumper where I placed the valve stem, making it easier to raise or lower the rake of the GTO. (But who would ever <em>lower</em> a muscle car in 1974???)</p>
<p>Soon, I was cruising town in a <em>jacked-up</em> &#8217;68 GTO &#8212; with a set of polyglas, 75-series whitewalls and PMD hubcaps.</p>
<p>Yikes. Did I <em>really</em> do that?</p>
<p>Within a few weeks, I had saved enough to buy a used set of deep-dish Cragar SS chromed wheels and a set of G60-14 tires with raised white letters  &#8211; just for the rear, of course. (Ouch again. While this was better than the whitewalls, I still had the steel wheels with PMD hubcaps on the front!)</p>
<p>I forget how long I drove the car that way, but I remember that those front wheels and caps finally gave-way to a set of Rally IIs and two 70-series raised white tires. (Thank God.)</p>
<p>Driving in a jacked-up GTO was not exactly an experiment in Euro-style touring. The front seats were so angled that you&#8217;d have to brace your feet against the firewall at hard stops. (Who ever heard of seat belts back then? We used to hide them under our seats!) I cringe when I think of the weight transfer to the front suspension now. <em>No wonder it handled like a tobogan.</em></p>
<p>All of this did nothing to enhance the performance of this poor, poor GTO. Until I found a set of 4:11 gears. Suddenly, and despite the 2bbl. carb, I had one of the faster muscle cars in town. But those gears weren&#8217;t for a kid who enjoyed cruising with his girlfriend on a Saturday night, they were for trucks or <em>weekend warriors</em> at New England Dragway. But I didn&#8217;t care&#8230;.my car was fast and looked fast too.</p>
<h3>The police seemed to notice this as well.</h3>
<p>If not for the fact that my teenage flame was a police captain&#8217;s daughter, I would have lost my license within the first year.</p>
<p>During my first few weeks with the new set-up, I beat some cars that had always beaten me in the past. Word got around &#8211; I became respected by my peers. That may have been a total of a dozen kids or so. But the problems outweighed my perceived success. I was getting about 8 MPG, my air hoses kept melting on my exhaust pipes and as such would lower the rear fenders onto my fat rear tires, causing massive amounts of tire smoke and grooves in the tread. Then one day, the two Cragar rims decided to walk home on Rt. 128 &#8212; wrong lug nuts. The lug bolts had all sheared off.</p>
<p>But there was so much more to do to the car to make it &#8220;right.&#8221;</p>
<p>One guy in town had installed a wiper fluid pump in his trunk. At the flip of a switch, he&#8217;d pump Clorox onto his tires at a stoplight and smoke his Z28 outa there like nobody&#8217;s business. Gee, I needed that too.</p>
<p>Then there was the coveted 4-barrell Holley and Edelbrock intake manifold. I just needed to burn even <em>more</em> gas!</p>
<p>Then I wanted to cut out my blocked scoops, purchase Ram Air intake parts and give the car that 5HP of additional boost from the cooler air.</p>
<p>Luckily, I never accomplished any of the above. I seems the gas expense was guzzling most of my weekly paycheck.</p>
<p>But the funny thing is, it was all fun. I&#8217;m glad nobody ever got hurt, because our cars were often pretty unsafe, but it sure was a ton of fun. I&#8217;ll never forget cruising in that car&#8230;my girl by my side and The Beach Boys or Aerosmith cranking out of 5&#8243; K-Mart speakers.</p>
<p>Later that same year, I went to a Pontiac dealer and ordered a 1975 Trans Am. In those days, Trans Ams were <em>special order only</em> and not stacked on the dealer lots. Mine was ordered on Halloween night 1974 and arrived a few days before the end of 1974.</p>
<p>The Trans Am didn&#8217;t have the raw power of my old &#8217;68 GTO, but man did that car hug the road! I had more fun in that T/A than any other car I&#8217;ve ever owned.</p>
<p>Euro-style handling is a lot more fun when you&#8217;re a cruisin&#8217; idiot like me.</p>
<p>See you next week!</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-179" title="macswetcherry_16oz" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/macswetcherry_16oz-150x150.jpg" alt="macswetcherry_16oz" width="150" height="150" />This week&#8217;s Mac&#8217;s Wax of the Week is my <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com/product/147428/Macs-Wax-Wicked-Cherry-Wet-Wax-wCarnauba--16-oz_699487.html"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Wicked Cherry Wet Wax</span></strong></a>, available at <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">Macs-wax.com</a>. It smells like cherry&#8230;it&#8217;s pink&#8230;and it&#8217;s wet.  Nice, huh? But seriously, my Cherry Wet Wax has pure carnauba wax and some polymers we call WetGloss. The stuff is incredible and inexpensive too!</p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2pAigUjPJmdVZ4RIRODmsapUP3s/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2pAigUjPJmdVZ4RIRODmsapUP3s/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>A New American Car Company Emerges from the Rubble</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=170</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=170#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:55:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mac's Wax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[V-Vehicle Co.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VVC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=170</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[VVC will produce a high-quality, environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market," the statement said. "The goal of the company is to provide the American buyer greater product value and a superior automotive experience."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An all-new American car company, backed by Texas billionaire  T. Boone Pickens and headed-up by former Mazda designer Tom Matano plans to build  environmentally friendly vehicles in  Louisiana.</p>
<p>According to their press release, V-Vehicle Company, or VVC,  which is headquartered in San Diego, will begin assembling new cars in Monroe, LA.  The project is slated to create over 1,400 direct jobs at an average annual salary of nearly $40,000, plus benefits, as well as a capital investment of at least $248 million.</p>
<p>At the company&#8217;s website, founder and CEO Frank Varasano said production could begin in 15 months.</p>
<p>&#8220;VVC will produce a high-quality, environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;The goal of the company is to provide the American buyer greater product value and a superior automotive experience.&#8221;</p>
<p>Louisiana Gov. Bobby  Jindal said, &#8220;What we are here to officially announce today is not a typical economic development project.  Most business recruitment projects for the state involve large, long-established companies building another plant similar to one they already have &#8211; similar to facilities that other companies in their industry already have. Those are great projects and we appreciate the jobs they provide, but today&#8217;s announcement is different.</p>
<div id="attachment_173" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 262px"><img class="size-full wp-image-173" title="vvc_car_jindal" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/vvc_car_jindal.jpg" alt="LA Gov. Bobby Jindal announces the opening of VVC in Monroe." width="252" height="180" /><p class="wp-caption-text">LA Gov. Bobby Jindal announces the opening of VVC in Monroe.</p></div>
<p>&#8220;Today, we are here to announce that through quick, aggressive action to pursue a transformative opportunity, we have a chance here in Louisiana to re-energize the entire U.S. auto industry. Indeed, this project also has the potential to transform the entire Monroe area, and this project could be a game changer for the economy of Northeast Louisiana.</p>
<p><span id="intelliTXT">VVC, as the company is also called, &#8220;wants to reestablish American leadership in the global automotive industry,&#8221; according to a Louisiana Economic Development (LED) info-sheet.</span></p>
<p>V-Vehicle was founded by ex Oracle Corp. executive VP Frank Varasano and is definitely not struggling to gather funds; it&#8217;s being financed by well-known California venture capitalists—including some also backing Fisker Automotive (Silicon Valley firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield &amp; Byers)—along with T. Boone Pickens.</p>
<p>We haven&#8217;t yet seen pictures of the vehicle, but we do know that it was designed by Tom Matano, the &#8216;father&#8217; of the original <a id="keylnk_v" name="keylnk_v" href="http://www.thecarconnection.com/make/mazda"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mazda</span></a> Miata. Matano also worked on the RX-7 and 929, and held positions at General Motors and <a id="keylnk_v" name="keylnk_v" href="http://www.thecarconnection.com/make/bmw"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BMW</span></a> prior to that. He has most recently served as director of the school of Industrial Design at Academy Art San Francisco.</p>
<p><span id="intelliTXT">Construction and retooling for the 425,000-square-foot, former GM plant will begin later this summer. </span></p>
<p><span>This week&#8217;s <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">Mac&#8217;s Wax</a> product of the week is Mac&#8217;s <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com/product/147428/Macs-Banana-Creme-Wax--deep-fragrantyellow_749107.html">BANANA CREME WAX</a>! It&#8217;s creamy!</span></p>
<div id="attachment_175" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 192px"><img class="size-full wp-image-175" title="banana_wax_16ozweb" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/banana_wax_16ozweb.jpg" alt="Mac's Wax: BANANA WAX with carnauba!" width="182" height="215" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Mac&#39;s Wax: BANANA WAX with carnauba!</p></div>
<p>It&#8217;s waxy! It&#8217;s yellow! It smells like banana! (Do not drink.)</p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JIAFigSoz2V_JMF9qCk1iJ83wCc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JIAFigSoz2V_JMF9qCk1iJ83wCc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>Classic Car Hobby: Assault of the Clunker Law</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=163</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=163#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:22:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2010 Equinox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Camaro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rally Sport]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The $4,500 voucher will be sent directly to dealers when you bring in your car, truck or SUV for the slaughter. The engine and transmission will have to be removed and the vehicle will not be allowed back on the road once it has been "betrayed." Thus, a youngster seeking to restore an older car for shows and cruise-ins will not be allowed to register or re-title these vehicles.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, as horror gripped the classic car restoration hobbyists, our  U.S. House of Representatives passed the <em>Cash for Clunkers</em> Law.  Sadly, this ridiculous bill passed by a margin of, 298-119. The clunker bill offers up to $4,500 for owners of older, less fuel-efficient vehicles (18mpg or less)  to buy new vehicles that get better gas mileage. The bill still has to get through the U.S. Senate, where plans to attach this bill to another law already making its way through the Senate is the most probable plan of attack by the DC morons to destroy older cars that could possibly have historic value and be a perfect resto collector in the future. Basically, this will create problems for aspiring collector car owners who are only kids right now.</p>
<div id="attachment_165" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 298px"><img class="size-full wp-image-165" title="91camaroz28blue" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/91camaroz28blue.jpg" alt="Can you imagine ripping a 350 TPI out of this car? The Clunker Law id pure B.S.!" width="288" height="207" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Can you imagine ripping a 350 TPI out of this car? The Clunker Law is pure B.S.!</p></div>
<p>The Congressional Budget Office estimates this <em>Cash For Clunkers</em> bill might generate approximately 600,000 new vehicle sales. While this may help the auto industry and its independent dealers, but I <em>highly doubt</em> it will  turn around the sagging sales stats they are currently experiencing.</p>
<p>Opponents of this bill fear <em>Cash for Clunkers</em> will take many perfectly good vehicles off the road. This will have a ripple effect on the lower-income sector of our population &#8211; i.e. removing their access to inexpensive transportation. Many charitable organizations rely on such cars as donations, which are then resold to bolster their resources. Others actually restore or repair these cars and donate them to those who have a need for a vehicle but can&#8217;t afford one. So, these donation programs fear <em>Cash for Clunkers</em> is going to kill this source of vehicles.</p>
<p>The $4,500 voucher will be sent directly to dealers when you bring in your car, truck or SUV for the slaughter. The engine and transmission will have to be removed and the vehicle will not be allowed back on the road once it has been &#8220;betrayed.&#8221; Thus, a youngster seeking to restore an older car for shows and cruise-ins will not be allowed to register or title these vehicles.</p>
<p>I have to admit that the thought crossed my mind; if I were to trade-in my 2003 Silverado extended cab (I still have the &#8220;18 MPG Highway estimated fuel mileage window sticker) and pick up the $4500 stipend, and get another say, $5000 on the actual trade-in, perhaps I could get myself into one of those awesome 2010 Chevy Equinox LTZ&#8217;s with the new direct fuel injection 3.0 V6 that generates a nifty 255HP.</p>
<p>But I&#8217;ll also admit that the thought of some junkyard rat tearing the 5.3 liter V-8 and trans outa my gorgeous white pick-up truck was too much for me to handle.</p>
<p>I have taken good care of my Silverado, and it warrants another decade of service&#8230;or until my kid decides to attack a tree with it.</p>
<p>Ouch.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">Mac&#8217;s Wax</a> product of the week is our all-new <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com/product/147437/Macs-Miracle-MUSCLE-CAR-WAX_772656.html">MUSCLE CAR WAX</a>! Forulated with absolutely no abrasives or solids, it contains a light cleaning agent to further cleanse your paint&#8217;s finer pores. It then leave a very hard, deep warm sheen. A light sprinkle of water over the car, with alight buffing will further even-out the wax and create an incredible shine that is as smooth as the exepnsive paint job it&#8217;s protecting!</p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mbL_U4SQIDO7poEPopG-Msi4FVE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mbL_U4SQIDO7poEPopG-Msi4FVE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>Chevrolet: Muscle Car Factories Live!</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=158</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=158#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:34:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Camaro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car wax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Equinox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Motors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high-performance cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traverse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=158</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[...but along comes the Chevy Traverse with 286 horsepower and it's newest lil' bro: the 2010 Equinox LTZ - a smaller crossover with an optional V-6 that pumps out 255 ponies under the hood of a fairly small wheelbase. (Be reminded that the 1972 GTO with a 400cid was rated at 250HP...that's 5 less than the 'Nox!)]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Unless you live in a cave, you have probably heard of &#8211; or actually seen &#8211; the new, 5th generation Camaro. This car is proof-positive that muscle cars still live!</p>
<div id="attachment_159" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 298px"><img class="size-full wp-image-159" title="2010camaross" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/2010camaross.jpg" alt="GM styling still rules!" width="288" height="165" /><p class="wp-caption-text">GM styling still rules!</p></div>
<p>This new F-body comes with a choice of 400 or 422 horsepower (depending on whether you get the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission), and is the fastest Camaro ever produced. It weighs-in at around 3,750 lbs.,which is a couple of hundred pounds more than a Ford Mustang GT, but still 500 less than the Dodge Challenger SRT8.</p>
<p>&#8220;<em>Okay, cool</em>,&#8221; you say, &#8220;<em>but one car does not a muscle car company create</em>.&#8221;</p>
<p>True enough, but along comes the <strong>Chevy Traverse</strong> with 286 horsepower and it&#8217;s newest lil&#8217; bro: the <strong>2010 Equinox LTZ</strong> &#8211; a smaller crossover with an optional V-6 that pumps out 255 ponies under the hood of a fairly small wheelbase. (Be reminded that the 1972 GTO with a 400cid was rated at 250HP&#8230;that&#8217;s <em>5 less</em> than the &#8216;Nox!)</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-160" title="chev-equinox_2010_wallpaper_01" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chev-equinox_2010_wallpaper_01-300x202.jpg" alt="chev-equinox_2010_wallpaper_01" width="300" height="202" />I have been seriously looking at these Chevy Equinox&#8217;s not just because of the increased HP out of a smaller V-6 (down to 3.0 liters from the &#8217;09&#8242;s 3.4 liters), but also because it takes its styling cues from the Traverse, which has looked incredible since Day #1.</p>
<p>Add to the new &#8220;Direct Injection&#8221; engine tech, a cool, new interior and Chevy has produced a winner from a line-up of cars that were somewhat ho-hum in past years.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, we have an &#8217;06 Equinox in the family, and I spend a ton of time driving it, (because it&#8217;s so much fun to cruise in) as well as applying <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">wax, polish and some cool interior coatings</a> to make it look better&#8217;n new. (The Equinox has some fabulous metal flake finishes, BTW)</p>
<p>The new interior is said to be constructed of newer, softer-feeling materials and far-less hard molded plastic. It will also have a back-up camera and offers 18&#8243; wheels this year! Amazing.</p>
<p>Anyway, the new camaro is gonna sell like the ;79 Z/28, but you can bet the new Equinox will give it a run for it&#8217;s money!</p>
<p>Wait n&#8217; see!</p>
<p><span style="color: #993366;">In light of all this talk of new muscle cars, this week&#8217;s &#8220;Mac&#8217;s Wax: Car Wax of the Week&#8221; is&#8230;.Mac&#8217;s <a href="http://macs-wax.com/product/147437/Macs-Miracle-MUSCLE-CAR-WAX_772656.html">MUSCLE CAR WAX</a>. This stuff is made especially ofr muscle cars. That meaning: it has a high carnauba content and deep shine, it contains absolutely no polish (abrasives) and it has an amino-functional resin that acts as an emulsifier to bond the wax to your paint! Add a little bit of cleaning agent (we did) and it will remove micro-bits of dirts from your paint&#8217;s pores, which can be buffed out when you shine our Muscle car Wax to a deep, glossy sheen!<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #993366;"><br />
</span></p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Ty7RK-0D9DSf9YIFHw6vGyKnUPA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Ty7RK-0D9DSf9YIFHw6vGyKnUPA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>Your Muscle Car Needs Pypes Exhaust!</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=153</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=153#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:04:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high-performance cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horsepower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[First off, in case you are unfamiliar with Pypes, or are looking for a high-performance exhaust system you should know that Pypes supplies complete performance exhaust systems for American performance vehicles ranging from the 1950’s to present.  Most of their systems include a custom designed X-pipe, or crossover, at a considerably lower price than others that include no crossover at all or just a basic balance tube with their systems.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before I start this blog, I want to clarify that I have no affiliation with the Pypes Performance Exhaust company, nor is this a sponsored blog or link exchange thingie.</p>
<p>I will admit that I did have a business relationship with Pypes founder Chris Casperson a few years ago, but that was only as a writing gig. I was writing the newsletters for his Performance Years website and forums. That short period showed me the type of person and businessman Casperson is.</p>
<p>First off, in case you are unfamiliar with Pypes, or are looking for a high-performance exhaust system you should know that Pypes supplies complete performance exhaust systems for American performance vehicles ranging from the 1950’s to present.  Most of their systems include a custom designed X-pipe, or crossover, at a considerably lower price than others that include no crossover at all or just a basic balance tube with their systems.</p>
<p><em>Pypes also performance-matches systems with a choice of 4 distinct mufflers to best suit your horsepower and sound requirements, rather than forcing you to buy one type of technology that may not be best for your application. </em></p>
<p>What makes Pypes even better is that they are the only company in the industry that stocks fully-polished aluminum ceramic systems.</p>
<p>We sweat the details &#8211; from our sales staff to our unique products, from our unique packaging, ‘real’ instructions and post sale technical support, you will get a fresh new look that you haven’t experienced from other exhaust companies. <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-154" title="pypes" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/pypes.gif" alt="pypes" width="228" height="72" /></p>
<p>Now let&#8217;s get to Casperson. It&#8217;s my own opinion that Chris doesn&#8217;t get the recognition in the classic car hobby&#8217;s support industry as others do. This is a shame, because he&#8217;s a very nice guy and in my own dealings with him, I found him to be fair and honest &#8211; not just with me and our buisness, but with his customers, employees and the thousands who use his Performance Years tech forums every day. (While it&#8217;s a great way to boost his business, the people who utilize the PY forum have no clue how expensive it is to run a huge forum on a commercial server and have a full-time webmaster to boot.)</p>
<p>So, what we have here is a fair and honest company, selling a superior product with tremendous customer support.</p>
<p>What more could you ask for?</p>
<p>I recommend Pypes to my readers and friends. If you need an exhaust system for your classic car &#8212; go see &#8216;em at PypesExhaust.com</p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5SwwL6xnrF5La2zT2X3gy1O45L4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5SwwL6xnrF5La2zT2X3gy1O45L4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>Heading North? FL Car Shows are Too Hot in Summer!</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=148</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=148#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 13:13:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car wax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cruise-in]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GTOAA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[POCI]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s getting too darn hot in Florida now&#8230; I&#8217;m looking at car shows in Atlanta, Richmond, Dayton, OH and Syracuse, NY. There&#8217;s a Super Chevy Show at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA on June 5th-7th. Then there&#8217;s a big antique car show at Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, VA on June 20th. Beyond that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>It&#8217;s getting too darn hot in Florida now&#8230;</h2>
<p>I&#8217;m looking at car shows in Atlanta, Richmond, Dayton, OH and Syracuse, NY.</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-150" title="syracuseshow" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/syracuseshow-300x201.jpg" alt="syracuseshow" width="300" height="201" />There&#8217;s a Super Chevy Show at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA on June 5th-7th. Then there&#8217;s a big antique car show at Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, VA on June 20th. Beyond that there&#8217;s a combined POCI (Pontiac-Oakland Club Int&#8217;l) and GTOAA (GTO Association of America) in Dayton 0n 7/7 and the Syracuse Hot Rod Nationals on July 17th-19th.</p>
<p>These shows would take me north during the hottest months in Florida. Not that I wouldn&#8217;t be home for most of the summer, but these events&#8230;gradually creeping nor&#8217;ward, would certainly make it easier for me to check out several thousand muscle cars this summer while promoting <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">Mac&#8217;s Wax</a>!</p>
<p>The trouble will be in coordinating these and getting my wax , polish and other items stocked while on the road.</p>
<p>But heading north seems like a fun time. I just hope my dog won&#8217;t go neurotic on me while I&#8217;m MIA!</p>

<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/60CGE_Xp4GQAuqzybe4ks63cFDk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/60CGE_Xp4GQAuqzybe4ks63cFDk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
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		<title>My Mopar Mishap</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=137</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=137#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 22:08:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barracuda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Challenger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cuda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dodge Challenger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mustang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olds 442]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's not that I didn't like or enjoy the notion of owning a Ford Mustang Mach I, or a Dodge Challenger RT, or the menacing, growling Plymouth 'Cuda 440. I also toyed with the notion of purchasing a Javelin AMX. 
Many times.
I was also a fan of the way-too-fun Roadrunner, (a 383, 4-bbl. would have been just fine, thanks), and I really loved.... believe it or not... the Duster 340!

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>A few <em>stupid</em> notions kept me from enjoying the incredible Challenger RT and a Cuda 440.</h2>
<p>You&#8217;ve probably noticed a heavy-lean toward GM-built muscle cars in the Big Block Blog. This is because, for most of my life, I&#8217;ve been a big fan of the GM A-Body cars and the F-Body as well. My pride in owning (at different times) 2 GTOs, a Trans Am, an Olds 442 and an Impala SS, is a testament to my GM brand-loyalty.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s not that I didn&#8217;t like or enjoy the notion of owning a <strong>Ford Mustang Mach I</strong>, or a <strong>Dodge Challenger RT</strong>, or the menacing, growling <strong>Plymouth &#8216;Cuda 440</strong>. I also toyed with the notion of purchasing a <strong>Javelin</strong> <strong>AMX</strong>. Many times.</p>
<p>I was also a fan of the <em>way-too-fun</em> <strong>Roadrunner</strong>, (a 383, 4-bbl. would have been just fine, thanks), and I really loved&#8230;. believe it or not&#8230; the <strong>Duster 340</strong>!</p>
<p>But for a few bad words spoken about these cars, I would probably have owned at least one or two of them. First, a friend of mine owned a light blue <strong>&#8217;69 Mustang Mach I</strong>. He refused to push it in any</p>
<div id="attachment_138" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-138" title="1970_mach_1blue" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/1970_mach_1blue-300x224.jpg" alt="My friend's blue Mach I was a true muscle car. I didn't believe him." width="300" height="224" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My friend&#39;s blue Mach I was a true muscle car. I didn&#39;t believe him.</p></div>
<p>way and drove it like it was his baby. It probably was. I&#8217;m sure he took it out and gave it a good thrashing now and then, but none of us were the wiser.  For this reason, I always <em>envisioned</em> that <strong>Mach I</strong> to be more of a cruiser. When I just barely beat a 1970 &#8216;Stang in a 1/4-mile duel at <strong>New England Dragway</strong> with my 455 Olds 442, I changed that thought pattern rather quickly.</p>
<p>After I sold my &#8217;75 Trans Am, I was seriously considering a purchase of a Dodge Challenger RT at one point. It was Plum Crazy Purple as I recall, but it had a black vinyl top. (Why?) I never liked muscle cars with vinyl, but that wasn&#8217;t the reason I didn&#8217;t buy this Challenger. When I told my best friend that I was thinking of buying the Dodge, he said, &#8220;Why? They handle like shit.&#8221;</p>
<p>I was mortified. He went on to explain further how Cudas, Challengers, Roadrunners, Dusters and even the <strong>GTX</strong>, all had &#8220;flimsy front end components&#8221; and that I would probably kill myself in one of them. It was about that time that I saw a car that had flipped onto its roof in a ditch. It was a black <strong>&#8217;69 Charger</strong>. That was all I needed. No Mopars.</p>
<div id="attachment_139" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-139" title="lime_1970challenger" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lime_1970challenger-300x141.jpg" alt="&quot;Sublime&quot; green or not, this car was a blast to drive. But not for me...I was too trusting and never test drove it." width="300" height="141" /><p class="wp-caption-text">&quot;Sublime&quot; green or not, this car was a blast to drive. But not for me...I was too trusting and never test drove it.</p></div>
<p>Pretty lame. But that&#8217;s how kids can influence others and destroy a car company&#8217;s efforts to market their cars!</p>
<p>Probably one of the more lame excuses for not buying a Mopar was also mechanical: the starters emitted a sick kind of straining sound when cranking over any sized Chrysler engine. If you know cars, then you know the sound of those starters. My friends and I thought it meant that the starters were too weak and would have to be replaced often. But when I finally went off to college in Florida and needed a car for my night job, a 1968 Plymouth Satellite with four doors and a 318 was offered to me for $200 by a guy in my dorm. He had received a new car for Christmas. I bought the car and never had a single starter problem&#8230;.despite that &#8220;whir.&#8221;</p>
<p>I came close to buying Barracudas, Challengers, Duster 340 &amp; 360 models and even an American</p>
<div id="attachment_140" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 270px"><img class="size-full wp-image-140" title="70_pinkamx" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/70_pinkamx.jpg" alt="The AMX was gorgeous. It's in this photo...somewhere." width="260" height="195" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The AMX was gorgeous. It&#39;s in this photo...somewhere.</p></div>
<p>Motors AMX, but I never pulled the trigger. This is something I&#8217;ll always regret.</p>
<p>The AMX sounded great, looked super fast &#8211; even while parked &#8211; but I just hated those seats. They seemed so thin and uncomfortable to me. I was a cruiser and those seats just wouldn&#8217;t cut it for me! Call me picky, I know&#8230;.</p>
<p>In the end, I loved and still love the GM style and drivetrains. But I feel as though I missed out on a huge segment of the muscle car era.</p>
<p>This regret will normally resolve when I park my butt in front of a 1969, Carousel Red, GTO Judge hardtop.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><em>Yep, a few minutes of good ol&#8217; GM therapy is all I need.</em></h3>
<p><em>This week&#8217;s Mac&#8217;s Wax Car Care product of the week is</em> <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com/product/149083/Macs-Wax-Pro-Detailer-Waterless-Car-Wash-wcarnauba_709853.html"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Mac&#8217;s Pro-Detailer &amp; Waterless Wash.</strong></span></a> <em>It&#8217;s a spray-on cleaner with wax that maintains your car&#8217;s freshly-waxed appearance! But if you add just a bit of water to it you can use it as an eco-friendly waterless car wash spray! Just spray it on</em></p>
<div id="attachment_145" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.macs-wax.com/product/149083/Macs-Wax-Pro-Detailer-Waterless-Car-Wash-wcarnauba_709853.html"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-145" title="prodetailer1" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/prodetailer1-150x150.jpg" alt="Spray it on...wipe it off. Done." width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Spray it on...wipe it off. Done.</p></div>
<p><em>and</em><em> wipe it off &#8212; It&#8217;s that easy! It leaves behind a beautiful glossy shine with almost no effort required. Buy some today and keep it handy in your trunk to remove bird droppings or other debris. It&#8217;s available at <a href="http://www.macs-wax.com">www.Macs-Wax.com</a>!<br />
</em></p>

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		<title>Time for a New Muscle Car: Camaro Z28</title>
		<link>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=124</link>
		<comments>http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=124#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 03:59:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith MacDonald</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Camaro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chevy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iroc z]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musclecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Z28]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/?p=124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is one period I am very focused on with my new Z28 search. I think the '78-81 Z28 were absolutely beautiful and, as I write this, you can still purchase one in very good condition for under $7500. One reason I find this period of Z28 history especially appealing is due to its front fender venting and the front spoilers; both are close in design to the Z28's bigger and bolder brother from Pontiac - the Trans Am. My very first new car was a 1975 Trans Am, and I am not ashamed to admit that I would just sit and stare at that car for hours.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Now&#8217;s the best time to buy a used Z28</h2>
<p>With only 3 generations in as many decades (can&#8217;t afford to consider the 4th Generation, 2010 Camaro yet), you&#8217;d think I could make a snap decision about what kind of Camaro I am setting my sites on.</p>
<p>The 1st Generation is out of the question. Not that a &#8217;69 Camaro Z28 wouldn&#8217;t be an awesome choice, but these are pony cars and a lot of them were sold back in the late 60s. Go to a decent-sized classic car show and you&#8217;ll see a handful of 67-69 Camaro models in the <em>SS</em>, <em>RS</em>, or <em>Z28</em> editions. Now with Goodmark making 1969 Camaro hardtops and &#8216;verts, you&#8217;re gonna see a lot more of these creatures roaming the streets. It&#8217;s a good thing, but too much saturation might lessen their value.</p>
<p>The 2nd Generation Camaro started out strong, with the incredible 1970&amp; 1/2 <em>Z28</em> and <em>SS</em>. The model year design carried through until the arrival of the 1974 Camaro, which offered no SS model and a heavily-decaled Z28 with a lethargic 350 that would spell the end of the Z28. That is until 1977, when Chevrolet decided to revive the muscular F-body again.</p>
<div id="attachment_125" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-125" title="77z28_white" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/77z28_white-150x150.jpg" alt="Even the hood scoop was just a decal, but the '77 Z28 was a triumphant return!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Even the hood scoop was just a decal, but the &#39;77 Z28 marked a triumphant return!</p></div>
<p>The 1977 model was a good start &#8211; despite the poorly aspirated V-8, but Chevy diehards found a lot of potential there. It had an under-nose spoiler and body-colored bumpers, The rear deck spoiler was decaled to match the hood scoop decal and a set of stamped steel wheels could be ordered that also matched the body color. Pretty cool stuff!</p>
<h3>The Z was back!</h3>
<p>The 1978 through 1981 model Z28s were called the &#8220;2nd Generation Soft-Noze Era&#8221; Camaros.</p>
<p>This is one period I am very focused on with my new Z28 search. I think the &#8217;78-81 Z28 were absolutely beautiful and, as I write this, you can still purchase one in very good condition for under $7500. One reason I find this period of Z28 history especially appealing is due to its front fender venting and the front spoilers; both are close in design to the Z28&#8242;s bigger and bolder brother from Pontiac &#8211; the Trans Am. My very first new car was a 1975 Trans Am, and I am not ashamed to admit that I would just sit and stare at that car for hours.</p>
<div id="attachment_126" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-126" title="81z28_red_a1" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/81z28_red_a1-300x225.jpg" alt="This '81 is too nice for words. I think I see IROC-Z rims?" width="300" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">This &#39;81 is too nice for words. I think I see IROC-Z rims?</p></div>
<p>So, my choice for this period is a &#8217;79 Chevy Camaro Z-28. although I would be just as happy with an &#8217;81.</p>
<p>The photo on the right is proof enough that these cars were exceptionally pretty. And the fact that a handful of these 2nd Gen soft- -nose cars went through Barrett-Jackson @ Palm Beach means they are already a good investment choice!</p>
<h3>The 3rd Generation Arrives: 1982</h3>
<p>I am not a big fan of any 3rd Gen Z-28 from 1982 through 1984. The cars looked nice, but they had this chintzy feel about &#8216;em that I didn&#8217;t like at all. It wasn&#8217;t until the engines were equipped with the TPI-intakes that I started to take notice of the Camaro again, and that Camaro was of course, the IROC-Z!</p>
<div id="attachment_127" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-127" title="88-90iroc_stripes" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/88-90iroc_stripes-300x151.jpg" alt="The 3rd Generation Camaro IROC-Z was not only sharp, but it could outhandle just about any car on the US market." width="300" height="151" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The 3rd Generation Camaro IROC-Z was not only sharp, but it could outhandle just about any car on the US market.</p></div>
<p>Suddenly, Chevrolet was back on track. It had taken about a decade, but the Z-28 was, once again, a respectable muscle car and road warrior.</p>
<p>Not only was there a return to power, but the 5-speed manual and 4-spd. automatic transmissions made them more efficient and faster. The beefed-up suspension and sway bars made it one the the best-handling American cars ever built.</p>
<p>There seems to be a lot of people who look down their noses at the IROC-Z28. I think they believe the IROCs were made for mullett-wearing rednecks who couldn&#8217;t afford a Corvette. It&#8217;s a shame so many see this super-handling machine as a lower-end of the white trash scale sled. In actuality, the IROC-Z had no real rivals in it&#8217;s class.</p>
<p>The Pontiac Trans-Am was also a much-covetted model back in the late 80s, but watch to eBay auctions and Mecum, Kruse and Barrett-Jackson events. I think you&#8217;re going to see the &#8217;85-90 IROC-Z appreciate in value &#8211; far above the Pontiac F-body from those same years.</p>
<p>So, my choice?</p>
<p>I&#8217;m leaning toward a 1979 Z28, possibly an &#8217;81. But I have not ruled-out the &#8217;87-90 IROC-Z28.</p>
<div id="attachment_130" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-130" title="81z28_silver_frt_web" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/81z28_silver_frt_web-150x150.jpg" alt="The 1981...very nice." width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The 1981...very nice.</p></div>
<div id="attachment_131" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-131" title="8587iroc_rendering" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/8587iroc_rendering-150x150.jpg" alt="85-87 IROC-Z" width="150" height="150" /></p>
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
<dl id="attachment_132" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-medium wp-image-132" title="89red_irocvert" src="http://www.bigblockblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/89red_irocvert-300x200.jpg" alt="Ouch." width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ouch.</p></div>
<p>See you next week!</p>
</dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">85-87 IROC-Z</dd>
</dl>
</div>

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