May
25
The Rat Rod craze is alive and well and spreading to old stake trucks. Rat Rods are so “bad boy” we really love them. But like any Mint-worthy post, we prefer our Rats to be created by nature. This truck is your typical “ran when parked” story. Read More
May
25
There are many SLs available but when we spotted this one, it seemed worthy of closer inspection. It is a 2-owner car and the seller states he bought it from an 80-year old gent back in 1980 and now he is the 80-year old gent. Read More
May
25
Chrysler didn’t build a ’63 Max Wedge Wagon so calling it a Tribute is really incorrect. Calling it amazing is much more accurate. It is almost a sleeper but you can’t deny the gaping hood scoop is a hint that there is magic under the hood. Its got MSD Ignition, Ram Charger Hood, Solid Lifters, Performance Cam, Roller Rockers, Ceramic Coated Headers w/ Dual Flowmaster Exhaust, Max Wedge Heads & Intake, Spare Tire, Radial Tires, and Factory Steel Wheels with dog dish hubcaps. The builder of this wagon is none other than Bobbie Repine who is best known for building the Hemi-Thrasher. This car sold at auction in 2012 for just over $30,000. We think the dealer is looking for closer to $35,000. Click here for the eBay Auction
May
24
It does seem like great, original British sports cars are popping up all over. For the record, we here at Mint appreciate a wide range of cars and trucks. So if it appears that we have latched on to a particular brand, it is more apt to be a unique opportunity for you and we want to make sure you see it. The godfather (lowercase) of car finders, Mike M., sent this in on the heels of another low mileage Healey. But this one (stay with us) looks like someone just traded it in on a new ’73 Jaguar. It has that back in the 70s used car look. And that is a remarkable achievement. Read More
May
24
Like the Austin-Healey we featured, we seem to come up with quite a few nice Volvo 1800s lately. This is a really nice follow-up to the Coupe we had earlier this week. That 1800E was interesting because it had factory A/C. Guess what? If you need a little more carrying capacity for you scuba gear, this one has A/C too. It is the same light blue metallic as the Coupe so you have a real choice here. Read More
May
23
Ready for its door number decal that is. But the rest of our project 230S Rally Car Tribute is done. We want to thank John for exiting retirement for a few days to help us complete the fabrication and installation of all of our equipment. We realize we don’t yet have a period correct Halda Speedmaster but we do have our eye on a Brantz International 2 Pro unit. But the events we will participate in this summer won’t require that level of equipment. Tomorrow, we install a new clutch master cylinder and a little carb adjustment and then we will take a line from an old Volvo ad, “drive it like you hate it.”
May
23
We have. Truthfully, we are not that skilled at driving or caring for cars with more than an ignition key, fuel pump switch and a push button. The starting procedure for a vintage Ferrari like a Lusso, is a wonderful thing – key on, fuel pump on (to fill the carbs), engage the starter, then vroom. If you are in a hurry, you can make up the time after you start driving. We wrote a story about a Bugatti Royale and had to do some research about how you would start a car like that. But it isn’t as complicated as the starting procedure for a Type 43 Supercharged Bugatti – the cover car of the Bonham’s Greenwich auction catalogue. Just the other day, we limped into Auto Turismo Sport to get some brackets welded onto our Merc 230S as we get it ready for Greenwich Concours. Our gearshift linkage gave up a few hundred feet from their driveway so I just coasted in and parked it. While Steve and the guys looked for a suitable bushing replacement (they actually had a replacement. I love these guys), I spied the cover car in the shop sitting between a Lotus and a Daytona. Steve said it was in for a carb adjustment before the auction. We found this starting procedure instruction sheet on the front seat and it unlocked the mystery of how to start a Supercharged Bugatti.
May
23
Several automotive companies in the United States used the “suburban” designation to indicate a windowed, station wagon type body on a commercial frame. Chevrolet began production of its all-steel “carryall-suburban” in 1935. These vehicles were also known as the “Suburban Carryall” until GM cut the name to simply “Suburban.” Read More
May
23
Earlier this week we had a spectacular Triumph TR-6. It was a beautiful in rare Sapphire blue with blue interior, hardtop and Overdrive. Low mileage too. If we had $35,000 to spend on a Triumph, that would be the one. But we all don’t want or need to have such an extraordinary car. You still wait around for exceptional but in your price range. Bam! This may be it. Read More
May
23
We run the risk of being accused a Chrysler Town & Country shill. We are not. We just love big American Wagons and lately, they all seem to be a Chrysler T&C. We had an Edsel a few weeks ago but they are really like cartoon characters but a nice T & C is pure luxury. You may remember that Chrysler hired Elwood Engel away from Ford and made him their chief stylist. Read More
May
22
There was a burgeoning sand-craze in SoCal in the 50s and there existed two camps – water or air-cooled. Buggy historians may dispute the inventor of the air-cooled camp but most folks believe It was Pete Beirning of Oceano, CA that did it in 1958. Read More
May
22
The first Mercedes turbo diesel production for the very popular W123 appeared in September, 1979. This was the 300 TD Turbodiesel, available with automatic transmission only. In most markets, the turbocharged 5-cylinder 3 litre diesel engine was offered only in the T body style, while in North America it was also available in sedan and coupé bodies. These W123 cars are a testament to Mercedes’ legendary build quality. Although not entirely indestructible, they hold up amazingly well. Granted, some of the support systems, apart from the Diesel engine, are more than likely to fail before the engine needs a rebuild and that can get expensive. Read More
May
22
The FJ55 was a 4-door station wagon version based on the FJ40 drive-train, replacing the 4-Door FJ45V. It is commonly referred to as an “Iron Pig.” The FJ55 was designed to be sold in North America and Australia. All Iron Pigs were 2-tone in color. Most added a 3rd color and that is rust. We are huge Cruiser fans and love the slightly archaic look of the Pig. Read More
May
21
This is one outrageous Packard! Based on the not terribly popular bathtub Packard design, this Roadster is the lifelong dream of its creator, John Rudolph. Not the John Rudolph, NPR radio producer of Feet in Two Worlds, but the John Rudolph who is a Packard fanatic. It was created as part of the California Custom movement according to someone intimately familiar with the car. Read More
May
21
Relax Volvo fans and we know we have many. We did not misspell Amason. When introduced, the car was called the Amason which derives from the fierce female warriors of Greek mythology, the Amazons. German motorcycle manufacture Kreidler had already registered that name, and the two companies finally agreed that Volvo could only use the name within Sweden, modifying the spelling to Amazon. Subsequently, Volvo began its tri-digit nomenclature and the line became known as the 120 Series. Now you can rest easy with this knowledge. Read More
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