This 1949 pickup started with the idea of building a vintage truck from the ground up with as many new parts as possible. Upon completion of the truck, a total of five original parts were used on the finished vehicle: the radiator support (scrounged from the Roadster Shop parts graveyard), a pair of door strikers, and a couple of body mounts that could not be located in reproduction form.

The Roadster Shop specializes in complete high performance chassis and one of their ’46-59 Chevy Pickup packages built on custom 10-gage fully boxed rails is the foundation of the whole package. Components include a Heidt’s Superide independent front suspension, dropped spindles and tubular motor mounts plus a Ford 9-inch rear end with triangulated four bars and coilovers.

Modern performance continues under the hood, stuffed with a 410hp, 5.7-liter LS1 crate engine mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission. Wheels are 18×8 and 17×7 Wheel Vintiques Billet Smoothies with 225 and 235-series Bridgestone radials alongside Wilwood six-piston 13 inch front disks, with 11 inch four-pistons in the back.

Source: Roadster Shop Press Release

The 1948 Tucker sedan was an advanced automobile conceived by Preston Tucker and briefly produced in Chicago in 1948. Only 51 examples were made before the company folded on March 3, 1949. Studebaker was first with an all-new post-war model. But Tucker took a different tack, designing a safety car with innovative features and modern styling. His specifications called for a rear engine like Porsche, disc brakes, fuel injection and a padded dashboard. The final car was only 60 inches (1524 mm) tall, but was very roomy inside. It featured a directional third headlight, dubbed the “Cyclops Eye,” for use in turns. It lit up whenever the car was steered by more than 10 degrees. The body design came from Alex Tremulis and was called the most aerodynamic in the world. Although it still sported pre-war type fenders, it was startlingly modern. Mathematically-computed drag coefficient was only 0.27, though this was ’rounded up’ publicly to 0.30. Today, the ’48 Sedan has fame far greater than would be expected from its modest production run. Of the 51 cars built (50 production and 1 prototype), 47 still exist, the majority in excellent condition. This particular example is professionally and correctly restored to show specifications. From the Ron Pratte Collection. **CHASSIS NUMBER 1043 – ENGINE NUMBER 33550**

Car Sold for $2,915,000 including buyers commission.

Source: Barrett-Jackson.com

Last night this beautiful 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible rolled across the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale stage and brought over $70,000. It has a Body-off restoration on a California car. All rebuilt 312cid V8 with an automatic transmission. Power steering, brakes and wire wheels. Rare Dusk Rose paint. New white interior.

Source: Barret-Jackson.com

Fulfilling the wish of every child who has ever played with one, Chevrolet and Hot Wheels® have created a life-size Hot Wheels Camaro Concept. The car debuted at the 2011 SEMA Show – the aftermarket industry’s premier display of automotive toys.

The Camaro Hot Wheels concept is inspired by the “Custom Camaro” – the dazzling Spectraflame® 1:64-scale toy that was part of the original 16 Hot Wheels cars released in 1968. The project was a collaborative effort between the General Motors Design studio in Michigan and the Hot Wheels Design studio in California. Each sketched its own ideas of a life-size Hot Wheels Camaro, compared notes and refined their visions until the concept hit the right note for each group of designers.

“The Camaro has been a mainstay in the Hot Wheels lineup since 1968,” said Phil Zak, GM design director. “Several generations of car enthusiasts grew up playing with Hot Wheels Camaros, while dreaming of driving the real thing, so this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality.”

There was a similar buzz of excitement in the Hot Wheels studio.

“The Hot Wheels and Camaro brands have been paired together since their inception,” said Felix Holst, vice president of design for the Mattel Wheels Division. “As part of the brands historic sweet 16, the Camaro was the first Hot Wheels car ever produced. The Spectraflame paint and redline tires of those first Hot Wheels cars have been the dreams of guys for generations, and it was thrilling to inject these elements into a Camaro for real.”

The synergistic project created a car that is instantly identifiable as a Camaro with styling cues – including flat-black graphics, red-line wheels and, of course, the dazzling metallic-green finish – that are classic Hot Wheels.

The original Hot Wheels cars debuted with their metallic Spectraflame paint finishes, and the Camaro Hot Wheels Concept features a brilliant, chrome-style finish created in a similar manner: a tinted top coat over a shiny base.

In the case of the original Hot Wheels lineup, the process involved polishing the die-cast metal vehicle bodies and applying a metallic lacquer to them. With the Camaro Hot Wheels Concept, the process was decidedly more complicated.

“We are always looking for innovative ideas and processes that push the boundaries of design – including paint finishes – and the Hot Wheels concept definitely stretched our team to the limit,” said Zak. “They had to essentially invent a new way to paint the car.”

The reflective finish was created using Gold Touch Inc.’s Cosmichrome product, starting with the application of a primer coat on an immaculately prepared surface. The primer coat was then sprayed with a liquid-metal solution to create the mirror-smooth, silver-chrome base coat. Afterward, the green tint was applied in several layers until the just-right color effect was achieved.

“It may sound pretty straightforward, but no one had ever tried using this process to paint a whole car,” said Zak. “The bodywork and paint team experimented with several processes before spraying the first body panel. There were so many variables that contributed to getting the finish perfect, from the drying time to the air pressure of the spray guns – none of which was known before this project – and the team absolutely nailed it perfectly.”

Additional features of the Camaro Hot Wheels Concept include:

• Over Chrome Green paint with ghosted Hot Wheels logo on the quarter panels
• Satin black ground effects (splitter, rocker and rear fascia-side extensions)
• Satin black wheels with milled face and Torch Red stripe: 20×10-inch (front) and 20×11-inch (rear)
• ZL1 grille with Hot Wheels badging
• Hot Wheels badge on the decklid
• Euro-style taillamps with new inner smoked lens
• Euro-style rear fascia with new diffuser and exhaust bezels
• ZL1 rear spoiler
• Chevrolet Accessories Modified Satin Black Stripe
• Black aluminum “CAMARO” fender badges with milled face
• Black aluminum hood insert with milled hood vent extractors
• Chevrolet Accessories Synergy Series gill decals
• Black leather-wrapped IP and door inserts with Torch Red accents, and cut-and-sew flames
• Hot Wheels sill plates
• Hot Wheels cut-and-sew embroidered logos in the front seatbacks
• Chevrolet Accessories pedal kit
• Chevrolet Accessories footwell and cup holder lighting (red)
• Brembo brakes: six-piston front with two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers (Chevrolet Official Licensed Product)
• Suspension lowering kit by Pedders (Chevrolet Official Licensed Product)
• Chevrolet Accessories strut tower brace
• Chevrolet Accessories black engine cover
• Chevrolet Accessories exhaust system

Under the hood is the all-aluminum 6.2L LS3 V-8 backed by the Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.

Collector’s model

Hot Wheels will offer a collector’s edition 1:64-scale model based on the full-size Concept. Purchase information is available at www.hotwheelscollectors.com, as well as the Hot Wheels and Chevrolet Camaro Facebook pages.

It will be the 18th 1:64-scale Hot Wheels Camaro model produced since 1968, all with a variety of colors and configurations. During the past 44 years, literally millions of Hot Wheels Camaro models have been produced.

The original Custom Camaro from 1968 remains one of the most valuable Hot Wheels toys among collectors. That year, Hot Wheels produced all the Custom Camaro models with Spectraflame paint – except for one version in white enamel.

Today, examples of the Spectraflame Custom Camaro in excellent condition can sell for $150 or more. Only 15 white enamel versions are known to exist, and none are in their original packages.

“The value of a white enamel Custom Camaro is upwards of $3,000,” said Holst. “But if one still existed in the package, the value could be tens of thousands of dollars.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended gasoline range, according to EPA estimates. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Source: GM Press Release

Here are the results from the McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction. The overall top seller was a 2007 Bentley Continential GTC that sold for $121,800. The top seller amongst classic cars was a 1954 Cadillac El Dorado Convertible that sold for $81,375.00. For a complete list of the results visit http://www.classic-carauction.com/auction_results_list.cfm?auctionnbr=51

Source: McCormick Palm Springs Colllector Car Auction Press Release

The 2011 Tampa Bay International Auto Show was truly a spectacular event. Manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler, Lexus, Toyota, Dodge just to name a few were on hand to show off their 2012 lineup. Here are just a few of the pics. To view the entire photo gallery just click on the link below.

Click Here to View Entire Photo Gallery

Tail Fins and Chrome was so excited to be a part of the inaugural Ocala Pumpkin Run Classic Car Show hosting an estimated 3,000 vehicles. With 400 beautiful acres at Castro Farms as the location for the event, car enthusiasts and spectators enjoyed an exceptional event!

”Horsepower in Horse Country” was something not to be missed!

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to The Children’s Home Society of Florida charity. This incredible charity works wonders with children and their families facing difficult circumstances.

If you missed the event, enjoy some photos (with video coming soon!), plus, they will be back in the Spring, so check TailFinsandChrome.com and OcalaPumpkinRun.com for more information coming soon!

Below is just a few of the photos taken at this great event. To view the entire photo gallery click on the link to visit our Flickr page

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailfinsandchrome/sets/72157628089651332/

Tail Fins and Chrome takes the 2011 SEMA Show by storm. The world’s largest aftermarket automotive show is a car enthusiasts field of dreams. Enjoy the pictures!

Holden has gone back to the future, restoring its first concept car – the 1969 Holden Hurricane.

The futuristic research vehicle described as an experiment “to study design trend, propulsion systems and other long-range developments” has been restored to its former glory as a labor of love by a dedicated group of Holden designers and engineers.

Codenamed RD 001, the Hurricane is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat sports car incorporating a remarkable array of innovative features and technology, much of it years ahead of its time.

Features such as electronic digital instrument displays, station-seeking radio, automatic temperature control air conditioning, rear-vision camera and an automated route finder were all showcased in this ground-breaking vehicle 42 years ago. Many of these technologies have only recently made their way into mass production, demonstrating Holden’s remarkable foresight into both design and engineering technology.

The Hurricane stole headlines and dropped jaws nationwide when it debuted at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show.

Michael Simcoe, executive director GMIO Design, said it was fantastic to see such a significant vehicle restored.

“At Holden we have always prided ourselves on our ability to look into the future through our concept cars,” Simcoe said. “It’s amazing to think that the features we take for granted today were born out of creative minds over 40 years ago.”

As its code name suggests, the RD 001 was the first product of the GMH Research and Development organization, staffed by a small squad of engineers working in conjunction with the Advance Styling Group at the Fishermans Bend Technical Center in the 1960s.

The team that designed and built the original Hurricane employed some advanced technologies and techniques when it came to the powertrain. Powered by an experimental 4.2-liter (253-cubic-inch) V8, this engine was a precursor to the Holden V8 engine program which entered production in late 1969.

The Hurricane’s V8 engine featured many advanced design components such as the four-barrel carburettor – a feature which wouldn’t be seen on a production 253ci Holden V8 until the late 1970s. The end result was approximately 262hp (193kW), a towering power output in 1969 and one that ensured the Hurricane had the go to match its show.

Perhaps the most innovative features were the “Pathfinder” route guidance system and the rear-view camera.

The “Pathfinder”, essentially a pre-GPS navigation system, relied on a system of magnets embedded at intersections along the road network to guide the driver along the desired route. A dash-mounted panel informed the driver of which turn to take by illuminating different arrows, as well as sounding a warning buzzer.

The rear view camera was also a ground-breaking innovation. Engineers using a closed-circuit television system with a camera mounted in the rear bumper feeding a small black-and-white TV mounted in the center console.

Former Holden Chief Studio Engineer Rick Martin led the modern-day Hurricane team in researching the vehicle’s components, systems and history.

“There are some genuinely remarkable ideas and technology in the Hurricane,” Martin said. “From the automatic air-conditioning and magnet-based guidance system, to the inertia-reel seat belts and metallic paint, this was a car that was genuinely ahead of its time.

“The hand-picked team of engineers and designers who built the original Hurricane worked in strict secrecy and began Holden’s now proud tradition of ground-breaking concept cars.”

RD 001 stands just 990mm high and has no conventional doors. A hydraulically powered canopy opens upwards and forward over the front wheels, combined with twin “astronaut type” power-elevating seats which rise up and pivot forward, along with the steering column for ease of access. Occupants are then lowered to a semi-reclining position before the roof closes over them.

The wind tunnel-tested fiberglass body consists of three segments; the canopy, the engine hood and body shell and was finished in an experimental aluminium flake-based metallic orange paint.

Safety innovations included a foam-lined fuel tank, integrated roll-over bar, digital instrument readouts, ignition safety locks, interior padding and a fire warning system.

The project to restore RD 001 began in 2006 and has been a genuine labor of love for some very dedicated Holden designers and engineers volunteering thousands of hours of their time..

Paul Clarke, Holden’s manager for Creative Hard Modelling, has been largely responsible for managing the restoration. He ensured as many of the original parts as possible have been used or remade using modern techniques to 1969 specification.

“The entire team has done a fantastic job in bringing this beautiful concept back to life,” Clarke said. “The Hurricane plays a crucial role in Holden’s story and the company has such a great sense of history and heritage that it was very important to bring RD 001 back to life. It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding process.”

Since the debut of the Hurricane in 1969, Holden has built a global reputation for envisioning and executing world-class concept vehicles. Holden is recognized globally within General Motors as a center of excellence for concept vehicle and show car development and is one of only three GM design studios capable of designing and building concept cars.

Design executive Simcoe added that the Hurricane holds a special place in Holden’s history as it kick-started Holden’s long love affair with concepts that has since seen the likes of the iconic GTR-X, Torana TT36, Coupe 60, the GMC Denali XT (requested specifically by GM for the North American market) and the award-winning EFIJY.

The Holden Hurricane will be on display to the public at the Motorclassica, car show at the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building from October 21-23.

Source: Holden Press Release