Tag Archives: classic car

Great Tips For Winter Storing Your Classic

November 9, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

The trees are almost bare and the evening arrives sooner each day. We all know what that means: It’s time to tuck away our classics into storage.

Just when you thought you’d heard every suggestion and clever tip for properly storing your classic automobile, along comes another recommendation—or two, or three or twelve 😉

As you can imagine, I’ve heard plenty of ideas and advice about winter storage over the years. Some of those annual recommendations are repeated here. And some have been amended—for example, the fragrance of dryer sheets is way more pleasing to noses than the stench of moth balls, and the fresh smell actually does a superior job of repelling mice.

Wash and wax

It may seem fruitless to wash the car when it is about to be put away for months, but it is an easy step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Water stains or bird droppings left on the car can permanently damage the paint. Make sure to clean the wheels and undersides of the fenders to get rid of mud, grease and tar. For added protection, give the car a coat of wax and treat any interior leather with a good conditioner.

Car cover

Even if your classic is stored in a garage in semi-stable temperatures and protected from the elements, a car cover will keep any spills or dust off of the paint. It can also protect from scratches while moving objects around the parked car.

Oil change

Checking oil 1960 plymouth fury — *Sabrina Hyde*

If you will be storing the vehicle for longer than 30 days, consider getting the oil changed. Used engine oil has contaminants that could damage the engine or lead to sludge buildup. (And if your transmission fluid is due for a change, do it now too. When spring rolls around, you’ll be happy you did.)

Fuel tank

Before any extended storage period, remember to fill the gas tank to prevent moisture from accumulating inside the fuel tank and to keep the seals from drying out. You should also pour in fuel stabilizer to prevent buildup and protect the engine from gum, varnish, and rust. This is especially critical in modern gasoline blended with ethanol, which gums up more easily. The fuel stabilizer will prevent the gas from deteriorating for up to 12 months.

Radiator

This is another area where fresh fluids will help prevent contaminants from slowly wearing down engine parts. If it’s time to flush the radiator fluid, doing it before winter storage is a good idea. Whether or not you put in new antifreeze, check your freezing point with a hydrometer or test strips to make sure you’re good for the lowest of winter temperatures.

Battery

An unattended battery will slowly lose its charge and eventually go bad, resulting in having to purchase a new battery in the spring. The easiest, low-tech solution is to disconnect the battery cables—the negative (ground) first, then the positive. You’ll likely lose any stereo presets, time, and other settings. If you want to keep those settings and ensure that your battery starts the moment you return, purchase a trickle charger. This device hooks up to your car battery on one end, then plugs into a wall outlet on the other and delivers just enough electrical power to keep the battery topped up. Warning: Do not use a trickle charger if you’re storing your car off property. In rare cases they’ve been known to spark a fire.

Parking brake

For general driving use it is a good idea to use the parking brake, but don’t do it when you leave a car in storage long term; if the brake pads make contact with the rotors for an extended period of time, they could fuse together. Instead of risking your emergency brake, purchase a tire chock or two to prevent the car from moving.

Tire care

If a vehicle is left stationary for too long, the tires could develop flat spots from the weight of the vehicle pressing down on the tires’ treads. This occurs at a faster rate in colder temperatures, especially with high-performance or low-profile tires, and in severe cases a flat spot becomes a permanent part of the tire, causing a need for replacement. If your car will be in storage for more than 30 days, consider taking off the wheels and placing the car on jack stands at all four corners. With that said, some argue that this procedure isn’t good for the suspension, and there’s always this consideration: If there’s a fire, you have no way to save your car.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of jack stands, overinflate your tires slightly (2–5 pounds) to account for any air loss while it hibernates, and make sure the tires are on plywood, not in direct contact with the floor.

Repel rodents

A solid garage will keep your car dry and relatively warm, conditions that can also attract unwanted rodents during the cold winter months. There are plenty of places in your car for critters to hide and even more things for them to destroy. Prevent them from entering your car by covering any gaps where a mouse could enter, such as the exhaust pipe or an air intake; steel wool works well for this. Next, spread scented dryer sheets or Irish Spring soap shavings inside the car and moth balls around the perimeter of the vehicle. For a more proactive approach and if you’re the killing type, you can also lay down a few mouse traps (although you’ll need to check them regularly for casualties).

Maintain insurance

In order to save money, you might be tempted to cancel your auto insurance when your vehicle is in storage. Bad idea. If you remove coverage completely, you’ll be on your own if there’s a fire, the weight of snow collapses the roof, or your car is stolen. If you have classic car insurance, the policy covers a full year and takes winter storage into account in your annual premium.

“An ex-Ferrari race mechanic (Le Mans three times) recommends adding half a cup of automatic transmission fluid to the fuel tank before topping up, and then running the engine for 10 minutes. This applies ONLY to carburetor cars. The oil coats the fuel tank, lines and carb bowls and helps avoid corrosion. It will easily burn off when you restart the car.”
A warning regarding car covers: “The only time I covered was years ago when stored in the shop side of my machine shed. No heat that year and the condensation from the concrete caused rust on my bumpers where the cover was tight. The next year I had it in the dirt floor shed and the mice used the cover ties as rope ladders to get in.”
“I use the right amount of Camguard in the oil to protect the engine from rust. It’s good stuff.”
“Your car’s biggest villain is rust, that’s why I clean the car inside and out, and wax it prior to putting it in storage. For extra protection, I generously wax the bumpers and other chrome surfaces, but I do not buff out the wax. Mildew can form on the interior; to prevent this I treat the vinyl, plastic, and rubber surfaces with a product such as Armor All.
“Ideally, your car should be stored in a clean, dry garage. I prepare the floor of the storage area by laying down a layer of plastic drop cloth, followed by cardboard. The plastic drop cloth and cardboard act as a barrier to keep the moisture that is in the ground from seeping through the cement floor and attacking the underside of my car.”
“Fog out the engine. I do this once the car is parked where it is to be stored for the winter, and while it is still warm from its trip. Remove the air cleaner and spray engine fogging oil into the carburetor with the engine running at a high idle. Once I see smoke coming out of the exhaust, I shut off the engine and replace the air cleaner. Fogging out the engine coats many of the internal engine surfaces, as well as the inside of the exhaust with a coating of oil designed to prevent rust formation.”

Relax, rest, and be patient

Ford Model a roadster in garage — *Gabe Augustine*

For those of us who live in cold weather provinces or states, there’s actually a great sense of relief when you finally complete your winter prep and all of your summer toys are safely put to bed before the snow flies. Relax; you’ve properly protected your classic. It won’t be long before the snow is waist-high and you’re longing for summer—and that long wait may be the most difficult part of the entire storage process. Practice patience and find something auto-related to capture your attention and bide your time. You’ll be cruising again before you know it. (Keep telling yourself that, anyway.) For the Silo, Rob Siegel/Hagerty.

Transportation

8 Cars That Deserved Better Engines

September 28, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

What vehicle never got the engine it deserved? That’s the question posed to our friends at Hagerty Auto Insurance. Their love of cars goes back decades, or centuries and they’ve all been wondering how much better certain cars would be if they had a different engine …

… Or a better engine, something that truly spoke to the rest of the car. Let’s see what alternate car realities they would have created.

A Standard V-8 for Every Cadillac

engine cadillac VVT — Lies! All lies! *Cadillac*

For me, it’s the fact that all Cadillac cars (cars—Escalade excluded) from the last 20 or so years lack a standard V-8 engine. GM has an excellent LS motor, and a baby Caddy with a modest 4.8-liter small-block would give buyers more reason to avoid a thirsty BMW for a slightly more thirsty Caddy.

As the Caddy becomes larger, the V-8 engine follows suit (5.3-liter CTS, 6.2-liter CT-6, etc.) with increased displacement, and forced induction for the V-series examples. The inherent torque and simplicity of a pushrod V-8 complements the minimalist architecture of GM’s new EV powertrains, and exclusively pairing those two in a luxury car brand will make Cadillac more appealing than any of its competition. — Sajeev Mehta

As under-the-radar-good (and as mod-friendly) as the ATS-V’s LF4 V-6 is, I agree. After having spent over ten thousand miles with the smaller of the Alpha-chassis Caddys, the ATS should have gotten the 455-horse LT1 from the Camaro, and the ATS-V should have gotten the LT4. — Eddy Eckart

V-8 Bronco Raptor/ Ford GT

2024 Ford Bronco Raptor climb front three quarter — *Ford*

Ford Bronco Raptor. Lack of a V-8 is … yeaaaaah. For the record, I am fully aware that you can’t easily fit that V-8 into Ford’s T-6 frame. Actually, here’s the same opinion again: This also applies to the most recent Ford GT. — Matt Tuccillo

For sure, the Ford GT shoulda had a V-8. — Larry Webster

I think I’ll also jump on the Ford GT bandwagon, as I don’t care for the reasoning of why it got the EcoBoost V-6. That car deserved a V-8 based on heritage alone. – Greg Ingold

That buttress really flies *Sajeev Mehta*

Yes, please! Kill the flying buttress, make room for a 900+ horsepower Coyote with a twin-screw supercharger. — Sajeev Mehta

V-8 Prowler

1997 Plymouth prowler rear three-quarter — *FCA*

The Plymouth Prowler comes to mind. Chrysler Corporation came up with a car that was a modern nod to the classic hot rod but forgot the one factor that people want from a hot rod: A V-8 engine. You have to actively try to miss that detail. I don’t think anyone would’ve minded seeing a 318 Magnum out of a Ram pickup in the Prowler, as long as it came with eight cylinders. — Greg Ingold

Honda Motors in a Modern Lotus

Lotus Evora GT40 front three quarter — *Lotus*

Any modern-day Lotus fits in this category. They make do with Toyota engines but the chassis deserves the character of a Honda motor. — Larry Webster

Having a Lotus with a K-Series would be excellent! Totally agree with that take. — Greg Ingold

A Straight-Six SLK

Let’s not overlook the original Mercedes SLK. This folding-roof roadster needed Mercedes’ juicy and punchy 2.8-liter straight six. That supercharged four-cylinder engine was disappointing, and the manual gearbox was even worse. — Larry Webster

SHO-inental, If Only

1989 continental signature series engine — *Sajeev Mehta*

I only thought of this car/engine combo since I yanked my 1989 Continental Signature Series out of storage. Turns out it needed new rubber, and tires from a 1989 Ford Taurus SHO are a smidge wider on the same-sized wheel. Getting a set of those and slapping a set of 1/4-inch spacers on the rear gave it a stance that I can’t stop looking at. And now, curiously, it’s getting a lot more compliments. Even the manager of a local burger joint stopped me from giving my order so he could compliment me on it.

He thought it was a Town Car, but that’s not the point. These moments get this Lincoln-restomodding fool thinking about one thing: Ford needed an automatic transmission ready for the Taurus SHO sooner, and should have slapped it all into the 1989 Continental. Such a tragedy! — Sajeev Mehta

Citroën DS

The Citroën DS was so unconventional and interesting that it’s easy to forget there was only ever an old-fashioned, underwhelming OHV four under the hood. The later SM got a Maserati V-6, but the DS was never so lucky. — Andrew Newton

The Sky Shoulda Been the Limit

2007 Saturn Sky Red Line front three-quarter — GM

GM flogged its Ecotec four-banger, and I know they made crazy power for drag racing. But I thought the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky deserved a more refined motor. — Larry Webster

They needed an LS, maybe just a small-displacement 4.8-liter, to keep Chevrolet appeased with their Corvette’s dominance. But I am sure that was discussed in some conference room at GM, and it was quickly shot down. — Sajeev Mehta

Featured image- Ford GT with Ecoboost 6 cylinder engine.

Transportation

Supercars Can Be Financed

August 13, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

Take this 2005 Porsche Carrera GT for example:

Lot 214 |Monterey Jet Center 2024 Thursday, 15 August 2024

2005 Porsche Carrera GT Lot 214 Estimate: $1,100,000 – $1,300,000 USD/ $1,509,000 CAD- $1,704,000 CAD
Illustrative Hammer: $1,100,000 USD/ $1,509,000 CAD
Illustrative Purchase Price*: $1,215,000 USD/ $1,667,000 CAD
Down Payment: $500,000 USD/ $686,100 CAD
Amount Financed: $715,000 USD/ $981,000 CAD
Monthly Payments**: $7,299 USD/ $10,015 CAD

Highlights of this supercar include:

A desirable single-owner example offered with less than 23,643 documented miles at the time of cataloging
One of just 477 produced for the U.S. market in 2005
Finished in classic Communication Colors of GT Silver exterior over Ascot Brown leather interior
Unmodified and offered with four pieces of its factory luggage set and other delivery accessories
Features servicing and maintenance by a single authorized Porsche dealer
One of the most collectible Porsche models ever produced

Chassis No. WP0CA29875L001120

Porsche seldom exits a motorsports arena without a taste of triumph. Yet, in 1991, an exception proved the rule as Porsche ventured into Formula One, supplying engines to the Footwork-Arrows team with their newly developed 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V12. This engine, essentially a combination of two TAG-Turbo V6s from Porsche’s McLaren days proved cumbersome and prone to reliability issues. Midway through the season, Footwork-Arrows terminated their contract with Porsche due to these setbacks.

Undeterred, Porsche embarked on a solitary path of refinement over the subsequent three years, nurturing the engine’s potential through advancements in technology and engineering. Eventually, they succeeded in transforming it into a robust and potent V12 powerplant. This worthwhile endeavor of internal engineering spurred Porsche to further explore Formula One’s evolving regulations, resulting in the development of a 3.5-liter V10 engine—purely as an educational pursuit. Later iterations saw this V10 engine grow to 5.5-liters and find application in Porsche’s LMP2000 sports racing prototype, codenamed Typ 9R3 and conceived for the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite its initial promise, the LMP2000 project met an untimely demise, leaving the formidable V10 engine temporarily abandoned until a pivotal turn of events.

Porsche’s engineers were fervently engaged in another ambitious project—the Carrera GT prototype, internally referred to as SCM (Super Car Millennium).

Housed in Huntington Beach, California, a select team of designers undertook the task of bringing SCM to life. In a nod to its showpiece stature, the decision was made to equip this extraordinary prototype with the same 5.5-liter V10 engine originally developed for the 9R3 project. So fantastic was the reaction to the prototype driven along the Champs-Élysées to the 2000 Paris Motor Show that the approval of a production version was a foregone conclusion.

Commencing in 2003, the Carrera GT swiftly became the quintessential analog supercar of its era. Embracing a back-to-basics philosophy, in stark contrast to its technologically intricate predecessor, the 959, the Carrera GT boasted a raw engineering ethos. Its naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V10, renowned for its rapid revving capability, paired seamlessly with a six-speed manual transmission nestled within a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Eschewing electronic driving aids, the Carrera GT epitomized a driver-centric experience, delivering unrivaled auditory and performance thrills akin to those found on the racetrack. Produced for a short two years, just 644 Carrera GTs were sold through U.S. Porsche dealerships

This 2005 Carrera GT was constructed in the final year of production and was delivered new to Howard Cooper Porsche of Ann Arbor, Michigan with a purchase date noted in the service book as 22 December 2004 with 15 delivery miles/ 24 kms. Selected with XT Bucket Seats and finished in the Carrera GT’s official Communication Color of GT Silver Metallic over an Ascot Brown leather interior, this fantastic single-owner example features a clean CARFAX and, at time of cataloging, less than 24,000 miles/ 38,624 kms. GT Silver was a long-held bespoke color for the Carrera GT and certainly one of the most popular, echoing those giant-killing RS Spyders of the late 1950s and ’60s.

According to its CARFAX and ownership records, this Carrera GT features servicing while under single ownership by the consignor at Howard Cooper Porsche, later known as Germain Porsche and now Porsche Ann Arbor. One of the many benefits of a single-owner super sports car such as this is the familiarity between the official Porsche dealer and owner and the expected elevated level of trust between the two. Twenty visits to the selling dealer over the 19 years have ensured that this Carrera GT has remained in regular hands during those service visits, remaining at the ready for those special Michigan days that offer the most to both car and driver. Partial service records on file show a Major Maintenance in 2009 with a new windshield at 10,739 miles and two recorded maintenance visits in 2015 and 2017, the latter being a two-year service visit. Furthermore, it should be noted that all services have been conducted at the original selling dealer, Porsche Ann Arbor.

Offered with service records on file dating from 2007 to 2020, this single-owner Carrera GT is accompanied by an impressive number of delivery items including its original window sticker, owner’s manuals, hard top panel bags, centerlock socket, tools, and factory fitted indoor car cover. Furthermore, all Carrera GTs were delivered with a set of factory fitted luggage by Ruspa of Italy, color-coordinated to the selected interior color of the car. Over the years many of these sets have become disassociated with their cars, yet this Carrera GT retains a nearly complete set in Ascot Brown—an additional, and welcome benefit.

Created by specialist teams with a narrow focus and cloaked in secrecy, with little interference from the corner offices, the Porsche Carrera GT is an exquisite example of race-honed engineering brought to life on the road. Never before offered for sale, this single-owner Carrera GT, number 455, should make an enjoyable addition to those in search of the finest motorsport-derived super sports car of the 2000s. Just as Porsche intended. For the Silo, Jakob Greisen.

Internet bidding is not available for this lot. Please contact bid@broadarrowauctions.com for more information.

Vintage

4 Canadian-Built Classic Cars That Are Unusual and Attainable

July 6, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

A charming read about quirky and rare Canadian built cars from our friends at Hagerty–

Less than a week ago, we all celebrated Canada Day, aka Fête du Canada, the anniversary of Canadian Confederation that occurred on July 1, 1867. It’s a day to “reflect on what it means to be Canadian, to share what makes us proud,” and it “highlights the richness of our land, our diversity, our culture, our contributions, but above all, our people,” according to our government’s official website. It’s a glorious day for Canada, and though we are a little tardy on the dateline, we’re looking at some of the popular classic vehicles to come from the Great White North, and how much they’re worth in today’s market.

Starting in the early twentieth century, the big Detroit automakers south of the border built factories in Canada to sell to Canadians, rather than ship U.S.-built vehicles north.

This was because of tariffs between the two countries, and while many Canadian-built Ford, GM and Chrysler products were similar to the ones driven by Americans, others were rather uniquely Canadian. There were Meteors (Ford), McLaughlin Buicks, Fargo (Dodge) trucks, and Plymouths trimmed out as Dodges, and Acadians and Beaumonts (both GM). After the Canada-United States Automotive Products Agreement in 1965, though, cross-border trade loosened up. The specifically Canadian models and marques gradually disappeared, although promising independents like the Bricklin SV-1 or Manic GT continued to pop up. Today they’re all interesting, somewhat obscure classics. Below are the Canadian vehicles we most often see on the market.

1960 Frontenac

Canadian Frontenac Car ad — *Flickr/Michael*

When Ford introduced its compact Falcon in 1960, Ford Canada brought out an all-new marque to bring the compact party up north. They called it the Frontenac, short for a 17th-century Governor General of New France (I guess Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was too long to fit on a badge) and built it in Oakville, Ontario. Frontenacs were essentially a mildly restyled Falcon, and were available in two- and four-door sedan body styles as well as two- and four-door wagons. All were powered by the 144-cubic inch Thriftpower straight-six. Ford Canada sold over 9500 Frontenacs for 1960 but discontinued the brand after only one year, replacing it with the Comet for 1961.

Frontenac prices differ by body style, ranging from $13,100 (CAD 17,900) for a four-door wagon at the bottom to $23,000 (CAD 31,400) for a two-door wagon at the top.

1948–52 Mercury M-Series Pickups

To American eyes, pickup trucks with a Mercury badge seem a little Twilight Zone, like a budget city car sporting a Rolls-Royce grille or Kia making a mid-engine exotic. But from the postwar years up until the late 1960s, Mercury M-Series pickups were a very real thing for Canadian buyers.

At the time, many parts of the country didn’t have a Lincoln/Mercury dealership and a Ford dealership, so the Mercury M-Series gave truck-buying customers an option even if there was no Ford store around. The first-generation 1948-52 M-Series followed the same format as the first-generation Ford F-Series. Mercury M-Series trucks came in most of the configurations available on the Ford versions down south, but with fewer engine options. Currently, we only have the 1/2-ton, 239-cid eight-cylinder M-Series in the Hagerty Price Guide, and their #2 values range from $44,600 (CAD 60,900) for the earlier 1948-50 M-47 to $40,800 (CAD 55,700) for the 1951-52 M-1 model. Condition #3 values currently sit in the mid-$20K (CAD 27,300) range.

1968–69 Beaumont

Of all the special Canadian market versions of Big Three vehicles, General Motors’ Acadian and Beaumont lines were arguably the most distinctive.

In 1962 GM launched Acadian, referring to the 17th- and 18th-century French settlers of eastern Canada, as its own brand. Its first model was based on the Chevy II/Nova compact but with different grille and trim, and different models included the mid-tier Acadian Invader and the range-topping Acadian Beaumont. In 1964 when the mid-size Chevelle came out, then Acadian added a Chevelle-based model to the lineup, recycling the Beaumont name. Then, in 1966, Beaumont became its own brand. When the second-generation Chevelle arrived for 1968, Beaumont followed suit. This was short-lived, however, as GM Canada axed the Beaumont brand after 1969 in favor of the Americanized Chevelle and Pontiac LeMans.

Built in Ontario and sold at Pontiac/Buick dealers, the 1968-69 Beaumont looks like a Chevelle with a few scoops of Pontiac mixed in, and generally followed the Chevelle in terms of trim and powertrains, which included 283, 307, 327, 350 and 396 cid engines as well as three- and four-speed manuals or Powerglide and Turbo Hydramatic automatics. Equivalent to Chevrolet’s Super Sport (SS) trim on the Chevelle was Beaumont’s Sport Deluxe (SD).

The average condition #2 value for a 1968-69 Beaumont is $24,200 (CAD 33,000) but, like their Chevrolet-badged cross-border cousins, prices vary widely depending on drivetrain and body style. The cheapest V-8 model in the Hagerty Price Guide is the 1968 307/200 hp sedan with a #2 value of $9600, while the most expensive is the extremely rare 396/350 hp L34-powered convertible with a #2 value of $81,800 (CAD 111,700).

1974–75 Bricklin SV-1

bricklin front three-quarter doors raised — *Joe Ligo*

Seven years before John DeLorean came out with his own ambitious but under-powered, ill-fated gullwing sports car, Malcolm Bricklin built one in New Brunswick, Canada. Bricklin, the serial automotive entrepreneur who brought Subaru to North America, imported Fiat sports cars under the Bertone and Pininfarina brands and was the man behind the Yugo, envisioned a small and reasonably priced sports car with gullwing doors when planning his next business venture in the early 1970s. As the concept developed, Bricklin snagged a few million dollars in funding from the government of New Brunswick and set up two facilities in Saint John and Minto. The company officially unveiled the production version of the Bricklin SV-1 at the Four Seasons in New York in 1974.

By its looks, one might think that SV-1 stands for “Sports Velocity-1” or something wild like that, but it actually stands for “Safety Vehicle”.

The frame of the Bricklin includes an integrated roll cage, and each bumper is designed to absorb 5-mph impacts, both forward-thinking steps at the time. The bodywork is color-impregnated (five shades available) acrylic resin bonded to fiberglass, and the famous doors raise via hydraulic cylinders in about 12 seconds.

When Bricklin went looking for a parts bin to raid, it settled on AMC, so the SV-1 borrows its suspension from the Hornet, and early SV-1s have AMC’s 360-cubic inch four-barrel V-8. Later ones got Ford’s two-barrel 351 Windsor. Most SV-1s got a three-speed automatic, but a few buyers selected a Borg-Warner four-speed manual. In the end, Bricklin suffered the same fate as a lot of upstart carmakers, including the later DeLorean, minus the sting operation and tired Back to the Future redemption arc. There were quality control problems and supplier hold-ups, while a ballooning price and Malaise Era V-8 performance in a nearly 3500-pound car made the SV-1 difficult to sell. Only about 3000 were built.

1974-75 Bricklin SV-1, condition #2 (“excellent”) values

Canada’s sports car has never been particularly expensive, but some strong sales for clean cars have seen prices surge surprisingly to a current median condition #2 value of $38,000 (CAD 51,900).

The current #3 value sits at $23,000 (CAD 31,400) and the #4 value at $9,000 (CAD 12,300). The later Ford-powered cars would theoretically be easier to service, but the 351 was rated with lower grunt than the AMC 360 (175 hp vs. 220), so the two carry similar values. Add a few grand for the four-speed.

Hagerty maintains a Canadian version of our popular online valuation tool, complete with prices shown in Canadian dollars. It can be accessed here.

Transportation

These Fun, Affordable 21st-Century Cars Aren’t Classics…Yet

May 27, 2024 The Silo 1 Comment

Every so often, I engage in a particularly futile and depressing ritual—I shop for cars that I’ve foolishly let go. They’re cars that could have been feasible 10 years ago, but not today. I’ve been priced out of the market for virtually all of them. And while the market might be settling down at the moment, there are few signs of an out-and-out retreat to pre-pandemic pricing. Among cars from the 1970s through the early 1990s, there are precious few bargains. But go a little bit newer, where there’s even some depreciation yet to be done, and the picture gets more enticing. I’m talking cars from the 2000s to 2010s that are getting older, but still aren’t considered any kind of “classic” or “collectible” yet. Here are some highlights.

Fiat 500 Abarth

The 500 Abarth is the closest thing to a real hot hatch that Fiat has ever offered in the U.S., a market that is sadly short on real hot hatches. There were more interesting varieties of the Punto and Ritmo, but those were Euro-only cars that frankly weren’t very good compared to competition from Renault, Peugeot, VW, and Ford. As for the 500 Abarth, although it first arrived here in the early 2010s, the 160-hp pocket rocket feels more like a 1990s hot hatch. It’s crude, the ride is choppy, and a 10 year-old Fiat probably wears more like a 20 year-old VW. But it’s loud, analog-feeling, and fun. Most importantly, it’s cheap. Around $8000usd to $10,000usd/ $11,000cad to $13,700cad buys one with under 50,000 miles/ 80,467kms. That’s tons of fun per us or canadian dollar in a package that offers an old school driving experience in something that’s new enough to have most contemporary features and conveniences.

MazdaSpeed3

Back in the days of the Zoom Zoom tagline, Mazda fielded the incredibly entertaining MazdaSpeed3. Offered from 2007-13, it’s a four-door hatch with 263 hp and 280 lb. ft. of torque. It’s exactly the kind of car enthusiasts and auto journalists beg manufacturers for, but rarely head to a dealership and actually buy. Everyone who tested a Speed3 back in the day found the car fun, especially those of us who were entertained by the torque-steer. Car and Driver wasn’t, comparing driving the car to a game of tug-of-war. But, affordability and perfection don’t often go hand-in-hand, so for $10,000usd to $12,000usd/ $13,700cad tp $16,400cad at current prices you could do far worse than the powerful and practical Speed3.

C5 Corvette

If hot hatches aren’t your jam, there’s always the bargain Corvette of the moment, the 1997-2004 C5. While some variants, most notably the Z06, sailed beyond true affordability in the last several years, a base manual C5 with somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 miles/ 120,000km and 160,934km can still be had in the $13,000usd to $15,000usd range/ $17,760cad – $20,490cad. That’s a huge bargain for what was an utterly clean sheet design, one of the few in Corvette history, and more performance than almost anything in this price point. Interiors are standard 2000s GM, but livable. And the styling, over a quarter-century after it was introduced, is aging quite nicely.

2003-08 BMW Z4

The 2003-08 Z4 is a bit like the C5 Corvette in that it wasn’t universally loved when new, but is aging well. Available in 2.5- and 3.0-liter six-cylinder forms, the Z4 was larger and more practical than its predecessor, the Z3. Its odd surface detailing and Kamm-tail also look better now than they did 20 years ago. The Z4’s list of maladies is well-known at this point—the VANOS variable valve-timing system can give trouble (it’s often the solenoids), as can the cooling system. These are pricy repairs, but with nice cars available in the $9000usd to $12,000usd/ $12,300cad to $16,400cad range, if you budget $2000usd-$3000usd/ $2,730cad-$4,100cad to sort things out, these can still be a compelling deal in semi-modern convertible German sports car.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG CoupePalm Coast, Florida

2005-2014 Ford Mustang

2005 mustang convertible skyline beach — *Ford Motor Company*

You could argue that the 2005 Mustang was the first one to really look like a Mustang since maybe 1973. The brilliant Sid Ramnarace-designed S197 Mustang managed to look the part without being foolishly retro, a hard balance to achieve. Special editions, and certainly the Shelby versions of the S197 are not cheap, but a lightly optioned V-8 coupe or convertible is still one of the best cheap V-8 pony cars out there. Being a Mustang, there are always plenty on the market to choose from at any given time, and a decent manual transmission car can be had in the $12,000usd to $14,000usd/ $16,300cad to $19,130cad range. For the Silo, Rob Sass/Hagerty.

Featured image: Mazda/Guy Spangenberg

Transportation

Twenty-One Vehicles With Elite Silhouettes

March 11, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

There’s nothing quite like the sleek side profile of a vehicle with a long hood, a fast roof, and a smooth decklid. But there is more to our shared love of cars, because, we should also consider the smooth, singular sideline of a minivan. While that isn’t an answer one would expect when asking about the most appealing vehicle silhouettes, a minivan is indeed one of the many candidates our friends at Hagerty received here in their latest installment of our According to You series.

So what other vehicles deserve a mention here? Have a look below and tell us what you think in the comments!

Porsche 928 GT

The original series 928 was clean and wonderfully well balanced and was striking from every angle but take a look at this silhouette and marvel that this design is almost fifty years old.

Shelby Daytona Coupe

@DUB6: Hard to beat an early 911 in my book, but really, I’m voting for the Shelby Daytona Coupe. It has some of the muscle of the Cobras built in, with the sloped down nose for aero, the long, sleek roofline, and then that striking rear spoiler and chopped-off tail.

It may not be the most beautiful, but to me, it’s the most striking silhouette out there.

Chevrolet Corvette

@Bernard: The first few years of the C3 Corvette. I wasn’t around to see them new, but the C3 has always stood out in the school of cool, IMO, especially the silhouette. I think the crash bumpers and other stuff of the later years softened them up too much, but the silhouettes of the early ones could’ve been used as scalpels.

@Tony: I’d say any modern Corvette. They’re all designed in the wind tunnel these days so they’re all aero-efficient, but the later C4s with the rounded ends I think look great.

@Dave Massie: C3 Corvettes—especially the ’80–82 models.

@C: I agree. I am partial to my 1973 Corvette coupe. It’s a one-year-only design and looks great in silhouette.

@Paul: 1984–90 C4 Corvette. The concave rear bumper is just cool. On the other hand, the convex 1990 ZR-1 bumper and its use on the 1991–96 models are strong candidates. In my C4-centric world, the Corvettes nailed the Silhouette Sweepstakes.

Jaguar XKE

@Ken_L: I am partial to my C3 Corvette, but I must say the Jaguar XKE coupe has been my favorite since I was very young.

@Howard: And its “top-down” sibling, the XKE droptop roadster … great road car.

@Doug: Hands down, Jaguar E -ype coupe (XKE)

@Jeff: Had a ’68 XKE roadster. I was about to cast my vote for it, but you astutely beat me to it!

@Lew: The first Jag E-Types with the worthless bumpers and glassed headlights.

Jaguar XK-120

@Gayle: In ’56, my uncle bought a ’53 Jaguar XK-120 FHC and I have been enamored with that gorgeous profile ever since, especially with the disc wheels and the spats (skirts)!

1963 Riviera

@Snailish: ’63 Riviera … Not sure what got us there, but for decades after, so many vehicles owed it a debt. It would likely still be a cutting-edge design if evolved to today’s construction methods/rules. But it’s also amazing from several directions, not just the side.

Lamborghini Countach

@Shiven: Lamborghini Countach! It absolutely accentuates the ’70s and ’80s realm of excess!

Toyota Previa

@ap41563: Toyota Previa! Turn the lights off and illuminate it from behind and the egg shape still looks fresh today, even at 30 years old.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

@Colton: For the more modern, cheaper cars, I’d say the first generation of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The car itself was a mixed bag (I owned one for eight years), but the side profile, especially in low light, just highlighted how well that body was sculpted.

MG TF

@T.J.: Without a doubt, my 1954 MG TF is a constant head turner with classic vehicle lines (running boards, smooth curvature in fenders, spoked wheel on the exterior of the gas tank, etc.). A timeless beauty.

1961–63 Ford Thunderbird

@Jon: I have always liked the 1961–63 “bullet” Thunderbirds. There was just something perfect about their profiles.

Third-Generation Pontiac Firebird

@Espo70: Third-gen Firebird/Formula/Trans Am. One of the best designs to come out of GM. Still looks exotic today.

Aston Martin Project Vantage

@George: I might be biased, but the Aston Martin Project Vantage Concept—which became the Vanquish—is the most cohesive and accomplished shape of all time.

1958 Chevrolet Impala

@Don: How about the 1958 Chevy Impala 2-door hardtop? My wife’s uncle thought it looked like a water buffalo!

GMC Motorhome

Hemmings

@Chuck: For oversize vehicles, the 1973–78 GMC Motorhome. Ahead of its time when new, smooth and sleek (compared to other coaches), and has aged gracefully.

@Kent: Still a very sought-after vehicle after all these decades. Would love to have one!

Ferrari 250 GTO

Amalgam Models 250 GTO 4 — Amalgam Models

@David: One of the most recognizable, and possibly the most desirable profiles of them all: The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO by Scaglietti.

Fiat 500

@Alex: 2012–19 FIAT 500: Totally unique and unmistakable. You would never confuse it for any other car from any other marker.

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

@John: Without question for me it is the 1966 (and only the 1966) Oldsmobile Toronado.

Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic

@Tom: So many Ferraris—the Dino, 250 GTO, 275 GTB, La Ferrari, etc., as well as the GT40, Miura, E-Type, and numerous British Roadsters of the ’50s and ’60s. But the granddaddy of all side silhouettes has to be the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.

2003–08 Mazda Mazda6

@Mike: From a basic sedan point of view I’ve always loved the 2007 Mazda 6 profile with the spoiler.

1956–57 Continental Mark II

@Jeff: The 1956 Continental Mark II is still the most elegant and beautiful production American car.

1984–86 Pontiac Fiero

@Jack: 1984–86 Pontiac Fiero notchback. Best-looking shape of the 1970s and ’80s wedge cars.

Flintstones Car

@Greg: The log car that Barney Rubble drove on The Flintstones … feet and all!

Featured image: 1984 Chevrolet Corvette.

Transportation

This 1961 Impala Was Excellent Moonshine Runner

March 31, 2023 The Silo 11 Comments

What more is there to say about this car except “Wow”? Jim’s 1961 Tri-Power Chevrolet Impala is yet another pure gem hidden away somewhere in the rural wilds of Ontario, Canada.

Back in the day, these cars were known in the South as an excellent choice for moonshine runners. It must have been difficult if not impossible for a police car of that era to keep up with this 280 HP, Triple Deuce carbureted, 348 cubic inch big block.

With no power steering or power brakes you sure did get a pretty good feel for those windy, dirt back roads. Yet because of these removed features the car had no loss of available horsepower or throttle response.

With a borg-warner 100 T-10 4 speed transmission and posi 4:11 rear-end, this car puts the power directly to the road.

These traits also made these Impalas widely used in stock car racing and drag racing as well. This pure beauty of a car is painted in a factory Ermin white, with a factory red and ivory interior. Some of the rarer options include: front and rear bumper guards, E-Z eye solar guard glass and wide, white walls.

In a world of ‘rip it down and change it’, this car is still running an old school Delco battery and generator. It is very un-common to still have these options installed.

Owned by Jim, a stunt driver with Legend Filming Network you can bet the only way you’ll see this car in its home area of Delhi, Ontario is when it’s passing you in 3^rd gear with all three deuces wide open.

Extra Facts

The big flag badging on the grille and trunk lid was specific to only 348 cars, they came in 240 HP, 280 HP and the high horsepower 350 HP models. In late 1961 Chevrolet introduced the 409. That same year, the windshield wipers swept in the same direction. For the Silo, Robb Price.

Vintage

Mission Possible: Find Classic Unrestored Cars In Tennessee Fields

November 8, 2022 The Silo 1 Comment

robb19chevy1957tenneseecars — 19 (!) 1957 Chevy cars in a Tennesee field

Once again I find myself Down in the Southern U.S checking out beautiful un-restored classic cars in their usual (usual here) worn out aged condition. With very little rust. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer quantity of classics down here. I look at such a wide array of any make or model. (people actually think that they have all been picked already!). One short cruise down one back-road down here and I guarantee that you will spot at least an old Chevy truck parked out back behind a house, in a barn, or just barely sticking out of an old garage that is coming down around it.

As an extreme car enthusiast, all I can say is that it is unreal.

This, not planned, but longer than expected trip to Georgia, brought me to see a sweet 1968 el Camino SS, with a 383 stroker engine and nice black interior. I almost got to look at an original, untouched 1963 split window Corvette, parked in a carport for like 20 years. Apparently under a couple inch thick layer of dust. Go figure it was gone before I even got there.

robb1968elcaminosswith383strokerengine — A teaser sneak-peek at the back end and side of the 1968 ElCamino. Complete with black interior and a 383 Stroker engine.

A couple of the more odd-ball cars I looked at were a 1985 Corvette on 20inch 140spoke knock-off rims ( I don’t understand this one!), and a metallic orange 85 Monte Carlo SS jacked up about 14 inches sitting on 24’s, and featuring real bullet holes that it received in a police shootout (the guy who had it, bought it from a police auction). Neat looking car.

I also met a man down here who had to have had about 6 or 7, 58-60 Corvettes in different stages of repair. With one I believe, 1959 Corvette completely restored, in a high-gloss black, with a mint convertible top, and factory 4speed standard (manual to our UK and European friends) transmission. He also had one 1958, close to finished. They were both sweet cars. I must also add that the other 4 or 5 were scattered around his property among scrap, building supplies, and bushes. It was quite a sight.

These very rare cars in abundance on this property.

I walked out behind his shop and he had a 1957 Chevy 210 Station Wagon with no engine, but complete interior down to the factory radio! This car just parked, with bushes and weeds growing around it. (I think I am going to buy this one to build with my son and daughter and keep as the Sunday cruiser). I’m thinking a nice, loud, built small block, flat-black paint, and white wall tires on gloss-red rallys. I love these cars!

You probably noticed the first photo in this post right? Well, on a previous trip down here about two years ago I caught wind of a guy in Tennessee who apparently had 19, (that’s right!!! 19!) 1957 Chevy cars.

I couldn’t believe it when I got there and I don’t think too many people can say that they’ve seen nineteen 1957 Chevys all in one spot. It was incredible.

This guy had acres and acres of farm with cars tucked away everywhere you looked. 1951 Fords, A 59 Chrysler, 38 Chevy coupe, 59 International pickup, a 1929 Chevy Hot-rod, an I think 1930 Nash, all kinds of cars and trucks that you never see. In nearly original condition. My actual favorite here though, was his personal “parts getter” 1929 Chevy Truck Rat-rod, it was clever right down to the piston rad cap that stuck out of the hood. I really liked this one. The cool thing about finding all these cars is meeting their owners and hearing all of their stories. Car people are usually fun to hang out with, especially in the south.

robb1929chevytruckratrod — 1929 Chevy Truck “Rat Rod”.

I’m coming back with a friend who bought a 1966 Big back window, Chevy custom-10 short-box. Its not a half bad truck. He’s gonna fix it up. Maybe add a small block V-8. We’ll see. I’m heading back to Canada tomorrow. Goodbye t-shirt days in January, goodbye five dollar all-you- can eat buffets, goodbye three dollar smokes and goodbye constant, rare car sightings. Oh well, I always know that there will be future adventures in the deep south. Checking out sweet old cars for people, and telling them where they’re at. It’s always cool to have someone ask if I know of an old car they have been looking for and can’t find, and I can tell them “I can give you the phone number of a guy who’s got one of those”. It’s always very cool to have someone bring you a new project. So many possibilities with every car that rolls in…

For the Silo, Robb Price. Photos via the author. Check out Robb’s auto biz on Facebook.

Transportation

Digital Blessings For Auto Restoration And Repair

January 13, 2018 The Silo 1 Comment

One of the biggest influences that the internet and social media has on the automotive industry is the now ease of finding hard-to-find parts and procedures. Go on Google, type in your year, make, and model, followed by the part or procedure you are looking for, and in the results you are bound to find (at the very least) a forum, web group, or page dedicated to your vehicle specifically. What this means to you is that now you can discuss (with others who love the same vehicle as you) parts, repair procedures, styling, or just why you love your vehicle so much! What this also means is that you now can draw from a vast pool of knowledge from others who share your same interest.

So be it a complicated repair or common problem, you can usually chat with someone who has already been there and done that. (a majority of the time) and a lot of the forums usually have step by step procedures with pictures. This came in handy for me last month when a certain silver Smart car I know had starting issues. The first problem? Where is the starter? This may sound dumb but, Look under the bonnet (hood under the trunk) and you tell me where the starter is. I would bet 5 bucks that you could not, even from underneath. Unless, you have messed with one, prior. The next Issue, where the heck is this starter supposed to fit out? Lastly, How do you even get to the bolts that hold it in?

Luckily for me, there are many Smart car pages based out of the U.K. and one really good one I found, had many members who were very knowledgeable in this topic, this page also had step by step detailed instructions along with very clear pictures. This is substantial considering that one cannot even get a repair manual for these cars, almost nobody has parts listings OR interchanges for any of these cars with a model year prior to 2008 (this car being a 2006). Who knew that to change this starter there was insane procedure including dropping the engine and removing the intercooler system. A bunch of people on this page had already been through this and had come up with a very efficient shortcut. This saved me hours of time. All this from a free membership. Here are a few Facebook pages that I follow:

“Restoring Old Cars” – a lot of classic car posts, “Lifted Trucks USA”- lots of pics of lifted trucks lol, “Chevy Chevelle”- Lots of Chevelle pics, ”Chevy Militia”- jacked up Chevy truck pics, and my two favorite ones “Bow-tie Society”- for everything Chevrolet, also where Ford and Dodge Trollers come to get put back in their respective places. And “Black Crow Car Education System” –this guy posts all kinds of cool classic auto industry pics, vintage, and artistic mechanical pics. All of these pages are very cool. Check em out by searching them on Facebook. Till next time. For the Silo, Robb Price, WC Kustoms.

Fashion, Transportation

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Berlinetta Wins Best Of Chantilly Show

September 6, 2016 The Silo Leave a comment

The first two Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, which enjoyed ever-increasing success, placed the event among the benchmark international Concours d’Elégance, and the third show consolidated the same trend. It was organized on Sunday 4th September and confirmed its status as the elegant rendezvous of the early autumn attracting some 13,500 visitors to the Chantilly domain, a stable figure compared to 2015. The number would certainly have been higher if the weather – cloudy skies and light rain in the morning – had been as clement as in previous years.

There were eight concept cars in the running for the Concours d’Elégance entered by Aston Martin, BMW, Bugatti, DS Automobiles, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, an increase in the number of car manufacturers associated this year with six Fashion Houses: Balmain, Eymeric François, Giorgio Armani, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jorgen Simonsen and Timothy Everest. Four prizes were awarded for the Concours d’Elégance. The Best of Show award went to DS E-TENSE combined with a creation by Eymeric François. The ‘Prix Public’ crowned the Mercedes-Maybach 6 Vision associated with a dress created by Jean-Paul Gaultier. The prize for the motor car and fashion combination for the most beautiful ensemble went to the 570GT by McLaren Special Operations with a model also dressed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. And a special prize was awarded to the new ‘atelier’ motorbike by Zagato, the work of the master coachbuilder from Milan for the Italian manufacturer MV Augusta, which was given its world premier at Chantilly.

The Concours d’Etat attracted around one hundred exceptional cars from all over the world divided into 21 classes. The jury awarded the Best of Show to the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Berlinetta with coachwork by Touring belonging to American collector, John Shirley, entered in the class Pre-war beginnings of aerodynamics – Closed road-going cars.

Jean Todt, the president of the FIA (Fédération Interationale de l’Automobile) also awarded several prizes including the one for the class devoted to him in homage to Fifty years of an exceptional career. In it were several cars which he had guided to victory as a co-driver as well as competitions manager at Peugeot and then Ferrari. So he was delighted to award the prize to the Peugeot 504 Rally Group 4 and to Jean Guichet, his driver at the time: they won the 1979 Argentinean rally in this car.

Forty clubs made the trip to Chantilly bringing 800 cars that were on show in the domain. They were an integral part of the event and made a large contribution to the success of the big garden party to which the public was invited.

Overall, the fans of motor cars, all generations combined, as well as families were attracted by the programing of the third staging of Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, which celebrated the art de vivre and know-how à la française with several workshops and activities in the Chantilly domain.

The Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, awarded the prize for the Motoring Event of the Year by British magazine Octane in 2014 and 2015 and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Communications in 2014 and 2015, has definitely found its place among the worldwide exceptional rendezvous devoted to the motor car, especially as it has revived con brio the great tradition of the Concours d’Elégance of the 1920s of which France was the cradle.

Patrick Peter (Organizer): “We brought to the third event all the experience we acquired in the two previous ones, as well as some innovations starting with the Supercar Rally on Saturday morning organized in the Chantilly region in which some twenty cars, hardly ever seen on the road, attracted a large crowd of spectators along the route. It’s an important link that we want to establish and develop with manufacturers of exceptional cars, which I hope to see more of at our event in 2017. Thanks to the awards given to the first two, our concours is now acknowledged as one of the best and most beautiful in the world. This is an important factor in the eyes of the manufacturers. We also have to attract a bigger crowd to reach a figure of 20 000 or 25 000 spectators in the next few years. It took several Le Mans Classics to achieve this number. Thus, I feel confident about the future of Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille.”

Supplemental- John Malkovich takes part in the celebrations.

Wash and wax

Car cover

Oil change

Fuel tank

Radiator

Battery

Parking brake

Tire care

Repel rodents

Maintain insurance

Relax, rest, and be patient

A Standard V-8 for Every Cadillac

V-8 Bronco Raptor/ Ford GT

V-8 Prowler

Honda Motors in a Modern Lotus

A Straight-Six SLK

SHO-inental, If Only

Citroën DS

The Sky Shoulda Been the Limit

Take this 2005 Porsche Carrera GT for example:

Highlights of this supercar include:

Chassis No. WP0CA29875L001120

Porsche’s engineers were fervently engaged in another ambitious project—the Carrera GT prototype, internally referred to as SCM (Super Car Millennium).

Starting in the early twentieth century, the big Detroit automakers south of the border built factories in Canada to sell to Canadians, rather than ship U.S.-built vehicles north.

1960 Frontenac

1948–52 Mercury M-Series Pickups

1968–69 Beaumont

Of all the special Canadian market versions of Big Three vehicles, General Motors’ Acadian and Beaumont lines were arguably the most distinctive.

1974–75 Bricklin SV-1

By its looks, one might think that SV-1 stands for “Sports Velocity-1” or something wild like that, but it actually stands for “Safety Vehicle”.

1974-75 Bricklin SV-1, condition #2 (“excellent”) values

Canada’s sports car has never been particularly expensive, but some strong sales for clean cars have seen prices surge surprisingly to a current median condition #2 value of $38,000 (CAD 51,900).

Fiat 500 Abarth

MazdaSpeed3

C5 Corvette

2003-08 BMW Z4

2005-2014 Ford Mustang

Porsche 928 GT

Shelby Daytona Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette

Jaguar XKE

Jaguar XK-120

1963 Riviera

Lamborghini Countach

Toyota Previa

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

MG TF

1961–63 Ford Thunderbird

Third-Generation Pontiac Firebird

Aston Martin Project Vantage

1958 Chevrolet Impala

GMC Motorhome

Ferrari 250 GTO

Fiat 500

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic

2003–08 Mazda Mazda6

1956–57 Continental Mark II

1984–86 Pontiac Fiero

Flintstones Car

Extra Facts

As an extreme car enthusiast, all I can say is that it is unreal.

These very rare cars in abundance on this property.

I couldn’t believe it when I got there and I don’t think too many people can say that they’ve seen nineteen 1957 Chevys all in one spot. It was incredible.

Canada's 'biggest little blogspace'