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Dixie Classic Chevy Club's Newsletter
David Homoki, Editor (770-587-2916) |
NOVEMBER 2004 |
IMPORTANT CLUB DATES:
November 4: Meeting @ Piccadilly @ 6:30pm
Piccadilly’s is on Hwy 41 a few blocks south of the Big Chicken.
The Moultrie swap meet will be taking place November 19 through November 21.
If you are interested in going on this trip and need a hotel room, Bill Brown has
some extra rooms reserved. Please contact Bill with any questions.
We chose the fourth Saturday Cruise Night in Dallas as our October activity.
Unfortunately, it was cancelled for October, but we all ended up at the CC
Riders Cruise on Dallas Highway at Wendy's. Club participants included Dan
Lelak, George and Donna Blackshaw, Don Farnell, Lamar and Judy May, Bill and
Becky Brown. We also saw and visited with former members Gary and Therese
Caruso, Don and Linda Naugle, Mike Coyle, and Glen Barnett. We enjoyed the
cars, eating out, and most of all, visiting with these folks.
Old Blue Hits the Road Again-by Bill Brown
The only update on my '55 is that the fuel sending unit from Classic Chevy
in Florida was defective. It leaked gas profusely. I sent it back for a
replacement, and that was about the time we had a series of three hurricanes
in Florida. CCI told me that their parts house was struck by lightning, and
they were operating with a skeleton crew because many of their employees
were unable to be at work because their homes had been flooded. It took six
weeks to get my replacement fuel-sending unit. I got it last week and
installed it Saturday morning. Ole Blue is running again!
1958- First year for the Impala
1959 - Impala largest tail fins
1961 - Only year the Impala 2-door hardtop, and 2-door sedan were offered
1961 - Super Sport Introduced
1961 - Impala SS was introduced
1963 - Impala Super Sport Convertible made 123
1964 - Largest displacement V8 - 409
1965 - First curved side glass on every Impala
1967 - SS 427 model introduced
1968 - Safety belts became standard
1972 - Last year for the Impala Convertible
1975 - Radial tires became standard equipment on the Impala
Chevrolet has built 90 million Small Block Engines starting in 1955.
1955 introduction 265" 165hp two-barrel & 195hp four-barrel.
1957 283" and Rochester Fuel Injection 283hp.
1964 327" with 375hp.
1965 end of the Rochester Fuel Injection, Start Big Block
1967 302" SCCA 290hp.
1970 350" LT1 370hp.
1970 400" 240hp.
1975 Fuel crisis things go backwards 262" smallest small block.
1980 end of the 400" small block.
1992 Gen II 350" 300hp.
1997 Gen III All Aluminum 350" 345hp.
2002 LS6 Corvette 350" 405hp.
2005 50th anniversary 325" fuel-efficient Gen-IV.
2005 364" 400hp C6 Corvette & Cadillac.
Chevrolet history started way back in 1911 with William C. Durant, a man of
obvious entrepreneurial bent. Sadly, he wasn't as good at keeping control of
companies as he was at starting them. He founded General Motors in 1908, but
lost control of it in 1910. He had been expanding GM rapidly, buying up
jewels like Buick and Oldsmobile, but he also bought a few companies that
weren't so good. By July 1910 GM was $7 million in the red. The banks
financed a rescue package, but as part of the deal Durant lost control of
the company.
Durant was determined to get control of General Motors again, and as part of
his plan he started a new car manufacturing company in 1911. He hired Louis
Chevrolet who was a well known racing driver and a talented mechanic to
design the cars for the new company. Chevrolet's name was used for the new
enterprise.
The first car in the Chevrolet history was the 1912 Classic 6, a five seater
tourer that could hit 65 mph. It was an expensive car for the times at
$2150. A smaller six cylinder car followed, then Chevrolet had its first big
success with a four-cylinder, overhead-valve car that could be bought as a
tourer for the family man or two seat sporty roadster for the single man
about town.
Louis Chevrolet gave his name to the new car manufacturing company, but he
wasn't part of Chevrolet history for long, leaving the company in 1913.
Chevrolet laid down a challenge to Ford in 1915 with the 2.7 liter,
overhead-valve "490", so named because it cost $490. It was designed to
compete with the Ford's Model T, and it was a good seller, despite Ford
continuing to beat Chevrolet in cost and quality.
Chevrolet also sold cars higher priced cars competing with the Oakland and
Oldsmobile from GM in the $1100 -$1400 price range. The Type D, Chevy's
first V-8, was one of these, coming out in 1917 with overhead valves and 286
cubic inch capacity, and available as a tourer or roadster.
William Durant started the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware in 1915. He
exchanged shares in that company for GM shares to regain control of GM.
Chevrolet merged with General Motors in 1918.
WORKER BEES TITLE: MEMBER: President Bill Brown Vice President Bob Bryant Secretary Carol Lelack Treasurer George Blackshaw Newsletter Editor David Homoki Webmaster Ed Brown Dixie Classic Chevy Club P.O. Box 1121 Marietta, GA 30061-1121