Annual Local Car Cruise

Here are some photos from our recent local hometown cruise, which was held on Sunday, August 27, 2017.

We have missed attending this annual cruise only a few times since it started around 1997. We were not able to attend in 2014, but we returned in 2015, 2016 and this year, all thanks to Cousin Mark's long-time friendship with Ron, and his involvement with the GTO for MANY years, for which he has been its Chief Mechanic.   Nothing like having an automotive expert in the family!

For example, several years ago, the carburetor was in trouble and Mark's expertise brought it back to life.  He is one of a very few people today who know how to fix an 'old' carburetor!    And a few years later he utilized his automobile painting skills to remove and expertly repaint the important (and historic) Endura bumper, which after some 40 years had developed some chips and thin cracks - a common situation for this unique design innovation starting with the 1968 GTO.  It created quite a 'buzz' at the time, in the automotive world.  This design eliminated the usual chrome bumper and added a safety factor.   

 Here is a great article about it the Endura bumper:

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2006/07/Endura-Front-Bumper/1296846.html 

Here is Mark's car, the famous 1974 Bricklin, 

which is often mistaken for a DeLorean

because of the gull-wing doors.   It is a very rare car,
and it's amazing that we have one in the family!  
Mark was able to overcome many of the car's issues
which caused its 'poor' reviews.  It's certainly a beautiful
design and is a show-stopper!   

Both the Bricklin and DeLorean had production problems and

were manufactured for only two years, although the Bricklin
had models designated 1974, 1975, and 1976.

(Bricklin 1974-75; DeLorean 1981-83)

 

However, the DeLorean has been 

immortalized in the

'Back to the Future'  movies;

therefore, everyone thinks the gull-winged Bricklin is a DeLorean!

Actually the Bricklin is much more futuristic-looking 
with the 'nose' of the car having 

 hidden headlights cleverly incorporated 

into the distinctive sloped bumper.   

An exceptional article about the Bricklin can be found here:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1974-1975-bricklin-sv1.htm 

However, an earlier gull-wing door car was 

actually produced in 1954 - the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

An amazing design!  

This car cost $11,000 in 1954,  (out of range of average wage earner)

and is worth at least a million today! Very rare!