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Archive for the 'Classic cars' Category

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My Totally Hot Car: 1934 Ford Victoria

November 20th, 2009, 10:53 am by Matt Degen

1934vic

Remember this past summer when Papa John Founder John Schnatter went on a nationwide search for a beloved car he first bought as a teen, and how happy he was after he found it years later?

We’ve got a similar story here for our latest reader-submitted Totally Hot Car.

The 1934 Ford Victoria you see here belongs to Jim Watts of San Clemente, and it’s a car that has been in and out of his family going back five decades, when his brother first bought the car for $100.

His brother went on to sell the car in the first of what would be several transactions for the family.

“My brother bought it in Texas and took it to Illinois in the service,” Watts recalls of what became his first car. “He sold it to a kid who ran a red light on the second day of having it and got t-boned by a Caddy.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Classic cars • My Totally Hot Car • | 3 Comments »

My Totally Hot Car: 1946 Hudson Model 58 Cab Pickup

November 11th, 2009, 6:00 am by Matt Degen

Talk about a rare truck! Our latest Totally Hot Car is this 1946 Hudson Model 58 Cab owned by Lance Baroldi up in Temple City.

Here’s what Baroldi has to say about his truck:

“There were just over 3,100 built that year, which included Cab Chassis and Cab Pickups. Of those, just over 2,500 were registered.”

If you’ve never seen one of these trucks, you’re not alone. According to Baroldi, there aren’t many left.

“Through the Hudson register there are just over 100 listed worldwide still around,” he says.

“An estimated 100-125 are not listed in the registry.  It took me just over three years to restore. I have owned it now for just over five years.”

Thanks for sharing your truck and story with us, Lance: Your car is Totally Hot!

Do YOU have a Totally Hot Car (or truck?) Find out how to get it featured!

Check out other readers’ cars:

Posted in: Classic cars • My Totally Hot Car | 5 Comments »

Mercedes-Benz Classic Center: Take the virtual tour

November 8th, 2009, 5:07 am by Matt Degen
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Brightcove video.

In today’s paper we featured the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, the only manufacturer-run store outside of Germany where you can buy and get service and parts for vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

While it’s been open since 2006, the store is still unknown to many, even here in Orange County. Even if you’re not a Mercedes-Benz owner, the place is still a wonderful place to check out because the vehicles displayed — dating back to the late 1800s — really help tell the story of how the first automobiles came to be.

In addition to serving as a museum and event venue, the Classic Center has some vehicles for sale and offers restoration services including in-depth, frame-up projects. A big portion of its business is selling parts to owners around the world. And if the center can’t immediately find an authentic Mercedes-Benz part from its 40,000-strong supply, it can access electronic archives and technical manuals in Germany and arrange for the part to be made or otherwise obtained.

(Read the full story on Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine.)

Get an inside glimpse into the center by watching the video, and be sure to check out the slide show using the link above.

Oh, and if you have a suggestion for another automotive gem here in Orange County for us to profile, e-mail me at mdegen@ocregister.com.

Did you see these other stories on Auto Motion?

Posted in: Classic cars • Dealers, deals and for sale • Uncategorized • | Post a Comment »

My Totally Hot Car: 1973 Jaguar E-Type

November 6th, 2009, 10:03 am by Matt Degen

Our latest Totally Hot Car is a classic Brit. Say hello to this 1973 Jaguar E-Type OTS owned by Jamey Holbrook of San Clemente.

Holbrook has owned this car since 1999 and gave it a “recent cosmetic freshening.”

“It’s a great driving car,” Holbrook says. ” It’s typically best on freeway drives to Santa Barbara, San Diego, Temecula, etc.  I take it to shows and Jag meets mostly.  Much more of a GT / cruiser than a back road sports car.”

Holbrook adds that there is “plenty of power and torque from the 5.3 liter V12 engine - single overhead cams and 4 Stromberg carbs - (making) around 300 hp. (It) rides and drives very smoothly like a Jag should.”

Thanks for sharing your car and story with us, Jamey: Your Jag is Totally Hot!

Do YOU have a Totally Hot Car? Click to find out how to get it featured!

Check out these other Hot Cars:

Posted in: Classic cars • My Totally Hot Car • | 2 Comments »

My Totally Hot Car: 1964 Dodge Dart convertible

October 30th, 2009, 11:27 am by Matt Degen

Our latest Totally Hot Car is this 1964 Dodge Dart convertible owned by Ernie Bingaman of Placentia.

Ernie’s a lucky guy not only because of this sweet ride, but because his girlfriend, Pam Holsinger, was kind enough to send in these pictures. Clearly she digs the car as much as he does.

Ernie bought the car last year as a “retirement toy,” Pam says, and the two thoroughly enjoyed rides in the convertible this past summer.

Under the hood of this original-condition Dart is Dodge’s long-running 273 cubic-inch small-block V8. Oh, and its color? That’s called Misty Mauve.

Thanks for sharing this fine car with us, Ernie and Pam: It’s Totally Hot!
Do YOU have a Totally Hot Car? Click to find out how to get it featured!

Check out these other Totally Hot Cars:

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My Totally Hot Car: 1966 Chevy Chevelle SS 396

October 22nd, 2009, 6:13 am by Matt Degen

It’s not quite a “barn find,” but our latest Totally Hot Car is close. We’ll call it a “garage find.”

Denny and Debi Henderson of Orange found this 1966 Chevy Chevelle SS 396 sitting for 17 years in the Tustin garage of its original owner. That was 10 years ago, and the Hendersons have since restored the car to its original condition.

“The car is a numbers-matching, true Chevelle SS 396 with the original engine, 4-speed, and power train,” Denny says. “It has only 72,000 original miles.”

The car has a particular history with Orange County, Denny says.

“It was bought at the original Guaranty Chevrolet when it was on 1st St., and that family still owns the new store on 17th.

“We drive it anywhere and like to take it to Cruisin’ for a Cure, Main Street, Fuddruckers, and Donut Derelicts. It has won many car shows over the
last 6 years. In fact, it won the Corvette Car Show at Guaranty Chevy a few years back.”

Thanks for sharing your car and story with us, Denny and Debi. What a great find!

Do YOU have a Totally Hot Car? Click to find out how to get it featured!

Check out other readers’ cars:

Posted in: Classic cars • My Totally Hot Car • • • • | 12 Comments »

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