Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage

Named for a storied auto-repair shop on Detroit’s legendary Woodward Avenue, Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage originates in the Motor City, for people who live for cars everywhere.

http://www.vinsetta.com/

here's my opinion of it after watching it:

Started with a look at Bruce Meyer's cars, and some other collector guys with a LeMons Caddy and Bobcat, then a discussion on what is a car person/guy, a dialog with Courtney and Auto Week editor, in a E type Jag.... which the editor calls a Drophead Coupe. Get off your high horse, it's a convertible you egotist. Why are so many editors full of themselves? Ditto Jag owners.

Then a self promoting Auto Week dream week rundown of what the lucky 20 will get to do if they win.

Every moment of the show has a music bed soundtrack as if the watcher can't get enough music, or needs a sound bed to get them through the show. It's too loud. It's not necessary. It's annoying.

Every 5 minutes is a commercial, and self promoting commercial among others. So half the 30 minute window was commercial or self promotion.

So, in a nutshell, mediocre to annoying. Better than Hot Rod TV, but not by much. It's no wonder so many of us keep watching British Top Gear

New tv show about auto enthusiasts, and their cars, garages, and passion for cool cars... "Autoweek's Vinsetta Garage" we'll see how it turns out, but for now, the preview video looks promising

Starts on January 3rd, on Discovery channels revised HD Theater channel - Velocity, an upscale male lifestyle network, will feature new and returning series and specials showcasing the best of the automotive, sports and leisure, adventure, and travel genres. Hit series currently on HD Theater; including INSIDE WEST COAST CUSTOMS, MECUM AUTO AUCTIONS, CAFÉ RACER, and CHASING CLASSIC CARS, will be pillars of the Velocity primetime lineup. htthttp://blogs.discovery.com/velocity/2011/09/tv-shows-on-velocity.html
From the editors of Autoweek,

Car lust posted an homage to the "Green Acres" tractor, a Hoyt Clagwell

read the story here: http://www.carlustblog.com/2011/10/the-most-famous-tractor-in-the-world-well-maybe-under-const.html#more

Fonzie's bike was up for auction by Bud Elkins, 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5... so was James Garner's Baja Olds 442

The motorcycle that helped make Arthur Fonzarelli an icon of cool was up for auction. (didn't sell)

The 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5 was featured on the beloved sitcom “Happy Days.” Even without the Fonz connection, the bike would have a famous pedigree since it was owned by stuntman, racer and Triumph dealer Bud Ekins — a guy even cooler than Fonzie himself. He’s best known for dyeing his hair blonde and performing the stunts that studios wouldn’t allow his friend Steve McQueen to do, including the fence jump at the end of The Great Escape and some of the driving in Bullit

When Happy Days needed an authentic bike for Fonzie, Ekins obliged by removing the bike’s front fender, spray-painting the gas tank silver and replacing the handlebars.

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz, couldn’t ride a motorcycle. Winkler told Emmy TV Legends that he rammed the bike into a sound truck the first time he tried to ride it. From that day on, the crew pulled him and the motorcycle on a board.

The bike is in need of a lot of repairs. The speedometer is broken, it's rusted and hasn’t run since the 1970s, according to the New York Times. Despite the bike’s condition, it was expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/10/ayy-fonzies-bike-is-for-sale/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/fonzies-happy-days-motorcycle-up-for-sale-photo/2011/10/11/gIQAWOiFcL_blog.html



also up for auction are James Garner's former Oldsmobile Racer (didn't sell) , Fast and the Furious '94 Toyota Supra(sold for $21,000), and Tom Cruise's futuristic Lexus (sold at $101,000) from the "Minority Report", though the winning bidder can't actually take it on the road. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/car_tips&id=8429328

some photos from http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/WService=wslive_pub/pubweb/publicSite.r

Mod Squad Challenger just auctioned, only 2 were made in 1972 that were convertible, both were for the tv show

see this gallery of the restoration of one at http://www.streetfire.net/photo/mod-squad-challenger-tv-car_1304342.htm or see a feature in Mopar Muscle Sept 1987
One just sold at Mecum at Monterey auction for 48500

The 1971 Dodge Challenger Convertible offered was one of the two or three cars used for on-screen work during the 1972 Mod Squad season. Since Chrysler discontinued Challenger Convertible production after 1971, this car was updated with 1972-specific front and rear components, creating an interesting hybrid. Highly optioned with an automatic transmission, bucket seats and a console, it was also used as a PR/show car in period. Today, it displays an exterior refinish dating back 10 years

the Two Lane Blacktop 55 Chev trivia

It has to be called trivia to learn something so obscure and momentary, but the 55 was also in an episode of Adam 12