The Junkman

I regularly get gas for a $1 less in NorCal (Costco though). Just remember the picture was taken #1 right off I-5 (convenience) #2 its Chevron which in my experience always runs higher than the prevailing rate #3 its in Silverlake in LA, a bit more affluent than other parts of LA so residents don't balk as much about the prices (ever notice where they put Whole Food stores?) and #4 its California gas so the exhaust emits rainbows and smells of orange blossoms.

Everyone has a different opinion but mine is that the Aurora nose incorporated some but not all the changes made by Shelby et al. You'll want to take a look at the canard (?) spoilers at the front corners and the brake ducting under the nose inlet. You may need to look at the radiator outlet on the hood but I thought the shape was pretty close. The wheels are a really bad representation of wire wheels which, after the engines were "breathed on" by Shelby American, tended to fail due to the increased horsepower and they were heavy. Thus the change to Halibrands before the racing season began. The engine, such as it is, is distinctly undersized. Source another 289 or button the body down. I've got some photos I can post to illustrate the points on the 1 to 1. Like I said its a basis for a GT40 of a limited time frame and after that the changes were numerous and noticeable.

Honestly, I'm not sure the effort is worth it given the wide availability of the various Fujimi kits. The Aurora kit body is a pretty good basis for the early 1965 races (Daytona, Sebring) so I've got a Fred Cady sheet for those. After that the variations abound.

I've got pretty much every commonly released book on that era, including Cobra-Ferrari Wars. Don't poo-poo The Ford that Beat Ferrari , amazingly enough being re-issued 3rd edition next month.

Ask my wife, she'd be glad to show you. With commentary.

On US101 south of Cloverdale, CA. 3 (three) Duesenberg Model J's. Traveling together. 2 sedans and a roadster. I was driving and my wife is tech phobic as far a camera phones are concerned so no photos I'd never seen one outside of a museum but to see 3 in the wild.... Figure it had to be some event or a magazine article or something. Still only about $4-5 million worth of cars in 100 yards of space.

Then there was the time Animaniacs covered "Little Old Lady from Pasadena"

And then you have this, which at the end of the process gives you a trunk where a trunk ought to be. https://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-will-now-convert-classic-beetles-to-electric-1837900039

In Sonoma Ca, (affluent town with big tourist scene) among all the late model Corvettes, a teal blue Porsche GT3, and an absolutely sanitary 55-57 black T-bird convertible-there was a classic Lotus Ford Cortina in the equally classic white with green side spear. Haven't seen one in probably 25-30 years. Oh, and a partial white vinyl over blue 75-76 Chevy Monte Carlo. All in all a good day.

Looks Ferrari-like. I do hope Ford decides to play again. Natural competition

There they bite, here they appear to be magnetically attracted. So much so that they always seem to burn rubber until the point of contact.

Am I the only one who thinks the 1st iteration of the Countach was a revelation, then every change they made to it was a subtraction. Compare and contrast to the one above. Still can't hold a candle to the Miura though.

You sure that isn't a Fiero in drag?

I did find the photo of the Las Vegas sign to be interesting. The neighborhood has certainly changed since that photo was taken. ?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/california-vintage-neon-sign-photo-model Nor Cal types will be able to relate to the subject matter.

I got one of the newish Revell Ford GT Le Mans kits from Amazon. ( Hey, I needed something to bring the dimmer switch for our halogen torch lamp over the free shipping threshold.) It looks nice and now have to decide what color scheme to use. Indycals have a very nice selection.

And then you add a bit of "out of the box" thinking. Chapparal 2d Daytona 1967

OK, I'll allow that the Mustang II is my least favorite of the series but they sold a boatload of them from '74-78 so it had to be the right car for its time. The 1970's was a terrible time for cars (Vega anyone?). But I have to say the Mustang is my consistent favorite having owned 3 (1967, 1979-came with the wife, and current 2013). Ford kept the design philosophy throughout and just updated the particulars.

Were I of such a mind, I would totally own a retired hearse. Not necessarily in black, and I like white but a deep metallic burgundy would be the boss. Lowered just a bit.

The current issue Revell '32 Ford 5 window at Michaels w/50% off coupon. I've got the 3 window version but somehow the 5 window got by me. Leafing through old issues of Hot Rod Journal as we speak, for research purposes of course.

Excaliber? I saw Rod Steward driving one in West Hollywood in 1979 with a smashing blonde in the passenger seat. I wanted one then. The blonde, not the car. Seeing how many few are on the road now, I'd say it was an.....inferior auto.

If you blow up the photo you'll note that it has California distributor license plates. Its for companies other than dealers and manufacturers who deal in new vehicle distribution (naturally). Third parties, independent agents, lessors. The center numbers identify the company and the little numbers on the right side identify the specific plate issued to the company. The distributor pays for any number of plates but only one has to be put on the car and could be attached to another car next week. Since the Supra is already on the market and its not a Toyota company owned car, I'd say its probably been wrapped for a future customer of the distributor.

"If you have to ask the price.....etc, etc."

The BMW-ish sidehack from the "Last Crusade". BMW(ish) because the original tooling was "liberated" from Germany at the end of WWII and parts are still available. I'd not pay the estimated price on most of those ($60-80K for the Bat Boat? Something that had 5-7 seconds of screen time?) but then again I'll probably not be asked to.

Got some reference material for you Jan/2018 The Peterson Auto Museum in LA.