Random Thoughts Thread

[David]

Gotta Love Mario Cart, The real world is now giving us an actual place to race and it looks totally cool. Check out the video above and the story below for more pictures.

https://jalopnik.com/north-america-s-largest-elevated-go-kart-track-looks-li-1826046280

[balthazar]

9 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Sounds like it lasted for a long time, though.  I haven't a clue as to how later Pontiac (small block) V8s held up and if they had any weak spots.

Our '77 Safari was a very good car for us. I think when sold it had about 135K on it. I used it over 1 winter, I guess it was '93-94 because I bought my '94 F-150 in June that year. So; right at the end of its service with us. Only thing I remember was once the carb had to be rebuilt but other than that, it just kept on ticking away. That was a really good-sized wagon; went to upstate NY every summer, to Detroit twice, to Florida once or twice, to VT at least once. It was just slow. Ask Drew; he likely has about the same lbs/hp in the Toro.

The one time we went to Florida/Disney, Dad got me & my sister & brother up at like 6AM, folded the back seat down and put us in sleeping bags until we woke up somewhere down the road an hour or 2 later, then stopped for breakfast. Great (unbuckled) times! 

Edited May 15, 2018 by balthazar

[trinacriabob]

2 hours ago, balthazar said:

Our '77 Safari was a very good car for us. I think when sold it had about 135K on it. I used it over 1 winter, I guess it was '93-94 because I bought my '94 F-150 in June that year. So; right at the end of its service with us. Only thing I remember was once the carb had to be rebuilt but other than that, it just kept on ticking away. That was a really good-sized wagon; went to upstate NY every summer, to Detroit twice, to Florida once or twice, to VT at least once. It was just slow. Ask Drew; he likely has about the same lbs/hp in the Toro.

The one time we went to Florida/Disney, Dad got me & my sister & brother up at like 6AM, folded the back seat down and put us in sleeping bags until we woke up somewhere down the road an hour or 2 later, then stopped for breakfast. Great (unbuckled) times! 

For all those trips, 135K sounds low, but then states are more compact in the Northeast "population corridor."  Florida is more of a haul.  Usually 2 days to get down there.  As long as there were no mechanicals on these trips, that's great.

Yes, 301 V8 in Safari and 307 V8 in Toro.

[balthazar]

[trinacriabob]

Has anyone seen the movie "I, Tonya?"  Interesting take on things.  Except for her hometown and its environs, most of America didn't like her and thought she was culpable and a joke.  This movie paints her in more of a victim of circumstances light.  She was that - the smoking waitress mom who had many husbands and had no problem just whacking her across the face at least weekly.  The movie sort of makes you feel sorry for her but she also had a choice in the company she chose.  One would think that, if she's in her line of work, she would ratchet up her diplomacy level by observing others and choosing better role models.  She had the skills down.

The movie cited that, after Clinton, she was either the next best known or most discussed name in the world for a while during those years. Also, you didn't take a dig at her in her hometown while that stuff was going on.  I did and was glared at.  Locals turned a blind eye to the gravity of it all, swept it under the rug, and went to bat for Tonya (no pun intended).

17 hours ago, dfelt said:

Gotta Love Mario Cart, The real world is now giving us an actual place to race and it looks totally cool. Check out the video above and the story below for more pictures.

https://jalopnik.com/north-america-s-largest-elevated-go-kart-track-looks-li-1826046280

When I saw this, I figured it had to be Niagara Falls, ON and not Niagara Falls, NY.  Niagara Falls, ON has some high real estate prices (glanced at a throw away home magazine - whew) while Niagara Falls, NY changes into a place down on its luck once about 5 to 10 blocks inboard from the falls.  Most of the amusement venues are on the Ontario side, as are the nice hotel towers and good buffets.

Edited May 16, 2018 by trinacriabob

[Robert Hall]

How about a Ram based sedan?   Truck based sedans or SUV based sedans are clearly the next niche to be exploited, with traditional sedans going away..

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/05/aznom-atulux-coachbuilt-ram-doesnt-know-truck-suv-sedan/

[David]

@Cubical-aka-Moltar That RAM SUV totally rocks. Makes ya wonder why RAM has not done something sooner.

Course then we have the CUV/SUV's of the past. Makes ya wonder how long before a Camaro or Mustang CUV will come out when we had a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Concept like this:

[Drew Dowdell]

On 5/15/2018 at 12:42 AM, daves87rs said:

 Yeah, I have seen it coming for time myself. Companies within the last ten years or so have to "cut" or "trim" costs to make a profit, is not a good thing. While there are many other factors as well, WS is running out of ways to keep profits up.....

My family and I have already adjusted our stuff, but I think it is wait and see. Could be a crash, but could also be a good slide as well.

All I know for darn sure is that it is not going to be good.....

Another friend of mine who is smart on these matters is now also predicting the same thing... although his estimation is that it will happen sooner than my guess of mid-Fall 2018. 

[Drew Dowdell]

On 5/13/2018 at 11:20 PM, balthazar said:

Before automotive fluids were specifically colored, taste testing was required to identify which fluids were spilled in accidents.

Judge: Which fluids were spilled doing the incident?

Officer: All of them.

[balthazar]

7 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

How about a Ram based sedan?

You can easily see how cheaply built that RamSedan is - that one's not going to gain any traction whatsoever.

[trinacriabob]

8 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

How about a Ram based sedan?   Truck based sedans or SUV based sedans are clearly the next niche to be exploited, with traditional sedans going away..

 

 

That interior looks very Vegas ... as in bad Vegas ...

I wondered where this vehicle might be ... and I see the license plate is an Italian one ...

Overall, this is scary.

[David]

9 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

That interior looks very Vegas ... as in bad Vegas ...

I wondered where this vehicle might be ... and I see the license plate is an Italian one ...

Overall, this is scary.

Italian scary like the garbage italy is building under the Alfa and Fiat name.  

[daves87rs]

9 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Another friend of mine who is smart on these matters is now also predicting the same thing... although his estimation is that it will happen sooner than my guess of mid-Fall 2018. 

One of mine thinks that as well. Man, let me at least get into a new place of employment first (hoping) First goal is getting everything in order (cars, money, that kind of stuff...)

Just ordered a bunch of parts to update our fleet as I would like them to go a while longer (while adding a new one to the fleet)...

[balthazar]

[David]

8 hours ago, balthazar said:

Gotta be a Custom build since it is in California. Right? 😕

[Robert Hall]

35 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Gotta be a Custom build since it is in California. Right? 😕

Yep...I think I saw this same car in Scottsdale a couple years ago...looks well built. 

[David]

This Cracks me up, Great Thursday morning everyone!

 

[David]

Cool ad for a house, outbuilding, 5 Acres and 340 Vintage auto's. Lots of Mopar Muscle. Asking price, $1 million.

http://www.thedrive.com/vintage/8758/for-sale-in-canada-five-acres-340-vintage-cars

20 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

How about a Ram based sedan?   Truck based sedans or SUV based sedans are clearly the next niche to be exploited, with traditional sedans going away..

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/05/aznom-atulux-coachbuilt-ram-doesnt-know-truck-suv-sedan/

Found another story on this with even more interior pics.

http://www.thedrive.com/news/20901/the-aznom-atulux-a-custom-italian-luxury-dodge-ram

[Robert Hall]

^ its weird but I kinda like it (and it's brown).   Imagine what a production normalized pickup sedan could be like...(they were a thing in Brazil for decades).

Here's some funky '60 Brazilian Ford pickup based ones...

 

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/cc-global/cc-global-the-brazilian-ford-truck-sedans-how-about-an-escalade-sedan/

Edited May 17, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[David]

Demon - Crazy 4 miles only, still all wrapped, Plum Crazy Purple. Dealer is asking $149,900 as a buy it now price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142792437144?rmvSB=true

[ccap41]

6 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Crazy 4 miles only, still all wrapped, Plum Crazy Purple. Dealer is asking $149,900 as a buy it now price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142792437144?rmvSB=true

Hahaha oh just a 50% markup. That dealer can get fk'd.

[David]

80 Amazing Health Benefits of Wine!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/80-amazing-health-benefits-of-wine/ss-AAtJmLn?li=BBnb7Kz

I highly recommend drinking some tonight, tomorrow and this weekend.

🍷🍖

[Robert Hall]

7 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Demon - Crazy 4 miles only, still all wrapped, Plum Crazy Purple. Dealer is asking $149,900 as a buy it now price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142792437144?rmvSB=true

At least not wrapped around a tree.....probably 75% of these will be stored away as collectors items, the remainder crashed within an hour of purchase.

[David]

I loved these car with the straight 6 motor.

[balthazar]

[balthazar]

 

[balthazar]

I took a nap earlier, and now it's 2:20AM and I'm still twirling.
Not that that's a problem; I frequently twirl in the wee hours without a nap.

[trinacriabob]

Shared by Pontiac GP and (G) LM.  It lacked the curves of its predecessor, but still a cool little dash, provided it has gauges and not idiot lights.

https://www.classiccarcatalogue.com/P/Pontiac 1979 LeMans19.jpg

 

[balthazar]

^ And the Grand Am.

[Robert Hall]

Saw a clean silver blue '78-80 Grand Prix when out and about yesterday.  No vinyl top, same color as the '77 that's for sale around here.  I can't recall the last time I saw a Le Mans, Grand Le Mans or Grand Am of that era...many years..decades, maybe. 

[Robert Hall]

My sister sent me a couple pics of her rental car from this weekend.  Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  She's working in the Netherlands for a couple weeks, took this sightseeing around the Netherlands, Belgium and into France the last couple of days.  Said it handled well and was comfortable. 

[trinacriabob]

4 hours ago, balthazar said:

^ And the Grand Am.

Yes, the Grand Am was part of that group and retained a canted front grille, with the others being vertical and cubed before it later became a 2.5 liter Iron Duke powered small car.  I'll never forget having one of these Grand Ams later on (white exterior - gray interior) and driving it around NYC and routinely crossing the GW as I explored the area from a relative's house.  Since it was newer and in a rental fleet, it performed great and, for the first and only time, I drove around Manhattan in a more manageable, smaller car.

2 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

My sister sent me a couple pics of her rental car from this weekend.  Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  She's working in the Netherlands for a couple weeks, took this sightseeing around the Netherlands, Belgium and into France the last couple of days.  Said it handled well and was comfortable. 

 

Gosh darn, look at those red calipers!  For some crazy reason, I like(d) the slightly elongated Alfa Romeo 147 coupe of the 2000s.

[daves87rs]

9 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

My sister sent me a couple pics of her rental car from this weekend.  Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  She's working in the Netherlands for a couple weeks, took this sightseeing around the Netherlands, Belgium and into France the last couple of days.  Said it handled well and was comfortable. 

Not going to lie...really like the looks of it...

[balthazar]

[ocnblu]

16 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

My sister sent me a couple pics of her rental car from this weekend.  Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  She's working in the Netherlands for a couple weeks, took this sightseeing around the Netherlands, Belgium and into France the last couple of days.  Said it handled well and was comfortable. 

Is it a Dart hatchback

[David]

I like millions did NOT watch the Royal wedding, but did find this on another auto web site and thought that it is very cool. A 1968 Electrified Jaguar E-Type. 170 mile range on the battery pack, 305hp ev motor, EV powertrain reduces total auto weight by 100 pounds over the ICE powertrain. Driving dynamics are enhanced due to the instant torque of the EV powertrain.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1116814_electric-jaguar-e-type-whisks-royal-couple-from-windsor-castle#image=100621119

[ccap41]

^ That is actually really sad... 

[David]

Cool First ever Turbo V8 Trans Am for $19K dollars up for sale.

https://jalopnik.com/at-19-895-could-this-1980-pontiac-trans-am-turbo-indy-1826178243

Did not realize they did not offer the big block V8 in 1980 and 1979 was the last year of big block Trans Am. 1980 was a small block Turbo that actually started as a student project by interns. Very cool read above.

[Robert Hall]

9 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Cool First ever Turbo V8 Trans Am for $19K dollars up for sale.

https://jalopnik.com/at-19-895-could-this-1980-pontiac-trans-am-turbo-indy-1826178243

Did not realize they did not offer the big block V8 in 1980 and 1979 was the last year of big block Trans Am. 1980 was a small block Turbo that actually started as a student project by interns. Very cool read above.

Yeah, '79 had the 400 and 403; 80-81 had the 301 Turbo. 

[balthazar]

The '79 Trans Am W72 400 was actually stockpiled '78 engines; both the last 400 and the last Pontiac V8. :(

[Robert Hall]

2 minutes ago, balthazar said:

The '79 Trans Am W72 400 was actually stockpiled '78 engines; both the last 400 and the last Pontiac V8.

301 was a Pontiac V8 also, wasn't it?  Around through 81...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_V8_engine

Edited May 21, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[balthazar]

See, my bias is showing. You are correct of course; the 301 was Pontiac-built, but they're basically mediocre people movers at best, with no aftermarket support or collector interest. Throw-aways.
It's like offering someone a dish with a geen/moldy carrot nub and a fresh, hot, seasoned piece of grilled chicken; they're really close to each other but only 1 is at all appealing.

 

"The last REAL Pontiac V8."

Edited May 21, 2018 by balthazar

[Robert Hall]

Was a bad era for V8s...170hp for the 301 HO...  the base 301 2bbl for Catalinas and such was a 135hp screamer...

Edited May 21, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

23 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

My sister sent me a couple pics of her rental car from this weekend.  Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  She's working in the Netherlands for a couple weeks, took this sightseeing around the Netherlands, Belgium and into France the last couple of days.  Said it handled well and was comfortable. 

It looks like the Cruze RS Hatchback I just had

[David]

 

[balthazar]

12 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Was a bad era for V8s...170hp for the 301 HO...  the base 301 2bbl for Catalinas and such was a 135hp screamer...

Yes- as I mentioned elsewhere recently, I had a bunch of miles behind the wheel of a 135/301 Safari. Competent, but certainly not stirring. Even the Turbo T/A was in the 16-sec range for the 1/4-mile. Unfortunately, that was pretty good for the era- ferrari was hovering around 16 sec, too (308GTI : 15.6).

[David]

 

I want one!  

[Drew Dowdell]

24 minutes ago, balthazar said:

See, my bias is showing. You are correct of course; the 301 was Pontiac-built, but they're basically mediocre people movers at best, with no aftermarket support or collector interest. Throw-aways.
It's like offering someone a dish with a geen/moldy carrot nub and a fresh, hot, seasoned piece of grilled chicken; they're really close to each other but only 1 is at all appealing.

 

"The last REAL Pontiac V8."

At least there is still some support for the Olds 307.... but that's mostly because a whole bunch of the Olds 350 stuff just bolts right on.

[balthazar]

There's no measurable enthusiast base for the 307, c'mon; be serious.

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, balthazar said:

There's no measurable enthusiast base for the 307, c'mon; be serious.

Maybe a few people are restoring or restomodding mid 80s Cutlasses, like the '83-84 Hurst/Olds or '85-88 442?  Those were sharp cars back in the day...