C-Johnny

Author's details

Name: John Baumann
Date registered: October 5, 2010

Biography

Welcome to Carlisle Johnny. My name is Johnny B and I have been an avid car crazed nut since age 13 years old. I purchased my first classic car at age 15, a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Convertible. Since then I have owned, sold, suffered and romanced over a 147 cars, and I haven’t looked back. I always tell people its not the cars or trucks it’s the stories and people behind them. I love all kinds of cars, but I lean more towards classics from the 30’s and 40’s, Triumphs, Old Crusty VW’s and Benz’s. However, I enjoy all kinds of vehicles of various years. I have spent the last 30 years in the Auto Parts Industry but also spent many years as a classic car appraiser in Carlisle Pa.(home of the famous Carlisle Fairgrounds) where I was a sponsor. During that time as an appraiser I traveled across the U.S. appraising wonderful cars and meeting incredible people. I spent time working as one of the head appraisers on the “Harold LeMay” collection. Which is one of the worlds largest collections, with 3,100 plus classic vehicles. In addition I have also worked on the Lincoln Highway 75th anniversary tour and had the honor to do the first leg across the U.S. as well as going to Barrett-Jackson numerous times. On the weekends you can find me singing Karaoke at The Village Way in Port Jefferson,New York. www.me4portjeff.com Through it all I still say its always about the people and the stories along the way. So that’s the main purpose of this site. The people, stories and the old klunkers we love, romance and question. So your invited to join in for a fun ride… Thanks from Johnny B “The Car Whisperer”

Latest posts

  1. The Chevrolet Chevette Diesel..King Of All Cars?? — June 12, 2013
  2. What Auto Is This?? A Micro-Van For The Masses — June 10, 2013
  3. What Auto Is This? “This Door Was Built For A Man Not An Eel” — June 1, 2013
  4. What Auto is This?? The Father Of GM Produces His Own Car — June 1, 2013
  5. What Auto is This?? ..An Automotive Pioneer Mass Produces Before Ole Henry — June 1, 2013

Most commented posts

  1. Top Ten Reason You Know Your A Car Nut. — 26 comments
  2. What Auto is This?? Quiz — 15 comments
  3. Todays “What Auto is This?? Quiz — 15 comments
  4. The Incredible Tale Of The Flaming Grand Wagoneer — 10 comments
  5. Todays “What Auto is This??” Quiz — 10 comments

Author's posts listings

Jun
12

The Chevrolet Chevette Diesel..King Of All Cars??

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During the dark days of the OPEC gas crisis and still doing damage control from the debacle known as the Vega GM and Chevy needed an answer to the small car question. VW, Toyota and Datsun were increasing the small car market share and Chevy needed to act fast. The answer came from GM of  Brazil in the form of the Chevette. Launched in 1973 in Brazil the Chevette needed very little to be upgraded to USA emissions and safety standards. In need of energy absorbing steering column GM borrowed one from the Nova. A quick fix but till this day every Chevette has a cocked to the left steering column. Chevy had the Chevette ready for model year 1976. The base 1.4 liter engine could give you up to 40 MPG on the highway. You could opt of the 1.6 “Rallye” edition with cool stripes, wheels and a blazing 60 horsepower. Chevette’s sold well. In fact in 1978 over 300,000 Chevette’s were sold to economy minded owners. By 1981 GM and Chevy needed to increase economy and the “king of all cars” the Diesel Chevette was born.

Again borrowing from GM owned Isuzu Chevy shoehorned the 1.8 liter clacker under the hood of the Chevette. Rated at a Model T like 54 horsepower you could reach 0-60 MPH in a casual 19.2 seconds. The Diesel Chevette was not about performance but economy. Rated at a 55 MPG on the highway the Chevette Diesel out-econos cars of today like the Prius and Jetta TDI. Not meant for highway use because of its top speed of 81 MPH (going downhill) your

Diesel Chevette was the perfect commuter car. Hmmm much like the Nissan Leaf. Keeping in mind the 1.8 liter smoker would shake more than a vibro massage but it would last up to 200,000 miles with routine maintence. Try that with the battery pack in your Civic-Hybrid.  The “king of all cars” the Diesel Chevette was only produced from 1981-1986. Sad for perhaps the best car of all time. Why the best?  You could purchase a good condtion Chevette Diesel these days for less than $1000.00. With that you get cheap insurance, mind boggling economy, sporty 1970′s handling and more shaking than a bra-less Dolly Parton. In landscape full of Prius’s and other dull econo boxes you would be the only person on your block owning the “king of all cars” the Chevette Diesel.

Have You Ever Heard A Chevette Diesel Run? See Why It’s The “King Of All Cars”

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Jun
10

What Auto Is This?? A Micro-Van For The Masses

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This very “Milk Truck” looking “Micro-Van” was produced between 1958-1971.It maker was known as the builder of large ships not cars or vans.Very VW Micro-bus like it was in fact 3/4 the size of the famous hippie wagon. Its sedan brother shared its very time 356cc engine. That tiny rear mounted engine was a two stroke design with air cooling mounted in the rear. .Unlike the people’s car the VW Beetle this vans engine was mounted tranversely.Much like the VW Bug this makers plan was to make a “People’s Car” for a population that lived at or below poverty levels.When introduced in 1958 the engine was 356cc in size.When production stopped in 1971 the engine was enlarged to 423cc.Two two stroke was fed oil thru an external mounted oil tank.Much like the smokey Saab 93′s. Power was a feeble 16 horsepower.Top speed was a sluggish 60mph with a good wind. Road and Track magazine road tested one in 1962 saying”Its 0-60mph times were of a Model T pace” Interiors were sparten at best.The maker claimed fuel economy was 65mpg.Of the over 356,000 produced only 10,101 made it the the USA. What Auto is This??

 To see the answer and other answers to What Auto is This?? Quiz  go to  www.carlislejohnny.com  or  www.appraisal.carlislejohnny.com 

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Jun
01

What Auto Is This? “This Door Was Built For A Man Not An Eel”

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This quality car maker opened its door in 1909. In its first year it produced 500 vehicles. By 1910 they sold over 5000 automobiles. Founded by two brothers who were former Ford and Oldsmobile employees they left the company the company that beared their name by 1912. They would also be one of the first automakers to feature an all steel body. With a new plant built in 1924 they were able to be a strong rival to Chevrolet and Ford. By 1928 they sold over 65,000 automobiles. So flush with cash they were able to buy the Chandler Motor Car Company in 1928 to increase its market share.

By the time The Great Depression hit in the early 1930′s they were losing sales and market share due to a lack of low priced models. Trying to boost sales they employeed soon to be famous stylist Raymond Lowey to create an Art Deco Aerodynamic body. The featured 1933 auto featured the Lowey styling in a mid priced automobile. Powered by a 90 horsepower 221 cubic inch flathead six cylinder engine. Other inovations included the first USA automobile with a free wheeling clutch and sealed beam headlamps.

In the mid priced field you could buy four different bodies. A two  and four door sedan, two door coupe and sleek roadster. The two door sedan would be its biggest seller with a selling price of $995.00 and 4655 finding homes. Known for some of the most unusual ad slogans of it era. Some were “For people who go places and do things” and the odd ” This door was built for a man not an eel” Even with all this style, fun slogans and inovation this once proud make was gone by late 1939. These 1933 models are considered some of the best produced by this superb automaker. What Auto Is This?

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Jun
01

What Auto is This?? The Father Of GM Produces His Own Car

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This car was only produced between 1923-1927. It was the mid price division of another car company.Its founder produced it as direct competition to Buick and Nash.Its flamboyant founder was known as the father GM and as a man who would win big and lose even bigger.As usual overspending and poor planning would lead to the demise of this quality make in 1927. Its parent company would bear the name of its owner. The origins of the cars engine can be traced back to Willys who was working on a prototype when money ran out..Being known for gobbling up strapped for cash situations its founder purchased the rights to the engine for a bargin price. Known as one on the inventors of part interchanging with other makes this car would share 80% of its parts with its sister make. Its robust six cyinder had 7 main bearings and full pressure oil system.This would be unusual for a mid price automobile in its day.Only three body type were available. A four door phaeton,a two door Town Sedan and four door Town Regal. Due to the cars odd pricing and  slow sales it would be buried by 1927.Its parent make would suffer the ravages of the Great Depression and close its doors in 1931. Its “take a chance” founder would die almost broke in 1947 in Flint Michigan as a bowling alley manager. What Auto is This??

 To see the answer and other answers to What Auto is This?? Quiz  go to  www.carlislejohnny.com  or  www.appraisal.carlislejohnny.com 

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Jun
01

What Auto is This?? ..An Automotive Pioneer Mass Produces Before Ole Henry

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The founder of this company was one of the greatest automotive pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Henry Ford would copy his mass production methods for his Model T. This company was founded in 1905 when its creater left GM to form his own company. They would make vehicles till 1975. The last car was made in 1936 and they would make trucks till 1975. This model was introduced in 1928. Its name evoked “Lightness and speed” as the magazine ads of the day boasted. It would be the first mass production car to use the then new Lockheed’s new hydraulic internal expanding brake system. Its swoopy shape was penned by famous Italian designer Fabio Segardi..another first in the mid-priced automobile field. Advertising guru Ned Jordan is credited with its flamboyant name and with the very “Art Deco” ads of the day. This would change how cars were named for decades to come. In 1933 they would introduce at the cost of two million dollars in production costs the innovative “Self Shifter”..An $85 option on this mid priced sedan. The semi automatic was dependable but never sold well. The costly and slow selling option would hurt the already cash strapped company during the Great Depression. In later years the founder of the company would blame the option on the demise of car production. An option or idea he never approved of. Powering this last of the line was a 90 horsepower 228 cubic inch six cylinder. The company would call it “America’s finest six cylinder engine” Featuring full pressure oil system and automatic choke it was much more sophisticated than Chevy’s Stovebolt six..After 1936 the company would only produce trucks till 1975. What Auto is This??

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May
21

GM To Introduce A Hybrid For “Chunky” People..

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In an effort to make more “Portly” customers feel good about purchasing a Hybrid GM has decided to introduce models that appear “weight impaired” like their “chubby” owners. GM has not disclosed what the name will be but has axed names like “Blubber-mobile” and”Fat-a-sourus” People from deep inside GM has confirmed the new car will be named “The Rosie O’Donnell”

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May
20

Carlisle Johnny Spotted Some Heavenly Bodies At The 2013 Import Carlisle..And Some Great Imported Cars To

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With dreams of Vintage Vw’s and VW parts dancing in his head Carlisle Johnny headed to the 2013 Carlisle Import and Kit Car Nationals. The horrible getting off Long Island traffic made the drive more Horse and Buggy slow than usual but after 7 grueling hours of driving Carlisle Johnny arrived car-lagged on Friday night. Ready with his extra large canvas bag he searched the Carlisle Fairgrounds for bargains for his 74 Super Beetle. The Carlisle Fairgrounds was crammed full of all kinds of Import Show Cars. Everything from Alfa’s to Volvo’s. 

 

The swap meet was a good size and skys were getting gray but that did not stop the search for Old VW junk. The problem was that 80% was British and the other 19% consisted of German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and French vehicle parts. Except for a few small vendors little or no air cooled Vee Dub junk. I did find one vendor selling new VW parts and was able to get my stud kit for the VW’s customer wheels. Besides that there was plenty to do and see.

Famed racer Peter Brock was on hand and spoke at a seminar. The show field was full of classic and new import vehicles of all kinds. Some standouts were a 280SL Benz that was done resto-mod style with a S55 AMG running gear. A 1932 Morgan 3 wheeler and a stunning vintage Fiat 500 coupe. There was constant music and bands provided by The River 97.3  One bright spot on a cloudy day was very pretty girls dressed in outfits from different countries. The Import Show always brings out a different crowd and vendors. My favorite was The Cigar Lady. 

 

 Saturday was also a day of old friends and spiritual healing. Funny The Lord works in odd ways, even at a car show. The skys got misty by late Saturday afternoon but still had a wonderful time. As night we feasted on some great Sushi in Carlisle at Mt Fuji. Even with the low VW turnout Carlisle Johnny plans on going to the 2014 Import Carlisle for more fun and mayhem.        Enjoy the slideshow of scenes of the 2013 Carlisle Import and Kit Car Nationals

 

 

 

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