Geneva 09': Ford iosis MAX Concept Previews Next-Gen Focus

Ford is going to unveil the iosis MAX Concept at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow.

The iosis MAX Concept previews the design of Ford's next generation global C-car family, which includes the Focus and C-Max. Ford has already announced that the next-generation Focus will be the same model sold in Europe and North America. The C-Max MPV could also eventually make it to the US.

The concept is powered by a 1.6L EcoBoost four-cylinder that puts out 178 horsepower thanks to turbocharging and direct injection. The engine is mated to a dual-clutch transmission. This engine could eventually makes its way into the next Focus.

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1959 Speed Shop Part 3: More Performance Parts!

Heads, cams, adapter kits… I’ve even scanned the page of Quick Change rearends & mag wheels. We’re almost done thumbing through the 1959 Almquist catalog, but I figured you might want to check out a few more parts and prices of a half century ago. Notice at the bottom of the Flathead heads page, you’ll see the Weiand “Sportsman” heads. They were all aluminum, high compression heads that appeared stock- A little cheater head idea taken from the Ford aluminum Denver & Canadian heads. My buddy just picked a pair of these Sportsman heads up at the swap last week thinking he was getting Canadian heads, only to find the little Weiand logo on the back. Nice Score!! Check out the Edmunds head selection for flat 6’s and 8’s, and the “Double Disc” brakes by Halibrand for a whopping $595 (about $4,300 in today’s money)!

Anyway, I hope your not getting bored with the catalog scans, cause I’m having fun. Coming up soon, Part 4 will have hubcaps and accessories for the Custom guys…

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Sure, I’ll pick up a franchise

My grandfather was recently going through some old documents from my grandmother’s family, and he pulled out a particular letter that he thought might amuse me, incidentally dated six days after she was born. It’s a document that was a receipt for a piece of property that my great-grandfather, Bernhard Herberich, was purchasing from the Hartshorn family.

It seems that Mr. Hartshorn sold quite an array of goods… in modern terms, he had a NAPA, Dick’s and Home Depot, as well as an Overland showroom and garage, all wrapped up in one.

Overland offered three models in 1917, each available in four body styles – the Light Four 90, the Big Four 85 and the Light Six 85. Overland prices ranged from $650 to $1,585 in a year when the local Ford agency was selling Model Ts for between $360 and $645, so I have to wonder if Mr. Hartshorn moved more varnish and penny nails than Overlands!

We just happen to have a colorful framed 1916 Overland magazine advertisement hanging here in the Hemmings editorial office – seems like the company was making a concerted effort to get the word out and boost sales in that period.

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