Did Hemmings Muscle become Popular Hot Rodding?

[wagonman]

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I have had my issues with HMM, but overall it has been an excellent magazine for the musclecar enthusiast. Do what I did an email the editor, and you will get a response back and hopefully get them back on track.

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Yes you did!

No love for the phantom
I am very disappointed that, despite all the real cars out there, you chose to feature a counterfeit (1968 Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro convertible, HMM#59, August 2008). Yes, it's a beautiful car, but the owner went way overboard by broaching blocks, re-stamping and purchasing fake documentation. This, in my opinion, did more to open potential crooks' eyes than it did to educate buyers. By paying for these services, people just enable these businesses to stay in operation and perfect their craft.

I judge in several programs, with a focus on unrestored survivor cars, and I have to tell you, I just about tossed this issue. I know of too many clones, tributes or whatever you want to call them, which have morphed into "real" cars. I am sure you had honorable intentions, but this feature did not work for me. Hope this feedback helps.

Steve Shauger
Via the Internet

Sorry to hear you didn't appreciate the feature, Steve, but perhaps your discontent is being misdirected. When that issue hit the stands, there was some chatter on a few Internet boards about the Camaro Z/28 convertible and its fabricated history. Some felt that we were doing a disservice by presenting it, but others seemed to get it.

Either way, here's a reiteration of the main points: First, none of the cars featured were clones, since actual factory-produced examples of those particular cars were never built. This should be most obvious in the case of the Z/28 convertible, which was never available during the first generation. Part of the Camaro owner's point was to illustrate what's possible currently, which should alarm some enthusiasts. We feel this knowledge needs to get to the average enthusiast; trust us, the crooks already know what's possible.

Some concern has been expressed that years from now, that Camaro may become what it currently pretends to be, but again, it represents something that GM wouldn't build, and it seems unlikely that everyone would forget that 20 years from now.

We don't condone the re-stamping of engine blocks, and weathered build-sheet replicas would seem to have little honorable use. Still, we get where the Camaro's owner was coming from. Don't shoot the messenger; arm yourself with knowledge.

[mockingbird812]

Hang in there fellas, there may be a few worthy articles in '10 worth your time.

[CC Rider]

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Hang in there fellas, there may be a few worthy articles in '10 worth your time.

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[SOM2001SS]

That issue isn't all bad, my friend Bob's beautiful black cherry '70 Chevelle SS is featured in the Restoration Profile! He's a very nice guy and he did almost all of the work himself. It is an amazing car especially to see in person.

[m22mike]

That was a good story on the 70 Chevelle/resto.

I still need to sent my thoughts to the editor about the Charger thing...

[markjohnson]

"Mr. Angry" Charger owner says that his car is an automotive middle finger. That sounds nice.....real nice.

[The Dude]

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That issue isn't all bad, my friend Bob's beautiful black cherry '70 Chevelle SS is featured in the Restoration Profile! He's a very nice guy and he did almost all of the work himself. It is an amazing car especially to see in person.

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How about that speed demon 83 Trans Am. 175 horses, that a Muscle Machine right there.

[69Tom]

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How about that speed demon 83 Trans Am. 175 horses, that a Muscle Machine right there.

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I really wish they'd stop it with the 175 HP 1980's vehicles. I think a stock inline-6 Nova II had more power.

[markjohnson]

I actually thought the '83 Trans Am article was better than the black-primered Daytona. I really like the Aero wheels on the T/A and have never seen a set with the trim rings intact like that. Pontiac really put a lot of work into aerodynamics during that time period. In fact, I remember a particular full-page ad where the Trans Am was pictured but in the background was a giant .29 (or something close) touting how slick the car was. Cool stuff.