Yahoo News Tells Fantastic Story of Restored 1958 Chevy Delray

The 1950s are thought of by many as the very golden era of cars, and they provided some of the slickest shapes and style to ever grace any lot. Here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse this past week we paid special attention to a story from Yahoo News that really caught our eye: a 1958 Delray that had undergone a complete restoration done by a former owner. Up until 1958, the Delray was a trim level for the Chevy lineup, but after that, it was the Delray's own new model on hand to replace the 150.

Despite looks that were pretty classical, the Delray was actually meant to act as a model that was particularly popular for the purposes of business owners and police departments nationwide, flaunting a mass-produced vibe while still possessing massive individual character features. This particular Delray sported traits that were definitely not economy-minded in the least, and was owned by local racer Bob Duelling. It was put to the test many times astutely and was raced hard until the mid 60's, and a brand new 409 motor was slotted in during 1963. The second owner took over the car during 1973, and sold it to a friend four years later.

One of the most interesting aspects of this story is regarding the second owner: he is the one who restored it to the car that can be enjoyed today. The Delray was deemed in a deep sleep for two decades, and was repurchased by the second owner in 1995 before finally getting the TLC it long deserved. It was five years ago when the restoration began, and not a single bolt was left untouched. There was such attention to detail given that it won many awards, among them being the very coveted Street Rodder Magazine Top 100. With only 31,000 miles on the body, it is most definitely the cream of the crop as to what any 1950's rod lover could find available.

The Delray was named after the aptly beautiful Florida beach, and debuted in 1954 as an optional trim level for the mid-size 210 series. Front suspension was independent, and named “knee-action”, while also sporting a straight-six engine as the tops before the introduction of the small block V8 in 1955. The more powerful Blue Flame unit was used with the Powerglide automatic transmission. All of the engines were referred to as “stovebolt sixes” because of the large slotted-head screws used to fasten the pushrod and valve covers to the block. We love to see restoration stories like this one, and admittedly yearn for the days when rounded-back classics like the Delray owned the road: the future's impending vision of luxury during the baby boom was absolutely one worth embracing and casting a fond glance back to quite often!

Green Car Reports Provides Scoop on Chevy's New EV Trademark Filing

GM officially announced last month that there was to be a $300 million investment in the factory that builds the Chevy Bolt EV, leaving a bit of a mystery regarding what other modern-day marvels may be eventually built at the plant. A new trademark filing revealed by GM Authority here gives a bit more detailed of a hint. There they announce that the new vehicle will be called the Bolt EUV, and the Lake Orion plant in Michigan is slated to be the scene of production.

This is the facility that currently has dibs on building the Chevy Sonic, Bolt EV, and formerly prototypes for the Cruise AV. It is the only facility in the world that has the capability to produce autonomous vehicles on a production line, a task that seemed pretty daunting just a few years ago. All of us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse are excited about the potential that electric cars have to help the environment, and help us cut back on dependency to foreign oil. Our very own team that helped develop the red-hot Camaro eCopo concept is literally making history on a daily basis: it was amazing to see an over 700-horsepower car pop a drag-strip wheelie here in complete silence!

One thing known about this future Chevy EV is that it will share the GM BEV2 platform that underpins the current Bolt EV, and this new car in development will be a size class larger than the current Bolt EV. Just as many other brands are scrambling to assure everyone that “The big switch” is on, the strategy involved introducing 20 all-electric models by the year 2023. The hot button for many here is the daily drive: since a large group of drivers are situated at under 20 miles a day for their commute, fully-electric power seems to suddenly make abundant heaps of sense, as ranges are going up and the notion becomes more viable.

This feature from the folks at Carmagazine.co.UK digs dip into what the next step for the automotive industry is truly going to entail. It really outlines the deep investments that the major brands such as ours are employing to complete the necessary research and development before production, and many across the nation will soon see the benefits. Audi is even coining a new vehicle by the “E-Tron” name, a symbol of just how much things have progressed since “Flynn's Arcade” was featured in the movie we loved from 1982 about the program Tron's voyage deep into computer programming code and lightcycle battles. 

Ford has announced in-depth work on the “Mach 1”, a sporty and muscular model that will most likely be pinned on an Explorer or SUV body. The craze that was all began by startlingly high-powered models like the Tesla Roadster is now going to enjoy a mass offering of practical vehicles that are perfect for the around-town essentials. While the market begins to heat up like mad, Chevy's practical and well-engineered options are sure to pave the way to a sustainable and hassle-free future!

Video of Big Block Chevy C10 Touting 640 Wheel Horses Featured on Gm Authority

The Chevy C10 has been gaining in popularity recently, as people are attracted in high volumes to its classic, honest design, and display of sheer simplicity. It also enjoys an existence in a space between the blessed muscle car era that all of us at the Midwest Missouri Powerhouse were so fond of, and the existence of modern-day pickups. Everywhere you see classic cars has experienced a very revamped excitement regarding this model as of late, and auction sites, as well as restoration shops, are filling up with these beautiful machines.

This video from The Smoking Tire YouTube channel shows a truck built specifically for SEMA, the aftermarket show held every year in Las Vegas. It also spent more than 8 months at the Petersen Automotive Museum, and is resting in a garage for now. The builders did not want to stray at all from the original design elements, but instead to retain the design GM and Chevy had originally intended. Even though the classic sheen was of dire importance, the powerful punch it could pack was definitely taken into serious consideration during development. Under the hood resides the 502-cubic-inch Chevy Big Block V8, also sporting a Vortech supercharger on top. The engine is stock, except for an added blower that makes 640 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque.

The motor is now paired with a GM-sourced 4L85-E automatic gearbox and features Street and Race modes, as well as paddle shifters. We have been noticing how many SEMA builds you find lately have very off-the-wall interior designs, and the Chevy C10 is a very welcome change from the exploration into territories that simply feel too modern and techno-street for what is supposed to be the trusty and loyal backbone of the hard-working and All-American vehicle.

As the video describes, this was truly a build that “left no stone unturned”, and you definitely get a great view of the motor off the bat. The Street mode is for easy cruising, and as you get your first glance of the interior, the dash absolutely is over-the-top beautiful. When the truck first goes screaming by on the highway, the sound is glorious: not just a fierce roar, but a thunderous announcing of its own presence that is so distinct, we wanted to snag one for ourselves and take it home right away! Yes, everything about it is THAT good. Later in the video, they really put the truck to the test on inclines, and it simply lurches forward with the purest of power.

As the testing team set out to show just how awesome this classic is, you get the sense of how great it is to “Ride high” in a muscle truck: You sure are bound to not feel every ding and rut when you are comfortably situated this far away from the pavement. This was an exceptionally refreshing example of what the best in restoration and development can accomplish: This C10 is truly going to have a scorching and commanding allure at SEMA!

Motortrend Reports on New Trailblazer Debut Slated for April 16

Later this month when the Shanghai auto show kicks off with a bang, many various supercars and electric cars will be featured, but only a few will likely make their way to the States. A blog update published this week on Motortrend.com claims that this is where the new Chevy Trailblazer, as well as Trax, will be revealed. You can see in the images provided here that it could be a smaller, more off-road ready CUV that slots right under the Blazer. There was also news heard from the Detroit Auto show in January that Chevy plans to bring the Trailblazer back, in the likes of a small crossover that will slot between the Equinox and the Trax.

One particularly eye-catching sketch shown here of a small Chevy SUV was part of a presentation by GM execs to investors in New York last year, which coincided a bit with sources telling Motor Trend that there is indeed a small crossover coming to the Chevy lineup that could resurrect the Trailblazer name. Even if this model being unveiled soon is not too much bigger than the subcompact Trax, it could also turn out being a more upscale model within the same size bracket.

It has definitely been exciting for all of us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse to witness the revitalization of the Blazer, and the Trailblazer would absolutely be a very timely and capable release to have on deck in addition. In the instance of the Blazer, GM began work years ago on a midsize crossover to fit snugly between the Equinox and Traverse. Many die-hard Blazer fans have given us a bit of a hard time since the new model differs in size and is not currently a body-on-frame variant, but we are steadfast and strong in our belief that it is still going to be an epic and wildly popular vehicle choice for 2019!

The potential rendition of the Trailblazer would not have anything in common with the original, which was in essence a very upscale trim line of the K5 Blazer. It was available from 1999 until 2001, when it became its own model as a midsize SUV. A second generation of the Trailblazer, which was using the Colorado truck frame, was launched for 2012, and never introduced in the US. There are many choices within the crossover SUV genre as of late, and some out there may not understand all the various shapes and sizes now in existence while mulling over options. We'll keep you posted on anything we hear regarding this and any other releases and are anxious to help you test drive and find the perfect car or SUV for your needs here in the Mid-Missouri heartland.

Speed Society Provides Video Highlighting Illustrated History of the Suburban

In the auto industry, there are many nameplates who have illustrated various ways of rising to the absolute top. The Suburban is one of the longest standing nameplates under Chevy's badge, and in an era where not every model has a solid and definite presence, the Suburban has been able to accomplish a very strong foothold. Through various economic ups and downs as well as gas crunches, this full-size SUV has become an absolute staple of the GM brand. It's even been morphed into a GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade for those who want an extra dose of flair with a large-size SUV.

All of us on staff here at the Powerhouse definitely love the videos such as this one provided by Donut Media who do a fantastic job of telling the story of Suburban, an offering that goes along perfectly with the Silverado, Camaro, and Corvette. The video starts out showing a Suburban peeling out in a circle, while hilariously admitting that “Bad guys and cartels love 'em”, and “Biggee got shot in one”, before providing us what we need to know to get up to speed.

While shedding light and enjoying a bit of humor that the “biggest authority figures of all” such as moms favor this vehicle for its practicality and hauling capability as well. The Suburban is the longest-lasting moniker in the automotive industry, “As if Ford still had the Model T”. The story begins in the early 30's, during the dust bowl. From 1930 until 1934, Chevy was putting full-size station wagon bodies onto their full-size truck frames for private military use. This was where they were deemed so useful, that a factory line worker finally realized that they would work great for public use as well.

The “Suburban Carryall” featured the body and plenty of windows and seating that came with the station wagon vibe, and in 1937, GMC and Chevy shared the same model. During WWII, Suburbans were used as military transfer vehicles, and soldiers appreciated how perfect they were for the role. After the war when they got home, a lot of them had the desire to load their new families into the Suburbans that they enjoyed driving during wartime, and so Chevy offered up what they wanted with the third-gen Suburban in 1947.

This all-time classic was actually the inspiration for the 2011 HHR, and through the 1950s and 60s, the car got beefier and more capable while Jeep and the Ford Bronco began to lure a few loyal customers away with their own brand of off-road capability and prowess. Instead of slimming the Suburban down like many expected they would, they responded by making it even larger, and it grew longer by a foot in 1967. By 1972, 27,000  sales were on record for the Suburban.

The seventh-generation Suburban debuted in 1973, and would last for almost twenty years. This was in all essence the “Suburban that then defined Suburbans” for most of America. You could get it with the big and boisterous 454 under the hood, and the Donut Media video does a great job of conveying how this was the vehicle that really stood up straight and claimed: “I know what I'm doing, get out of my way!”

The mid-1980s was when the term “SUV” was first coined, and Chevy had found a way to be ahead of the game. By 1984, Chevy and GMC were producing around 65,000 Suburbans per year, and the world couldn’t get enough of this over-sized people hauler. One of the reasons why the Suburban was so widely-accepted was its ability to blend in, not stand out in terms of military use, but be so easy to work on worldwide due to the extension of the “Genuine Parts” Department, making availability across the globe that much easier.

The end of the video pays apt homage to the 11th-version Suburban, introduced in 2013. The “Texas Edition” was a thank you and nod of appreciation to the Lone-Star State, where more Suburbans are sold than anywhere else. It featured All-wheel-drive, trailering package, bigger wheels, and the exclusive Texas Edition Badge. Many decades of buyers right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse learned firsthand that the Suburban is truly unrivaled in a class that it created, and we invite you to come down and check out this year's model to see how a little extra-large-sized and staunch setup can bring your family or business sheer confidence!