Comments on: Ladies and gentlemen: the 1958 GM line http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 12:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611609 EH Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611609 Your PT Cruiser is waiting for you at the dealership. Your PT Cruiser is waiting for you at the dealership.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611578 Donald Petersen Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611578 Be a hot rodder.  The economy + gas prices have depressed values.  Find a straight and rust-free candidate on eBay or Craigslist or Hemmings or some such.  You won't have any luck finding the truly desirable ones (the '57 Bel Airs and '51 Mercs and '63 Impalas are long, long gone now), but as you can see, the fuddy-duddy station wagons were pretty badass as well.  Swap in an LS Chevy V8 drivetrain (including overdrive transmission) from a wrecked late-model, and surprise yourself with 25+ mpg and 300+hp.  Swap in disc brakes and radial tires and a fuel cell.  Install some seat belts.  Update the suspension.  The aftermarket is out there, and the technology is vastly improved over the original equipment.  God help ya if you get in a wreck, since crumple zones and SRS airbags aren't really an option, but otherwise you can end up with a car that's functionally equivalent to (or better than) a land barge from the Clinton Administration, with looks and style that'll be the envy of all your neighbors.  Do it right and you can end up with something that runs much cleaner as well.  I was given a 1987 Jaguar XJ6 for free once, and I swapped in a Chevy V8 and ended up with a car that made more power, weighed 200 lbs less, was much easier and cheaper to work on, got better gas mileage, was far more reliable, and met more stringent smog requirements than the original engine did. Plus, it's a whole lot of fun.  And I don't see any good reason why a clever mechanic couldn't adapt hybrid technology to an older platform as well.  How hard could it be? Be a hot rodder.  The economy + gas prices have depressed values.  Find a straight and rust-free candidate on eBay or Craigslist or Hemmings or some such.  You won’t have any luck finding the truly desirable ones (the ’57 Bel Airs and ’51 Mercs and ’63 Impalas are long, long gone now), but as you can see, the fuddy-duddy station wagons were pretty badass as well.  Swap in an LS Chevy V8 drivetrain (including overdrive transmission) from a wrecked late-model, and surprise yourself with 25+ mpg and 300+hp.  Swap in disc brakes and radial tires and a fuel cell.  Install some seat belts.  Update the suspension.  The aftermarket is out there, and the technology is vastly improved over the original equipment.  God help ya if you get in a wreck, since crumple zones and SRS airbags aren’t really an option, but otherwise you can end up with a car that’s functionally equivalent to (or better than) a land barge from the Clinton Administration, with looks and style that’ll be the envy of all your neighbors.  Do it right and you can end up with something that runs much cleaner as well.  I was given a 1987 Jaguar XJ6 for free once, and I swapped in a Chevy V8 and ended up with a car that made more power, weighed 200 lbs less, was much easier and cheaper to work on, got better gas mileage, was far more reliable, and met more stringent smog requirements than the original engine did.

Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun.  And I don’t see any good reason why a clever mechanic couldn’t adapt hybrid technology to an older platform as well.  How hard could it be?

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611432 Paul Renault Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611432 This would be a good time to plug a friend: Ray Bonneville - Roll It Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu9EkMpMbM4 /Yep, he used to own a Bonneville. This would be a good time to plug a friend:
Ray Bonneville – Roll It Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu9EkMpMbM4

/Yep, he used to own a Bonneville.

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611431 Halloween_Jack Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611431 Didn't I see that Chieftain Convertible on Tattooine?  Didn’t I see that Chieftain Convertible on Tattooine? 

]]> By: crummett http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611361 crummett Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611361 My inner 5-year-old is jumping up and down, squealing with delight! Maybe Santa will bring me a toy Chieftain Safari! In red! Baby! My inner 5-year-old is jumping up and down, squealing with delight! Maybe Santa will bring me a toy Chieftain Safari! In red! Baby!

]]> By: Thomas Shellock http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611293 Thomas Shellock Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611293 Quiver indeed! That less than subliminal body side arrow has got you by the tail. Quiver indeed! That less than subliminal body side arrow has got you by the tail.

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611144 SedanChair Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611144 Think of it, from 1954 to 1964 GM cars looked <i>radically</i> different every year. The fin craze reached its peak in the <a href="http://i.imgur.com/DuiHN.jpg" rel="nofollow">'59 Chevy</a>. (also these cars are all <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ptUrQOMPs" rel="nofollow">deathtraps</a>) Think of it, from 1954 to 1964 GM cars looked radically different every year. The fin craze reached its peak in the ’59 Chevy.

(also these cars are all deathtraps)

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611098 Boundegar Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611098 Screw the polar bears, I want one! Screw the polar bears, I want one!

]]> By: johndavidstutts http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611065 johndavidstutts Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611065 Lotsa room to lose your virginity in those Lotsa room to lose your virginity in those

]]> By: aliktren http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611047 aliktren Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611047 I never really understand why they cant be remade with modern materials and systems, because they just look so flippin awesome, surely people would still buy them I never really understand why they cant be remade with modern materials and systems, because they just look so flippin awesome, surely people would still buy them

]]> By: Bob LeDrew http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611042 Bob LeDrew Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611042 In the immortal words of Fred J. Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVl0mIMti9w In the immortal words of Fred J. Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVl0mIMti9w

]]> By: Nash Rambler http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611035 Nash Rambler Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611035 Oh man, I know they are screaming metal death traps, but death never looked so good!  The lines on that Catalina Coupe!  Ach!  *lower lip quivers* Oh man, I know they are screaming metal death traps, but death never looked so good!  The lines on that Catalina Coupe!  Ach!  *lower lip quivers*

]]> By: SmokingHeartDesigns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/18/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-1958.html#comment-1611005 SmokingHeartDesigns Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201158#comment-1611005 Old cars are great.  I have a bunch of old brochures but they don't seem to get the price I was fantasizing about. Old cars are great.  I have a bunch of old brochures but they don’t seem to get the price I was fantasizing about.

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