Q. I don’t see many American convertibles around these days. What has caused their decline in popularity? — E.M. (via Internet) 

A. The last model year when all four major American automakers offered convertibles was 1968, when American Motors, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors made 247,481 convertibles. The Ford Mustang soft top was the most popular that year, with 25,376 sold. The 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible was the only American convertible offered that year. It was thought to be the last, but Chrysler—seeing an opening in the market—began building convertibles again for 1982. The increase in auto air conditioning, a more subdued national mood in the 1970s with such things as the escalating war in Southeast Asia, student war protests, along with blander U.S. car styling and poorer quality convertibles with drabber colors all contributed to the demise of the soft top. Enclosed air conditioned hardtops provided the look of a convertible and offered more security against auto break-ins with escalating crime. 



Q. Things such as dual-ignition engines provide more power, providing fast and more complete combustion of the gas mixture in engine cylinders. Is it something new?  — A.H. (via Internet)

A. Actually, the 1940 Nash offered an eight-cylinder “Twin-Ignition” engine with 16 spark plugs, or eight on each side of the cylinder head. Only Rolls-Royce was the other automaker then to offer this feature. The Nash engine produced 115 horsepower, but would have produced a lot more if the very low-octane fuel of that day had not kept the Nash engine’s compression ratio to a low 6.0:1. 



Q. l owned several hand-built late 1960s Avant II models—the successor to the early 1960s advanced, mass-produced Studebaker Avanti—and found them to be unusually solid, especially since, except for the engine, they were 1960s cars. — P.S. (via Internet)

A. That’s because the Avanti II used the same tough frame and suspensions as the rugged, early 1960s Studebaker Lark. 



Q. How did the famous Phillips 66 gas get its name? I suspect it had something to do with the famous Route 66 road from Chicago to Los Angeles. — D.M. (via Internet)

A. Good guess. The Phillips gasoline company tested a car on Route 66 near Tulsa in 1927. The car hit 66 miles per hour, which was fast for the time. So the company, perhaps thinking it was some kind of a sign, decided to incorporate the number “66” into its logo. 

Q. I’m thinking of restoring an old car. It would involve lots of work. Your advice? — J.D. (via Internet)

A. I wouldn’t recommend doing that unless you are very mechanically inclined, have the right tools and lots of patience and figure on leaving the chroming and upholstery work to good professionals, who are very expensive.



Q. I read that you can significantly increase the horsepower of the reliable, time-proven four-cylinder Porsche 912 engine by installing a “big-bore” 1,720 c.c. kit. — P.J. (via Internet)

A. Many 912s have successfully had that kit installed, and it makes the 912 as fast as the early six-cylinder Porsche 911T. The four-cylinder 912 engine was used in the classic bathtub-shaped 356C 1600SC and provided lively performance. But increasing the engine size definitely improves performance without affecting reliability. Moreover, you also don’t have the costly problems found with the 911’s six-cylinder engine.




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