Hagerty's 'Cocktail Cruiser' list inspired by 'Mad Men'

I call them cocktail cruisers -- the sporty yet elegant cars that epitomized American optimism before Kennedy was shot. These cars marketed with images of women in gowns and gloves and men in suit coats preparing for a night out on the town in a new Sport Coupe or convertible (usually a Thunderbird, Coupe deVille, Grand Prix, Chrysler 300 or Ford Galaxie).

Other cars have been marketed similarly, but what separates cars from the cocktail cruiser era from the others, is that these early-1960s cars were actually BUILT for a night on the town with interior mood lighting, a lounge-like interior atmosphere and names for all the cars' gadgets, which were only rivaled by the mixed beverages poured by the bartender.

That wonderful era is gone, but at least the cars live on. We also get glimpses through movies and TV shows, such as "Mad Men." Hagerty assembled this list, which has some similarities to the cocktail cruiser lists you've seen on the blog and in my editorials. Check it out for yourself.

How to Drive Like the MAD MEN: Top 10 Cars of the MAD MEN Era

Hagerty Picks Stylish, Sophisticated Collector Cars that Epitomize the Don Draper Lifestyle

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its premiere in 2007, the popular AMC show "MAD MEN" has renewed an interest in the sophisticated lifestyle of the early 1960s. For professionals of this era, the ultimate sign of success was a new car.

Hagerty, the country's leading provider of collector car insurance, has put together its picks of the collector cars that the most powerful and influential professionals of the MAD MEN era would have driven.

"Collector cars are a unique way to show off your sense of style and express your personality," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. "The early '60s especially were an era when quality products and cutting-edge design still ruled in America. The ten cars on our list are great examples of the understated and sophisticated design style of this period, and their solid value today makes them a smart way to capture the essence of MAD MEN era."

Below are Hagerty's picks of "How to Drive like the MAD MEN: Top 10 Cars of the MAD MEN Era."

  1. 1963 Buick Riviera:  When Cadillac decided against
     producing the Riviera, Buick enlisted McCann Erickson ad agency to
     convince GM brass that the car should be a Buick. GM styling chief Bill
     Mitchell drew inspiration from Rolls-Royce and Ferrari. Owners knew the
     value of a powerful, yet beautifully understated car with plenty of
     room for the mistress and weekend's luggage. And the iconic 1963
     Riviera certainly filled the bill.
  2. 1963 Corvette Sting Ray: The 1963 Corvette was
     perhaps the last truly elegant Corvette before the muscle car era
     arrived with all its ducts and scoops. A man could "expect a subtle,
     extra measure of attention and respect" by arriving in such a potent
     machine.
  3. 1961-63 Ford Thunderbird: With the 1955 Thunderbird,
     Ford introduced Americans to the concept of a personal luxury car.  By
     the early sixties, the boys from Dearborn had perfected the notion. Big
     power, big comfort, "suddenly, you're in Thunderbird Country."
  4. 1961-63 Lincoln Continental Sedan: Conceived just
     before the beginning of the design-by-committee era, Elwood Engel's
     magnum opus was the last mass-produced automobile to be designed by a
     single man.  A 1963 print ad showed the Continental, with doors open in
     welcome. Below, the tagline stated: "For 1963, we have enlarged your
     private world and provided you with added power."
  5. 1961 Chrysler 300G: The G's styling was unabashedly
     50's. But with up to 400 horsepower available and one of the best
     suspension and brake packages available, the big Chrysler was more than
     met the eye.  Though outwardly traditional, its looks concealed inner
     fury.
  6. 1963 Studebaker Avanti: Studebaker was among the last
     of America's independent automakers. Styled by a team led by famed
     industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the Avanti was Studebaker's last
     gasp. A Hail Mary Pass of a European-style GT, the Avanti was a lasting
     icon of an era when the fiercely independent were heroes.  While
     Studebaker succumbed to a creeping death, Avanti production continued
     into the 1980s.
  7. 1962-63 Cadillac Coupe De Ville (perhaps they meant 1961-64 or 1963-64): No list of great
     1960s cars is complete without a Cadillac. The Coupe De Ville was a
     neon sign announcing the "arrival" of a top executive. Young
     businessmen did not want or even yearn for a new Cadillac, they aspired
     to one.
  8. 1962-64 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk: Although
     Studebaker went out of business in 1966, it wasn't because their
     products lacked style. The GT Hawk was fast, elegant, and understated. 
     Though larger and more staid than its Avanti stable mate, the Hawk was
     still a bold statement of independence.
  9. 1963 Buick Electra 225: Though it was built by GM's
     "near luxury" division, the Electra 225 carried plenty of prestige. 
     Four vents on each front fender indicated Buick's largest available
     engine and the big 401 cubic-inch V8 provided enough power to make even
     Cadillac owners think twice.  Though not as flashy as the Cadillac, the
     Buick was grace and style made manifest.

  10. 1963 Ford Galaxie XL Convertible: If the world or
      even the solar system simply wasn't big enough, there was the Galaxie.
      With a whopping 119" wheelbase the Galaxie convertible wasn't a car
      you wanted to parallel park in Manhattan. Which is why the French
      invented valet parking. True story, sweetheart.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 2:44:19 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [4]

All-New Chevy Caprice Police Car Reports For Duty in 2011

DENVER – An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It’s a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

Vice President, Global Chevrolet Brand Brent Dewar added, “Along with Impala and Tahoe, the Caprice PPV gives agencies a greater range of choices for police and special service vehicles that are all available from Chevrolet.”

Unlike other police cars on the market, the Caprice PPV is not based on existing “civilian” passenger-car model sold in North America. It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:

• Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
• Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
• Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
• Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
• Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

The front seats are sculpted to “pocket” the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt’s various items, too, allowing the officer’s back to rest properly on the seatback surface.

“The Chevrolet Caprice PPV’s seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car,” said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. “The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface.”

Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.

Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.

Class-leading space

The Caprice PPV is based on GM’s global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture – 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) – along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.

Caprice PPV’s long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition, its advantages include:

• A larger interior volume – 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters – than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
• The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
• At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice’s trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area.

The Caprice’s 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

• High-output alternator
• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
• Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
• Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
• Heavy-duty suspension components
• Police-calibrated stability control system
• Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

A host of complementary features are also offered, including special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an “undercover” street-appearance package (9C3).

To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.

Caprice on patrol: A brief history

Chevrolet’s history with law enforcement is almost as old as the brand itself. Police departments have used Chevy sedans as police cars for decades, ordering them with basic equipment and powerful V-8 engines – including some special engines that weren’t available in regular-production models, such as the 1959 Biscayne that was offered with up to 315 horsepower.

The full-size Chevrolets joined the force in 1976. All Caprice police cars – including the new, 2011 model – have carried the 9C1 order code. Here’s a quick look back at Chevys on patrol:

1959 – Chevy Biscayne police model capable of 135 mph with specially tuned, police-only version of the 348-cubic-inch V-8 engine

1965 – The new “big-block” 396 engine is offered in Biscayne and Bel Air police cars, making them among the most powerful on patrol; a 427 V-8 was added in 1966

1976 – The 9C1 order code is given for the first time to a full-size Chevy police car package. It carries the Impala name.

1977 – The full-size Chevy is downsized. The 9C1 police package is retained, as is the Impala name.

1986 – The Caprice name replaces Impala, as the car is updated for the mid- and late-1980s – including the option of a powerful, 5.7-liter small-block V-8.

1991 – A new-generation Caprice is launched, with the 9C1 police car still on the beat.

1994 – The 260-horsepower (194 Nm) LT1 V-8 engine is offered in the Caprice 9C1, making it one of the fastest full-size police cars ever offered.

1996 – Caprice police car production ends, as GM’s full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued.

2011 – The Caprice PPV returns to active duty.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009 9:45:28 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [3]