Saturday, October 23, 2010

It's a Custom Job

Why was Steve's Impala "better than Darrly Starbird's Superfleck Moonbird"?
the answer.....Constant tinkering. Just like this blog. When the old All Graffiti site went away I lost a lot, movies I had made, all of my stories that I had finally typed up, several scans I had posted. I did not have any kind of back-up. I didn't think I needed one. The few files I did recover from "all" of my old pages were somehow corrupted and incomplete so most of those got trashed. After a bunch of soul searching (remembering why I ever did this in the first place) I figured I would turn something bad into something better. So I Started from scratch, a new site complete with a new name and web address. I know it took a few of you awhile of you to find me again. Sorry I did not have the option of leaving a forwarding address. Old fans may also notice many of the scans are cleaner and clearer than they have ever been. I have been slowly rescanning my collection. I have also been working on keeping the file sizes at a manageable level for those of you who have limited bandwidth. (see i read the mail you send) One of these days I will get everything straightened out Thanks for your patience.

"I'm gettin old, Ain't as fast as I used to be"

Jeff

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Hot Car December 1976 - Graffiti Twins





I guess when the world give you lemons you make lemon aid and when the world gives you a 1933 Plymouth body you make Milner's Graffiti Coupe. Jeff


Thursday, September 2, 2010

MPC More American Graffiti Dragster 1979








Milner's book ends. If you already have a Graffiti Coupe you may need the instructions on how to build Big John's other car The Dragster. Milner turned 190.77 in this car he built himself. John may not be an official part of the Hunt Brothers Racing Team or get to drive "Cubic Money" But he did take Top Eliminator for 1964.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

MPC More American Graffiti Yellow Deuce Coupe 1979





Seems like everyone is always asking "How do you build an American Graffiti Coupe" Well here you go. Complete instructions on how to build John Milner's Yellow Deuce Coupe. I can still remember building this model when I was a kid.......and that glue smell..........
Jeff
P/S before any of you start. Yes that means I have built a plastic car. Ha Ha! Quit Laughing!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Crusin' Times July 2008 - Mario Calabreses' Graffiti Coupe





"Fastest Car In The Valley" That rings true when describing Mario Calabreses' Coupe. Mario really did his homework. He knew what he wanted and collected most of the hard to find "Graffiti Correct" parts before starting his build. Employing this strategy Mario's Coupe was assembled in record time. I am happy to say even I helped a little. The interior and some small things need to be finished but this has not stopped Mario from passing the first oil change marker and is well on the road to the second.
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Bonus Section

Here are a few of Mario's personal pictures of his Coupe.




Special News.....Breaking News.....Special News......Breaking News.......
If you check BigAl'sList.com You will find a list of appearances for the cast and the cars from American Graffiti. You will also see that Mario's Little Deuce Coupe will be appearing August 23,24 and the 25th Along with the Original 1932 Ford and some of the stars from the movie. So if you are in the Mentor Ohio area stop by and check it out.
Jeff

Friday, August 6, 2010

Street Rodder March 1986 - Steve Kimmel's Little Deuce Coupe

Once again we join Mr Peabody and Sherman

Return to 1986. One day stopping by a buddies house as I hit the door he yells from the other room as I am walking in "Hey there's a blue Graffiti Coupe in the New Street Rodder Magazine on the kitchen table" I am thinking what?? So I grab the book pop it open and shore enough there it was. I must admit the first thing that came to mind was If I owned it I would paint it. (Sorry Steve) I told my friend save that for me when you are done reading it. He didn't.
Several Years later as I try to find all the Graffiti Coupe facts I can. I remember that article. I hunt and hunt but cant find what issue the blue deuce was in. Then it hits me Marth Quinn the MTV VJ was in the pictures of the coupe she would know. Now what do you think the odds are of me contacting Marth Quinn and her remembering a picture she had been in over 20 years ago??????.......We'll let me tell you Martha is a total sweet heart. She didn't remember the issue but did me one better by putting me in contact to the guy who owned the car back then.

Let me tell you it's a tad odd calling someone and asking "Hey did you ever own a blue 1932 Ford?" But when the somewhat surprised voice on the other end says "Yes". Me and Steve have been talking Coupe ever since.








Bonus section
A few of Steve's personal pictures along with quotes from the 1986 article.


"I found the car in Pennsylvania, an ex-drag car that had raced all over the east coast,with an Olds motor and trans, in the early 60's" he continues "When I bought it, it had no drive train, but was a fairly solid, full-fendered car with almost all of the parts and hardware. I paid $2500 for it, but after selling off fenders, hood, gas tank, etc I had about $800 in it" SK

Steve carried out almost all of the construction himself designing, building and installing all the chassis cross members, boxing plates and all shock, motor, trans, and spring cup brackets and mounts.


He also pulled the internally stock 300-horse 327 out of a wrecked, 33,000-mile '67 Chevelle.




"I have wanted a five-window coupe since I first saw the American Graffiti car" SK



Wow pretty cool story huh? Well unfortunately Steve sold the coupe years ago. He says he still talks to the present owner and that the car looks just the same as it did back then but the little deuce hasn't seen the light of day for a long time. Steve said that he never intended to build a clone of the Milner Coupe he just wanted that same look the American Graffiti Coupe had.
Now for the kicker. After dozens of phone calls, countless Emails I forward a link to a 1932 Ford 5 window for sale over on Steve's side of the country....... He bought it !!!!! and is now in the process of building another killer (don't tell his wife I had anything to do with it) Steve is still in the same mind-set as he was for his first build to the point he has not even picked a color yet. I made a photo for Steve to print out for his kids so they could show Daddy their color choices.
Feel free to download this paint shop it up and email it back to me and I will forward it to Steve.

Hey Steve can I just make one suggestion....... To quote
.................................................................It's not easy being green.
Jeff