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Because C/D (like the rest of the car mags) is failing, and has few print ads, and needed SOMETHING on "Cover 3" as it's called in the biz. 

Better than a blank page, or a freebie ad for sex change hormones.

Sad times for the once powerful and profitable car magazine world.

"Goes Like Hot SH!t"

Isn't it funny that we all were there on that day, but didn't know each other then.

It would be fun to find some out-take photos and see who's in the background.  I "may" still have some old B&W proof sheets in some old story envelope somewhere. But, where to look...? 

Scott: Who were you shooting for that day?

+3 on why was that other thread locked? I think it's valuable to have a discussion between those who were there (I was too, for the COCOA day where the car was first brought out, but not for the Hot Rod comparison test, because I didn't work for Hot Rod.) 

There have been "ringer" cars from manufacturers ever since the first comparison road test was run. I've gotten them, and I've sent them back to the car company with a note to send me one that's closer to production.

Carroll's projects were a little bit different, in that he was there to modify existing cars for more performance and handling. Whenever he called me to say he had "a new little toy" he was "playin' with" I bee-lined to the Santa Fe Springs facility to check it out.

All sorts of cool things were being tested: Hans Hermann 16-valve heads, variable-nozzle turbos, superchargers, Dodge V8s in a Pantera & Dakota pickup, and some were twin-turbo'ed. It was always a fun and exciting peek into the treasure chest, and he always let me drive the latest to get my opinion, and also (of course) to write a story about.

So, that said, when is a Shelby skunk works vehicle considered a "ringer"? A prototype is a prototype. A work in progress.  But, IMO, a production vehicle is different, and when I worked for him as PR Manager, we did not tweak production cars for magazine tests. Carroll was certain they'd "stand up for themselves." 

That also said, I was not a part of the Hot Rod test, and did not work for Carroll at that time. I have no idea what was stock, or not. But, if the GHLS in question was a prototype for a production car, why not test and compare it? Then, when the production version comes out, test that and ask why there was any difference...if indeed there was. 

Plus, it was a helluva cover story for Hot Rod, and here we are still talking about it 35+ years later. 

Mr. Moderator, please explain why you locked that thread.  I'm sure we'd all appreciate knowing what rules were broken.

I started attending those COCOA events around 1980. Lynn Park and Tom McIntyre's set-in-stone tradition for Mother's Day. 

Created back in the early days when few of the guys were married, and/or chose to see Mom on some other day, rather than forego track day!

Some traditions are well worth keeping!

Another great photo! 

I agree with Brett (98SVT) and am also not convinced the Cobras in that photo had black windshield frames. 

Light/shadow and 60 year old transparency film (converted to digital via FB) will play tricks on your eyes.

I wonder if ol' Shel' actually sprayed his own pits with that stuff every day? 

I supposed he'd have cases of laying around, so as long as it worked, why not?

I think it'd be pretty humorous to be getting ready in the morning for work, and see a likeness of your own face on the deodorant can you're using. 

Hey, there's a great Christmas gift idea for the car guy who has everything! Personalized cans!

Great chart, Pete.  So, cast iron 427 block and heads together = about 365 pounds. 

Substituting aluminum for both items should shave off what...at least 100 pounds? Maybe little more?   

That's what I've always figured.

I memorized my KR's VIN about 5 minutes after I bought it, back in 1982. I wanted to be able to tell my Shelby and Cobra buddies exactly what I'd bought.

I sold the car two years ago, and will probably remember that VIN better than my own name at some point.

That would be a good Alzheimer's test at "old car folks" homes.

This was mentioned elsewhere, but I agree and would like to have it back the way it was.

Another problem with it now is that I lose track of previous threads when they get quickly buried by new replies.

Can we have a vote on going back to the old method?

I'll bet that 98SVT and crossboss have some Little Johnny D stories of their own.

Dianna was a tenacious guy, in a Machiavellian way, and did work his way up in the Petersen Publishing empire from being an entry-level staffer to being executive group publisher of all the Hot Rod department titles (Car Craft, etc.)

He even got his hands on the (previously autonomous) Motor Trend advertising department for a while, during the last year of my tenure as editor, but (to everyone's relief) he got fired shortly thereafter...due to doing a series of drunken, naked, cannonball dives into the hotel pool during the corporate summer break event in Ensenada, Mexico. This was an employee thank you trip for all the advertising staffs. Families were sometimes invited. This particular year, the wife of the new company CEO was there.  Needless to say, she was not amused by his antics.

I think he'd worked at Petersen for something like 35 years. He didn't realize that times had changed. 

"I would just need to be careful that I don't fall over him because he is down there somewhere?  "

There's the Doug we know and love!

His nickname was "Little Johnny Junior Stock."   (He was about 5'5" with lifts in his shoes.)

Doug, are you referring to the John Dianna from Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines?  I have a few stories...eesh.

The '68 340 (first year) came with a Carter AVS. Then changed to a Thermodump (as we called them) when the Lean Burn stuff started...1973? 

I vote to return to Recently Updated Topics.   

Much easier to follow and come back in where you left off reading, earlier in the day.

Richard...I'm with you!  He's obviously still a pretty tough old dude.