Volume V, Issue 12

previously owned ‘60 Olds with a factory stick. Only recently was I able to ascertain that the tranny that came in the car was known as the M13 B-O-P HD 3 Speed (6 bolt cover). Not earth shattering news, but I can state that I have been seeking this precise ID info for years! - Care for and enjoy your ride(s)!

It looks as though the “Graying of the Hobby” is a never ending story? I keep getting more and more info on the topic. I just saw an article about the Hagerty Insurance Youth Program. Participation in it gives youth actual behind the wheel time in old rides, after attendance in a pre-drive course. The drive is in large parking lots, not on the open road. Hagerty reports (Link) the biggest need is to educate today’s youth on manual transmissions. Most have never seen or heard of one, let alone know how it works. Of course, Hagerty has a vested interest here. It is these youth who, hopefully, will become their customers in the future, as well as the owners and caretakers of our rides? With this issue we conclude our look back at the events and times that comprised the year 19 and 62. I trust you found

that exercise of interest and entertaining.? Here are a few more ‘62 facts to ponder; Cost of : Gallon of gas - 31¢ Gallon of milk - 49¢ Dozen eggs - 54¢ New home - $18,200 1st Class stamp - 4¢ Air mail stamp - 8¢ Unemployment: 6.7% Putting things in their proper perspective, the above amounts, today, would be equal to: 31¢ = $2.38 49¢ = $3.75 54¢ = $4.14 $18,200 = $136,212.30 4¢ = 31¢ 8¢ = 61¢ I have been planning to do an article on the plethora of car shows available on cable/satellite. Every month the article has been pre-empted by other topics. Not any more, as we finally get to it in this issue! You have heard me comment, many times I am sure, on my

High RPMs

GDYNets® on the Web

Find GDYNets on the web:

CCC® -THE FORUM

http://ccc.activeboard.com

Car Collector Chronicles-scribd

Saved 62 - 1962 Olds web site http://www.freewebs.com/jeandaveyaros The Gray Lady - 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville web site

SAVED 62: A website devoted to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dy-namic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobiles and its founder, Ransom Eli Olds.

THE GRAY LADY: This web-site features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and Caddy in-formation.

DAVE’S DEN: A website de-voted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive informa-tion on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmo-bile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. George Yaros.

A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2012, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 2012 Ca HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Car Collector Chronicles®

Exploring:

• Car Collecting Today

• Classic Rides

• Reports From the Field

• Oldsmobile (1897-2004)

• Cadillac (1902- )

• Allanté (1987-1993)

• Corvair (1960-1969)

IN THIS ISSUE:

High RPMs 1

GDYNets On the Web

1

Reality TV Car Shows

2

The Last Time I Saw ...

5

In the Year 19 and 62 (Ads/Events)

6

CCC® Forum EMail: OldsD88@gmail.com

It was not that long ago, it seems, that one had to undertake a search to find collector car related programming on television. Yes, there was “My Classic Car” and “Car Crazy,” but not much else. Now, such pro-gramming is hard to avoid. Is this a blessing or a bane? Let’s begin with a summary of the offerings. By no means is my listing to be considered definitive. After all, I do not get every TV channel known to mankind. I cannot afford such! In addition to the above men-tioned shows, here are some of the of the programs and channels I am aware of, in no particular order: What’s My Car Worth? (Velocity) Fast ‘N Loud (Discovery) Texas Car Wars (Discovery) Hard Parts: South Bronx (Speed) Search & Restore (Spike TV) Overhaulin' (Spike TV) Graveyard Carz (Velocity) Restoration Reunion (currently in development by Hemmings) Reality Rides (Never made it into production; on DVD) Counting Cars (History Channel) Desert Car Kings (Discovery) Chasing Classic Cars (Velocity) I must admit that I have been known to watch some of these programs. I find that I am not the only viewer who is amazed at what is presented. It is important to understand that even though we are referring here to reality television, from my perspective few of these shows depict the real collector car world. Lorraine McKiniry The bottom line is, these shows are

scripted entertain-ment, whose purpose is to make money for the producers. To that end some follow the age old formula of combining great look-ing cars with good looking women. The females do little-to-nothing in terms of hands on work. That they do not is demeaning to them. Nor does it speak too highly of the

Sarah Flatt producers’ expectations of the male viewers!

Reality TV Car Shows

Car Collector Chronicles Page 2

“[E]even though we

are referring

here to

reality

television,

from my

perspective

few of these

shows

depict the

real

collector car

world.”

Reality TV Car Shows-Cont’d. It is hard to say which show is the worst when it comes to rebuilding old rides? If I had a vote, it would be cast for “Desert Car Kings.” Buy-ing parts from them may be one thing, but buying a restored car from this outfit is an entirely different ballgame! While I cannot pinpoint the reason, I also feel that Ron, the father/owner, simply does not look trust-worthy. I particularly recall a show where they rebuilt and sold a GTO. While the purchaser drove off as happy as a lark, to me there was a real question if the car would survive the drive home. I also find it really hard to believe the amounts of money some of these folk seem to have. The most outrageous in this respect is Danny ‘The Count’ Koker of the “Counting Cars” program. He throws around dollars like they were toothpicks. After spending big bucks on a car and its restoration, he is then known not to sell the car, but keep it for him-self! Here is a guy no one ever heard of until his cameo appearances on “Pawn Stars.” Now, he goes around acting as though he is one of the monetarily elite on the Forbes 500 List! Turns out, his net worth is a mere $10 Million (Link)!

Of course, what I, and I assume you also, am interested in mainly are the cars. I had no idea Texas was such a treasure trove for old rides. If “Texas Car Wars” is to be believed, it is. They certainly have no problem finding relics and put-ting them back on the road. Of course putting

them back on the road is no indication that the car is in fact road worthy. It only means that someone let their heart rule, instead of their head, at the time of purchase. Turning to the cars, on “Fast ‘N Loud” a Woodill Wildfire (Link) was featured. I have to admit the make was unkown to me. But then, that could be because fewer than 20 were ever produced be-tween 1952 and 1956, and only 2 fac-tory built cars are believed to still exist? After acquiring this rarity, the boys pro-ceeded to resto-mod it! During their re-sto they replaced the OEM wire wheels with Dayton wire wheels, cut down the original windshield, shortened the back bumper brackets, moved the gas tank filler, recovered the nice original seats with black leather and painted the hood of the car black. The reaction from a Brit to this pretty much sums it up:

“[F]ewer than 20 were

ever

produced

between

1952 and

1956, and

only 2

factory built

cars are

believed to

still exist?

After

acquiring

this rarity,

the boys

proceeded

to resto-mod

it!”

Car Collector Chronicles Page 3

Car Collector Chronicles Page 4;;

Reality TV Car Shows - Cont’d.

This show has just been aired here in the U.K. Fast and Loud is a poor show and plays to the lowest common denominator. If this is the standard of your motoring programmes you have my sympathy. Butchering classic cars is in my opinion deviant behavour and this kind of show gives a false impression to the general public of what our hobby is all about.

This sentiment again echoes with respect to the show where Aaron and Richard pick up a rust bucket Nash Rambler wagon. They do nothing to it, other than spruce up the inte-rior, proclaim it a surf wagon, and sell it for $20K! In whose world does this happen? Let’s try and talk positive. There are what I con-sider to be some good reality TV car shows out there. First and foremost would be “Chasing Classic Cars.” Yes, the host lives in a far different world from mine. However, it seems to me that Wayne Carini pulls no punches. He does not gloss over defects and prob-lems. He enjoys what he is doing. His chief me-chanic is a “to know him is to love him” type of guy. My only question is how much does it cost to have Wayne search for a car? Do you get a discount if your search is filmed? Another show which I thought had merit was “What’s My Car Worth?”. Yes, it had the obligatory beauty in Lorraine McKiniry, but it also provided real info on car values in the form of auction results. Another plus for me was the dry sense of humor exhibited by co-host Bill Stephens. In later years the show veered too far into the entertainment realm when it went to the 3 car guys making offers on previewed cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It seemed to me the proprietor of Hyman Motors (Link) was always trying to buy at rock bottom prices? And I know for a fact that he only sells at highly inflated prices. The nature of the biz, right?

I also find the show “Hard Parts: South Bronx” to be in touch with reality. While not a restoration show, it is auto related in that it puts one behind the counter at an auto parts store. The owner, Joe Fer-rer is entertaining; all the while being his sweet lovable self! But at least, this shows deals with real people, real cars and the solutions to real car problems. That is far more than one is able to say for most of the other shows mentioned.

The bottom line however remains, TV is not the place to learn what the car collecting world is all about. Based on what I have seen on the majority of these shows, I would run as fast as I could in the other direction from anyone trying to sell me an old ride! Util-izing the info from reality television car shows, one cannot help but be left with the im-pression that all car collectors are utter fools who are filthy rich and care far more about the impression they make on others than they do about automobile iron. Does that sound like the folks you know in the hobby? I didn’t think so! Take these shows for what they are, scripted entertainment meant to satiate the masses. If you do, you will find them a bit more understandable and enjoyable.

Car Collector Chronicles Page 5;;

The Last Time I Saw . . . Oldsmobile Toronado

– Ok, I’ve had my say for the month. Now it’s your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your com-ments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be re-viewed by me. Submis-sions should be sent to C C C ® a t OldsD88@gmail.com.

Plymouth XNR –– Now that you have finished reading this month’s issue of the newsletter, come start/join an ongoing dialog with other CCC® readers and like-minded car collector folk on the CCC® Forum. Stop by, check us out and share your views … . ______________________________________ -- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE: • TBD

Car Collector Chronicles Page 6;;

In the Year 19 and 62

The World Which Greeted Saved 62 — December ‘62 December 2 – Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of President JFK, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the 1st American official to make a non-optimistic public comment on the war's progress. 1962 was the era of the TV western (Wagon Train, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and Raw-hide) and the variety show (The Red Skelton Show, The Danny Thomas Show, The Garry Moore Show, Sing Along With Mitch, The Ed Sullivan Show) Five of the top 20 shows were sitcoms (Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons, The Real McCoys and Dennis The Menace). There was just one crime drama (Perry Mason).