starfireelvis

Wishful thinking here, but I wish I could have it both ways, in that I do enjoy watching auctions (with variety, as I said), but also without the "show biz"/hype aspect to it. Perhaps an "auction cam" would be suitable, for on-line viewing, just to see the cars that go across the block, without commentary, just a "fly on the wall" perspective. I would enjoy going to watch an auction for the pure entertainment of it, but don't want to have to shell out an exhorbitant price just to be part of the audience and nothing more, which is the case in some instances. Maybe if the televised coverage offered more intelligent commentary, less Hollywood, and again, my original point, a VARIETY of cars as opposed to the same-old same-old, that's all I was trying to make a point about. Don't want to beat this into the ground, so I'll just take my Forrest Gump stance here and say "that's all I have to say about that"...

Here's a great one. I was making a sales call many years ago on a late Friday afternoon, and when the lady answered the door, she said that she was interested in what I had to offer, but asked me if I could come back on Monday. "Sure", I said, "but I'll also be working tomorrow (Saturday) if you'd want me to stop by then" The woman said, "No, come back on Monday. You see, this is actually my daughter's house, and she's temporarily decomposed." (was going to say "Damn, I'm a little late.")

...and I thought my six-year-old brother (at the time) was the only one who thought the Gordon Lightfoot song was "The Wreck of the Ella Fitzgerald"! I remember being in a diner in Queens about 20+ years back, where they had at each table those remote jukeboxes where you could put your money in from your table to play a tune. I swear, there was one of those adhesive labels right above the slot that said "Quaters Only". Guess the dude must have tried "sounding it out". The other one that comes immediately to mind, and it is car-related, was when my friend's mom took me back home after spending the night over there when I was 16, and just learning to drive. She asked me if I had been on the "stimulator" yet. "Uh, no, I haven't", I could barely say without busting out laughing. Was going to say that guys usually don't have to use those things (I know I sure as hell wasn't going to!).

Sorry if it was a "tangent" that I went off on regarding B-J; was just looking at the variety of the cars in the pictures from the RM link, and it struck me as how entertaining it would have been for me, and many others who frequent this forum, I'm sure, to see THESE cars being bid on, as opposed to the usual fare at Scottsdale, et. al., by Barrett-Jackson. Didn't mean to "poison" the conversation, by venting about this; perhaps that is "getting old", as well, but for what it's worth, the numbers were well beyond what my expectations would have been, even for the fine-looking cars that appeared on the link. That being said, I am glad that my comments, for whatever they were worth, generated even more conversation about the original thread, even if it was to a minor degree.

Yes, the numbers are impressive, but what caught my eye right away (and went through my mind right at the same time), is, why can't Barrett-Jackson have this variety and percentage of "non-muscle" cars cross their block while the cameras are on? No offense to those who have them (and I count many friends who do), but the percentage of cars seen on B-J outside of all muscle (Camaros, Hemi's, Mustangs), Corvettes, tri-five Chevys and T-Birds, is damn paltry. Wouldn't be surprised if the number isn't eight or nine cars out of ten seen on B-J fall into those categories just mentioned. Wonder if R-M could strike a deal with Speed or some other network, to show their auction. Wouldn't have to be nearly as extensive in terms of number of hours--at this point, I'm even willing to say that I'd rather see recorded coverage with these cars on this link, rather than the same old stuff B-J has been showing for about the last five years.

Just for perspective, a $10 note from 1929 would represent a decent day's wages for many people back then, not just a couple of Little Caesar's ready-to-go pizza's like it is now...

OK, I guess not!! Well, you get the idea...!!

Yeah, I read that letter. Sounds like a guy who was waiting to ***** and moan ('scuse me, am I allowed to say that?) about anything. How can someone NOT find Hershey? If nothing else, in the words of Toucan Sam (the Fruit-Loops cereal bird), "Follow your nose!" I thought Steve M's response was cogent and precise, without demeaning the guy's concerns (which would not have been an easy task had I been the one assigned to answer). Kudo's to OCW for getting a response straight from the top!

Got my copy of the Amos Auto Enthusiast (I think that's the name of it) magazine yesterday; to be honest, didn't have the time (er, nerve, heart, other body part...!!) to open it up, and it's still in its plastic wrap. Probably because my subconsious me already told me what the preceding posts seem to already indicate. Yes, I'll eventually "give it a chance", to be fair, as far as looking at the issue, and hoping against hope that I'll be proven wrong (To note, this must be a complimentary issue, as I actually let me subscription to Cars and Parts lapse, and didn't renew once I found out about it's unfortunate demise). But, just judging by the cover, AAE looked like the typical Chevy/Ford/Mopar cookie-cutter car mag, with an oh-by-the-way obligatory sop to a classic, in this case, the '41 Graham. Just on the surface, it struck me that it looks like it's trying to be all things to all people, based upon the cliched focus-group/marketing view that you've gotta have the Camaro/Mustang/Hemi (yawn, just like every other car magazine I see on the rack) articles, or else. Kinda like watching Barrett-Jackson, you know? How many 427/435 hp '67 Corvettes does one have to suffer through to see something you don't see everyday at every car show or cruise-in, like a '58 DeSoto Shopper wagon? Where's the fast-forward button on my DVR?!?! On the other hand, I did receive the latest Collectible Automobile magazine today with a super article on the '65-'66 full-size (not Cutlass/442) Oldsmobiles, complete with black-and-white pictures of the Oldsmobile styling department's clay model renderings of what would eventually become the '65 Starfire, with those shots dating back to the summer of 1962. Add to that the historical perspective and insight typically found in each CA article, and all I can say is "Wow, THAT is a magazine!!"

Amateur armchair quarterbacking here, but I can tell you from experience that the carb in my '62 Starfire has had to have the accellerator pump replaced/redone several times in all the years I've owned it (keeping in mind I've driven the car over 53,000 miles in the decade and a half it's been mine); I am told it is in large part due to the horrible effects of ethanol gasoline on many of the components. Someone competent should be able to resolve this issue without too much problem; I am now using a marine-grade fuel stabilizer to help fend off the effects of such.

Not to steal Paul's thunder (after all, he's the one who turned them on to me), but it's from a guy in Edison, New Jersey, named Glenn Raueber (would have to double-check on the spelling). Would be glad to post his address if it's OK to do so.

Glenn, love those metallic offerings for '62. I bought three Starfire die-casts when they came out a couple of years back; one I kept Garnet Mist, one I (of course) painted the roof black to go with the rest of the car (hey, gotta have "me" and "mini-me", so to speak). The third one my buddy and I was toying with getting a can of color-matched Willow Mist paint so it would resemble my Dad's '62. Not sure if we could do anything with getting the seats changed from red to fawn, but hey. Funny, I also noticed some of the mid-'90s Ford Probes had colors available that matched some of the '62 Olds paint chips, or at least came close; back then I saw a couple green and pink metallic ones in town. Another secret--I found a good match for the orange-ish paint for the "rocket" design on the center of the caps that were offered for '62 was, of all things, Chevy orange-red engine paint. Seems to lay down different on the caps than they do on the block of an actual 283, for instance...

Couple of things to add here. I did buy a set of '62 spinners at Hershey a few years back that had the Willow Mist (light green metallic) accents; that was the color my Dad's '62 Starfire Coupe was. They're hanging in the garage, have lots of road-rash on them. I know there was a guy named Bob Dotseth out in Iowa who had a brass template for the '62s; haven't seen him in years, hope he's doing ok. OK, a little secret here. There is a guy who had his son develop a computer program that matched the '62 color chips with adhesive decals that perfectly fit into the grooves of the hubcaps. Thought it would be tacky upon first impression, but got a free sample, and damn, they fit (and look) perfect. Color match is near 100% as well (yes, I, too, have the Garnet Mist maroon metallic ones). Took me about three hours to do a set of four hubcaps, and only took a little time to get the hang of it. They are very forgiving as well; actually was able to peel it off the hubcap once or twice to re-align it more perfectly. Have had them on for five years now, and they are as sharp as they ever have been. Can supply more details if send me a PM. Mike

For their first effort, I give the folks at Piston Power great credit for a job well done. For folks like most of us in this group, this show was a far better showcase for original cars than the AutoRama that takes place here in March, where it seems 80%+ of the cars are rods/customs. The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Oldsmobile Club of America had 18 cars in attendance, with three members winning honors; Jim Krejci with his 1957 Super 88 Coupe won best Early Post-War entry, John and Carol Gordon won third place for Mid-Post War Hardtop with his 1967 Cutlass Supreme, and Gordon Erkalovic won third place Muscle Car with his 1970 442 Coupe. As the previous posts indicated, there was all variety of motorized vehicles, from originals/stock to modifieds to trucks, competition cars (i.e., racing), tractors, construction equipment, and various aircraft, including the movie version of the Memphis Belle. and there were (I would guess) close to 100 cars up for auction held by Classic Motorcar Auctions, as well as various other memorabilia, automotive and otherwise. I would encourage anyone with an interest such as ours to attend next year's event; can tell you that the people I worked with who put the show on (Bill Perrien, Craig Thompson, and Cindy Mirkov) worked very hard for months to put on a successful show, and hope that it's the beginning of a good tradition getting started here in Northeast Ohio. I know, this isn't the picture you wanted to see, but it was close at hand, so here was another added attraction--me meeting Danica Patrick!

...reminds me of something I saw one time on TV; think it was for a baseball with an "authentic replica" of Babe Ruth's autograph, or something like that. Yep, that's what I want--a "real fake"!!

Glad to say that the hotel I've been staying at since coming to Hershey several years ago still has most of the same "clientele", if you will; we all run into each other sooner or later during the week, and it's nice to be recognized by the old friends who make it their home away from home for a few days in Hershey. There are the familiar cars in the parking lot, whether it be everyday vehicles with personalized license plates showing their affections for their favorite marque, pick-ups going to and from the swap meet, as well as the classics such as the Pierce-Arrow which makes it in by the end of the week, the usual old car or two that later can be seen at the car corral, as well as those recognizing my '62 Olds Starfire. One of the regulars bought a '61 Starfire convertible this past spring, and couldn't wait to see me so he could show the pictures. I do miss the beautiful '63 Caddy convertible that was always perched in front of the hotel every year; the owner sold it a couple years back at Fall Hershey. The camaraderie in town during that week, whether it be at the swap meet, the hotel, the local restaurants, and of course the big car show on Saturday, cannot be matched anywhere else but in Hershey. Already looking forward to next October!

Thanks again for getting the results posted so quickly; think this is the second (maybe third) year in a row that they've been posted by the following Monday (i.e., Columbus Day holiday). Try to follow the results along while at the banquet, but for obvious reasons, there are just so many names to call out for winning the prizes, it's good to see in print who won what. Another great experience in Hershey this year once again; can't wait until next year!

Not a suit and tie affair, although you can wear that if you wish; I'd say it's "dressy casual"; basically, just use common sense. Certainly I've seen people there with dress jeans and a nice polo/golf-type shirt, but I always wear a nice button-down shirt with slacks or even Docker-type pants; just wear a collar shirt, not a tee shirt. That is the men's dress code; I wouldn't want to speak for what women wear, but on both counts, I'd say just don't go dressed like a slob, if I can put it in colloquial terms.

Yes, that bright red '53 Buick woody wagon was phenomenal!!

Glenn, Doggone it, wish I would have met up with you to say hi; yes, Thursday was indeed a big washout, but Friday, Saturday, and yes, even Sunday through Noon (when I left) was just beautiful. Yes, saw the pink '60 Saratoga, love those Astra-Dome speedometer clusters; heard it run, sounded like it had a little miss (though it might have just been the dampness causing the distributor to not behave like it should). I thought the best buy of the meet was that white '63 Pontiac Grand Prix, just east of the grandstand/food court for only $7800; the same price beckoned for a very nice yellow (formerly beige) '64 Olds Fiesta wagon by Gate 2 (up in the car corral on Saturday); a rare South Gate (California) car without air, but did have power antenna, safety sentinel, and the Cragars were not the most outlandish thing I've seen on wagons lately, thougt of course I'd opt for factory hubs or spinners (they were called Fiestas, after all!) Another great car that I hope makes it to Hershey so it stands a chance of not beilng molested was an all original triple-black '73 Chevy BelAir sedan with just over 14K miles on it, 3-speed manual and straight six. Hope no clown gets it and does the usual trite thing and drop a small-block 350 Chevy into it--would be a CRIME! Gonna be in Hershey with the '62 Starfire by Tuesday evening, if you're up and about, track me down! Mike

I will surely pick one up at the first opportunity on Wednesday morning; was getting ready for Carlisle, and found that you can actually download their entire directory on-line (which will help in me doing some homework before I leave); is there an on-line download for the Hershey program?

OK, here you go... My method here in NE Ohio is to go over the car once completely, get an oil change, make absolutely sure that the fluids are topped off, especially the anti-freeze, then clean the car up as best you can prior to storage, give it a complete wax job, so that it is clean and shiny during the hibernating months. Vacuum it thoroughly on the inside, and if you have leather seats, a nice treatment of Lexol or whatever you use as a conditioner and protectant will go a long way. A trickle-charger is definitely a must to have for your battery, or you'll be sorry--learned that the hard way... My first investment after buying my old car was to purchase a quality car cover, such as those made by California Car Cover Company. To keep the moisture low inside the car and trunk, I also have found that there is some sort of dessicant (is that the word?) that you can put in the trunk of the car, as well as a front and back floor mat; it comes in a bucket, and is not something you have to spread out or anything. I also have a double-layer of Visqueen duct-taped down to my cement garage floor to prevent any sort of moisture that may (or may not, differing takes on this theory) emanate from the concrete. Figured I'd be on the safe side there. Going to make some enemies here, and not denying that it works, but I find the smell of mothballs absolutely repulsive. God, there isn't anything in this world that stinks worse, and I'm not exaggerating. If I go to a car show and I even get a whiff of a mothball, that car is done with me--I honestly can't even stick around to enjoy the experience of even a terrific antique or classic car. Don't want a car to smell like great-grandma's coat closet. To each their own, but I was told once that if you get a bar of Irish Spring soap, cut it up in some sheathed-off pieces, and put it in a couple of trays, it will accomplish the same thing, and will smell a WHOLE LOT BETTER!! Stabil is something to definitely use; I am a proponent of filling up the gas tank to the max, so as to at least initially eliminate or reduce condensation; Plus, I start the car quite often during the off-season. My school of thought is borne of what I call the "lawnmower theory"; i.e., when I was a kid, I always hated putting the lawnmower away in October, then let it sit for six months, only to find it was hell to start the damn thing come April--every single time. I figure that if I start the car every week or so, at the peak of the day when the temperature outside is at its highest, the worst case scenario is that if something did happen, it happened during the last week, not God knows when between Halloween and Easter. In 14 years of owning my car, I've never not had it start on me. Plus, at least for 20 or 30 minutes, you can actually enjoy hearing the car run, think of the great times you had this past year, and look forward to when the car show season starts once again. Actually, most winters here in Ohio, there is usually a break in the weather for a few days where we maybe get a rain that washes all the salt and grime off the road, and there's sometimes a window of opportunity afterwards before things get crappy again to actually take the car out for a quick little spin. Regardless, it always gives me inner peace to shut the car off once I'm done, put the cover back on, and know that everything is all right with your baby. Some people say that every time you start the car, it creates wear and tear on the engine. I say the pluses of starting the car once a week outweigh any minuses compared to the let-it-sit philosophy. If one does choose to start the car at regular intervals, such as at least once every week or two, make sure to get it up to temperature, blowing out any condensation from the exhaust system, and at least rolling it around a couple feet back and forth in the garage to somewhat keep the transmission loose, and prevent flat spots if you're keeping the car on the ground, particularly if you happen to have bias-plys on it. Probably left some stuff out, and those who want to add their two cents who agree or differ, regardless, consider their points and rationale as well.

Well, I appreciate the confirmation that the 10 mph I get in my '62 Starfire is about all I'm gonna get; that seems to be the magic number I hear from some other folks who drive a car like mine. Back to the speedometers that read "200", Oldsmobile did in fact make a handful (I heard the number six being bandied about) of '72 Indy Pace Cars with an actual 200 mph (not km/h) speedometer; I took a picture of one in Lansing many years back, would have to search to find it.

Yes, great to see the young people at these shows, glad some of them have the enthusiasm I had for these cars when I was their age. Here's something that goes a long way--one of my good friends has a 2002 Corvette convertible, and as such always gets to see some young guy (or gal) admiring the car. Fred always carries his Polaroid Instamatic with him (the ones that shoot the picture out immediately after he takes it, and takes about a minute to develop). You should see the smiles on the faces of these kids when they see themselves in the picture, behind the wheel of a beautiful car. Anyways, what I always get out of a big car show like Hershey, is meeting up with old friends, and always making new ones. As a percentage, I believe that the people who comprise the old car hobby are among the finest group of people anywhere, in spite of the occasional "stick in the mud" person there's always a chance of running into. I dare say that what keep people of all ages coming back to shows like Hershey is not just the cars, the items in the swap meet, or all of the activities associated with the show, but the people you meet, and meet once again.

Remembered seeing a picture on Paul Hartlieb's 1962 Oldsmobile website, of a '62 Super 88 Holiday Coupe located in France; if you scroll down to the third picture, you'll see a good shot of the 200 km/h speedometer. From what I remember reading in the appendix to "Setting The Pace", the best book on the history of Oldsmobile written by the late Helen Jones Earley, and James Walkinshaw, there were 17 such '62 Oldsmobiles so equipped. Stephane Niceron's '62 Super 88 Holiday coupe