Throw Back Thursday Garage
The 1957 Chevrolet is a car which was introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in September, 1956. It was available in three series models: the upscale Bel Air, the mid-range "two-ten", and the "one-fifty". A two-door station wagon, the Nomad was produced as a Bel Air model. An upscale trim option called the "Delray" was available for two-ten 2-door sedans. It is a popular and sought after classic car. These vehicles are often restored to their original condition and sometimes modified. The car's image has been frequently used in toys, graphics, music, movies and television. The '57 Chevy, as it is often known, is an auto icon.
The 1953 Hudson Hornet is the most remembered Hudson of the postwar years, and one of the industry's all-time greats. Virtually unbeatable in stock-car racing through 1954, the Hornet continued to compete with some success even after the Step-down line came to an end with the Nash-based '55 Hudsons. Amazingly, this racing success was achieved with a six-cylinder engine -- the last performance six before Pontiac's late '60s overhead-cam engine.
"Twin-H Power" arrived for 1953 (twin carbs and dual manifold induction) along with the 210-bhp 7-X racing engine late that same year. These were early examples of factory "prodifying" that helped the likes of Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas dominate NASCAR and AAA tracks against ostensibly much more potent machinery.
Positioned just below the top-line Commodore Eight series for 1951-1952, the Hudson Hornet moved to the top for '53. The Hornet's legendary performance prowess gives it a big edge in collector appeal over the basically similar Pacemaker, Super Six, and Wasp models of this period.
"Twin-H Power" arrived for 1953 (twin carbs and dual manifold induction) along with the 210-bhp 7-X racing engine late that same year. These were early examples of factory "prodifying" that helped the likes of Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas dominate NASCAR and AAA tracks against ostensibly much more potent machinery.
Positioned just below the top-line Commodore Eight series for 1951-1952, the Hudson Hornet moved to the top for '53. The Hornet's legendary performance prowess gives it a big edge in collector appeal over the basically similar Pacemaker, Super Six, and Wasp models of this period.
For 1967, the GT 500 was added to the lineup, equipped with the 428 Police Interceptor. These later cars carried over few of the performance modifications of the 1965–66 GT350s, although they did feature more cosmetic changes. The GT 500 also carried a pair of rear-mounted 600 cfm Holley carburetors mounted on an aluminum intake manifold. On top of these was an oval Cobra finned air cleaner which matched the Cobra Lemans aluminum finned valve covers. The powerful 428 was rated at shoving out 355 horses.
September 1967, production was moved to the A.O. Smith Company of Ionia, Michigan, under Ford control.
Speaking of Ford, and Mustangs in general. Did you know that the Mustang is actually modeled after the P51 Mustang fighter plane, and not the horse?
September 1967, production was moved to the A.O. Smith Company of Ionia, Michigan, under Ford control.
Speaking of Ford, and Mustangs in general. Did you know that the Mustang is actually modeled after the P51 Mustang fighter plane, and not the horse?
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro was changed to look more aggressive. The heavily restyled body looked longer and lower. The wheel wells were flattened with sculptured feature lines flowing off the towards the rear of the car and rear-slanting air slots ahead of the rear wheel. At the front of the standard Camaros was a grille with 13 slender vertical moldings and five horizontal moldings forming a grid surrounded by a bright molding. A badge with the Chevrolet bow-tie emblem was in the center. There were single round headlights at the ends of the grille. The full width bumper integrated with the body color outer grille surround and there was a license plate holder in the center of the valance panel. Round parking lights were positioned on either side of the license plate. At the rear were wider taillight bezels with triple segment lenses.
The 1969 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro remains one of Americas most desirable Muscle Cars of all. With just $458 added to the base price of $2,726 of a Camaro coupe, the Z28 included twin rally stripes, quicker steering and the F41 handling suspension with E70x15 raised-letter tires on seven-inch wide rims.
With a solid-lifter 302 V-8 and four-barrel carburetor the 1969 Z28 wasn't the fastest but definitely packed plenty of power for most performance seekers. Another option unique to the 1969 Z28 was the cowl-induction hood with a valve that opened to draw in cool air from the base of the windshield. The Hurst-shifted close-ratio four- speed was standard.
The 1969 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro remains one of Americas most desirable Muscle Cars of all. With just $458 added to the base price of $2,726 of a Camaro coupe, the Z28 included twin rally stripes, quicker steering and the F41 handling suspension with E70x15 raised-letter tires on seven-inch wide rims.
With a solid-lifter 302 V-8 and four-barrel carburetor the 1969 Z28 wasn't the fastest but definitely packed plenty of power for most performance seekers. Another option unique to the 1969 Z28 was the cowl-induction hood with a valve that opened to draw in cool air from the base of the windshield. The Hurst-shifted close-ratio four- speed was standard.
Production of the first generation of the Riviera lasted from 1963 through 1965 with a total of 112,244 units produced. 40,000 were produced the first year, 37,958 in the second, and 34,586 for 1965. Though production began to slow a little by the third year, sales were still relatively strong, especially considering the competition.
In 1966 the Riviera was redesigned, now having a longer and wider body. The design became less boxy and more curvaceous and shared its design with the Oldsmobile Toronado. In 1967 the design was used with for the Cadillac Eldorado. Though the styling was new, the powertrain, frame and many mechanical components were the same as the first generation.
The Riviera rested on a 119-inch wheelbase and had a length of 211.2-inches. The bodstyle was a two-door hardtop and had rear-wheel drive. The Gran Sport package was still available. The front and rear bucket seats and center console were replaced with benches, which allowed for additional passenger room, now up to six. Strato bucket seats were still available, as were Strato bench seats with armrests.
In 1966 the Riviera was redesigned, now having a longer and wider body. The design became less boxy and more curvaceous and shared its design with the Oldsmobile Toronado. In 1967 the design was used with for the Cadillac Eldorado. Though the styling was new, the powertrain, frame and many mechanical components were the same as the first generation.
The Riviera rested on a 119-inch wheelbase and had a length of 211.2-inches. The bodstyle was a two-door hardtop and had rear-wheel drive. The Gran Sport package was still available. The front and rear bucket seats and center console were replaced with benches, which allowed for additional passenger room, now up to six. Strato bucket seats were still available, as were Strato bench seats with armrests.
While the 1961 Cadillac looked entirely different from its 1960 predecessor, it remained very similar mechanically. The biggest change was a new front frame, which lowered the tubular X-member chassis to give more seat height and head room.
The 1961 Cadillac engine was basically the 331-cid ohv V-8 of 1949 bored and stroked to 390 cubes. The 345-bhp Eldorado powerplant of 1959-1960, with three 2-barrel carburetors and dual exhausts, was no longer offered.
The only available 1961 engine delivered 325 bhp at 4,800 rpm with a 10.5:1 compression ratio; the sole available transmission was General Motors' four-speed Hydra-Matic. A 2.94:1 axle ratio came standard, but equipping a Cadillac with optional air conditioning mandated a 3.21 differential. The Series 75 limo used 3.36 and 3.77 axles, and limited-slip was also optional.
Cadillac's pillowy ride was a function of ball-jointed front A-arms, helical coil springs, rubber-mounted strut rods and rubber bushings to absorb impacts and isolate road noise. The rear suspension likewise used coil springs.
Vacuum-boosted drum brakes gave 221.8 square inches of lining area (233.7 in the limo), and power steering had an 18.2:1 ratio. Additional standard equipment in all series included turn signals, windshield washers, two-speed wipers, a vanity mirror, an oil filter, and backup lights.
The 1961 Cadillac arrived in dealer showrooms on October 3, 1960, in seven body styles: hardtop coupe, convertible, long- and short-deck six-window four- door hardtops, four-window cantilever roof four-door hardtop, blind-quarter Fleetwood Series 60 Special four-door hardtop, and the Fleetwood Series 75 sedans.
Neither of Cadillac's domestic competitors had anything near the breadth of that range. The outrageously face-lifted Imperial was offered as Southampton two- and four-door hardtops, a convertible, a formal LeBaron four-door hardtop, and a rare Ghia-built limousine. The dramatically redesigned Lincoln was confined to only a pair of four-door body styles: a sedan and a unique convertible.
The 1961 Cadillac engine was basically the 331-cid ohv V-8 of 1949 bored and stroked to 390 cubes. The 345-bhp Eldorado powerplant of 1959-1960, with three 2-barrel carburetors and dual exhausts, was no longer offered.
The only available 1961 engine delivered 325 bhp at 4,800 rpm with a 10.5:1 compression ratio; the sole available transmission was General Motors' four-speed Hydra-Matic. A 2.94:1 axle ratio came standard, but equipping a Cadillac with optional air conditioning mandated a 3.21 differential. The Series 75 limo used 3.36 and 3.77 axles, and limited-slip was also optional.
Cadillac's pillowy ride was a function of ball-jointed front A-arms, helical coil springs, rubber-mounted strut rods and rubber bushings to absorb impacts and isolate road noise. The rear suspension likewise used coil springs.
Vacuum-boosted drum brakes gave 221.8 square inches of lining area (233.7 in the limo), and power steering had an 18.2:1 ratio. Additional standard equipment in all series included turn signals, windshield washers, two-speed wipers, a vanity mirror, an oil filter, and backup lights.
The 1961 Cadillac arrived in dealer showrooms on October 3, 1960, in seven body styles: hardtop coupe, convertible, long- and short-deck six-window four- door hardtops, four-window cantilever roof four-door hardtop, blind-quarter Fleetwood Series 60 Special four-door hardtop, and the Fleetwood Series 75 sedans.
Neither of Cadillac's domestic competitors had anything near the breadth of that range. The outrageously face-lifted Imperial was offered as Southampton two- and four-door hardtops, a convertible, a formal LeBaron four-door hardtop, and a rare Ghia-built limousine. The dramatically redesigned Lincoln was confined to only a pair of four-door body styles: a sedan and a unique convertible.