05/21/2008

Exciting World of Muscle Cars and Hot Rods

Have you ever heard of a car with muscles?

Yes muscle cars, they are in a breed of their own with extremely powerful torque and high horse power capability. First thing that you'll notice of these cars is their bulky curves and high-performance z rated tires for which muscle cars are very much known.

Muscle cars were giants of the drag racing world way back in 1960's till early part of 1980's. Powered by V8 engine and special trim intended for maximum torque, these cars dominated the 50's – 70's era, with every man dreaming of owning a muscle car. Even females couldn't resist its looks, when a vintage car passed by.

Muscle cars are totally different with supreme torque that can take down any of today's sports cars and with elegant interiors; they make a personal style statement of their own. So next time when you hit the gas in a muscle car; be ready for a jaw-dropping ride!!!

Hot rodsare vintage cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Car owners modify their production car in the attempt to increase acceleration and top end speed. Most Americans are fond of restoring vintage cars as hot rods. Traditional hot rods are made by reusing original, old parts from the junkyard and remanufacturing cars that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. But street rodding is based on building or getting cars built with new parts.

A typical hot rod is heavily modified by replacing the engine and transmission and a few other components, including brakes and steering.Hot rods look great with the abundance of chrome parts, fat tires, modified engine and various body panels removed. Most hot rods are typically painted with a design of flames behind the front wheels.

05/15/2008

Customized Collectibles - Lowriders and Hot Rods

Since it's inroduction, Lowriders have been an evolution and have taken the world by storm, it has also taken the mainstream automotive industry by surprise--no one seems to know where the world's number one auto trend came from. Lowriders are highly modified classic cars or trucks, which ride at a very low level to the ground. With the use of modern day hydraulics, users have height adjustable suspension. Most of the
Lowriders are vintage cars of the 1940’s to 1960’s.


Lowering cars to almost the sidewalk level and customizing them dramatically has been a status symbol.
Lowriders signify prestige. In the 1940's people had to wait for Sundays to catch a glimpse of a Lowrider. Soon enough Lowriders became a trademark for anyone seeking for attention or for someone cruising highways day after day. Lowrider cars inspired the making of lowrider bicycles.


Creating a lowrider is an art that’s evolved from using heavy weights and chopping springs to bring the body close to the ground; to modern day hydraulics that raise and lower the car, and also make it hop, and tilt it from side to side. Lowriders are designed with triple dipped chrome accessories, gold plating, stunning paint schemes, twin side pipes, spot lights, wire wheels, spinners and more. One can see a lot of vehicle makes, visual styles and a diverse mix of cultures in lowriders. A lowrider's internal parts are more likely to get damaged from road surface imperfections and obstructions.


Traditional low riders were made from cars of the 1960’s like Chevy Impala, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Lincoln Continentals, and Pontiac Grand Prix. At times they are radically modified reducing them to pure show cars.


Hot rods, the typical American cars with large engines modified for linear speed are a compelling blend of vintage cars and today’s high performance engines. Car owners modify their production car in the attempt to increase acceleration and top end speed. For most Americans restoring their vintage cars as hot rods is more of a national sport.


The vintage cars of the 40’s to 60’s still have the potential to turn heads and that’s why there’s so much craze for
Hot rods. The traditional hot rodding concept was based on reusing original, old parts from the junkyard and remanufacturing cars that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. But the street rodding concept is based on building or getting cars built with new parts.


While modifying a vintage car to a hot rod – one of the things is to reduce the weight of the vehicle by removing certain parts. That’s why hot rods have abundance of chrome parts and minimalistic chassis with no roof, hood, bumpers, seats, windscreens or fenders. Sometimes the original engines are replaced by high speed ones and tires are fattened up for extra traction. Most hot rods are typically painted with a design of flames behind the front wheels. Building a hot rod requires skills in mechanics, welding, automotive paint and body work.



Hot rods catered to the rebellion and attention seeking needs of American teenagers. The modifications of hot rods are a vent to the frustrations of conventional styling. Hot rodding is an art work that replenishes the golden past with the present day high speed performance. Hot rods are a display of American pride.

05/14/2008

Souped Up Cars – Lowriders, Hot Rods and Concepts

Souped up cars are so awesomely breathtaking – Lowriders, Hot Rods, Concept Cars, Custom Cars, Muscle Cars and the list just goes on…. Spellbound watching the ravishing performance cars go zoom at full speed?



Lowriders are classic cars or trucks of the 1940’s to 1960’s, whose suspension system has been modified so that it rides at a very low level to the ground. With the use of modern day hydraulics, users have height adjustable suspension.



Lowriders also include Competition hoppers, cars built with an emphasis on the hydraulic suspension to give them a maximum ability to hop, especially for competitions. But they are less artistic and less luxurious too.


Hot rods are vintage cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Car owners modify their production car in the attempt to increase acceleration and top end speed. Most Americans are fond of restoring vintage cars as hot rods. Traditional hot rods are made by reusing original, old parts from the junkyard and remanufacturing cars that were popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. But street rodding is based on building or getting cars built with new parts.


A typical hot rod is heavily modified by replacing the engine and transmission and a few other components, including brakes and steering. Hot rods look great with the abundance of chrome parts, fat tires, modified engine and various body panels removed. Most hot rods are typically painted with a design of flames behind the front wheels.


Concept cars are important to the automotive industry as they are car prototypes made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. Very often concept cars are seen in motor shows with an intention to gauge end user reaction of the latest and radical changes. But these concept cars don’t always go into production. They are just experimental pieces to test the waters before diving into large scale production. Concepts are a great way for car designers to fine tune their styling, designing and engineering skills. Concept cars with a complete transformation in design, appearance or engineering truly stand out.


Production cars are what normally everyone has, but souped up cars are cool toys for the big boys!