Detroit automakers doing well....sort of

 
The other day in the USA TODAY, a headline in the Money Section caught my eye and made me smile.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a headline in the newspaper proclaiming, “Detroit leads March auto sales.” 

As a dyed-in-the-wool domestic automaker defender – some say apologist – it gives me enormous pleasure to read the monthly sales figures out of Detroit and see that the Domestic Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler Group) are slowly but surely gaining sales and even respect.

I am a realist, however.   The improving Domestic Three automakers will never be a dominant force and become known as the BIG Three again.   Presently the best market share that GM, Ford and Chrysler Group could muster in March was 16.9 percent, 16.2 percent and 11.8 percent of U.S. sales respectively.

Back during my college days in the early 1960s, the leading auto news story was rather the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division would pursue its goal of breaking up GM because of the giant company’s overwhelming, monopolistic 60 percent vehicle share in the early 60s.  Apparently the government felt that dividing GM into two companies – one made up of Chevrolet and the other selling Pontiac, Olds, Buick and Cadillac – would give competitors Ford and Chrysler Corporation a more level playing field.

Well, as we know, the playing field got leveled all right, and it wasn’t the outcome of an antitrust suit but rather unexpected competition from imports; first from Europe, then from Asia later in the century.

It’s seems almost unimaginable when reflecting on it today that GM once briefly held over 60 percent of the U.S. market, followed by Ford’s typical 25 – 30 percent share and Chrysler’s 10 – 15 percent take.  I recall as a young man how easy it was to remember the size of each American automaker’s market share.  Take GM’s typical 50 percent figure, divide it by 2 to get Ford’s figure and divide again by 2 for Chrysler’s.

My, how times have changed.   Back in the day when the Big Three dominated, the U.S. auto-making triplets garnered almost 100 percent of the market.   Now, as sales figure from last month show, their total U.S. share amounts to a measly 44.7 percent.  My 50-25-12 sales formula of old doesn’t work any more – by a long shot.

Also showing just how different things are, Chrysler is now only a few percentage points behind Ford in market share and the Blue Oval brand is only a tick or two behind perennial sales leader GM. 

Not only did Chrysler survive the severe recession and emerge as a partner with Italy's Fiat, the company managed to revive its dated automotive lineup with a slew of freshly restyled and very successful products. None represented their efforts better than the mid-size 200, a revamp of the unloved Sebring, which was successfully introduced by rapper Eminem at the 2011 Super Bowl. 

From the sales figures, one could assume that Detroit is in one heap of trouble.  But sales share don’t tell the whole story.   A better barometer of company’s health is how profitable it is.   I’m please to report that the Domestic Three are now lean and mean money machines and the future looks pretty good indeed.

Following the hurtful economic implosion of 2008 – with GM and Chrysler emerging from bankruptcy – all of the automakers used the business meltdown to close under-used factories, shed a large number of workers and eliminate hundreds of millions of legacy costs that had been weighing them down for decades.

While the domestic automakers are only a shadow of their formal selves, they are financially healthy and record or near profits are the norm again.  Gone are costly incentives and over-production.  Now the companies wisely sell only what they build.   Too, after working hard to catch up, the quality of U.S.-made vehicles is equal to or maybe even better than those built by the foreign automakers.

The aforementioned USA TODAY article pointed out that the “Detroit automakers ruled the March sales charts, parlaying their truck and SUV expertise into solid gains while Asian rivals – except for Honda – lagged.”  I swelled with pride when I read that lead off statement.

USA TODAY’s auto writer ended his column by noting the following auto trends and I paraphrase.

- The strong uptick in pickup sales will benefit the U.S. automakers because they still dominate the full-size pickup market.   With the improving housing market resulting in more houses being built, homebuilders will be replacing pickups and that spells good news for Detroit.  It has been reported that automakers can earn up to $10,000 to $15,000 net profit on each truck sold!

- SUVs are still popular and those expensive models are cash cows for the Domestic Three as well.  GM recently freshened its three middle priced SUVs, the Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.  All three experienced robust sales increases in March.  Happily, GM will be replacing its full-size and popular Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon models later in the 2014 model year.  Ford’s Explorer had its best March since the current model was introduced in 2010.  Chrysler’s Dodge Durango/Jeep Grand Cherokee were also recently freshened and are gaining many new buyers.

- While Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia all experience either flat sales or declines, Honda managed a 9.4 percent increase in sales in March, thanks to brisk sales of its all-new Accord and CR-X and the freshened Civic.

So it is a good time to be a Detroit Three adherent.  The domestic automakers have not only dodged another economic bullet, but have emerged in pretty fine shape to face another day.  I couldn’t be happier.

  

Sports car enthusiasts are grateful that GM's bankruptcy troubles in 2009 didn't postpone too long the introduction of the 7th generation Chevy Corvette Stingray.  A huge crowd pleaser at every auto show, the Bow Tie division appears to have hit a home run and will offer a true world beater in the competitive sports car market, starting later this summer.

    

Ford weathered the Great Recession and now offers a line-up of winners including the Focus, Fusion and Explorer.  Needing a lot of work is the Blue Oval's luxury brand, the Lincoln.   Arriving now at dealerships - be it belatedly - is the all-new MKZ luxury sedan (shown).  Next up is the smartly styled MKX crossover based on the popular Ford Escape, introduced as a concept at the January Detroit auto show.  

    

Calling all Caddies (Dar on hunt for 'Stanard of the World'

 

Cadillac, on its 110th anniversary, has been selected as the featured marque of the 9th annual Concours d'Elegance of Southwest Michigan.  The Concours selection committee has created a list of desired vintage Cadillacs for the show.  Not surprisingly, the limited edition 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham - a $13,000 car when you could buy a Chevy for $2,000 - is on the list of desirable models once sold by the GM brand.

In a little more than a month, I will oversee the mailing of over 1,200 Concours invitation letters to vintage vehicle owners with addresses throughout the Midwest.  The letter, from me representing the selection committee of the Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan, will invite owners to submit a vehicle or vehicles to show in the 2013 August car show fundraiser.

In years past an average of 80 vehicles have been selected.   This year the decision has been made to increase the total by a dozen or so vehicles.  The show will remain in St. Joseph’s Lake Bluff Park.

Like past years, a featured marque has been selected.   To celebrate its 110th anniversary, the General Motors luxury brand Cadillac will be celebrated in 2013.  We will be seeking a large number of significant Cadillac models to invite to St. Joseph and participate in the noon lead-off Pass in Review event.

Cadillac has produced many fabulous automobiles over its long history.   Naturally, we have some favorites we’d like to see in the show.   On the list includes the first Cadillac, the 1903 model.  Concours narrator Ed Lucas is hopeful further locate a 1903 Ford Model A as a companion model, as they are nearly identical.

Cadillac was first with a self starter with its 1913 model – we’d like to have that car, as well as the 1915 Type 51 model that was propelled by Cadillac’s first V-8 engine.   Just about any Cadillac from the 20s or 30s will be welcome.  Whether it is a formal limousine, dual cowl phaeton, convertible Berline or sport phaeton – we won’t be fussy. 

Cadillac sold Series 452 V-16s from 1930 to 1937 and any one of them would be a great addition.  I’m a huge fan of the 1938 Sixty Special, one of renowned designer Bill Mitchell’s first effort at GM.   Cadillacs from the 1940s on the list include the 1941 model and the all-new, post-war 1948 – 49 offerings, especially the fastback coupe.

My favorite Cadillacs are from the fifties.  We’ll hope to have at the show the rare 1953 Eldorado convertible, either a 1957 or 58 Eldorado Brougham, maybe a 1957 Eldorado Biarritz or Seville or the iconic finned 1959 convertible.

Favorites from the 60s include any 1961 – 62 models, any 1965 – 66 models and the 1967 front drive Eldorado luxury coupe.  Great 1970s offerings include the 1971 Cadillac or the first smaller Cadillac, the 1975 Seville. 

Cadillac with an interesting history will also be invited.  Powerful and famous people were drawn to the “Standard of the World” mystique and bought the luxurious car.  A great looking Cadillac once owned by a celebrity will be a welcome addition.

The Concours leads off the 1:30 and 3:00 Pass in Review events with cars representing a special featured class.  This year we are seeking both horseless carriage “high wheeler” vehicles from the early days of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries for the 1:30 event and “Lady Owned Cars” at the 3:00 presentation. 

High wheelers on our list include a Holsman, Economy, International and others of that era.   Readers who have attended the Concours show may recall the wonderful 1909 Economy Touring high wheeler belonging to Brady Mann of Illinois.   If you own a high wheeler, or know of someone who does, please get in touch with me.  We hope to have a half-dozen of these interesting vehicles.

As I attend more and more car shows, I’m noticing the increasing numbers of ladies who own and show vintage cars.   We will make an effort to find at least six female owners who can show their vehicle. 

An invite has already been extended to Margaret Dunning of Plymouth, Mich.  She is the 102-year old Internet sensation who shows a 1930 Packard 740 Roadster, which she has owned since new.   She has already accepted invitations and shown her beautiful Classic Packard at Pebble Beach in California and at the St. Johns’ Concours (formerly Meadowbrook) show in Plymouth.

 Naturally, we hope she will be free and can accept our invitation.  A suite at The Boulevard Inn has already been reserved for her.

If readers own any of the cars discussed in this week’s column or know of someone who does, please get in touch with me soon.   I will add your or their name and address to the master mailing list, and send an invitation in late January.  If you would like more information about the Concours, don’t hesitate to contact me.

A reminder to past show participants.  If you have had a vehicle in the Concours, it is eligible to be shown again if two years have passed.   If you showed your vehicle in 2010 or earlier, please consider applying again.

The 9^th Annual Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan fundraiser will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2013.  Be sure to visit our Facebook address at www.facebook.com/ConcoursSWMI.  We’d love to have you “like” us and stay in touch.

The Concours' selection committee is seeking "high wheelers" automobiles to fill a special class for the 9th annual car show on August 10, 2013.  High wheelers, also called "horseless carriages," were built at the beginning of the auto era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.   This 1909 Economy G Surrey, owned by Brady Mann of Illinois, is an excellent example of a high wheeler and was on display at last summer's Concours d'Elegance in St. Joseph.

  

Capturing the art of the auto

  

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The tail fin defined the Cadillac during the fifties and none shouted Cadillac like the P-38 Lightning aircraft-inspired tailfins found on the 1948 – 1956 models.  A close-up shot of this 1955 Cadillac Eldorado iconic fin best personifies the luxury brand’s tail fin legacy.

I’ve been eyeballing automobiles since 1954.  Regardless of where I am – in a parking lot, on the freeway or on Niles Avenue – my eyes screen each car that passes by.   I can’t help it.

In the 58 years since my automotive awakening I’ve acquired a fondness for a number of the older cars once spotted on the highways.  Of late I have made an effort, when attending car shows, to capture images of these favorites with my camera at car shows.

With some cars, I like only a portion of the overall design, like the grille or the rear taillight.  So over the past many years, I’ve been drawn to photograph only a section of the vehicle in an artistic fashion.   Some have actually come out pretty nicely and can almost be consider works of art – at least to my eyes. 

I was pleasantly surprised recently when someone visited the Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan’s Facebook page and wrote a complimentary remark about a photo I had posted of a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado rear quarter fender view.  I had used this particular photo when I announced the recent decision by the Concours National Advisory and Executive Boards that the Cadillac would be the featured marque in 2013 to commemorate the luxury automaker’s 110^th anniversary.

The Facebook visitor’s comment, “This picture in undeniably beautiful” made my day and got me to thinking about some of the other photos of cars that I’ve taken over the past 10 – 15 years. 

So I opened my iPhoto album – now filled with 5,452 images – and looked for my favorite pictorial “car parts,” so-to-speak.   I found a number that really ring my bell.

The aforementioned 1955 Cadillac photo is at the top of the list.   If you want a photograph of GM’s luxury division that say loud and clear “I’m a Cadillac,” then I feel this photo accomplishes the task.   I only shot the tail of the car and from slightly above.  The famous P-38 Lightning aircraft-inspired tail fins were used on the Cadillac from the 1948 original until through 1957 model.

This picture resonates even though the trunk on the vehicle in the photograph isn’t completely closed.  The strong sculptural statement of the finned taillight simply carries the day.

Another photo that garners comments when I share it is one I took many years ago while visiting Carlisle, (Pa.) Chrysler Nationals.  I’m a huge fan of Virgil Exner, Sr.’s 1955 cars that featured the “Forward Look.”  But what makes my photo of this particular Dodge notable isn’t the car’s handsome grille, but rather the dramatic effect caused by reflection in the chrome trim from the overhead stripped canvas tent.  It reminds viewers of peppermint candy and makes the photo memorable.

I often discover that shiny car surfaces make great mirrors for self-portrait.   In 2009 at Hershey, Pa., I came across a really nice black 1954 Buick Special. 

In 1954 GM introduced all-new Olds, Cadillac and Buick models.  I liked the cars a lot because they all featured the first mass-produced wraparound windshields.  Of the three GM luxury cars, I have always favored the Buick and its rear subtle fin.  When I spotted the black 1954 Special at Hershey, I had to take a photo of that fin.  The self-portrait was just a bonus.

I’m not savvy enough to use PhotoShop.   I take a photo and if it turns out great, it’s pure luck.   I attended the since-discontinued Venetian Festival car show some years back and took a photo of a nice two-tone 1955 Chevy Bel Air.  

This image isn’t quite a work of art but it captures perfectly the essence of the new, clean styling of the popular Chevy.  Most folks seem to like the 1957 Tri-Five Chevy better than the initial ‘ 55, but I’ve always been won over by the clean, pure lines of the original.  

Few cars are introduced that are perfect in every way.  With the ’55 Chevy I wouldn’t change a thing.  The 1955 Chevy is one of those perfect cars, in my opinion, and this photo shows why.  This cleanly designed, unadorned beauty represents the very best from GM’s top designer Harley Earl.

I admire all classic Packards and can understand why the luxury brand remains a favorite of serious collectors.  At Hershey this past fall I spotted a beautiful roadster from afar.   I wasn’t drawn to it because it was a Packard, but because of its beautiful color.  It shouted, “Look at me!” 

On closer inspection, I became enamored by the beautiful wheels on the 1929 automobile.   Disc-like, they were painted the same color as the car’s body.   Most importantly, in the wheel’s center, was the traditional Packard red hexagon.  This photo captures flawlessly the combination of colors and shapes that work beautifully together and pleases the eye.

Great art?  No, but it reveals perfectly the elegance of the era.

If you would like to see my photos that I’ve mentioned in today’s column in high definition, please visit my blog site at http://darscars.blogspot.com/.  I will post all the photos that I’ve mentioned.  I also welcome your comments on my blog. 

By the way, if readers use Facebook and have not yet visited the Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ConcoursSWMI), please do so.   And while on your visit, please “like” us.   It will keep you connected with the many activities of the fundraising event.

 Take a shiny, curved chromed surface and add color stripes from an overhead tent and you have a dramatic photograph.  This 1955 Dodge Royal Lancer was snapped by Dar at a Carlisle, Penn. Chrysler National show a few years back.

Whether up close or from afar, an automobile painted a gorgeous color will capture attention.   And none did it better than this 1929 Packard at Hershey.  Dar snapped the automobile’s wheel, capturing both the elegance of the wheel design and the stunning turquoise and red color combination.

 A 1954 black Buick Special rear fender makes for a perfect mirror to caption a self-portrait.  This photo may not be great art, but it speaks to the writer because the ’54 Buick is a favorite of his.

Both Dar’s grandfather and brother owned a 1955 Chevy.  The all-new car was one of Chevrolet’s most significant models, as it introduced not only its famous small block V-8 but also fresh, clean new styling, as shown in this rear quarter view that still looks fabulous 57 years later.

         

Dowagiac duo's dynamic car

With a thorough restoration completed the day before the Concours car show, this beautiful 1932 Auburn Speedster Boat Tail roadster won the hearts of both judges and visitors by winning both the Big Boy Restaurant Best of Show trophy and the Corvette Central People's Choice trophy.  Fewer than 75 Speedsters were built in 1932 and owners Don and Joan Lyons of Dowagiac bought their automobile from an owner in Grand Rapids.  Photo provided by Mark Parren

At last summer’s Concours car show, one automobile truly stood out.  It was such a standout that it garnered both the affections of the public and winning the People’s Choice trophy as well as the heart of the judges in receiving the Best in Show trophy.  Rarely does the same vehicle earn that dual accomplishment.  I’m speaking, of course, about Don and Joan Lyons’ 1932 orange and black Auburn boat tail Speedster.

Before I share Don and Joan’s story on how they acquired and restored the rare Auburn, I’ll share a little history about the Auburn.  The Auburn Automobile Company was founded in Auburn, Indiana as the Eckhart Carriage Company in 1875.  Experimenting with automobiles early on, by 1909 the company had absorbed two other failed automakers and had moved into a larger plant.  The plant, after limited success, was closed during World War I due to a materials shortage.

Following the war the Eckharts sold out to a Chicago investment group who revived the business but met with little financial success.  In 1924 the group sold the automaker to Errett Lobban Cord, a highly successful auto salesman who then went on to aggressively market the company’s unsold inventory.

In 1926 E. L. Cord expanded the Auburn Company by partnering with the Duesenberg Corporation, an automaker famous for its racing cars.  The year 1929 also saw the introduction of a third model, a front-wheel drive car that E. L. put his own name on, the Cord L-29. 

Unfortunately, the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Company offered fabulous but expensive vehicles in a depressed market severely beaten by the Great Depression.  Sales plunged and the A-C-D Company went bust by 1937 but not before a number of outstanding vehicles were designed and built.   Those include just about any model of the mighty Duesenberg, the stunningly beautiful, Gordon Buehrig-designed 1936-37 Cord 810/812 and any number of fabulous Auburns including the Lyons’ beautiful 1932 Auburn Speedster that was designed by Alan Leamy.

The automobile that garnered nearly all of the votes in the People’s Choice balloting at the Concours was a product of the E. L. Cord years.  The Auburn Speedster (we only later stuck the Boat Tail label on the car) was a car frequently seen in wealthy communities like Hollywood and Palm Springs.

What attracted wealthy buyers to the Auburn was both stunning looking vehicles and powerful performance.  The 1932 Auburn Speedster provided a fast ride by offering a 268 cu. in./4.4-L straight eight that boasted 100 bhp.

A few years back I wrote a column about Don Lyons and his extensive automobile collection.  He has owned a number of fabulous vintage cars and, like his father before him, did a lot of the restoration and mechanical work himself.  

Folks in Dowagiac know Don as Mayor Lyons, a position he has held for the past 15 years.  Though now retired, he continues to serve as chairman of the board of Lyons Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures located west of Dowagiac on the city’s edge.  He also remains active with the Heddon Museum in Dowagiac, which chronicles the many contributions of the Heddon family to the Dowagiac area, especially their fishing tackle company.  Readers wanting more information about the museum may either visit www.heddonmuseum.org or call 269 782-5698.

One of my first questions to Don when I interviewed him for this column was how he managed to acquire his rare Speedster.   He didn’t attend the Scottsdale, Arizona auctions; rather he found the car in Grand Rapids.  He had known of the car for a number of years and in 2009 he convinced the owner to sell.

According to Don, there were three series of Auburn Speedsters:  those built in 1928-29, those produced in 1931-33 and the last batch in 1935-36.  There were no Speedsters built in 1930 or 1934. I was amazed to hear that in total only about 75 1932 Speedsters built. Don’s favorite is the 1932 model and that’s the one he and Joan bought.

Once the purchase was made, the Speedster’s next trip was a visit to Bill Godisak’s Sun Ray Restoration in Dowagiac for a complete restoration right down to restoring each facet on every nut and bolt in order to preserve the original old style fasteners.  Ultra-Tech Racing Engines in Mishawaka, Indiana rebuilt the car’s motor.    The Ultra-Tech team put in new bearings, bored out the cylinder block, fitted new pistons and rings and ground the valves, which resulted in a “better than new” motor. 

While the Auburn Speedster would look sensational in bare steel, it looked downright ravishing in a striking black and orange paint job.   Don says that back in 1932, for $50 extra, Auburn would paint your Speedster any color you wanted.  I’m sure glad black and orange was selected.   It has a look-at-me effect on his Speedster.

Speaking of paint, I was told by Don that the restoration of the Speedster was completed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 3.  That was the day before the St. Joseph Concours’ event!  Thank you, Don, for getting the job done on time.

I asked Don if he had plans to show his Speedster at other Concours.  None are planned at the moment but he is thinking of nominating the automobile for the Concours d’Elegance of America car show in Plymouth, Mich. (formerly the Meadowbrook Concours) held each July just prior to the St. Joseph Concours.

Happily, I learned that Don still has a few vintage cars in his collection.   He has a 1932 Packard Super Eight 7-Passenger Sedan and a 1925 Dodge panel truck, which sports an original advertisement for the James Heddon and Sons fishing tackle company.   He also is currently restoring a 1910 Stoddard-Dayton Model K that has been languishing on the back burner for over 35 years.  Those of us on the Concours team are hoping that Don and Joan bring the newly restored Stoddard-Dayton to a future St. Joseph Concours and the Dodge panel truck to the 2014 event.   The planned Concours’ featured marque for 2014 is Dodge.   The Niles-based Dodge Brothers started the Dodge brand in 1914.

I’m writing this column on Halloween day.   I can’t think of an automobile more appropriately painted to drive to a masked ball at the Ritz than Don and Joan’s black and orange Speedster.   Maybe they’ll loan it to me next year.  You think?

Longtime automotive enthusiast and collector Don Lyons and his wife Joan stand before their trophy winning 1932 Auburn Speedster Boat Tail roadster at the 2012 Concours d'Elegance of Southwest Michigan automobile show last August 4.  The newly renovated black and orange vintage car drew rave reviews from all who saw it on display in Lake Bluff Park.  The restoration of the Auburn was completed at 5:00 p.m. on the day before the car show.  Photo provided by Jim Meister

Illinois collector owns two '62 Buick Specials

There are cars and then there are AUTOMOBILES. The former are appliances on wheels that we purchase and use to get from point A to point B. The latter are objects of desire. Our pulse increases when we see one and we have a great desire to own one. For me at least, it’s a practical matter as to why I don’t own the AUTOMOBILE of my dreams. I don’t have a multi-car garage, I don’t have a mechanic on my staff and I don’t have a whole lot of money for more than just one vehicle.

For car lovers like me, that’s why there are a growing number of car shows each year. Event organizers have discovered that by hosting a car show, it will attract people like me so we can spend a few hours in the hot sun and maybe, just maybe, come across the object of our desire. For most people who lust for cars, the object of their desire seems to fall into several categories: their first car, the car they lusted after when a young man or woman, the car they had a momentous occasion in (use your imagination on that one!) or the car they would like to be seen in if money was no object.

I have a rather large number of vehicles that I lust after. Some make sense, most don’t. Personally, I’m sick and tired of 100-point cars that are either a two-door hardtop or a convertible from the 50s and 60s. I’m more attracted to rarely seen two-door station wagons (like the 1954 Plymouth coral colored wagon at this past summer’s Krasl Concours) or to lowly bottom feeder four-door sedans like a 1958 Chevy Biscayne sedan with a six-cylinder engine and a three on the tree. Perhaps it’s because you seldom see them and when you do, they remind you of the car your best friend’s parents owned back in your youth. When I visit the big Auburn/Kruse auction each Labor Day weekend in Indiana, I head for the car corral and enjoy seeing all the less popular cars on display like a 1959 Rambler sedan, a 1958 DeSoto wagon or a 1962 Chevy Corvair 500 coupe. One car I’m always looking for a shows is the 1961 Buick Special Deluxe 4-door sedan. My mother and I pestered my poor dad into buying a turquoise and white ’61 Special and it remains one of my all time favorite cars.

That said, it was a thrill to get an email from a Coloma reader recently who wondered if I would be interested in chatting with his dad who lives in Illinois and owns not one but two Buick Specials. He had read my column a few weeks back that included a photo that showed me standing next to a 1962 Buick Special that I had spotted at the Hershey show in October and wrote about. It didn’t take me too long to get on the phone and track down this lucky guy who owns both a 1962 Buick Special Deluxe station wagon and a the same year Buick Special Skylark convertible.

Meet Frank Tarpey of Highland Park, Illinois. A Buick fan from way back, probably because his family owned Buicks over the year, and still loyal to the fading Flint brand. While he has the two Specials in his collection for fun and show, his daily driver is a last-of-its-kind-and-built-in-Texas 1996 Buick Roadmaster station wagon. Yes, a station wagon. Back when the auto industry still called vehicles with a storage room out back a station wagon and not a crossover or a SUV. The big V-8-powered Roadmaster has over 163,000 miles on the odometer and is still going strong. No word on if and when he will replace the dependable ride but I would bet the crossover Enclave will be on his short list.

Frank enjoys both of his Specials, but is partial to the little convertible. The Skylark, as readers may recall, was Buick’s response to the small sporty car craze that swept the auto industry in 1961 and 1962 after the huge success of the Corvair Monza introduced in mid year 1960. Chevy discovered that there was a market for a compact two-door with bucket seats and an upgraded interior. Soon all four U.S. automakers followed suit with similar models. Ford introduced the Falcon Futura, Plymouth made the Valiant into the Signet, Pontiac gave us the LeMans and so forth. Buick’s answer was the Special Skylark. The Skylark was especially attractive and was the best looking of the so-called B-O-P small senior compact cars (Buick-Olds-Pontiac) that GM introduced in the fall of 1960 after the success of the Falcon, Corvair and Valiant the year before. The Skylark was introduced in mid-model year 1961 as a coupe, and then added a hardtop and a convertible in the 1962 model year. It was a fairly popular car with production figures of 12,683 in 1961 (total Special sales were 86,868) and improving to 42,973 in 1962 (total Special sales improved to 153,843).

Like the regular Special sedans the Skylark featured the all-new 215 cubic inch aluminum V-8 engine initially. Only 2,871 of the Skylark convertibles were built in 1962. Frank’s ’62 Skylark convertible has the 190 horsepower 4-barrel V-8 (and not the famous V-6 engine Buick introduced in 1962 – and won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award) plus the usual automatic transmission, power steering and brakes and it has a power top. He bought it in 1979 in really rough shape from a Chicago fire department caption (whose daughter drove it as a daily driver) for $125. It needed a lot of work. On the drive home he had to stop twice to fill the overheated car’s radiator. It is now restored and resides comfortably at Frank’s summer residence in Wisconsin.

While I’d take either Special, I’m really partial to his wagon. First it is really rare as only 10,380 were built. It, like my dad’s car, is turquoise with a white top. Lucky for Frank, the wagon has several useful options that add comfort and appeal to the car including air conditioning, a roof rake and the power operated rear window in the tailgate. Its aluminum V-8 engine has the 2-barrel carburetor and produces 155 horsepower. The wagon was purchased in 2000 from a member of the Buick Club of America and has 111,000 miles on the tires. He paid $2,200, which is an excellent price for such an unusual and rare car. The car listed for $2,890 without options in 1962.

My dad didn’t complain about it much but our little Buick’s engine was troublesome. I asked Frank if he had problems with his two aluminum V-8’s. He said no but he did know what the problem was. Apparently my dad’s Special was an early production model when Buick initially was careless about flushing out metal fillings from the engine block after casting. As a result, the filings found their way into the cooling system and caused overheating. The problem was eventually identified and immediately fixed.

So why did Frank end up with two Buick Specials? Easy answer. Frank’s first new car was a 1962 Buick Special convertible with a 3-speed stick shift and a manual top. He ordered it not with the newly available and popular V-6 engine, but with the aluminum V-8. It was burgundy in color and got great gas mileage. He likes best about his two cars the peppy yet economical V-8 engines. Next he finds both cars fun to drive. That’s what I remember about my dad’s car – it was light on its feet and a blast to drive. Lastly, Frank liked the styling. I totally agree. By far, the Special was the nicest looking of the B-O-P cars. I liked the pointed front fenders; the aggressive sculpturing alongside the car that reminded me of the dramatic side sweeps found on Buicks of the early and mid ‘50s and I especially liked the Skylark’s taillight design. Overall, Frank and I both agree that the Buick Special was, indeed, a special car. Let’s hope I can convince him to bring both cars to next year’s 5th annual Krasl Concours car show.

NAIAS Detroit Auto Show 2009 - Automakers feel blue but look green

The 21st annual North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit could have been a somber place this past weekend. But for an industry under seige for the better part of 2008, the annual media preview at the NAIAS last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday was an upbeat and fascinating place to be. Granted, the fancy vehicle displays that were the norm in past years were replaced with much simpler sets, especially those from the Domestic Three automakers. Gone were the elaborate and impressive exhibitions and in their place were dramatically simplified displays. This year the vehicles took center stage, not the ostentatious staging found in year’s past. Also missing at Cobo were the many amenities that were provided to the 6,000 + journalists and photographers in the past. The tasty free lunches and dinners were dropped by the automakers as a cost saving move. Gone, too, were the fancy productions that were used to introduce the many new vehicles. Instead of live bands, synchronized lighting and celebrities galore, the introductions were low key and business-like.

It was a terrible year for the automakers in 2008 with sales in the U.S. down over 3 million units. With profits a distant memory, some of the automakers cut way back on their car show efforts. There were exceptions. Foreign automakers like BMW, VW, Audi, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz sported brand new displays that undoubtedly cost millions of dollars to design, build and assemble. Elsewhere in the show, perhaps in response to the ire that the Domestic Three CEO’s drew from congressmen in D.C. for flying in corporate jets to attend hearings to obtain bridge-loan funds, the Domestic Three makers cut back on their display costs. Surprisingly, some automakers didn’t even show up. Japanese biggie Nissan was a no-show, as were smaller brands like Porsche, Suzuki and Land Rover.

But let’s forget the gloom and doom. The foreign and domestic automakers did have some new product to show and it was educational to attend the many press conferences. This year, like no other, was the year of the engineer. The push to make cars and trucks more Earth-friendly is placing a burden on all makers – foreign and domestic alike – to come up with propulsion systems that give improved gas mileage and also produce less emissions. The automakers certainly now see the task at hand and a massive effort is being made to bring low and zero emission vehicles to the market quickly. While designers and stylists will always be important, presently scientists, engineers and researchers are bearing the brunt of the burden to bring clean and efficient vehicles to market quickly and inexpensively.

Like in past years I had the opportunity to not only listen to the speeches and take photos but also to sit in many of the new vehicles – production and concept cars and trucks alike. It is not an exaggeration to say that the three-day media event at the NAIAS is one of my favorite times of the year. And why not! I get to see fabulous cars and trucks for the first time. I have the option to go up and talk to the bigwigs and designers if I wish. And I relish the chance to sit in the concept cars, a privilege given only to members of the media.

The NAIAS kicked off on Sunday morning with the announcement of the prestigious annual North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. This year’s car recipient was a surprise with the Korean upstart Hyundai winning with the four-door Genesis, a new top-end V-8 powered luxury sedan. Watch out Lexus, Mercedes, Cadillac and other luxury brands, there is new kid on the block. Not as surprising, taking the truck crown for the third time in 12-years was the Ford F-150.

In all, there were over 60 new production and concept vehicle debuts. Space doesn’t permit me to comment on all of the debuts but there were several significant vehicles that bear mentioning. I was most interested in seeing for the first time the several new domestic offerings. Creating the most excitement by far and my candidate for Best of Show is the highly appealing and expressive Cadillac Converj. Created with the Voltec system engineered for GM’s highly anticipated Chevy Volt plug-in electric car, the bean counters at GM should find it reasonably inexpensive to put the Converj into production and give Cadillac a nice competitor to combat the many hybrids offered by Lexus and other luxury makers. Without a doubt, the gorgeous new Caddy drew the biggest crowds at the show.

There were many other “green” cars at the show and I’d like to comment on two significant production vehicles. The Toyota press conference to announce the third generation Prius hybrid was filled to capacity with journalists wanting to get the first look at this segment-leading car. Toyota has produced the Prius since 1997 and has sold over 700,000 units in the States alone. With improvements, the 2010 hybrid will now deliver 50 mpg and offers many new features to attract more buyers. Not to be outdone, Honda introduced the second generation of their Civic hybrid, and an all new car getting the name once used on its two-passenger hybrid – the Insight. Both vehicles are distinctive looking and will undoubtedly be successful in the marketplace.

This post is getting long, but I do want to mention a few vehicles that readers should seek out if a Detroit Auto Show visit is in the works. Audi has a winner with the Sportback concept. Ford may have a homerun with its handsome new Taurus using design elements found earlier in the 2006 Interceptor concept. Close behind the Caddy Converj concept in star appeal is the Volvo S60 concept sedan. It’s Volvo’s version of the popular four-door coupe cars now offered by Europe’s luxury leaders. Caddy has two other winners worth looking at – the SRX crossover replacement and the CTS Sportwagon. Lincoln is finding its groove and the Flex-based crossover MKT is worth the look. If you like the boxy Scion xB, then you will also enjoy looking at Kia’s new sassy crossover, the Soul. Chrysler surprised everyone with a gorgeous looking sedan called the 200C. The car is rumored to be the candidate to replace the present popular 300 sedan. The four-door looker has a hybrid power system, one of three models that the company introduced to the media. The all-new Chevy Equinox and Buick LaCrosse will make those brand’s dealers happy when they arrive this summer. Buick designers have brought back the iconic side sweep found on all Buicks back in the 50s.

Want to take a spin in a low or zero emission vehicles? Be sure to venture into the basement of Cobo Center and be amazed at the “test track” created by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation folks. Amongst a forest of mature trees, water falls and blooming spring flowers is a winding road. It beckons a driver to follow it in a circuitous route the whole length of the huge but lovely space. Quite an experience! The MEDC hopes to promote to worldwide auto executives on hand at the car show Michigan’s strength in R&D and alternative energy innovation.

The Detroit car show opened yesterday and will run until Sunday, January 25. For ticket information and directions, go to www.naias.com or call (248) 643-0250. Tickets are $12 for adults. (Converj Concept image © GM Corp.)

Mopar heaven in Carlisle PA

Mopar Heaven found in Carlisle, PA


Dar looks over one of his favorite Mopar cars, the unloved 1962 Plymouth Fury 2-door hardtop. Downsized while other cars grew bigger, the Plymouth Fury and the Dodge Dart models did not set well with the public and sales plunged.



No doubt most people in our area saved last weekend to attend the 45th annual Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff. Naturally, as the Krasl executive director for 25 years until my retirement last January, that is where you found me too. But this year was different. When the artists set up their tents on Friday night and Saturday morning, I was nowhere to be seen. How come? Cause I FINALLY had the chance to do something that I have been pining to do for a long, long time - attend the annual Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals in Pennsylvania. The Mopar junkie had finally found his Nirvana.

So over three days, 1,255 miles and a fortune in toll road fees I was able to finally get my Mopar fix at the great All-Chrysler show in central Pennsylvania in Carlisle. Was it worth the wait? You bet and I hope I can go again. Only this time I will allow at least two days. The enormous size and scope of the event surprised me.

I have no way of estimating the size of the crowd, but at $9 a head, I sure would have liked to pocket the day's take on Saturday. The Carlisle Nationals (there is one held for GM and Ford too) is held on the Carlisle fairgrounds. It is a very large space and the Nationals event attract enough participants to fill just about every nook and cranny with invited show-only cars, a vehicle swap meet area and what seemed like thousands of vendors selling everything from ancient car parts to brand new reproductions of gas tanks, not to mention whirly-gigs for the garden.

These events are more fun for me when I can walk the day away with a companion. I met up with a good friend from South Carolina who had been an industrial designer and is now retired. Like me, he had grown up in the 50s and we "cut our car teeth" on the 1955 and 56 cars as we entered junior high school.

So it wasn't too surprising that the first area we visited at the Carlisle show was the Mopar Survivors Display. I don't know if they feature the survivors display at all the shows, but it is one fabulous idea. Shown under a protective tent (in this case, one with red and white strips that made picture taking almost impossible!), the survivors display has a long line of old cars, from all decades, each in great condition. Most of them are not trailer queens, but rather vehicles that had led a charmed life but are still in use today.

My favorite of the survivors was a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere 4-door sedan that had only 10 or 20 thousand miles on it, with original paint and interior. It looked almost brand new. What really set it off was the coral and while two-tone paint job. Another really nice car on display under the candy cane colored tent was a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda 2-door hardtop ordered with the "mod top" paisley patterned vinyl roof. The mod look was also repeated inside with the flowery fabric repeated on the seat cushions and on the door panels. I didn't notice what engine was under the hood, but I can assure you that it wasn't a huge V-8. No in-his-right-mind muscle car guy would order a sporty car with that option, especially in gold.

Speaking of pony cars. When amongst Mopar fans, you often hear terms like B-body or A-body. At Carlisle this year, it was the E-body that was on everyone's lips. For non-Mopar folks, the E-body is the factory name for the platform used to produce the last generation Barracuda and Challenger.

Maybe the fuss over the long defunct pony cars was because in the past year or so, some E-body cars have sold at auction for over a million dollars. But also adding to the buzz was the fact that on display in an exhibition barn was the 2006 Dodge Challenger concept car. To add fuel to the flames, DaimlerChrysler had only last week announced that the Challenger concept will be put into production in 2008 as a 2009 model. But even if the concept Challenger had not been at Carlisle, the E-body pony cars were THE cars to have on display.

Some readers may recall that when Chrysler finally got their pony cars right with the introduction of the 1970 Cuda and Challenger, the pony car market was at the beginning of a long slide to oblivion. By 1974 the Chrysler twins pony cars and AMC's Javelin were gone and eventually Camaro and Firebird also bit the dust. Only Mustang managed to soldier on and survive. Because the market by 1970 was getting soft, Chrysler didn't sell that many of the models. As a result, it was amazing to see so many E-body cars at this show. I'm a little suspicious. Perhaps someone should count up how many E-bodies have been restored and see if the number exceeds the production count!

The suits in the executive offices at DaimlerChrysler are to be commended for recognizing the significance of an event like the All-Chrysler Nationals and making available the funds to have a very nice display on hand for all to enjoy. Not only did the company have an exhibit on hand, but they also brought a large number of new vehicles along and let visitors get in and slowly drive them around the grounds. The Ride and Drive event was a big hit with the crowds. Besides the expected Durangos, Chargers and minivans, the company reps also had the brand new 2007 Jeep Compass and the 2007 Chrysler Aspen SUV available for driving. Unfortunately, the Dodge Viper wasn't one of the choices.

This column isn't long enough to list all the things that I saw during my daylong visit. A few highlights included seeing on display in the invited cars line-up five (yes five) 1958 Plymouth Furys, all in perfect condition. To have that many rare cars sitting in a row was a visual treat for me.

I'm especially fond of designer Virgil Exner's finned 1957 creations. This show had a boatload of them. It was a delicious treat to slowly walk among these now rare cars and see the many models and makes. Frankly, I am surprised that so many of the poorly-assembled-when-new cars still exist. One of Exner's last efforts at Chrysler before his unfortunate dismissal was the downsized 1962 Plymouth and Dodge. My friend and I love the Plymouth Fury and Dodge Polara/Dart but the general public stayed away from showrooms that year in droves and sales faltered badly. At Carlisle there were several really nice '62 models and it was a special treat to have the chance to see them again up close.

Do you like 1971 Chargers? If you do, you missed the exhibit of a lifetime. Tim Welborn of Alexander City, Alabama brought to Carlisle 12 of his 23 Chargers in his collection. These are not just any Chargers, but perfectly restored specimens and each one has a different engine and drive train (some with the Hemi engine, some with the Six Packs, all in a different color offered that year by Dodge). A splendid sight to behold.

If all this information about Carlisle tempts you to attend next year, be sure to make your motel reservations soon. Rooms are hard to find for miles around the fairground. Want more info on all the Carlisle shows, go to www.carsatcarlisle.com and take a look. Be strong, the temptation to want to go to all the Carlisle events will be powerful, very powerful.

Carlisle, PA - All-Chrysler Nationals

I took this photo at the All-Chrysler Nationals show at Carlisle, PA on Saturday. I then hurried back to St. Joseph, MI in time to catch a few minutes of the Krasl Art Fair. If I had missed the art fair, it would have been the first time in 25 years! The candy stripe patterns were caused from reflections from an overhead tent. I
thought the effects were rather dramatic.