Originally posted by: admin on 22 February 14 @ 09:10 PM EST
The Carcynic’s Award-Winning Classic Automobiles are available for movies and commercials. It’s a great way to give authenticity to European/Eastern European sets or scenes. The CarCyinc’s garage is minutes from Central Florida Film Studios. Static or Moving. Terms Negotiable. The CarCynic has experience on film and TV commercial sets.
Additionally, the Carcynic is available for appearances or talks. The CarCynic can appear in CarCynic Pit Crew attire, and can speak on a variety of topics, drive, crew, or facilitate. The CarCynic is also a professional DJ. Contact the CarCynic using the email address below. Note that you must re-type the email address into your email program. This is done to reduce spam:
[Email address to be added soon]
While you are here, please checkout the rest of the Carcynic.com website for Automotive Humor, Reviews, and Safety Information.
Read on for information about the cars.
1965 Chevrolet C30 Panel Van
The CarCynic has been around the world, and come back to the Good Ole’ USA. When CarCynic Sound provides Professional Sound and DJ services for Local Car Shows, he wants to participate in the show, too. After contemplating various military vehicles and trucks, the CarCynic stumbled upon this 1965 Chevrolet C30 Panel Van in Michigan, USA.
The windows in the panel van area would not have been there when this vehicle was new — someone added them. Other than the window and interior configuration, it’s essentially a factory stretched Suburban. While I have owned several newer Suburbans and Yukon XL’s, I’ve always liked that iconic farm equipment look of the 1960’s Suburbans. Due to the large “ambulance style” rear doors, and a 1:1 top gear, it’s also more practical than most former military vehicle.
According to the seller (I have not verified this yet), it still has it’s original 283 cubic inch Small Block engine, and Muncie 4 speed manual transmission — The one that has the “Granny Gear”. As typical for something over a half a century old, it came to the CarCynic with lots of — In the sellers words — “quirks”, but those will be worked through before it becomes the official vehicle of CarCynic Sound. Based on lot’s of suggestions I’ve been getting, it will stay Purple at least for now.
1989 АвтоBA3 LADA 2107
First it was Geiger Counters, then it was Vacuum Tubes and Software Defined Radios — Completely unintentionally, it seemed that my non-car hobbies were revolving around things from former Soviet Union countries.
So I started wondering about Soviet-era cars. Of course I was familiar with jokes about the Trabant, and equally negative comments about the Yugo. Both cars were often used in anti-soviet propaganda, implying these (or cars of similar quality) were the only cars available in socialist countries. The truth is that Trabants and Yugos weren’t even available in Russia. So what did Russians drive in the Soviet era? Was it as bad as the Trabant or Yugo?
What Russians actually drove — at least after 1970, was predominately the Lada. Originally a “Russianized” version of the Fiat 124, the Lada design evolved into a distinct car, with it’s own body style, Russian-made overhead cam engine and stronger construction. The Lada became known even in Western countries for it’s competitive price, reliability, DIY-friendly mechanics and simple functionality. By the 1980’s Lada cars were available in almost every country except — You guessed it — The USA.
My Lada, a Lada 2107 or just “Seven”, was built in 1989 in Tolyatti, Russia, and originally sold in the Hungarian Market. In 2020, it was imported to Miami, Florida. While this car did not come from Cuba, and was never in Cuba, many people that lived in Cuba and now reside in Miami have nostalgic feelings for the humble Lada. In Cuba, few cars were available except American cars imported prior to the 1953 communist revolution, and the Lada. Many people that grew up in Cuba learned to drive in a Lada, with fathers and son’s often learning to drive in the same car. Sadly however, this particular car was not very well cared for and came to CarCynic in pretty bad shape. I am currently in the process of making it road worthy, with major mechanical work and body work under way.
Note: The 1989 LADA 2107 Has it’s own page with the full version of the above write up. Read the full version here.
1982 Citroën GSA Club:
The Citroen GSA is a 5 door hatchback automobile produced from 1979 to 1986. It is, in essence, a Series II of the Citroen GS, which was first launched in 1970. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1971, and was noted as being technologically advanced, with class-leading comfort, safety and aerodynamics. The GS and GSA (sometimes referred to collectively as “GS/A”) were designed by Robert Opron, who also designed the Citroen CX (1975 European Car of the Year), and the Citroen Sports Maserati (SM). Opron brought his aviation design experience to Citroen, resulting in the GS/A having the lowest aerodynamic coefficient of drag of any mass produced car of it’s time.
The aerodynamic body is moved through the air by an unique flat-4 air-cooled overhead-cam engine, resulting in fuel economy figures that remain noteworthy in an era of hybrid and diesel economy cars (close to 40 mpg). Having a displacement of only 1300cc, the engine and 5 speed manual gearbox can still propel the car to over 100 mph. The boxer layout also lowers the center of gravity, reducing body roll in the turns. The GS and GSA represented the smallest, and least expensive Citroens to feature the unique Citroen Hydropneumatic suspension system. As with the DS, CX, SM and later Citroens, the GSA also used the central hydraulic system to power aircraft-style hydraulic brakes, with disc brakes standard on all 4 wheels. The brakes were inboard mounted (as on a F1 car) on the front, making for a more advanced braking system than is found on many of today’s cars in this class. It does not, however, feature the DIRAVI active power steering system of it’s more expensive cousins, instead having a standard, unassisted rack and pinion. Like all Citroen passenger cars starting with the 1930’s Traction Avant, the GS/GSA is front wheel drive.
The unique design features are also found on the interior. This includes the signature Citroen single spoke steering wheel, and the “Spaceship” dashboard. Most notable are the “PRN pods”, which are a progenitor of the ergonomic control pods found on the Citroen CX and CX series II.
The term “Club” refers to a mid-range trim and accessories option, in between the base model, and the loaded “Pallas”.
NOTE: Dash photo is actually from a GSA X3.
Over two and a half million Citroen GS’s and GSA’s were produced, not counting licensed versions made in other countries. In addition, the Olcit Club (AKA Citroen Axel) shared the same engine, but not the body or hydropneumatic suspension. These other cars added up to more than a million additional similar or derivative cars, and production continued in some countries into the early 1990’s. The GS and GSA were never offered for sale in the United States, and could not even be special ordered here. The dozen or so GS’s and GSA’s currently in the US were imported individually by Citroen enthusiasts. This means that while parts are readily available in most of the world, potential owners on this side of the rock should plan on importing most parts.
This particular example was built at the Citroen factory in Rennes, France (pronounced like “Ren” in Ren and Stimpy), and originally sold new in The Netherlands. At some point, it received a 3rd party rust treatment and re-spray in it’s original beige color. Citroen Andre in the Netherlands located this car for the CarCynic, arranged for some pre-shipment mechanical work, and managed the export process. All Ways International Shipping handled importing the car on the US side. The car arrived in the port of Jacksonville in March of 2018, where the CarCynic took possession of it, and arranged the remaining necessary inspections, registration, and some additional mechanical work as well as safety upgrades, including the in-house manufacture of a custom 3rd Brake light (CHiMSL).
1976 Citroën Dyane:
NOTE: The Citroen Dyane is no longer owned by the CarCynic. The following is left here as a basic description of the Citroen Dyane.
The Citroën Dyane is a derivative of the famous French Citroën 2CV or Deux Chevaux (meaning “Two Horse”). It shares the same opposed twin air-cooled engine and 4 speed transmission. The Dyane engine produced slightly more horsepower, allowing a higher top speed (over 70 MPH). The Dyane also has a slightly longer body, yielding more interior room, and, unlike the 2CV, is a true hatchback. The Dyane also shares the 2CV’s unique front-to-rear linked suspension and most other 2CV mechanical components.
Since over 10 million 2CV’s and derivatives were made, finding mechanical parts is not difficult. Many parts for Citroën 2CV’s are still produced. The exceptions being certain body and interior parts that are unique to the Dyane.
In 1981, a special, limited edition Citroen Dyane was produced in Spain. This special addition was known as the Dyane “Capra” (a reference to the astrological Capricorn). The Capra included a custom black and yellow paint scheme, special interior, and other subtle trim features. Eurocar Imports was able to reproduce this custom paint scheme on this car. There are fewer than a dozen Citroën Dyane’s in the country, and this is the only Dyane Capra (original or replica) known in the USA.
1987 Citroën CX Prestige Turbo II
NOTE: The Citroen CX Prestige is no longer owned by the CarCynic. The following is left here as a basic description of this vehicle.
The Citroen CX is named after the mathematical representation of the Co-efficient of Drag (Cd or Cx). The CX has one of the lowest drag coefficients in the automotive industry. In addition to the unique Robert Opron styling, this CX also embodies almost every technology Citroën is known for. This includes a central hydraulic system that operates the brakes, suspension and steering. It is a common misconception that these cars have “air suspension”. Nothing in the suspension contains or operates using air or air pumps. There are also no suspension springs or shock absorbers. High pressure nitrogen provides a better ride than springs ever could, and ride height control and dampening is provided by the hydraulic system. The DIRAVI speed sensitive “fly by hydraulics” steering makes driving this car unlike any other. You can see me demonstrate the CX hydraulic system in this YouTube video.
The Turbocharged, 4 cylinder, 2.5L, 190 HP engine provides about twice the fuel economy of a large American car of the time, while simultaneously giving the performance European drivers expect. Top speed is near 150 MPH. All Turbocharged CX’s had 5-speed manual transmissions.
Citroen utilized a Bosch Fuel injection system for the CX, and thus most external engine parts are the same as (for example) a BMW 325i of the same period. Many other parts are standard as well. As long as the special hydraulic fluid (known as LHM) is kept clean, hydraulic failures are almost unheard of in the later Citroëns. Similarly, the engine, sometimes referred to as a “Tractor Engine”, due to it’s low RPM and high torque, is very reliable. There are many of these cars still on the road in Europe with over 200 thousand miles on them.
“Prestige” refers to the lengthened or “limousine” body, which gives exceptional rear passenger leg room. Other “Super Car” features include a “Single-Double” windshield wiper, the same factory mirrors as Jaguar and Lotus supercars, and Jaeger (of Jaeger-LeCoultre) Instruments. It was also one of the first production vehicles to feature keyless entry.
A black CX Turbo Prestige was owned by Former French President Jacques Chirac, and often used for official presidential conveyance. The presidential CX Prestige has been displayed on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.
The example owed by the CarCynic was imported new by CX Automotive in New Jersey. Original sale price in the US was over $80,000 in 1987 (Approximately $169,000 in today’s dollar).
Originally posted by: admin on 22 February 14 @ 09:10 PM EST
