Bill Mitchell's "foggy" vision foretold GM styling cues   A class reunion typically brings together those who want to show their classmates just how “cool” they have remained, despite the passing of some years. At the 2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, the annual “Class of” display showed that 1963 was indeed a pivotal year for the auto industry, where luxury and sport styling were vying for public acceptance. The Class of 1963 at this year’s MCACN event displayed the very best of that year…power, grace, luxury, sport. It was a very good year indeed.   What had to be one of the most unique of this group was GM icon Bill Mitchell’s 1963 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow I. Mitchell is said to have been inspired by seeing a Rolls Royce emerging from an English fog to decide he wanted to create something very special using the newly designed (and yet to be released) Buick Riviera.   Mitchell reportedly ordered a Riv taken from the very first day of production and had it sent over to the Detroit styling studio, Creative Industries, where they fashioned Mitchell’s original vision for...

Brock's Buick Upgraded & Faster at Bonneville Kicking off Bonneville 2013 Coverage, here's a quick look at the upgrades on Jeff Brock's too-cool 1952 Buick Super Riviera. We profiled the birth of "Bombshell Betty" in another story about this Bonneville Record Setting Race car here.   In the the picture above, you can see the windows added to the side of the car. Also, you get a first look at the custom made intake scoop! Jeff's an artist and no slouch when it comes to metal work!     If anyone wants the above picture for a screen saver, shoot me an email, I'll be happy to send it over!   Success! Jeff broke his own record. Rocket Heads Studio running in the XO/GCC class ran 165.735 on a 165.380 mph record. Yes, by 0.355 mph!   Make sure to check out more pictures of "Bombshell Betty" with the rest of the build history here:  Birth of Bombshell Betty for Bonneville   Click here for all of MyRideisMe.com's Bonneville Salt Flat...

The Very Last Buick Grand National Built   The actual last Buick Grand National signaled the end of GM G-Body (Cutlass, Regal, Monte Carlo) production and has a starring role in BLACK AIR, The Buick Grand National Documentary.   Story info and photos provided by: Martyn L. Schorr Owned by Buick-Chevrolet-GMC Truck dealer Bob Colvin in Springhill, LA, the last production Regal Grand National (Vin #...465288) was built on December 11,1987, a few months into Buick’s 1988 model year. When Buick announced the special ultra-high-performance Grand National GNX, they also let the word out that the 245-horsepower ‘87 Grand National, known for its blistering performance and, like Ford’s Model T, available ”in any color, as long as it’s black,” would be the last of the line. The menacing monochromatic turbocharged & intercooled Grand National had run its course and rear-wheel-drive was about to become an endangered species!   Interest in the Grand National soared and Buick responded with a commitment not to limit production and build as many Grand Nationals as they could. Whereas Grand National production in 1982, 1984, 1985 and 1986 averaged approximately 2,500 units per year,...

Straight 8 Buick Bonneville Salt Flats Racer There are some cars that are near-universally popular. Here's one.   Jeff Brock, the owner, co-builder and driver of this wicked 1952 Buick Super Riviera showed up at the 2008 Bonneville Speed Week with his Buick and floored spectators and racers alike. Since then, the "Bombshell Buick" has seen some serious metal work to make and re-make it into the, "the sculptural form he favored for creating a fast, furious work of art." Done.   To help you catch up on where the Buick started, after finding it in an abandoned lumber mill near Phoenix, here's a few build pictures, then we'll catch up with Brock's plans for this year. Here's how she looked when purchased. Jeff says, "Our "first date" ... bofore shot. Her ass was fat ...I played hard to get." Here's a great shot of the Buick nose before modification. Most of the GREAT shots featured here were taken by Gunther Maier. (If I'm using someone else's shot, please tell me)   From here, we better fill you in on Brock's plans for 2012 Bonneville Speed Week:   "Yes,...

Viva Las Vegas 2011 Car Show - Best of Show   Sonny Vasquez and his 1949 Buick custom have both been around for awhile. But when a car looks this good and has the amount of hours in it that a custom such as this requires... I'm happy to see it named Best of Show at Viva Las Vegas.     Because there was SO much going on at VLV 14, (see it here) I didn't make it to the award ceremony. Honestly... I didn't even know they were officially awarding a "Best of Show" car. At past VLV car shows, I've seen various clubs give out awards but don't remember there being an official "Viva Award."     So when I walked up to this Buick to check out this stunningly original dash, I was surprised to see the "Best of Show" plaque sitting inside. I was even more surprised that the car's owner, Sonny, was standing nearby!     Being the modest guy that he is - he said he was just as surprised when they called him up for the award. When he realized the only...

Buick Skylark's LS2 Engine Swap:   Most car guys make like-minded friends, and Jason Rushforth is proud to know car guys all over the world. Take a half-dozen of his friends who live close by him in the Pacific Northwest, throw in some emotional roller coaster moments, one '64 Buick,  a high-tech engine swap and a few late nights. From there, subtract proper nourishment and numerous hours from the daily schedule, and you get the story of some of the best friends any guy could hope for... And collectively the reason his car made it to their big, local Goodguys show.   The following tale comprises all of the above, and makes for the memories we all share in late-night benchracing sessions, and throws a decidedly modern twist on the engine swap gone- bad-but-brought-back-from-peril-by-good-pals tale. It's one of those MyRideisMe-style blips in hot rod history, where the car brings the big picture together, and all seems right in your high octane world. In Jason's words:   Every car guy has a story about a late night thrash getting a car ready for a show whether it's debuting a million...

Car Drawings vs. Hot Rod Design   Over the last decade, we've seen explosive growth in the hot rod and custom car industry and hobby as a whole. This can be attributed to the popularity of television shows like Overhaulin', American Hot Rod and others, as well as Powerblock TV, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Events, and of course, access to great personalities like Chip Foose, Stacey David and others. This brings in new enthusiasts, and naturally, more project cars!   Not since George Barris snapped thousands of photos and wrote hundreds of articles promoting the hobby back in the 1950's and '60's have we seen so much attention on our hobby, and it's amazing to witness. Yet, while there's all of this excitement, many of these new fans and participants are feeling lost when starting a project. It can be a daunting task to say the least, but when taking those first steps, having the right footing can make all the difference in the world.   Naturally, any success in a project requires a plan, and building or modifying a car requires very careful thought at this stage. I've...

House O Speed's 1965 Buick Riviera - Custom Buick   "THE DEVIL’S DOLLHOUSE"   The are basically two types of rides in this world. The ones you proudly bring home to mother, and then, of course, there’s the other kind -- the type you stealthily roll to the curb in with the engine killed and leave tucked in the shadows when you pick up your date.   See all the pictures of this killer 1965 Buick Riviera here   The HouseOspeed-built 1965 Riviera falls squarely into the second camp. Once you’ve ridden in it, you’ll understand why.   Simply put, interior is swimmin’ in women. Vintage pin-up girls, to precise, the work of a man named Peter Drieben, whose sexy illustrations graced the covers of fifties stag magazines with titles like Whisper, Titter and Eyeful.   The stock headliner has given way to black angel hair, and gray glitter vinyl and orange piping on the seats to match the interior motif. The stitching is the handiwork of Fat Lucky’s Sean Johnstun, now the head upholstery guru at the Austin Speed Shop.   But lest you think that the pin-up...

Slick 1956 Buick Special from the Valley of the Sun In case you didn't know, My Ride is Me has a meaning. Everybody's ride tells you a little something about the owner and every owner has a story. Ed shared this story for MyRideisMe.com about his 1956 Buick Special after I took some photos at the recent Cruise on Main Street in Mesa, AZ. It's a beautiful car, so I'm happy to share this brief story and pictures. Enjoy Ed's story of this custom Buick.   Written by "Special" Ed (click to see his custom garage)   There is a story with this car. (Isn't there always?) I had a blue and white Buick when I was 19, and was devastated when a drunk hit me in the rear and totaled the car. I paid $375.00 for it and had to borrow $200.00 to get it.     25 years later, while living in Detroit, I asked my brother-in-law (who was in the car business in Chandler, AZ) to keep an eye out for a clean AZ '56 Buick. I've owned several street rods and always had a soft...