The Renaissance Of Classic Muscle Cars

The Renaissance Of Classic Muscle Cars 
By Rob Parker 
Muscle cars are a staple part of the cultural consciousness of developed North America; even those not familiar and really not too interested in engines and power can’t help but turn their heads when a Barracuda or a Mustang rolls by. The combination of power and style that these cars bring together has always appealed to North Americans, from the early years of muscle cars in the classic 1960s right up to the present day.

The problem with muscle cars has always been the same; people see them as impractical, both as family vehicles and in terms of economy. They have never gone out of style as far as looks, and maybe even desire, but they have never been able to reproduce the sales success they enjoyed from the ‘60s to the ‘70s.

Given that muscle cars are known for their massive displacement, which traditionally has sucked up the fuel, it is kind of surprising to realize that there has been a resurgence in the manufacturing of muscle cars by North American companies for much of the new millennium. Ford, Chrysler, and Chevrolet have all turned out new models and reworked existing models in order to bring the muscle car back into the selling mainstream.

Perhaps the resurgence of the muscle car manufacture is best described as a renaissance, for these are not the muscle cars our fathers knew. They are designed to accommodate consumer concerns over fuel consumption, with even the biggest V-8s mitigated in their guzzling through the latest in computer chip technology. Even more stunning is the fact that some of these cars are designed – and are selling – not as traditional two doors but as sedans and even (gasp) as station-wagon like models.

Some resurgent models include the 2005 Ford Mustang, which boasted an entirely new look in addition to a new chassis, and became the best selling Mustang model in ten years. Pontiac also rolled out a new style GTO in 2003, but it was discontinued in 2006. This has not dissuaded Chevrolet, however, as the company has announced plans to roll out a new version of the Camaro in 2009, as well as reworked G8’s and a possible comeback of the GTO.

The struggle of the American car companies is not news. With all of them losing huge market portions to foreign car manufacturers like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Honda, it should come as no surprise that Detroit is falling back on an old stalwart to try and remind North Americans why they fell in love with the companies in the first place. Cars with traditional muscle appeal but designed for family and energy efficiency may be the key to winning back some market share.

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New Club Showcases Old Cars In Cyberspace

New Club Showcases Old Cars In Cyberspace 
Show cars are put to bed at the end of the car show season in early Fall until the season starts again in April. But in the hearts of car enthusiasts and collectors, the show must go on. Tonza Borden, antiques collector, has filled this niche by launching AtlantaAntiqueCarClub.com. The web site is a virtual community that offers a showcase of seldom seen vintage motorcars, research, history, private collections, and many more things to do while you are online. Borden did not jump on the classic car bandwagon as a wannabe'. 

Her background has driven her to this destination."Old cars are in my blood," says Borden. "My father started working as a mechanic and body specialist when he was 11-years-old. I was 11 when I started hanging out with him at the body shop. On my 16th birthday, he bought me a used 1960 Ford Falcon."Is is no surprise that car buffs have memories of their first wheels as strong as old shoes tied to a wedding car. It is also easy to see what the fascination for these 
timeless beauties are when viewing the Barrett-Jackson auction or; admiring an 80-year-old owner's prize auto that is not for sale for all the money in the world.Borden expresses that same passion for classic cars when she talks about the object of her recent love, a 1963 Ford Falcon Futura. 

"It was not easy to find the favorite car of my youth nor was it in pristine condition when I bought it. Locating spare parts and a good mechanic "willing" to work on a vintage car was no easy task, either," she says. It was because of her search for vintage parts, "can do" service providers and love for car shows that she decided to build a web site to help this growing hobby.Fortunately, Borden has built a new Internet car club to bring old cars, parts, and car-show aficionados, of both genders together. On AtlantaAntiqueCarClub.com, fellow car enthusiasts can display their show cars for the entire world to see, while enjoying an online car show in the comfort of their own home.

Insurance For Those Owning Kit Cars, Classic Or Imported Cars

Insurance For Those Owning Kit Cars, Classic Or Imported Cars 
Car insurance policies can be perplexing as there are a number of insurance companies offering different types of insurance coverage with different policies. Nowadays the UK insurance companies have broadened themselves to guard against almost any conceivable risk to a customer. Among them, insurance cover for those who own Kit Cars, Classic or Imported Cars is one of the insurance types offered by the insurance companies in this country. If an individual decides to buy a car that has not been manufactured in the UK, he has to venture beyond the normally set boundaries of car insurance. This is because an imported car has been built without taking into account the laid down UK build specifications. 

There are different types of imported car insurance depending on where you import it from. For example, if an individual wants to import a Japanese sports car, before investing several thousand pounds on the vehicle, it will be prudent to speak to some insurers first and ascertain how much the insurance will cost.Also if you own an imported car, then you will normally have to pay a higher premium than a standard car purchased in the UK. To insure an imported car, one has to provide the insurer with detailed information about the vehicle's specification in order to assess their suitability for the policy. Generally Classic car insurance will usually covers these three categories - Veteran Cars (built before 1903), Vintage Cars (constructed between 1903 and 1933) and Classics Cars (tend to be at least 15 years old). The insurance company usually frames an ‘agreed value' for the vehicle prior to issuing of the policy which is the value the customer will receive in the event of the total loss of the vehicle. 

Also, the insurer will stipulate the maximum distance that can be travelled in a year. As the condition and scarcity of classic cars differ, it is important that the customer take out a guaranteed agreed valuation while insuring their classic car. Kit car insurance is different from normal car insurance - the difference being that kit cars are made individually and with parts supplied by a manufacturer. Generally, a kit car is an imitation of a popular car and the manufacturer will supply body parts and the frame kit except an engine, wheels, transmission and other vital parts. If the engine of one's kit car is small, the insurance premiums will be less. 

You can also reduce the insurance premium by garaging the kit car overnight, fitting security devices, and by building up a no claims discount. The main point to be noted while one applies for a kit car insurance is that he has to declare everything about the car – if any information is missed or found wrong, the company may not pay your claim.. 
Jason Hulott is Business Development Director of Protection Insurance. Protection Insurance is an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting consumers the very best insurance rates and the best products. Our product portfolio includes many specialist products such as classic car insurance

Classic Cars In Cuba

Classic Cars In Cuba 

Havana is a potent mixture of the old and the new. Modern office buildings punctuate the skyline alongside deteriorating Eastern European residential towers. Ancient vehicles, some with more rust than paint, share the road with newer, shinier models, while horse-drawn carts mingle with motorcycles. Flea markets display Cuba holiday mementos - wooden models of cars built in the 1950s, which are still seen on Cuban streets.

‘Yank tank’, ‘máquina’ ‘cacharro’ and ‘bartavia’ are all words used to describe the American classic cars in Cuba. It is the only place where history and circumstance have combined to enable a whole society to preserve these amazing vehicles and turn them into a national treasure.

About 150,000 classic cars existed at the time of the 1959 Cuban Revolution when the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. After this, international trade was made very difficult, so the cars that were present at the time have been nurtured and cared for ever since.

Of the 60,000 classic cars in Cuba, about half are from the 50s, another 25 percent from the 40s and a similar number from the 30s. Brands include Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, Buick, Plymouth, Chrysler, Dodge, Willy’s, Oldsmobile and De Soto – vintage models of all of these can be seen on Cuba’s roads today.

Nostalgia

As a clash of cultures and ideologies, few experiences compare with that of rounding a corner in the heart of Old Havana with its crumbling baroque buildings and coming face to face with a gleaming 1955 Thunderbird that looks as if it had just been driven off the lot.

Cubans are increasingly aware of the value of classic cars, particularly when visiting Americans become nostalgic about them. They realize that there is business to be made from hiring them out, and it is therefore possible for those on holiday to Cuba to hire out a classic car for the duration of their stay. Although there are more classic cars in the US overall, an American would have to go to Cuba to see a concentration of the cars filling the streets like a snapshot of 50s USA come to life.

Cuba holiday makers feel they have stepped into a time warp to that perhaps more innocent age, when Americans sported prim and proper outfits and drove shiny, sparkly-wheeled cars in brilliant colours with fins and chrome bumpers. The cars made driving feel special. The 

size of them and the comfort gave a calm feeling for a time when people were able to take their time and enjoy the good things in life.

Care & Attention

While classic cars are still used for daily transportation, often as taxis, they have also become cherished heirlooms handed down from generation to generation within families, in some cases going all the way back to the 30s.

Most owners of classic cars spend hours applying waxes and polishes and basking in the praise and admiration of passers-by. Some even reminisce about a time when their cars were new, and life itself seemed brighter and as inviting as an open highway.

To own one of these vintages defines who you are, how you spend your time and how you wish to be known, and Cubans will go to incredible lengths to keep their classic cars running. 1950's bumpers and tailpipes are recreated and myriad other parts are adapted. Steering wheels carved from wood, hub cabs made from aluminum cans and plastic sheets for windows are common. While such shortcuts would be frowned upon in the United States, classic car lovers admire the Cubans' ingenuity and their ability to keep the cars running.

The Future for Classic Cars in Cuba

Each day these cars get closer to extinction. They are now outnumbered by boxy Russian Ladas, Volga sedans and more recent Eastern European and Japanese imports. But the biggest threats to Cuba’s classic cars are the scarcity of parts and lack of original factory literature to maintain them with uniform standards.

Hopefully they will still be preserved for years to come, even if they become increasingly temperamental with all the alterations they go through. If you’re thinking of hiring a classic car on your Cuba holiday make sure to make a ceremonial splash of rum on the car's floorboard for good luck!

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