Having more than a passing interest in cars ever since I was in grade school—and for the past twenty years, I've become more enthusiastic for old pickup trucks.
My 1957 GMC pickup truck, modified by me and Jerry Hofer with highway-friendly gearing, independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, automatic transmission, front disc brakes, and a healthy 302 GMC inline six with a Holley 390 4-barrel carburetor. It also sports a stereo radio and CD player.
I've been especially fond of old vehicles that have within their engine bays much more powerful engines produced since the 1960's. I also like old vehicles with gadgetry found in cars produced by manufacturers in recent years.
I've nothing against foreign made cars. I've owned one for twenty-six years, a 1980 Mazda RX-7 which Lori drives almost exclusively nowadays. Her brother, Lyle, recently finished a five-year restoration of the all black Japanese manufactured sports car that I bought from my cousin Mary Lee Croatt and her husband Lloyd.
I've nothing against foreign made cars. I've owned one for twenty-six years, a 1980 Mazda RX-7 which Lori drives almost exclusively nowadays. Her brother, Lyle, recently finished a five-year restoration of the all black Japanese manufactured sports car that I bought from my cousin Mary Lee Croatt and her husband Lloyd.
1980 Mazda RX-7, the car that reignited my interest in cars.
Furthermore, I actually like bone stock vehicles but not as much as modified go-fast cars and trucks.
Presently, we own eight vehicles, seven of which we can operate, three of which are not modified, including two "drivers," a 2004 Buick and a recently purchased salvaged 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, which Lyle is rehabilitating. The Rx-7 remains bone stock with its original Wankel engine.
Two of my all-time favorite cars I've owned are a 1931 Ford Model A five-window Coupe (one never counts rear window of cars). Unfortunately, I don't own it. The second is my 1935 Plymouth coupe street rod with a Ford V-8 stroker engine having a rating of 347 horsepower. I've "owned" it for 19 years. I figure I'm just the present caretaker of the vehicle, which will hopefully live on after I'm gone.
When I completed my Alaska to Wisconsin bicycle trip after my retirement, I knew I did not want to continue riding bikes long distance although I ride eleven miles a day and on few occasions take a 50-mile bike hike during warm weather months. In the winter time, I ride 8.3 miles on the Schwinn Airdyne in our basement. That Airdyne, I must confess, is not much fun. It's exercise. That's all.
So, the month that I returned from my final long bike trip, Mike Carrat, Car Rat, an applicable name, asked me if I wanted to attend the autumn swap meet and car show in Jefferson, WI. "Yes," I said.
Interestingly, it was there that I found the car of my dreams, a 1935 Plymouth PJ 5-window coupe with a screaming (at that time) 1968 Ford 289 V-8 under its hood. I really liked the looks of the car and asked its owner if he'd take me for a ride in it. The ride through Jefferson prompted me to ask the owner, "What's your lowest bottom ever price?" He gave it to me. I told him to stop on a corner with a public pay phone where I telephoned Lori and told her of the car and requested her permission to buy it.
"Go ahead," she said. She didn't have to say another word.
That was Saturday, and on Monday the car was mine. At once, I started attending car shows and "Shoo fly Ply" won many awards. After a while, I got tired of car shows and trophies.
Presently, we own eight vehicles, seven of which we can operate, three of which are not modified, including two "drivers," a 2004 Buick and a recently purchased salvaged 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, which Lyle is rehabilitating. The Rx-7 remains bone stock with its original Wankel engine.
Two of my all-time favorite cars I've owned are a 1931 Ford Model A five-window Coupe (one never counts rear window of cars). Unfortunately, I don't own it. The second is my 1935 Plymouth coupe street rod with a Ford V-8 stroker engine having a rating of 347 horsepower. I've "owned" it for 19 years. I figure I'm just the present caretaker of the vehicle, which will hopefully live on after I'm gone.
When I completed my Alaska to Wisconsin bicycle trip after my retirement, I knew I did not want to continue riding bikes long distance although I ride eleven miles a day and on few occasions take a 50-mile bike hike during warm weather months. In the winter time, I ride 8.3 miles on the Schwinn Airdyne in our basement. That Airdyne, I must confess, is not much fun. It's exercise. That's all.
So, the month that I returned from my final long bike trip, Mike Carrat, Car Rat, an applicable name, asked me if I wanted to attend the autumn swap meet and car show in Jefferson, WI. "Yes," I said.
Interestingly, it was there that I found the car of my dreams, a 1935 Plymouth PJ 5-window coupe with a screaming (at that time) 1968 Ford 289 V-8 under its hood. I really liked the looks of the car and asked its owner if he'd take me for a ride in it. The ride through Jefferson prompted me to ask the owner, "What's your lowest bottom ever price?" He gave it to me. I told him to stop on a corner with a public pay phone where I telephoned Lori and told her of the car and requested her permission to buy it.
"Go ahead," she said. She didn't have to say another word.
That was Saturday, and on Monday the car was mine. At once, I started attending car shows and "Shoo fly Ply" won many awards. After a while, I got tired of car shows and trophies.
Shoo fly Ply, my '35 Plymouth coupe, at the Bonneville Salt Flats a few years ago during "Speed Week."
Al Preston, a retired Correctional Officer Sergeant, and another car nut, asked me if I wanted to accompany him and his Oldsmobile with a 455 cubic inch Buick big block, to the Wisconsin International Raceway at Kaukauna. What excitement.
Thus, I started drag racing at the tender age of 68 after I purchased a '76 American Motors Gremlin. Three years in a row I won "all the marbles" by winning seven straight rounds in a row against kids in their early twenties. The third time was not so lucky because I failed to "batten down the hatches." Excited, I failed to tighten the lug nuts on the driver's side rear wheel.
Thus, I started drag racing at the tender age of 68 after I purchased a '76 American Motors Gremlin. Three years in a row I won "all the marbles" by winning seven straight rounds in a row against kids in their early twenties. The third time was not so lucky because I failed to "batten down the hatches." Excited, I failed to tighten the lug nuts on the driver's side rear wheel.
Not a pretty sight. Thankfully, I was not hurt one bit, physically, that is.
At once, I explored Al Gore's electronic superhighway and found a 1974 Gremlin at a Chevrolet dealer in Virginia. The next day I bought it.
'74 Gremlin that ran as fast as a scalded dog. It ran high 12's (seconds, that is) at Wisconsin International Raceway's quarter mile drag strip.
Next, I decided that since my maternal grandfather, Frank Colacicco, was such a positive figure in my childhood, I would try my best to emulate him. Thus, I have finished building a 1947 Ford pickup truck for my older grandson, Ethan, and am presently modifying a 1939 Dodge for my younger grandson, Sawyer.
Lori & George in front of Ethan's 1947 Ford pickup, which took all of five years to build.
Preparing a GMC 4.3 V-6 installation in Sawyer' 1939 Dodge 2-door fastback this very weekend.
My latest race car is a 1989 Fox body Mustang. What makes it so different and more likable compared to the Gremlin? It has air conditioning, electric windows, a superb stereo system, heat, and electronic fuel injection run by an on board computer. Fox body Mustangs are very popular race cars because they're light and fast.
1989 Fox body Mustang.
In a future blog, I'll explore how I became so interested in cars, cars, cars when I was but a kid, and how the fall of the year and the unveiling of new car models brought excitement to men of all ages.
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