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California is considered to be the birthplace of hot rods. People were looking for cars to race across the salt flats, and many amateur mechanics looked to create streamlined vehicles for racing. They used whatever parts they could find in local junkyards. The idea was that they could build a better racer than their more affluent neighbors with sheer ingenuity.

It was important that the cars could be used both for racing and everyday driving, since very few people had more than one car. Early hot rods were created from Ford Model T and Model A roadsters. Actually, the term “hot rod” is believed to be derived from the phrase “hot roadster.” Model Ts and As were plentiful, cheap and easy to modify for racing. The absence of a top made these cars lighter than most, though sedans and coupes were soon used for racing. These would often be prepared for racing by removing the tops and giving the windshield a backwards slope to make them lighter and more aerodynamic.

The tires were usually replaced, with very large rear tires to raise the gear ratio. Small front tires were used in combination with the large rear tires in order to “rake,” or slope, the car forward. This further decreased wind resistance. Slots were cut into the body of the car to help keep the engine cool. These backyard enthusiasts made every effort to create the fastest car in the region.

After WWII, the American public became enthralled with hot rods. Many early enthusiasts came back from military service with mechanical and metalworking skills, and they were ready to put those skills into their cars. They gathered once again in southern California’s dry region and continued customizing cars and racing.

As street racing rose in popularity, so did the dangers associated with it. All across the country, kids were racing their hot rods, sometimes with fatal consequences. From cruising the streets at night to gathering at local hot spots, the youth of America became obsessed with street racing. Eventually, the American public at large looked upon hot rodding as a dangerous and delinquent pastime which, along with rock and roll, was rotting the youth of the country.

To offset this perception, the first Hot Rod Exhibition was held in Los Angeles in 1948. The exhibition emphasized the positive aspects of hot rods, such as craftsmanship and ingenuity. Hot rod associations were formed in order to develop cooperation between enthusiasts and the police, giving the entire subculture a better image in the public eye.

Many people shifted the focus from creating a racing car to creating a unique and beautiful vehicle. Custom paint jobs became all the rage, while the slope of the car changed. While early builders leaned the car forward, people started to slope the cars toward the rear. The cars were built for looks rather than racing, though their engines and performance were still held in high regard.

Hot rods are still highly popular vehicles, among both younger and older generations. Their size, appearance and performance appeal to many. Amateur mechanics still park them in their garage to tear them apart, soup them up and take them to the streets. Just like in the old days, it’s about creating a better car with a little money and a lot of determination.

Glen Francis has a passion for cars especially those high performance and small production, but Hot Rods and Custom cars are his niche.
Find out about the origins of Hot Rods and how to create these timeless machines at http://www.fixinghotrods.com

Vauxhall dealers in the past have had a range of cars on their forecourts to suit even the lowest budget. The company itself, if not the dealers, has been in existence for more than one hundred and fifty years. The founder of Vauxhall Motors was Alex Wilson, the factory he opened originally manufactured pumps and engines, it wasn’t until the turn of the century, or more precisely 1903 when the company produced its first motor car. At this time the dealers were in a minority and those who wished to buy this car will have had trouble finding one.

Twenty years later the Vauxhall Motor company made a deal that would affect its dealers and customers for generations to come. Put simply, the British company was bough out by American car manufacturing giant General Motors. At this time, GM only had to spend two and a half million dollars to purchase the entire Vauxhall company, factories and dealers included. The American influence on design and manufacture meant that for almost sixty years Vauxhall cars were very similar to their American cousins. A brief interlude during the war years saw car production cease for the manufacture of the Churchill tank for the war effort.

After the war it took Vauxhall and its dealers another twenty years to achieve a revival of fortunes. Two cars, namely the Viva and Victor were instrumental in this resurgence during the late sixties. Ford has always been a major competitor for Vauxhall and the seventies were no different. While the dealers reported high sales of the Viva countrywide, the Ford Cortina was still a far more popular option of motorists. At this time it was also the case that as well as Ford being a major rival, British Leyland was considerable competition.

The mid seventies were a battlefield in the British motor market with dealers making fortunes selling a variety of models. The primary Vauxhall model of the period was the Chevette, a three door hatchback representing a new trend in the car industry for smaller family cars while the Cavalier, a saloon car produced by Vauxhall was finally beginning to compete with the dominant Cortina from Ford. By the end of the seventies the gap between Vauxhall and Ford was closing, although Ford were still the most popular car company in Britain in terms of sales by dealers.

Dealers were blessed with a complete revolution of the Vauxhall range during the eighties. Some of the cars that rolled onto the forecourts of dealers during this period are in fact still in production today, although heavily revised. The Astra was one of this new generation and continued the trend for small family cars replacing the rather tired Viva. More importantly, the eighties saw the release of the Mk 2 Cavalier, now competing against the Ford Sierra, the replacement of the Cortina. In addition, a foray into the executive saloon market was undertaken by Vauxhall with the Carlton rolling out to dealers all over the land. This car was rather successful, packing a punch in terms of technology and comfort.

More recently the nineties saw Vauxhall building upon past successes. The Astra was still the core car in the range and the most popular amongst dealers. This decade did see the release of the Corsa representing a move by all the major car companies to produce a’ supermini’ car. These two models have continued being produced going into the new century with a variety of facelifts and minor changes. Today, the cars produced by Vauxhall range from small hatchbacks to large MPV family vehicles. Ford are still their main rival and only in recent times have the Vauxhall Motor company’s dealers released figures showing that they have finally taken the mantle of Britain’s most popular car manufacturer.

Motor industry expert Thomas Pretty looks into the history of Vauxhall dealers and the cars on their forecourts. To find out more please visit http://www.dickensgroup.com/vauxhall.cfm

Even though the Porsche 64 is considered by many to be the first car produced by the company it was really only a test car and was never built as a production automobile, in fact only three were built. The 364 was built by Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche after design by Erwin Komenda, while getting its engine modeled after the VW Beetle.

The 356 was offered in the beginning as a coupe, a cabriolet, and a roadster and before being taken off the market in 1965 it underwent several modifications. The models that were the most wanted were the Super 90, the Speedster, and the 356 Carrera which often fetches over $150,000 now. The original selling price for a Porsche in the latter 1950

Throughout the 1970s, television programs (particularly hour long action/dramas) often featured heroes with enviable sports cars. Though not every car was particularly memorable or essential to the show’s personality, some television sports cars did manage to leave a lasting impression. Here are five truly unforgettable television sports cars from the 1970s:

Dan Tanna’s 1957 Thunderbird from Vega$

In the pilot for this popular seventies cop show, the show’s protagonist, Dan Tanna drove a bright yellow Corvette. Somewhere along the way the car was destroyed in the desert and Robert Urich’s character ended up with a bright red 1957 Thunderbird convertible. The T-Bird was, in essence, the co-star of Vega$. Urich commented that the sports car received more fan mail than he did. The show aired 67 episodes and through the entire production, only two of the 1957 Thunderbirds were used. The cars later appeared, painted an aquamarine hue, in the Richard Gere movie, Breathless. One cannot think of Vega$ without thinking of Tanna in his T-Bird cruising down the strip.

Jim Rockford’s Firebird Esprit from The Rockford Files

James Garner gave chase to villains in a series of gold Firebird Esprit’s during the course of The Rockford Files seven-year run. In addition to being Rockford’s most recognizable accessory, the Firebird was also a moving printing press. Always the clever detective, Rockford kept a small printing machine in the back to produce custom business cards to help him in his adventures. Over the course of the series, multiple model years of the gold Firebird Esprit were used. Despite the money problems that always seemed to evidence themselves on Rockford’s answering machine, he was able to buy new Firebirds regularly.

Joe Mannix’ custom Oldsmobile Toronado from Mannix

Though Joe Mannix began his crime-fighting career in the 1960s, the hour-long drama bearing his name survived into the 1970s. His customized 425 1966 front-wheel drive convertible Oldsmobile Toronado featured a slew of high-tech advances including a short-waver radio receiver and a hidden compartment that often housed his sidearm. The Mannix roadster wasn’t the only car used by Mike Connors during the show-in the later seasons he got behind the wheel of an assortment of vehicles-but it was certainly the most memorable ride from the series.

Columbo’s Rusty Peugeot from Columbo

One could argue whether rumpled detective Frank Columbo’s rusty old 1959 Peugeot 403 Grande Luxe Cabriolet really qualifies as a sports car. Even if it does in principle, it didn’t in terms of apparent performance. The chewed up old rust-bucket was a perfect companion to the equally disheveled detective played by Peter Falk in the popular 1970s detective series. Interestingly the Peugeot was later sold to a couple in Ohio who were located by network execs when the series was revised in the form of a few television movies in the late 1980s.

Starsky’s and Hutch’s Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch

The Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch was such a big star that its red and white paint scheme and styling actually became part of the Ford product line. Even today, S&H Torino owners gather to display their souped up Gran Torinos and to revel in memories of a popular 1970s cop show. In terms of sheer recognizability, the S&H Gran Torino is in a class of its own.

You might remember Ironsides’ ride or what Kojak tooled around in. Perhaps you can recall Quincy’s car, too. But when most people are asked to discuss cars popularized in 1970s television, odds are they will mention at least a few of the top five listed above. These cars became stars in their own right, often nearly overshadowing their human co-stars.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Take care of your unforgettable car with the car care products from http://www.shineyourcar.com

Harley Earl was an automobile design expert at Chevrolet who noticed the influx of small European sports cars into the United States after World War II. He knew there was a market for a two-seat roadster and convinced Chevrolet to introduce their own version: The Chevrolet Corvette.

In 1953, the first Corvette’s were unveiled. The cars were unique in their construction. Instead of the steel bodies common for the time, the Corvette was actually built from a much lighter material-fiberglass. This innovation, combined with its Earl-designed appearance, however, was still not enough to make the car an overnight success.

At the time, Chevrolet was known for producing inexpensive, but unexciting vehicles. The Corvette, despite its sex styling and innovative construction was “just another Chevy” at heart, and lacked the performance sports car enthusiasts craved. The original Corvettes featured a less-that-impressive V6, a two-speed automatic transmission, and a brake system taken directly from the regular Chevy line. In essence, the original Corvette was a sports car in appearance alone. Sales lagged and there was even talk of discontinuing Earl’s pet project after a few years.

Sales were simply too low. Although the fiberglass design wowed potential buyers and critics within the sports car industry and the appearance of the Corvette was beyond reproach, the car simply lacked the kind of performance those searching for a true sports car expected to find.

Then came Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Russian