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1953 Chevrolet Corvette: King of All Corvettes

The Chevrolet Corvette C1 will always remain close to the hearts of Americans, as it was the first two-seater sports car in the nation. Since it was merely an experiment at first, only 300 cars were initially produced. The external body of the Corvette was made out of fiberglass, which was considered a new composite material back then. This fiberglass material made it possible for the radio antenna to be incorporated inside the trunk lid. All the 300 units produced had a Polo White exterior and a red interior. The first 15 units produced were built hand-made in Flint, Michigan. 225 of the first 300 manufactured units still exist up to the present. At that time, the Corvette was priced at $3,498.00 inclusive of federal excise tax. It made its debut appearance on January 17, 1953 at the GM Motorama in Waldorf Astoria. As of the moment, that display is now at the Kerbeck Corvette Museum in Atlantic City.

The car had a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and Chevrolet’s standard drum brakes. The Corvette also featured the Blue Flame inline six-cylinder trunk engine, a standard component of Chevrolet. It wasn’t what the engineering team wanted, but it was their only option because other GM brands were not willing to share their V8 motors that time. It wasn’t the best engine, although it was reliable. The engineering team just upgraded some parts to make up for it which included a radical camshaft rubbing on solid lifters and higher compression ratio cylinder head from 7.5:1 to 8.0:1. The biggest upgrade to the induction system was in the form of the Three Carter type YH sidedraft carburetors with bullet air cleaners equipped with an aluminum manifold. The result was an increase in output from 150 bhp to 4,500 RPM. Even if the engines output was upgraded, it did not do much to improve the performance. Critics said that overall, the Corvette’s performance was below average.

It wasn’t a good start for the Corvette. Sales were low in 1954. GM even thought of halting the production but thanks to Zora Arkus Dunto of GM’s engineering department, the Corvette became one of the most legendary cars in history. He upgraded the V8 with a three-speed manual transmission. Thanks to that modification, the Corvette morphed into one of greatest cars ever built. In fact, the 1953 Corvette is considered the holy grail of the Corvette lovers. This innovation also earned Arkus-Duntov the title Father of the Corvette. The car even gained the National Corvette Homecoming Sapphire Award in 2007, cementing its legacy as one of the best.

William loves writing about muscle cars and plans to one day fix up his father’s 1964 Impala that is currently sitting in his yard.

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Posted on March 24, 2011 by , Reply

Keep Warm In Winter And Cool In Summer With Sheepskin Car Seat Covers

For a luxurious feeling while you drive as well as to protect the value of your car’s interior, sheepskin car seat covers are the way to go. In addition, they secure the upholstery from dirt, damage, and tears.

Although there are many types of seat covers, sheepskin is superior to other materials because it is the most durable and versatile. Sheepskin covers are made of a heavy-duty natural wool material that lends a classy look and performs well, even under heavy use.

Made in different sizes, these car seat covers can be purchased to fit anything from a sports car up to a van quickly and easily. Unlike “spandex” seat cover varieties, they won’t rip under stress or pulling, and they aren’t emblazoned with gaudy decorations and designs that may clash with your personal style. Sheepskin from New Zealand and Australia are generally considered to be of the highest quality.

Leather seat cover options get too cold in the winter and far too hot in the summer. Sheepskin covers, on the other hand, circulate air between you and the car seat and will only retain a modest temperature. In winter, therefore, they will help reflect your body’s natural heat to keep you warm, rather than you becoming sweaty from synthetic materials. And in warmer weather they won’t stick to your legs. What could be more perfect–they keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Additionally, opting for sheepskin provides a soft, cushy barrier beneath you, reducing stress on your back and legs when driving daily or over long distances. The sheepskin will also encourage blood flow by giving your skin room to “breathe”. Sheepskin car seat covers will conform to your shape over time, and resist spills, tearing, and breaking because they are made of a strong natural material. Using these products will shield your upholstery from potential wear and tear, ensuring that you can retain the value of your car during resale or leasing scenarios.

In addition to the car seats, sheepskin frequently is used for accessories such as headrests, arm rests, floor mats, safety belt covers and steering wheel covers. All of these uses have the same benefits found with the car seat covers.

Sheepskin car seat covers look great in any size and color. The same can be said for sheepskin accessories. They provide a neutral, flattering tone that will make your car look sophisticated and comfortable as well as giving you a luxurious feeling while driving.

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Posted on March 12, 2011 by , Reply

Classic BMW 503: Speed, Power, and Rarity

One of the best classic cars produced by well-know car maker BMW is the BMW 503. The 503 is a two door 2+2 sports car first unveiled in 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show and was mass produced in the summer of 1956. After three years worth of production run, the BMW 503 was finally withdrawn, creating only around 413 cars including 139 cabriolets. Because of its stylish design and its very limited number, the BMW 503 is now considered a classic car. Incidentally, it is also one of the most sought after classic cars today, not just because of its looks, but also because of its power and performance.

The BMW 503 was designed by well know car designer, Albrecht von Goertz, with the help of preliminary drafts prepared by Kurt Bredschneider. The initial design though, would have made the BMW 503 look more flamboyant, because it incorporates rounded mudguards similar to its predecessor, the BMW 502 sedan. It should also be considered that such a look isn’t really a rarity during that time, because car makers are trying to attract more buyers with cars that look different from the rest. However, the original design for the 503 was not followed because it didn’t fit with the automotive regulations on light positioning, and several other concerns. But with the changed design, the look of the BMW 503 puts it well ahead of its time, because it had a relatively futuristic appearance from its square cornered look and fully integrated wings.

As mentioned earlier, the BMW 503 is one of the most sought after classic cars because of its power and performance. This car incorporated a revolutionary 3168 cc light metal v8 engine from its BMW 502 predecessor. This application easily delivers a power output of around 140 brake horsepower. It is also quite the speed demon, accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h or 62 mph in just 13 seconds. The top speed of this classic car is also quite outstanding, which is around 115 miles per hour or 185 km/h. This car has a four speed manual transmission, also carried over from the BMW 502. This was originally mounted remotely from the engine and rear axle, a design that’s unique for the 502 and 503. These power and speeds are not common to cars during those times, so when the BMW 503 came along, it is easily regarded as one of the kings of the road. Coupled with its rarity, the BMW 503 is indeed a full pledged classic car.

To learn things you may have not known about classics such as the 65 mustang
, be sure to go to MuscleCarMonster,com

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Posted on March 9, 2011 by , Reply

Muscle Car History: How It All Began

Have you ever wondered about the history of muscle cars and how it all began? Well, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the events that spurned the start of the public’s love for these iconic vehicles.

A muscle car is a term that is used to refer to a variety of high performance vehicles. Typically, the term is used for Australian, American and South African models but it is also used for others as well. The average model would be a two door, mid-sized automobile with a rear wheel drive. What sets it apart from others of the same kind would be its powerful engine which is usually a V8 engine. The first muscle car models were produced between the 60’s and the 70’s. These vehicles were designed to be used for races as well as normal street use. Now, one must never confuse a muscle car with a sports car or a GT because those were intended, specifically, for both road racing and touring.

When it comes to the muscle car history in America, some would say that the very first model to be manufactured would be the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 which was released in 1949. This vehicle was innovative for its time because of its power and speed which aroused the public’s interest for more vehicles of the same sort. The Rocket had the very first V8 installed in it. Now, due to the increase in public interest, more manufacturers thought about producing flashier models. Chrysler was among the first ones with their 1955 C-300 which became “America’s Most Powerful Vehicle” during the time it was produced.

When the 1960’s came rolling in, muscle cars became even more popular with several of the biggest car manufacturers locked in a tight race as to who could produce the fastest, meanest and biggest muscle car there was. Dodge, Ford, Chrysler and Plymouth battled it out in drag racing and manufacturing. The decline came when politicians stated their concern over such powerful vehicles in the hands of the reckless youth, as well as new emissions laws that reduce the size of the engines. Needless to say, many people thought of these cars as being dangerous to both the driver and pedestrians who shared the same streets.

These days, while there are still plenty of people who own and drive classic muscle cars, they really are not as rampant as before. But who knows? As history has taught us, some things repeat themselves and for all we know, we could be in the midst of a muscle car revival.

If you enjoyed reading this article, William invites you to read his latest on the barracuda car at MuscleCarMonster.com

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Posted on March 9, 2011 by , Reply

The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

If one is to talk about the top classic cars, one could not, and should not, avoid talking about the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. The sleek Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa boasts a 3.0 liter V12 engine that dished out 300 horsepower and has a max speed of 168 miles per hour or 270 kilometers per hour. This shiny red car got its name from the color of its valves as Testa Rossa means “red head.” Dominating various arenas in race car driving, this surely is one of the, fastest vehicles of its time. Sadly though, only 34 of these bad boys were built from the mid-50s ’till its end. For you to have an idea how much this car is valued, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa was sold for an astounding $12,100,000 back in 2009, which is a world record price for a single car.

The 250 Ferrari Testa Rossa had unconventional bodywork which was designed and built by one of Ferraris top designers, Carrozzeria Scaglietti and it is one of their most famous works. The car has a sleek aerodynamic design as it was primarily used for racing. What made the design very unique are the pontoon-like front fenders. From the words by Sergio Scaglietti himself, the 250 Ferrari Testa Rossa is in many ways a Formula 1 race car with fenders. The main similarity of the Testa Rossa to Formula 1 cars is the way it brings air to cool the brakes. A formula 1 car has pods on its sides and the idea to cool the brakes of the Testa Rossa was born from this.

Of course, the 50s is parent to many classic cars but the Testa Rossa sure made a niche for itself amidst the number of many muscle cars and super cars manufactured at the time. It won many races and events during its international race career. This was due to how the Testa Rossa was built. It’s aerodynamic, super light, and it had a five-speed gearbox. For those unaware, cars back then only had four. Not only was the Testa Rossa extremely fast, it was also reliable as Ferrari had put a priority on reliability versus outright performance when conceptualizing this super car.

The 1950s was such a great time for automobiles as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Materasi along with Ferrari continued to top each other by designing and manufacturing faster and more powerful cars. Truly, the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is but one of the many amazing and captivating classic cars ever built on that decade.

If you have ever wanted to learn all about muscle cars and which models are considered the best of all time, you can read all about it on my site, MuscleCarMonster.com.

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Posted on March 8, 2011 by , Reply
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