Monday, May 30, 2011
OLD CAR PICTURE 8
The OHA Franklin Automobile Photographs The Franklin motor car was invented by the engineer John Wilkinson and manufactured by the industrialist H. H. Franklin and marketed under his name. The Franklin was one of the most innovative motor cars of its time, featuring an air-cooled engine, scientific light weight and flexible construction at a time when other luxury car manufacturers were making ponderous machines. Throughout its history Franklin was a luxury car and it was in this part of the automotive market that it competed with the other notable makes of the day. As such it fell victim to the Great Depression along with many of these same fine luxury car manufacturers.
These remarkable motor cars engendered such a loyal and faithful following that interest in these automobiles never died out. Many individuals continued to operate Franklins as their every day automobiles or preserved them right up to the emergence of the antique and classic hobby, decades after production ceased in 1934. The H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company was a very large employer in Syracuse, New York area, its home base, and many people across the world had very fond associations with the company and its motor cars either as employees, dealers, service personnel or just loyal customers of that fine make.
Two Franklin autos, one barrel hoodOver 150 photographs from the Onondaga Historical Association (Syracuse, NY) Franklin Automobile Collection were scanned and described in the summer of 1997 with funding from a Library Services and Technology Grant through the Central New York Library Resources Council to be displayed on the CLRC.ORG web site. The photographs include selected images from the factory and production process, sales and advertising, and Franklin cars "on the road."
These remarkable motor cars engendered such a loyal and faithful following that interest in these automobiles never died out. Many individuals continued to operate Franklins as their every day automobiles or preserved them right up to the emergence of the antique and classic hobby, decades after production ceased in 1934. The H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company was a very large employer in Syracuse, New York area, its home base, and many people across the world had very fond associations with the company and its motor cars either as employees, dealers, service personnel or just loyal customers of that fine make.
Two Franklin autos, one barrel hoodOver 150 photographs from the Onondaga Historical Association (Syracuse, NY) Franklin Automobile Collection were scanned and described in the summer of 1997 with funding from a Library Services and Technology Grant through the Central New York Library Resources Council to be displayed on the CLRC.ORG web site. The photographs include selected images from the factory and production process, sales and advertising, and Franklin cars "on the road."
The photographs have been available as a searchable database on the WebZ Virtual Catalog section of the CLRC.ORG web site. Now, linked from the CLRC Region Digital Collections page, the photographs are easier to find.
Automobile classification
Generally automobiles are classified on the basis of their functionality and according to their body style. Initial automobiles were primarily designed for transporting people. The power developed by the engine increased steadily due to the advancement in technologies. High power engines were fitted in specially designed frames (automobile body frame is often referred as chassis) to transport high loads, these vehicles are known as trucks. Public transport cars can be classified according to its body design and according to the purpose it has been designed for.
Now let’s see how cars are being classified according to the body design. There are three main categories according to the car body design. They are hatchback, sedan and estate cars. Hatchback cars are those whose cargo space and passenger cabin will be integrated together and they can be assessed from the rear door. Normally in hatchback cars the rear window will be fitted in the rear door itself. Rear door will be hinged horizontally, so that the door should be lifted up to access the cargo space. Sedan cars will generally have three segments. The first segment will be equipped with the engine and other control systems, second segment will be having two rows of seats for passengers. Sedans will offer big room space even for adults, this is why sedans are preferred by many people. Estate cars are those which has extended roof till the cargo space. Estate cars are used by people who need lot of cargo space; these cars will have their doors hinged vertically.
According to the purpose for which a car has been designed there are so many to be specified. According to the size cars have been classified in to micro car, sub compact car, compact car, mid-size car, and compact car. Earlier micro cars were having only three wheels, nowadays companies have stopped producing these vehicles (micro cars) because these vehicles are not preferred by people anymore. Mid-size and compact cars were generally classified according to their length and the space they have inside them. Open type cars are those which don’t have a roof to cover the passengers. Convertible type of cars has roof that can be folded and can be kept inside the cars cargo space (dickey). Sports cars are designed especially for the people who like to race in their car; these cars will be having combined features of performance and handling. Sports cars used to cost more than sedans or convertibles. High-end sports cars are called as ‘supercar’. Grand tourer is a car designed for people who used to travel long distances in car and these cars offers high-end performance. Roadster types of cars are those which don’t have roof, side windows and even a rear mirror. SUV is the abbreviation of Sport Utility Vehicle whereas MUV is the term for Multi-purpose Utility Vehicle, SUVs will be having 4x4 drive option (this enables the vehicle to driven in terrain conditions ). MUVs are generally used to handle logistics on a small scale.
Bill Reichenberg's '51 Ford Sedan 1
adyno tuned 750 CFM Holley double pumper carburetor, the hemi power flows through a Tremec TKO 600 6 speed transmission, and out to the wheels through a for 9-inch 4.11-geared differential. Power train is supported by an Art Morrison frame and air ride suspension. Stopping power is provided by a set of Wilwood brakes, and the comfort is provided by a Vintage Air system. Uphostery was done by AutoWeave of Denver with fabric and thread chosen by Lee. Billy Reichenberg's 1951 Ford Tudor appears to be a stock car at first glance with the only observable clue being the meaty
rear tires neatly tucked up under the car. Zoomers has definitely done it again with another one of a kind super car.
Bill Reichenberg's '51 Ford Sedan 2
Front sheet metal fitted inner fender wells and front filler panel fabricated.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
Where's the best place to find a Corvette that's destined to capture a Top Flight award? It all depends-it could be in a neighbor's garage, it could be in the collection of someone whose ad you've read, or it could be...just about anywhere. Nick Minoia has always loved the second-generation Corvette, and he wanted a midyear to grace his collection. Fortunately for Nick, he had some help in looking-help that found a prospective purchase within a day's drive. "I found out about it from my brother back in late-2005, early-2006," he says from his Succasunna, New Jersey, home. "The car had had a frame-off restoration by this guy in upstate New York, but it had passed to another owner who was frustrated by the fact that it had knock-off wheels on it. He'd driven the car, and one of the wheels started to come off, and it scared the hell out of him. He ended up parking the car in the garage, and he never drove it again."That split-window had been restored by Paul Bohensky in his Elmira, New York, garage several years earlier. The car had been parked at a used-car store/body shop in Elmira, and though it didn't move through space, its journey through time left it with more than a few problems. Through his brother's efforts, Nick looked up the Sting Ray's owner. "When I called the owner, he said, 'Funny you should call right now. 'I just bought a lake house, and I frankly could use the money, so I might be willing to sell it if you want to do something quick." Nick adds, "Timing is everything in life, and this was just one of those things that happens for a reason."
Nick drove up to Elmira that weekend and checked out the '63. "We drove it around the block, and it was running rough, the brakes weren't really working, and there were a lot of issues with the steering," he recalls. "It hadn't been driven in about five or six years. The tires were lumpy-they'd never even rolled, it was like driving on square tires."
But what Nick calls "the bones of the car" were there, and he could tell that it needed to be "brought back from the dead," as he puts it. The deal was done, and Nick brought the '63 home. Over the next two years, he brought the Sting Ray into more than just drivable shape-it was ready for NCRS judging. But not before a lot of "little" things needed doing. "I must have spent about $10,000-$15,000 in parts," Nick says. "Me and Long Island Corvette got to know each other real well!"
The previous restoration was of good quality, but not a Top Flight-level restoration, so Nick set out to make his C2 worthy of the NCRS' top honors. "There were so many things that needed to be brought up to speed, like period tires, wheels and hubcaps, bolt head markings, engine detailing, finding the correct numbers-matching parts like the alternator, starter and regulator," he recalls while estimating that he did about 95 percent of the work himself that was needed to bring the split-window up to Top Flight quality. "The only things that I had done were rebuilding of the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders as well as sending out pieces like the clock and wiper motor to be rebuilt. When I found the right date-coded alternator, I sent that out to have new diodes put in and have the finish redone on it."
One thing that didn't need re-doing was the split-window's Daytona Blue exterior color. Paul Bohensky had re-painted the car in acrylic lacquer during the previous frame-off-the same type of paint Chevrolet used at St. Louis Assembly. "It's a little over ten years old, and it still has a great look to it," he says. "That's the beauty of lacquer, where you can just hit it, rub it out, and bring it back to like-new condition
Nick drove up to Elmira that weekend and checked out the '63. "We drove it around the block, and it was running rough, the brakes weren't really working, and there were a lot of issues with the steering," he recalls. "It hadn't been driven in about five or six years. The tires were lumpy-they'd never even rolled, it was like driving on square tires."
But what Nick calls "the bones of the car" were there, and he could tell that it needed to be "brought back from the dead," as he puts it. The deal was done, and Nick brought the '63 home. Over the next two years, he brought the Sting Ray into more than just drivable shape-it was ready for NCRS judging. But not before a lot of "little" things needed doing. "I must have spent about $10,000-$15,000 in parts," Nick says. "Me and Long Island Corvette got to know each other real well!"
The previous restoration was of good quality, but not a Top Flight-level restoration, so Nick set out to make his C2 worthy of the NCRS' top honors. "There were so many things that needed to be brought up to speed, like period tires, wheels and hubcaps, bolt head markings, engine detailing, finding the correct numbers-matching parts like the alternator, starter and regulator," he recalls while estimating that he did about 95 percent of the work himself that was needed to bring the split-window up to Top Flight quality. "The only things that I had done were rebuilding of the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders as well as sending out pieces like the clock and wiper motor to be rebuilt. When I found the right date-coded alternator, I sent that out to have new diodes put in and have the finish redone on it."
One thing that didn't need re-doing was the split-window's Daytona Blue exterior color. Paul Bohensky had re-painted the car in acrylic lacquer during the previous frame-off-the same type of paint Chevrolet used at St. Louis Assembly. "It's a little over ten years old, and it still has a great look to it," he says. "That's the beauty of lacquer, where you can just hit it, rub it out, and bring it back to like-new condition
2011 Corvettes at the Detroit Auto Show
Article and Photos Contributed by Steve Burns
Each year in early January the auto industry descends upon snowy Detroit to kick off the annual car show season. Automakers from around the world debut new models, special editions, and future technologies. This year’s show featured roughly 40 new vehicle introductions as the auto industry continues to recover from the events of the last couple of years. Over 700,000 people will visit Detroit’s Cobo Center over the course of the 9 public show days.
The GM display this year was again located in its traditional location in the far corner of the facility. The atmosphere is more upbeat this year due to the debut of the Sonic, and launches of the all new Cruze and the much-talked-about Volt.
Tucked in amongst all the new bowties were a Velocity Yellow Grand Sport and Supersonic Blue ZR-1. The Grand Sport was decked out in the top of the line 4LT trim, Heritage Package, and Chrome wheels. There was a constant line of people waiting to take seat in Chevy’s halo vehicle throughout the show. The ZR1 was decked out in the 3ZR package and also featured the chrome wheels. Unfortunately, fans weren’t able to sit in the ZR1 as it remained locked throughout the show. Adjacent to the Vettes over in the Cadillac display was Johnny O’Connell’s new ride – the CTS-V Coupe SCCA racecar. Check out the Corvettes of NAIAS below.
If you’re ever in Detroit during the first couple weeks of January be sure to dress warm (as there’s always a cold snap or snow storm during the show) and make it a point to stop into the North American International Auto Show. |
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