Let’s face it guys; we’re not all going to be able to pay for a Ferrari or a Porsche. Despite this may be a sad fact to have to face up to, yet its there nonetheless. At times exotic cars are out of reach for all except for those who are affluent and even they occasionally have trouble keeping up with the payments and maintenance of a Bentley or a Lotus. Sure the allure is strong; simply imagine slipping into the leather cockpit of your Lamborghini and cruising around curves at hundred miles per hour with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face.

Sure you may have everything from your driving gloves to your sunglasses and your driver’s license, though the one thing you wish for is to have enough money for a Lamborghini. And then there’s the Camry or Taurus, which in spite everything just don’t have enough horsepower to take mountain roads at 100, and even though you could get it going that fast it would in all probability fly off the road due to its lousy suspension.

Nevertheless what if you didn’t have the chance to own a Lamborghini or Lotus to be able to drive it around those hairpin turns? Well, nowadays we do have a great way to try out a luxury or high-powered sports car of our dreams, with exotic car rental we don’t have to sell our house or steal one from one of your yuppie friends. There are a number of can rental companies, mainly in wealthier areas, starting to specialize in exotic car rental. In fact even the regular airport car rental companies like Enterprise and Hertz are starting to rent out exotics or perhaps luxury cars along with the standard economy and touring cars.

For those who would like to try one out, you don’t need to fly out of town or go on a holiday, almost any special occasion will do. Maybe you want to knock the socks off your date or perhaps impress your wife on your anniversary. Yes, you can either show up at the door behind the wheel of a Lotus Espirit or a Porsche 911. And for those who feel like making their son or daughter’s prom a night to remember then forget about the limo; a sleek black Bentley will get them there in style.

Despite the fact that the exotic car rental is generally a little more expensive than renting a Camry at the airport, it’s at all times a lot more memorable. Besides exotic car rentals also make great gifts; as some rental agencies which rent exotics also rent classic cars, so you could give your dad or uncle the ride of his dreams in a vintage Corvette or brand new Ferrari. Sure, it will make a great gift instead of the usual set of gold clubs or tie clip that you were considering as an alternative!

High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy

High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy

Learning a little more about how to better care for your vehicles is a good idea for any number of reasons. It allows you to know if an unscrupulous mechanic is attempting to gouge you on your repairs – and that will save you money. It can prevent you from making unnecessary repairs – and that will save you money. It can help you locate a problem and fix it early, thus saving more money – sometimes a whole lot of money. It allows you to be more independent in an era where people are entirely too dependent on others to survive.

We need to get started now, so that we have time to cover everything…

Some people are incredibly sensitive to the sounds their vehicles make. This is especially true of motorcyclists, those who refurbish vintage automobiles, and experienced mechanics. It’s a very worthwhile skill to develop. There are mechanics who can listen to a running car engine and tell if the timing is slightly off, or the injectors are not operating properly. While this is a very neat thing to be able to do, you do not have to elevate your listening skills to that lofty place in order to get benefits from listening to your vehicle.

Listen To the Engine (This is best done in relatively quiet surroundings until you get really good at it.) Open up the hood of your vehicle’s engine compartment. If necessary on your model, be sure to use the metal rod to lock the hood in the upright/open position. Now, start your engine. Allow the engine to run for 30-60 seconds before you start listening too hard. Also, there are many moving parts inside of engine compartments, don’t wear loose clothing, and mind all your fingers and hair! Safety first.

A brief word about engine sounds… All engines make sounds. Some sound like jets, and other have constant clicking noises, or humming, or clattering. Which sounds are consistently made, and are okay, are unique to your specific vehicle’s engine. The point being, don’t be alarmed the first time you really take a good listen to your engine. You’ll quickly learn the sounds that are okay, and the ones that are not.

You’re going to listen to your engine from three different positions: 1) Directly in front of the car. 2) On the left (driver’s side) side of the engine compartment. 3) On the right (passenger’s side) side of the engine compartment. I like to start I like to start on the left – right in front of the driver’s door.

Lean over the engine compartment (again – be careful with clothing, hair, and appendages) and listen carefully. Try closing your eyes to heighten your hearing. Listen for things that don’t sound ‘right.’ Such things might include: clattering, metal rubbing metal, clanging, and squeaks. If you hear such a thing, open your eyes and try to focus in on it – moving the position of your head and ears as your track the sound to its source. Repeat this process at all three positions previously described.

This method of checking your engine can reveal loose caps, loose fan belts, loose fans, missing bolts, nuts, and many other things. Correct what you are able to, and have anything else dealt with by a service technician. Don’t put your hands into your engine compartment to tighten something or check something while it is running. If you notice that the stays on the overflow tube are loose and rattling, turn off the engine before tightening.

Driving your car for a short distance over a good road with the radio and air conditioning off and the windows down is a good way to hear some other sounds. Clattering might mean you have a lug nut that came off, and it’s stuck inside the hubcap. A metal-rubbing-metal sound may be a stuck brake.

The last listening project/technique is the best – or at least so people tell me. This one requires a willing and able assistant. The two of you climb into the vehicle together – you drive, the assistant rides shotgun. The assistant will require four things: some WD-40, a notepad, a small can of 3-in-1 oil, and a good rag. Head for a road that isn’t so smooth, and simply drive along. The assistant listens for those irritating squeaks, squeals, and rattles.

The assistant should move around inside the vehicle, focusing on the sounds to locate their sources. One of the two lubricants will fix almost any squeaking – and the rag ensures a nice, tidy application of the chosen lubricant. Some things, such as loose or missing screws or bolts, should be recorded on the notepad for maintenance or repair later, when you get back home to the tools. You won’t believe how quiet your cockpit becomes after you perform this process once or twice.

Okay, you’ve completed another step in becoming a full-fledged automotive diagnostician – or something like that, anyway. You’ve definitely gotten your vehicle in much better condition, and you should have learned a thing or two. Check out Part I – See No Evil, and Part III – Smell No Evil.

With the world becoming more and more globalized, there has been a increase in business for car shipping companies to ship all types of vehicles ranging from motorbikes to lorries, trucks etc. Online car sales and car auctions have also contributed to an increase in demand for car shipping services.

As a result, today there is a wide range of car shipping companies to choose from. But how do you go about picking a car shipping service that is suitable for your car? Here are a few tips to bear in mind.

1. Enclosed Or Not Enclosed

You will need to decide whether your car needs to be enclosed in a container or not during shipping. Generally enclosed containers are more expensive but the advantage is your car will not need to suffer from wind, rain, debris etc during transportation.

I would recommend to use an the enclosed method of transportation if your car is a brand new one or is expensive. An example would be a vintage car or an expensive sports automobile.

2. Shipping Routes

You may need to check with the car shipping company whether they can deliver to your house. Some shipping companies only deliver to major cities and certain pickup locations after which you are expected to go there to collect the car.

Other car shipping companies will charge an additional fee to ship it to your house. So it is important you check with the company before hand the shipping arrangement.

3. Car Inspection

Most car shipping companies will have a car inspection checklist before and after the car is shipped. You want to go through that checklist and make sure your condition of the car is checked correctly before shipping.

You can take your time to inspect the car after it has been shipped to check for any damages to your car.

5. Car Shipping Insurance

You may want to check with the car shipping companies on the shipping insurance coverage on your car and the cost involved. Most car shipping companies include insurance in the total shipping cost but some don’t and will require an additional charge. So make sure you know the insurance coverage and the cost if needed.

You’ve finally gotten your hands on the classic car of your dreams, but wait a minute, now you have to figure out how to get your hands on the car parts you need in order to keep it running. If you’ve worked hard at acquiring the car, then it is probably a safe assumption that finding the parts you need is high on your list of priorities.

However, you can’t just walk into a dealership and place your order for the parts you need because there is a 99% chance they are no longer manufactured by the automaker. Regardless, no matter what your taste in classic cars, whether it is for muscle cars, antiques or vintage models, if you know where to begin looking then with a little digging you can find what you need.

Here are some places where you should begin your search:

Online Auctions

Ebay is a great place to start your search for the classic car parts you need. Just about everything you could ever want can be found on Ebay, or more precisely in the case of cars, Ebay Motors. If you find the parts you need this way you’ll have to pay shipping charges, but this is just a necessary evil you will have to contend with if you want the parts; however, if you are trying to keep your costs down you can try searching the local swap meets.

Swap Meets

Swap Meets can be hit and miss, and are probably not your best bet for finding the parts you need, but it never hurts to look. You may get lucky and find just what you are in need of, and even better, probably get it for a very low price.

Classic Car Part Dealer Publications

You will often find it very easy to find the parts you need in these types of magazines; however, the downside is that it will probably cost you an arm and a leg to get the parts. This is an option you should use only as a last resort, especially if you are trying to avoid breaking the bank. Explore all of your other possibilities first and if nothing pans out, and you really need the part, or parts, than do it, but don’t just make the purchase because it is easier than being patient and looking thoroughly. You may regret your decision a week later when you stumble across the parts for a lot less money somewhere else.

Clubs and Organizations

Where there is a hobby there is usually a club or organization to go along with it, and this couldn’t be truer of classic car restoration. By locating and joining one of these clubs you can improve your chances of finding the parts you need. This also allows you the chance to network and get to know others who share your same interests, and may even own the same car you do. If this happens to be the case, they may be able to point you in the right direction on where to get the parts you are looking for. Finding these clubs is as easy as logging onto the Internet and doing a search, so there is no excuse for you not to try.

Junkyards

Okay, so having to dig through the junkyard is a not so glamorous idea, and one that you probably didn’t consider when you bought your dream car; unfortunately, you may have no choice. But look on the bright side, it may payoff big time, and if you’re lucky, your local junkyard will be entirely computerized so that all you will need to do is make a phone call to inquire about what you are looking for. You may get lucky enough not to have to go to the junkyard after all.

Whatever the case may be, you probably put a lot of time and effort into getting your car, so what’s a little more effort in order to get it running. The moment you hear that engine ignite and begin purring will make all the hard work worth it.

Car safety is a critical component in the design of any new car nowadays, and no manufacturer will have a license to build and sell cars, if they don’t comply with all the car safety aspects. With the increase in technology and the resultant conveniences in our lives, the aspect of safety too has come to the fore. This is especially true in the case of automobiles.

Car safety takes on several forms in this technological era. While the person driving the car is still responsible for adhering to driving safety regulations, increasingly, small computers and micro processors are taking on the role of the car safety keepers. All cars nowadays come with a certain degree of automation, and when it concerns car safety, these aspects are mandatory.

Gone are the days when the safety of the car depended on the individual driving it. That was probably restricted to them old vintage cars, when moving along was the critical component. But with the ever increasing number of cars on our roads and the heightened speed limits at which they drive along, car safety is no longer an option. It has become a critical aspect of the car manufacturing process itself. Not only that, it has become compulsory by law as well!

The auto pilot function for instance is one such example. By enabling the car to drive itself on open stretches, it ensures that drivers don’t feel the need to take their eyes off the road. Rather, they enable the driver to rest, thereby making for an enhanced driving experience, by taking on some of the monotonous aspects of driving on themselves.

Seat belts and crash balloons have almost become a permanent fixture inside all cars, even in lesser developed countries. Most countries nowadays have specific regulations pertaining to the useof car safety features like the seat belt and the crash balloon. In fact, some countries often issue hefty fines to drivers and passengers who drive without latching themselves in.

But car safety is often more than cosmetic. Manufacturers of cars nowadays have to test the car in a variety of possible scenarios in order to ensure that factors like crash zone, damage control and the like are minimized. This has resulted not only in a better build structure of cars, but has also ensured that the entire driving experience is made better, made safer and made absolutely secure.

Rare 1930 Model SJ Torpedo Phaeton and 1930 Model J Convertible Coupe Join Other Classic Luxury Marques at RM’s Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Auction – August 6, 2005 [PRWEB Jul 1, 2005]

Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA July 1-3, 2005 – Dynotile™, smart floors for demanding spaces, will exhibit its durable, interlocking floor system at the 16th Annual Pacific Northwest Historics vintage racing event benefiting Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center. In support of this prestigious event, Dynotile™ will outfit the Driver’s Hospitality and Featured Car Display tents with custom designed floors, giving fans a deluxe place to enjoy the races. To top it off, guests of the PNWH Silent Auction will have a chance to bid on a Dynotile™ floor for their own garage, giving them something to show off in addition to their vintage car. [PRWEB Jun 29, 2005]

Pebble Beach Award-winning 1933 Duesenberg Model SJ Riviera Phaeton Joins Rare 1950 Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia and 1972 Ferrari Daytona Competizione Set to Headline Vintage Automobile Auction At Amelia Island - Ritz Carlton – March 12, 2005 [PRWEB Feb 24, 2005]