Great Fun and Entertainment at the World’s Greatest Classic Car Show

Posted by Classic Car Expert on Aug 31, 2009

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival is known as the “World’s Greatest Classic Car Show, and it promises lots of exciting events for both adults and children. The 53rd edition of this yearly festival will take place in downtown Auburn, Indiana from the 29th of August to the 8th of September, and it is expected to draw thousands of visitors from across the nation.

The ACD Festival begins on the 29th of August with the Guitar Fest. Music fans will get the chance to see some of the most talented local guitarists perform at the DeKalb Outdoor Theatre. From the 1st to the 3rd of September, those who own Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles can take part in the 34th Annual ACD Festival Hoosier Tour, which will bring participants to major attractions in Auburn.

The Kruse International Classic Car Auction will be held from the 3rd to the 8th of September, and it offers an impressive selection of more than 5,000 classic vehicles for sale. The Downtown Cruise-In on the 4th of September is one of the major events of the festival, and it will feature the participation of more than 600 classic cars. On the 5th of September, over 300 splendid automobiles will be on display at the Annual ACD Car Show.

Other interesting events of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival include the Garage Tour, Downtown Historic Tour, Night Parade, Cemetery and Mausoleum Tour, Auburn Concours d’Elegance, Arts and Crafts Show, Classic Quilt Show, Tri Kappa Antique Show, Kids’ Art Tent, and a lot more.

Fabulous Classic Cars at the Bennett Classics Antique Auto Museum

Posted by Classic Car Expert on Aug 28, 2009

The Bennett Classics Antique Auto Museum features one of the most impressive collections of classic cars in the US. The museum is located in Forest City, North Carolina, and it has more than 50 vehicles on display, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and tractors.

The museum was founded by Buddy and Joe Bennett, two brothers who were born in Burnsville. They started working as car dealers for their uncle, Joe Young, and they developed a passion for automobiles, particularly flathead Ford V8s, sometime in the early 1960s. Later on, they set up their own businesses in Rutherford County and began to collect automobiles. As the collection grew, the brothers decided to open a museum to give automobile enthusiasts the opportunity to view the stunning vehicles in their collection.

The collection of vehicles in the museum covers eight decades of auto history, ranging from a 1923 Fordson to a 2004 Thunderbird. Some of the vehicles that visitors can expect to see in the museum are a 1928 Buick, 1935 Chevy Sedan, 1939 Ford Coupe, 1948 Mack, 1951 Mercury Coupe, 1956 T-Bird, 1964 GTO, 1976 Caddy, 1978 Lincoln, and others. The museum collection is constantly growing, with new vehicles being acquired from time to time. Those who are interested in purchasing some of vehicles that are on display can make inquiries at the museum.

The Bennett Classics Antique Auto Museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Admission fees are $8 to $10 for adults and $4 for children. The museum is also a popular venue for special events and social gatherings throughout the year.

Most Wanted Classic Cars: Pontiac Bonneville (Part 2)

Posted by Classic Car Expert on Aug 26, 2009

With the introduction of the Pontiac Grand Ville as the most expensive Pontiac series in 1971, the Bonneville became a mid-line series. It was made available in three different body styles, including the 4-door hardtop sedan, the pillared 4-door sedan, and the 2-door hardtop coupe.

From 1971 to 1972, the Pontiac Bonneville was powered by a standard 455 cid double-barrel carbureted V8 engine with 280 gross hp, and a 4-barrel version of the same engine with 325 gross hp was offered as an option. In 1973, the standard engine was dropped to a 400 cid V8 that was rated at only 170 hp, and the optional engine was the 455 4-barrel carbureted V8 with 250 hp. The Grand Ville became less popular as fuel prices skyrocketed in 1974, and the series was discontinued in 1975. With that, the Bonneville became the top-line full-size series for Pontiac again.

In 1977, the Bonneville was downsized, with its body length reduced by a foot and its total weight by about 800 pounds, but the spaciousness of the interior and the trunk was maintained. The lighter weight made the car more fuel efficient, which was one of the main reasons why the Bonneville was popular among car buyers during the years after the energy crisis. From 1977 to 1981, the car was powered by a 301 cid V8 engine with 135 hp, and the optional engines were 350 V8 with 170 hp and 400 V8 with 185 hp.

Production of the Pontiac Bonneville continued until the year 2005, making it one of the longest-lasting Pontiac series of all time. Today, the Bonnevilles of the first few generations are highly prized items among classic car collectors.

Most Wanted Classic Cars: Pontiac Bonneville (Part 1)

Posted by Classic Car Expert on Aug 24, 2009

The Pontiac Bonneville was introduced in 1957 as a convertible, and it remains one of the largest Pontiac models ever produced. Only 630 cars were built in the first year, and these first cars are considered some of the most desirable Pontiacs among classic car collectors today.

The first Bonnevilles were fuel-injected luxury vehicles that had a full range of standard equipment, with air-conditioning being offered as an option. A coupe was added in the year 1958, and it featured a 370 cid 4-barrel carbureted V8 engine that could deliver 300 hp. In the following year, a hardtop sedan and a station wagon were introduced, and this made the Bonneville a full topline series. The new cars had a “wide track” slogan that provided better handling around corners as well as a split grille that became part of the new image of the Bonneville. Until 1966, the Bonneville had the most powerful standard engines among full-size Pontiacs, with 389 to 400 cid V8 engines that were rated at 303 hp to 340 hp. Tri Power, or three double-barrel carbureted, options were available for the 389 cid and 421 cid V8s, and they raised output to 376 hp.

The performance of Pontiac full-size cars reached a peak in the year 1966. The standard Bonneville engine was a 389 cid V8 with 283 hp, and optional engines included two 421 cid V8s, namely, a 4-barrel carbureted engine with 353 hp and the Trophy High Output with 370 hp. The Pontiac Bonneville received larger engines in the next few years, culminating in a 455 cid V8 engine with 370 hp in the year 1970.

Classic Car Extravaganza at the Corvettes at Carlisle

Posted by Classic Car Expert on Aug 21, 2009

The Corvettes at Carlisle is the biggest Corvette extravaganza in the world, and it draws tens of thousands of Corvette owners and enthusiasts from across the US every year. The event is held at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania from the 28th to 30th of August.

The main highlight of the Corvettes at Carlisle is the Corvette Race Reunion, which features a wide selection of Corvette race cars from every generation since the 1950s. Special guest of the race reunion is racing legend Mario Andretti, one of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsports. Four generations of Corvettes will be showcased in a special 20th anniversary celebration of the 1988 to 1989 Corvette Challenge Car Series. Another interesting event is the Chip’s Choice Invitational Display, which will feature Corvettes that have participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of which is the No. 63 Compuware Corvette C6.R, the winner of the GT Class this year. This event will bring together one of the largest gathering of Le Mans Corvettes ever.

The Corvettes at Carlisle All-Corvette Auction is another exciting event that should not be missed. Those who attend the auction will get to see some of the rarest and most sought after Corvettes in the automobile market. Free seminars will also be held throughout the weekend to give visitors a chance to hear interesting stories from Corvette team owners, drivers, and collectors. There will also be a Corvette cruise in downtown Carlisle.

Admission fee for the Corvettes at Carlisle is $14 for adults and free for children under 12. A 4-day pass is also available at $40 per person.