Articles

  • The Jalopy Dust Up – Hot Rod Dirt Track Racing

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    You don’t see this every day.  Guys racing their hot rods on a dirt track.  Where do you find such entertainment?  Why, New Zealand of course.  The Jalopy Dust Up is an annual event held at the scenic Waihi Beach dirt track.  Click through for video action of Krazy Kiwi kulture.

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  • EV Midget Build – Part 4: Rear Suspension

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    With the front suspension done, all I needed was rear suspension and I’d have a roller.  The original midgets of the late ’40s used a transverse leaf spring and either hairpins or split wishbones.  The look of the hairpins is such a classic that I decided to try to replicate that look on my midget. Click…

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  • Truck Thursday: 1980 Plymouth Arrow Sport

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    Here it is folks.  The holy grail of the D50/Mighty Max/Arrow family.  This isn’t some customized fixed up truck, it is all original.  The spoked wheels, the f*&#ing awesome decal package, the push bar, and the sunroof are all factory options.  This particular truck has less than 60,000 miles and is nearly perfectly preserved.  Good…

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  • Wagon Thursday(?): ’63 Chevy Nova Wagon

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      Yesterday, Kamil wrote an entry on this very 1963 Nova wagon.  In that entry, he wrote, “Here is the thing; I like these cars, I appreciate these cars, but I don’t know anything about these cars. Much like Harleys, I don’t have much interest in cars like this wagon which is why I don’t…

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  • Found In The Forums: Love Lost…And Found Again

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    Ever faced a repair that was going to cost more than your old beater was worth?  Hooniverse Forums user tbrand has.  In his case, it was his wife’s beater.  What was the logical thing to do?  Sell the car and put the repair money into a down-payment on a new car?  Perhaps.  However, when it…

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  • Truck Thursday: S10EV On The Cheap?

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    From 1996 to 2003, GM built an electric car called the EV1. The car was a huge hit with environmentalists.  Actor Ed Begley Jr. had one and sung its praises from the rooftops.  The electric car was finally being built by a full-scale manufacturer and times were good in EV land.  Alas, all of GM’s…

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  • Where Art Thou, Compact Pickup?

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    It has been well documented that he compact pickup truck segment is shrinking in the U.S.  There are fewer and fewer options in the segment and those that are available are getting predictably fatter.  Thirty years ago, in 1982, you could buy a thrifty Ford Courier that would carry 1,500 pounds and deliver 38 mpg.…

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  • At Least They'll Find You Handy: Homemade Tools

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    Ever felt like you wanted a nice car door dolly or planishing hammer, but you just couldn’t afford one? Ever want to build a chassis for your hot rod from scratch, but you just didn’t have a frame jig?  Well, you are in luck, there is a new online resource that will help you accomplish…

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  • The "Why Not?" EV Midget Build – Part 1

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    Why would you merge a 1979 EZ-GO electric golf cart with a late ’30s midget race car? Why wouldn’t you? Years ago, when my grandfather moved out of his big, old house, I was able to talk him into letting me drag the old midget race car out of his crawlspace and take it home. …

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  • EV Midget Build – Part 5: Metal Work

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     The midget project was beginning to take shape.  I now had a midget that could roll around the garage – and even be steered – at my whim.  It was a real gas.  But there was more work to be done.  Despite the decision to stay with a patina/rat rod look, there were a few…

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