Need to check out marketplace down here in Alabama there is a Lamborghini replica body complete panels doors exc. cheap for sale. Maybe something he could build while teaching a craft.
@@strangeclouds7 Back in 2016, when Ed started the VinWiki Car Stories channel, it was basically a handful of guys, sitting in a cold warehouse, swapping stories. I think @Dana Ortiz and I subbed around the same time. The OG's we're guys like Doug Tabbutt, Rob Pitts, Casey, Arne Toman, John Ficarra, Dustin Worles, Eric McClellan, and Randy Pobst. The stories were good, the Presenters were fun to listen to, and we felt like we were part of something unique. I can't speak for Dana, but I know what I was doing every weekday at 10am.
Growing up with this project as a normal part of life was a very special experience as there were a number of times that I'd be at the home I grew up in and one or a couple of the four man team were at our dining room table talking with my Dad about the project. The challenge becomes to preserve the accurate history of the project and the automobile itself. For example, the name SJJ-1 was a representation of my Dad's love for his wife and for me, his only child. That is to say, the "S" stands for my Mom's name, Susan and the "JJ" stands for my first and first middle name, "John Joseph." The "1" means that we were the most important thing in his life. My Dad is a patriot, having served in the 82nd Airborne, and a automotive enthusiast who was driven to start Guanci Automobiles, Inc., because of an experience he had with a Lotus Elite that he bought out of Indianapolis. That is, it was exciting and fun to drive but was very unreliable and he had to push it more than he cares to remember upon it just dying on him, usually at an intersection. This experience led him to ask a question, "Why can't Americans build a car like this, only reliable?" Not waiting for the big three to do so, while asking another question, "Why not?" the project was born and the team was assembled. The second generation, which Mr. Putsch currently has, was originally powered by a Corvette L98, which was transversely mounted and the new body style was necessitated by a fire at the fiberglass shop in the Chicagoland area that destroyed all of the tooling. The fellow who did all the bucks, molds and glass work was a fellow by the name of Steve Norcross and when he called my Dad to report the total loss my Dad responded with the only way he knew how, taking what was a set back and going forward with optimism...what he would call "a forward fumble." He called Mike Williams and they started the process of redesigning the bodywork. As a point of clarification, DeTomaso was not a part of this project and was not a consultant in any way. However, in 1979 the Chicago Pantera Club came out to our factory in Woodstock, IL for a tour and a visit. I remember my Dad doing a phone interview with, I think it was AutoWeek, explaining how he was trying to do "the craziest thing imaginable in the sanest possible way." This aptly descirbes this project perfectly as it an intricate story of hopes and aspirations, dreams being dashed and broken by the smallest errors (i.e., a track test put on by Motor Trend at Road Atlanta and it blowing a head gasket because just one of the bolts wasn't torqued to specification). That, from what I recall, was the nail in the box for the project in the early 1980s. More to say, not here. I know we're grateful as a family to have contributed the Guanci SJJ-1 GT to Genius Garage in their bid to impact for the good the lives of young people.
That's an amazing story. The styling of the car is interesting. Is it me or is there some Porsche 928 vibes there. It sounds like you have a load of anecdotes that we would love to hear! After all, your Dad did what most of us only dream about!
Ed you've got to get Mr. Guanci in for an interview about his dad's efforts. Wow the Guanci looks like a mashup of different cars like the Porsche 944, Buick/Olds, DeLorean, and Vector W8. Has the Vector drop down headlights. I'm guessing Casey had to notice the DeLorean like rear lights, which sounds like existed right around the same time as the DeLorean. I can definitely see the Buick/Olds parts on it such as the mirrors, marker lights (same as the Vector), door handles, and rims. Vector borrowed a lot of parts from Buick such as the side marker and rear taillights.
@@CaseyPutsch Great job Casey! I can't believe that almost 7 years have passed since you first sat in the Big Chair and talked about growing up in Ohio, your first experience with your blue Viper, the kid with the 6 wheel Tyrell replica go cart. Now look at you?
Every time Casey is on I always leave feeling empowered. Here's a man who has dedicated his life to bettering the world as best he can. We need more Caseys and less stunting in Ferraris.
Best thing about this channel is hearing real people talk about real car stories. So refreshing to watch these after slogging through most of the other TH-cam car channels
I weirdly recall seeing an article on this car in a R&T single panel story. Hints of Bricklin SV1 with the overall arch design and needle nose. 42+ years later the car looks pleasing in its design. Very interesting story in the long history of start-ups.
Amazing content guys, this is something I honestly had no idea ever existed and it’s stories like this that keep me going down the car hobby rabbit hole
Wow, I can't recall ever hearing about a modern era car that I was unaware of. This was a cool story! I love the styling of this car, inside and out. It reminds me of the 1975 Chevy Monza, which I also was fond of back in the day. Some cool stories lately, Ed!
I agree, they should have produced mid-engine Corvettes back in the day, but kept building the evolving Corvettes and offered the mid-engined ones as a variant. They could have given it an entirely new name and still sold tons of them- while still selling plenty of Vettes, too. If they did, many would be collecting both to this day.
I worked with John Guanci and have photos of the original first car he built on display in Harvard Ill at the Chevy dealer there. We built the first one, before the SSJ , the photos I have say 1976, co-operating with Dick Feldt at Reichert Chevrolet in Crystal Lake IL and Ferris Brothers, Quaid Chevrolet in Harvard Ill. I always wondered what happened with it, as I moved away from the area while the project was going on.
In order to bring manufacturing back to North America we need more kids in schools like this, lots of kids are interested in cars again and want them. Thing is lack of good jobs , designing a washing machine can pay for the car if they had a job. Everyone needs to support local manufactures and bring the jobs back. Congratulation's on 10 years of making lives better Casey in this school.
@@Shorty15c4007 I agree. The 928 similarity can be seen in a car designed in the 1970's. I wonder how much interaction the Porche design team had with the designers of this car. Maybe they saw it at a show? Pretty impressive vision for the Gaunci crew!
It looks like someone tried to make an american version of that prototype mercedes that hoovie was in in the last episode of car trek, that orange and black thing that was the prototype beater that nearly made production
Cool story, and great project. As an aside, I keep looking at Casey and thinking he has to be Hoovie's cool, calm and collected older brother. I think there is a very strong resemblance, go ahead, call me crazy.
You should fully restore this car and then reach out to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. I bet people would like to learn about the car and will probably increase the quirky cars market value.
pretty much looks like "What if Porsche was an American owned company?" From an alternative universe where Porsche was bought out by GM back in the 1970s.
I was a bit confused when he said it had an Olds V8 in it. At first I was thinking it might have been a Rocket 350, or an (uggh) 307. But the Guanci has Olds Aurora wheels. Is the engine the odd-ball 4 L Northstar?
The more I see those Oldsmobile wheels on that car, the more I think they work 🧐 The offset could be a bit better, pushed out a bit more, especially in the rear. Super interesting car and story.
Casey is criminally not well known. Some of his projects are amazing. What he is doing with the kids is a real credit to him. His one off fuel economy/aero car is brilliant imo too.
It's very possible I've heard of this car before, but it's equally as possible I read about it and dismissed it as some concept car from China or Hong Kong because of it's name.
@Casey I just saw the article on Fox about your Batmobile going to Barrett Jackson in January...Of course it would be there the one year in the last 15 I won't be able to make it.
I’m not trying to be insulting at all, but if this car began with a Buick V6, why V8 swap it? Wouldn’t it make more sense to the authenticity of the car to use the turbo V6 from a Grand National? If I’m wrong, I’d be interested to hear other insights.
Gloss-It's best DIY Ceramic Coating offer EVER is back for a limited time! vinwiki.com/r/glossit21
Mmmmk mmmmk
Need to check out marketplace down here in Alabama there is a Lamborghini replica body complete panels doors exc. cheap for sale. Maybe something he could build while teaching a craft.
Dude these last couple days have just been amazing. It’s starting to feel like old school vinwiki again. Thank god!
That’s nice to hear. I think there is a lot of good VINwiki stories in the pipeline you’ll like too.
What is old school vin wiki?
@@strangeclouds7 Back in 2016, when Ed started the VinWiki Car Stories channel, it was basically a handful of guys, sitting in a cold warehouse, swapping stories. I think @Dana Ortiz and I subbed around the same time. The OG's we're guys like Doug Tabbutt, Rob Pitts, Casey, Arne Toman, John Ficarra, Dustin Worles, Eric McClellan, and Randy Pobst. The stories were good, the Presenters were fun to listen to, and we felt like we were part of something unique. I can't speak for Dana, but I know what I was doing every weekday at 10am.
@@theanomalous1401 Yeah Ive been subbed since they had about 50k subs... Just wanted to hear from that person's point of view why it's different now.
Agreed. We need more stories from Rabbit & Chris
Growing up with this project as a normal part of life was a very special experience as there were a number of times that I'd be at the home I grew up in and one or a couple of the four man team were at our dining room table talking with my Dad about the project.
The challenge becomes to preserve the accurate history of the project and the automobile itself. For example, the name SJJ-1 was a representation of my Dad's love for his wife and for me, his only child. That is to say, the "S" stands for my Mom's name, Susan and the "JJ" stands for my first and first middle name, "John Joseph." The "1" means that we were the most important thing in his life.
My Dad is a patriot, having served in the 82nd Airborne, and a automotive enthusiast who was driven to start Guanci Automobiles, Inc., because of an experience he had with a Lotus Elite that he bought out of Indianapolis. That is, it was exciting and fun to drive but was very unreliable and he had to push it more than he cares to remember upon it just dying on him, usually at an intersection. This experience led him to ask a question, "Why can't Americans build a car like this, only reliable?" Not waiting for the big three to do so, while asking another question, "Why not?" the project was born and the team was assembled.
The second generation, which Mr. Putsch currently has, was originally powered by a Corvette L98, which was transversely mounted and the new body style was necessitated by a fire at the fiberglass shop in the Chicagoland area that destroyed all of the tooling. The fellow who did all the bucks, molds and glass work was a fellow by the name of Steve Norcross and when he called my Dad to report the total loss my Dad responded with the only way he knew how, taking what was a set back and going forward with optimism...what he would call "a forward fumble." He called Mike Williams and they started the process of redesigning the bodywork.
As a point of clarification, DeTomaso was not a part of this project and was not a consultant in any way. However, in 1979 the Chicago Pantera Club came out to our factory in Woodstock, IL for a tour and a visit.
I remember my Dad doing a phone interview with, I think it was AutoWeek, explaining how he was trying to do "the craziest thing imaginable in the sanest possible way." This aptly descirbes this project perfectly as it an intricate story of hopes and aspirations, dreams being dashed and broken by the smallest errors (i.e., a track test put on by Motor Trend at Road Atlanta and it blowing a head gasket because just one of the bolts wasn't torqued to specification). That, from what I recall, was the nail in the box for the project in the early 1980s.
More to say, not here. I know we're grateful as a family to have contributed the Guanci SJJ-1 GT to Genius Garage in their bid to impact for the good the lives of young people.
That’s a really cool story. Thank you for sharing this, and the car, for all to enjoy.
Would love to hear your story here !!
Wow! What an amazing story. Please come and share more of your story with us?
That's an amazing story. The styling of the car is interesting. Is it me or is there some Porsche 928 vibes there. It sounds like you have a load of anecdotes that we would love to hear! After all, your Dad did what most of us only dream about!
Please write the book . . . Or is it written?
Those Oldsmobile Alero wheels look pretty good on it.
I believe they are from a Aurora.
Ed you've got to get Mr. Guanci in for an interview about his dad's efforts.
Wow the Guanci looks like a mashup of different cars like the Porsche 944, Buick/Olds, DeLorean, and Vector W8. Has the Vector drop down headlights. I'm guessing Casey had to notice the DeLorean like rear lights, which sounds like existed right around the same time as the DeLorean. I can definitely see the Buick/Olds parts on it such as the mirrors, marker lights (same as the Vector), door handles, and rims. Vector borrowed a lot of parts from Buick such as the side marker and rear taillights.
Agreed!!! 1980 Sunbird Hatchback
First I've ever heard of the Guanci as well. Def some cool history there.
“In the 90’s it was updated with an Oldsmobile powertrain” thank you for sharing, I was wondering what the aurora wheels were doing on the car
Congrats Casey on 10 years with Genius Garage. Enjoy your stories each time. You are paying forward to these young students.
Thank you kindly! It is hard work, but your words do mean a lot. Thank you.
@@CaseyPutsch Great job Casey! I can't believe that almost 7 years have passed since you first sat in the Big Chair and talked about growing up in Ohio, your first experience with your blue Viper, the kid with the 6 wheel Tyrell replica go cart. Now look at you?
So glad you posted a short on this; I completely missed this video, somehow!
I rode in a Vector at the Blinder Robinson convention in Las Vegas in 1988! Not many people even know of the cars!
Blind 'em and Rob 'em!!! Meyer was a hell of a guy! I myself was A Stuart-James alumni.
Vectors were a alien spaceship back then. Way cool.
This has to be one of the most amazing clips!! Genius Garage is doing such amazing work with incredible honesty and passion! Great programme!!!
Thank you for the kind words
Every time Casey is on I always leave feeling empowered. Here's a man who has dedicated his life to bettering the world as best he can. We need more Caseys and less stunting in Ferraris.
It means a lot to hear that
Best thing about this channel is hearing real people talk about real car stories. So refreshing to watch these after slogging through most of the other TH-cam car channels
great history lesson CP! had no idea, now I do! still learn’in at 55. cant know it all… thanks Ed for doing these. nooice!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I weirdly recall seeing an article on this car in a R&T single panel story. Hints of Bricklin SV1 with the overall arch design and needle nose. 42+ years later the car looks pleasing in its design. Very interesting story in the long history of start-ups.
Amazing content guys, this is something I honestly had no idea ever existed and it’s stories like this that keep me going down the car hobby rabbit hole
Wow, I can't recall ever hearing about a modern era car that I was unaware of. This was a cool story! I love the styling of this car, inside and out. It reminds me of the 1975 Chevy Monza, which I also was fond of back in the day. Some cool stories lately, Ed!
Oh man, you're right!
Doesn't look at all like a monza
The doors
Reminds me of a early Porsche 928.
I def like when casy talks about, genius garage projects. U can tell he is passionate about teaching/learning with his students.
That's a very good looking interior, extremely high degree of finishing consider it's only car #3.
Outstanding education, I can't wait to hear about it. Keep it up genius garage and Casey
Thank you kindly
I wish Casey was my dad or brother. Such a cool guy
This is a really great story, and I have never heard of this car. I do know that it is in good hands now. Casey and genius garage are top tier.
A great story! I, too, have never heard about that car. I thought it looked amazing. Love to see the specs on it.
Awesome content Ed!
I agree, they should have produced mid-engine Corvettes back in the day, but kept building the evolving Corvettes and offered the mid-engined ones as a variant.
They could have given it an entirely new name and still sold tons of them- while still selling plenty of Vettes, too.
If they did, many would be collecting both to this day.
What a great story. Wholesome! I hope someday you can have it on display
I love the Oldsmobile wheels😂
I was thinking of the same thing lol
First thing I noticed. Good to know I’m not crazy
Found this video after seeing the short 1 month late lol saw the short and had to hunt the full upload glad I found it gotta love VINwiki
Never forget this dude cried when Rob Pitts tried to race him
Has some 928, Renault Alpine and Talbot-Matra MURENA design details.
Reminds me a lot of the AMX3. Killer!
That was A LOT of money back then - I bought a 1974 (Pinto Pony) Mustang for $3000 and in 1980 a Nissan 280Z for $5000.
it looks like if a 928 Porsche and a DeLorean had a baby , this would be the outcome lol .
8:38 I think you need a winch for the dead cars 😅❤❤❤❤
Pretty sure those rear lights are from a pre facelift e30
It's like an 80's 300ZX and a DeLorean made a baby!
Lol! I just posted that. It looks like a Bricklin, DeLorean and Ferrari influenced it as well.
Rad story.
Good luck
and thanks to the family, for sharing with you and the world (or at least vinwiki watchers).
Sooo Cool! I was unaware of that manufacturer. Built when I was built ‘77 good year!
Casey, you need to take this to Pebble Beach! One of three is incredible. GL and looking forward to the updates.
Maybe! Would be cool to let the students do that.
I worked with John Guanci and have photos of the original first car he built on display in Harvard Ill at the Chevy dealer there. We built the first one, before the SSJ , the photos I have say 1976, co-operating with Dick Feldt at Reichert Chevrolet in Crystal Lake IL and Ferris Brothers, Quaid Chevrolet in Harvard Ill. I always wondered what happened with it, as I moved away from the area while the project was going on.
In order to bring manufacturing back to North America we need more kids in schools like this, lots of kids are interested in cars again and want them. Thing is lack of good jobs , designing a washing machine can pay for the car if they had a job.
Everyone needs to support local manufactures and bring the jobs back.
Congratulation's on 10 years of making lives better Casey in this school.
Bob McKee made the cheetah!
Such a great car, the Cheetah. It was my first Matchbox car as a kid.
Casey is my favorite guest
I’d love to see a promo race with the equally rare AMX III once they’re both road ready!
Reminds me of the Tucker company. Nearly identical minus production numbers. Great story!
Well,you've announced it now Casey!
Casey and the work he does is AMAZING....👍
I have heard of this car before. Looks a lot like one of the mid engined Corvette concepts from the time. Excited to follow the progress on this one!
Thank you for this one. A favorite video now. Never knew. I'm fascinated
Better get a winch into that trailer.. end the loading frustrations.
The Oldsmobile Aurora Rims makes me now miss that car and company. ..
300ZX meets Bricklin meets 928, with maybe a hint of DeLorean... ummm, interesting styling! Cool tale though!
It really beautiful I love that car ...first I'm seeing it
Fun fact, those are Oldsmobile Aurora Wheels that it's on!
Great channel, great hosts, great cars, great videos! Thank you guys and keep up the good work!!! :0)
Really neat car, the shape kinda reminds me of a Maserati Merak
The Guanci looks great for a 1970's child. It reminds me of a 1990's Nissan 300Z, A DeLorean, A tad of Bricklin and a hint of Ferrari.
Reminds me of a 928, which is incredible considering thats a 90s Porsche
@@Shorty15c4007 I agree. The 928 similarity can be seen in a car designed in the 1970's. I wonder how much interaction the Porche design team had with the designers of this car. Maybe they saw it at a show? Pretty impressive vision for the Gaunci crew!
It looks like someone tried to make an american version of that prototype mercedes that hoovie was in in the last episode of car trek, that orange and black thing that was the prototype beater that nearly made production
Cool story, and great project. As an aside, I keep looking at Casey and thinking he has to be Hoovie's cool, calm and collected older brother. I think there is a very strong resemblance, go ahead, call me crazy.
First time I’ve seen one of these where I legit haven’t heard of it!
You should fully restore this car and then reach out to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. I bet people would like to learn about the car and will probably increase the quirky cars market value.
pretty much looks like "What if Porsche was an American owned company?"
From an alternative universe where Porsche was bought out by GM back in the 1970s.
Here before Rabbit poop is on the garage floor... lol 🤣👍
Man that thing has De Tomaso written all over it. At some angles, one could be forgiven for thinking it was a Pantera.
That car would look great with Porsche "phone dials".
Thank you guys for a great story.
Thanks, Casey!!!
Beautiful car! I can see all the design elements from all the VIPs mentioned in the story. Very Italian! I see Giorgetto and Pinifarina,… Pantera; M1
Looks like a 926
With gt side scoops and late spec corvette headlights
FYI: Guanci (Guanches): Indigenous people of the Canary Islands. (And great work, again, Casey!)
4:55 - That’s why it has Alero wheels.
Has it been 10 years, congrats in order sir.
I was a bit confused when he said it had an Olds V8 in it. At first I was thinking it might have been a Rocket 350, or an (uggh) 307.
But the Guanci has Olds Aurora wheels.
Is the engine the odd-ball 4 L Northstar?
The more I see those Oldsmobile wheels on that car, the more I think they work 🧐
The offset could be a bit better, pushed out a bit more, especially in the rear.
Super interesting car and story.
Ya, front wheel drive offset
nice find ! hoping to see videos about it!
Those tail lights aren't prototypes, they're from a DeLorean. The rest is from an Aurora.
Casey is criminally not well known. Some of his projects are amazing.
What he is doing with the kids is a real credit to him.
His one off fuel economy/aero car is brilliant imo too.
Hot Wheels or Matchbox should make this thing.
A link to this guy's channel would be smart & very helpful. I had to hunt for a few mins to find it.
Definitely a snap shot of the time it was "birthed". What suspension design does it carry - double a-arms?
looks like a cross between a Nissan 300ZX and a Porsche 968 with tail lights from a Ford Escort
I never knew about this car until now what a pretty car
It's very possible I've heard of this car before, but it's equally as possible I read about it and dismissed it as some concept car from China or Hong Kong because of it's name.
Reminds me of a full size Pontiac Fiero
Seems like a concept for a future pontiac fiero with the mid engine and rear glass to nowhere haha
He needs to put a winch in his trailer
@Casey I just saw the article on Fox about your Batmobile going to Barrett Jackson in January...Of course it would be there the one year in the last 15 I won't be able to make it.
Jack Baruth tore this guy apart
It's not a true SSJ until it's yellow. We will see who gets that reference 😂
The amount of times casey says mid engine would kill you if you were taking shots every time he did.
Jeebuz buddy, lol.
Great interview. Casey's a totally hard working engineer, like his ethos. Some points were really dodgy quality
All that money that’s been donated to your genius garage and you don’t have a winch in your car trailer
Wonder what trans it has? There is not that many mid engine trans for v8 back then.
That’s wild very cool
Those are Oldsmobile Aurora wheels.
I’m not trying to be insulting at all, but if this car began with a Buick V6, why V8 swap it? Wouldn’t it make more sense to the authenticity of the car to use the turbo V6 from a Grand National? If I’m wrong, I’d be interested to hear other insights.
I never get notifications when new videos come out
Casey not sure if you read these but my GG t shirt is trashed and I cant see where to buy another. Do you still offer merch?
For sure man. You can find them through my channel or searching on Redbubble
looks like a Saturn
Look into the aroevette. And its predecessor with a rotor engine.