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October 2024 Newsletter

 
 

 

E-NEWSLETTER

October 2024

Welcome to the best little car club in Arizona


President's Thoughts


The One-of-a-Kind Dodge Firearrow II
Is Like
Nothing You’ve Ever Seen


Selling One-of-a-kind cars
is a strange thing that can come with a bit of trepidation – the Bubonic plague is also 
rare, but that doesn’t mean anyone wants it. However, in the case of this insanely cool vintage Dodge Firearrow II  concept car, I think we may see a few more takers than a black plague kissing booth.

The Monterey car auction will include dozens of impossibly rare European race cars as well as a true show stopper, a one-of-a-kind vintage Dodge concept car from 1954.  If you’ve never heard of the Dodge Firearrow II, you’re not alone. This vintage Dodge is one of the most striking examples of Jet age concept cars.

The “Jet age” is a term used to describe a period of automotive design that dreamed of a streamlined, sleek  futurist take on design. Right after World War II, concept cars were coming out left and right. Automakers used  these cars as ways to dream and show the public what the designers were up to.

GM was one of the major proponents of these dream vehicles and built many concept cars between 1946-1961.  GM would showcase these fanciful creations at their carnival-esq shows known as the Motorama Auto shows.  While GM had America’s gaze, Chrysler was hard at work with their own concept cars. Of all the concept cars that  Chrysler built, the 1954 Dodge Firearrow II remains the most beautiful.


According to Robb Report, The Firearrow II concept car was a hybrid, long before the word suggested gas and 
electric power-train configurations, but rather, the combination of sleek Italian coachwork and a powerful  American V8 engine. This vintage Dodge concept car has remained so beloved and relevant due mostly to its  breath-taking design and heritage.

Virgil Exner was the American Battista Farina, father of the highly praised Pininfarina. Exner was Chrysler’s chief of advanced design and had a very particular signature flair and panache that resulted in many beautiful and truly  innovative concept cars. Exner didn’t actually design or fabricate the Dodge Firearrow II; that credit goes to  the Italian coachbuilder Ghia. However, as well as many other Italian designers of the time, Ghia references Exner  as one of their major influences in design.

There were actually four Dodge Firearrows built, each with hand-formed bodies crafted by Carrozzeria Ghia in  Turin, Italy. But the Firearrow II was the only one that was actually fully finished. Robb Report mentions that the  Firearrow I looked like a finished car but was actually a “pushcar,” meaning it had no engine. The vintage Dodge  Firearrow II concept car was the first one that was a fully functional concept car. It was shown extensively all around the world, earning it plenty of notoriety.

Given the unpredictable nature of auctions, there is no way to guarantee what the Firearrow II will sell for.  However, the one-of-a-kind Firearrow II is estimated to sell for somewhere between $900,000-$1.2 million.

Bill Owen, President

                                                                                                
Welcome New Members
                                               


We didn't have any new members in July which is not unusual for this time of year. 

John Burlini with his 20 12 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, 2014 Jeep SRT


Click here to view the updated club roster.



Member's Birthdays


Jan Titus - 10/05
Diane Morris - 10/06
Kevin Hasse - 10/08
Carol Vigneron - 10/13
Nancy Owen - 10/13
Robert Burns - 10/14
Kevin Welch - 10/14
Nancy Hess - 10/21
Mike Huffine - 10/22
Robert Means - 10/23
Michele Hasse - 10/23
Rich Baricza - 10/31

The provided information is sourced from the club's roster. Kindly inform us of any errors or omissions so that we can rectify them promptly.



New Club Rides



Martin and Marcia Landis's '52 Chevrolet Pickup

Just a quick heads-up - we've got a sweet lineup of member vehicles on display. Take a peek by clicking on the link below. If you don't spot yours in the spotlight, no worries! Just shoot us a pic or hit up Rick Goble at rick.goble@icloud.com, and he'll make sure your ride gets the attention it deserves.

Click here to see what's new with our member's rides.


Upcoming Events


October is here, and that means the weather cools down while the events heat up! This is a big month for the club, packed with exciting opportunities to get involved and showcase your rides. Join us for the Goodyear Police Department's National Night Out, the Estrella Foothills High School Homecoming Parade, and our very own "Cars & Cocktails." Plus, don’t miss out on our regular monthly meetups! Click on the links below for more details and make sure you're part of the action this month!

  Goodyear Police’s National Night Out  


Tuesday, October 1st - Click here for more details.

  EFHS Homecoming Parade  



Saturday October 5th - Click here for more details.

  Monthly Membership Meeting  



Saturday October 12th - Click here for more details.

  2nd Annual Cars & Cocktails  


Saturday, October 19th - Click here for more details.

  Cars & Coffee  


Saturday October 26th - Click here for more details.
Click here to view more upcoming events.




Last Month's Events



The September's Club Luncheon was at Fiesta Mexicana here in Goodyear

September Luncheon at Fiesta Mexicana in Goodyear, we had 19 members in attendance with everyone  enjoying the Southern Mexico atmosphere. Everyone had a great time, getting caught up with good friends,  coupled with many styles of South of the Border dishes that satisfied & delighted everyone. Thank you all once again for participating…And to Doug and Pam for making all happen.

Bill Owen, President




The following is a Video from
September's Cars & Coffee

Preview image
 
 
Click here to view other past events.


Last Month's Award Winners


The Murray's 1972 Dodge D100are
cleaning up in South Carolina!


Dave and his son Nicholas joined our club last year, but earlier this summer, they relocated to South Carolina. Since moving, their beautifully restored '72 Dodge D100 has been making waves in the car show scene. The father-son duo has been sweeping up awards left and right!


Here are just a few of the accolades they’ve brought home:

Project Jasmine Against Domestic Violence: Top 30 and Best Mopar.
Vettes for Pets: Best Classic Mopar.
Southern Fried Motorsports: Favorite Dodge Truck.
Flashlight Frenzy Car Show/Summertime Showdown: Top 10 and Best Mopar.

We're proud to see them doing so well and continuing to honor the car culture we love. Keep up the great work, guys!.

If you attend any shows and earn awards, be sure to let us know! It's always a pleasure to celebrate and share your achievements with everyone. Looking forward to seeing those trophies roll in!




Ford's Flathead V8




Some of you may find this interesting. If you get the Hagerty emails, you've probably seen the story recently about Ford's famous "Flathead" V8. I used to work for W.W. Wallwork Ford in Fargo ND, which was founded in 1921 by Bill Wallworks grandfather.  Bill shared the following story about his grandfather's inte raction with Henry Ford regarding this very engine.

As you may know from the article, Henry Ford was the conceptual father of the Flathead V8, with the goal of creating an engine that was cheap, simple, rob ust, and reliable. However, when the motor was introduced in 1932, it developed an oil consumption issue. Bill's grandfather began receiving complaints from customers and passed them on to Ford, but the engineers—fearful of telling Henry—ignored them.

Frustrated, Bill's grandfather decided to take matters into his own hands. He drove a new car equipped with the Flathead engine from Fargo to Dearborn, saving the empty oil bottles along the way (yes, oil was sold in glass bottles back then). Once he arrived, he demanded to see Mr. Ford. When he finally met with him, he took Henry outside, opened the trunk, and revealed a pile of empty oil bottles. Ford asked, "What's this?" Bill's grandfather replied, "That's how much oil I used to get here from Fargo, ND."

And that’s how Henry Ford learned that his "cheap, simple, robust, and reliable" V8 had a problem.

Rick Goble

If you liked to read the Hagerty article click here.


Valued Members

 

Our newsletter is produced for you. It is a communication method for our members to use and share information about current club activities with members, and perspectives in mind.  Your newsletter contains updates, new stories, helpful content, or anything to keep you interested in Estrella Mountain Car Club . We look forward to hearing from you with related items of interest that you would like  to share with others.  

Appreciate your participation ,
Bill Owen


Click here to view list of Officers & Directors

Estrella Mountain Car Club Foundation
Po. Box 5583, Goodyear, AZ 85338


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