The 'Vending Machine,' Chevy Anniversaries, SUVs At Food Lion AutoFair
5 April 2000
The 'Vending Machine,' Chevy Anniversaries, SUVs At Food Lion AutoFair
CONCORD, N.C., April 4 From the car deemed "Unsafe at Any
Speed" to a legendary nameplate that performs just fine at 200 mph, the Food
Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway will celebrate the gamut of car culture
from April 6-9.
In 1960, Chevrolet introduced the Corvair, a car so revolutionary in
design that it only shared some paint colors with its older siblings. Eager
to make a big footprint in the compact American car market, Chevy engineered a
package so tidy and space-efficient that even the Volkswagen Beetle looked
wasteful by comparison. Like the "Bug," the Corvair created interior room by
packing the powerplant into the car's trunk; the missing driveshaft allowed a
perfectly flat floor in the passenger compartment. Air-cooling the engine (a
la VW) simplified the car's plumbing, reduced weight and created a motor
incapable of freezing in winter.
Most who bought the Corvair were pleased with its economy and uniqueness,
but in 1965 a book by consumer advocate Ralph Nader argued that the littlest
Chevy had a dark secret: under normal driving conditions it might spin
dangerously out of control. "Unsafe at Any Speed" hit the shelves the same
year the second-generation Corvair, with much-improved handling, was
introduced. The Corvair's soiled reputation, combined with the introduction
of Ford's sporty new Mustang, caused a decline in sales that caused Chevrolet
to pull the plug on its innovative experiment at the end of model year 1969.
As the Corvair was going to its grave, Chevrolet was giving birth to the
'70 Monte Carlo -- a more traditional, front-engine design that helped to
define the "personal luxury" market. In reality, it was Chevy's knockoff of
Pontiac's '69 Grand Prix with a simpler, more elegant styling that won it many
admirers. The stock powerplant was a 350-cid V-8 and there was an option for
a fire-breathing 454 SS package. It's no wonder the Monte Carlo became a
terror on the NASCAR Grand National (now Winston Cup) circuit.
Each year the promoters of the Food Lion AutoFair present one or two truly
unusual vehicles to the public, a tradition that continues for 2000. The
Vending Machine is one-half Coca-Cola dispenser, one-half Model T and one-half
drag racer -- a combination that made it the top custom show car of the '70s.
Another eye-catching hybrid coming to the Carolinas for AutoFair is the
Calliope Truck, a Ford Model T flatbed retrofitted with one amazing sound
system -- a mechanized pipe organ.
Ten years ago no one suspected that the end of the 20th century would see
the utilitarian and rough-riding sport utility vehicle become the unofficial
vehicle of the American family. The few SUVs available were big, boxy and
short on comfort; now, more than three dozen models -- in all shapes and sizes
-- crowd the market. Power windows, tilt steering, cruise control, sunroofs,
leather-swathed bucket seats, climate control and 12-speaker CD systems are
considered must-have options or standard equipment on many of these go-
anywhere car/truck hybrids built for people with active lifestyles. Chevy,
Ford, Dodge and Toyota were the primary producers of SUVs at the end of the
'80s; Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Honda, Cadillac and Lincoln have since joined
them. The cream of the SUV crop will be exhibited during the four-day
AutoFair in a special display.
The future of automotive repair is in safe hands if the Student Auto
Skills Competition is any indication. On the second day of AutoFair, April 7,
20 12th-graders from North and South Carolina schools will be opening the
hoods on identically "bugged" new cars with the goal of diagnosing,
identifying and repairing the problems -- all this while the clock is ticking.
The team displaying the highest quality workmanship in the shortest amount of
time will be provided expense-paid trips to the national finals in June.
Of course, the meat of AutoFair is the thousands of collector cars and
swap meet spaces overflowing with the fenders, hoods, engines, carpets, owner
manuals and wiring harnesses an enthusiast needs to get his winter project
finished and on the road by summer.
Food Lion AutoFair hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday
and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Ticket prices are $8 for adults; children under
12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking for the event is
$5. For more information on the four-day event, contact the speedway events
department at (704) 455-3205 or visit the website at http://www.gospeedway.com .