All posts by Albert S. Davis

Auto Idolatry

Wheelies? From an old Ford? Some say no, Roadkill says “Let’s do it!”

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Roadkill is pretty much my favorite automotive online show at this point, because Mike Finnegan and David Freiburger do whatever they can to push the envelope with cars that really should be in a scrapyard. This time, they take a late-40s Ford F6 truck, get rid of its wheezing old flathead V8, and put a big block 454 Chevy V8 behind the rear axle, along with a new transmission and a V-drive to the rear wheels. The result is something so awe-inspring that words don’t describe how great it is. So, I ask you to watch this video, and decide for yourself: Did these two guys make history, or just make fools of themselves? Watch and decide.

-Albert S. Davis

Auto Idolatry, Automotive Lifestyle, SHOWCASE

Another half-decade, another new engine for the Crusher Camaro. Or something?

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The LS-7 that was in the Crusher Camaro since the infamous 2014 blizzard had to go back to Mast Motorsports. While Roadkill no longer features the Crusher, it’s still owned by Hot Rod Magazine, and as a result still lives in their shop. Now, it’s got a Blueprint Engines LS3, packing EFI and all sorts of high-end internals. They also added a very nice Magnussen supercharger, which helps to get this new engine over the 700HP mark–enough to smoke tires at will (just as the Crusher was intended for). Watch thsi video–you certainly have the time.

Car Shows

1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 at the 2016 Amelia Island Festivals of Speed

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1971 Oldsmobile 442 Front

Oldsmobile made some fantastic cars during the early Seventies, but the 4-4-2 was the crowning acheivement for them in the muscle car era. My favorite of the bunch are the later models, which packed the enormous 455 cubic inch big-block V8, a four-speed manual, and dual exhausts, not to mention wild racing stripes, a massive set of grilles, and catchy color-keyed alloy wheels, which Oldsmobile would continue to offer as a sporting option on other cars until 1988, when their RWD coupes were finally killed off for good. Continue reading 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 at the 2016 Amelia Island Festivals of Speed →

Car Shows

1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey

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1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Front Angle//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The Cobra is one of those automobiles that took two separate ideas and combined them, creating an entirely new idea. When Carroll Shelby married a small-block Ford V8 to the chassis of the AC Ace roadster, a star was born–with loud engine notes and lots of tire smoke. The 427 Cobra, which appeared some years later, was an instant legend and an instant collectible. Continue reading 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey →

Automotive Lifestyle

Take a Ford F-350, add tires the size of New York. Mix well, serve on the rocks.

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Dirt Every Day has become a big favorite show of mine from the guys at the Motor Trend Channel–and this is a reason why. Fred Williams has taken a truck that he couldn’t sell (thanks to it packing only a small-block Ford instead of a big block), cut up the body a bit, and added 50+ inch tires. Then, after some meddling with the axles, transfer case, and suspension, it goes on a short rock-crawling adventure. This thing is big enough to live inside of–and if I didn’t know any better I’d put a cabin on the back and do just that. Take some time to watch the madness.

Car Shows

Bobby Isaac’s #71 Dodge Charger Daytona at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours

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1969 Charger Daytona Front

Much has been made of the fact that the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was the first ever NASCAR racer to break the 200MPH top speed barrier. While it was the #88 Buddy Baker car that managed this feat, this red #71 was of other fame. Bobby Isaac, one of the finest drivers of his era, drove this very car to the Grand National championship trophy in 1970, the last year of the aero car’s dominance before NASCAR shut the party down. Continue reading Bobby Isaac’s #71 Dodge Charger Daytona at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours →

Cars We've Seen

1964 Porsche 356C spotted in Amelia Island, FL

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1964 Porsche 356C

Before Porsche came up with the 911 and basically made history, they made the 356. While the final series models weren’t as desirable as the early model or the “A” series, the 356C packed four wheel disc brakes, a much stronger engine, and more accurate build quality than the early cars. This Guards Red coupe was sitting in between the Alfa Romeo and Jaguar displays at the Ritz Carlton, and just after going out of breath from driving the wheels of a new 4C Spyder, this little Porsche took away whatever breath I had left. Continue reading 1964 Porsche 356C spotted in Amelia Island, FL →

Car Shows

1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Cabriolet at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey

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Ferrari 375 Plus Cabriolet Front 1

Ferrari ownership and postwar royalty seem to go hand-in-hand, especially one offs. This 1955 375 Plus Cabriolet is a one-off specialty car built for the ex-King Leopold III of Belgium, and is a mix of the older engineering that put Ferrari on the map in the early Fifties and newer styling features that would later become staples of the 250 and 275 lines throughout the late Fifties and into the mid Sixties. Continue reading 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Cabriolet at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey →

Cars We've Seen, USER SUBMITTED

Triumph Spitfire spotted in Princeton, NJ

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Triumph Spitfire Front

It’s a clear-cut fact that in the past year, my brothers are now at war over who can send me the best stuff they find on the street. I enjoy this–because it appears their taste in classic and modern cars is quite suitable. In this case, Seth’s girlfriend Michelle found this fire-engine-red Triumph Spitfire sitting on a side street in Princeton. This town, similarly to its cross-river cohort towns in Bucks County PA (where Nick happens to reside) and its downriver brothers (such as Lambertville) are also great places to find old cars when the weather is reasonable. This particular Spitfire IV looks straight as a die and is a great example of a classic British sports roadster. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Triumph Spitfire spotted in Princeton, NJ →

Car Shows

1941 Buick Limited at the 2016 Hershey Concours

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1941 Buick Limited Front Angle=

In the late 1930s, Buick launched their most high-end car to date, the Limited. This hulking, intimidating sedan became their flagship, and with a smooth-like-butter straight 8 under the hood, it took the rich folks in America’s money without much help. Not many were made (Cadillac apparently was upset with its cheaper sister division selling a like-sized car) and as a result, when war broke out in 1942, the Limited did not return after the war ended, until the Fifties came about. This 1941 example is finished beautifully and the chrome shined brightly against the sun-kissed sky this weekend in Hershey. I haven’t seen many prewar Buicks, and I hope this is the start of a trend as these cars really are overlooked in the collector market at this point. Enjoy the photos of this rarely-seen American classic. Continue reading 1941 Buick Limited at the 2016 Hershey Concours →

Cars We've Driven, Dynamic Duels

Ford Taurus SHO vs Chevrolet SS, Head To Head

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2015 Ford Taurus SHO Front

A couple of months ago, I had way too much time on my hands, a stomach full of Mexican omelet, and a full tank of fuel.  Central NJ, where I happen to live, has a lot of car dealerships within a 20 mile radius, but the selection can be a bit thin for some reason. Luckily, I had a fifty dollar gift card to redeem from Ford for the LA Auto Show, and a local dealer down the street had a new Taurus SHO in stock. Then, my buddy Chris, who was accompanying me around town (and was my taller stand-in for interior room, for once), suggested I find something to compare it to. Not wanting to haul myself to the local Dodge dealers, we then descended on one of the local Chevrolet dealers, where a lightly used SS was sitting out front. I drove them both–and the results turned into a bare-fisted, old fashioned American street fight. May the best flag-flying American machine win. Continue reading Ford Taurus SHO vs Chevrolet SS, Head To Head →

Automotive Lifestyle

One of the most famous hot rod builds in history gets a new heart.

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Heart transplants are difficult.  A lot of thought goes into it, a lot of money has to be spent, and in this case, insurance isn’t accepted.  Project-X is a 1957 Chevy, which has been around for over fifty years–and Hot Rod’s Tony Angelo and accomplice Lucky show us all that the car is now in their hands, and now gets itself a brand-new LS crate motor with a supercharger, an enormous hole in the hood, and a look and style that screams “Go ahead and try to run away.  I’ll be there waiting for you.”  You’ve got time to watch this episode of Hot Rod Garage–I guarantee it.

-Albert S. Davis