Otomotif Design: Norm Grabowski

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

There were 2 cars at the LA Roadster show in tribute to Norm Grabowski

The famous Horne intake. Very rare. Long story about these in the Rodders Digest if I recall correctly... the guy who made them was working at Bell autoparts, before they were famous for making the helmet, and before they bought out Cragar. He cast his name into them for a short while before the company owners bought the rights to them from him and I forget what name they cast on them after that

Read more »

Sunday, March 28, 2010

"My Mother the Car" the car was made by Norm Grabowski or Barris?

Premiering in 1965, what may be the strangest sitcom of all time is a reminder that borderline brain-dead TV executives have been with us for decades — and deserve no say in the big-budget boardroom. Jerry Van Dyke played a man who discovers that his mother's soul has been reincarnated in his automobile, enabling him to hear her voice through the radio http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/worst-tv-shows-100109

Hot Rod Deluxe, May 2010 issue page 69 says Norm made it, and it was owned by Kaye Trapp, Hollywood studio photographer who used it as a push car for the Zueschel, Fuller, and Moody dragster

But according to http://local.aaca.org/junior/starcars/mother.htm Barris built the car; The car's body (finished in Metalflake carnation red with a white top) was made up from various vehicles including a Model T Ford, a Maxwell (precursor to the Chrysler), a Hudson, and pieces of a Chevrolet, including drive train. The car had a custom-made hood and radiator shell.
2 were made, one is at http://starcarstn.com/index.html in Tennessee along with a lot of other cool cars like the Munsters Dragula, and a collection of Barris customs

The video is badly editted news shorts from a local tv station perhaps... it seems like it once had commercials, only the first half is really worth watching

Read more »

Monday, February 22, 2010