The Chevy Nomad models were produced from 1955 to 1961 with a body style of a 2-door sport wagon or a 4-door station wagon. The 2-door model was ceased in Nomad form in 1957. The body styling was mutually matched with the Pontiac Safari. The Chevy ‘Waldorf’ Nomad is packed with "Blue Flame" V6, or an optional "Turbo-Thrust" V8 (250 horsepower) engine Turboglide drivetrain affixed on it.

So where have all the Chevy Nomads gone? Nomads were mainly sold in the United States, where some of them can still be spotted on U.S. highways. Less than 8,000 were produced each year on average. But having a reputation as a great wagon, they are so rare and you’ll be having a hard time looking for one if you dare try.

So how much are these Nomads? Project-condition models usually sell for $10,000 to $13,000. Complete refurbishments, depending on the scarcity of the model options, may put up for sale for over $60,000! It’s a pretty expensive for a Nomad, huh?

Description and History:

From 1955 to 1957, Nomad was considered as the "true" version of the car, as later model years took the Chevy top-line station wagon and re-badged it as a Nomad which includes the Impala station wagon in 1959 and the Bel Air station wagon in 1960 and 1961.

True Nomads grasp an extraordinary place in the hearts of vintage Chevy fans because of the exceptional features established only on these cars. The car is so admired, that even a great number of associations, devoted completely to the Nomad, continue to enlarge their records each year. That’s a fact! Now what’s the stand of your Audi tail pipe dude?

It the time when the BMW shocks manufacturer is trying to make a name in the auto industry, one type of vehicle is petty famous among aficionados – the woodies. Consider yourself lucky if you chanced upon a Woody. Yep, a woody. That old rickety wooden car.

But not all woodies are wobbly you know. As a fact, some of them are preserved with utmost care and maintenance. Oh yeah, and you can have a good glimpse of them at the Klingberg Family Center’s 15th Annual Antique Auto show this morning.

If you aren’t familiar with woodies, let Wikipedia clear the blurry: “Prior to mid-1930s, hardwoods were used by most automotive makes in framing the passenger compartments of their passenger vehicles. In automobiles, the framing was sheathed in steel which was then covered in colored lacquers for protection. Eventually, all steel bodies were adopted because of their strength, cost and durability.

The first station wagons were a product of the age of train travel. They were originally called ‘depot hacks’ because they worked around train depots as hacks (short for hackney carriage, an old name for taxis). They also came to be known as ‘carryalls’ and ’suburbans’. The name ’station wagon’ is a derivative of ‘depot hack’; it was a wagon that carried people and luggage from the train station to various local destinations.”

The much-awaited antique show will showcase more than 30 “woodies” to your eyes satisfaction. Don’t forget to bring with you significant persons who would love to see the rare woodies. And oh – did I say to forget your digital camera is a mortal sin?

The not-so-usual event will be held at the center’s breathtaking hilltop campus in New Britain. There, visitors and antique car spectators can enjoy a day of fall foliage, oldies music and of course the display of wood-bodied cars and trucks better known as woodies.

Woodies were the most expensive cars offered in their day. Woodies ranging from station wagons to convertibles to the Klingberg’s own 1914 Model T Depot Hack.

Live music will be provided by local surf band The Clams’ at 3 p.m., and by DJ Dave Salonia. Visitors are welcome to practice their moves and join the dancers of "Circle of Life-Art" from East Hartford to learn the tango, trot and waltz, reported Courant.com.

Children can enjoy face painting, clowns, stilt walkers, jugglers and balloons, as well as antique toy displays and meals served in a souvenir cardboard car. Food will include clam chowder, chili, hot dogs, baked potatoes, homemade pie and car shaped cookies. A vintage and retro clothing and accessories shoppe will also be on-site to add to the old-time atmosphere, the report continued.

One good thing about the antique show is its goal. Do you have any idea of its purpose?

According to the organizers of the show, all proceeds from the event benefit programs reaching out to children and families across Connecticut, whose lives have been affected by abuse, neglect and severe family problems.

"It is important for the children who live here to know and to see the community come out in large numbers to support them, and have a great time," said Jill Fletcher, development representative and events coordinator at Klingberg Family Center.

The festival begins at 10 a.m. Gates open for antique cars at 8:30 a.m. and spectators are expected to stay until 3 p.m. General Admission is $5, kids under 12 are free and car registration costs $8. For more information about the antique show, visit www.klingberg.org.

The car was first produced in 1997 and was named the W168 A-Class. It was the very first front wheel drive passenger car from the German car maker. The Mercedes-Benz is not used to making cars with a front engine and front wheel. But today, Mercedes has made lots of vehicles with more than a million cars sold worldwide with those features.

The Mercedes car has a new system called the frontal-impact absorption system and this is also known as the "Sandwich". It is also seen on both DE4326 9 and DE4400132 patents. Wikipedia.com says, “In the event of a violent frontal impact, the engine and transmission would slide underneath the floor below the pedals rather than entering the passenger compartment.”

However, everything went to waste after it underwent the traditional "moose test" by the Swedish automobile publication Teknikens Värld. That was when it became infamous. The report says, the moose was overturned but the car maker denied the problem. However, Mercedes took a step to recall all the 2,600 units of their cars as well as “suspending distribution until the problem was solved by adding electronic stability control and modifying the suspension”, Wikipedia.com informs. Then the stability control on small cars premiered. The Mercedes A-Class W168 was voted to be the worst -handling car in Britain in the Top Gear Survey 2007.

There are actually only 59 of these 1911 Oldsmobile cars made and they are still considered to be limited series touring cars. And surprisingly, the more it ages, the more expensive it becomes. One 1911 Oldsmobile was at the Vintage Motor Cars at Hershey auction last week wearing a steamy hot price tag of $1.65 million. The car is really hot and it still wears the unretouched original tires.

The car had only three owners since it was revealed in 1911. It was seen in museums back in the 1950’s and was also parked in barn until it was discovered. The second owner attempted to do a restoration on the vintage car but he found it really hard to find a replacement for its original tires. Of course, its car parts are not as easy as that of Kia Canada which you can find anywhere. He bought tires but falied to put them on and now the original rubber is still on the vehicle. The leather seats were still intact and they remain to be amazingly usable after almost a hundred years.

It was really amazing how this car was able to retain its natural looks despite time. I guess no matter how much you try to revamp the car and you can even spend huge dollars over the 16-foot-long tourer but it will still be sellable at a high price even if the original parts are still used.

Okay, you may have your Dodge car with that Dodge Canada but do you know the first hybrid car in the US car market? Of course, you are familiar with Honda Insight, right? Well, it was of course made by the Japanese car maker Honda Motor Corporation as the first mass produced hybrid car in the US car market.

The first Honda hybrid car was introduced in the US car market in 1999 and was the most famous car to have 70 miles per gallon which was equivalent to 3.4 L per 100 km. The Honda Insight followed the first generation Toyota Prius made in 1997.

The EPA also released that the 5-speed manual transmission given to the Insight was the most fuel efficient mass produced vehicle in the US. The Honda Insight also received the ULEV rating by the California Air Resources Board because of its low emissions5-speed model. The SULEV rating was also given to the CVT model.

Wikipedia.com specifies the Honda Insight in these following descriptions:

Production: 1999 - 2006
Assembly: Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Class: Subcompact
Body style(s): 2-door hatchback
Layout FF layout
Engine(s) Gasoline: 0.995 L lean-burn I3 12-valve SOHC
Electric: 144 volt 10 kW
Transmission(s): 5-speed manual
Continuously variable transmission
Wheelbase: 2400 mm (94.5 in)
Length: 3945 mm (155.1 in)
Width: 1695 mm (66.7 in)
Height:1355 mm (53.3 in)
Curb weight: Manual w/o AC 1847 lb (838 kg), Manual w/ AC 1878 lb (852 kg), CVT w/ AC 1964 lb (891 kg)

The Honda Insight also won several Awards like the International Engine of the Year award for 2000 and was able to receive the "Sub-1 liter" size category for a couple consecutive years. And in 2001, the Insight was also able to receive the North American Car of the Year award.

The Honda Insight owners also dealt with the issues regarding the NiMH battery pack and how much would it cost them if they needed replacement. And then the Japanese car maker found an answer to this issue by paying a replacement to any batteries with 150,000 miles of use last October 2006 and this month, a dealer reported $5000US as replacement cost.

Rule #1: Complete the vintage car repertoire.
Rule #2: Purchase more.
Rule #3: Repeat rule #2.

Basically, those are the rules that make vintage car collectors go round. As much as possible, collectors want to amass every vintage car they see. But that’s impossible. With so many collectors around the globe, the distribution is good – though not even. Only the most ardent and the richest collectors hold the most dramatic vintage car collection.

If you belong to the “deprived” collector echelon, try to find an outlet to soothe your itch for precious, timeless vintage cars. Why don’t you visit your fellow collectors’ garage? The remedy could be as easy as that.

A New York Times‘ release took me to one grand garage…

About a century after old cars first became an issue (and about a century - less 10 minutes - after compulsive car collecting became an issue), the world is just coming to grips with the collector’s sunny-minded pathology.

And the facts are distressing. Thanks to this compulsion, the problem of insufficient storage space has sprinted right past the tipping point. It is commonplace to see neglected automotive nobility residing under toadstools, behind haystacks, in ponds, the reddish-orange rash of iron oxide spreading across the flanks like poison sumac.

At least one American entrepreneur is trying to solve that problem. Robert B. Machinist (his business card reads, Bob Machinist, Garage Man) is moonlighting from his day job as a managing partner at MB Investment Partners in Manhattan to provide succor to collectors by opening the Collectors Car Garage in Bedford Hills, in Westchester County, N.Y. (www.collectorscargarage.com).

“We opened in March 2005, and we’re now almost completely full,” says James Machinist, Robert’s son and the manager of the garage. With 120,000 square feet in three stories holding more than 200 cars, the garage is adding a 25,000-square-foot building adjacent to the original. In addition, a new 50,000-square-foot garage is planned for Jericho, N.Y.

The scale of the Collectors Car Garage’s public storage scheme, which Mr. Machinist describes as “a country club for car collectors,” is well suited to the care and feeding of high-end collectibles. At an owner’s request, stored cars are pampered with spalike services. Cars can be detailed for $200 or receive a premium detailing process, called Detail Plus, for $350.

Membership costs $400 a month for a year, offering the garage’s full range of services, including unlimited access to your car. Customers can view their cars by Webcam 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We have a patent pending on this concept,” Robert Machinist says.

Membership includes unlimited access to the clubhouse - one multipoint check of the car before you leave for a drive; four quick checks of fluid levels, tire pressures, dust and glass cleaning; three hours of use of the detail bay, one valet service, and more.

When you think the collectors’ rules aren’t meant for you, just aim to be their guest. Know what, I’m dying to see their garage!

I’m tired of seeing my garage with nothing but a cranky pickup and a so-so sedan. It also reminds me of my VW fuel pump that hollers: Hey, I need repairs! Omigosh! I certainly need a break.

I spent most of the time after work searching for other vintage muscle cars. And just last week, I got something very, very interesting… And it really got my attention, not just because of its great built and power, but the way it represented the character of a genuine and mean pioneering muscle car… It’s the Pontiac GTO from the first generation!

Through the researches I made for the past few days, I have gathered the main details about this ride. Most facts that I collected came from my number one source, Wikipedia.com, our free encyclopedia online! Check out the wonderful history of the Pontiac GTO First Generation!

The Pontiac GTO was a vehicle built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974 and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006. It is often well thought-out to be the first true muscle car. It was strongly related to the Pontiac Tempest from 1964 until halfway through 1973, but for its closing year, it was based on the Pontiac Ventura.

The Pontiac GTO was the creation of company engineer Russell Gee, which is an engine expert, and John De Lorean, Pontiac chief engineer. On the other hand, Shane Wiser was the first one to come up with the idea of the GTO. General Motors management subjected a proclamation prohibiting divisions from association in auto racing in early 1963. During that period, Pontiac’s marketing and advertising approach was greatly based on great performance, and one important part of that strategy was racing.

Early this morning I chanced upon an interesting article from Sify News. It caught my attention because of this one obvious reason – the release is all about my passion – vintage car collection.

The saga happened in Pune, India…

Zaheer Vakil, 73, bought his first car out of his pocket money when he was still in school, a 1928 Fiat. It took him 2 years to restore it. On his 18th birthday, when he got his license, he drove it to college.

That’s how the Pune resident’s journey of collecting vintage cars began. Today, he is the proud owner of 20 vintage and classic cars. While he still has the Fiat, among his other prized possessions are a 1947 Chrysler, a Windsor and a 1947 Buick, Super Convertible.

"One has to be born with a passion for cars, only then can you become a collector of vintage cars. Some people get pleasure in collecting paintings and art, but for me it’s cars. I take pleasure in restoring these cars," Vakil said. “He is the only one in his family who is still interested in cars. His daughter used to take part in car rallies but not any more.”

Another interesting tale came from the Poonawalla family, one of the oldest vintage car collectors in Pune. The clan’s collection may not have the oldest Dodge bed rail caps but the repertoire is jaw-dropping and could make many a heart skip a beat.

At present, the family has a fleet of 25 cars. According to Yohan Poonawala, collecting vintage cars is in his blood. At the car rally, he caught everybody’s attention when he rolled in his latest addition, "The Phantom" - a 2005 Rolls Royce worth Rs 35 million.

Poonawalla, a Rolls Royce fanatic, also owns Phantom III. He said that in the pre-independence era, Indian maharajas used to import 25% of the Rolls Royce cars.

In 1950’s, a number of vintage car collectors from various countries around the globe arrived at Pune to buy those priceless collections at much cheaper prices. To safeguard India’s auto industry as well as vintage car collectors, the Indian government banned the exportation and importation of such cars.

"It was a very good move at that time, but now times have changed; we would like to appeal to the commerce ministry to lift the ban on the import of vintage cars. That will not affect the Indian car industry any more and at the same time we can also import vintage cars from abroad," said Poonawalla, who is a member of the Rolls Royce Enthusiast club in Britain.

"Beggars can’t be choosers - finding a good vintage car has become increasingly difficult with time," added Poonawalla.

In the last 15 years, the Poonawalla clan has added 15 cars to its collection. But Poonawala feels that with the increasing population in the territory, driving these expensive cars is no more fun. He is forced to drive his 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo, only in the middle of the night. This is because daytime the traffic is pretty bad.

But no matter what, there’s no stopping them… They know priceless beauties await them.

Where would you go if you want to buy a vintage car?  No ideas yet? How about trying ClassicCars.com?  The said site literally has thousands of vintage vehicles on their inventory.  With that wide range of selection, I’m sure you can find one that you really like. According to them, they have more than 10,000 classic cars to choose from. It truly is a haven for classic car hunters.

The site connects buyers and sellers in a way that Cupid brings two people together. LOL. But that’s what the company really does; they pride themselves in their ability to  match people who are looking for a certain car and those people who are looking to sell a car similar to the one that the former is looking for.  The popularity of the car among classic car enthusiasts cannot be denied. Every month, the site receives 2.5 million page views (wish I could say the same for my blog right here).  According to the autochannel.com, ClasicCars.com targets the more than 165,000 auto buffs in the country.

To accommodate the increasing traffic and to make their services even better, the site has been improved and the latest version of the site was launched in January this year. According to Roger Falcione, founder and president of ClassicCars.com traffic have increased tenfold after the launching to their site’s latest version.  With more and more traffic going into the site, the number of classic car enthusiasts finding their dream vintage car will obviously increase.

"We are dedicated to matching buyers with sellers and to helping classic car buffs buy, sell, restore and maintain their prized collector cars," said Falcione. "Our growth these past nine months has far exceeded our expectations and puts us in an even better position to execute on our mission."

Here are some of the vehicles on ClassicCars.com’s inventory:

• 1937 Ford Sinster
• 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 
• 1965 Chevrolet Corvette 
• 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS 
• 1957 Ford Fairlane 
• 1965 Ford GT40 
• 1925 Lincoln Fleetwood limousine
• 1969 Dodge Coronet 
• 1932 Chevrolet 5 Window Coupe
• 1969 Mercury Cyclone
• 1957 Chrysler 300C
• 1951 Mercury 2-Door Sedan Coupe
• 1996 Porsche 911
• 1934 Ford pickup

Dave Hackett, vice president of Operations for the company has this to say about how they deal with their customers: "A pleasant user experience is paramount to our business model.  We built our Web site from the ground up with our customers’ and partners’ needs in mind. Online classifieds are our core business, not an afterthought."