How Citroën almost became a GM division! (Re: Hemmings Blog)

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com historians . . . .

Hemmings has an interesting snippet of mostly unknown automotive history on their blog this morning.  Citroën started out building a car very similar in design and manufacturing to Ford's Model-T.  That caught the attention of Billy Durant who was interested in gaining an automotive foothold in Europe.  Here is the blog entry:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/07/not-long-after-it-was-founded-100-years-ago-citroen-nearly-became-a-gm-subsidiary/

Durant sent some GM executives including two other automotive titans: Alfred Sloan and Walter Chrysler to look into the acquisition.  Curiously, the consensus was that Citroën plant was "antiquated," and that factored into abandoning the effort.  Yet this simply wasn't true.  Citroën had taken over essentially a brand new plant originally built by the French government to make munitions during the first world war.  It appears that private tensions ultimate sunk the proposal and that instead of GM getting a new division, the world instead would get Chrysler corporation.

The article goes on to describe the up and down history of Citroën.  While demonstrating technical leadership in the industry, it struggled to be profitable and eventually was forced by the French government to merge with Peugeot in 1974.

Some interesting reading about a curious chapter in American and European auto manufacturing that had far-reaching effects in both parts of the world.

Cheers, Edouard 

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com "historians,"

Today the Hemming's Blog ran a story on an organization I joined a few years ago but haven't done anything with yet: the "Tin Can Tourists."  The group turns 100 year this having been originally founded all the way back in 1919.  Here is the story about it on the Hemming's website:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/15/a-century-later-tin-can-tourists-continue-to-promote-life-on-the-road/

It is something of an amazing story that early drivers were so determined to explore the United States that they started the recreational vehicle movement essentially out of necessity.  As the article points out, motels wouldn't come into existence for many years.  Once you left your home, you were essentially on your own for many miles!

The group fell into decline after World War II as the number of vacationing options exploded.  The club was resurrected in 1998 and is at the forefront of the vintage travel trailer and RV movement.  I joined it because it is a "nondenominational" club and I'm still trying to decide what sort of a vintage trailer I'm interested in.  You can learn more about the Tin Can Tourists on their website:

https://tincantourists.com/

It is interesting reading and a reminder that even the great American road trip has roots that are literally over 100 years old.

Cheers, Edouard

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com faithful,

This morning the Hemmings's blog had an interesting story about various experiments to improve the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines.  To quote the article: "Garden-variety internal combustion engines unlock maybe 20 to 30 percent of the energy available in their fuels."  The main engine featured in the story was a design by Cummins for the US Army that was managing 48% thermal efficiency!!  Here is the link:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/05/14/cumminss-adiabatic-engine-experiments-produced-some-of-the-worlds-most-efficient-internal-combustion-engines/

It is an interesting read especially if you know a bit about thermodynamics.

Cheers, Edouard 

[schlepcar]

That was a good article and took me back a few years to Florida. I was down at the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum and saw the original Smokey Yunick Fiero that was said to get 52 mpg. It was common knowledge that this type of efficiency was not out of the question and they proved it with that Fiero. Interestingly enough, no one wanted to use it as an automaker because at the time the oil companies and the manufacturers were not interested in "saving" oil dollars. We may see a lot more of this type of engineering here and it is definitely available. They were already selling Ford Fusions overseas that got nearly double the mpg of the U.S versions. If they ever perfect the hydrogen version it is extremely efficient(if you don't blow up). I have seen some successful conversions,but it is still on the drawing board.

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Kurt Ernst of Hemmings found a cute magazine advertising for the 1967 Buick GS.  His write-up can be found here:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/08/when-buick-pitched-sporting-cars-with-safety/

It is an interesting example of how the automakers tried to distinguish themselves from their competitors.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Edouard 

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Daniel Strohl has posted on the Hemming's Blog a photo of the GM Fremont plant taken from the air sometime during the 1960s:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/14/fremont-california-1960s/

Here is a teaser of the photo to attract your interest:



It appears to me that there is a mid-60s Buick in the first (bottom) row of parking spaces about 2/3 of the way to the right.

Anybody else spot one of our favorite vehicles?

Cheers, Edouard 

[option B9]

Hi Edouard , I don't see what you see  but that VW Bug in the second row sure looks out of place with all of those big American cars !!!!   Tony

[yachtsmanbill]

Two cars to the left of that 59 El Chamingo...  ws

[elagache]

Dear Tony, Bill, and mid-60s caregivers,

Hi Edouard , I don't see what you see 

Attached to this pointing is the same picture with a pointer to the car I thought might be a Buick A-body.

What you do you guys think? 

Cheers, Edouard 

[gssizzler]

I see a couple of corvette in there too! Also a cablaro wagon!

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com car folks,

Daniel Strohl of Hemmings posted a link to a YouTube video from Renault.   

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/08/a-sympathetic-car-like-a-pet-how-the-renault-5-charmed-the-french/

Here is the direct link to the 48 minute long documentary:

https://youtu.be/cmrtQDFCgXY

We saw it last night and were very impressed.  I didn't know much of anything about this car and the documentary is very well presented.  Why Renault would pay to make English language documentary is curious, but it is very enjoyable.  If you have some way to view YouTube videos on your TV that's even more pleasant.

Cheers, Edouard 

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Mike Austin has an interesting article on the Hemmings blog about a rubber protectant that Honda has been using for many years - Shin-Etsu Silicone Grease:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/26/hondas-secret-weapon-squeaks-door-leaks-shin-etsu/

The article does a good job of documenting this products somewhat unusual properties.  Whether this is a good thing or not is definitely becoming mucky, but if you want a tube look no further than Amazon.  You can buy genuine Honda Shin-Etsu Silicone Grease and having it two days if you are an Amazon Prime member:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-08798-9013-Silicone-Grease/dp/B00GD49GTS/

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S.  A quick Google search has revealed another AAA - Amazon Addicts Anonymous!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Amazon-Addicts-Anonymous-329685213822186/

Hmm, yes the problem could be this real! . . . . 

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick owners with an itch for road trips,

Hemmings got wind of a project started by Paul Lacitinola who is the publisher of Vintage Camper Trailer magazine.  Since I subscribe to this magazine, I was aware of this project as it has unfolded.  In 2017, Paul was contacted by someone who claimed to have an Airstream trailer with "gold" stripes.  It turned out to be the second of only two such trailers.  You'll find the full story in the blog posting:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/10/07/restoring-a-one-off-airstream-gold-flake-bathtub-and-all/?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-10-07

It is clear that the classic car world is showing increasing interest in vintage travel trailers.  That's perhaps good for older trailers, but will unavoidably increase popularity and therefore drive up prices.  Not so good given my interests!

Cheers, Edouard 

[GS66]

Interesting!

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

This morning, the Hemmings blog is "reprinting" an article by Matthew Litwin from the August 2017 issue of Hemmings Classic Car.  It is the story of the Buick V-6 engine derived from the famous all aluminum 215 V-8.  This engine has a more amazing history than you might expect and played an important role in the mid-60s Buick A-bodies that we find so near and dear:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/six-cylinder-revolution/

In addition, this engine whose entire production line was sold to the Kaiser Jeep company 1968 would return to Buick in 1973, purchased back from now American Motors.  It would eventually become the famous Buick 231 V-6 that would propel Buick to a renaissance in performance cars with the Grand National.

It is an interesting read!

Cheers, Edouard