balthazar

Had a set of Goodyear Forteras about 5-6 years ago- they weren't bad but they were subject to numerous sidewall buldges that Goodyear called "normal". They wore slightly quicker than my average...

In an unrelated tangent, I recently found some layout sketches for a GM concept book I was thinking of a few years back, and I started putting together some pages on the computer. I have no dreams of getting this published- there have already been a number of books, and I would need to travel to see the cars that survive in person AND dig deep thru GM's archives - I have neither the time, money or connections for that. EDIT :: Quick-n-dirty shot, formatting not complete --

>>"They have a turning radius of what.... 900 feet? "<< You KNOW I went right to my files with even a rhetorical '50s question. :wink: Found a spec for a '50 Ambassador (same wheelbase : 121"); turning radius : 21.17'. For comparison, 121" wheelbase '50 Buick Special : 19.75'. If the numbers look weird : different publications/sources/eras use turning radius vs. turning diameter. T radius is the 'circle the tires would make in snow', so to speak, while T diameter is the 'width between alleyway walls you need to do a 360' (so to speak). In other words :: radius= tires, diameter= whole car.

More than that: dome lamp switch & VIN plate: painted over, hood hinges: painted body color, and non-factory battery. Something looks wrong with the upholstery, too (center vinyl looks too wide for one). What are you seeing with the carpet, BP? Not huge, but if you're going to trot out "$60K spent"... $34.5K is pretty damned high here- it's have to be 100% factory original, and even then, $25K is closer to it for an Invicta hardtop. I'd buy it in a second if I had the money to spare.

>>"...but yeah, no significant differences."<< Not taking away anything here... but, IMO: lameness. Not in the hardware/styling, but in that GMC didn't expend any effort here whatsoever. Still cool.

'59 Brookwood 2-dr wagon- 20,760 units. Rare..... for a Chevy! :wink:

Diggin that '55 !!

So go ahead- live dangerously and enjoy yourself! There's nothing emotional on the table at that point, anyway.

Well, that sure is sweet. Now- the questions: Is that a complete Chevy front clip?? obviously the hood is the same- is that the same grille as a Chevy, too?? Same 'skunk stripes' & rims ?? I haven't noted or seen many pics of a Sprint, I had thought there was more differentiation. Kinda renders the 'my fav GMC' thing a bit moot, no ?

If jacket passes... shoot me a price, ocn.

hyperv6 - >>"They paved my buddys street and the angle made it impossible to get his Viper in his drive unless he put boards down."<< Can't be as bad as this :

>>"I never eat at any of the chains like McDonalds or Burger King etc."<< Same here... well: maybe twice/yr while out on the road & ravenous.

Did a cursory dealership sweep earlier tonight. F-L-M dealer :: Fusion got good reaction, Edge is nice but too wide for the garage (no power fold mirrors). Escape/Mariner were thumbs down. No FLex's other than a huge poster- thumbs down. Oh, and she really liked the Mustang converts, silver or the dark red like her '87 was.... but the stickers are round $35K. Not gonna happen. B-P-GMC dealer :: quick drive thru- no G8s on the lot (inventory there is shockingly low). Didn't check the G6 this time. Solstice was a 'no'- too small. Cadillac/Chevy dealer :: Had a ton of Malibus- all trims & powertrains- this got a big thumbs up. Had 2 '10 Equinox's- also strong interest there. No Camaros. Ah- and strong reaction to the CTS, too- they had quite a few, including a number of AWD versions. Needless to say $$$ ($40K) B-P-GMC was open, but the other 2 were closed, which was slightly weird; they're all under the same ownership. Malibu & '10 'nox are the initial front-runners at the moment. Will return asap to start some test driving, still have to wander over to the ChryCo dealer...

According to the IntraWeb, there remains but a single drive-in in Jersey, and it's way down south in Vineland (2+ hours from me). The only one local to me I've seen in person is the Lawrence Drive-In on Rt 1, and it's been closed at least since the mid '80s and senior housing has been going in since circa 2005. Never been to one.

8:14 ?? What happened to 10 PM (he asks at 11:04) !! I'm the only one that asked and the link is already dead. How about's a PM'd pic there, ocn ?? Just curious of course, I enjoy your.... sensitivity in these relationship matters .... and I like hot brunettes. Since I recently started a page on FB, I got in touch with a girl in HS who had a thing for me (but she wasn't my type that way)- any HS tension has long since faded away and the convo has been quite nice.

>>"Shoot, balthy, I thought a base car would have had no side trim. Guess that shows how much I know."<< In a more conservative year, you'd be right as usual, but this is 1958 !!! Take a peak at the '58 Impy....

>>"that would be disrespectful of me without her permission"<< Not if you don't also post her name & city/state !! It'll be our lil' secret. Make you a deal: post it here at 10 PM tonight.... for 2 minutes!

>>"Is that a phantom, or did they make a '58 S/D in high trim like that?"<< That's the bottom-line trim: Del Ray! Del Ray Biscayne Bel Air Impala Camino- I was at an auction last year near the Delaware (on the Jersey side) that had a rough '60 Chevy SD... you shoulda spoke up sooner!

{...adds Challenger to 'check-out' list and sighs heavily...}

All right, 66, you are hereby banned from this thread {claps hands twice, and with authority}. I was looking for some guidance, but the flurry of car ideas you're launching, plus their respecitve justifications, is making my head spin! LAST DAMNED THING I need is another project car- I'm already pondering letting 1 (of 3) go right now. If I had 'frivolous car money', I'd hire a limo to commute Camino's ass over here daily to finish the Buick. The F-150 sits outside anyway. I really like Ford trucks, but their cars don't do much for me until we get pre-war. >>"can't be talked into a Sienna"<< I'm not sure a toyota is worth my time to swing a sledgehammer at (bet I could put a sledge thru the roof with one swing, too). My sons are 15 (5'8") & 12- not exactly in 'baby buckets' anymore.

Wait- it's been 27 years, people do change! I understand you've been corresponding & are still remote friends- but it sounds like you're expecting she'll launch herself at you, thighs akimbo. I would think an in-person meeting would be fine after all this time. >>"She's a hot little brunette"<< Alright, now we're gonna need a pic: swipe & post, please! The advice might change!

Sienna is a toyota, so is a vibe. One would assume 6300 posts is enough for people to get a bead on you. :wink: -- -- -- -- -- I like the 'you only live once' idea, 66, but I got her to forget my F-150 has been registered & insured (even tho that's only about $350 ins), sitting parked back by the shop for the better part of a year. Her car is currently about $650 ins - keeping that AND adding a new car ins prem is not the road we're looking to go down. And replacing her car wih a 2-seater doesn't work, period: the boys often go places with her, either to accomodate my work schedule or disinterest (they just breezed out the door to go to the mall 5 minutes ago ) -- with a 2-seater, the only way that would work would be for her to drive my 240" truck more than the twice she has in the last 3 years. She's petite, and that disparity makes me nervous. Still... NOW I'm going to have to check out the Camaro V-6, too!

>>"There's also the Journey, Vue, and Caravan is she's not concerned about what's fashionable, thought the Caravan might be too big (it is however, very practical)."<< Not to imply she's not fashion-conscious... ideally she'd prolly love a '10 Mustang convertible (or Camaro)- she had an '87 'stang and liked the 'sportiness' of it (4cyl/auto ), but it was moreso than the next 3 sedans at least. But minivans are a towering, unshakable 'NO'.

What's a "blended family" ? Does it mean I get to mix hard liquor into my parenting ? OK- Acadia too big & too pricey. Out. Terrain too hideous and not here yet. Out. No GMCs I'm afraid, Roger. BTW- I also do a lot of work in Princeton- north side currently (Montgomery). -- -- -- -- -- Traverse on the same platform is going to be too big, also. I have no problem buying a Pontiac. My recollection of the G6 was shortly after they came out & I sat in one- seemed small. I'll check it all the same. HHR: she doesn't like, and that has to be too small for us. -- -- -- -- -- We're definately in the Malibu-class sedan or Equinox-class of CUV. Haven't been to the Ford dealer since 2 years ago- checking out the Edge. Lots of new stuff over there- will check & report.

snipe, snipe ! Don't forget : this is the wife's ride, not mine. I'm still cuddly with my 2500HD DuraMax. I like what I've seen of the Acadia, but I believe it starts in the high 20s, and it's pretty large (for her). Got some ground to cover this weekend.