Some fellow posters may recall it is SOP for Casa Growler to have one on hand for cruising, bar-hopping, and outrunning the local cops, and the saga last year of the '69 351cu.in Mustang. Alas this had to be disposed off due to Miss Philippines' insistence that it smelt "mabaho". This Tagalog word has no direct English equivalent, but here in the Land of 7,107 Islands implies an unpleasantness of fragrance that would curdle milk at 10 metres. Eau du Backpacker in economy class comes pretty close. Normally Miss P. has the world's sunniest disposition and is the soul of patience but this Mustang was clearly a lover's demand too far; the sight of those beautiful features puckering pointedly finally wore me down. She reckoned the car had been through the hands of college students in its life and that was what accounted for the odoriferous bit. (I didn't feel I could ask how she made the student connection.......)
So, after several months of enjoyable driving but increasing sotto voce remarks from Growlette, what was once an envisioned project for a Shelby conversion destined for Eleanor status in the hands of our talented Filipino restorers had to be shelved. After I'd spent a small fortune Fed-exing in from the USA a front end and disc brake conversion kit as well. Hmph.
However, round here not having a V-8 to play with would be as bad as not having 3 V-twin motorcycles in the yard. When the good old US left the Philippines in '92 they bequeathed a wealth of excellent metal ordered by GI's as playthings under their military concessions, much of which is quite rare and much cherished among the cognoscenti.
A grateful HMG is also coughing up a princely sum these days by way of old age pension waiting to be spent on something. I hate being called a "Senior Citizen", especially since I have no interest in needlework or golf and much prefer "Old Age Pensioner". This allows one to come from nowhere and both surprise and annoy others 10 years younger with disap;p;roving wives who would far prefer one to act old so that it doesn't show them up. Least of all with the temerity still to ride very large motorcycles to weddings and British Embassy receptions and generally "behave like a kid" (Growlette's description from her lofty 29 years of age). Plus we're still living with 34pence a litre gas and have enough sugar cane growing down south to keep us in methanol-supplemented fuel to see me out, for one.
Ok, Ok, what is it this time? Well it isn't a Mustang but a 1966 almost original Chevy Nova SS, with the 396 cu in 375hp turbo (I have to check that horsepower number) under that lump in the hood, and no, it doesn't smell. Or rather it does, but of hot Valvoline Racing 20w/50, very hot metal and vinyl upholstery which has been parked in the sun on a 32 C day. Ah, bliss.
Now then, those wags with a full week's Thomson holiday in Benidorm under their belt will have what they consider to be a sufficient grasp of Spanish to make belly laughs about "No Va", a very old joke. Let me tell them this baby rocks and va muy bien de hecho, gracias. We took it down the taxiway of the Clark Airbase here at last Sunday's drag meet and were most impressed. The airfield is Asia's largest and was extended for B-52 bombing runs over 'Nam, so you can really wind your car up. I want it dyno-ed as soon as I can, the torque is phenomenal. Lovely paint, pristine interior, all very clean and tidy. All original except for a Denso a/c compressor. It shows 67,000 which is probably genuine, as the servicemen weren't allowed to travel far off base.
Cost? Let's just say a bit more than a week in Benidorm for two.
Cancun might be nearer.
More from the SS Files as it comes.
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Hello and congratulations. Not being an expert I had to resort to the internet to find out what it is. If I got the right pictures it looks a bit of a Q-car and may surprise some!
We await further news.
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Nice one.
Check out tinyurl.com/cjc9t
If your's has the big block 396 cu it may be a 1968/9 car.
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Sounds nice Growler. I've just succumbed again.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4581...1
Goes like stink, sounds wonderful yet looks subtle and discreet.
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"subtle and discreet"
Are you sure that's what Growler wanted?
I'm still not sure about this turbo, though. IIRC, the adjective was beginning to be employed rather loosely by marketing men about that time. We even have 'turbo' razors now, for Heaven's sake!
A supercharger I could believe, and I wouldn't be surprised if Growler's already ordered one. It would certainly deal with that subtlety and discretion...
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"subtle and discreet"
Sorry, just realised - that was Nick's car! Had me worried... :-)
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Glad to hear, Growler - about time you had another V-8. Does it really have a turbocharger? Hell's teeth! :-)
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Sure does. I need a pic if I can find a working camera.
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