Haggerty profiles Sandy survivors and their classic cars

One of the harsh realities encountered by some in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is the damage done to their beloved classic cars. Such a story may not make it to CNN, so Hagerty Insurance set about chronicling the efforts by several owners to preserve their classics during the storm.

One owner from Staten Island lost a 1977 Ford F-250 Custom pickup. He tried desperately to save his truck, attempting to start it as the waters rose around the vehicle. At one point, he says the water started pouring into the truck. It eventually became impossible to open the doors, and had to crawl out the window. For him and others electrical, brakes and other systems failed when the brackish water rose around the cars.

Some may label the pining over a lost classic insensitive, given the larger issue of rebuilding and reclaiming these costal areas. However, these cars are as much a part of their memories as baby pictures or family heirlooms. There are personal connections with these vintage automobiles that may have been lost forever.

This video just goes to show the powerful bond that some owners have with their treasured classics.

 

 

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : Ford releases 1967 Mustang Convertible bodyshell

Ford has expanded its licensed reproduction body shell offerings. The company announced professionals and enthusiasts alike would be able to purchase brand-new 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible shells earlier this year, and now the automaker has added the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible shell to the mix, as well. Now, instead of being forced to source a shell and repair the inevitable rust, restorers can simply snap up new metal, thereby saving time and money in the process. Like the '65 Convertible, '67 Fastback and '69 Fastback, the '67 Convertible will carry a price tag of $15,995.

That lump of change gets you a shell that meets or exceeds the original specifications, including higher-quality metal than was used when the vehicles first rolled off of the assembly line. Dynacorn International will produce the shells under license from Ford.

 

Press Release

All-New 1967 Mustang Convertible Body Joins Growing Stable of Classic Ford-Licensed Restoration Parts

The 1967 Mustang convertible body shell is the fourth reproduction body licensed by Ford Motor Co.
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Restorers can now build a "new" 1967 Mustang convertible with an all-new steel body

The '67 Mustang convertible body is stronger than the original and can be outfitted with Ford's big-block engines

With nearly 8.5 million built since first debuting in 1964, the Ford Mustang is America's longest selling four-seat sports car

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 20, 2011 – The latest addition to the growing stable of classic Mustang bodies – the 1967 convertible – just might be the ultimate stocking stuffer this Christmas for restorers of America's favorite sports car.

The 1967 convertible body shell, the newest officially licensed Ford Restoration part, is now available to order starting at $15,995. It is the fourth reproduction classic Mustang body available to restorers, joining the '65 convertible, the '67 fastback and the '69 fastback.

To qualify as an official Ford-licensed restoration part, the '67 body shell has to meet or exceed the fit, finish and quality of the original, said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. "The new '67 convertible body shell gives restorers a super-solid foundation on which to build their dream pony car."

Dynacorn International, manufacturer of the '67 convertible body, worked to not only replicate the original '67 convertible, but make it better. The body panels, for example, are stamped from modern automotive-grade virgin steel that is slightly thicker than the original, according to Jim Christina, Dynacorn general manager. Then, to further add strength, the panels are assembled using modern welding techniques. There are also newly engineered reinforcements in known stress areas to add strength and rigidity to the body, added Christina.

"These days, the chances are fairly slim of finding a restorable, rust-free '67 Mustang that has never been wrecked," said Mondrach. "As the value of classic Mustangs has increased over the years, garages, barns and scrapyards have been picked clean."

Now, Mustang fans dreaming of restoring a classic '67 convertible – or building one with a modern powertrain – won't have to spend time and money getting an original '67 convertible body into restorable condition. That expensive, time-consuming step can be skipped by starting with the new '67 convertible body. "Some minor panel adjustment and alignment still has to be done, but the body comes rustproofed and primed and is otherwise ready for painting and assembly," said Mondrach. More information about the '67 body shell and all other Ford-licensed restoration parts can be found at www.fordrestorationparts.com.

'67 Mustang: More luxury, more power, more style
After a record-setting production run that saw more than a million Mustangs gallop out of Ford factory gates in just 18 months, the 1967 model was given a major redesign. The move helped keep Mustang ahead of the pack as new competitors from General Motors and Chrysler along with imported sports cars from Great Britain claimed a larger share of the mid-1960s youth market.

No part of the Mustang was overlooked in 1967. The body was widened, the hood lengthened, and the engine bay grew in size to accommodate an array of six engines ranging from a thrifty and peppy 200-cubic-inch inline six-cylinder all the way up to a thundering 390-horsepower 427 that came in the Shelby GT500. This helped launch an entirely new generation of big-block high-horsepower pony cars that fueled the growing muscle car mania.

The '67 also got all-new sheetmetal, a redesigned grille, new taillights and a nifty option that put turn signals in the hood scoops. On the inside, the more luxurious interior took the Mustang in a new direction. Buyers could opt for a tilt-away steering wheel, a gauge package with a built-in tachometer, brushed aluminum trim on the dash, door panels and shifter console. There was also a roof console with map lights between the sun visors, and the '67 was the first Mustang with built-in air conditioning that was packaged behind the dash, not under it.

Because more than 90 percent of the parts needed to restore a 1967 Mustang convertible are available new as Ford-licensed reproduction components, the '67 convertible body can be built to just about any specification that was available when the car was new. Ford's big-block engines from that era, including the 390, 427 and 428-cubic-inch motors, bolt right in with no modifications necessary. Also, the '67 body can be used as a basis to build a replica of the Shelby GT350 or GT500 convertibles.

"The '67 convertible body is supported by thousands of high-quality Ford-licensed restoration parts," Mondrach said. "So, though it may be possible to build a 1967 Mustang using almost all new parts, we think most customers who buy the '67 convertible shell will use it for high-performance applications, resto-mod projects or for show cars."

Rides : Get It While You Can - Timewarp 1993 Ford F-150 Lightning

Long before Ford turned its attention to building one of the most capable production off-road trucks in all the land, the company's SVT engineers spent their time trying to wring the most straight-line speed possible from an F-150. The result was the first-generation Ford F-150 Lightning – a vehicle that still manages to pull at our heart strings eighteen years after it debuted. If you're still sore you never got the chance to own a brand-new F-150 Lightning, eBay Motors has something special for you. A seller in Saint George, Utah is auctioning off a 1993 Lightning with just 37,850 miles on the clock.

Judging by the photos and the description, the truck is as close to factory perfect as you're likely to find anywhere. The owners is proud to say no aftermarket equipment of any kind has been added to the vehicle in its life, and the 351 V8 still looks fresh. Purists may cry foul at the tonneau cover, but the seller says that piece is a dealer-installed original. The paint, interior and engine bay all look clean enough to dine on with no rust, stains or leaks anywhere to be found. It looks like a million dollars, but the seller is only asking $15,500. Head over to eBay Motors to take a look.

Rides : Licensed '65 Ford Mustang Convertible body shell is the ultimate repro

Ford has officially added another model to the company's licensed reproduction steel body shells. Those looking to spin their own wrenches toward restoring a 1964 1/2, 1965 or 1966 Mustang Convertible can snap up a brand-new body from Dynacorn that uses higher-quality steel and more modern welding techniques than the originals. Even better, every last inch of the piece comes rustproofed straight from the factory. That means you can save the pennies and time you would have blown on cutting out cancer (rust and rot) and welding in new pieces and put both toward designing the perfect 289 for your build.

Ford and Dynacorn plan to show off the reproduction 1965 Mustang Convertible body shell at this year's SEMA show. If you like what you see, the two companies will be happy to send one your way for the reasonable sum of $15,000.

As you may recall, Dynacorn produces a number of body panels for a wide range of classic vehicles, including a complete 1969 Ford Mustang body shell.

 

Press Release

Show full PR text

America's Favorite Classic Mustang – the '65 Convertible – Returns with All-New Ford-Approved Body Shell

The original Mustang – America's favorite classic convertible – can now be assembled complete with all-new Ford-approved restoration parts

New first-generation Mustang body shells can be made into '64½, '65 or '66 models, depending on the trim and powertrain that is installed during the rebuild

New '65 Mustang body shells are made with stronger steel and use modern welding techniques, making them better than the original


DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30, 2011 – It's a classic car lover's dream come true: Now it is possible to build a '64½, '65 or '66 Mustang convertible from the wheels up using the all-new Ford-approved and officially licensed body shell.

The body shell for the original Mustang convertible, now in production and available for restorers as a Ford-licensed restoration part, gives classic car enthusiasts a new option in putting their classic dream Mustang ragtop back on the road.

"The 1964-66 Mustang is the most restored vintage vehicle. But the number of original 1964-66 vintage bodies is shrinking every year," said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. "Most of the original Mustangs left in scrapyards are rusted or wrecked beyond repair. The new body shell is made of virgin metal and uses modern welding techniques. It comes rustproofed, and after final adjustment and finish preparation of the body panels, it is ready for painting and final assembly."

To build a restored Mustang using the new shell, the powertrain, suspension and brakes, the electrical systems, the interior and trim can either be bought new or transferred from an existing car to the new body. Original parts that can't be reused from an old Mustang can be replaced with Ford-approved restoration parts. Mondrach says that nearly all the parts needed to build a complete new 1964-66 Mustang convertible, except for some minor body hardware, are now available from Ford-approved classic parts suppliers.

Ford-approved Mustang restoration parts can be found at www.fordrestorationparts.com.

For a restoration part to be approved by Ford, suppliers must meet or exceed the fit, finish and quality of the original, said Mondrach. In order to keep classic Ford-built vehicles on the road, Ford allows parts suppliers access to original technical drawings, blueprints and specifications for parts.

The new body shell can not only save restorers time and money, but enable them to build a strong, well-engineered classic.

"Instead of spending money fixing rust and welding in new panels, restorers can now simply transfer their powertrain, interior and trim parts onto the new body shell," said Mondrach.

The '65 Mustang body shell is constructed of higher-grade steel than the original, said Jim Christina, vice president of Dynacorn International, the Ford-approved company that is manufacturing the '65 Mustang. "We use a modern universal automotive-grade steel that is actually stronger than the original, and modern welding techniques along with more welds to strengthen the body," Christina said.

The '65 body is in production now and can be delivered by freight truck to any address. The '65 Mustang body includes the doors and trunk lid and all the sheet metal from the radiator support to the taillight panel except the hood and front fenders. Those items are available separately. The '65 Mustang body shell starts at $15,000.

America's love affair with the original Mustang is still going strong after nearly 50 years. Debuting in April 1964, the original Mustang sold more than 1.2 million units – including more than 174,000 convertibles – before its first redesign in 1967. The 1964-66 Mustang has long been America's most popular classic car of the postwar era. It is frequently the No. 1 most insured car at Hagerty Insurance, the world's No. 1 insurer of classic and collectible cars.

The new body shell can be made into a 1964½, 1965 or 1966 Mustang, based on the powertrains and trim parts added to it. It is the third classic Mustang body shell now available to restorers. The other two are the 1967-68 and the 1969-70 fastback bodies.

Ford will display a new 1965 Mustang body shell Nov. 1-3 at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. It will be parked next to a restored 1965 convertible to demonstrate the high quality of the assembly.

Rides : John Travolta's Vintage Mercedes-Benz 280 Sl has been stolen

John Travolta’s 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL was stolen from its parking spot on Berkeley Street Sunday.

Travolta made a pit stop at a Santa Monica Jaguar dealership on Sunday looking for a new ride when some enterprising thief drove off with his classic Mercedes.

“It’s a grand theft auto investigation for a crime that happened in a 10-minute window,” Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis said.

It was not known whether the theft was captured on video because Travolta parked in a residential area and walked to the Jaguar dealership on Olympic Boulevard.
The Mercedes-Benz is estimated to be worth between $50,000 and $100,000. Travolta’s impressive car collection also includes a Rolls-Royce, Jaguar XJ6 and three classic Thunderbirds.
A rep for Travolta was unavailable for comment.

Rides : Pics -Mustang new and old

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Rides : Wouldn't You Like To Know What's Inside Ralph Lauren's Garage?

Oh, gosh, of course! So: the Ferraris are mainly red, the Jaguars are dark green, and the Porsches are black. This is what a lifetime of selling ties got Ralph Lifschitz.

Of the Lauren car collection, Paul Goldberger writes:

All of them have been maintained carefully since new, or restored to perfection-sometimes beyond perfection, since a few have been painted in colors that are a slight tint off from the original, changed to something almost the same but with a subtle difference that is more pleasing to the owner's eye, and some have been given new leather that not only looks better than the old but in most cases is better. That aspect of the collection, the way the cars have been turned into slightly idealized versions of themselves, is a key to the owner's sensibility, since making better versions of classic objects, re-creating pieces of clothing, furniture, and design so that they will look even better than the image of them we carry around in our minds, is exactly what Ralph Lauren does for a living. He has earned a vast fortune packaging the look and feel of wealth in a way that appeals to the mass market, and he has been astonishingly successful at it, not because he has cynically plotted to figure out what sells but because he has been so willing to let his own fantasies determine what he makes.

Lauren says of some Bugattis that he had repainted from light blue to black, "I wanted to restore them as I thought they should ideally be."

The fashion designer's garage is located in Westchester, New York, near his 273-acre Westchester estate. The storage space, offered for sale by a local luxury car dealer, was actually a consolation prize of sorts: Lauren's original vision was to create a gigantic underground lair on his own property, but his visions of Bond-villain vehicular security were sadly thwarted by local zoning laws.

Lauren's 60-plus vehicles are tended by a staff of four. The garage includes a a workshop and a "library," and the cars' various prizes hang on the walls (along with Lauren's key to the city of New York, we hope!) Each vehicle is road-ready. And Lauren drives them. Why cars? "You can't drive a painting," he tells Goldberger.

What else would one really expect from a man whose company is worth over $8 billion? A man who, upon opening a New York store that cost $50 million to build in the middle of a recession, told Women's Wear Daily, "What this does is prove that we believe in the world, we believe in America and we believe that people want good things." Selling "good things" (and even not-so-good things, let's be honest) has been very good to Lauren: shares in Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. rose by 37% during 2010, and Lauren earned nearly $1 billion liquidating a fraction of his stake in the company.

This is Lauren's 1971 Mercedes 280SE. He picked it up for $13,000, shortly after launching his namesake line. "It was an extravagance that offended his backers, given how far from profitability he was then," notes Goldberger. As though he were already the rich person he was destined to become, "I walked into Mercedes on Park Avenue and said I wanted that car, but with a tan top and tan leather seats and a silver body," says Lauren. "They told me that they didn't make it that way. But then they did it."

Classic Chromed '57 Chevys in California

1957 was the first year since 1935 Ford outsold Chevrolet. It is hard to believe looking at this pair of west coast ‘57 Chevys that their design was initially thought to be a disappointment.