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Welcome to SPEEDSTER!
It is just about time for the start of our much anticipated 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Louisville, Kentucky.
We have a wonderful variety of show cars for the weekend and plenty of exciting festivities for attendees! Be sure to check out the website for any last minute updates. The Meet brochure is available online.
Thank you in advance to each and every one of you for all the hard work and time you have put forth to make this celebration possible and a big thank you to everyone who is attending the Celebration! We hope you all enjoy the weekend!
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Check out our special 75th Anniversary Merchandise items including a new 75th shirt which will be sold at the Anniversary Celebration in Louisville and available on the website at the beginning of July. We also have a variety of new Club items and shirt styles availalbe. To place an order visit our website or call AACA headquarters at 717-534-1910.
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We want to hear from you!
We want to see your pictures and stories from the 75th Anniversary Celebration in Louisville, KY! What was the highlight of the weekend for you? Send us a short story (200-500 words) and photo(s)!
Thank you to those who have submitted their stories! We love hearing from you - keep it coming!
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Member Contribution
A Tale of Two Mustangs, 40 Years Apart
My father was a GM man during my youth: I came home from the hospital in a '53 Chevy sedan; the first new car I remember Dad purchasing was a '61 Corvair station wagon; and there were several used Buicks and Pontiacs in there.
When the Ford Mustang came out in '64, I was crazy about it. The advantage of growing up in New York City gave us numerous opportunities to attend the 1964-1965 World's Fair and see the new Mustang. Dad, who didn't say much, never spoke about his feelings for this pony car. Imagine my surprise when a few years later, he bought his first non-GM car.
In 1969, my father found a used '67 Mustang for sale in our hometown of Staten Island, NY. It was a Lime Gold coupe, 289 2V, automatic, vinyl roof, full wheel covers, whitewalls, AM radio, and nothing else. My dad paid $2,050 for it; the number always stuck in my head because of the odd $50. I was 15, ecstatic beyond belief, and hoped that someday it would become my car.
In 1971, I got my driver's license, and my dream came true: the Mustang was 'mine' to drive. Dad bought a third car so that he and Mom would each continue to have their own wheels. Giving a 17-year-old a V8 Mustang was maybe not his best decision, as on the morning of December 23, 1971, I failed to yield at an intersection, was hit in the right front, and totaled the car.
Dad was upset, but took it in stride. I had been hurt with a concussion, and he was more concerned with my recovery than the Mustang's. He sold the car to a salvage yard, but took photos of it before it went off. That was the last I ever saw of Dad's first (and only) Ford.
Fast forward to 2003: In August of that year, I purchased my first collector Mustang, a '68 California Special, in Lime Gold (my first color choice for sentimental reasons). Dad was in failing health by this time, and never got to ride in it. My father passed away in February 2006, so my '68 means even more to me now. But I keep thinking back to that '67 coupe, and I wonder about its fate: did someone rescue it from the junkyard, or did it give itself up for parts so that other Mustangs could stay on the road to be enjoyed today?
I asked Mom recently if she still had any paperwork on the '67 Mustang, hoping to rediscover its VIN. Alas, my mother said that it had all been discarded years ago. I still have my '68, and drive it regularly, and love it. And every time I do, I'm 15 years old again.
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Library & Research
Vintage Chevy Literature Arrives!
Thanks to the cross-country trip made by Joyce & Chuck Gibson, the literature collection owned by the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America now resides in our library. This collection ranges from sales literature & manuals to training films and photographs. Joyce & Chuck traveled from New Jersey to California to pick up the material, then turned around and delivered it to Hershey. They battled snow, wind, rain, and were even threatened by tornadoes. That didn't slow the Gibsons down and they completed the journey in record time.
Library staff is already sorting & organizing the VCCA literature and you should be able to find it in our online catalog in early 2011. As is the case with the other marque collections that we house, the VCCA maintains ownership of their collection but pays an annual maintenance fee to store their material in our facility that is equipped with temperature/humidity control, security cameras, and a building alarm. If your marque club would like to house a collection at the AACA Library, simply contact Chris for more details.
24/7 Library Booksale Continues
In the last issue of Speedster we told you about our booksale website. That site is still available & will continue to be available throughout the year. Many of these items are rare or out of print so act quickly! We have a broad range of items ranging from modern tractor encyclopedias to early books on automobile operation and repair from the early 1900's. Just like the material in our literature auction, the books we are selling are duplicates or their subject matter doesn't match our mission. You won't find these books at more reasonable prices!
Mystery Photo
Our summer intern identified this picture on her first day at the library, can you?
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AACA Museum
Muscle Car Mania
Factory Performance Cars 1960 - 1973
Through September 6, 2010
 We have repeatedly asked our visitors, "what would you like to see in our changing exhibitions here at the Museum?" Without fail, the top answer is always "Muscle Cars!" Indeed, muscle cars are one of the hottest commodities in the car world. They dominate the auctions and the car shows, just as they did the streets 40 years ago.
We have gathered together a collection of 20 of the most desirable models of the muscle car era, which began in the 1960s and ended rather abruptly in the early 1970s, a victim of a combination of changing pollution, safety and insurance regulations coupled with the first gas crisis.
Memorialized in several songs from this era and represented in the exhibition is Pontiac's GTO. Fans of the Ford Motor Company will appreciate a Boss 429 Mustang, offerings from Shelby, powerful Torinos and a limited edition Mercury Cougar Eliminator, among others. The final "Big Three" automaker, Chrysler, has a slew of bruisers in the exhibition, including a unique pairing of their two NASCAR-inspired "winged" cars, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird. The Daytona is beautifully restored, while the Superbird is the lowest mileage (approximately 300 miles), unrestored example in existence.
 Muscle Cars came in many different forms in the 1960s and early 70s. While most high-performance powerplants during this era were installed in sporty coupes and convertibles, even the family sedan or station wagon could be ordered with a really big engine, including Chrysler's fabled "Hemi". Independents such as American Motors left their mark on this phenomenon with cars like the Javelin and the AMX, as a two-seat muscle car. Similarly, Studebaker took its shot at going fast with cars like the Avanti, which relied on a super charged "small" V8 to produce record breaking performance. And, not all was brute force without brains during this era, as evidenced by Oldsmobile's Toronado, the first high volume front-wheel drive automobile. This landmark car is represented by a fully restored, award winner sporting an impressive 425 cubic inch engine.
This unique collection of muscle cars comes to the Museum from private owners located across the country. The exhibition will run through the summer, ending Monday, September 6th. Remember AACA members get into the AACA Museum FREE! Bring your membership card next time you visit.
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Automotive Trivia
How much do you know!?!
1) Name the first US production auto to feature a V-8 engine?
2) When was an engine first placed in the rear of an automobile?
(Hint: it was not the VW Beetle)
3) When was the first front wheel drive automobile produced?
Scroll down for the answers!
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Speedy's Notes
75th Anniversary Merchandise
Check out our Merchandise site for an assortment of unique AACA 75th Anniversary items and much more!
Join in the Discussion
Check out our topics on the AACA Forum
SPEEDSTER ArchivesRead and print newsletters. Visit the links provided in each section for more information. Use the articles in your region publications and updates. Join our mailing list and please share issues with family, friends and future AACA members! SPEEDSTER Archives Here
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Calendar Spotlight!
July 21 - 23 2010 - AACA Eastern Divisional Tour - Buffalo Area, NY - Lake Erie Region
________________________________________________________ For a complete listing of events please visit the AACA Calendar
The AACA Exhibitors Brochure and the Owners Briefing Checklist offer a wealth of information. Please take the time to read them over. If your AACA Region or Chapter would like to sponsor a future National Event, please contact Donald Barlup, Vice President of National Activities. Thank you for your support!
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Trivia Answers
1) Name the first US production auto to feature a V-8 engine? The 1907 Hewitt featured the first V-8.
2) When was an engine first placed in the rear of an automobile?
(Hint: it was not the VW Beetle) The 1896 Hertel had the world's first rear engine.
3) When was the first front wheel drive automobile produced? In 1900, the Pennington Car featured a front wheel drive. The first recognized motor vehicle, a steam artillery vehicle built by Nicholas Cugnont in 1769, had front wheel drive.
Thanks for playing!
Source: Automotive Milestones. Trivia of a Most Unique Machine,
Edited by Clark Cassell and Charles Merritt, Braddock Publications.
*Please note the Trivia section may not be 100% accurate and is offered for entertainment purposes only.* |
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AACA on Facebook
...one more way to stay connected to the AACA family!
Click below to find us!
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About The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)
The Antique Automobile Club of America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the country's premier resource for the collectible vehicle community. Since its formation in 1935, the Club, through its national office, publications, and membership, aids individuals, museums, libraries, historians and collectors dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of automotive history.
Contact Information for Speedster Newsletter:
AACA Headquarters
501 W. Governor Road
Hershey, PA 17033
Email: speedster@aaca.org
Phone: 717-534-1910
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