MSCC MAY 4 STAR OF THE WEEK: ’71 HEMICUDA TRIBUTE – JUST CLONING AROUND
One of the biggest spikes in the last fifteen years is in the number of clone cars.
Clone cars eventually evolved to the more gentile name “tribute cars”, but basically they are less glamorous cars retro-fitted with rare options.
It’s the automotive equivalent of Cinderella at the ball.
This MSCC Star of the Week 1971 Hemicuda tribute was at a show last Thursday and it was light years beyond whatever humble version of the Barracuda it was when it came out of the factory 43 years ago.
Call it a tribute, call it a clone…ether way it’s cool.
MSCC MAY 3 STAR OF THE DAY: ’55 CROWN VICTORIA – AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF WHAT MADE THE 50S GREAT
The 1950s were a remarkable decade for many reasons.
The Space Race blasted off, the Baby Boom was in full swing and some cat named Elvis became famous.
The real story was found in the cars because this was an explosive decade for style and horsepower.
You can sum up just how spectacular the decade was in this MSCC Star of the Day ’55 Ford Crown Victoria at a show a few days ago.
MSCC MAY 2 STAR OF THE DAY: ’66 CHEVY SHORT BOX – THE BAR IS SET HIGH BY THIS BOWTIE PICKUPS
Classic trucks are like a hot internet stock right now because buyers are paying solid money for these formerly unglamorous old workhorses.
The difference between the two is pretty obvious – internet business is done in the make-believe digital world but a classic old truck is a very tangible and real investment.
This MSCC Star of the Day ’66 Chevy short box was at a show last night where it was an obvious reminder of why these trucks are so popular in the hobby.
You definitely don’t get the same buzz with a new phone app.
MSCC MAY 1 STAR OF THE DAY: THUNDERFLITE – IF YOU DIDN’T THINK BULLET-BIRDS WERE COOL ENOUGH
Ford Thunderbirds really led the styling charge in 1961 for personal luxury cars with the Bullet-bird. Bullet birds were the successor to the popular ’58-60 Square-bird era.
These new T-birds were definitely a step into the sixties because these cars were cool right from the factory.
This MSCC Star of the Day is a 1961 Thunderflite.
The Thunderflite was a styling exercise for the Bullet-bird and it proved that you could take an automotive icon to another level of cool.
MSCC APRIL 30 STAR OF THE DAY: CLASSIC OLDS – TEN YEARS AFTER
The last Oldsmobile rolled off the line on April 29, 2004 so this was the perfect day to see a classic Olds in traffic.
Oldsmobile was one of the big players we lost in the last fifteen years and the automotive world was poorer because this was a storied name.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1970 Olds Cutlass was an unexpected surprise in traffic yesterday and it was definitely a fitting celebration of Detroit history.
Cars like this remind us that Oldsmobile may be gone but it will never be forgotten.
MSCC APRIL 29 STAR OF THE DAY: THIS IS HOW TO UPGRADE MODERN TRAFFIC FLOW
Governments at all levels spend billions of tax dollars in a vain attempt to solve traffic problems.
Few of them actually work but all of them hemorrhage money faster than a slashed jugular pumps out blood.
The problem is sheer boredom because we’re awash in a sea of bland vehicles.
These two Stars of the Day in traffic two days ago show how much impact two classics like a ’57 Chevy post and a Studebaker truck can have in that same sea of bland vehicles.
Nobody cared about the long wait at the traffic light because it gave everyone a longer look at two very cool rides.
MSCC APRIL 28 STAR OF THE DAY: 1ST GEN VALIANT— WHERE THE HEMICUDA BEGAN
The Valiant was part of the compact car craze at the beginning of the 1960s.
The Corvair and the Falcon were peers of the Valiant and the Lancer was a direct relative.
Compacts were a bit of a gamble in 1960 because gas was cheap, cars were large and we were just coming off one of the most unique styling eras in the history of the North American automobile.
Sedate little compacts looked like a risk but the Beetle put a little fear in Detroit so the Big Three countered with cars like the Valiant.
The Valiant may have looked tame back in the early 1960s but these little cars begat the Barracuda and eventually the Barracuda begat the Hemicuda.
This MSCC Star of the Day 1st Gen Valiant was at a show yesterday.
They’re considerably rarer than 3rd Gen Cudas but this one pointed the way for the later glory years.
For past Stars of the Day please follow this link.
Star of the Day page sponsored by Southside Dodge.
