Outrageous looking and a cog in the Grand National machine.
On paper the 1976 Buick Century Pace Car is not much to write home about. Still, I'd really like one with T-tops in the stable. It drips with early malaise era fake machismo. With just a little work this machine is a great cruiser with grunt. I'm talking a 4 barrel, a bump in compression and a good exhaust system. 

There are always differences between race pace cars and the replicas sold at dealerships for street duty. This time the smaller engine was putting out the real power, so it went into the actual pace car. I'm talking about the Buick Turbo V6 of course. The street car replicas received the Buick 350 cu in. V8. Simply put, the now famous Buick Turbo V6 program was in it's infancy. A crude, simple single turbo/carburetor engine great for high speed track work but lacking any low end torque for street use. In 1976 it's not like the muscle car crowd was ready to accept a V6 anyway. So a tried and true 350 V8 that could be sold with a warranty and serviced at a dealership was chosen. This is a set up any gear head could modify with plenty of available go-go parts. 

No doubt as cost saving measures the replica cars would not come with the front air-dam, necessary for stability on the track. Nor the bulged blistered hood necessary clear the turbo mounted atop the carburetor.  Even the graphics package is scaled back. 

If you want one there is a 1976 Buick Pace Car for sale on ebay Motors, unfortunately not equipped with the Hurst Hatch T-tops. The aggressive Buy It Now price is nearly $29K for what is described as at best a #2 survivor. 
1976 Buick Century Indy Pace Car | eBay

For more in depth reading and cool pics click the links below.
 1975 and 1976 Buick Indy Pace Cars - Dean’s Garage (deansgarage.com)
Performance Design | GM Design
V-6 on the Track: V-8 on the Street - 1976 Buick Century Pace Car... | Hemmings Motor News

Mac's Motor City Garage popped up on my Fakebook newsfeed. Soon I was descending down a rabbit hole of Camaro goodness via King Rose Archives.  

Experience Woodward Dream Cruise Week!
I never thought I'd be a Woodward Dream Cruise veteran. I thought Detroit might be a city I'd visit one day. We had no idea the boy would relocate there. As a red blooded American Gear Head getting to know this city has been super cool. Going on four years now the Woodward Dream Cruise has been a family tradition, including the "canceled" 2020 event. Officially the WDC is always the third Saturday in August but in reality it is the entire week leading up to Saturday. The locals are out each night, then each day more out of town folks show up. I'd argue the best night of cruising the eight lane Woodward Avenue is Friday night, Dream Cruise Eve. At that point you have the right mix of max participation and vehicular movement. Remember this is a car cruise event not a static car show. Unfortunately on cruise Saturday you really put your car's cooling system to the test. In some spots mostly on the southern end of Woodward Ave you sit in traffic questioning why you're torturing yourself and your machine under the hot August sun.

On Friday night you're rolling. Great exhaust notes everywhere. You get to pull hard enjoying torque. Less cops on the scene for when you want to safely bust the speed limit, maybe do a smoky burnout for the kid holding the sign. You'll see everything on the road that night including some of the best malaise era stuff, often tuned and hopped up right. 

Rare sights are Mopar F-bodies like my 1978 Dodge Aspen Super Coupe or a Plymouth Volare Road Runner. Not this year! I counted six while cruising north and south, even made some new acquaintances. 

For 2022 we're going to try something a little different. Remember I mentioned static car shows? They exist on the margins, each town along the boulevard has events going on. With side streets blocked off for walking around taking in the live music, OE manufacture displays, food trucks and other vendors. So we'll do a morning pass on Saturday then park the ride at our AirBnB, walk over to Ferndale and enjoy the carnival atmosphere.  

Two last thoughts. One, some old curmudgeons will try to convince you it's all modern muscle cars and exotics. Simply not true. It's everything, muscle, malaise muscle, sports cars, Tri-Five, hot rods, freaks, etc. Second, is that kid holding the burn out sign working for the cops, is that entrapment? 

Hit me up in the comments if you're attending next year, maybe share your favorite WDC moments. 

Scroll down to go straight to the results.

​I doubt Peart had any love for malaise muscle but no doubt he was a gear head.
We're definitely going off script today, there is no malaise muscle in this collection. Most of these rides are European. I doubt Peart recognized the charm of colorful tape stripes, wheel flairs, spoilers and fake hood-scoops on show ponies with low compression engines. Still, Neil Peart was a man I admired, a man that provided me so much great music and memories. He was a gear head so when his "Silver Suffer" car collection is up for auction I'm interested in talking about it. 

Who was Neil Peart? His day job was highly respected rock drummer for a power-prog trio out of Toronto, Canada. He was also the main lyricist for his band, RUSH. The song Red Barchetta is an ode to the generations of gear heads. More shy musician than celebrity during later concert tours he'd skip the adoring fans to hop right on his BMW motorcycle to ride to the next city. The band concluded their "farewell tour" in 2015. Peart died of a brain cancer a short five years later. Now most of his car collection is being auctioned off.

So I'll imagine I'm at Pebble Beach dressed in my finest seersucker suit, sipping mint juleps? I'll go over which ones I want in order of desire. Placing a premium on how much I'll want to take them out and drive them. Estimated prices and pics are provided from the Gooding & Company auction house. 

1. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 $900,00 - 1,000,000
​SOLD $1,160,000
This one isn't silver. It's the last car he acquired back in 2015. It went through an extensive restoration about ten years before he purchased it. I'd do a seats, wheel/tire and brake upgrade then just drive the damn thing...drive it hard.

2. 1965 Maserati Mistral Spider $575,000 - 650,000
​SOLD $522,000
I've got a thing for open air motoring. I've also really come to appreciate little sexy Italian roadsters lately. This had a comprehensive restoration performed under Peart's ownership and is described as in superb condition. I'd consider a tire and brake upgrade then just cruise with the wife in this one.  

3. 1973 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS $250,000 - 300,000
​SOLD $274,000
My next desire is another Maserati and when you see my forth choice this might seem controversial. A sexy exterior, an opulent comfortable interior,  a 4.9L V8 with 330 bhp, A/C and seating for four. This GT has been described by some as a sexy Italian pony car.  After a modern tire and brake upgrade I'm hitting the freeways...notice a theme? 

4. 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S $1,200,000 - 1,500,00
​SOLD $1,325,000
What hasn't been said about the first supercar,  a 370 bhp V12 with a five speed transaxle, this one has A/C. Still, with a much more business like interior I see my self driving this less than Ghibli. I prefer drivers over trailer queens.  

5. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette $150,000 - 180,000
​SOLD $368,000
Speaking of trailer queens. As a gear head that fly's the flag of Uncle Sam I'm surprised this comes in at number five. This 327 V8, 340bhp split window coupe is equipped with a 4 speed manual. It was fully restored before Peart brought home in 2011. Other than some mild local miles I see this mostly trailered to shows...meh.

6. 1964 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8L $140,000 - 160,000
​SOLD $318,500
Initially as I pondered Neil's collection I thought I'd rank this much higher on my desire list. It is a classic car icon properly restomodded by Neil himself. The list of upgrades includes a Tremec 5 speed, Wildwood disk brakes, and various other suspension pieces. Brace yourself for blasphemy, this clown shoe does nothing for me. Perhaps as a roadster I'd be desirous. I'm reminded I need to finish that Hagerty article by Sam Smith about driving an E-Type on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

7. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 $650,000 - 725,000
​NOT SOLD
This is the car that gave a young Neil Peart the car hobby virus. They are all really nice cars but something has to come in last. Again, this desirability list is about what I'd like to drive around not collectability or probability of ROI. The 4.0L inline six is good for 290bhp, backed by a 5 speed ZF manual the car is sure to be zippy. There is no mention of an ejector seat option so no sunroof. I like having an open air motoring option. 

I don't know Alex and Geddy's opinions on cars as a collectable hobby but it would be cool if each of Neil's former bandmates wound up owning one of these. Check out Classic Car Auctions | Gooding & Company (goodingco.com) before August 13th to get in on the bidding. 

A little special sauce for the bread and butter 318.
I get it. I fully understand the market forces behind making the 318 the base engine in the Road Runner for 1973. Understanding it doesn't mean I have to like it. Nor does that mean it was the right move to make. If I was running Plymouth my plan would be the 340 as the base motor, followed by the 360 for the 1974 MY. I would have created a Fun Runner type stripe and wheel package for 318 buyers, essentially all the visual stuff of a Road Runner without the bird decal or the beep-beep horn. If some corporate honcho above me on the pecking order insisted on the 318 I'd go the "special" Road Runner Engine route. A 318 with a cam and heads from the 340 parts bin, topped with a 4 barrel Thermoquad. That hypothetical engine should have been available all the way till the end, the 1980 Volare Road Runner. 

Jim Morrison was a car guy?
Jim Morrison died 50 years ago today at 27 years young. Okay, we don't talk Shelby GT 500, a real muscle car. Nor do I know much of anything about Jim Morrison aside from singing a couple of hits I enjoy. The folks at Hagerty do. They have a good article on Jim Morrison and his Shelby GT 500 that seemingly has disappeared. Since the young Morrison fancied himself a filmmaker they is some footage of Jim and his prized Ford. 

Check it out.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/50-years-jim-morrisons-death-1967-shelby-gt500/?fbclid=IwAR2Id55zzB9837-lgvAKXQvxV0TqQqGhe0uhyRqeDdWwHDcWgV89IiFhMQY

Yes, I know there are some Charger pics in the collage. I'm a Mopar guy. 

Need to do this again. 
An impromptu decision to attend the 20th annual show at Chester NJ lead to a short yet enjoyable experience. The weather really helped this year although a very brief light shower toward the end probably freaked some car owners out. Light winds, temps in the low seventies and overcast meant walking around comfortable without getting a sun burn. We got there around 1:30pm just in time for lunch. While there are some lots packed with classic iron it's both sides of Main Street with parallel parked cars that are the attraction. Cars lumber up and down Main Street as you check out where you'll grab a bite to eat or the wife spies a cute blouse. We stopped at Pren Kitchen grabbing an outdoor table by the blue McLaren. I enjoyed the lamb burger topped by gorgonzola cheese with bacon and a side of Mac 'n Cheese. Thinking about how I really should have gotten a few pictures of Carmine's '74 GTO. 

Ford released a small pick up truck today.
It's not trivial. Ford launched a smaller pick up truck called Maverick, with a hybrid power train that supposedly will sticker for under $20K. Everybody is talking about it. That's not really our scene but the Ford Maverick Stallion is our bag. 

For 1976 the Grabber was dropped for a new appearance package called Stallion. Check out the pics. The Stallion package was also available on Mustang II and Pinto. Unfortunately this bad ass look could be ordered with mere mortal power trains. It could also be ordered with a 302 V8 and is a great platform for other Ford V8 engines...no GM LS please. 

Here is one for sale in Live Oak, Florida. Their asking price is $14.7K, a former magazine feature car with a worked 302. 
1976 Ford Maverick Stallion for sale: photos, technical specifications, description (topclassiccarsforsale.com)

I'd drive that, would you? Anybody know of any other hot Maverick Stallions out there? Hit me up. 

Malaise muscle sneaking into the DMC event
Well, show season and normal are back. Among the cars there were also smiles and hand shakes. Dead Man's Curve is a car club turned event business with a huge presence in the north east and probably known nationally among the  serious hot rod crowd. They throw an epic three day event each year to wind down summer, with other events during the year. 

 "a big family who shares the same passion for cartoon hot rods"

Their focus is hot rods and rat rods with their shows having a 1972 and Older rule on signage and posters. The DMC guys had an event this past Saturday at a drive-in theater. A gear head brother told me the 1978 Dodge Super Coupe shouldn't have a problem getting in. Dave was correct, they were happy enough to wave me in and take my $20. There were other malaise era machines on sight. Another Mopar 360 V8 in the form of a Lil' Red Express truck. A few non-chrome bumper Corvettes and a C4. An AMC Eagle four wheel drive sedan but not much else. Again no surprise, a DMC event is going to be heavy on hot-rods, rat-rods, Tri-Five like stuff and muscle cars, with a few genuine classics. Old foreign stuff gets in to, spotted a Jag E-type and flaired-out pre-fox body Capri, various air-cooled VW stuff. Modern Challengers, Mustangs and Corvettes were relegated to the spectator parking lot. I doubt my 1999 Trans Am would have gotten in, it's in that gray space of not quite classic yet but not modern anymore. There was a little swap meet and a magician. A DJ with deeper cuts than just doo-wop, I mistook Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot for something by Petula Clark. Decent grub from the on-site drive-in concession stand, a couple of iced coffees felt good on a warm morning. 

The drive to the sight was great with the windows down and the sunroof open. The old normal and car season are back! Get out and enjoy it. 

Find out more about DMC: ​Classic Car Club, Events & Shows | Northern New Jersey | Dead Mans Curve, LLC (deadmanscurveusa.com)

I've got the sickness from the HL/NL virus
I think I need to straight up warn you, dear reader. This post will seem like the ranting of a mad man. I feel crazed at the moment. I want to do something now. When I know what I really need to do, what would be best for me is to calm down. Calm down and forget this car. 

Let's go down this road again! What is it? A 1980 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner. Many react saying, "a what now"? Others call it garbage unworthy of the Road Runner badge. Back in the day meaning the 1980's. When my buddies and I were tooling around on legit Mopar A, B and E bodies we bought for under a grand. There was a black T-top 1980 Road Runner in a nearby 'hood. I don't who owned it but I always wanted it. That desire never left me. 

Through the years several 1980 Road Runners slipped through my fingers.

Today one is crossing the block at Mecum Indy. The good: Black, T-tops, manual transmission. The bad? Ughh, believe it or not for 1980 Plymouth offered the Road Runner with the indestructible Slant Six. I know, I know, some of you just learning this are incredulous. This one is 225 cid six equipped. I said I'd never buy one without a 318 V8 at minimum, fun fact the 360 V8 was dropped for 1980*. The T-top weather stripping looks shot as well. I'm sure it's got the fragile 7 1/4 rear axle.  

I'm bidding on this dog. Please pray that I'm outbid, I'm not sure how I'll explain it to my wife or to the other men at cars & coffee. 

​*Some claim the 360 V8 was available on the F-body in 1980. I'm not yet a believer. 

​UPDATE: the car sold for $18K which is Kit Car & Super Coupe money and no I wasn't the crazy s.o.b. that bought it.