AJ’s Car of the Day: 1967 Nissan Patrol H60 4×4

AJ’s Car of the Day: 1967 Nissan Patrol H60 4×4

Car: Nissan Patrol H60 4×4

Year: 1967

What makes it special: Nissan’s Patrol is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles manufactured in Japan and sold throughout the world. The Patrol has been available as either a short-wheelbase (SWB) three-door or a long-wheelbase (LWB) five-door chassis since 1951. The LWB version has been offered in pickup truck and cab chassis variants. The Patrol is available in Australia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and the Middle East, excluding North America where as of 2016, a modified version has been sold as the Nissan Armada. 

What made it famous: The soft-top Nissan Patrol 60 and G60 were first sold in Australia in 1960. Left-hand drive L60/GL60 models were sold outside of Australia. US customers could get Patrols only from 1962 until 1969. Patrols were sold through Datsun dealerships, making it the only Nissan-badged vehicle sold in the United States until the early 1980’s when the Datsun marque was phased out. . An extra long wheelbase version, the H60, was also available. The 4WD Nissan Patrol 60 series was produced in short, medium and long wheel-base versions. It had a manual transmission type-F3B83L at first with 3 and later with 4-speeds, 2-speed transfer case with part-time four-wheel drive. The motor was the P engine, a 241.4 cu in inline overhead-valve six-cylinder, featuring bathtub-shaped combustion chambers and a fully balanced seven-bearing crank shaft. With two doors in front and one at the back and four seats: driver, and companion in front, two parallel back seats, the extra long wheelbase version known as the H60, was available with eight-passenger capacity.

Why I would want one: It’s pretty rare here in the states, and looks like it could kick some serious off-road ass.

Fun fact: Nissan Australia claimed that the 60 series Patrol was the first vehicle to drive across the Simpson Desert in Australia, and built much publicity around the 50-year anniversary of the event, including a re-enactment with a similar vehicle ending on 21 July 2012 to publicize the impending release of their new generation Y62. However, a conflicting account claimed that a Toyota Land Cruiser support vehicle arrived before the Patrol.

AJ’s “Badass Friday” Car of the Day: 1967 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Hardtop Coupe

AJ’s “Badass Friday” Car of the Day: 1967 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Hardtop Coupe

Car: Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Hardtop Coupe

Year: 1967

What makes it special: The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (also known as the 442) was a muscle car produced between the 1964 and 1980 model years. Introduced as an option package for their F-85 and Cutlass models, it became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, spawned the Hurst/Olds in 1968, then reverted to an option through the mid-1970’s. The name was revived in the 1980’s on the rear-wheel drive Cutlass Supreme and early 1990’s as an option package for the new front-wheel drive Cutlass Calais.

What made it famous: The “4-4-2” name derives from the original car’s four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts. It was originally written “4-4-2” with badging showing hyphens between the numerals, and remained hyphenated throughout Oldsmobile’s use of the designation. Beginning in 1965, the 4-4-2’s standard transmission was a 3 speed manual along with optional 2 speed automatic and 4 speed manual, but were still badged as “4-4-2″‘s. By 1968 badging was shortened to simply “442”, but Oldsmobile brochures and internal documents continued to use the “4-4-2” model designation. For 1967 the 4-4-2’s styling and base engine remained the same, with minor trim changes and a 1967 4-4-2 only distinctive louvered hood as well as an increase in intake valve size to 2.067 from 1.99. but the automatic 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic with Switch Pitch became available, replacing the 2-speed Switch Pitch Jetaway, as was the case with the mid-sized muscle cars from other GM divisions. The heavy-duty floor-mounted 3-speed manual transmission was now standard with the Muncie M-20 and M-21 4-speeds optional, all with Hurst shifters. Front disc brakes were a new option this year.

Why I would want one: I’ve had Cutlass, I’ve had F-85’s, but never owned a 4-4-2 yet. Seeing as this was Oldsmobile only true muscle car, it makes a compelling reason to own one if you are a muscle car fan and collector.

Fun fact: A W-30 4-4-2 equipped with a close-ratio 4-speed and 4.33 rear axle was tested, obtaining a quarter mile time of 14.1 seconds at 103 mph in completely stock form. 0–60 times were between 6.5 and 6.7 seconds.
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AJ’s Car of the Day: 1966 Dodge Charger

AJ’s Car of the Day: 1966 Dodge Charger

Car: Dodge Charger

Year: 1966

What makes it special: The Charger was a mid-size model produced by Dodge from 1966 to 1978, and was based on the Chrysler B platform. The Charger made its debut in mid-1966. Sharing its chassis and front-end sheet-metal with the mid-sized Coronet, the Charger still looked a lot like a Coronet or AMC’s conceptually similar Rambler Marlin. The Charger’s interior was different from all other cars with its pseudo-bucket back seats folded down to interior space accessible via the rear hatch. The Charger didn’t begin with the performance/ muscle car image, though you could get a Hemi with it. The Charger evolved into possibly the top Chrysler-made muscle car.

What made it famous: Charger introduced a fastback roofline and pot-metal “electric shaver” grille, complete with fully rotating headlights, a feature not seen on a Chrysler product since the 1942 DeSoto. In the rear the fastback design ended over a full-width six-lamp taillight with chromed “CHARGER” lettering. Inside, the standard Charger featured a simulated wood-grain steering wheel, 4 individual bucket seats with a full length console from front to rear. The rear seats and rear center armrest pad also folded forward while the trunk divider dropped back, which allowed for generous cargo room. Engine selections consisted of only V8’s. 1966 transmissions included a 3-speed steering-column mounted manual with the base engine, a console mounted 4-speed manual, or 3-speed automatic. In 1966, four engines were offered: the base-model 318 cu in 2-barrel, the 361 cu in 2-barrel, the 383 cu in 4-barrel, and the new 426 Street Hemi.

Why I would want one: It’s one of the most innovative styled cars of the 1960’s.

Fun fact: In 1966, Dodge took the Charger into NASCAR in hopes that the fastback would make their car a winner on the high-banks. However the car proved difficult to handle on the faster tracks because its body generated lift. Drivers would later claim that “it was like driving on ice.” To solve this problem Dodge installed a small lip spoiler on the trunk lid that improved traction at speeds above 150 mph. This was made a dealer-installed option in late-1966 and in 1967 because of NASCAR rules, making the ’66 Charger the first U.S. production vehicle to offer a spoiler.
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WATCH: AJ in a Box Recap

WATCH: AJ in a Box Recap

AJ was in a box at McDermott Chevrolet & Lexus in East Haven for 24 hours straight! $25,000 were raised and will go to the Toy Drive which will raises money and toys for underprivileged kids in CT. The Chaz and AJ McDermott Chevrolet & Lexus Toy Drive is happening December 7th at Jordan’s Furniture.

AJ In A Box at McDermott Chevrolet & Lexus

AJ In A Box at McDermott Chevrolet & Lexus

AJ was in a box at McDermott Chevrolet & Lexus in East Haven for 24 hours straight. $25,000 were raised and will go to the Toy Drive which will raises money and toys for underprivileged kids in CT.  The Toy Drive is happening Dec. 7th.