Category Archives: USA

Delorean Trifecta Part Three: Pop Tribute

And here it is, the final installment in our overly drawn out Delorean triple-header.

We’ve been reading a lot about John Delorean lately, his name keeps cropping up all over the place. But we were really surprised to hear that an entire album has been dedicated to him – a Delorean concept album, how cool is that, a collection of great songs telling the story of a Motor City legend. And it is excellent too.

And to top it off one of the founding members of the band behind the record is none other than greatest-living-Welshman Gruff Rhys – he of Super Furry Animals fame and a legend at BlackSteelies HQ.

So for your listening please we present Stainless Style by Neon Neon – https://myspace.com/neonx2/music/songs

 

Delorean Trifecta Part One: “Fitz and Van do it all”

Pontiac_Grand_Prix_Coupe_1962_by_AF-VKThere’s a theme running through the next three posts we’re bringing you, namely Mr John Z Delorean.

First up here’s the story of the fabulous artists Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman who were employed by Pontiac to create beautiful, aspirational images for ads and brochures. In the sixties most car companies were turning to photography to promote their wares, but Pontiac bucked the trend and used the prodigiously talented pair to conjure up sumptuous images the old fashioned way; with a paint brush. Continue reading →

When Henry Went Rallying: Falcon Sprint

Back in 1963 Ford US decided it wanted to get involved in international rallying. I guess the reason for this was the old “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” theory that claims motorsport victories translate into sales. But it’s odd that Ford didn’t leave European rallies up to the Europeans, I mean a Cortina is surely more of a potential rally weapon than Detroit iron, albeit a compact like the Falcon.

1963 Ford Falcon Sprint

1963 Ford Falcon Sprint

1963 was the test run and Ford were sufficiently encouraged to up the ante in 1964, sending a bunch of Falcon Sprint V8s across the pond. By all accounts the Falcons proved very capable on the tight stages of the Monte, and it was only sneaky rules changes that favoured the tiddlers that kept them off the podium.

Check out these great photos taken from the same spot on the final stage.

1964 Ford Falcon Sprint

1964 Ford Falcon Sprint

Full-Sized: The Mighty Pontiac Catalina Pt3

1963 Pontiac Catalina

1963 Pontiac Catalina

In our third and final (for now) Catalina instalment we present John Mead’s utterly beguiling 1963 Catalina. Could this be the ultimate dual-purpose classic: hubcaps on, it won’t look out of place in any show ‘n shine. Snap the shiny bits off and you have a formidable drag racer.

John races the Catalina in nostalgia and vintage events, and turned a best 1/8th mile ET of 8.94 last season, “not bad for a C/S, 3,790 lb car.” John’s Cat is powered by a 405 h.p. 421” with stock heads, forged flat-top 10.5:1 pistons, a forged crank, forged rods, and a street cam. The induction is a tri-carb setup, and the ignition is stock.

Check out Dragtime News for more info.

Thanks to John.

1963 Pontiac Catalina Black Steelies

1963 Pontiac Catalina

1963 Pontiac Catalina In Show Trim

1963 Pontiac Catalina In Show Trim

 

Full-Sized: The Mighty Pontiac Catalina Pt2

1963 Pontiac Catalina

1963 Pontiac Catalina

The ’63 Cat wasn’t a bad looker either. This particular example is the “Swiss Cheese” special that Pontiac engineers created to keep the Chief’s nose in front of heavy hitters from Ford and Mopar on the drag strips of America. The name comes from the extreme lengths they went to save weight – everything was drilled out to within an inch of its life.

For more info check out to the Mecum Auction site.

Nasa 1963 Pontiac Catalina

Nasa 1963 Pontiac Catalina

NASA also got a slice of the Catalina without hubcaps action. This is a ’63 Convertible used as a tow vehicle for the M2-F1.