07/31/09: Hot-Rods as far as you can see
Those of us auto enthusiasts lucky enough to live in California usually don
07/28/09: Mary Jane
A couple of days ago in this blog I asked if your car had a history. The story that goes along with your ride is often only something you tell your friends or the occasional bystander. I believe these stories are a key component to the richness of the car hobby.
This is a small part of an Auto Appraisal Network customer, Willie Taitano's story about "Mary-Jane".
This 1961 Cadillac series Sixty-Two Coupe has been named "Mary-Jane". She was purchased just over five years ago by Willie Taitano of Willie's Place, a well know hot-rod shop in San Jose, Ca. The car has become a San Jose Ca.
area icon; this is part of her story.
Willie purchased this 1961 Cadillac Sixty-Two Coupe in October of 2003 from her previous owner in Las Vegas NV. The previous owner acquired her as payment for a gambling debt many years ago. "Mary-Jane" then spent nearly twenty years stored in a garage.
During "Mary-Jane's" maiden voyage from Las Vegas to Campbell, Ca. her original engine expired less than 200 miles from Las Vegas, making towing necessary to complete the trip.
Over the next five years "Mary-Jane" has been re-painted three times, her suspension and powertrain have been extensively upgraded and been she's been re-upholstered once. "Mary-Jane" continues to be upgraded and Willie drives her regularly.
Willie has added features such as a 1971 Cadillac 472 cu.in. engine, Cadillac Turbo 400 automatic transmission, custom 3" lowered front coil springs, a traditional custom tuck and roll upholstered interior by Premier Auto Tops & Interiors Santa Clara, Ca. and a modern state of the art CD stereo system.
"Mary-Jane" is a multi-time award winning '61 Cadillac Custom that Willie fabricated using a mix of genuine vintage and many of the finest modern components available. "Mary-Jane" has been built to achieve the "Old School Custom" look.
This is a small part of an Auto Appraisal Network customer, Willie Taitano's story about "Mary-Jane".
This 1961 Cadillac series Sixty-Two Coupe has been named "Mary-Jane". She was purchased just over five years ago by Willie Taitano of Willie's Place, a well know hot-rod shop in San Jose, Ca. The car has become a San Jose Ca.
area icon; this is part of her story.
Willie purchased this 1961 Cadillac Sixty-Two Coupe in October of 2003 from her previous owner in Las Vegas NV. The previous owner acquired her as payment for a gambling debt many years ago. "Mary-Jane" then spent nearly twenty years stored in a garage.
During "Mary-Jane's" maiden voyage from Las Vegas to Campbell, Ca. her original engine expired less than 200 miles from Las Vegas, making towing necessary to complete the trip.
Over the next five years "Mary-Jane" has been re-painted three times, her suspension and powertrain have been extensively upgraded and been she's been re-upholstered once. "Mary-Jane" continues to be upgraded and Willie drives her regularly.
Willie has added features such as a 1971 Cadillac 472 cu.in. engine, Cadillac Turbo 400 automatic transmission, custom 3" lowered front coil springs, a traditional custom tuck and roll upholstered interior by Premier Auto Tops & Interiors Santa Clara, Ca. and a modern state of the art CD stereo system.
"Mary-Jane" is a multi-time award winning '61 Cadillac Custom that Willie fabricated using a mix of genuine vintage and many of the finest modern components available. "Mary-Jane" has been built to achieve the "Old School Custom" look.
07/28/09: I always wanted to race
I lamented to a co-worker one day about, oh; twenty-five years ago! His answer surprised me.
07/27/09: Does your car have a history? These do!
I am becoming addicted to Saturday mornings! Between 7:30 and about 10:00 some of the most interesting cars, people and stories in the area around Santa Cruz, Ca. stop by a shopping center in Capitola, Ca.
The fellow that brought the red Packard shown here just bought the car last Thursday. The car was originally white but the previous owner had it painted red and had the interior redone 10 or 15 years ago. I had a chance to speak with the new owner for a while. From our talk I learned there had been boxes of old papers with a variety of documents, receipts and other papers that detailed some of the history of the life of the Packard. Sadly when the family was cleaning up the previous owner's estate they discarded all of that material. The car survived and the new owner has part of the story but it sure would have been great to rummage through Big Red's past!
The blue 5 window coupe is sort of a Saturday regular. While chatting with another enthusiast he mentioned that this car was originally built as a hot-rod about 1957. It has survived quite un-molested since that time. It certainly has some of the trick modifications from that era. The chopped radiator shell, the custom front "nerf" bar and the cycle fenders on the front were "gotta have" features in those days.
I've heard some great car stories from some interesting folks on my Saturday trips!
The fellow that brought the red Packard shown here just bought the car last Thursday. The car was originally white but the previous owner had it painted red and had the interior redone 10 or 15 years ago. I had a chance to speak with the new owner for a while. From our talk I learned there had been boxes of old papers with a variety of documents, receipts and other papers that detailed some of the history of the life of the Packard. Sadly when the family was cleaning up the previous owner's estate they discarded all of that material. The car survived and the new owner has part of the story but it sure would have been great to rummage through Big Red's past!
The blue 5 window coupe is sort of a Saturday regular. While chatting with another enthusiast he mentioned that this car was originally built as a hot-rod about 1957. It has survived quite un-molested since that time. It certainly has some of the trick modifications from that era. The chopped radiator shell, the custom front "nerf" bar and the cycle fenders on the front were "gotta have" features in those days.
I've heard some great car stories from some interesting folks on my Saturday trips!
07/25/09: Local Color? You want it, We got it!
While at a regular weekly Saturday morning event a friend gave me a heads-up about a car show I could stop at on the way home. I was going to do some of my neglected yard-work but decided to stop in Aptos, Ca. to pay a visit to Hot Rods on the Green. In the parking lot on the way to the main lawn where the cars were gathered this car stopped me in my tracks!
It
It
07/22/09: Saturday mornings in Capitola, Ca.
A few months ago I began attending an interesting local event early that takes place early Saturday mornings in Capitola, Ca.
After two or three Saturday events I trained myself to bring my camera. I always spot a car I have never seen before. Sometimes the surprise is another example of a model I am familiar with. Often though it is a rare model sometimes a marque I
After two or three Saturday events I trained myself to bring my camera. I always spot a car I have never seen before. Sometimes the surprise is another example of a model I am familiar with. Often though it is a rare model sometimes a marque I
