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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1981)
Pag« 11 Turn a Bug in to a M e rce d e s A 1929 Mercedes Roadster SS is an unusual sight on America's highways and byways these days. That’s why Bob M iller and his wife, Donna, got more than their normal share of attention while they were driving across the United States last summer. Everywhere they went folks wanted to talk about Miller's car. “ But they were really impressed when I told them I built it myself.” Miller, a purchasing agent with General Electric in San Jose. Calif., is one of the rap idly growing number of “kit car ’ or replicar builders who are paying anywhere from $4,500 to $6.500 for a basic kit — exclusive of the engine and chassis. His 29 Mercedes replicar is also known as the Lance, manu factured by Motorcar Clas sics of California. Its fiber glass body is mounted, like a Two kit ca rs’ — a 1953 MC»TI) replica, foreground, and a great many replicars, on a 1929 M ercedes SS replica, background. Volkswagen chassis and en gine. style sports cars The first g ra v ity and widens the There are few statistics auto show devoted entirely wheelbase At the same relating to this comparative to replicars was held recent time, the kit cars’ fiberglass ly unregulated industry, but ly in Long Beach. bodies are up to 25 percent manufacturers insist busi “ I ’d always been a Chevy lighter, which accounts for ness is booming. While man before this project,” their better-than-average Chrysler and Ford show M iller says, adding that he’s gas mileage. rooms are closing th e ir worked on his own cars for ‘They’re not only better doors, replicar dealerships years, including rebuilding looking than most cars com are springing up virtually their engines. "I didn’t ex ing off the assembly line,” every day. pect the finished project to says Motorcar Classics pres Kit Car Guide, one of a turn out as well as it did. For ident Tom Piper, "they’re number of auto magazines one thing, it doesn’t drive better built — and cheaper ” devoted to the replicar in like a VW, it hugs the road A hallmark of the present- dustry. featured 130 differ like a sports car But we still day replicar industry is the ent models in its annual re got 31 miles per gallon on growing experience in de view. ranging from old clas our long trip.” sign, workmanship and engi sics like the 29 Mercedes to That’s because the conver neering the most futuristic Italian sion lowers the center of For example, Motorcar Racing te c h n o lo g y helps re g u la r cars Americans who are con safety — and saved on fuel, cerned about adding more vehicle life and tire costs. years to the lives of their Pirelli Tire Corp, a subsi cars and getting more mile age from their shrinking gas diary of Societa Pneumatici dollars are discovering that Pirelli S p.A has been work equipping the family auto ing on the low-profile radial mobile with fuel-efficient tire for several years In tires is a great way to con early 1980. they introduced the worlds first standard serve gas — and money Steel-belted radial tires performance fuel-saving tire offer about 6 percent better which combined low friction gas mileage than regular m aterials and advanced bias-belted tires. They do tread pattern to reduce roll this by reducing rolling re ing resistance by as much as sistance. a major factor af 20 percent. This results in savings of 4 percent in fuel fecting fuel efficiency The wider, lower radials consumption per car put more tire tread on the It also offers better per road Handling, responsive formance and a quieter, ness. comfort and mileage more comfortable ride If a are all improved The radial majority of American driv tire also gives the average ers were to opt for such a driver the bonus of a safe radial, U S fuel consumption ride could be cut by 30 million Most Americans now real barrels of oil per year ize the importance of high- The development of the technology tires for every new tire technology by day driving In a recent survey con Pirelli has been enhanced by ducted by the Bekaert Steel an involvement in interna Wire Corp, of Akron. Ohio, tional motor sport activities supplier of steel for radial The company supplies tires. 77 percent of the fleet tires and technical assist operators questioned be ance to teams competing in lieved radial tires improved several forms of racing and strength, handling, ride and rallying worldwide. Classics' latest model, the One thing is, you’ll never Seneca, a remake of the 1953 lose money on these cars,” MGTD is the first of its type says Quiel. "Of course, I to use a custom-engineered build them for the fun not frame with a front V-8 en for the money, but even fig gine. Its pre-wired dash and uring your labor, you’ll come custom wiring harness are out ahead " engineering innovations in It also provides a reward the replicar industry ing challenge for an individ Gresham 8 Sandy An added advantage is the ual. Jeannie Atkins, a for ready availability of parts mer grade school teacher, is for most replicars because building her first Lance this most of them are designed summer for standard engines "Jeannie and her brother But Piper warns. “ Before have always worked on cars you buy a kit, you should together,” says her father, carefully evaluate the parts “ but she saw this one and which are included in the kit, just made up her mind to and figure out what other build it herself.” A ir C o n d itio n parts you are going to need to complete the car to your Special I just read the directions specifications.” a few times.” said Atkins ’ 19” It can take approximately from her Livermore. Calif , (Rechorge) 80 to 200 hours to put togeth home "I figured I could do it er a kit. Most work on them just as well as somebody Tune-Up Special is done in back yards on building it for me Now I ’m 2 0 o Off Ports ft Labor weekends and summer even so pleased I started it." C om pulerued Printout ings Included Quiel, meanwhile, gets a ‘ The only thing I wish is sweet kick out of the reac that I had more time to W heel Pack Special tions from valet parking at » c m work on them,’’ savs Ray 0 a pr. tendants when he and his Quiel. " If we could just work ( W o n car», 4 wheel drive wife go out to a restaurant every Saturday for three in their Lance. •« Iro ) months, we’d have them all In fra re d W heel "They always put mine up finished, but we don’t have by the front door where the enough spare time.” A lig n m e n t Quiel is a one-man ad folks are always crowding *19” vertisement for the joys of around to take a look The Most Cor», Mag» Air Extra kit cars. His original 29 big $20.000 cars go out in A im Head Lights Mercedes replicar was one back My little investment of of the first to appear on Cal $4.000 gets a lot of recogni 2 ‘ 5 .0 0 4 *10.00 ifornia s roads in the sum tion.” mer of 1978. For more inform ation, The following winter he send $3 for a four-color cata JIM VILLANUEVA’S built a 1927 Bugatti, which log and a consumer informa GRESHAM UNION he has since sold to an oil tion guide to Tom Piper at 985 E. BURNSIDE man from Oklahoma Quiel Motorcar Classics. 6875 Tu- GRESHAM. ORE. doubled his original invest junga Ave., North Holly- ment of a p p ro x im a te ly wood. Calif. 91605, or call $4.000. (213)980-5822 Classified: 667-6633 SERVICE SPECIALS 666-7641 APPRECIATE YOUR CAR PAINT IT SAVE 50% ON ANY OE THESE » Body side moldings » Pin Striping » Vinyl top renewal 1 Starburst and metallic colors Protection Plus primer sealer SPECIAL SERVICES WITH ANY COMPLETE PAINT JOB! And we guarantee it. Ask us Come in for a free estimate today! 1455 E . P o w e l l B l v d . G r e s h a m 6 6 7 -2 5 0 0
