FEBRUARY 17 STAR OF THE WEEK: 1968 TORINO GT CONVERTIBLE INDY PACE CAR, DESERTED BACK ROAD

FEBRUARY 17 STAR OF THE WEEK: 1968 TORINO GT CONVERTIBLE INDY PACE CAR, DESERTED BACK ROAD

The 1968 Ford Torino GT was chosen as the official pace car for the Indianapolis 500 that year so it led some high powered cars on the track.

Ford pumped out 3 cars for the actual job at Indy plus they built  a few thousand tribute cars to celebrate the coveted pace car honors in 1968.

Add over 40 years to the equation and the odds of seeing a mint 1968 Torino GT Indy 500 pace car convertible on a deserted secondary highway in 2012 were pretty slim.

That's what happened last when this Star of the Week showed up on a highway 50 miles from nowhere on a June afternoon last year.

That's the secret of the car hobby...the unexpected, yet pleasant surprise factor.

Take a look at a November 2010 MSCC story about one of these unique Torinos.

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FEBRUARY 10 STAR OF THE WEEK: AN OLD FORD FARM TRUCK SUMS UP ALBERTA

FEBRUARY 10 STAR OF THE WEEK: AN OLD FORD FARM TRUCK SUMS UP ALBERTA

Regular readers of MSCC know that many Stars of the Week are in less than pristine condition.

There are many reasons for this but the biggest factor is the built-in character found in a vehicle that's clearly on the back nine of its life history.

That's never more evident than in a scene like this.

This old Ford was a working vehicle on a farm in central Alberta Canada.

Alberta is an area that was built on determination, long days and hard work so trucks like this Ford probably spent every day of its life under load.

Loads like livestock, grain, farm supplies and manure...probably all in one day.

When the time comes for trucks like this to quit working, it's a brief retirement ceremony. The old Ford is either towed or driven to this 2nd last resting place with an incredible Alberta landscape as a backdrop.

The last resting place isn't quite as beautiful. It comes after an auction at the farm when this old Star of the Day gets loaded up for scrap metal.

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FEBRUARY 2013 STARS OF THE SHOW-ON WITH THE SHOW THIS IS IT

There isn't a kid in North America who doesn't remember the Bugs Bunny Show on TV.

He opened the show with his pals marching across the stage singing "On with the show this is it".

Bugs, Daffy, Foghorn, Porky and the rest of these cartoon legends had it right.

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FEBRUARY 2013 STARS IN TRAFFIC- THE WINTER GETS A LITTLE LONG BY NOW

The winter season is most productive part of the year for car guys because their rides are in hibernation mode.

This means upgrades, refinements and new projects are possible when the old iron is stationary.

That's great because the old rides often need a fair amount of attention and the truth is...nothing is ever really finished in old car world.

Read more: FEBRUARY 2013 STARS IN TRAFFIC- THE WINTER GETS A LITTLE LONG BY NOW