all about car

restoration of a 1930's Texaco in Decatur Il

There are several pages that show how this neglected service station was brought from the edge of abandoned neglect to primo condition in every way, but there is a terrific slide show at http://www.decaturtexaco.com/the-transformation.html that you just push the forward button to see all sides and interior areas compared in a before and after. http://www.decaturtexaco.com/the-transformation.html

The forest green roof and white color scheme is period perfect, researched by Nims and corroborated by ancient paint chips uncovered during the restoration. The cute colored advertising globe lights on little parapets adorning the roof have been put back in place, and a stained glass light-up Texaco star over the entrance shines out proudly after it was fabricated to match a missing original.

The big Texaco hanging sign crowning the forecourt is an original that Nims hunted up online, and the 14-foot fluted metal pole it hangs from were commissioned for the purpose. Matching 10-foot light poles � two at the front, two at the back � of the 80-foot-long forecourt were another re-created touch.

The 1,200-square-foot-building features work bays at the east and west ends with a little office in the middle flanked by a bathroom small enough to fit comfortably inside a Toyota Prius; hard-working auto service guys in the 1930s clearly weren�t meant to park themselves in the restrooms for extended periods. The work areas are lit by 6-by-6-foot windows that let vast quantities of daylight drive through the interior.

�There are over 300 panes of glass in this building, I do know that,� says Nims, 62. �I had to replace them all.�

Info and star photo from a big article on http://herald-review.com/news/local/effort-to-restore-a-s-gas-station-adds-fuel-to/article_b1b0cab2-1c39-11e2-87e4-001a4bcf887a.html

the University of Pittsburgh was racing a 69 Camaro... some cool cars were used by some unusual organizations

The craziest is still the EPA owning a Super Bird to check emissions and brake dust on jet planes http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-epa-bought-superbird-and-it-sold-at.html

Found on https://www.facebook.com/groups/505973489414476/?fref=nf

Elvis had a 1971 Stutz Blackhawk that is going to auction for the 1st time.

http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/elvis-presley-items-up-for-auction#slide=9

in addition to the Blackhawk, the collection of Elvis cars includes
a 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood � the famous Pink Cadillac �
a black 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom,
a white 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud,
a 1975 Ferrari Dino,
a 1956 Continental Mark II,
a 1969 Mercedes-Benz Pullman Limousine and a 1962 Lincoln Continental.

Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills May 16 "Music Icons" auction will also be where the tour bus Elvis bought will find a new owner
http://news.yahoo.com/elvis-presley-auction-offer-tour-bus-stutz-blackhawk-160049385.html

The Stutz Blackhawk started life in the United States as a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, chosen for the GP's engine placement far back on the frame. It was then shipped to Italy to be converted. Only the engine and transmission were kept as the body was stripped away and a new body and coach work added - by hand - not machine, to transform the car into a Stutz Blackhawk.

The interior of the Stutz was very luxurious. The floor coverings were made of Australian lambs wool. Twenty four karat gold plates the bezels and moldings. Only the finest European leather covered the seats, and was used on the dash. The dash also consisted of beautiful English burl. The Stutz went through a six week long process with twenty-two coats of individually hand rubbed lacquer paint.

This second Stutz Blackhawk prototype was flown to the United States to demonstrate and display at car shows from which custom orders could be placed for cars to be made. That is until Elvis Presley decided he wanted the car.

Elvis then immediately turned the car over to George Barris to further customize it. Elvis had for many years, had several motor vehicles designed and coach built by his friend, 'The King of Customizers' George Barris.

Elvis purchased his second Blackhawk, this time a production model on September 8, 1971. This car was delivered to Elvis on September 9, 1971. The 1971 models were all two seater's with a small jump seat in the back that folded down to accept matching luggage. This 1971 model used a two piece split windshield.

Other famous owners including Sammy Davis Jr., Evel Knievel, Robert Goulet, Larry Holmes, Wille Nelson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Wilson Pickett, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Al Pacino, Frank Sinatra, Joseph Denney and Wayne Newton.

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis_presleys_stutz_blackhawks.shtml

ostrich racing carts and around the farm ostrich wagons

Full gallery about an LA ostrich farm in 1900 at

the English steam locomotive that got revenge and killed the German fighter pilot that shot it

On the morning of 27 November 1942 Charles Gilbert in Tank Engine No.2365 was travelling towards Lydd at a sedate pace of 25mph when Heinz Bierwirth banked his aircraft and dived towards it.

Shells and bullets poured into the engine, steam shot into the footplate area, badly scalding the fireman. The pressure blew the locomotive boiler apart, it tore away the chimney, dome and safety valves.

A cannon shell from the �plane burst the D3�s boiler just at the precise moment the boiler exploded Heinz Bierman�s aircraft was passing overhead 20 feet above. The plane crashed, the pilot was killed whilst the train and driver survived! The explosion was so powerful the dome landed in a field 100 metres away and a portion of the top rim of the chimney almost a quarter of a mile.

Tank Engine No.2365 got it�s revenge on the Focke Wulf for the terrible damage it had suffered.

The dome landed in a field 100 metres away. it propelled a portion of the top rim of the chimney almost a quarter of a mile.

An eyewitness saw the pilot, still in his seat, fall into a nearby field. Heinz Bierwirth was buried with military honours at Hawkinge Cemetery A local newspaper reported that it was the New Romney line�s most famous day when a train brought down an enemy fighter!

Found on http://ryesown.co.uk/german-bomber/