Cars We Love & Who We Are
More than the polished parts and hard to find pieces, the special interest vehicles people collect embody the character of each owner. “Cars We Love & Who We Are” profiles individual special interest vehicles and the proud owner committed to its preservation.
Conversations with People We Value
Talking with skilled professionals who support our passion for collectible automobiles.
Roads We Remember
Some roads discovered far from home reward us with a once in a lifetime driving experience. Others are old friends revisited to elevate our spirits and celebrate the joy of life behind the wheel.
In Search of the 7th Royale Series – All the Episodes Here
Conversations With People We Value #20
Covid has not so much made time stand still as it has made everybody and every event stand down, nowhere more so than in the crowd oriented classic car venues. Car show after car show, concours upon concours, swap meets and cruise nights all fell victim to pandemic panic.
Like the freak year-long winter of 1816 caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora, the 2020 classic car season fell victim to the icy chill of pandemic fears. Now in 2021, like a green shoot in early spring, the Korzinski family of Paul’s Motors in Hawthorne, NJ boldly struck a blow for a return to normalcy when they hosted the April 10th Man Cave Garage Sale.
Man Cave Garage Sale unmasks covid boredom
With a vigor just short of children departing school to start summer vacation, car enthusiasts eagerly flocked to Paul’s Motors’ Man Cave Garage Sale to experience, after more than a year long drought, an honest to goodness car event. Granted, masks adorned every face, yet it had a familiar social feeling that felt so good.
96-year old Paul Korzinski with daughter Diane and son Paul
Adding to the upbeat atmosphere was the opportunity to spend time with 96-year old Paul Korzinski whose father started Paul’s motors 101 years ago. Daughter Diane Korzonski says, “My grandfather began the business as a repair shop in 1920. My father took over after the end of WWII. He has worked here all his life.”
In 1957, the first year Volvo came to America, Paul took on a Volvo franchise. He liked Volvo because of its concern for safety. In a sign of the times, Paul’s Motors turned in its Volvo franchise after 60-years in 2017 as the corporate franchising demands placed on the small family run operation made for a money losing proposition. Always known for high quality used cars Paul’s Motors continues to be the go to place for a used vehicle.
The inspiration for the early season sale came out of a conversation between Diane and big time car enthusiast Bob Austin.
Diane says, “Bob and I were talking about how we have collections of things. As I showed him a great anvil and an old scale from one of our shipping containers, I mentioned that we’ve been here for a hundred and one years. We have a lot […]
Cars We Love & Who We Are #19
The Drivin’ News theme of “Cars we love and who we are” invites the reader into experiencing great cars and learning about the interesting people associated with them. Normally the motivation behind the “why” that inspires the great affection is taken as a given considering the desirability, beauty and provenance of the classic cars in question. However, some times the “why” leads us down an even more interesting path revealing a vehicle made beautiful by a patina of sweet memories. Such stories rooted in personal history often involve love, loss, salvation and heartwarming resolutions.
In the garage of Vinny Plotino resides an incongruous pair of treasured vintage cars with very different “whys.”
The odd couple in Vinny Plotino’s garage
Vinny Plotino and his “Odd Couple”
Housed in an orderly and well equipped 2-bay garage both cars make a statement. For the 1970 Plymouth Superbird on the right, the “why” screams at you, for the other, a quite pedestrian and weary 1962 Ford Falcon the “why” softly asks “why?”
Indeed, screamingly obvious in its attraction, the Superbird sports a nose cone front end and outsized rear spoiler with signature “Roadrunner” graphics. Resplendent in 1970 Plymouth Blue Fire Metallic or B5 Blue (color code) as it is known throughout Mopar circles and among collectors, Vinny Plotino’s Plymouth Superbird leaves no doubt as to what inspires the love. With the original 440 cu. in. V8 fed by a single 4-barrel and delivered through a 4-speed manual trans Vinny’s Superbird delivers 375 horsepower. It reigns as an iconic presence in the pantheon of muscle cars of the golden age.
Created by Chrysler corporation purely as a means to dominate NASCAR racing for the 1969-1970 season, the Superbird with its 19-inch extended bullet nose and car wash nightmare, outsized rear wing did not move especially well out of the showroom as a retail money maker. For homologation purposes 1,920 Superbirds came from the factory for retail sale. It did, however, achieve its intended dominance by exceeding 200 mph at Talladega Superspeedway to set a NASCAR record. In NASCAR race trim, powered by a 426 Hemi V8 with a 0 – 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a drag coefficient of 0.28 (still an impressive level of slipperiness 50-years later) the Superbird with Richard […]
Cars We Love & Who We Are #18
So it’s late summer of 1977. A bright eyed blonde haired young man just out of his teens with a gift for things automotive had become known for his accomplishments while working with his father restoring vintage Jaguars. One afternoon a customer approached him mentioning knowledge of a Ferrari being prepped for IMSA class endurance racing. He asked if the young man would be interested in interviewing for the team? With his father’s blessings, young Bryan Maletsky left work at closing and headed off to meet the Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer (512BB) that would ultimately bring him to the 24-hours of LeMans in 1978.
LeMans 1978, a young man’s memories
Bringing the Ferrari to the starting grid
Bryan Maletsky entered the workshop of Randy’s Motors in Clifton, New Jersey. Surrounded by the Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis in which Randy’s Motors specialized, Bryan arrived to meet the IMSA class Ferrari’s Chief Mechanic, Randy Randazzo, owner of Randy’s Motors.
After Bryan acknowledged to Randy that he had little experience on Ferraris but had considerable electrical troubleshooting experience Randy said, “Good, you can start tonight. Let’s see how you do.” “Do what?” asked Bryan. He was directed to rewire the Berlinetta Boxer’s instruments and dashboard, put in new connections and correct all the wiring that had been improperly done previously, re-solder all the connections and secure all the wires. At the end of the night Bryan had earned Randy’s respect and a place on the racing team.
Randy’s 512BB began life as a NART (North American Racing Team) car built and campaigned across America by famed Chinetti Motors for the 1975 and 1976 seasons.
Acquired from Chinetti in 1977 by new owner Howard O’Flynn the 512BB shipped from Connecticut to Randy’s where the car would be prepped for the 1978 season with hope but no guarantee of going to LeMans.
As a new team member Bryan’s days filled up quickly. Still committed to supporting his father’s East Rutherford, New Jersey Jaguar restoration business Bryan would leave there around 5:30 and head straight to Randy’s where the team worked into the wee hours of the morning focused on getting the Ferrari sorted out and ready for the 1978 IMSA endurance race season.
Born to run and bred to run fast, this 512 BB got life from a seriously worked 5-liter, flat 12-cylinder with 12 Webers. It far exceeded the […]
Here’s this week’s question:
Most taxis found in American cities in the mid-20th century were made by one company. Name the company.
Answer to last week’s question:
In “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” what car did she drive and what was the car’s color? – Shiny red Super Stock Dodge
About the blogger
Burton Hall has written for an automotive client list that includes Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Maserati, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Peugeot and Volvo. He has also written for The Washington Post, AutoWeek, Corvette Monthly, Jaguar Magazine, BMW Magazine, Hemmings.com, Hagerty Magazine and numerous auto restoration buff books.
A member of the Society of Automotive Historians, he, in 2014, created and has since taught the adult school program “Collectible automobiles as a passion.” In 2020 he originated and has since produced the Drivin’ News blog.
As a classic car hobbyist, He owns a 1961 Corvette that he bought in 1967, a 1953 Jaguar XK120MC Drophead Coupe that he restored after finding it disassembled in a barn in 1980, a 2003 BMW 330i he bought new and a 1951 MG TD that presently serves as a planter and centerpiece in his garden. All are great drivers, except the MG which has a few bugs.
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