Gene Middlebrooks had a dream. Working for a defense contractor in Florida making ballistic missiles, he wondered why the technology couldn't somehow be adapted for civilian use, sort of a rocket fuel for the masses idea. He started a now legendary company by the name of Turbonique and designed the mother of all power adders, well, three different versions, actually, a … [Read more...]
1969 Jaguar E-Type Gets Hot Rod Happiness From Ford
Jaguar E-Types were a beautiful car, sleek lines, long bonnet, good looks from every angle. The engine in the Series one and Series two was an overhead cam straight six that looked very British and sounded very nice, as did the V12 in the Series three, but sometimes they missed the mark on the reliability scale and the V12s had a rather nasty habit of overheating. Well, over … [Read more...]
2001 Yamaha Vmax with All of the Modifications You Really Want
Isn't it funny that the quintessential American muscle bike was built in Japan? Yamaha, back in 1985, first unleashed the Vmax on the streets of the USA and it looked and sounded like nothing else. The air scoops on the sides weren't functional, the tach was far too small, but no one cared, because the sound of the engine, especially when properly piped, was everything you … [Read more...]
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet Slant Six Comes Filled with Uncommon Potential
Sure, I know what you're thinking, what's so special about an early 60s Plymouth Valiant with a Slant Six? Well, to begin with, it brings back fond personal memories because I learned to drive in one, but wait, there's more! It has to do with Pratt and Miller Engineering and a certain doctor who thought one of these little grocery getters, the exact same model you see here, … [Read more...]
David Oreck’s 1944 Grand Champion Beechcraft G17S Staggerwing
If you appreciate fine machinery, your interests most likely spread beyond road going vehicles. For those of us with an eye on the sky, there are a few airplanes considered by aviation buffs to be among the finest ever designed and the Beech Staggerwing is one of those planes. David Oreck, yes, of vacuum cleaner fame, has been a pilot since World War II and his private airplane … [Read more...]