New Mustang Magazine Set to Reignite Mustang Magic

Mustang Magazine Cover

A powerful new Mustang magazine, created by a dedicated group of experienced Mustang aficionados, has begun. They say their veteran staff aims to capture the excitement and spirit of the great ’64½-’73 Mustangs.

“As big corporations have taken over, they’ve gravitated toward late-model Mustangs and neglected the classic ’64-’73 models,” said Publisher Curt Patterson. “Mustang Magazine will correct that out-of-balance situation with a fresh, new look at the great, vintage Mustangs.”

One of Patterson’s first moves was hiring experienced editor, Tom Shaw. Shaw, like Patterson, worked at Dobbs Publishing, a highly influential Lakeland, Florida-based company renowned for innovation, aggressive growth, and taking on giants. Shaw’s extensive background in Fords, 20-plus years as a magazine editor and contributor, and reputation for quality photography is expected to propel Mustang Magazine to become the new leader in its class. Patterson has successfully launched over 20 new titles.

Patterson stresses that it will not be a rehash of well-worn themes frequently repeated in other magazines. “Every page, every component of Mustang Magazine will have to live up to our new, higher standards,” Patterson promised.

Tapping into the high-spirited excitement of the original Mustang is what Mustang Magazine is all about. The first issue has already been printed. It features a guest editorial by Larry Dobbs; some great articles on Mustangs like a 1965 K-GT, a 1969 Boss 302, a 1967 Mustang Restomod; and more. The photography is great.

They are offering you a free issue on their web site, or you can subscribe online.

Need more info? Check it out at www.mustangmagazineonline.com

Happy Birthday, Ford Falcon!

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since the Ford Falcon made its debut in the fall of 1959. In fact it was on this very day. It’s strange to have watched these little cars change over the years.

From 1960-63 they stayed the cheap little compact car.

Then in 1964-65, the bodies changed and the car had more stylish good looks. You could get sedans, hardtops, convertibles, Rancheros, station wagons, or a sedan delivery! The choices were almost endless.

Then came the 1966-69 Falcon. It was kinda crossed between a Falcon and Fairlane. Ford only offered 6-cylinder, 289 and 302 in these cars. I don’t know why they didn’t offer a big block option. I think that would have been great. Don’t you?

It’s a shame the Falcon didn’t last longer than it did. But then again, if they hadn’t made them they would not have made the Mustang since the Mustang was based off the Falcon.

Now if you ever visit Australia you can still see new Ford Falcons over there. They are really neat! At least somebody is keeping the Falcons from becoming extinct.

So the next time you go to a car show , drag races or even a cruise-in, keep your eyes wide open because you may just see some of that classic Ford history rolling right pass you!

So on behalf of myself, Auto Krafters and all Ford fans….HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY!

Cash-For-Clunkers – Good Idea or Bad Idea?

The Government website for the CARS program

Now that the cash-for-clunkers bill (also known as the Car Allowance Rebate System or CARS) is law and goes into effect July 24 until November 1, 2009 (or until the program runs out of money) I have been reading a lot of comments from people online regarding its usefulness.

The program was initially implemented in order to allow you to trade your gas-guzzler in for a more fuel efficient vehicle. Similar to the plan put in place by the German government, it is also said that the program was created to jump-start the ailing auto industry. Some of the eligibility requirements include:

Your trade-in vehicle must

• have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
• have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
• be in drivable condition
• be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in

Check out cars.gov for more information.

One of the things many people wonder about is how much mpg does their vehicle get? You can go to /www.fueleconomy.gov, put in the information requested and it will give you the mpg. The mpg will be what the government says it is, not what you think you are getting now.

Government allowances will be $3,500 or $4,500 depending on the difference in the fuel economy between the car you wish to purchase and your tradein. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price cannot exceed $45,000. Many dealers are offering to increase the money allowed by the government with special incentive deals. You’ve probably already seen these on your television.

One of the things most people do not consider is that the vehicle they trade in will be scrapped. Yes, that means no used vehicle resale, nothing to be parted out, no vehicle re-use at all except as recycled materials. Also, if your vehicle is worth more than the trade-in allowance permitted by the government, you do not get the difference. Your vehicle will be given a scrap value, so think about this before considering trading in your vehicle.

Some people say that the program does not do enough to help the environment, but that at least it’s a start. Some say it’s bad to junk good cars and why not sell them as used cars or part them out. Some wish it were going to be a longer program. Some have said that it’s not fair to people who already have vehicles that get over 20 mpg. Some are just upset that their taxes are being used at all. What do you think? Let us know your opinions.

Happy Father’s Day!

Fathers Then and Now

“Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers – and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” — David M. Gottesman

“A father is a banker provided by nature.” — French Proverb

“The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, ‘Daddy, I need to ask you something,’ he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan.” — Garrison Keillor

“When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, ‘Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?’ He answered, ‘If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.’” — Jerry Lewis

I read a report recently that most people treat Father’s Day like an afterthought. That is such a shame. Some even joke on how kids like Father’s day better than Mother’s day because they don’t have to spend as much money. To all the fathers out there, this is for you.

Like so many men of his time, my father joined the military at a young age. He was a career man, retiring in 1973. During those years, I think I have counted over a dozen schools I attended. There were two years when my father was transferred 3 times. During some of those years, I can recall him taking on one, even two extra jobs to help our family of 4 children make ends meet. I know it was not a fun time for him. There are many times I am sure he would have rather been doing something else. But one of the things I can recall quite clearly is my father working on our family cars. His father taught him at an early age how cars worked, drilling the steps of engine operation into him. My father could fix almost anything. Oil changes? You’d better believe he did them. Engine sputtering? He was under the hood changing the spark plugs.

These days my father is the master of the grill. If it can be seared, put on a rotisserie, or smoked, he can make it taste like something from a 5-star restaurant. He leaves most of the car work to others as age and health have pretty much made that hobby out of the question. It doesn’t mean he still doesn’t ask about our cars or the grandchildren’s cars.

Here’s a typical phone conversation for most fathers:

Child: Hi Dad!
Father: Hi! How’s the car?
Child: It’s doing fine. We had the oil changed recently.
Father: That’s good. How’s the job?
Child: Going well.
Father: How are the kids?
Child: They are doing OK. Johnny had a cold, but he’s better now.
Father: That’s good. Here’s your mother…

I have come to the conclusion over the years that most fathers do their best talking when the child is in front of them. Phones are just not a good communication tool. But that’s OK.

I don’t go very long without one of my relatives saying how much I am like my father. Believe me when I say that is one of the greatest compliments I receive. While I think I have garnered some of the best (and yes, some of the worst) traits of my parents, I am proud to be my father’s daughter. I am so glad he has passed on to me many of his skills and values.

So to all the fathers, grandfathers, soon-to-be-fathers, and those we look up to as fathers, thank you. You are not an afterthought in the eyes of a child, whether they be newborn or 90.

Summer, Children and Hot Cars

Summer time temps can lead to even hotter car interiors.

I want to take a moment to remind people that summer is almost here and in some places has arrived already. Your car is equivalent to an oven when the sun is out. Open your car door on a summer day and it feels as though you just opened the door to a blast furnace. It doesn’t matter if it’s even 65 degrees out, your car’s internal temperature can reach alarming and deadly temperatures, even in the shade. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “a locked car sitting in the summer sun quickly turns into an oven,” and “temperatures can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just three minutes, to 125 degrees in 6-8 minutes.” That’s only 3 minutes to go from 78 degrees to 100 degrees, people. 3 minutes – time enough to run inside a store to grab a gallon of milk… time enough to drop off a bill inside the utility company’s office. Imagine what just 3 minutes can do to a child – time enough to send your child’s temperature soaring, leading to heat stroke, dehydration, seizures, stroke, and even death. But it’s only a moment, you say. It’s a lifetime to them.

I don’t know how many times I have seen this same act repeated year after year. Every summer there are stories reported about parents doing exactly that. And it’s not just the idea of leaving them in there to run an errand. Unfortunately, sometimes it is forgetting the child is in the back seat, thinking that the other parent has taken the child inside, or even a child getting into an unlocked car to hide. Sure, you may say it will never happen to you, but so many others have said the same thing only to wind up grieving at the loss of a child.

I read one of the most heart-wrenching stories from the Washington Post, Fatal Distraction. I highly recommend all child-care givers read it. Hopefully it will stick in your mind and make you more vigilant. Here’s the link. Keep some tissues around, you’ll need them.

Here are some safety tips this year from Vincent Iannelli, M.D.:
• don’t leave kids in a car, which can quickly heat up, especially on a hot, sunny day
• always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can’t get to them
• warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision
• install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can’t get trapped in the trunk
• get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home
• make sure that child-care providers and day-care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren’t left in the day-care provider’s car or van

If you are afraid that you might leave your sleeping infant or toddler in their car seat when you get out of the car, place a reminder on the dashboard or do as some parents do and put a teddy bear on the passenger seat of the vehicle when the child is in the back seat. They say it makes a great reminder. Some parents even make sure that they put their briefcase, purse, cell phone or other reminder in the back seat when they have their child in the car. It forces them to look in the back seat.

Also be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possible.

If you think it’s OK to leave your child in the car while you run that quick errand as long as the air conditioner is running, think again. Your child becomes an easy target for kidnappers; your child may put your car into drive; or if your car has power windows, they could even get themselves caught in it. Take your kids inside, even if you think it’s only going to be a few minutes. In fact, don’t ever leave your kids alone in the car. It’s not safe and it is actually against the law in many states.

Here is a site with some great public service announcements and information on hyperthermia: kidsandcars.org
They also have some great tips for parents or other care-givers. Check them out.

One of these years, I hope that there will be a summer where news channels will actually say, “this year, there were no reported deaths of children due to overheating in a car, truck, or van.” One of these years…

Auto Krafters Announces a New Catalog

'73-'9 F-Series and '78-'79 Bronco 2009 catalog cover

The all new 2009 ‘73-96 Ford F-Series Pickup Truck and ‘78-’96 Bronco catalog is now available. Some of our current customers will notice that we’ve combined two of our catalogs into one. There were so many parts applications overlaps that we thought it made sense to make two smaller catalogs into one catalog. We hope you will like it. We are constantly tweaking our catalogs to make them more readable by changing some formats, adding more diagrams, and, of course, adding more relevant pictures. If you have some suggestions for catalog improvements, we would love to hear them.

You can download the new catalog or order your copy here.

Thank you, Mom

Someday you will miss this?

“Stop kicking the front seat!”

“Don’t put your feet on the car seat!”

“Make sure you put the towel down before getting in the car with that wet swimsuit!”

“Don’t spill your drink on the seat!”

“We’ll turn this car around RIGHT NOW if you don’t stop (Insert Annoying Activity Here)!”

I’m sure you can add more such statements to that list. My mother still says those to her grandchildren. It makes me smile.

I can recall her helping me out when I was learning to drive. I think she had more patience and fortitude than my father. Well, “helping” is a nice term. At least she kept all her hair in spite of my mistakes.

My mother did not learn to drive until the mid-60s. Like many women of her time, she did not feel it was necessary to learn to drive. Fortunately, my father had her go to driving school so that she could get her license as he, being on active military duty, was not available to take us to many places.

I can still recall picking her up from her classes. We had an Oldsmobile at the time. It is really amazing that my mother only had her license for about 11 years before I started driving.

Over the years, we have had many cars. My mother named each and every one. Yeah, they all had unique names. One of them stands out – Gravel Gertie. Yes, Mom named her (All of Mom’s cars are female. Oddly enough, all of my aunt’s cars were male. Go figure.) after the wife of B.O. Plenty in the Dick Tracy strips. She was pink and gray and rode like a tank. My father may have bought the cars, but she gave them personality.

Over the years, we have gone from burning our legs and sticking to vinyl upholstery, to sitting in relative comfort on cloth seats. I think it was probably a woman that told her son or daughter to come up with a better material to keep from having to peel herself off a car seat. I know my mom would have made such a request had any of us ever gone into vehicle design.

So thank you to all the moms out there who have kept us in line, helped us learn to drive, and have pushed us to become something better than we would have been without their guidance. Happy Mother’s Day. And yes, Mom, I have stopped kicking the seat back.

Undercover Speakers

UNDERCOVER1

UNDERCOVER2

Looking for an upgrade to your stereo system, but don’t have a lot of cash to put in it? Then check out our new line of Custom Autosound Undercover sub-woofers. Finally an affordable sub-woofer that can go under most automotive seats or even in the trunk, without taking up all your space!

We have a set of these subs in our showroom for display with a Custom Autosound radio and they have an incredible sound! For a sub-woofer and a tweeter, they are crystal clear! I plan on installing some in my car and will let you know how they sound in there.

We have two different size woofers and power outputs available. You can check out the 5.5″ subwoofer here, and the 8″ subwoofer here. Any questions or comments please contact us.

So put your windows down, turn the radio up, and let the good times roll!

Carbecue Anyone?

They call it carbecuing. What is it? It’s cooking food on the engine of your car while driving. OK, I’ve never done this, though my father has said it is quite possible, especially on older vehicles, and that food actually turns out pretty good. I guess it is no more odd than people who cook salmon in a dishwasher or make grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron. I am definitely not advocating that you take your classic Galaxie on a trip from Peoria to Louisville for the upcoming race and make dinner while driving there, you’ve worked hard enough to get your car restored.

I’ve discovered that they do cooking times in miles instead of minutes. Some recipes even specify the speed with the mileage. One of the main things they recommend is finding the warmest spot on your engine – usually the closer to your exhaust manifold, the better.

There are loads of issues with doing this, such as foil packs leaking, the package moving while in transit, fumes backing up in your engine, and more. So why do it? Some people just find it an easy way to have a warm meal when they arrive at their destination. Some people are just born to multi-task. Still others look for ways to economize while traveling.

Here is a link to one site that can get you started. Cook Food on Your Car’s Engine

Manifold Destiny

You say you need a cookbook? Well, there is one. It’s titled “Manifold Destiny” and you can still find copies of it around. In fact, there is a 2008 edition now including cooking on newer car models such as the Scion and Escalade. It has recipes such as Baked Gilroy Garlic Highway 101, Maryland Crab Imperial and include the approximate number of driving miles needed to cook them.

If you come up with some good recipes for cooking on your car’s engine, let me know. I think it might be fun to share them. Just be sure to note the speed and number of miles it takes to get the meal done.

Bon appetite!

Auto Krafters Announces the Release of 2 New Catalogs

2009 Falcon Catalog Cover

The all new 2009 Falcon catalog is back from the printers. We’ve added a lot of new parts and accessories in this issue for the 1960-70 1/2 Falcon, 1960-65 Comet, and the 1960-66 Ranchero. The cover features a stunning 1961 Falcon 2-door sedan from a customer in Front Royal, Virginia. It’s one of our nicest Falcon catalogs yet.

2009 Pinto Catalog Cover

We have also introduced a 12 page catalog for the 1971-80 Ford Pinto and 1975-80 Mercury Bobcat. We know the jokes that have been around for years about the Pinto, but we have had so many requests from Pinto fans to start carrying items for the car.

Be sure to take a look at both new catalogs. Check out the Falcon catalog here. Check out the Pinto catalog here.

Just to let you know what’s coming up next, we will have a new truck catalog that combines both the 1973-79 F-Series and the 1980-96 F-Series. It will also include the 1978-96 Bronco. Keep an eye out for it.