Sunday, January 29, 2006
The Met Set> in Motor Trend Classic Magazine!
Our DVD has earned a spot in another premiere classic car magazine!
The January/February 2006 issue of Motor Trend Classic, now on newsstands, features The Met Set DVD in its Classic Style section on page 23.
Wondering what all the coverage is about? Pick up a copy, and find out!
posted by Todd on 1/29/2006 03:20:00 PM
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Charles Nash's b-day!
As Nash fan Don Loper says, "Get out, and polish your Nash nameplates today!"
On this day in 1864, Charles Nash was born.
(Thanks, Don Loper and Jim Bracewell of the Nash Car Club of America.)
posted by Todd on 1/28/2006 12:02:00 PM
Saturday, January 21, 2006
AMC Pacer in ConocoPhillips TV commercial
AMC fans: watch for a new ConocoPhillips TV spot featuring a rundown-then-restored Pacer.
I wanted to bring this commercial to you and to Jeni Panhorst, who runs the excellent AMC Pacer web site.
But Terry Hunt, Director of Brand Management and Advertising, told me this:
Thank you for your interest our spot titled "1975". Unfortunately we will not be able to release this spot to you, as we do not have the rights to air the spot on the internet other than for our own advertising purposes. Even if we did have the rights, there are actors in the spot who would need to be paid additional talent and residual costs.
If you'd like to see the spot, shout it out loud by emailing him. Maybe there's a compromise they could work out. For instance, they could provide a streaming copy of it on their own web site. Just an idea, ConocoPhillips.
posted by Todd on 1/21/2006 06:14:00 PM
Corvair discussion continues!
I may have touched a small (very small) nerve with my claim that the Corvair is not an orphan.
Tom Markielewski of Oakfield, Wisconsin, writes:
I have just been pouring over the February 1987 issue of Collectible Automobile Magazine, one of the few out there which is scrupulously fair to all marques. There is an excellent article on pages 22-48 by Chris Halla on the 1960-69 CHEVROLET Corvair (caps mine).
Absolutely no mention in the very thorough article at all about it being a "companion marque" to Chevrolet (the recent Geo probably comes closer to filling that role), in the same way that Pontiac was to Oakland, Viking was to Oldsmobile, and LaSalle was to Cadillac; all of which never bore their respective parents' marques on the exterior (or if they did, it was very subdued).
There are Bowties splashed all over every Corvair ever made. And I am sure they were titled as Chevrolets, not Corvairs. Pages 45 thru 48 show that GM was contemplating making Buick, Olds and Pontiac versions, the Olds to revive the "Sixty-Six" designation and the Pontiac, the most developed of the three, to be called "Polaris."
I hope this serves to put to rest the idea that the Corvair is an orphan.
What do YOU think?
posted by Todd on 1/21/2006 05:23:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
More on the Corvair
After my Corvair rant, I heard back from Daniel Strohl of Hemmings Classic Car. Here's what he had to say:
As for your post about the Corvair, consider that early in that car's life, GM did market it as a separate marque under Chevrolet's domain, kinda like the companion cars that were all the craze in the late 20s, early 30s. By the mid-60s, it became commonplace for marques to offer several different lines, thus the Corvair became a Chevrolet wholesale. Not sure whether to call it an orphan still, but that thar's some sort of explanation.
Anyone have an opinion on this? I look forward to hearing from you.
posted by Todd on 1/17/2006 05:49:00 PM
Monday, January 09, 2006
The Met Set DVD featured in Hemmings Classic Car Magazine!
Well, you can't win 'em all.
The February 2006 issue of Hemmings Classic Car features a review of The Met Set DVD on page 72, and I don't think we fared so well.
But I'm confused. Writer Jim Donnelly questioned the pricing of the DVD. Fair enough. But he also mentions all of the interviews that we shot for this product as well as "period marketing and advertising materials" and "a slew of factoids that would make great trivia questions at your local cruise night..."
He felt that Met fans would "doubtless enjoy it", but he gave it only two stars. Wha?
What do you Met Set customers think? Did he get it right? If so, we at Torq-O would love to hear from you! Feel free to email me and give me a computer screen-ful!
If you think we got it right, please tell Jim or his boss Editor-In-Chief Richard Lentinello. After all, it's always your call!
posted by Todd on 1/09/2006 06:58:00 PM
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Corvairs aren't orphans!
At Torq-O we encourage diversity and inclusion. After all, there are relatively few surviving examples within any particular marque (except perhaps for Plymouth and Oldsmobile). So any orphan we can include makes for a lively, robust hobby.
But you also gotta live by a code.
One of our strict rules for inclusion in the world of orphan cars is that the only cars that qualify are those whose marques or manufacturers no longer exists.
I'm sorry, but Corvair does not qualify. Every Corvair had Chevrolet script and emblems riveted into its trunk lid and elsewhere.
So I'm mystified about why orphan car shows like the Ypsilanti show and Sweethearts and Orphans allow these vehicles to park on their fields.
Until GM goes belly up (and let's pray that doesn't happen soon), or Chevrolet joins Oldsmobile, the Corvair is not an orphan!!
What do you think? I'd love to hear from you.
posted by Todd on 1/07/2006 06:22:00 PM
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Sweethearts and Orphans VII
The best orphan car show in the dead of winter is right around the corner.
The seventh annual Sweethearts and Orphans meet is coming to Waxahachie, Texas, February 17-19, 2006.
The North Texas Chapter of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club is organizing this meet. As always, the show is a non-judging event. So get those orphans and Corvairs off their blocks and out of the garage!
Here's the registration form.
Got questions? John Clement has answers!
posted by Todd on 1/05/2006 05:57:00 PM
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