In Wheel Time Podcast

A Retro Roadtrip with Classic Car Enthusiast Jimmy Austin with his 1929 Ford Roadster pickup!

• In Wheel Time Car Talk • Season 2023 • Episode 246

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Rev up your engines and join us as we hit the road with classic car enthusiast and hot rod aficionado, Jimmy Austin, straight from the buzzing 63rd annual Autorama in Houston, Texas. With Jimmy as our guide, we explore his one-of-a-kind 1929 Ford Model A Roadster pickup, complete with a 455 Buick Stage 1 engine that packs more than a punch. The adventure doesn't end there - Jimmy's got a treasure trove of hot rods and memories from car shows that he's waiting to share with you. 

Buckle up, as we shift gears from the present to the past, with a look at our feature 'This Week in Auto History' - taking a nostalgic drive through the annals of the automotive industry. The journey takes us from General Motors' landmark 50 millionth car in 1954 to Ford's ill-fated EdSol brand, and the tragic loss of JFK in a Lincoln Continental convertible. 

We also tease an upcoming episode dedicated to unique cars that were only produced for a year. That's not all - we've got a sneak peek at the 2023 Jeep Compass, a beast of a vehicle that's turning heads in the small SUV market. 

 Remember, it's not just about the destination, but the journey too. So, tune in and let's drive into the world of classic cars with our host Don Armstrong, every Saturday morning. 

Ready, set, go!

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to another In-Wheel Time podcast, a 30-minute mini version of the In-Wheel Time car show that airs live every Saturday morning 8 to 11 am Central. It's max anywhere From the 63rd annual Auto-Rama at the George R Brown Convention Center in downtown baby Houston, texas. It's the In-Wheel Time car talk show Coming up. Got another guest. I'm one of the participants here at this year's show. Conrad has this week in auto history and later on he's going to do the car clinic too. We'll get you caught up on the stories this week, howdy, along with Mike out of this World, mars King, conrad DeLong. We always need more Jeff Zeekin. And then back over here in the corner, ladies and gentlemen, our chief engineer, chief cook and bottle washer, david.

Speaker 2:

Ainsley, he's bent over the console.

Speaker 1:

Six people in the crowd just went, hmm again. I'm Don Armstrong, or at least I pretend to be Glad you could make it today, because we are we all want to be you. Don. No, you don't Trust me, you don't. We're here at the GRB downtown, we're live. Julie Brown, this is a full sold out show. Sold out meaning displays. So all of the spaces every space is full. Every space is full. Actually, they've even squeezed in one right behind us here with this motorcycle, motorcycle motorcycle. Is there any sign on it or anything?

Speaker 3:

There is, there's something back there.

Speaker 1:

Okay, whatever, this is free.

Speaker 2:

We have, we have. We've not seen that I doubt it's free.

Speaker 1:

All right, Mr Mars, who's our first guest?

Speaker 3:

I would like to introduce you to Mr Jimmy Austin. He's a friend of a mutual friend, randy Weldon oh.

Speaker 5:

Lord. I am so sorry.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I know, he's also one of the national directors for the Mustang Club of America.

Speaker 2:

We knew there was a Mustang connection. We're going here with the Mustang.

Speaker 1:

There are other mix and models of cars. Here there's a Nova.

Speaker 4:

But, today he's driving a Chevy?

Speaker 3:

No oh 1929 Ford Model A Roadster with a rather unique power plant under it.

Speaker 5:

That's over there. I'm going to let him tell you about it. Roadster pickup. It's a Roadster pickup truck powered by a Chevrolet engine 455 Buick, Stage 1. Oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

Boy, that's a stump puller.

Speaker 5:

Woo, we're running a winner's quick change. In the rear of it I'm smelling burnouts. Yeah, it's a fun toy, I bet it is. Running a Turbo 400, kind of old school. But way back in the day I showed a Buick GSX.

Speaker 1:

So therefore the love for the Buick. A Buick, yeah, Big part Buick. Do you ride it or run it with the top up or top down?

Speaker 5:

Mostly like a lot of convertibles. It looks better with the top up as a general rule, but I'll throw it down occasionally, Got it?

Speaker 1:

I will, because it looks really cool and that flat black paint.

Speaker 5:

That's out of the box for me. I've been showing since the 70s and this is the first matte black paint car I've had. I won't say that everybody's fond of it. There's a few folks that aren't. Well, that's a point. It ain't their car, that's right, it's mine.

Speaker 1:

Yeah Well, I will say this that, to me, is one of those that you would take out and run it on the street, you'd take it to cruise ins, you'd take it to the, to the, the Lone Star throw down the twisty tree yeah.

Speaker 1:

Or the twisty tree, that's it, any of those things. That's a driver, that's a fun car. And as a matter of fact, I was telling a friend just yesterday man, you know I love my Corvette, I got an old Corvette and I've been a Corvette guy for a long time. But that to me would be just a fun car. I would don't have to worry about the paint, I don't have to worry about pretty much anything. It'll always start, drive it, drive it and go.

Speaker 5:

It's it Anywhere Fun car.

Speaker 2:

And with the Buick GSX motor in it.

Speaker 5:

There's stage one 455.

Speaker 2:

That thing will pull down a building.

Speaker 1:

That's what's fun about those cars.

Speaker 5:

We're running the old cheater, old school cheater slicks on the back of it and it needs it. It'll boil them off it will. Those motors were such low end torque beasts.

Speaker 2:

So when people look at the car, how many people recognize it's a Buick motor?

Speaker 5:

Almost zero. They look at it. They get that inquisitive look in their eye.

Speaker 1:

Then they walk over to the sign.

Speaker 5:

What is it? You know they walk over to sign and start reading and then they get that startled. You know 455. We had to use a remote oil filter on it Because that oil filter on a Buick came up off the timing cover headed toward the frame, so the shoe spoon it in there. We had to do a little remote on the oil filter to get it in there.

Speaker 1:

Was that an off the shelf relocation piece?

Speaker 5:

Not, or did you have to make some. Most everything was made to shoe spoon it in there. So it's got a rack and pinion on the front, a manual rack and pinion on the front with a super bell front action, so it doesn't have a. Mustang two front end. Oh, no, mustang two. Maybe I could steal the previous gentleman's front end. No, it's a. It's a conventional rack and pinion manual.

Speaker 1:

Do you have any other cars, hot rods? Show cars.

Speaker 5:

Obviously, I have a few Mustangs and I've got a 32 Ford. I have a real 29 model, a Roadster pickup. I was at an auction a couple of years ago and accidentally raised my hand and ended up it right hand drive.

Speaker 3:

Oh, cool, beautiful.

Speaker 5:

Car came out of Uruguay originally and after I bought it, I went home and I went hmm, I guess I better go look on YouTube figure out how to start this thing, because I didn't have a clue as to how to start it up.

Speaker 1:

So I didn't even know that they made right hand drive cars Much less have to shift.

Speaker 2:

Much less have to shift with your other hand. That's got to be the most confusing thing.

Speaker 5:

Well, that, and do y'all remember, it's a non sync row, so you had to double clutch to get from one gear to the other, so shifting with your left hand pedals are in the same spot, though, aren't they?

Speaker 2:

Well, they're obviously on the right hand side of the car, but, yeah, still the left.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, left is still the clutch, thank goodness.

Speaker 5:

Yeah. Thank goodness, they're over on that side.

Speaker 2:

They didn't swap the pedals and put the clutch all the way on the right.

Speaker 5:

I do have a 32 Ford 3 window, a glass car, typical small box Chevrolet, but air conditioned. So mom already Okay, so good.

Speaker 1:

I'm glad you brought that up, because to me I don't understand why you would put it A Chevrolet motor in a Ford or a Ford in a.

Speaker 2:

Chevrolet.

Speaker 5:

Convenience and availability. Why?

Speaker 1:

would you do that? Why would you?

Speaker 5:

do that. Well, I'll say, on this one, I didn't, I bought it, so it was convenient.

Speaker 1:

On this car but as opposed to putting a small block Chevy I don't know what it's got, it's a Chevy motor and it been just as easy to put a Ford small block Ford motor in it?

Speaker 5:

Oh, absolutely the 32 I had before this that I showed was small block Ford and uh well, today it's easier because the availability of of stuff is there.

Speaker 2:

You know, back in in the 70s it probably wasn't easier, because the availability of all the performance stuff was very much headed for the Chevrolet.

Speaker 5:

That's where the market was geared to. Yeah, yeah, I was in the auto parts business for 30 years. Who'd you work for?

Speaker 4:

Myself Okay.

Speaker 5:

Jimmy's auto parts, long since retired from that. But prior to this I showed a 70 Monte Carlo Go cool car, had it down here a couple of years ago. It was called the full Monty. I had a full over 100 body mods. I actually did an interview with the all.

Speaker 2:

I was gonna say I remember the name, the full Monty.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, the full Monty. So it has gone on down the road. It uh, we let it go at. Me come a couple of months back. So we're, we're, we're all into this 29 roadster pick.

Speaker 1:

Now, if you were going to select an engine for your model a besides the Chevrolet, what would it be?

Speaker 5:

Oh it in the Ford. If I had an unlimited budget, it'd be a Ford. It'd be a Ford camera.

Speaker 4:

Oh, wow.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

That would be my. I was gonna. I was gonna think you were gonna go for 29 boss, but no, I.

Speaker 1:

The camera is such a explain what a camera is for those of us dummies that don't know.

Speaker 5:

It's a dual overhead cam timing gear set up on the front of the engine.

Speaker 2:

It's a hemi head Ford motor would be, and the timing gear set up was done by a guy from Switzerland that also builds Rolex watches, because that is a complicated timing. If you could, find an engine.

Speaker 5:

They're going to cost you 50 or 60,000.

Speaker 2:

Oh, it's like an elephant motor. Yeah, so yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5:

It's the equivalent of the, the hemi, but in a Ford.

Speaker 1:

So let's just I want to. I want to poke this a little bit further, okay, um, how about a Chevrolet um 327 or a Chevy small block of some sort? What would be the Ford equivalent?

Speaker 5:

to that, in my opinion probably a 302. As you said, any of the five leaders in I've got. I've got several or have had several. I have two right now hypo 280 nans, the 271 horse great power power train, uh and I've.

Speaker 1:

Are they reliable? Are they as reliable as the Chevy?

Speaker 5:

Oh, oh, yeah, oh, absolutely, yeah, yeah, Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

But you could. I mean, couldn't you get 300 horsepower out of?

Speaker 5:

those things easy. Yeah, oh, easily, easily. The hypo motor was rated at 271 from the factory and it's the same engine that was in the early Shelby's.

Speaker 1:

Carol Shelby put an aluminum intake at a Holley and they rated it at three or six. Three or six, see that's. I mean I'm an old school purist. I mean I would want a Ford motor in my Ford, whatever it was.

Speaker 2:

Well, I just think it's cool it's a Buick motor.

Speaker 1:

That's really really different.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's truly the out of the box. Let me put a Buick motor in my Ford.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, no, you won't ever see another one.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I know I get what you're saying but at this point. So what this, what this stage, one motor come out of?

Speaker 5:

It was a Buick Grand Sport, grand Sport, yeah, you at Grand Sport.

Speaker 1:

I would take that out of a Buick Grand Sport, unless it had been wrecked. It was a junker.

Speaker 5:

It was, it was.

Speaker 1:

It seemed to stay.

Speaker 5:

Now, did you rebuild that motor? Yes, it has been rebuilt. Pretty stock. I mean, it's running aluminum intake and that'll block Carl Banner Stock Stock.

Speaker 2:

It's got 500 foot pounds of torque. Yeah, the Buick engine is the torque.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's all about the torque yeah, so. Well, I mean, if you're not going to put a Ford in a Ford, then that would be if you just go way out there and the limb that's. That would be the thing to do.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, yeah, that's. That's actually pretty cool.

Speaker 1:

I mean, it obviously has more horsepower than a Briggs and Stratton. But if you put a Briggs and Stratton in there, that would draw some attention too.

Speaker 5:

Just say it, I'll let you build that one, it would definitely.

Speaker 3:

I'll come and take pictures of it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5:

Definitely fit better. Yeah, it would be a lot easier. It would be wouldn't it?

Speaker 2:

You could do the lawn at the same time.

Speaker 5:

You could put a blade on the bottom of it. Absolutely Go for that, god. I just I wanted to be outside the box on this, so you built this.

Speaker 2:

No, you bought this.

Speaker 5:

Now I have kind of a combination, shall we say, tweaked it after I got it.

Speaker 1:

Well, that's what we do, though Sure we make them your own.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, you always make them your own, so what?

Speaker 2:

brand wheel is that? Oh, because that's a different wheel.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, almost like an American racing.

Speaker 5:

Wait a minute. I was thinking it's not quite a HALA brand no. I think it's a Fenton wheel Fenton.

Speaker 2:

okay, I think it's a.

Speaker 4:

Fenton wheel.

Speaker 2:

Because, definitely a different. I'm having a senior moment right now for all of you that haven't.

Speaker 5:

Welcome.

Speaker 4:

Welcome. We're on the right show we are yeah.

Speaker 2:

We are a senior moment Come to the right place.

Speaker 5:

I didn't brush up on that question before.

Speaker 2:

Well, no, just because it's a unique wheel.

Speaker 5:

The wheel fits the car.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah it definitely goes with it. Like the dummy fits the radio show.

Speaker 2:

I resemble that remark man.

Speaker 5:

We're having fun with the car We've. I think this is our sixth show this season. This is the last show of the 2023 season, Right? So you got all your points? No, I'm one of. There's five people here that are have three points and need that last fourth point, and so I'm one of the five.

Speaker 1:

Where have you shown before?

Speaker 5:

This year I showed in Birmingham, tupelo, dallas, cincinnati. I'm leaving one out Houston, houston. Well, that's now Houston.

Speaker 1:

What is it about Cincinnati? I have never heard anything, except in this show. People talk about Cincinnati.

Speaker 3:

Well, they train Turkey, joe Burrow.

Speaker 1:

They train.

Speaker 5:

Turkey's how to fly. That's right.

Speaker 3:

They throw them out of helicopters, that's right hey. Lonnie Anderson, don, you're in the video.

Speaker 5:

You get a point for that.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, raise your rake, you get two points.

Speaker 1:

You get two points. Is the Cincinnati show as big as this show?

Speaker 5:

It's spread out, it's in an old fairgrounds and there's multiple buildings. It's a quaint.

Speaker 1:

Oh, it's it.

Speaker 2:

It's nostalgic.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, that's a little nostalgic.

Speaker 5:

I'm really trying to be politically correct.

Speaker 3:

I'll say it, it was a dope.

Speaker 5:

I still need that one and I still need one point, so I prefer a pop attack. He and Pete Tundas don't get real upset.

Speaker 2:

Oh, how funny, how funny.

Speaker 5:

Oh, look at me. Yeah, I know I'm going to say that I've been doing this 50 years. I know.

Speaker 1:

I you know. To me it's like the Dallas State Fair that that cut up car show that they have up there. That's a new car show.

Speaker 3:

Oh, I was going what.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and they line them up in the water.

Speaker 5:

That left much to be desired this year. I live up in Dallas and we're both.

Speaker 2:

We're both. Oh, you fans, we thought it was great we're sooner.

Speaker 5:

I volunteered over at the Hall of State Building this year, right across from the car show.

Speaker 1:

And yeah it. Just I don't, I don't understand, and you know the manufacturers think highly of that Dallas car show for some reason. It's a headcount, it's a headcount thing.

Speaker 2:

Dallas car show draws more people the Dallas State Fair and they count that as their attendance has more attendance than any of the car show in the country.

Speaker 1:

Exactly, If I'm going to the state fair, I care about the car show. I'm going to the state fair.

Speaker 3:

Well, but it's what? Two weeks, two weeks long.

Speaker 5:

Oh, it's a month, three weeks. It's a month. It's a month, three weekends, yeah so that's.

Speaker 3:

That's where they get their crowd and the big numbers and stuff. It's.

Speaker 1:

So it's a skewed kind of a conglomeration of stuff. It's about cheating Pretty much, because here our new car show is a standalone out at NRG center and it's big.

Speaker 2:

Oh, we have boats too. It's a. It's a car and boat show. Yeah, it's not standalone. You can go fishing there, it doesn't have a.

Speaker 1:

You can't go fishing at anybody else's car show, it doesn't have it doesn't have a state fair associated with it, correct, so it is a standalone show as far as vehicles are concerned.

Speaker 2:

Well, they have the monster truck show next door. Yeah, so he's interfering with the parking.

Speaker 1:

That's her would be a moving event.

Speaker 2:

Don't explain it.

Speaker 1:

So there'd be a cruising or a, you know sometimes you just want to get up and slap this.

Speaker 3:

I know I got, I got a stick over here yeah.

Speaker 2:

Reach out and smack someone. You.

Speaker 5:

I mean, there weren't enough revolving turntable cars at the new car showdown state with the models that used to, you know, and they don't have that anymore.

Speaker 4:

It's all gone. Yeah, and the turntable, people weren't strike.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, but as a you know adolescent boy growing up, that's what you went down there, absolutely, you know, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3:

That's, I remember it kind of, just like it was yesterday.

Speaker 5:

Your adolescence, yeah, All right.

Speaker 1:

So what are you going to do from here? You going to go to another show.

Speaker 5:

Well, you know, my new season starts and pencil whether I get that fourth point or not after this interview. I may not. That's it. I think the finale is in Cincinnati in January. Cleveland, oh Cleveland, that's not so Wait a minute.

Speaker 4:

Wait a minute, even worse, I better go to. Cincinnati.

Speaker 5:

I've got a mix because last year on Sunday night there was a playoff football game starting at the same time we were moving out.

Speaker 2:

In Cleveland, it hadn't happened in 20 years. Wait a minute and that's right on the watch.

Speaker 4:

I forgot them backwards Maybe.

Speaker 5:

Cincinnati.

Speaker 2:

Cincinnati. That's where it was. The only thing worse would have been Toledo.

Speaker 5:

It's cold up there.

Speaker 3:

That's still there. Toledo mud hens.

Speaker 5:

Yeah. But, anyway, that's. That's where I'll be headed next, hopefully, if I get that fourth point.

Speaker 1:

Up north Cleveland is over the table.

Speaker 5:

That's what you need the point to be able to qualify.

Speaker 3:

So who do we need to talk to? We need to get out here.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, exactly when do we bribe?

Speaker 2:

That's it. Where's Larry, when you really Where's?

Speaker 5:

Larry Way, he's a Canadian guy, that's right.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, jimmy Austin, it's great to talk to you, sir, appreciate you having me Well.

Speaker 5:

Thank you very much, very very much.

Speaker 4:

Stop and bye. Good luck on getting that point.

Speaker 1:

And welcome to the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show. It's time now for Conrad's this Week in Auto History. Do you have that? Yep, there's a big pause there like, uh-oh, I gotta do something now In 1923, Garrett Morgan patents the three-position streetlight.

Speaker 2:

Originally the streetlight was I mean traffic light Traffic light, yeah, Originally it was just red and green. Now Garrett added the yellow to the middle of it, so that way you could speed up a little bit before it turned red.

Speaker 3:

Isn't that what yellow means? Step on the gas.

Speaker 2:

Try and clear the intersection before it turns red. In 1954, the 50 millionth General Motors car was produced. General Motors General Manager, chevrolet General Manager Thomas Keating drove a gold-plated 1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe off the assembly plant in Flint, michigan, making the 50 millionth automobile produced by General Motors. To commemorate the occasion, chevrolet built 5,000 gold-plated Bel Airs. All of these were four-door models and their trim remained in chrome. This, of course, was much less expensive than the 716 trim parts that were actually gold-plated on the one car. And that one car spent its time touring the country as a show car and you know, kind of like this. You know where did that car go? Nobody knows. You know that the 5-car.

Speaker 4:

That one was a coupe though.

Speaker 2:

It was a Ford, yeah.

Speaker 1:

The one that General Motors did was a coupe.

Speaker 2:

Okay, the rest of them were four-door, Four-door okay, oh yeah, the one he drove off the display was a coupe, yeah. And the story goes the man was planning to restore a Rusty Bel Air drag car and he found this, the old gold-plated one. And when the restorer was offering to swap cars with his friend, he discovered a bunch of gold-plated trim pieces in the trunk. Bit more research and called and found out that GM revealed the car's VIN matched that of the 50-millionth GM. He had the real gold car in his garage. General Motors supposedly offered the guy to restore the car so they could use for their 50th anniversary promotions in 2005. The owner passed away and the car was lost somewhere up on the East Coast. Nobody knows where it is to this day. It's going to show up at some point, so it's gonna. Somebody's gonna find it, hopefully. In 1959, ford announced the end of EdSol.

Speaker 1:

Thank God.

Speaker 2:

In 10 years of development. It cost $250 million, was spent on planning and marketing and manufacturing and distribution and it did nothing for Ford but caused a financial fiasco facing a $350 million loss. Ford announced the discontinuation of the EdSol brand this week. In 1959. In 1963, 60 years ago this week, JFK was shot in a Lincoln Continental convertible. Where were you? Do you remember?

Speaker 1:

Yes, I was at a home ill watching television.

Speaker 2:

Okay, okay, you know they say a lot of people will remember where they were when they heard of Lincoln getting shot.

Speaker 1:

And that I don't remember Lincoln, but he was close.

Speaker 2:

But Kennedy was shot in a Lincoln.

Speaker 1:

He was shot in a Lincoln. That car is on display at Henry Ford in Detroit.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and that was my point, and that specific car is still on display.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it's not a convertible any longer, but it's on display.

Speaker 2:

And then in 1970, ford announced the 351 Boss Mustang. Ford introduced that one year only Boss 351 Mustang in 1970, for the 1971 model year at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle featured a 351 Cleveland V8, only 1800.

Speaker 1:

Cleveland steamer.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, only 1806 of the Boss 351 Mustangs were ever built for 71. You know another one of those one year only cars and I think I'm gonna probably do a piece here on some of those one year only unique cars.

Speaker 1:

You should yes.

Speaker 2:

Because I own one, but there's some pretty cool cars that were one year only cars, so that's it Cool. That's this week in automotive history.

Speaker 1:

Mr Mars. Yes, sir, we have another hour of this show. Yes, sir, that's coming up. It's a bonus hour because we are here at the George Arbron Convention Center Having a big time too. We are the 63rd annual Auto-Rama.

Speaker 4:

Let's just interview a random person coming by to get their feeling on the show.

Speaker 2:

You know that would be here comes somebody.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that would be great but he's not real random, he is random.

Speaker 1:

How are you, sir? It's good to see you. Thank you, Shiny random.

Speaker 3:

Well if nothing else we're allowed.

Speaker 1:

But, at any rate, you guys, we have some other stories that we could do. Yes, yes, I got a couple that I could get in. Squeeze them in right now. Well, we got. Okay. You know, this falls under the bad car dealer tab.

Speaker 2:

Another one.

Speaker 1:

A missing vehicle title drove the discovery of nearly $29,000 and stolen cash at Central Ford in Truman, arkansas. I don't know where that is Money allegedly taken by the store's former general manager, a former Arkansas state trooper. Oh nice oh nice hey Woodard.

Speaker 1:

Woodard, a fellow Central Ford employee, paid nearly $10,000 cash for a vehicle down payment to Nicholas Holly but never received the title. Truman police chief Jonathan Redmond told auto automotive news. Dealership video footage and a lack of paperwork revealed the alleged swindles. One once the Central Ford dealership emptied, holly snatched the money without officially recording the sale. Dealership representatives shared findings with police and Holly was arrested November 9th on accusations of theft of $25,000 or more from a business and first degree forgery both felonies. At the time, $28,756 was missing from the dealership. Police said Holly also would allegedly take a customer's cash down payment and send the correct paperwork to the finance department. According to a police report, he'd then alter the sales amount or down payment to conceal whatever cash he took, essentially creating a sales record switcheroo.

Speaker 5:

Wow.

Speaker 1:

So let's not be buying any cars in the near future over there at. Let's see, it's called Central Ford in. Truman, Arkansas.

Speaker 2:

The selling technique is called the four square. So what they do is they draw four little squares for you One's about down payment, one's about term, one's about interest rate, one's about price, and they always try and get you to focus on one of the four and they'll turn you upside down on the other three Exactly Very old school selling technique for dealerships, not necessarily for dealerships. I wonder how that worked out for them Seven to eight years In a bit of tension 26 will get you 50.

Speaker 1:

Yeah that's it All right, hey, if you'd like to, if you'd like to get in touch with us, shoot us an email at the address info at inwheeltimecom. More from the 63rd annual Auto Ram at the George R Brown Convention Center. After a quick break, stay with us. Houston's finest cars are invited to another Gulf Coast Auto Shield car social Saturday, december 2nd, and you're invited too. Show off your personal pride and joy, or just stop in to see the likes of Lucid Lamborghini, porsche, ferrari and more.

Speaker 1:

Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your one-stop shop for paint, detailing, coatings, window tint, clear bras and wheel repair. The car social is your opportunity to get a tour of this state-of-the-art facility, located at 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway, just south of the Southwest Freeway. It all takes place Saturday, december 2nd, 9 to noon. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with other car enthusiasts, from BMWs to mentally, corvettes to McLarens. The car social is a different kind of show. Talk to the owners. See Gulf Coast Auto Shield's facility. You'll be amazed. Put it on your calendar now. The Gulf Coast Auto Shield car social Saturday, december 2nd, 9 to noon, at 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway, just south of the Southwest Freeway. The inwheel time car talk show will be there too. We'll see you then.

Speaker 4:

Hey, Houston, America's greatest hot rod tradition is back Thanksgiving weekend the O'Reilly Auto Parts, Auto Ram at the George R Brown Convention Center. Four action-packed days of hot rods, customs classics trucks and performance cars. The Ultimate.

Speaker 4:

Lowrider Showcase Sponsored by Shorties Hydraulics, See Lone Star Throwdowns, Texas-sized truck spread. And don't miss the traditional rod and custom section. Friday, Saturday and Sunday see wild, high-flying freestyle motocross stunt shows. Shop the Swat Meat and Women's World all weekend on the Celebrity Stage presented by Nix Auto Repair and Classic Car Restoration. Friday, meet AEW Tag Team Superstars to Lucho Bros. Saturday it's Noel G Hector from the Fast and Furious. Sunday it's Lou Ferrigno, the original, Incredible Hulk. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Auto Ram this weekend at the George R Brown Convention Center. Discount tickets at O'Reilly Auto Parts, Part of the Summer Racing Equipment Show Car Series. See AutoRamacom for more info.

Speaker 1:

The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants will have you telling your family and friends just what the original recipes mean when it comes to the best fajitas in Southeast Texas. Founder Stan Holt invites you to visit the original loopy tortilla near I-10 at Highway 6. Here's the original house that inspired the design of all the rest and the original charm that helped make loopy tortilla the go-to destination for Houston Tex-Mex. Speaking of original, nothing can compete with the original lime pepper marinade that everyone will agree makes loopy tortilla award-winning beef fajitas, the best anywhere. Loopy tortilla Katie is another location that gives you the same quality and service historians have come to expect at loopies. It's located just off I-10 of the Grand Parkway.

Speaker 1:

At Kingsland Boulevard and Katie, find yourself an Aggie Land Head to the loopy tortilla and college station. Located just around the corner from Kyle Field, it's a great place to enjoy those famous frozen margaritas before or after the game. Head to East Louisiana. Stop in at the loopy tortilla in Beaumont. It twos on I-10. You can't miss it. The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants invites you in for the best Tex-Mex anywhere.

Speaker 3:

So the plastic is all good, you know, and I just love the car because you pull up and people call it a pinto and I'm like it is not.

Speaker 2:

It's better than a pinto, it's not on fire it says Blustang, exactly. Well, the King Cobra had the V8.

Speaker 3:

It did 157 horsepower, 302.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, you, you, uh now they have three cylinders with more horsepower than that you know.

Speaker 3:

The funny thing is, if you get in it, you turn on the air conditioning, which oddly enough, still works. I think it probably takes it down to about 120 horsepower, and then when you figure out the bad gearing they put in the car, it just it sucks the life out of it. Yeah, it's a weasel. Yeah, I mean, my wife has your average Mercedes. That would leave it in the dust, you know, just leaves it in the dust, but but it's fun.

Speaker 1:

Eric, thanks so much for stopping by. Well, thanks so much for the great story. And if you're listening and coming down to the show, it's right in front of the in wheel time booth here at the George R Brown Convention Center of Ottawa.

Speaker 2:

Don't miss it. Congratulations on an awesome car. Thank you, guys, the one that's got all the dust on it.

Speaker 1:

My fellow Westbarian.

Speaker 3:

How come.

Speaker 2:

All right Eric thanks Again.

Speaker 1:

Thank you Time out for this hour's car review. Had a chance to drive the 2024 Jeep Compass. It comes in these trim levels sport, latitude, latitude, locks limited and trailhawk. That's a lot. My review is on the altitude, four by four. You'll notice that you didn't see or hear that in there. This is a new trim level that may replace the latitude, but this is the altitude Some kind of to do it. Yeah, it's an attitude. What it is? Small SUV seats five.

Speaker 1:

This is part of the second generation model that was all new for 2017. Sharp looking Jeep face with the seven slot grill. Painted wheel opening moldings, which is different. Of course, this is an upper trim level. Lower side moldings as well are included in the paint. Two tone roof rails adds a new upscale look to it. It has a very off roady kind of look. Without the trailhawk package, trailhawk is upper tier all the way off road looking. Yeah, off road looking stance is what it's got as well. Sharp, all trim level. Shop all the trim levels and the pricing on all of those because, as you'll see when I tell you the price, there is a significant.

Speaker 1:

They are significant. So shop it, make sure that you it's got the stuff on there that you really want. Now, as far as interior is concerned extra large infotainment screen, the center dash we like the two tone materials on this trim level. Overall clean design. Passive phone charger underneath the center dash, which is good. I like it there. Get the phone out of the way it charges you, forget about it. Then it's all right there if you need to have your phone in your hand.

Speaker 1:

Cargo room adequate even with the second row seat up, which is different because usually in a small SUV like this that second row takes up that area in there, what they call the cargo area. What I liked about it? The roominess, because it is a small SUV. It has a two liter turbocharged four cylinder engine that puts out 200 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque through an eight speed automatic transmission. Till rating is up to one ton, not bad. Well, 24 miles per gallon city is what it's rated, 32 on the highway for, combined to 27. I got 28.2 miles per gallon over 259 miles.

Speaker 2:

It's because you don't drive like Mars. What?

Speaker 1:

I got 28.2 miles, most of it on the highway. Well, the loop, the tollway, yeah. So here's that what I liked about it, the mileage, what could use improvement? The transmission does get confused at times if you expect quick downshifts, and the start-stop feature can be annoying, it depends on what you're doing with it, where you're driving, whether you turn the start-stop off.

Speaker 2:

Leave it on. Well, start-stop can be annoying on anything.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it can be. There are some vehicles that you can't even tell that they're starting and stopping. So ride and handling. We like the suspension compliance. What could use improvement? We don't think anything. Base trim price $32,670. That's the base trim price. Price is tested $41,905. Now, remember, this is a more upscale trim level, so you're going to pay for that, it's got attitude.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's got $9,000 bump on that Base model price. You can get in one of these for $28,400 if you can find one or order it. Competitors include the Mazda CX-50. It starts at $30,300. The Honda CR-V goes for $29,500. And the Subaru Forester I guess you could throw that in the mix as well, because it's also a small SUV for $27,095. And that is my review of the Jeep Compass Altitude 4x4. All right, questions no.

Speaker 2:

Do you like?

Speaker 1:

it, mars, is looking at me with those loving eyes and I'm not exaggerating Is that what that's about.

Speaker 2:

No, no, I was just thinking about. You know, I drove that vehicle also and I thought it was, it's very Jeep, it's Jeep, it's Jeepy.

Speaker 4:

Yes.

Speaker 3:

Jeepy's a good way to put it, so it's firm, firm ride.

Speaker 1:

It's not necessarily a firm ride, I would not put it. It's an offer. Look, you know, jeep is known for its off-roadiness. The brand is, but not all of the vehicles are off-roading built. They're not all built for off-road.

Speaker 3:

They might say, they can do all-wheel driver something.

Speaker 1:

And they can do that, but oh, they have. People have a mindset, right.

Speaker 3:

They can't do.

Speaker 1:

Jeep. If you want an off-roader in the Jeep line, get the Wrangler Body on frame. I mean old school, but it's got all the modern stuff on it, right, right. And so I don't know, now was it. There's a front-wheel drive, right? Yes, okay, so there, you have it All right. That's my review of the Jeep. Now let's do the cruising calendar, if you don't mind, sir. Next weekend is Craig's Chrome and Coffee out at the Avalon Diner on the Southwest Freeway.

Speaker 2:

And as well as the car social and the ocean.

Speaker 1:

Well, that is a cruising as well.

Speaker 2:

Yes, Black Friday at Ruby's Barbecue was last night. Well, that's last night, yeah, but I heard they had a real big turnout.

Speaker 1:

That's great.

Speaker 2:

The ribs were great. The ribs are great.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, still feeling them this morning, but it was the last night Electrics and exotics in Magnolia, texas, at Garages of America is tomorrow at 9am.

Speaker 2:

Also tomorrow at 10am is rides and coffee in Spring, texas. The Grand Central Park car show is in Conroe at 3pm tomorrow, also at 4pm tomorrow is the Umami Fest Eat Sleep Car Meet.

Speaker 1:

Eat a mommy At a mommy At a mommy, at a mommy At a mommy. You can buy that at the H-E-B.

Speaker 3:

And two weeks ago there was this car review that.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and one for Jeffrey is Cadillacs in Coffee at 1519.

Speaker 3:

Fulton Street.

Speaker 2:

That should have led the story In Houston, and it's a Cadillac only cruiser.

Speaker 3:

And it starts at midnight.

Speaker 2:

No, it starts at 8am.

Speaker 1:

Anything else.

Speaker 2:

Rides and coffee at the Detail Garage. I thought you were about to fall asleep there for a minute, okay.

Speaker 4:

Thank you the Inwheel Time Car.

Speaker 1:

Talk show is available 24-7 through the I Heart radio app. Just look for Inwheel Time Car Talk. We also video stream on Facebook, youtube and InwheelTimecom and podcasts are on. Over a dozen of your favorite, a dozen, over a dozen, probably a hundred. Yeah, there are. Now what did you say, barnes? I don't know, I lost my voice. What do you? You said something. I'm looking I'm looking.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's also. We also have there. You can get the audio and video podcast, two different podcasts now on YouTube.

Speaker 2:

All right.

Speaker 1:

Theoretically, I think it's time for us to take a break and fix our mouths Right back here on the Inwheel Time Car Talk show. Houston's finest cars are invited to another Gulf Coast Auto Shield Car Social Saturday, december 2nd, and you're invited too. Show off your personal pride and joy, or just stop in to see the likes of Lucid Lamborghini, porsche, ferrari and more. Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your one-stop shop for paint, detailing, coatings, window tint, clear bras and wheel repair. The Car Social is your opportunity to get a tour of this state of the art facility, located at 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway, just south of the Southwest Freeway. It all takes place Saturday, december 2nd, 9 to noon.

Speaker 1:

This is the perfect opportunity to connect with other car enthusiasts, from BMWs to mentally, corvette's to McLaren's. The Car Social is a different kind of show. Talk to the owners. See Gulf Coast Auto Shield facility. You'll be amazed. Put it on your calendar now the Gulf Coast Auto Shield Car Social Saturday, december 2nd, 9 to noon at 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway, just south of the Southwest Freeway. The Inwheel Time Car Talk Show will be there too. We'll see you then.

Speaker 4:

Hey, houston, america's greatest hot rod tradition is back Thanksgiving weekend the O'Reilly Auto Parts on the Georgia Art Brown Convention Center. Four action-packed days of hot rods, customs classics trucks and performance cars.

Speaker 1:

The Ultimate Lowrider.

Speaker 4:

Showcase Sponsored by Shorties Hydraulics, see Lone Star Throwdowns, texas-sized truck spread. And don't miss the traditional rod and custom section. Friday, saturday and Sunday see wild, high-flying freestyle motocross stunt shows. Shop the Swat Meat and Women's World. All weekend On the celebrity stage presented by Nick's auto-repairing classic car restoration. Friday meet AEW Tag Team Superstars to Lucho Bros. Saturday it's Noel G Hector from the Fast and Furious. Sunday it's Lou Ferrigno, the original, incredible HULT. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Auto-Rama this weekend at the Georgia Art Brown Convention Center. Discount tickets at O'Reilly Auto Parts, part of the summer racing equipment show car series. See AutoRamacom for more info.

Speaker 1:

The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants will have you telling your family and friends just what the original recipes mean when it comes to the best fajitas in Southeast Texas.

Speaker 1:

Founders. Stan Holt invites you to visit the original loopy tortilla near I-10 and Highway 6. Here's the original house that inspired the design of all the rest and the original charm that helped make loopy tortilla the go-to destination for Houston Tex-Mex. Speaking of original, nothing can compete with the original lime pepper marinade that everyone will agree makes loopy tortilla award-winning beef fajitas the best anywhere. Loopy Tortilla Katie is another location that gives you the same quality and service Houstonians have come to expect at loopies. It's located just off I-10, in the Grand Parkway.

Speaker 1:

At Kingsland Boulevard in Katie, find yourself an Aggie Land Head to the loopy tortilla and college station. Located just around the corner from Kyle Field, it's a great place to enjoy those famous frozen margaritas before or after the game. Head to East, to Louisiana. Stop in at the loopy tortilla in Beaumont. It twos on I-10. You can't miss it. The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants invites you in for the best Tex-Mex anywhere. That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong Inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning 8 to 11 am Central on Facebook, youtube, twitch and our InWheelTimecom website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Don Armstrong

Host
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Jeff Dziekan

Co-host
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Michael Marrs

Co-host