Author Archives: Cameron Tunstall

About Cameron Tunstall

265-400 SBC, third generation F-bodies, anything Oldsmobile... and a little modular 2V as well.

Hella-tyte wagon

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I love wagons so much, so it pains me to see this very attractive Accord wagon with these Jet-Set-Radio looking stickers on the back, rocking some wheels that were probably brand new when the car was. Don’t you wonder what connects our generation’s enthusiast to the utilitarian wagon?

One of my favorite cars I owned was a 1994 Mercury Sable wagon with a 3.8L V6. I got rid of it after it blew a head gasket (don’t act surprised) but man did I love mobbing that thing around town with it’s torque-steer inducing big six (compared to the 3.0L Vulcan) and the back seats folded flat. I would love to have another, it’s just too bad that the front transaxle would probably spew its guts if I did anything to hop up the Essex underneath.

UPDATE 05/23/13:

After posting this article on facebook it’s gotten a lot attention. Mostly negative towards me and my dislike for all things big-wheeled and ground-dragging. To each their own, I suppose. However, the owner Brian Salamunec has a pretty good sense of humor and enjoyed seeing the article. For those interested in this kind of car, I’m providing some links to the above 1996 Accord Wagon, and an even further modified 1997 wagon that was completed approximately a decade ago according to the owner.

1997 Accord EX Wagon link 1

1997 Accord EX Wagon link 2

1996 Accord Wagon Link 1 (the above car)

 

Hell Hall

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For those of you that remember Mike’s post about North Phoenix’s resident puppy-skinner, and are still concerned, let me put your fears to rest. She lives so close to me that I can see her backyard from the second story of my house. For the record, my kids were bummed that she didn’t give out candy on Halloween.

GenHO 1 Year Anniversary: “What Got You Into Cars?” – Cameron Tunstall, Editor-in-Chief

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This picture could really say it all for me. It’s Easter, 1994. My brother and I have just gotten a brand-new Sega Genesis Model 2 to replace our Nintendo Entertainment System that was destroyed by the family dog. Before we left to buy our first cartridge for it, we took this photo out in front of our home. This is in Maryvale, a suburb of Phoenix, and a rough one at that.

We were the family with the giant four-wheel-drive pick up in the front yard.

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Driven: Bill Burke’s Land Rover Defender 90

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I’m not exactly sure if this meets the (admittedly) arbitrary requirements for Driven, as it’s apparent that this thing can go wherever it wants. This model is a 1990 or newer US-spec with the Buick-derived V8 engine. It’s interesting that Land Rover used this engine all they way up until 2006, when it was designed by Buick in the 1950’s

The Buick 215 V8 was initially offered in 1961 for the “early Y-bodies” which were the initial uni-body offerings of the BOP A-body platform, my that’s a lot of bodies. Due to smart-ass “experts” on the internet I feel I should defend my Olds-loving honor and mention that the Oldsmobile variation of the 215 had several changes to the heads for aesthetic, performance and durability reasons. As a result, Olds heads can go on any other 215, but not the other way around. It’s also worth noting that the Olds 215 had an optional water-injected turbocharged model, exclusive to Oldsmobile cars.

The design was split in the 60’s: Buick built off of it’s characteristics using iron blocks (the 215 was all aluminum) and it evolved into what became the modern Buick V8 line-up and the indestructible 231/3.L/3800 V6 family; with the Aluminum tooling being sold to Land Rover in 1965.

So what’s Mr. Burke doing with his 93″ Wheelbase (where the name “90” comes from) British-bodied, American-powered SUV? Well as you can see from the advertising on it, he gives lessons in 4-wheeling. You can find out more at www.bb4wa.com (no longer available in 2019).