JANUARY 7 STAR OF THE WEEK: A 1970 AMC REBEL MACHINE-A BIG PUNCH ON A SMALL BUDGET
JANUARY 7 STAR OF THE WEEK: A 1970 AMC REBEL MACHINE-A BIG PUNCH ON A SMALL BUDGET
The Rebel Machine was the AMC answer to the growing muscle battle that peaked in 1970. They didn't have a big budget but they did have creativity-this red, white and blue Rebel packed a hi-po 390 cubic inch motor under the hood.
American Motors slugged it out with the Big 3 on a limited budget and built this automotive legacy behind for the ages.
That history is enough to make this a Star of the Week but this picture from the fall of 2011 sealed the deal-it's one of those "wish I'd taken that shot" moments...
The Fox body Mustang was Ford's response to the question- how can you get any kind of performance in the 1980s?
This was the perfect setup- a lightweight body that was rigid enough to handle a jump in horsepower without doing a preztel routine at the starting line.
The 302 motor was the key-cheap with a fair amount of bolt-on power.
This Fox body was at a show a few years ago doing what these Stangs do best...lighting them up in a solid hazer.
A Star of the Day hazer.
Most people have ridden in today's Star of the Day.
The 30 foot GMC bus was a staple of the smaller routes in most cities so if your car wouldn't start, or you were simply too young to drive...you rode this mass transit vehicle.
This one is in private hands now-a bus driver owns it and he loves to bring the GMC to shows, so the concept of "busman's holiday" is ironically accurate in this case. It was showcased in a 2009 mscc article.
This design was around for a long time so this GMC bus may be the most recognizable ride ever featured as Star of the Day.
JANUARY 4 STAR OF THE DAY: BORN TO BE WILD- A VETTE OVER 40 YEARS LATER
Every now and then you'll hear a guy at a car show say something like " sure they look good but I need something that can keep up on the highway".
Despite the obvious lack of insight behind a statement like that-clearly no real car guys think thay way...evidence to the contrary is always there.
Here's an example from last summer- a Vette that was built during the Nixon years.
This baby had no trouble making highway speed.
There's no need to post the estimated speed but suffice to say this car was born to be wild-and 4 decades later it still is...
Here's to an old ride-and Star of the Day that can still "keep up with traffic".
JANUARY 3 STAR OF THE DAY:1959 MERCURY METEOR CONVERTIBLE-THIS IS A PERFECT DAY
This Star of the Day defines what the hobby is all about-a classic summer day, green grass, blue skies and one of the most memorable convertibles ever built in Canada.
Isn't this the kind of day car guys dream about in January?
This old car hobby is an enigmatic world...steeped in the past yet looking forward to future shows with classic Fords and perfect summer days.
JANUARY 2 STAR OF THE DAY:1962 CHRYSLER ENFORCER HIGHWAY PATROL CAR-TRUTH IN ADVERTISING
This picture was taken in 2007 but imagine the same scene in 1962 and you're behind the wheel of your Ford Falcon station wagon doing twenty five over the posted speed.
The kids are whining. the wife won't shut up and the only cure is making the trip a lot shorter-then you see this black and white Chrysler on the side of the road.
They called the 62 Chrysler the "plucked chicken" after they dumped the fins but this one is officially called the Enforcer package.
That's truth in advertising and if there's any doubt try outrunning this beefed up, heavy duty handling package equipped 383 brute with in your Falcon wagon.
That's when you find out why they call this Star of the Day The Enforcer...
2012 is brand new today but like every day at mscc, the focus is on the automotive past.
This 1961 Chevy Impala 4 door sedan is a great way to start the New Year's Star of the Day.
The 61 Chevrolet has been inexplicably ignored until recently despite the fact that this car defined the new direction of 1960s automotive styling.
Chevy's design clearly stated "we have left the 1950s behind" but it never gained any traction with car guys until the last decade.
This example is a four door and that too, is rare, but this Impala was spared a future as a mere donor by a committed owner-the story will be in a 2012 mscc feature so stay tuned...
For now this 61 Impala is the first mscc Star of the Day in 2012.
For a link to 2011 Stars of the Day please click on this link-http://www.mystarcollectorcar.com/2-features/star-car-tunes/1375-december-26-star-of-the-week-1975-ford-ltd-brougham-2-door.html
