The big news in 1949 in the automobile world was a new high-compression V-8 engine, the result of Charles Kettering's major last project for GM. The engine gained more fame in the Oldsmobile that year, which promoted it as the Rocket 88, in which Olds shoved its big car 331-cubic-inch, 160-horsepower V8 engine into a mid size model. Now, we ain't talking no sissy engine here, with modern torque and compression... some people say that this was the very first muscle car. There have been many arguments over the greatest engine of the muscle car era; some were tuned for horsepower (top speed) while others were tuned for torque (acceleration), and others were seriously underrated to keep a low profile and insurance agents guessing.

An especially neat-o model was the 1956 Golden Rocket... the wild-looking bronze-metallic two-seat coupe was the most projectile-like Olds show car, and one of the quickest: Its 234 V-8 was tuned to produce 275 hp, which must have been impressive considering its curb weight of about 2,500 pounds. Like most of its predecessors, the Rocket had a fiberglass body. Roof panels rose, resembling Mercedes' gullwing-style, and the seats lifted and swiveled out to welcome the posterior when the doors were opened. Conventional bumpers were replaced by nerf-like built-in bumpers, and one of the first-known tilt steering wheels was in the cockpit. I want one of these!

It took until 1964 for Oldsmobile to return to the big-engine-mid-body formula. Awoken from its performance nap by the Pontiac GTO, Oldsmobile rushed into the muscle car market by adding a 4-4-2 package to its existing Cutlass model line. Although lacking focus in the begining years, Oldsmobile gradually refined its "gentlemen's" muscle car until it became its own model with its own famous option code, W-30. The 4-4-2 earned a reputation as the most balanced and well-mannered of the muscle cars, while the W-30 option usually represented the addition of a ram air system and engine tricks to make the combination deadly. Oldsmobile also teamed up with Hurst of transmission fame to create a Hurst/Olds 4-4-2 for 1968 and 1969. These cars were the first GM sanctioned use of a 455 cu. in engine in an intermediate body, an the results were predictable. The Olds 4-4-2 showed that muscle cars could be well balanced, as well as just fast.

Maserati Bora

Number produced - 497 * Years Produced - 1971 to 1979 * Engine - 4.7 liter V8
Horsepower - 290-320 * Weight - 1400 Kg * Top Speed - 173 mph

Though somewhat remiss in personal hygiene, Lord John Whorfin does show his taste and knowledge in cars, though one can frown on his propensity to destroy works of art.

Founded in 1914 in Bologna by the four Maserati brothers, the company produced its first car in 1926. This was the 8-cylinder 1.5 litre engine Tipo 26, a racing car driven to victory in the Targa Fiori by Alfieri Maserati. Maserati has designed and produced many different models, and has claimed frequent victories in the history of motor-racing since that important date. The company designs racing-car masterpieces such as the Tipo 60 and 61 Birdcage, as well as the 3-litre V12 power unit used on the Cooper Maserati Formula One car between 1965 and 1967. Maserati produces eleven of the most important models in the history of Italian quality car manufacturing, in line with its philosophy that a performance car does not have to be spartan, noisy and extremely difficult to drive. In 1993, Maserati was taken over by Fiat, which is now intent on up-dating the Maserati models to ensure that the distinguished Trident can still be brandished to assert Maserati's incomparable world reputation in the manufacture of exclusive cars.

The Bora is known for its excellent build quality, good handling, power and good ergonomics (especially for the time). If you are in the market for a Bora here are a few things to look for: There are no "bad" years for the Bora, but some people suggest that you avoid the earlier cars with leaky Citroen Hydraulics, and try to get a later car with the larger engines. Some people feel that the cars were a little bit undertired. When updating tires, go for tires that are at least .5 inch wider at the rear than the front.

From its looks on film, the Hong Kong Cavaliers' bus is a modified 35-foot Motor Coach Industries MC-5/5A Scenicruiser, built from 1971-1977. The Canadian company, more commonly known as MCI, is rich with history. The company began in the 1930's, then diversified in the 1950's, abandoning the road machinery business and utilizing its resources and excess capacity to expand the National Products Company, establish the Alsco Windows and Doors Company, and produce custom metal fabrication for truck bodies. National Products continued to grow and expand into the sale of ornamental street lighting poles in addition to the original pole hardware items; Alsco was set up early in the decade to service the construction and retail markets with aluminum windows and doors and in the latter part of the decade, Alsco also entered the window wall construction market.

The Bus, outside and inside

MCI progressed from building approximately 50 coaches a year in the early 60's to an annual production rate of approximately 500 units. The popularity of MCI coaches in the market place accelerated during the early 70s; in 1971, a new parts distribution center was opened (now Universal Coach Parts) to support U.S. customer's growing needs . MCI continued to be a leader in bus production, developing the new models MC-2, MC-3, MC-4, MC-5 and the MC-5A, and was commissioned to develop the MC-6 "Super Cruiser" for Greyhound Lines Inc. in the U.S. This coach was truly unique and was an engineering marvel; from its stainless steel frame to its 102 inch wide wheel base and V12 engine, it was renowned as the "Queen of the Highways" at that time.

production sketch of the interior of WWOne

The Institute is pleased to offer the following hand sketches, some by Buckaroo himself,
detailing the evolution of the JetCar...

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