#Custom 1957 Buick Special that is pushing

[awesomecarmods]

Custom 1957 Buick Special that is pushing 600 horses. [ https://i.redd.it/vtwd8jbexr051.jpg ]

[auto4333]

Be Cautious Where You Take Your Classic Car or Muscle Car

Vintage car owners, including those with muscle cars, street rods, hot rods, antiques and vintage trucks, are generally facing uncertain times as car thefts are on the rise, and actions from thieves are becoming more striking and brazen. I recently came across a story written by a man who owned a Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe with all matching numbers. The all-original classic sport car had an immaculate dark blue rooms where only the carpet had ever been replaced. The 327 engine was said to produce a rhythmic loping that not only brought a smile to your face, but got you day dreaming of having this loveliness parked in your own garage. Then disaster strikes and you're snapped out of your dream and into his headache! The owner of this beautiful piece of American history took his prized car to what he called a small "backwoods" show that a friend and he decided to go to in the spur of the moment. As owner Jacob Morgan, of Bakersfield, CA described, "The event was an annual but rather unofficial gathering of classic truck buffs and I was thrilled to bring my car down. Unfortunately, the part of Florida that the occurrence was being held was extremely dry due to drought. About three or four hours after arriving, a man which owned a red GTO (I could not tell you the year because frankly I did not care afterward) thought to start up his ride for the spectators. It was just one backfire but it was enough to start the dry yard ablaze--and guess where my Corvette was parked? Nearly thirty classic cars were consumed by the blaze started by that backfiring GTO and my Corvette was one of them. Of course I had the car properly covered but they just aren't making 1963 Corvettes any longer and the only one I could find that was similar cost $10, 000 more than my policy's payoff. I guess if there is a moral to my sad tale, it is and avoid backwoods car shows at all costs because they are unregulated, disorganized, and very dangerous to classic cars like my much loved 1963 Corvette Coupe. " This may not be your traditional way of losing your prized classic car, muscle family car, street rod, antique car, vintage truck or other collectible old vehicle, but it does drive property the point that we need to exercise care in even the most innocent surroundings like a car show! Freak injuries like Mr. Morgan experienced can and do account for many losses to enthusiasts - not just fraud or vandalism. Sadly though, theft isn't a rare thing and the methods are becoming more bizarre. Guy Algar and I have had pieces stolen off one of our own vehicles that we were towing back to our buy while we stopped for a quick bite to eat! We've had a good number of hubcaps taken over the years. Together with, we actually had the brake lights ripped off of our car hauler while we were in a sections store one day picking up parts for a customer! We've had one customer tell us the story where he previously taken his wife out to dinner and had carefully parked his 1969 Corvette at a nearby restaurant, under a big bright light, and in what appeared to be a "safe" area, only to come out 1 out of 3 minutes to an hour later to find all his emblems and trim taken right off the car! Thieves are generally known to take the entire car hauler (with the classic sitting on top) right off the tow vehicle's hitch ball and transfer the hauler to their own tow vehicle when people are on the road, at a motor vehicle show, or some other type of event. These are bold moves by people who do not fear the consequences. Other thefts that have been reported around the country have included: Dr . Phil just had his '57 Chevy Belair convertible stolen from the Burbank repair shop he had brought it to for repairs. A 1937 Buick, valued with over $100, 000 was taken from a gated community parking garage in Fort Worth, Texas. He of New Mexico reported the theft of two of his collector cars to Hemming. Ben owns about half a dozen collector cars altogether, and to store them all, he rented out a storage product. Unfortunately, when he went to check on them recently, for the first time in about six months, he found that will two were missing - a 1957 two-door Chevrolet Belair and a 1967 Mercury Cougar GT. There would be also a report of a man from Jefferson City, Missouri, who actually recovered his own stolen car, some sort of 1969 Chevrolet Camaro that had been stolen 16 years before, after seeing it in a Google search! Within a Los Angeles suburb, a woman came home to a garage empty of her prized 1957 Chevy Bel-Air which often had been valued at more than $150, 000. The beautiful convertible had been featured in several magazines and Tv programs and won dozens of awards at car shows around the country. A neighbor's surveillance camera caught what of the thieves and revealed that the Bel-Air was pushed down the street by a pickup truck which had pulled inside her driveway just minutes after she had left. The thieves likely loaded it onto an waiting for trailer. It's thought that the thieves spotting the car at one of the car shows, followed it home next, then waited for the opportunity to steal it. A Seattle collector was the victim of a targeted "smash-and grab" from the warehouse where he kept his cars. The thieves apparently ransacked the building and additionally drove off with a 396/425 four-speed 1965 Corvette Stingray; and a 20, 000-mile 396/four-speed 1970 Chevelle SS. A 1959 Chevrolet Impala was stolen during a Cruise Night. The owner got good news-bad news in the event the police tracked down because while they did recover the classic car, he had put in a maintain for the theft with his insurance policy after the theft many months before, so the car went to the insurance company rather then being returned to him. Apparently detectives recovered the Impala from a chop shop nearly eight a long time after it was stolen, repainted and modified. Hemmings News also reported of a reader whose 1970 Frd Maverick was stolen from his home in Missouri. The car was found and returned, but the examination apparently revealed that the thief had been watching the owner for 2 years, with the intention of stealing it in addition to using it to race with. Chilling thing to find out. A 1979 Buick Electra 225 Limited Edition has been stolen out of a grocery store parking lot in suburban Detroit with the thief escaping with an urn contained in the trunk that contained the remains of the owner's stepfather! After saving for over 40 years, someone from Virginia bought the car of his dreams, a 1962 Dodge Lancer. Buying his dream automobile, he began his restoration project, which was about 60 percent complete when he relocated to Florida. Without a garage to keep it in after his move, he stored it in a 24-foot enclosed movie trailer along with a 1971 Dodge Colt he planned to turn into a race car, and kept the trailer left at a storage lot. At the end of July, the trailer and everything in it disappeared. The last story really has a happy ending because it was recovered due to alert shop owners being suspicious of person looking to unload a Lancer for only $1, 500 including the many boxes of parts. After some explore, the owner was reunited with his car. Guy and I have been approached on numerous occasions by people eager to sell their vehicles. Some have hardship stories and the callers are willing to unload the car for a real great deal. We've always walked from these offers, primarily because we're not in the business of buying and selling vehicles (we're not dealers or re-sellers), but also because we're cautious of a "too-good-to-be-true" price. One call in certain did make us very suspicious, as the woman caller insisted that the sale had to be completed by Saturday (she called our shop over the weekend) and the price was extremely low for a rather rare product Mustang. Alert shop owners can be instrumental in aiding in the recovery of stolen classic cars. And not all stories have a happy ending like this. Classic cars, muscle cars and antiques can make their method to chop shops, end up damaged and abandoned, and even being re-sold on Internet sites such as eBay and Craigslist! Just yesterday, I reported on a 1954 Chevy Pickup truck which was stolen from a woman's driveway in Okla City. (Ironically this article was already written and scheduled for release today when the news hit. I've increased her case because, unfortunately, it emphasizes how common thefts have become. ) She wisely reached available to the Hemmings community of enthusiasts for help. Hemmings. com has a huge following, referred to as "Hemmings Nation", and appealing for help to a community of enthusiasts like this can be instrumental in helping to give vital information to help police and authorities who can help track and recover a stolen classic car. We applaud the effort that Hemmings does. And, the methods that thieves are using, as you can see, are as varied as the categories of vehicles! Even seemingly innocent little car shows and gatherings are places you need to exercise a little warning and care. As I reported in a July article, carjackings involving classic cars are even becoming even more commonplace. Surprisingly, in some cases, the Internet has been helpful in aiding in the recovery of classic cars and muscle mass cars. There have been numerous stories, much like the Camaro owner above, and a man who found his 1949 Honda through a listing on Craigslist (the two men responsible were arrested and charged with disassembling a car or truck after the owner positively identified it as his) where owners have been able to locate their cars with Internet searches. For those not so fortunate, insurance is the only consolation. We highly recommend classic car or "collector" car insurance. There are a number of companies that provide this specialized insurance, and it is generally well worth the cost. Classic Car Info provided an article, Purchasing Classic Car Insurance, containing a list of companies along with links to contact them. I also propose Hagerty Insurance's publication, Deterring Collector Car Theft, which has tips on theft prevention. In addition to the quick-strip thefts, robbers usually always alter, remove or forge VIN numbers, which make identification of the car or truck more difficult. Vehicle Id Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles that are used to differentiate similar makes and models. Very like social security numbers, every vehicle has a different VIN. VIN plates are usually located on the dashboard on current cars, but are often found in the door jams of older models. VIN plates can be switched with an additional vehicle for a fast coverup. The point here is to be aware of your surroundings, including where you park your car. Tend not to take it for granted that just because you're at an event with fellow enthusiasts that something bad aren't able to happen. Take preventive action by securing your old car or truck. Guy Algar suggests, "Don't forget to look at precautions even at home. You may feel safe parking your ride in 'the safety' of your two van garage, but remember, even if you don't have windows where people can peer in and spot your sought after car, thieves can also follow you home from work, a cruise, or even the grocery store and approach a theft after surveilling your home and learning your schedule. If you have a ride that catches folks' attention, remember that it can also catch the wrong attention! "

[itsworn]

This 1957 Buick Special Is An Over-The-Top Down Under Custom

“The thought of building a car and the endless possibilities are like an adrenalin rush I can’t get enough of.” That’s how Adam Cleary describes his passion for customizing cars. It’s been lifelong, but really ignited when he was 16, building his first car with his father. Soon, he and his friends were helping each other with their cars, developing their mechanical chops, and learning the importance of friendship between car guys working together to make things happen.

“I have always loved 1957 Buicks,” Adam told us, “due to the lines on the car—and the unique design with the three-piece rear window, big front bumper and grille, and bullet-shaped side ventiports.” Unfortunately, those cars are harder to find in Sydney, Australia, where Adam lives, than they are in the United States. Building a custom car there is also more expensive and subject to strict regulations. Fortunately, Adam’s friends include American car guys with the same passion as his. Chad Canerday from Chad’s Auto Glass is one of them. They met several years ago when Adam bought a 1961 Cadillac custom from Chad. By coincidence, Chad had a 1957 Buick Special he wanted to build for whomever would buy it. From an ocean away, a deal was struck, plans were discussed, and work began.

As usual, the original plans were for a simpler build, but the plans always called for a slammed stance and seriously plus-sized wheels. Achieving that look was accomplished with a custom front and rear suspension built by The Choppin’ Block in Fresno, California. Air suspension components from RideTech controlled by an AccuAir e-Level air management system let Adam drop the Buick until the pavement pushes back. Up front, Choppin’ Block tubular control arms were added to the Fatman Fabrications front clip.

Factory 1957 Buicks were not designed for the kind of wheels and tires this one rides on. Packing those 24×9 Raceline Sniper 5 five-spokes and 275/30-24 Pirelli P-Zero radials into the wheel openings required modifying the front fenders with inner fender guards. Mini-tubs were fabricated for the rear and the rearend was narrowed to make room. That’s a lot of wheel but relative to the massive size of the body, the proportions work.

As the old saying goes, big wheels … big brakes. For the right look and reliable stopping, a Wilwood disc brake combination of 16-inch rotors and six-piston calipers was mounted at every corner.

The stock Buick body lines have a custom look even without any mods, and a resto-mod approach was taken with the exterior. The door handles were shaved, along with lettering and emblems on the hood and decklid, and the grille emblem. Many other classic trim elements were retained, such as the hood ornament, side molding, and three ventiports (identifying the Special model). Lewis Milinich at Milinich’s Body Works did much of the final sheetmetal work, including shooting the PPG paint; patent leather black was the perfect color choice.

On the inside, resto-mod surrenders to full custom, starting with a definitely not Buick dash. It’s a 1956 Chevrolet, housing Dakota Digital VHX gauges and ornamented with the “Special” lettering transplanted from the decklid. The Raceline steering wheeling is trimmed in red leather to match the upholstery. Matching high-end carpet covers the floor. Krist Kustoms in Livingston, Texas, built and upholstered the interior. Front seats are from Glide Engineering and the rear buckets are custom made. A scratchbuilt console splits the interior and holds the Lokar shifter, power window and air suspension controls, and the stereo head unit. Red leather upholstery with custom billet inserts covers the seatsand continues onto the door panels, kick panels, and trunk. Looney Tunez Car Audio built the Buick’s sound system, combining a Pioneer PRS 80 receiver, Digital Designs amps, and Unity speakers from Hybrid Audio.

Some of the work done to Adam’s Buick took place after its initial build in California and after its debut at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Once the Buick made the trip to Australia, Adam took it to builder Paul Sant, his longtime friend, and the owner of Proflo Performance in Sydney. The Wilwood brakes were one of the changes made there, but a more significant change was the rebuilt engine. The Billet Specialties Streamline valve covers and air cleaner cover still dress up the 427 Chevy big-block, and a Holley 750 double pumper carb and Edelbrock manifold continue to feed it. Proflo Performance beefed up the internals with JE pistons and rings, plus a Scat crank and rods. Valvetrain components include Manley valves and springs and a Crane solid lifter cam. An MSD ignition lights the air and fuel. Exhaust exits through Sanderson headers and custom 3-inch pipes. Behind the big-block, a Turbo 400 transmission with a B&M converter delivers torque to 3.50:1 gears in a Ford 9-inch rearend.

Adam’s beautiful Buick has been successful at impressing showgoers on two continents. The car is finished now, but he says he will probably never stop making tweaks and adjustments. It’s part of his passion. Of course, driving the car on the street is where the real adrenalin rush kicks in.

The post This 1957 Buick Special Is An Over-The-Top Down Under Custom appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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[maternityshapewear]

Be Cautious Where You Take Your Classic Car or Muscle Car

Classic car owners, including those with muscle cars, street rods, hot rods, antiques and vintage trucks, are facing uncertain times as car thefts are on the rise, and actions from thieves are becoming more bold and brazen.

I recently came across a story written by a man who owned a Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe with all matching  best shapewear numbers. The all-original classic sport car had an immaculate dark blue interior where only the carpet had ever been replaced. The 327 engine was said to produce a rhythmic loping that not only brought a smile to your face, but got you day dreaming of having this beauty parked in your own garage. Then disaster strikes and you're snapped out of your dream and into his nightmare!

The owner of this beautiful piece of American history took his prized car to what he called a small "backwoods" show that a friend and he decided to go to in the spur of the moment. As owner Jacob Morgan, of Bakersfield, CA described, "The event was an annual but rather unofficial gathering of classic car buffs and I was thrilled to bring my car down. Unfortunately, the part of Florida that the event was being held was extremely dry due to drought. About three or four hours after arriving, a man who owned a red GTO (I could not tell you the year because frankly I did not care afterward) decided to start up his ride for the spectators. It was just one backfire but it Maternity Shapewear  was enough to start the dry grass ablaze--and guess where my Corvette was parked?

Nearly thirty classic cars were consumed by the blaze started by that backfiring GTO and my Corvette was one of them. Of course I had the car properly insured but they just aren't making 1963 Corvettes any longer and the only one I could find that was similar cost $10,000 more than my policy's payoff. I guess if there is a moral to my sad tale, it is to avoid backwoods car shows at all costs because they are unregulated,  plus size shapewear disorganized, and very dangerous to classic cars like my beloved 1963 Corvette Coupe."

This may not be your traditional way of losing your prized classic car, muscle car, street rod, antique car, vintage truck or other collectible old vehicle, but it does drive home the point that we need  to exercise care in even the most innocent surroundings like a car show! Freak accidents like Mr. Morgan experienced can and do account for many washer dryer clearance losses to enthusiasts - not just theft or vandalism.

Sadly though, theft isn't a rare thing and the methods are becoming more bizarre. Guy Algar and I have had pieces stolen off one of our own vehicles that we were towing back to our shop while we stopped for a quick bite to eat! We've had a good number of hubcaps taken over the years. And, we actually had the brake lights ripped off of our car hauler while we were in a parts store one day picking up parts for a customer! We've had one customer tell us the story where he had taken his wife out to  dinner and had carefully parked his 1969 Corvette at a local restaurant, under a big bright light, and in what appeared to be a "safe" area, only to come out 45 minutes to an hour later to find all his emblems and trim taken right  A+ certification training off the car! Thieves have been known to take the entire car hauler (with the classic sitting on top) right off the tow vehicle's hitch ball and transfer the hauler to their own tow vehicle when people are on the road, at a car show, or some other type of event. These are bold moves by people who do not fear the consequences.

Other thefts that have been reported around the country have included:

   Dr. Phil just had his '57 Chevy Belair convertible stolen from the Burbank repair shop he had brought it to for repairs.

   A 1937 Buick, valued at over $100,000 was taken from a gated community parking garage in Fort Worth, Texas.

   Tom of New Mexico reported the theft of two appliances houston  of his collector cars to Hemming. Tom owns about half a dozen collector cars altogether, and to store them all, he rented out a storage unit. Unfortunately, when he went to check on them recently, for the first time in about six months, he found that two were missing - a 1957 two-door Chevrolet Belair and a 1967 Mercury Cougar GT.

   There was also a report of a man from Jefferson City, Missouri, who actually recovered his own stolen car, a 1969 Chevrolet used appliances houston  Camaro that had been stolen 16 years before, after seeing it in a Google search!

   In a Los Angeles suburb, a woman   came home to a garage empty of her prized 1957 Chevy Bel-Air which had been valued at more than $150,000. The beautiful convertible had been featured in several magazines and TV shows and won dozens of awards at car shows around the country. A neighbor's surveillance camera caught the actions of the thieves and revealed that the Bel-Air was pushed down the street by a  car dealerships in houston pickup truck which had pulled into her driveway just minutes after she had left. The thieves likely loaded it onto an awaiting trailer. It's thought that the thieves spotting the car at one of the car shows, followed it home afterwards, then waited for the opportunity to steal it.

   A Seattle collector was the victim of a targeted "smash-and grab" from the warehouse where he kept his cars. The thieves apparently ransacked the building and drove off with a 396/425 four-speed 1965 Corvette Stingray; and a 20,000-mile 396/four-speed 1970 Chevelle SS.

   A 1959 Chevrolet Impala was stolen during technical schools near me  a Cruise Night. The owner got good news-bad news when the police tracked down because while they did recover the classic car, he had put in a claim for the theft with his insurance policy after the theft many months before, so the car went to the insurance company rather than being returned to him. Apparently detectives recovered the Impala from a chop shop nearly eight months after it was stolen, repainted and modified.

   Hemmings News also reported of a reader whose 1970 Ford Maverick was stolen from his home in Missouri. The car was found and returned, but the investigation apparently revealed that the luxury cars houston  thief had been watching the owner for 2 years, with the intention of stealing it and using it to race with. Chilling thing to find out.

   A 1979 Buick Electra 225 Limited Edition was stolen out of a grocery store parking lot in suburban Detroit with the thief escaping with an urn inside the trunk that contained the remains of the owner's stepfather!

   After saving for over 40 years, a man from Virginia bought the car of his dreams, a 1962 Dodge Lancer. Buying his dream car, he began his restoration project, which was about 60 percent complete when he relocated to Texas. Without a garage to keep it in after his early childhood development  move, he stored it in a 24-foot enclosed trailer along with a 1971 Dodge Colt he planned to turn into a race car, and kept the trailer parked at a storage lot. At the end of July, the trailer and everything in it disappeared.

The last story actually has a happy ending because it was recovered due to alert shop owners being suspicious of person wanting to unload a Lancer for only $1,500 including the many boxes of parts. After some research, the owner was reunited with his car. Guy and I have been approached on numerous occasions by people wanting to sell their vehicles. Some have hardship stories and the callers are willing to unload the car for a real bargain. We've always walked from these offers, primarily because we're not in the business of buying and selling cars (we're not dealers or re-sellers), but also because we're cautious of a "too-good-to-be-true" price. One Houston SEO Expert  call in particular did make us very suspicious, as the woman caller insisted that the sale had to be completed by Monday (she called our shop over the weekend) and the price was extremely low for a rather rare model Mustang. Alert shop owners can be instrumental in aiding in the recovery of stolen classic cars.

But not all stories have a happy ending like this. Classic cars, muscle cars and antiques can make their way to chop shops, end up damaged and abandoned, and even being re-sold on Internet sites such as eBay and Craigslist!

Just yesterday, I reported on a 1954 Chevy Pickup truck which was stolen from a woman's driveway in Oklahoma City. (Ironically this article was already written and scheduled for release today when the news hit. I've added her case because, unfortunately, it emphasizes how common thefts have become.) She wisely reached out to the Hemmings community of enthusiasts for help. Hemmings.com has a huge following, referred to as "Hemmings Nation", and appealing for help to a community of enthusiasts like this can be instrumental in helping to give vital information to police and authorities who can help track and recover a stolen classic car. We applaud the SEO Company Toronto  work that Hemmings does.

And, the methods that thieves are using, as you can see, are as varied as the types of vehicles! Even seemingly innocent little car shows and gatherings are places you need to exercise a little caution and care. As I reported in a July article, carjackings involving classic cars are even becoming more commonplace.

Surprisingly, in some cases, the Internet has been helpful in aiding in the recovery of classic cars and muscle cars. There have been numerous stories, much like the Camaro owner above, and a man who found his 1949 Ford through a listing on Craigslist (the two men responsible were arrested and charged with disassembling a vehicle after the owner positively identified it as his) where owners have been able to locate their cars in Internet searches.

For those not so fortunate, insurance is the only consolation. We highly recommend classic car or "collector" car insurance. There are a number of companies that provide this specialized what career is right for me  insurance, and it is generally well worth the cost. Classic Car News provided an article, Purchasing Classic Car Insurance, containing a list of companies along with links to contact them. I also recommend Hagerty Insurance's publication, Deterring Collector Car Theft, which has tips on theft prevention.

In addition to the quick-strip thefts, thieves usually always alter, remove or forge VIN numbers, which make identification of the car or truck more difficult. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles that are used to differentiate similar makes and models. Much like social security numbers, every vehicle has a different VIN. VIN plates are usually located on the dashboard on newer cars, but are often found in the door jams of older models. VIN plates can be switched with another vehicle for a fast coverup.

The point here is to be aware of your surroundings, including where you park your car. Don't take it for granted that just business analyst certification  because you're at an event with fellow enthusiasts that something bad can't happen. Take preventive action by securing your old car or truck. Guy Algar suggests, "Don't forget to take precautions even at home. You may feel safe parking your ride in 'the safety' of your two car garage, but remember, even if you don't have windows where people can peer in and spot your valued car, thieves can also follow you home from work, a cruise, or even the grocery store and plan a theft after surveilling your home and learning your schedule. If you have a ride that catches people's attention, remember that it can also catch the wrong attention!"