Vicki Ziegler, president of the Classic Car Club of America, joins the In Wheel Time Podcast to discuss the club's focus on classic cars built between 1915 and 1948. She shares insights about the club's activities, including national tours and publications, and clarifies what defines a 'full classic.' The episode also features a segment on auto history, highlighting significant automotive events and trends, including Tesla's pricing strategies and inventory levels in the U.S. market. The lively banter among the hosts adds a fun dynamic to the informative discussions.
Topics:classic car clubfull classicscar judgingauto historyTesla pricingU.S. inventory levelsnational toursclassic car publications
Get ready for a joyride back in time! We're joined by Vicki Zeiger, President of the Classic Car Club of America. She takes us on a tour of the club's mission and shares their love for cars built between 1915 and 1948. Believe it or not, popular favorites like the Chevrolet don't qualify as "full classics" by club standards. Vicki also gives us a sneak peek into the perks of being a club member, including their glossy magazines and exciting nationwide tours.
That's not all; we've got some auto history trivia lined up for you featuring the majestic Cadillac and the rugged Jeep - This Week In Auto History. We'll rev up some fascinating stories – from the mullet-era Camaros to the time a meteorite had a face-off with a Chevrolet Malibu. We'll also crunch some numbers discussing the current inventory of new vehicles in the US and Tesla's intriguing price reductions. To top it all off, we unveil the upcoming live streaming show on multiple platforms. Every Saturday morning, join us, your hosts along with Chief Engineer David Ainsley for some high-octane car talk. Tune in and fuel your love for cars!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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"...ook at that when you're down there picking up the Corvette. Yeah, he doesn't have a battery yet."
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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 Four minutes.
It's the In Wheel Time car talk show today, coming to you from the Sugar Mill in Sugarland, texas.
Just ahead, vicki Ziegler, president of the classic car club of America, conrad has this week in Auto History and we'll get you caught up on the stories making car news this week.
Howdy, along with Mike out of this World, mars King Conrad DeLong, we always need more.
Jeff Zekin, I am your commercial mess-up man.
Don Armstrong.
Well, I pressed the wrong button, that's okay, sorry, no worries.
That's okay, we're all busy pushing your buttons anyhow.
No, only you pressed my button, pushing his buttons, looking for the mute button.
That's what we're looking for and the Acapulco Gold.
There you go, dodge Hornet.
All right.
Here she is.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Vicki Ziegler, president of the classic car club of America.
Vicki, good morning to you.
Good morning to you, fellas.
How are you today?
Well, we're fine.
She's been waiting a long time.
She came in early.
Sorry to keep you waiting, but we have a schedule to keep you know.
I totally got it.
I was enjoying the show.
Well, thank you.
We appreciate that.
The liquor store is just open.
Oh my dispensary.
So, vicki, tell me what is the classic car club of America?
I am very happy to and thank you so much for having me on today.
The classic car club of America is open to all car enthusiasts, but the cars that that we feature and that we judge are cars that were built between 1915 and 1948, during what we consider the classic era, and our club has been around
for 70 years and we've been offering a club that provides absolutely outstanding publications.
Our magazines, which come out four times a year, are spectacular and everybody should want to join just for the magazines that are produced.
We also provide for tours across the country.
We've actually had a tour in Texas in the past.
We have a very active club in Texas and what you can do is you can join the national organization.
We have 28 regions across the country and we also have people from across the pond, so to speak, and Australia.
We also we go on tours.
We will either drive our classic cars to the tour starting point or some people ship if it's way across the country.
For example, we had a grand classic earlier earlier this year that went from Buffalo all through Canada and then returned to Buffalo, and we have little tours where the regions plan and execute those tours where people can take a few nights and enjoy driving their classic car, and it just.
It's a great organization to belong to we.
You don't need to own a classic car, but we do have a list of over 100 marks of cars that we consider full classics.
Now, that term classic car is used by everybody, as you all know, of course, but we actually have a lot of people who are not familiar with classic cars.
We have a definition of a full classic to be a car that was built between 1915 and 1948.
And the important thing that is, it's distinguished for their fine design, high engineering standards, superior workmanship and to encourage the maintenance, the restoration and preserve such classic cars.
And that's how we can sit.
That's what we consider a full classic.
Now, there's other great clubs around, but that's the cars that we, that we judge and take on tours, are the full classics.
What kind of car do you have?
I have a couple of full classics.
I have a 1941 Ford or Cadillac convertible car.
We've probably put 20,000 miles on it during the time that we've owned it.
We have a fabulous 1936 Packard Ford or convertible that was once owned by a Pebble Beach judge and we bought it about 10 years ago, wow.
And then we have some non classic cars.
So we just love cars.
Well, so do we know Needless to say that's where I'm on your job.
So do you have anybody in your club?
Where are you?
Well, our club headquarters are is in Chicago.
We have 28 regions.
I happen to be in the San Diego Palm Springs region, which is in Southern California, but we have a region, as I say, in Texas.
We have them all over, from Washington to Florida, from the Northeast all the way down to Southern California.
You know I have to tell you that today, on our sold cars roundup that we get from Hemings once a week, there was a 1948 Chevrolet on there that had sold and it was affordable and it was canary yellow.
I don't know if that fits into what you guys do, but I thought, wow, now there's a perfect match of 1948 because you guys go up to 1948.
Right, but we that car is fabulous.
I know that, I know what that car looks like it really is, but that is a mark that is not recognized in our classification of classic cars.
OK, so we wait.
Let's stop there and tell me about that, because I didn't know.
A Chevrolet is not considered a classic car.
Well, I think, I think no, it is.
It's a very beautiful classic car.
It's not considered a full classic that we would be supporting in our club.
It's beautiful, but the owner of that car would could join our club, but in terms of having it judged along with our, our cars, that would not be allowed.
Why not?
Because we distinguish our cars by several categories fine design, high end engineering, standard, superior workmanship.
And and they are are the high end cars.
They're the Auburn's, they're the Doosenberg's, they're the Hispanic Suiza, there's the Lincoln, the Buick, the Packard, the Cadillac.
So, so so the Chevrolet is not the Chevy and the Ford, because they have enough of their own groups to join.
That's a working man's vehicle.
Well, I don't want to look at it that way.
I would just try to get the definition, because I don't know, I didn't realize it.
I know it's.
I'm glad you brought it up because it is.
It is something that does distinguish us.
We consider ourselves kind of a niche in the car club.
You know opportunities, we love those other cars, but it's not the.
We have focused on the very high end cars.
Now, if you want a funny little story, when we got our start 70 years ago and we would drive in this is a little bit before my time in years to but the owners of classic cars, like a beautiful 48 Cadillac would, we could drive to a AC events, but our cars were considered quote unquote tow cars.
We told the 1950s cars and then a group of gentlemen about six of them got together and said to themselves hey, we need a little more.
You know we need, we need a club that focuses on these fine cars, even though a AC a at the time didn't recognize them and they were considered quote unquote.
Quote unquote tour cars.
Interesting, funny.
Yeah, I find the whole thing fascinating that you guys focus on the true classic, high, high, high-end classic cars, the Pebble Beach cars.
Yeah.
Right, right, that's an and we this last year there were two first in class classic car club owning cars that were bestowed that award.
So, yeah, now you've you've got it.
But the other really wonderful thing is there are many people in our club that do not own a classic car, but they make huge contributions to our club in the way of working on assignments, helping us do different things, and so we absolutely love to have people that are interested in the era join
our club and they won't be sorry because, as I say, we have fabulous publications, beautiful magazines, we have great photographs, we are on Facebook and Instagram and the other really fascinating thing, and I think you all and the audience would enjoy the incredible articles that we publish, because we have a number of historians that are part of our club that research these beautiful
pieces of art and can tell you a lot about them.
We have a number of restores are immediate past.
President Steve Babinski is a well known classic car restore who is located in New Jersey.
So it's wonderful for anyone who loves automobiles and loves cars of any category to get our publications and join our club.
It will really enlighten you and entertain you and it's really great.
Well, I have to tell you that I made mention of this earlier in another interview that we were doing with the local car club.
They're putting on a car judging clinic how to judge a car and I referenced a episode of chasing classic cars with Wayne Carini where they went, and it was a pebble beach type event that you guys go to all the time and it was an event where the actual owner and the preparer of the car and Wayne were there.
They were showing this particular car.
I don't remember what it was, but the interesting thing that stood out to me was the fact that the went, the judges came and they had a little pow wow before they actually would judge the car and they had an opportunity to present verbally the car, give a little bit of history, things that they actually worked on on the car.
Maybe you've found a special part that it was missing and they found it and there it is and that sort of thing and the back and forth with the judges.
That I thought was very unique and actually uplifting, because you know, judging a car, especially in y'all's class classes, that it's almost as if we were going to meet Moses or something.
We think of those judges of being at the upper echelon of car shows.
Well, there are different methods of doing judging and, for example, in concourses like Pebble Beach they do have a very sophisticated process that they go through, and in our club we have our own judging process that is slightly different than, say, a concourse judging criteria
sheet.
First of all, we hold judging seminars too, and we have a form that lists the operational items on a car and also the appearance.
We're also making sure that the car can start, that the lights work and that everything looks as if it had just come off the showroom floor.
Remember back in the day when there were car showrooms and people would drive them off the lot?
We want our cars to look just like they did when they rolled off the showroom floor.
So some of, as I say, and we also certify our judges and we hold these seminars across the country and it's very, very interesting and it helps to standardize the judging and basically just to tell you one thing about it the car is judged on its own.
It's not judged.
In other words, there could be two 100-point cars in the same classification, so they are not judged against each other.
They are judged against a sheet that is standardized.
Right, it's a standard.
They're judged against the standard Right.
Right, very good point.
Do you have celebrity participants like Leno?
Does Jay come in with?
his cars.
Or Don Armstrong?
Oh, absolutely.
Jay Leno has been to our annual meetings.
Jay is a member and he has done so much for the hobby.
Jay is a good example of a person who absolutely loves all cars and is, I'm sure, in many different clubs, and we're happy that he is also a member of our club.
Well, vicki, it is great to talk to you and very informative, and we sure appreciate the time that you spent with us and we wish we were out there in Southern California with you this morning.
Well, I wish you were too.
And if I could just suggest that, if anyone wants to find out more information, if you will go to our website it's classiccarcluborg, classiccarcluborg and learn about us and join.
If you're even slightly interested, try it for a year, you won't be sorry.
Well, I know that we won't, and, matter of fact, conrad's going to put a link up to your website here rather quickly.
Yep, we already have.
Yeah, we already have, and there's a link.
Thank, you.
And you have a Lone Star region for us here in the Houston market.
Yes, we do so.
We have a very, very active Texas region, so you can join the national organization and the Texas region and you won't be sorry.
I also want to mention that we also have a museum on the on the on the Well in Higary Corners, at the Gilmore Museum, and you might want to consider having one of the representatives from the Classic Car Club of America Museum join you one morning.
We shall, we absolutely shall.
It's a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
Take care, and next time you're in town we'll buy you some coffee.
Okay, anytime Nice to talk to you.
Thank you.
Thank you, I'm going to go back to the car for this week in auto history and what a great segue, because my our first car in 1945, the first post war Cadillac, was produced after World War Two and then the next full Cadillac design that was done was a 48 Cadillac.
I think that's what Vicki said she had, for her car was 48 Cadillac.
You got to remember, during World War Two Cadillac was building tanks and it looks like one of them and and also staff cars were Cadillacs during World War.
Two, I said Eisenhower's cars.
The colonels and generals were all riding around in the.
German side, they were all Mercedes, and they were all Mercedes.
And then in 1954, the Willis Jeep CJ five began production, 1941 Cadillac.
She said oh I'm sorry, it's a four, she had a 41 Cadillac, she had a pre war Cadillac.
Anyway, thanks, vicki, but the the 1954 Willie CJ five began production in 1974.
Vicki L Earnhardt Jr was born In 1981, the third generation Camaro went into production for the 1982 model year and that was kind of the beginning of the mullets.
The first generation only lasted from 67 through 69, and I know Don yours is favorite, it's the 69.
The second generation lasted from what would be called 70 and a half, because I remember there was an auto strike in 70.
So the 69 Camaro lasted longer and longer, and actually this third generation Camaro was the first one available with a fourth cylinder in it.
But it was also the generation where they introduced the iconic Irox Z that first appeared in 1985.
In 1992, a meteorite struck a 1980 Chevrolet Malibu in Peekskill, new York.
Now I lived not far from Peekskill, new York, now you got to remember.
It hit the back of this 1980 Malibu.
That was probably about a $300 car.
After the Malibu was struck by the meteorite, the car sold for $10,000 and the owner of the Malibu sold the meteorite for $69,000 to a group of collectors.
Pretty cool little story, a little bit of profit.
In 2014, the automotive industry witnessed a momentous occasion, as Chrysler Fiat was formed, or Fiat Chrysler was formed as Fiat and Did you read this before you?
Yes, yes.
When Fiat and Chrysler Group came together, forming a global powerhouse which later was sold to Daimler and then Stalantis.
So it's a never-ending flip-flop of ownership of the Chrysler Corporation.
So that's this week in Auto History, cool.
A new vehicle inventory in the US continues to build, despite the production interruptions of the UAW Strike and robust consumer shopping in September and throughout the third quarter.
Cox Automotive estimated auto makers, I should say started October with 2.21
million vehicles Now, representing an increase of 150,000 vehicles compared with the start of September.
Inventory stands at its highest levels since early spring of 2021 and 60% higher from the year ago month, according to Cox Automotive, but inventory is still 35% lower than where it was in 2019 before the pandemic.
Its supply remained at 60 at the start of October, flat against September, but 14 days higher than the same period a year ago.
If you want to buy a car, this would probably be a pretty good time to buy a car.
Yeah, it was 60.
Especially an American made car.
Yeah, it was 60 days supply.
They're still offering incentives on them.
Yeah, exactly.
So there's that.
Tesla Inks top-selling electric vehicles now compete directly with gasoline cars on price.
After the latest round of price reductions, the lower prices could cost the company $1.2
billion a year, according to at least one investor at $38,990.
The base model three sedan now costs $8,700 less than the average amount paid for a car or truck in the US.
Starting price for a model Y crossover is 3700 below the average auto price of roughly $48,000.
According to an analysis by Bloomberg Green.
Tesla started cutting prices at the start of the year, twisting the screws on legacy car makers already struggling to make electric vehicles profitable.
And think about how you'd feel if you bought an early Tesla and paid that $136,000 for the early Model.
S.
Well, my boss has a Tesla and he's concerned because that's happening to him.
He bought it at one level and they keep dropping.
So that was it.
That's it.
Yeah for me, that's it for you.
And now they're turning them into Fiero race cars.
My guess is that that particular car must have been wrecked or something.
Wouldn't you think I would think so yeah because you wouldn't take a driving Tesla one that still works and change, pull the motor, the batteries and everything else out of that car to put it in a race car.
It's going to be an interesting build.
You need to take a look at that when you're down there picking up the Corvette.
Yeah, he doesn't have a battery yet.
He's got the drivetrain piece.
But I saw on Facebook somebody asking him about the batteries and he said he didn't have the battery yet.
Ah, batteries.
It'd be interesting to see how he's going to package the batteries in the Fiero's.
You got to remember in a Fiero the gas tank was located in the center console area.
I did not remember that.
That's where they put the gas tank.
But he didn't say it was going to be a rear wheel drive.
Yeah, I'm wondering if they can package that into that same area where the fuel tank was in the Fiero.
Well, my guess is I don't know it depends on what battery you get, I guess.
And what is it going to be?
A front wheel drive, rear wheel drive.
No rear wheel drive.
They put all that drivetrain in the back, so didn't they'll have the trunk?
No, that's where the engine is, in the trunk.
In the trunk.
I just you just got through telling me that the drivetrain is in the back.
It is, the motors are in the back, correct?
So there's there's room.
There's no trunk, never mind.
If they take the engine out of it, what the hell is gonna be up front nothing.
Well, there's no engine in the front of a Fiero.
Anyhow, fiero always had the engine in the back.
It did yeah.
That's one of the reason to do so what?
what's up front?
is it?
It's a trunk place for the batteries.
That's what we said.
I'm gonna come over there and slap the hell out of you.
I.
Got 20 bucks on you.
You're the dumbass.
Tune in next week.
Love you down in wheel.
Time turns no.
No, that's not as your stomach turns.
Okay, you know, you can dress him up and put lipstick on him, and a pig is still a pig is still a pig, and I'm sorry, but yeah, you just didn't get what I was saying.
I did I let them go, thank you, and you're closer to him, so would you slap him for me?
Don't forget to remind everybody where we're gonna be next week.
Why?
Why did you just, why did you just tell everybody where we're gonna be?
We are going to be at the hemi hideout.
We're gonna be.
It's a club in Invitation event, so car clubs around are going to be showing up and we're going to be there, mm-hmm.
So, and you'll be there too, with us.
Special time For the live.
The live show will be a special time, but we'll be on the air at 8 o'clock with a repeat and then at 9 o'clock we're gonna go live.
We're gonna have more of this Fight after these messages.
So stay with us.
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.
Founders Stan Holt invite 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 it loopies.
It's located just off I-10 of the Grand Parkway.
At Kingsland Boulevard in Katie, find yourself an Aggie land.
Head to the loopy tortilla 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.
Headed east to Louisiana, stop in at the loopy tortilla in Beaumont.
It twos on I-10.
It can't miss it.
The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants invites you in for the best Tex-Mex anywhere.
Rogers dabs Chevrolet and GM performance has the absolute best price that you're gonna find on GM parts, transmissions and engines in the country with the largest inventory as well that you're gonna find in the US.
Rogers dabs, chevrolet and GM performance has what you need and has the best customer service to back it up.
Contact one of our Texas team members for quotes and get that on your docker at your front door as soon as possible.
Rogers dabs GM performance best inventory, best prices that you're gonna find in the United States.
Rogers dabs GM performance.
Houston's finest cars are invited to another Gulf Coast Auto Shield car social, saturday, december 2nd.
And you're invited to Show off your personal pride and joy or just stop in to see the likes of Lucid Lamborghini, porsche, ferrari and more.
Golf 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 11 275 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's, corvette's to McLaren's.
The car Social is a different kind of show.
Talk to the owners.
See Gulf Coast Auto Shields 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 in-wheel time car talk show will be there too.
We'll see you then.
Well, that's it for this week's it will time car talk show.
Here's your invitation to follow us on Facebook.
Give us a like, tell your friends about us and share our stuff.
If you will.
We'll keep you posted on all things automotive all week long, including new car reviews, upcoming events, cruise-ins, racing and car truck and SUV goodies.
You can find the in-wheel time car talk show 24 7 through the I heart radio app.
We live stream this show on Facebook, youtube and on in wheel time dot com every Saturday 8 to 11 central time.
Daily 30 minute podcasts available on your favorite podcast channel.
The in-wheel time chief engineer is David Ainsley.
Our marketing advertising advisor and video technical director is we need more Jeff Zekin for booking agent and dog zoomies Mike Mars, mr Know-it-all and Facebook fiend.
His royalty King Conrad the long.
I'm Don Armstrong.
We hope you'll join us for another live award-winning production of the in-wheel time car talk show Next Saturday, where we will be at the fabulous Hemmy hideout in Brookshire, texas, on all our in-wheel time car talk out.
That's right here on the smoke emir's network.
Have a great weekend, mrs Calabash, wherever you are, and enjoy this beautiful day and go outside stare at the eclipse.
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 in-wheel time comm website.
Podcasts are available on Apple podcast, spotify stitcher.
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