December, 2004, Cruise News

STORY LINE:    IT’S CHRISTMAS … Buy A Car!!! 

IT’S CHRISTMAS!!!  The time of the year when thoughts shift to presents, family time and maybe travel for the holidays.

For me the holidays are always a time spent with family, as are typically the weekends throughout the year in-between car shows and automotive events. Yep, dad is 90 years young, still drives his LT1 powered and ‘tweaked’ Buick Roadmaster, and still drives my 88 year young mother … sometimes right up to her limits. He still enjoys ‘fooling’ with those Mustang boys out there.

SHOULD you be looking for great automotive Christmas gifts … go buy or lease a new car. This is ‘big bucks’ .. but what the heck, you only live once. They tell me Chrysler is giving great lease deals on the Pacifica and even other cars. Want a really cool ‘sleeper’ GM car??? Most folks are not even aware that a Pontiac Bonneville can be had with a 275HP Cadillac NORTHSTAR-V8 under the bonnet. The new Mustang is an awesome car as well as the Thunderbird. Sometimes a lease is less expensive than to buy. Buyer beware though as buying a vehicle is a big step and expense. 

NO new car?  CRUIS’NEWS features a good number of  automotive and vendor suppliers in it’s pages, so … maybe an automotive gift certificate to a friend or family member would work. Also book stores are a great source for gifts with an automotive twist. Maybe an automotive calendar, inexpensive, and a gift that literally sticks around for 12 full months of  useful activity.

Speaking of books, here’s a list of some that I have enjoyed and are in my library. Auto math is always interesting-HP Books AUTO MATH HANBOOK by John Lawlor is very good and full of mathematical equations to play with from suspension geometry to what size carburetor is best for any vehicle or use. Specialty engine books delving into Ford, Chevrolet,  MOPAR  or whatever your pleasure are a good reading material and are always useful. SUPER ‘60s FORDS by John Smith is an excellent retro guide to Fords and their options. CHEVY SUPER SPORTS 1961-1976 by Terry Boyce is thee difinitive book on the SS.  MOPAR??? Take a trip to the Chrysler Museum at CTC and wallow in the history, stop in the museum store and find it there.

Bob McClurg, one of my favorite automotive authors from California-who has a historical significance in the world of hot rods as thee photographer of WILD WILLY Wingfoot Express AA/FA sideways on a California drag strip, has authored a number of outstanding books; MUSTANG-The First generation; DIGGERS, FUNNIES, GASSERS & ALTEREDS-Drag Racing’s Golden Age, and more. He also markets selected copies of his photo archives in poster form. For McClurg’s prints/posters, 818-769-4944 

Don Montgomery’s  books are excellent, my favorite being Those WILD FUEL ALTEREDS. Robert Szudarek’s HOW DETROIT BECAME THE AUTOMOTIVE CAPITAL. Pete McCarthy’s PONTIAC MUSCLECAR PERFORMANCE 1955-1979 is a Pontiac fanatic’s dream come true for numbers and facts.    

Should you desire local excellent art talent, Charlie Winkler-the guy who drives the blown bad black Willys-markets Charlie Winkler Photo Art, 586-949-1679. Mike DeFazio is another local artist who features excellent art in CRUIS’NEWS, 586-294-6754

Three of my favorite automotive bookstores and car shops for hobbyists: AUTO ZONE-Woodward and 14 Mile; CRUIZIN COLLECTIBLES in the same shopping mall as Wild Woody’s Gratiot south of  14 Mile; YESTERDAYS COLLECTION in Ann Arbor just off  the I94 Zeeb Road exit. Nice ride to Yesterdays and a place to have some good ice cream as they have an old fashioned ice cream parlor inside. And … if you have an affinity for fire engines, stop in at Depot Town in Ypsilanti  and tour the Fire Engine Museum. Also just down the street in Depot Town from the fire house is the oldest remaining Hudson Dealer and Ypsi Heritage Museum. Tell ‘Uncle Jack Miller’ that TOP HAT sent you.

Happy Holidays … I am just happy to be here. THJ