Tag Archive: Ford

May
02

What Auto is This?? An Independant Make Enters The Low Price Field

This would be the last new body style for this car maker before World War II..But they would re-use it after WWII till 1949.The CEO of this inovative car company wanted to have a low price model to compete with Chevy and Ford. Forging into the low price field would prove to be a good idea but would never have as much sales success as its cross town rivals.Unlike the offerings from GM,Ford and Chrysler this frugal hulk was produced with unitized or uni-body contruction.   A first in the low price field. in the USA.Uni-body construction was considered stronger and lighter than traditional body on frame construction but was never used due to high construction costs and Detroit car makers refusing to change to new and radical ideas This company was known for building high quality mid priced cars and its large car was a style and trend leader. Not to be done in the low price field its interiors were considered more plush and uptown then other offereing in the low price segment. For your money you got alot of car. Four body types were available. A sporty two door convertible.A stoggy four door sedan and a two door coupe. You could also get a two door fastback that would inspire GM’s Harley Earl to create a similar design for GM.Oddly no official station wagons were ever offered but a few factory were repoted to of been built.One carry over was the “flathead” six cylinder engine. Rated at 115 horsepower it was no drag racer but proved to be frugal and reliable. After WWII this automaker would make some of the USA’s more interesting cars but would eventualy become part of the automotive quagmire known as AMC. What Auto is This??

May
10

Slang Names For Cars..Part 5 “FORD”

Ford Motor Company has made some of the most amazing vehicles of all time.The Model T changed the way the world traveled.Classics like the Thunderbird and the Mustang are considered some of the most sought after collectible cars of all time.Like most car companies Ford can produce some real bombs. We could start with the Pinto but except for its flame thrower gas tank the Pinto was an almost good small car compared to the engine eating Vega.Not such a good idea was the nightmare known as the Ford Fairmont and its dumb cousin the Mercury Zephyr.So bad was quality control that 60 Minutes did a story on a Fairmont that rolled of the line with a Ford front and Mercury back. A staggering 90% went into the dealer for warranty work. With that in mind FORD slang is Fix Or Repair Daily  We guess at one time people wanted to buy a Ford Fairmont. A perfect example is this very 1970″s TV commercial..

Feb
27

What Auto is This?? First For Mopar Week 2012

This car was “Totaly New In Every Way” for 1936 as its sales brochures would brag. Founded in 1928 this maker would still be making vehicles into the 21st century.Model year 1936 would be a banner year with sales up 15% over 1935. Even though “All New” it still was realy just a re-hased 1935 model. At the heart was the old reliable flathead six cylinder engine. The sturdy engine was first introduced in 1933 and would stay with this thrifty maker till 1959. Rated at horsepower the 190 cubic inch powerplant featured a  full pressure oil system. Something rival Chevy would not have till 1954. This car company also bragged it had hydraulic brakes in 1929. A first for a low priced car and years before Ford. 1936 Would start with just three body styles. A two door coupe,five passenger sedan and a commercial body.By year end they would add a spiffy convertible, a pricey wood bodied wagon and two door sedan. Prices started at $510.00 for the base sedan going up to $785.00 for the classy woody wagon. It was also the first year since 1928 that all models had a single platform with the series known as the “PJ”. Other upgrades included larger brakes,improved heater that worked form the engines hot water rather than “gasoline fired” like Ford. Can anybody say “Malatoff Cocktail” at Ford. Still despite all this it was still outsold by rivals Chevy and Ford. Even its brother car in the same corporation outsold it.Still it remained popular and always considered a well engineered car. What Auto is This??

 

 

Jan
20

What Auto is This?? Quiz

This would be the first year for this long running car maker. They would produce some of Americas most popular cars from 1928-2001. From its inception it was  marketed as direct competition against rivals Chevrolet and Ford. They would be priced slightly higher because they offered a higher level of standard equipment.

Even though it was considered a low priced car they came with hydraulic brakes. The cross town rivals Chevy and Ford only came with mechanical brakes. The robust engine was a flathead four cylinder. It was rated at 45 horsepower. The transmission was a three speed manual.

Many body styles were available. You could chose a two door or four door sedan. Open cars were a two door roadster or sporty four door pheaton. This make would not see a pickup truck till model year 1936. The six cylinder would not appear till 1933. Many inovations would follow including a semi-auto in 1939.

  Even though this car make started in 1928 as a thrifty alternative to Chevy and Ford it would make some of the most thrilling Muscle Cars of all time. What Auto is This??  

Dec
23

“What Auto is This??” This British Sedan Could Rip It Up On The Racetrack

This first series of this made in England car was made between 1962-1966. With over 900,000 units made it was Britians favorite sled for years. Intended to be a “Mini” fighter the maker decided to go with a family sedan instead. Three body types were offered. A two door sedan..4 door sedan..and a station wagon or “Estate”

Engines ranged from a 1.2 ltr four cylinder or the much sought after 1.5ltr four cylinder in the GT models. Power for the 1.2ltr was 60..for the 1.5ltr in the GT model power was 78 horsepower. With a revised cam profile and dual Weber carbs it was a spirited driver. The GT would also come with revised and lowered suspension.

One rare model was the Lotus version of this car. Only available in the two door sedan. The only paint color was white with a contrasting green strip going down the side flank. The Lotus model was powered by a high output 1.6ltr dual overhead cam four cylinder. Output was kept a secret by the factory. Car and Driver rated it at 120 plus horsepower in 1965. Making the Lotus version a winning race car in the 1960s

This car confirmed its makers reputation for quality and offering alot of car for the money. The Estate version would have class leading load capacity. The sedans would offer large size interior space in a compact platform. Known as great handling car with robust mechanics. It still to this day has devoted followers. “What Auto is This??”

Dec
03

Todays “Junk Car”

Well it took alot of years but Ford finaly admitted that the 1988-1994 Lincoln Continental was a very bad idea.

Nov
24

Todays “What Auto is This??” Quiz

Sold by an American company between 1985-2003. Its mostly a re-badged Italian Military vehicle. They were upgraded with fine Italian leather interiors and English wood. Its main rival was the Range Rover. Built on a shortened Iveco 4×4 frame. Power was supplied by either a  5.0ltr or a 5.8ltr Ford V8 engine. Transmissions were also Ford AOD  automatics. Except for a few changes to bumpers and lights they remained almost unchanged till 2003. What Auto is This??

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