Georgia Boy's Old Car Museum

1931 SS Jaguar

2011-10-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

This fantastic first edition of the famous Jaguar began as the optimistic dream of a young 20 year old entrepreneur named William Lyons that had started building side cars for motorcycles that he named as the Swallow sidecars. When he was able to enlarge his business and start making full size cars this was his first production model. With his keen eye for design and beauty and untiring energy he designed and built this car that immediately sold out the orders that were delivered and created a huge backlog of orders waiting to be filled. At that time Lyons just had himself and one partner helping him to build these cars and production was very slow.

Alfa Romeo early 1930's

2011-10-17T18:39:00.004-04:00

The Alfa Romeo was Italy's crowning triump in international racing. Designed and built by many of the world's most brilliant engineers and craftsmen such as Tazio Nuvolari,Achille Varzi, Antonio Ascari and many more the Alfa dominated the races with over 560 wins from 1894 though 1949. If you want to know more about this fine car just contact me. I have a good write up on it. Henry Ford has been quoted as saying, "I tip my hat when I see an Alfa Romero passing by".

1935 Duesenberg

2010-04-16T17:32:00.000-04:00

!935 Duesenberg, 1936 Ford, 1940 Ford, click on picture to enlarge it.

These pictures are from the Danbury Mint collection of classic cars. The individual replicas can be purchased directly from them. I have bought one of the replicas that is an exact copy of a 1955 Ford car that I own. It is almost as though they used my car as the model for their replica. I have asked for their written permission to use these pictures here on this blog so I don't feel like I am infringing their patent rights. Many of the old car pictures used here will be from their sales catalogs.

1941 Cadillac

2010-04-15T19:16:00.002-04:00

Hi friends, after not doing anything with this blog for several months now I want to get back to working with it again. This is the first input to it but I will have many more coming. I have hundreds or maybe even thousands of old car pictures to share with you. I do hope that some of you enjoy these old car pictures and stories and even send me some of your pictures and write-ups to post here.

Jensen Interceptor and others

2009-08-29T16:06:00.004-04:00

Jensen Intercepter and others, click picture to enlarge. The names of the cars are: top--Jensen Interceptor, center left--1940 Packard Convertible, center right--1931 Pierce Arrow Phaeton, bottom--Buick Wildcat III Convertible.

I have put the names of the cars on the blog because they are still hard to read even in the enlarged image. I think that this is the last page of multiple cars and we should be getting into the single cars per page for a while. As I look at these multiple cars I see a few that I would like to know more about myself. I may take time to look them up and see what I can learn about them and maybe do another blog post to let you know what I found. In the meantime send me your comments about these old cars and I will post them or reply to them, whatever is needed. If you have an old car that you would like to see here just email me a picture and a story about it and I will put it out on the blog.

1929 Belgian Minerva And Others

2009-08-27T17:58:00.004-04:00

1929 Belgian Minerva And Others, click picture to enlarge. The names of these cars are: top--1929 Belgian Minerva, center top--Ford Thunderbird, center left--1949 Talbot, center right--1929 Model p1 Rolls Royce, bottom--2.9 liter Alfa Romeo.

I went ahead added the names of these cars because I can see the names better in the book than I can on the computer so I thought it would help everyone else too if I just put them on the blog. There is one more page of multiple cars and then we get into the individual cars from the years between WWI and WWII. Like I said in the last blog these may not be interesting to some of the younger people but just hold on for another few days and we will get into some newer more interesting cars.In the meantimes just think how far the automobile has come in the last century. Read and enjoy.

Jaguar and ohers

2009-08-25T14:23:00.004-04:00

Jaguar and ohers, click picture to enlarge. You will probably need a magnifying glass to read the names of the cars.

These are more cars from the album given to me as a birthday gift. There is one or two more pages with multiple cars and then after that most of the rest will be individual cars. The next section will be about classic and sports cars from the era between WWI and WWII. These may not interest the younger people much but stick with me and we should get on into some of the more interesting cars shortly. The Jaguar at the top of this picture looks like it was split between the pages but it is sitting at a sharp angle to the camera and only gives that impression. It is all in the picture in the album but even there you can't see the back half of the car that good.

What did you think about the Blue Goose 1946 Hudson pickup truck in a recent Post? That was sent to me by one of the readers of this blog and I enjoyed reading about it and posting it to the blog. If you will send me some pictures of your old cars and a write up about it I will post it here and we will tell everybody about it. No, I can't pay for them because I don't make any money with this old blog. It is just something I do because I enjoy it and some people have said they enjoy reading it. Don't think, even for a minute, that you can sit down and read through this whole thing in just a few minutes. There are now well over eighty cars and stories so it will take several days to look at all of them. But go ahead do it anyway. Just rear back and kick off your shoes and enjoy some "Quality Time" on Memory Lane. It's just goood for the soul and the whole body to sit back and relax for an hour or two.

1946 Hudson pickup truck

2009-08-24T11:57:00.013-04:00

1946 Hudson pickup truck, click picture to enlarge.

Hi friends, this is truly a rare one and I am grateful to the owner of this truck for allowing me to use it on this blog. This picture is at:

http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_community&view=photos&task=photo&albumid=61&Itemid=5#photoid=594

I found this picture and information about this Hudson pickup truck while I was looking at classiccar.com and I emailed the owner for permission to use it here and he gave his permission and I was glad he did. To be truthful to you, I just flat out did not know that the Hudson company ever made pickup trucks so this was a big surprise to me. Here are a couple of pictures from an article that was in This Old Truck magazine in 1999. The rest of the article, as Paul Harvey used to say, "The Rest Of The Story", is at the link given above. All that I have for the name of the owner is just Rick C.

Now read and enjoy these old car stories and pictures and tell all of your friends about this blog: georgiaboysoldcarmuseum.blogspot.com

1934 Packard Twelve And Others

2009-08-23T17:50:00.004-04:00

1934 Packard Twelve And Others,click picture to enlarge.

This post may start a long line of new posts that will come from an album of classic and sports cars of the past that was given to me as a birthday gift for my 75th birthday. I made a comment that I really did appreciate the album because it looks like it may have cost a lot of money, maybe forty or fifty dollars. It does look like it might cost that much or more since it is a specialty market product. Then the person that gave it to me spoiled it all and said, no they picked it up at a Goodwill store for a dollar because they knew that I would enjoy it. Oh well, it is the thought behind the gift and not the real value that matters anyway. I hope everyone enjoys these special pictures. Remember that you can click the picture to enlarge it to where you can read the names of the cars.

1948 Chevrolet Convertible, 75th birthday

2009-08-22T19:13:00.004-04:00

1948 Chevrolet Convertible, 75th birthday, click picture to enlarge.

The wife and I went down to Brunswick, Georgia today to a birthday party. We have five birthdays in the immediate family in August so we usually try to get together for some kind of a birthday gathering. Four of us were there today but one grandson is in Okinawa now with the Marines so he could not be there.

When we walked in the house our oldest granddaughter took me by the hand and wanted to show me this picture that her and her brother had fixed up for me and I said to myself that I would put it on the blog as quick as we got back home so here it is.

I already have another 1948 Chevrolet on the blog in an earlier post so you may want to go back to that one for more of the writeup on the car.

Anybody's Guess

2009-08-20T15:45:00.004-04:00

Anybody's Guess, click picture to enlarge.

This is the last of the special group of custom cars and wouldn't you guess that it was not labeled for us to tell what kind of cars these are. Since that looks like the Eiffel Tower in the background I am guessing that these are European customs that may have been at a cruise-in in Paris and somebody just took this picture and it wound up in this collection of custom car pictures. The car in front kind of resembles a 1932 or 33 Ford but there is just not enough in the picture to identify it for sure. There are no names or hood ornaments or distinguishing features to help us out. The wheels do have names on them but they appear to be special alloy designer type wheels so that is no help. Maybe some of you can be more positive about identifying these cars but for now they are just anybody's guess.

1950 Buick Special Custom

2009-08-19T17:00:00.005-04:00

1950 Buick Special Custom, click picture to enlarge.

Hey people, I want to tell you something about this picture that comes from knowing more about this car than the publisher of the picture did. The publisher called this a Buick Roadmaster but I know that it is a Buick Special. Now how do I know more about it than the publisher does? that's simple to answer. First of all I was there when these cars were made and I know the difference between them. You see, the Buick Special had the three port holes in the hood but the Buick Roadmaster had four port holes in the hood. There were many other differences between the Special and the Roadmaster too. My sister learned to drive on a 1949 Buick Special. The Special was much smaller than the Roadmaster and handled much better in cornering, turning and braking. The Roadmaster was more costly and more luxuriously equipped. In those days, 1940's and 50's, moonshining was very common and the big Roadmaster was a favorite with the moonshiners because you could take the back seat out and carry about thirty five five gallon jugs of moonshine in the trunk and back seat area.

1954 Ingels Kraft Custom Roadster

2009-08-18T09:43:00.005-04:00

1954 Ingels Kraft Custom Roadster, click picture to enlarge.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1932 Ford Custom Sedan

2009-08-17T13:34:00.004-04:00

1932 Ford Custom Sedan, click picture to enlarge.

1957 Ford Custom Thunderbird

2009-08-16T18:51:00.003-04:00

1957 Ford Custom Thunderbird, click picture to enlarge.

This car reminds me of a prototype car designed and built by some electrical engineers that was called The Golden Sahara that I saw on display at Hub Ford in Atlanta in the early to mid 1950's. The Golden Sahara could be driven and contolled by the owner's voice commands. The owner's voice was programed into he car so that it could recognize the owner's voice and distinguish it from anyone else's voice. That car was really an engineering masterpiece when it came out. The demonstrator said that Elvis Presley and Liberace both had tested and driven the Sahara for a while. If anybody else out there has ever seen the Golden Sahara write me by email or the contact me button and let me know. I will pass it on and let the rest of us know about it too.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1934 Ford Panel Delivery

2009-08-15T16:06:00.007-04:00

1934 Ford Panel Delivery, click picture to enlarge and get a good look at that motor!!! Yes, I did ride in a 34 Ford a good bit when I was young but it wasn't like THIS one; Whew, I might not have lived very long if I had one like this one.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1923 Ford T-Track Roadster

2009-08-14T09:57:00.004-04:00

1923 Ford T-Track Roadster, click picture to enlarge.

1948 Thames Delivery Van

2009-08-13T13:47:00.004-04:00

1948 Thames Delivery Van, click picture to enlarge.

I did a little research on this one because I did not know anything about it. It seems that the Thames was a Ford product, maybe from the Ford Farm Tractor division.

1949 Ford Custom Coupe

2009-08-12T11:40:00.004-04:00

1949 Ford Custom Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

In 1950 a friend of mine and I were going to West Palm Beach from Belle Glade, Florida riding in a 1929 Model A Ford that we had cut down and made into a flat bed pickup truck to use as a work truck. We had just passed the Six Mile Bend and were headed towards the Twenty Mile Bend. The West Palm Beach Canal was on our right side next to the road. At that time a carload of girls that we knew came up along side of us in a new 1950 Ford two-tone maroon and black two door coupe. They were all sticking their heads and arms and feet and legs out the windows and laughing and calling to us. That lasted for a couple of minutes and then they took off and went on to where they were going.

That episode made me think how really poor we were back then as me and my friend were riding in an old beat up car-truck while the girls were in a brand new Ford that we couldn't even begin to think about owning at that time. I also knew that some of those girls had VERY RICH parents. Ah well,,,such is life some times.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1932 Ford Custom Roadster

2009-08-11T09:41:00.004-04:00

1932 Ford Custom Roadster, click picture to enlarge.

This thing does NOT look like the 1932 Ford Murray Coupe that I used to ride in a whole lot when I was a teenager. The Murray Ford bodies were designed by a man named Murray and were a little flashier or classier than the other Fords of that time era. For instance, in the Murray Coupe that we had there were little porthole windows in the rear quarter panels similar to the ones in the 1956 Ford Thunderbirds later on.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1937 Ford Custom Woodie Wagon

2009-08-10T12:41:00.002-04:00

1937 Ford Custom Woodie Wagon, click picture to enlarge.

1933Willis Custom Coupe

2009-08-09T19:01:00.003-04:00

1933 Willis Custom Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1941 Chevrolet Coupe Custom

2009-08-08T09:13:00.005-04:00

1941 Chevrolet Coupe Custom, click picture to enlarge.

For the next several posts I will be using pictures of customized cars. Since custom cars can have any variation of parts and specs there is not much point in researching the specific model for information so I suppose the best thing to do is just to give them to you and let your fantasy run wild about how they were customized. So just rear back for a while and enjoy theses old car pics.

1958 Ford Edsel

2009-08-07T13:14:00.002-04:00

1958 Ford Edsel, click picture to enlarge.

When the 1958 Edsel came out I was working for Cummins Business Machines in Atlanta. My service manager bought an Edsel that was the pride of his dreams. The car was beautiful and had all the luxury features you could imagine. I was happy that he could afford such a car. But, as most of us know, that happiness would be shortlived as the Edsel cars did not sell and production stopped after three years. The following information was excerped from a much larger article found on the web. Read and enjoy these old car stories.

1958 EDSELS
Back in 1956, Ford Motor Company realized that there was a void in their selections of mid-size automobiles. While Chevrolet owners could "move up" to a Buick, Pontiac or Oldsmobile (and Dodge owners could advance to a Plymouth or Chrysler), Ford buyers were looking at Mercury alone. The perception was that Ford was losing customers to other manufacturers when the time came to trade-up.
In order to correct the problem, Ford instituted plans for an entirely new car division, and an entirely new car. The design of the car was to be completely unique - distinguishable from any angle. And the promotional build-up of the car would be like nothing else.
The 1958 Edsel came in two sizes - big and bigger! The "Senior" Series cars are Citation and Corsair models. They were built on the large Mercury-based frame. The "Junior" series cars are Rangers, Pacers and station wagons Bermuda, Villager and Roundup, which were built on the smaller Ford-based frame.
One of the most talked about feature was the "Teletouch" shifter, which controlled the automatic transmission selection electronically from push buttons in the center of the steering wheel hub. (A series of planetary gears in the column keeps the buttons stationary as the wheel turns.) Many other Edsel-original ideas are still found on today's cars.
The car was referred to as the "E" car (for Experimental) from its inception. The name "Edsel" was bestowed by Special Products Division General Manager Richard Krafve, after reviewing a list of nearly 8,000 suggestions from their advertising firm, Ford employees and renowned poet Marianne Moore who was solicited for ideas. (See the Edsel Ford page for more about the man for whom the car was named.)
After a massive promotional campaign, which included multi-page "teaser" ads in major national magazines, some 2.5 million Americans poured into Edsel dealerships on "E-Day", September 4, 1957. But it was quickly apparent that few cars were actually being sold. The public expectation was much higher than the car could live up to, and sales reflected the disappointment.
There was a combination of other factors that led to the name "Edsel" becoming synonymous with "failure" - By the time the first Edsel hit the showroom, the country was in a recession. (For comparison, 1958 DeSoto sales were down 54% from 1957. Buick was down 33%, Mercury 48%, Oldsmobile 18%, Dodge 47%, Pontiac 28%.. probably the worst year since World War II to unveil a new car line!) Car-buying habits had turned toward smaller and more fuel efficient cars. Edsel's styling was radical, and not to everyone's liking. On the assembly line, Edsel was run between Fords or Mercury's, causing the assembler to have to interrupt his routine and sometimes forget to install some parts. The Edsel also suffered from parts that wouldn't fit together correctly. Because of problems with suppliers, many of the early cars arrived at the dealerships with parts missing. Many dealers were poorly equipped to replace the parts or add on accessories. Ford Vice President Robert McNamara offered little support to the Edsel Division. The Edsel was more expensive than other comparable cars, and the price of the loaded, top-of-the-line models that were first on the showroom floor scared many buyers. There was no owner loyalty to count on. And, finally, it had a funny name.

1948 Tucker

2009-08-07T08:50:00.002-04:00

1948 Tucker Automobile, click picture to enlarge.

When I started this post about the Tucker I had an idea that I had seen one of these cars when I was young but I guess that I was wrong because as this article points out there was only 51 of them built and I probably did not see one of them. In 1948 I was a teenager and so cars were on my mind a good bit then. The following information is excerpted from a much larger historical article from the web.

The Tucker '48 automobile, brainchild of Preston Thomas Tucker and designed by renowned stylist Alex Tremulis, represents one of the last attempts by an independent car maker to break into the high-volume car business. Ultimately, the big three would continue to dominate for the next forty years. Preston Tucker was one of the most recognized figures of the late 1940s, as controversial and enigmatic as his namesake automobile. His car was hailed as "the first completely new car in fifty years. " Indeed, the advertising promised that it was "the car you have been waiting for." Yet many less complimentary critics saw the car as a fraud and a pipe dream. The Tucker's many innovations were and continue to be surrounded by controversy. Failing before it had a chance to succeed, it died amid bad press and financial scandal after only fifty-one units were assembled.
Much of the appeal of the Tucker automobile was the man behind it. Six feet tall and always well-dressed, Preston Tucker had an almost manic enthusiasm for the automobile. Born September 21, 1903 in Capac, Michigan, Preston Thomas Tucker spent his childhood around mechanics' garages and used car lots. He worked as an office boy at Cadillac, a policeman in Lincoln Park, and even worked for a time at Ford Motor Company. After attending Cass Technical School in Detroit, Tucker turned to salesmanship, first for Studebaker, then Stutz, Chrysler, and finally as regional manager for Pierce-Arrow.
As a salesman, Tucker crossed paths at the Indianapolis speedway with the great engine designer Harry A. Miller, and in 1935 they formed Miller-Tucker, Inc. Their first contract was to build race cars for Henry Ford. The company delivered ten Miller-Ford Indy race cars, but they proved inadequate for Ford and he pulled out of the project.
During World War II, automobile companies' operations were dedicated to the war effort. Denied new car models for four years, by the war's end Americans were anxious for a new automobile, any new automobile. The time was right for Tucker to begin his dream. In 1946, he formed Tucker Corporation for the manufacture of automobiles.

The Tucker '48 premiered June 19, 1947 in the Tucker plant before the press, dealers, distributors and brokers. Tucker later discarded many of the Tin Goose features, such as 24-volt electrical system starters to turn over the massive 589-cubic-inch engine. For the premier, workers substituted two 12-volt truck batteries weighing over 150 pounds that caused the Tucker's suspension arms to snap. Speeches dragged on as workers behind the curtain tried feverishly to get the Tin Goose up and running. Finally, before the crowd of 5000, the curtains parted and the Tucker automobile rolled down the ramp from the stage and to its viewing area where it remained for the rest of the evening. Stock finally cleared for sale on July 15.

1947 Ford Sportsman coupe

2009-08-05T10:42:00.003-04:00

1947 Ford Sportsman coupe, click picture to enlarge.

My first car was a 1940 Ford sedan that I bought for $100 sometime around 1947 or 48. It was a big black 4 door sedan that didn't look near as good as this car does but I was still proud of it. But I was interested in a girl that I was crazy about at that time. The trouble was that there was another guy interested in the same girl and he had a 1947 Ford business coupe that did look as good as this Sportsman coupe does. Now here is the $64,000 question: Who do you think the girl went with? Yeah, you got it right. You did say she went with the guy with the shiny NEW Ford didn;t you? I thought you did. Well, as it turned out neither one of us got the girl. Such is life sometimes.

The following info came off the web and I don't remember which site but you can find it by searching for 1947 Fords. Have a great day and enjoy a good trip on Memory Lane with these old car pictures and stories.

1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible [CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS]
Model 79A. 100 bhp, 239.4 cu. in. L-head V8 engine, three-speed manual transmission with Columbia overdrive, solid front axle and live rear axle with transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 114"
The 1946 model year closed its 18-month run that December. From January 1947, all cars were designated ’47s, Model 79A, and were given serial numbers accordingly. There was, however, no change in the cars’ appearance.
In April, Ford rolled out new “spring models.” Keeping the same 79A model nomenclature, they had new round parking lamps below the headlights and a new hood medallion. The hub cap design, too, was changed, as were the bumper guards. Gone were the red accents, perhaps missed the most. In typical pragmatic Ford fashion, the changes were introduced incrementally on the assembly line, as parts became available, so there was no specific date or serial number on which the “spring models” began.
Early experience with the Sportsman had shown that the crosspiece on the trunk lid, mounted high, where the lid was almost horizontal, collected water, to its detriment. For 1947 the crosspiece was lowered somewhat and beveled on its upper edge, to better shed moisture. The exact phase-in of this change is not recorded, and in any case some early cars were modified to make them more weather resistant.
This “Spring 1947” Sportsman, built in May that year, has been nicely restored in Monsoon Maroon. The paint shows no surface flaws and exhibits a deep shine, while the body contours are excellent. Even rarer than an original wood station wagon is a Sportsman with an original wood body. This ‘62 year old maple body shines through 10 coats of spar varnish – proof of a lifetime of meticulous care. The doors shut well, the black canvas top is new and excellent. The running board rubber is new, and all the brightwork is excellent. In fact, the glass, all original script panes, shows only minimal separation.
The seats are newly upholstered in red leather, with the rear seat area having a tan carpet floor mat; the front has black rubber mats with carpeted inserts. All look new. The dashboard has nicely restored maple woodgrain and the instruments and steering wheel are restored as well. The top is lined with tan canvas; the correct glass rear window can be unsnapped and lowered for better ventilation. Other features include a radio and working electric clock.
The luggage compartment is well detailed with correct gray cardboard liner and black rubber floor mat. A top boot is located in the trunk, stored in a matching canvas bag. The compartment lid works well and the folding supports are properly adjusted and easily hold it open.
The engine compartment and 59AB engine are clean and appropriately detained, without being overdone. The chassis and underbody are painted gloss black, and are clean and well detailed. B.F. Goodrich 6.50-16 tires were fitted in 2004 and there is a matching spare in the trunk.
Previously owned by Claude Taylor of Asheville, North Carolina, the car received AACA awards at the Southeastern Division National Meet in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1980. Since joining the Nick Alexander collection in February 2004, it has received a Dearborn Award from the Early Ford V8 Club, judged at 988 points that year at Hood River, Oregon.
It runs and drives well, its Columbia two-speed axle making freeway travel effortless. It is currently registered with California year-of-manufacture plates 39B6823, which accompany it in the sale. A beautiful example of the second flight of 1947 Fords, this Sportsman would make for a lovely addition to the finest of collections © 2009 RM Auctions - All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Terms of Use Contact Us HOME SITEMAP

Blue 1957 Chevrolet Convertible

2009-08-04T07:26:00.005-04:00

Blue 1957 Chevrolet Convertible, click picture to enlarge.

There is another 1957 Chevy Convertible already on this old car blog from an earlier post. That was a yellow one and now this one is a blue one so take your pick, yellow or blue. I like this blue one best myself. You can look at the remarks on that post for he yellow one and just use them for this lue on too.

1954 Hudson Italia

2009-08-02T18:16:00.003-04:00

1954 Hudson Italia, click picture to enlarge.

It was really a shame that so many bright, intelligent car makers of this time era suffered the fate of closing down for one reason or another. Cars like the Hudson, Nash, Willis, Packard and Studebaker all had some very good qualities about them but they all went away and they ain't no moe. Shame, shame, but that was the way it was.

This Hudson Italia was one that I didn't know much about in those days. I was much more familiar with the Hudson Commodore and for that matter even the older Hudson Terraplane. Maybe I will do a story on the Terraplane sometime. The following information is from the Conceptcarz.com website and is used here only for information purposes and is not intended as a copywrite infringement.

Hudson Motor Car Company began the manufacture of automobiles in Detroit in 1909, and merged with Nash in 1954 to form American Motors Corporation. The Hudson nameplate was continued for three more years, ending in 1957. Prior to the merger, Hudson, like many other car companies, set out to build a sports car to bring attention to the brand and to bring customers into the showroom.Hudson created the Italia, a car built on the 1954 Hudson Jet chassis, with a hand formed aluminum body built by Carrozzeria Touring in Italy. Only 26 cars were produced. All cars were Italian Cream in color with red and cream interiors. They were equipped with Borrani wheels. The cost to the dealer for the Italia was $4,800.The car displayed here is number 22, and was originally purchased in California by an individual who worked as a scientist for NASA and the space program.This car has undergone a complete restoration between the years 2000 and 2003. Over 20 items had to be custom made to the original specifications by borrowing and copying pieces from other Italia owners.
The arresting Italia was Hudson's way of reminding the auto industry that it wasn't dead yet. Although it was built on the chassis of the compact jet, it was strikingly clothed in an aluminum body by Italy's carrozzeria Touring. Only 26 examples were made. Styled by Frank Spring and influenced by aircraft design, the Italia had a wraparound windshield, doors that cut into the roof for easier entry, and a pioneering flow-through ventilation system that made vent windows unnecessary. Front fender scoops that cooled the brakes, fake triple exhausts that held the taillights and turn signals, and an inverted-V 'praying mantis' front bumper contributed to its distinctive appearance. Announced as a produced model on the same day Hudson approved a merged with Nash, the Italia was to be Hudson's answer to the Corvette and the Thunderbird. This example is the only completely original car left. Even the tires are original equipment, and the car is totally unrestored.

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible

2009-08-01T10:48:00.005-04:00

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible, click picture to enlarge.

Hi people, I looked and looked and looked but I did not find just the right kind of information that I usually put with these old cars such as tech data, history and other stuff. I did find some material so instead of spending several more days hunting I will use what I found. Even so, I think there is enough here that you can pick out the info you want. So have a great day and enjoy some time with all of these old car pics.

1972 was the last year for the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible. It was also the last year for this body in general. A V8 engine was standard equipment. The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe and convertible rode on a 112 inch wheelbase with an overall length of 203.6 inches.
Automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes were options

CUTLASS 1972 SUPREME 455 CONVERTIBLE, with the original 445 cid engine, very nicely cosmetically restored with excellent mechanicals, this is a great looking original non-color change done in factory Sequoia Green (48), a beautiful dark green color, white side stripes, 442 rear bumper, correct Rochester 4v, working factory air conditioning just redone, great local show cruise night car, this was an original 'Supreme' model and looks like a 442, this was restored with the original matching number 455 cid engine, the car has the correct 250 horsepower rating UB engine with 4 barrel Rochester carburetor, here is a Georgia car for many years, went up North for a brief period, then back to Atlanta, VIN3J67U2M106750 shows an original 442/455 with the original 455cid original engine, casting 396021F and VIN2M106750 on the engine, has a nice Rochester 4v valuable carburetor, this is most valuable as last year of this model run, wonderful popular car in the 70's and a top collector car for the new millennium, this last restoration yields top mechanicals so it is a driven show car, the horsepower was underrated by the factory, correct air cleaner, all of this is right for the automatic transmission with factory air conditioned car, the torque on this car is extremely strong 370 lbs, this air conditioning is terrific with the factory A/C with all fittings and lines, hoses, belts, just checked, this has a correct factory air cleaner, air conditioning recharge for Summer 2009,

1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk

2009-07-30T13:44:00.003-04:00

1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk, click picture to enlarge.

In 1956 I had just gotten out of the army after a tour of duty during the Korean War. I was working at an International Harvester Truck parts company saving a little money to go to college with. The IH dealership was owned by the Dixie Oil Company in Brunswick, Georgia. As things turned out I must have been a fairly good looking young man and everybody there at the parts supply place was trying to get me paired up with the owner's daughter but I was not taking the bait. Wouldn't you know that I was just a POOR ex-GI trying to go to college to make something out of myself but the owner's daughter was a super-rich girl so we were worlds apart in our cultural standings. It just wouldn't work. No way Hose' (pronounced ho-say). Anyway the point is that the girl owned one of these Golden Hawks. Here's the "Rest Of The Story".

These Studebaker's were styled by the industrial designer, Raymond Loewy and were considered trend-setters in their day. This vehicle has been restored in its tri-level Studebaker original colors of Mocha-Doeskin, one of the most popular colors for the Golden Hawk. The automobile was shipped new to Franklin, In. In 1972 a poll of stylists representing the Big Three Automakers voted Raymond Loewy's design of the Studebaker Starliner Coupe the predecessor of the Golden Hawk an 'industry best'. Mr. Loewy was also named one of the most influential Americans by 'Life' magazine.
This car received a full restoration that was completed in the year 2002.The Studebaker Golden Hawk was produced from 1956 through 1958. The styling was influenced by Raymond Loewy's design studio who used the shape of the Champion and Commander of the early 1950's as its beginning point. The Golden Hawk had an eggcrate grille and a pointed front end nose. In the rear were tailfins with integrated tail lights. The brake light and backup-light were stacked in the rear. The rear window was wrap-around. There were a variety of colors to select from, including the popular two-tone color schemes. Under the hood was a Packard 352 cubic-inch V8 engine rated at 275 horsepower. With its low body weight and powerful engine, the Golden Hawk could race from zero-to-sixty in around 7.8 seconds and reach top speed at 125 mph. A McCulloch supercharger was later added which raised horsepower to 275. A fiberglass overlay on the hood was added which provided extra room for the supercharger. In 1956 there were four Hawk models to select from, the Golden Hawk, Flight Hawk Coupe, Power Hawk Coup, and the Sky Hawk hardtop.
A two-door pillarless hardtop coupe type vehicle, the Studebaker Golden Hawk was produced in South Bend, Indiana from 1956 through 1958. This was the final Studebaker until the introduction of the Avanti that had its styling influenced by industrial designer Raymond Loewy's studio. The Golden Hawk featured the basic shape of the 1953-55 Champion/Commander Starliner hardtop coupe but featured a large, nearly vertical eggcrate grille and raised hoodline rather than the previous vehicles swooping, pointed nose. The rear of the vehicle featured a raised, squared-off trunklid instead of the earlier sloped lid and new vertical fiberglass tailfins were added to the rear quarters.
To give room for a larger engine, the raised hood and grille were added to allow for Packard's large 352 inÂ³ (5.8 L) V8 which delivered 275 bhp (205 kW). Because the Golden Hawk was so light, this big, heavy engine gave the vehicle an amazing power-to-weight ratio for the time period. The Golden Hawk was second only to the Chrysler 300 B in 1956 American car production, and the pricy Chrysler was a road-legal NASCAR racing car. Much like the Chryslers, the Golden Hawk could be considered a precursor to the muscle cars of the 1960s.
The Golden Hawk with its heavy engine came with a bad reputation for poor handling and being nose heavy. Many of the road tests were done by racing drivers, and found that the Golden Hawk could out-perform the Chevy Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird in both 0-60 mph acceleration and quarter mile times. The fastest reported time in magazine testing was 7.8 seconds while top speeds were quoted at 125 mph.
A large variety of colors that included two-tone were available for this year. Initially two-tone schemes involved the front upper body, while the roof and a panel on the tail were painted the contrasting color while the rest of the body was the base color. For 1956 the upper body above the tail-line, including trunk were painted the contrast color with the tail panel in 1956 while the roof and body below the belt line trim were painted the base color.To keep the prices down, an increased options list and reduced standard equipment were used in comparison to the earlier year's Studebaker President Speedster which was replaced by the Golden Hawk. Turn signals were even an option, technically.
In 1956 the Golden Hawk was matched with three other Hawk models and was the only Hawk not technically considered a sub-model within one of Studebaker's regular passenger car lines. The Flight Hawk coupe was a Champion, the Sky Hawk hardtop was a President and the Power Hawk coupe was a Commander.For 1957 and 1958 the Golden Hawk continued on with minor changes. Eventually sold to Curtiss-Wright, Packard's Utica, Michigan engine plant was leased during 1956 and marked the end of genuine Packard production. For two more years, Packard-badged vehicles were produced, though they were basically dolled-up Studebakers. The Packard V8 was no longer available and was replaced by the Studebaker 289 inch (4.7 L) V-8. A McCulloch supercharger was also added to the lineup and gave the same 275 horsepower 205 kW) output as the Packard engine. The cars maximum speed was improved and now the best-performing Hawks (before the Gran Turismo Hawk) was improved and was now available with the Avanti's R2 supercharged engine for the 1963 model year. For the 1957 model year, the Golden Hawk featured some updated styling. A new fiberglass overlay was added to the vehicle and now covered a hole in the hood that was needed to clear the supercharger.

Blue 1956 Thunderbird

2009-07-30T11:01:00.003-04:00

Blue 1956 Thunderbird, click picture to enlarge.

There is already one other 1956 Ford Thunderbird on this blog, a red one. I found this one and said Iwould put it on the blog too. Hey, hey there might be somebody out there that likes blue better than red. At any rate, I don't see where it can hurt anything to have two of them as long as there is a difference between them. I have dug up a little bit more information to put on this one too.

You still see two-seat 1956 Ford Thunderbirds on the boulevards of Beverly Hills, which is only fitting. Ford might have been inspired by European sports cars, but the Thunderbird ended up an all-American boulevardier convertible designed for comfort and smooth, powerful straightline performance. That the "Little Birds" were also uncommonly handsome only hastened their climb to "instant classic" status, one reason so many survive today.A sturdy steel body and amenities like roll-up windows were other appealing T-Bird virtues. As proof, the debut '55 outpolled Chevrolet's fiberglass Corvette by 23 to 1 at 16,155 units. The '56 slipped to 15,631, but that was hardly bad for a specialty car in a "fall-back" sales year.
The 1956 Ford Thunderbird offered up to 225 horsepower with its V-8 engine.

The '56 T-Bird was much like the '55, but a standard "continental" spare tire opened up needed trunk space, front-fender ventilator doors enhanced cockpit comfort, and the available lift-off hardtop gained distinctive "porthole" windows that helped visibility. Typical of the time, the '56 also offered more power, courtesy of a new 312-cubic-inch V-8 packing 215 horsepower with optional stick-overdrive or 225 with self-shift Fordomatic. The previous year's 292 continued with the standard three-speed manual, but was upped to 202 bhp. Handling took a step backward, as springs and shocks were softened, but buyers loved the resulting smoother ride.
The 1956 Ford Thunderbird's sleek styling has kept it popular even to this day.

A deft restyle and even more power lifted sales to 21,380 for 1957, but any two-seat T-Bird is a car for the ages. Just ask those happy owners in Beverly Hills.

1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator

2009-07-29T08:35:00.005-04:00

1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, click picture to enlarge.

Hey people, wouldn't you really love to own one of these sweet cars? I never did own one of these big engine heavy muscle cars myself but I had a secretary that worked with me on the job for a while and she had a bright red Cougar that was the pride of her life until she rolled it over a few times on the way to work and totaled it out. She didn't get hurt physically but it hurt her real bad to lose that car, that's how much she liked the cougar. This info on the ca is excerpted from a website called, "How Stuff Works" and there is much more info on that site. I highly recommend this site because it is a good one for a lot of things. There is even a page about how nuclear reactors work which is into the line of work that I retired from.

Mercury raised its muscle car profile with the introduction of the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. Taking its cue from such rivals as Z28 and SS Camaros, as well as Ford's own Boss 302 and Mach 1 Mustangs, Ford introduced the Eliminator in April 1969. The Eliminator came with a range of engines, from the Trans Am-inspired solid-lifter 302-cid small block to the 428-cid Cobra Jet big block.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd.Mercury Cougar received its first restyle for 1969, and Mercury answered the Boss 302 and Mach 1 Mustangs with the striped-and-spoilered Eliminator. See more muscle car pictures.
Mercury had introduced its sporty coupe in 1967 as a luxury-touring alternative to the pony-car herd. It had mature styling and upscale interior appointments and was built on a Mustang chassis stretched by three inches to provide a longer, ride-enhancing wheelbase.
Mercury in these years was deeply involved in racing. It backed a variety of record-setting Comet and Cougar drag specials, as well as NASCAR-winning Cyclones. Its street image was tamer, though not for lack of trying. Cougar contributed with the '68 GT-E, which like the Mustang, opened the year with an available 390-horsepower 427-cid V-8, then switched to the 428 Cobra Jet. The image was still more Euro luxury touring car than American muscle, though. It wasn't until the release of the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator that Mercury was able earn a reputation for muscular Detroit iron.
Not all 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminators were that powerful. In all-out acceleration, the available 290-horsepower 302 was overmatched by the Cougar's weight, but the 428 Cobra Jet benefited from the relatively generous wheelbase. Grip was slightly better off the line than in the shorter Mustang, and quarter-mile times were every bit as good.
Like Mustang, the Eliminator offered the 428-cid CJ with and without Ram Air, as well as in Drag Pak guise with an oil cooler and a 4.30:1 gear-ratio Detroit Locker rear axle. The Eliminator didn't use the shaker hood; its standard scoop was functional only when Ram Air was ordered. A blacked-out grille, side stripe, and front and rear spoilers enhanced the muscular look, and Mercury offered the Eliminator in a palette of "high-impact" blue, orange, and yellow exterior colors.
More impact could be obtained over dealer parts counters, which offered not only headers and dual-quad carburetors, but such exotic hop-up components as deep-sump oil pans and quadruple Weber carburetor setups. From the factory, or with these available parts, the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator was true American muscle.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.The 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator blended American muscle car attributes with an upscale European flair.

Plymouth Street Prowler

2009-07-28T17:19:00.004-04:00

Plymouth Street Prowler, click picture to enlarge.

Hey, people...this is one that I don't know beans about. If I ever saw one I don't remember it. It sure looks and sound like it would have really been fun to own and drive. The following information comes from the Wikipedia site and there is a whole lot more on that site in case you want to read up a little more on this car. Enjoy this one and all the rest o them too by sticking around and using the newer posts and older posts links on the site. You can also tell your friends on Twitter or Google Friend Connect or Facebook about this old car blog.

One of the most striking design features of the Prowler are the open, Indy-racer-style front wheels. The design of the Prowler was said to have been inspired after Chrysler engineers were given free rein to create whatever they wanted in a "hot rod" or "sportster" type vehicle.
The Prowler featured a powertrain lifted from Chrysler's LH-cars, a 3.5L SOHC V6 producing 214 horsepower (160 kW). For the 1999 model year the engine was replaced with a more powerful 253 hp (189 kW) version of the engine. Both engines were coupled to a 4-speed Autostick automatic transmission. The transmission is located at the rear of the vehicle and joined to the engine by a flexible driveshaft that rotates at engine speed; this arrangement is similar to that used by the C5 Corvette and Alfa Romeo 75, and helped to facilitate a desirable 50-50 (percentage, front-rear) weight distribution. The Prowler was the first rear-wheel drive Plymouth since the 1989 Plymouth Gran Fury and was based on the 1993 concept car of the same name.
The car prominently featured aluminum in its construction, chiefly in the chassis. In many cases, the components were adhesively-bonded. The body was produced in Shadyside, Ohio, USA and the car was assembled by hand at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (CAAP) in Detroit Michigan.

1966 Ford Mustang GT

2009-07-27T10:41:00.004-04:00

1966 Ford Mustang GT, click picture to enlarge.

I have never owned a Mustang so I can't write about one with any experience so this article is excerpted from one of the many 'Stang websites I found. Read and enjoy this one and all of the other old cars on this blog.

The Ford Mustang is an American automobile, originally based on the Ford Falcon compact named after the Southern Methodist University Mascot. The first production Mustang, a white convertible with red interior rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964. Introduced to the public at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964, and via all three American television networks on April 19, it was the most successful product launch in automotive history, setting off near-pandemonium at Ford dealers across the continent. The original Mustang inspired the term pony car and prompted many imitators. The Mustang's combination of sporty design, low price, and overall performance allowed it to sell over one million units in its first 18 months on the market. After a number of different generations and redesigns, the Mustang remains available today.
Though the Mustang features equine artwork throughout, it was named after the World War II-era P-51 Mustang.
Engineering
Surprisingly, for all its style and well-marketed sporty design, the Mustang was based heavily on familiar, yet simple components. Much of the chassis, suspension, and drive train was derived from the Ford Falcon and Ford Fairlane. The car had a unitized platform-type frame from the 1964 Falcon, and welcoming box-section side rails, including five welded crossmembers. Although hardtop Mustangs were the majority in sales, durability problems with the new frame led to the unusual step of engineering the (necessarily less rigid) convertible first, which ensured adequate stiffness. Overall length of the Mustang and Falcon was identical, at 181.6 in (4613 mm), although the Mustang's wheelbase at 108 in (2743 mm) was slightly shorter. With an overall width of 68.2 in (1732 mm), it was 3.4 in (86 mm) narrower, although wheel track was nearly identical. Shipping weight, about 2570 lb (1170 kg) with six-cylinder engine, was also similar. A full-equipped, V8 model weighed about 3000 lb (1360 kg).

1963 Buick Riviera

2009-07-23T17:30:00.003-04:00

1963 Buick Riviera, click on picture to enlarge

'America's Bid for a Great New International Classic Car'

Ad copy for the 1963 Riviera proclaimed it to be 'America's Bid for a Great New International Classic Car.' Authors Gustin and Dunham, in their definitive Buick book, state, 'It became a modern classic the day it was introduced.'

GM's answer to the 4-seat Thunderbird was originally intended to be named LaSalle and offered by Cadillac. Developed under the design leadership of Bill Mitchell, the 1963 Riviera was inspired by the classic lines of the Rolls-Royce.

The boldly understated styling featured a crisply-sculptured roofline, low profile, and frameless side glass. At 117 inches, its wheelbase was a full nine inches shorter than that of the flagship Electra. A stiff base price of $4,333 included substantial standard equipment such as bucket seats, console, 401 cubic-inch 'nailhead' V8, power steering and Buick's traditional Turbine Drive (Dynaflow) automatic transmission. Production was intentionally limited to exactly 40,000 units, in order to ensure exclusivity.

1957 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe

2009-07-21T17:52:00.003-04:00

1957 Chrysler Imperial Crown Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

I have always thought of the big Chrysler cars as being some of the best and most luxurious cars made. I still think of the ones made in those years as being some of the finest cars on the road.

I do have a little story to tell about one of them that I still chuckle about when I think about it. I had already been discharged from the army in 1956 so it must have been around 1957 or 58 . I was going home from Atlanta to Cairo, Georgia and was driving a big engine 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria on Geogia highway 27 when a new looking Chryler Imperial came up beside me, passed me, and acted like he wanted to race against that Ford. Now the story begins to be "non-typical" or "atypical" because I floored the gas pedal and soon re-passed that Chrysler with the speedometer needle on that Ford hidden down behind the dash, well past 120mph and still climbing. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that Chrysler setting on the side of the road with the hood up and smoke just boiling from the engine. Well, as it was I was young and somewhat foolish about some things like that but I just laughed and slowed back down and went on home like I was going to do to start with. Now, I said this story is non-typical because the Imperial Chrysler had a large hemi head V-8 with twin four barrel carbs and so could normally have outperformed a stock Ford with a single two barrel. That makes me believe that the Chrysler had not been maintained and cared for like it should have been which was the reason it blew out on that race.

This information came mostly from the Wikipedia encyclopedia about the car.

The Chrysler Imperial had been the company's most luxurious model, and in 1955 when the company decided to introduce a separate luxury brand, Imperial was the natural choice for the nameplate of the new spin off vehicle line. The Imperial became a separate marque and division within the corporation. Imperial would see new body styles introduced every two to three years, all with V8 engines and automatic transmissions, as well as technologies that would filter down to the lower rungs of Chrysler corporation's sister offerings.

1955-56: A separate make In 1955, the Imperial was launched and registered as a separate marque, apart from the Chrysler brand. It was a product of the new Imperial Division of Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler introduced Forward Look Styling by Virgil Exner, who would define Imperial's look (and the look of cars from the other four Chrysler divisions) from 1955 to 1963.
The 1955 models are said to be inspired by Exner's own 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton show cars. The bodyshell was shared with that year's big Chryslers, but the Imperial had a wide-spaced split eggcrate grille (also used on the Chrysler 300 "executive hot rod") and "gunsight" taillights mounted above the rear quarters. Models included a two-door Newport hardtop coupe (3,418 built) and a four-door sedan (7840 built). The engine was Chrysler's first-generation Hemi V8 with a displacement of 331 cu in (5.4 L) and developing 250 brake horsepower (186 kW).
The 1956 models were similar, but had small tailfins, a slightly longer wheelbase, a larger engine displacement of 354 cu in (5.8 L) with 280 brake horsepower (209 kW), and a four-door Southampton hardtop sedan was added to the range.
1957–1959 Imperial Crown from 1957 Trunk lids featured an imitation continental tire bulge.1957 saw a redesigned and larger bodyshell available, based to an even greater degree on Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" styling (also used on other full-size Chryslers of the period). It featured a complicated front end (very similar to Cadillacs of the period) with a bulleted grille and quad headlights, tall tailfins, and Imperial's trademark gunsight taillights. The Hemi engine was available for the first two years that was enlarged to 392 cu in (6.4 L). For 1959, the third and final year of this bodystyle, a 413 cu in (6.8 L) Wedge-head engine replaced it. A convertible was available for the first time on an Imperial and available in the mid-range Crown series. Sales were helped by Exner's "ahead of the competition" styling, with 1957 becoming the best-selling Imperial year ever.
Starting from 1957, Imperials were available in three levels of trim: standard Imperial, (also known as Imperial Custom) Imperial Crown, and the new, super-luxury Imperial LeBaron (the latter named after a coachbuilder, bought out by Chrysler, that did some of the best work on prewar Chrysler Imperial chassis, and not to be confused with the later, cheaper Chrysler Le Baron). Through the late 1950s and into the early 1960s styling would continue to become "Longer, Lower, Wider", with the addition some of the wildest fins ever put on a car.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette

2009-07-17T15:45:00.005-04:00

1957 Chevrolet Corvette, click picture to enlarge.

Hey all you Vette Fans and Vettettes too, this one is for you to drool over and fantasize about. Have a long look and enjoy.

Chevrolet pulled something amazing out of the hat for 1957: Fuel Injection. First run in 1956 at the Sebring race, the Rochester Ramjet injection was an answer to Mercedes-Benz which featured fuel injection in the 1954 300SL. The innovation solved a fuel starvation problem caused by sloshing while cornering with carbureted engines under race conditions. The fuel injection system also enabled Chevrolet to boast of 1 hp per cubic inch of displacement with the 283 cu. in., 283 hp engine. To keep this development in perspective, consider this. Almost all of the high priced supposedly advanced competition -- including Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini -- did not go with fuel injection until the 1970s or later.

The new system was complex and costly however. At $484.20, the one option added over 15% of the price of an entire Corvette. Buyers found it irresistible however, with 1,040 checking the box on the order form. The complexity also resulted in a high maintenance reputation. Not up for debate is the way the market treats fuel injected Corvettes of the era. Corvette enthusiasts went for it in a big way in 1957 and more so 50 years later as a collectable; the price premium for a "Fuelie" as they are often called is significantly higher than their more mundane carbureted cousins.

There was more good go-fast news for Corvette buyers in 1957. Just south of the clutch, a new four speed manual transmission became available as of April 9, 1957. 664 1957 Corvettes were so equipped at an extra cost of $188.30. Special four speeds had been installed in some race cars, so apparently the "More is Better" philosophy applied. Also available in 1957: RPO 684, a racing suspension intended for serious racers. The cost was $780.10 and was installed on only 51 Corvettes in 1957.

So there you have it all. Enjoy....

1957 Chevrolet Belair

2009-07-15T15:42:00.002-04:00

1957 Chevrolet Belair Sedan, click picture to enlarge.

The 1955,56 & 57 Chevrolet has historically been the most coveted and sought after of all of the classic collector cars ever made. I missed some of the excitement though ecause I have always been a Ford man myself, especially keen on the 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria.

The ’57 Chevy is one of the most recognized icons in the Automotive industry. Stylish and Sporty the there’s no doubt that it’s one of America’s best and most loved cars. The 1957 Chevrolet a few different trim levels; the base-model "150" series, the mid-range "210" series, and the upscale Bel Air series. An upscale trim option called the "Del Ray" was also available for 210 2-door sedans, and there was a limited production two-door station wagon called the "Nomad" and also even scarcer was the "El Morocco", a custom hand-built series that mimicked the Cadillac.
Under the hood Chevrolet had achieved an engineering milestone, Ed Cole worked magic developing Chevy’s small-block V8 engine. The original edition was enlarged to 283 cu, with several optional power packages available, pushing it up to 283 hp. The Super Turbo-Fire 283, a $550 option, produced the advertised 283 horsepower with the help of Ramjet continuous-flow fuel injection. On the outside the Bel Air was distinguished with more chrome and featured a golden grille set off with a heavy chrome bar that included parking lights. The rear fins were capped with chrome moldings and highlighted with anodized aluminum side trim panels. The fuel-filler door was concealed in the left rear chrome fin trim, a small but convenient detail that helped clean up exterior lines.
The 1955-57 Chevrolets remain a favorite with hot-rodders and classic car enthusiasts

1955 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible

2009-07-14T12:51:00.006-04:00

1955 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible, click picture to enlarge.

There is no special reason for showing two pictures of this car and one picture of the others. I just have two views of the same car and put both of them here for you to enjoy.

I had a seargent in the company that I was in during 1955 that bought one of these cars brand new. His was a nile green and ivory white and it was a beautiful car.

Duing those years there was a group of owners that were called the "Rocket Club" after the name Rocket 88 Olds. These people had a strong sense of cameraderie similar to that of the present day Harley Davidson clubs.

'Make a date with a Rocket 88' - The full size Oldsmobile 88 was introduced in 1949 and produced until 1999. The 88 was produced in Wentzville, MO, Flint and Lake Orion, MI, and became a top seller for 24 years. The 202 horsepower engine is a lightweight overhead valve, high compression Rocket V8.
Styling features for the 1955 Super 88 included a one-piece windshield, rocket badges and a bold new grille. 1955 also marked the 5 millionth Oldsmobile produced since the company was formed in 1896.
1955 was also a key year in history for another event. The first solar automobile was demonstrated in Chicago, IL. ConvertibleChassis Num: 225K21523 Oldsmobile's 'Rocket' engine was introduced in 1949. For 1950, sales had doubled versus 1947 and then doubled the 1947 results yet again by 1955. Oldsmobile set sales records by 1955 with well over 580,000 cars being built. They were ranked fifth overall in the completive American car market.
Oldsmobile offered only two convertibles in its 1955 lineup - the Super 88 and 98. The Olds Super 88 powered by the same 324 cubic-inch Rocket V8 that came with the 98 offered power and performance that rivaled the Cadillac and other more upscale marques at a price of a comparable Buick.
The typical factory gear fitted on the Super 88 included turn signals, bumper guards, stainless steel trim moldings, dual trumpet horns, cigar lighter, front and rear carpeted floor mats, and dimmer rearview mirror.

1954 Kurtis Kraft 500 S Roadster Convertible

2009-07-14T07:57:00.006-04:00

1954 Kurtis Kraft 500 S Roadster Convertible, click pictureto enlarge.

I don't know anything about this car personally so This information is excerpted from another site that discusses the Kurtis Kraft:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12458/Kurtis-Kraft-500S.aspx

Frank Kurtis infatuations with automobiles began at an early age. His father owned a blacksmith shop located in Pueblo, Colorado that repaired automobiles and horse-and-buggy. The family later moved to Los Angeles, CA where Frank got a job working with Don Lee Cadillac, after lying about his age. By the 1930's, Frank was designing, building, and repairing racers in his four car garage located behind his house.
In 1941 he had created a car to be entered in the Indianapolis race which was driven by Sam Hanks. Near the mid-1940's, he had created two other racers designed for Indy. The first was for Ross page and the second was the Novi Special. The Novi V8 Specials were racing cars designed to compete at Indianapolis from 1941 through 1965. These were very fast and powerful machines that had a reputation for their handling, which had claimed the lives of two drivers.
During the 1940's, Kurtis fostered a reputation for his midget and Indy racers. In 1946, the Kurtis Miller Ross Page Special had been created and was ready to compete in the first Indy 500 after World War II. The rear faring was constructed of Plexiglas and powered by a 183 cubic-inch Offenhauser engine. It competed in the 1946-1948 Indianapolis 500 races.
By 1947 he had created the Kurtis-Kraft Special, his personal entrant in the 1948 Indy race. This one-off was built specifically to Frank Kurtis's specification and desire. During the 1948 season, it carried Frank to a 9th place finish at Indy and 12th in points. For the 1949 season, under the name of Wynn's Oil Special, it was driven by Johnny Parson and wearing the number 1 on its side, to a first overall finish at Indianapolis. The vehicle was later sold to Jim Robbins who drove it in the 1951 Indianapolis race where he finished with an impressive 2nd overall.

Since I don't know anything about the Kurtis Kraft I wanted to give you an insight into a similar car that I do remember about that was called a Cunningham. You may notice in reading about the Cunningham that one of their fabrication shops was in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was right behind where I lived for a while as a young teenager and I spent a lot of time in their shop watching them build up those cars.

http://users.rcn.com/edwardh.nai/chm1.htm
This definitive car, the Cunningham C-1, would set the pattern not only for Cunningham's own C2R (early '51) and C4R (late '51) sports cars, but for every American sports car from then on. The basic concept established by Mr. Cunningham ("Mr. C") laid the groundwork for America's two best known sports cars, the Corvette (1953) and Cobra (1962). In fact, the fathers of the Corvette (Zora Arkus-Duntov) and the Cobra (Carroll Shelby) both raced, and lost to, Cunninghams at Le Mans (1950 - 54). After seeing the Cunninghams in action, they took his approach with their own cars. Mr. C also pioneered the use of racing stripes as part of the team "colors," an effect that has become a standard. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The most successful Cunningham cars were his C4Rs. This was a ladder-framed, envelope body, two seater with a large displacement overhead valve V8 engine and clearly inspired the better known Corvette and Cobra. Even today's American sports cars owe their inspiration to the Cunningham innovation. Chrysler Corporation certainly recognizes this and places the ghostly image of a C4R Cunningham above their current sports cars in some of their advertisements. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three Cunningham C4Rs were built in West Palm Beach, Florida in late 1951. Like most Cunninghams, they were powered by Chrysler's mighty HEMI V8 and had almost 400 horsepower. They would race at Le Mans for the next few years (where they could lap 8 miles an hour faster than the race winning Jaguars) and would totally dominate American sports car racing during the first half of the decade.

1950 Willis Jeepster Phaeton

2009-07-13T13:52:00.005-04:00

1950 Willis Jeepster Phaeton, click picture to enlarge.

Hi everyone, I am back at the computer and working on this blog again after being away from it for five or six days. I felt somewhat guilty about neglecting this work for so long and it feels good to be back at it now.

There is now well over 60 different cars on this blog and I am adding more cars almost every day so spend some time looking through the whole thing. Use the older posts and newer posts links to scroll through all of them. then tell the other old car buffs that you know about this old car blog and let them enjoy some time here too. That's what this is all about anyway, enjoying these old cars and riding down memory lane for a while to relax and enjoy ourselves without spending a pile of money to do it. Come back often to see what's new.

I did not ever drive one of these Jeepster Phaetons myself but I drove the earlier Army Jeep for many a mile at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia. I was the company clerk and when the troops went out to the fields for a camp during training I was supposed to go back to the main base everyday and turn in my field report of all personnel both present and or accounted for. I was able to buy 3 or 4 cases of lite beer at the base PX store for about 50 cents apiece and carry them to the troops in the field and resell them for about a dollar apiece and keep the profit for myself. This was all with the company commander's blessings because jumped right in and bought his beer too. Now on to the Jeepster Phaeton itself.

Willis returned to making cars for the civilian public in 1948 with this Jeepster, a four passenger which served as a jeep and a passenger car too. The Jeepster featured a sporty styling and the classic verically barred grill. It had an L-head, 4 cylinder engine called a Hurricane that produced 63 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and a 3 speed manual transmission. Features of the Jeepster included the open passenger compartment with a manually operated soft cloth top and plastic windows and side curtains. Some of the options included front and rear bumper guards, dual wipers, cigar lighter, radio and antenna, and large wheel disc brakes.

1950 Mercury Custom Coupe

2009-07-07T19:55:00.004-04:00

1950 Mercury Custom Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

There is now well over 60 different cars on this blog and I am adding more cars almost every day so spend some time looking through the whole thing. Use the older posts and newer posts links to scroll through all of them. then tell the other old car buffs that you know about this old car blog and let them enjoy some time here too. That's what this is all about anyway, enjoying these old cars and riding down memory lane for a while to relax and enjoy ourselves without spending a pile of money to do it. Come back often to see what's new.

When it comes to talking about customized cars there is just no telling what you might find unless you know the particular car you are talking about. I will give you some information about a standard 1950 Mercury in just a moment but first let me tell you about a "custom" Ford that me and a friend built up in the early 1950's. Before I tell you about the car I need to tell you how we came about building this car. Back then it was fairly common for young people to get just anything that they could rake and scrape up enough money to buy. Then when they, or we as the case might be, would look around in the junk yards and other places and find parts and pieces that we could make fit and build up a car as near like we wanted as we could with what we had. Now with that in mind here is the car that we built up. We started with a 1932 Ford Murray coupe, the one with the little side window in the rear quarter panel that was much like the 1956 Ford Thunderbird side port. Then we put a 1936 mercury V-8 engine in it and a 1948 Mercury Holley carbureter, a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr transmission and a 1928 Model A rear end spider gear assembly. Yep, we got all of that to fit together and it run pretty good. In fact, that 1932 Ford Murray coupe would not run over 78 miles per hour on flat ground but it would get that 78 quicker than that a cat could scat!! We drove that car to West Palm Beach where the police had just started using the new Harley Davidson motorcycles for patrol duty. We knew many of the police patrolmen and would challenge them to drag race against that Ford and it would beat those Harleys every time. Now a little bit about the 1950 Mercury.

I had to do a little bit of extra research to find this information because most of the 1950 Mercury info is about modified cars and not the standard stock Mercury. The stock engine was a 255.4 cid flathead V8 that developed 110 horsepower at 3600 rpm. The horsepower to weight ratio was 33 pounds per horsepower and 26.2 horsepower per liter of engine size and a compression ratio of 6.8:1. The engine had 3 main bearings and a Holley 2 barrel carbureter. The 1950 Mercury had a standard 3 speed column mount gearshift and an optional Touch-a-matic automatic transmission. The car weighed 3630 pounds and cost $2,140 new. The 1950 Mercury was the best selling model made up until that time selling 233,000 cars 1n 1950 and also selling the one millionth Mercury that year. Henry Ford came up with the vision of making a car to bridge the price gap batween the low priced Fords and the high end Lincolns and The Mercury was born to do just that and it did it in an amazingly successful fashion.

1950 Hudson Commodore Convertible

2009-07-07T16:02:00.004-04:00

1950 Hudson Commodore Convertible. click picture to enlarge.

The 1950 Hudson Commodore was one of Hudson's most successful cars, but it failed to make up for Hudson's failure to produce the increasingly popular station wagon. Still, as the 1950 Hudson Commodore specifications indicate, the Commodore could hold its own.

Specifications
Engines: Six sidevalve I-6, 262.0 cid (3.56 × 4.38), 123 bhp Eight sidevalve I-8, 254.0 cid (3.00 × 4.50), 128 bhp Transmission: 3-speed manual; overdrive, Drive-Master, and Supermatic semi-automatic optional Suspension, front: independent, coil springs, tube shocks Suspension, rear: live axle, leaf springs, tube shocks Brakes: front/rear drums Wheelbase (in.): 124.0 Weight (lbs): 3,640-3,865

As I remember these Hudsons they were among the better luxury cars of that time period comparing well with Packard, Cadilac, Lincoln and other luxury cars. The main reason, as I see it, why the Hudsons did not continue was that the company made some bad marketing decisions that cost them too many sales so they went the way of many other cars through the years.

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1948 MG TC

2009-07-07T12:36:00.007-04:00

1948 MG TC, click picture to enlarge.

The MG, which was the second generation removed from the older Austin, was probably the car that turned many Americans on to the notion of wanting to own and drive the European sports cars. This sporty MG TC sports car, with its sweeping front fenders, cutaway doors, fold down windshield and knockoff wire wheels was a type of car not often seen on the American roads. The MG TC had a 1250 cc 4-cylinder engine that turned 54 horsepower at 5,200 rpm which is a comparatively high rate of rpm. It had a 3 speed transmission and 4 wheel Lockheed hydraulic brakes. It also came with a telescoping steering column and a six volt electrical system. The interior had leather upholstery and a wood grain dash panel.

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1948 Indian Chief Motorcycle

2009-07-07T11:48:00.004-04:00

1948 Indian Chief Motorcycle, click picture to enlarge.

Now this is cutting the cake right man. These big Indian motorcyles were the REAL kings of the road when I was a young man, before the Harleys and Hondas and Kawasakis ever came into being. I could not afford to own one myself but one of my good friends did. He had a big white Indian Chief and we used to ride it all over South Florida in the years just after WWII. In fact, we lived in Belle Glade Florida and we rode his bike to West Palm Beach almost every weekend to a dance, round dance or barn dance or whatever you would call it. That was about 46 miles one way going and then another 46 miles coming back home. Yeah, when you are still young and healthy and full of life and energy that kind of thing is no challenge at all. I would call those the "golden glory days" of motorcycle riding. Then along came the "new breed" of Harleys and all the rest of them. In fact, I don't imagine that there are ten people out of a thousand around now that remembers these big grand Indian Chiefs at all. To be truthful though I will concede that some of the big bikes made now could have put the old Indians down in the shade when it comes to big engines, big bikes, power, speed, luxury and comfort. I have heard that somebody in California has started making the small to medium size Indians again but I don't know if they are making the big bikes again. I don't even know if it is someone in the same family, or company, as the original Indians were or not. Maybe someone out there reading this old car blog can tell us more about it. If you can then send me your remarks or comments by using the commnt button on the bottom of this post.

1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe, tripic

2009-07-06T19:42:00.004-04:00

1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe, tripic. Click picture to enlarge.

I do not normally add much writeup material on these tripic posts because there is enough info on the pictures. If you click the picture and enlarge it the information can be read easily.

A 1940 Ford was the first car that I bought sometime around 1945 or 46, near the end of WWII. The one I had was what I call the humpback model or the four door sedan. That was the car that I started learning how to drive with.

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1940 Buick Business Coupe

2009-07-06T18:42:00.004-04:00

1940 Buick Business Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

Buick entered 1940 with a restyled automobile. The grill was much larger than the previous year and had heavy horizontal bars and the headlights were integrated into the front fenders. These features gave the Buick a new look but mechanically very little had changed from the previous year. The coupe had a 248 cid 8 cylinder engine that produced 107 horsepower. The coupe had a three speed column shifted transmission. The business coupe was the lowest priced car in the Buick lineup for 1940. It sold for $895.00 and 12,372 units were sold that year.

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1939 Plymouth Convertible Coupe

2009-07-06T08:39:00.006-04:00

1939 Plymouth Convertible Coupe

The 1939 Plymouth sported a completely new look and was touted as the best looking Plymouth in years. The biggest change was the stylish "vee'd" front end, with a multi-piece grill and a two pane windshield. The headlights were rectangular and were gracefully formed into the front fenders. Perhaps the best buy in the line was the convertible coupe, the only open top car in the entire Chrysler lineup for 1939. The Plymouth convertible also offered the first and only power operated top in the automotive industry, controlled by a button on the dash. The options included fenderskirts, a pushbutton radio and spotlights.

You can browse through the rest of these old cars by using the older posts and newer posts buttons at the bottom of each post or by using the archives links in the side bar. There are about 50 or more old cars on the blog now and new ones being added daily so enjoy all of them. Tell others about this old car blog too. Send comments or email me by using the comment button.

1936 Peugeot 402 Eclipse

2009-07-04T13:57:00.005-04:00

1936 Peugeot 402 Eclipse, click picture to enlarge.

The Peugeot 402 was introduced at the Paris automobile show in 1935 with a product line that included the legendary Eclipse, a two door coupe that presented one of the first retractable hardtops in automotive history. The Eclipse was manufactured from 1936 through 1941 and was modeled similar to the Chrysler Airflow with a swept back grill and rear wheel fender skirts. The Eclipse had a 55 horsepower four cylinder engine with a three speed transmission and could reach about 75 miles per hour. The one in this picture had a hand operated retractable top.

The only retractable hardtops that I am familiar with were the 1957 and 58 Ford retractables. The T-birds had removable hardtops but not a true retractable. I did not know that Peugeot made a retractable too.

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1935 Panhard Coupe

2009-07-03T08:14:00.004-04:00

1935 Panhard Coupe, click picture to enlarge.

Rene' Panhard started the great dynasty of French automobile manufacturing in 1895 with the B2 model, a revolutionary car which initiated the classic front engine and rear wheel drive layout. The Panhard firm maintained their strong trademark image of well built and awe inspiring automobiles until they merged with Citoen in 1955. The Panhard 2-door coupe shown here came equipped with steel wheels and a sidemount. The car had an American Willis-Knight sleeved valve, 6cylinder, 255-cid and 87 horsepower engine

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Packard Plant destroyed by weekend fires

2009-07-02T14:08:00.002-04:00

I just noticed this story in the Old Cars Weekly Blog and quickly decided that I need to post this here and let our readers know that this part of our old car history is now gone up in smoke. This article is excerpted from the Old Car Weekly Blog and is used here for information purposes only and is not intended or used in any way as an infringement of their ownership rights. For your information I have a picture of the last car made at the plant which was a centenniel edition made in 1999 to celebrate 100 years of Packard History. The plant closed down in 1956 and has been in shambles since then.

According to several online sources, the sprawling, five-story, 3.5 million square feet complex has been abandoned for a number of years, and firefighters have made nearly weekly visits to the fire-plagued site in recent months. On Sunday, a two-alarm fire sent firefighters there to battle a blaze that started on the fourth floor. Jason Frattinni of Firehouse.com reported that Sunday’s fire raged most of the day and through the night before it eventually burned out. Crews worked through the night and continued to work into Monday. Causes of the recent fires at the site have stemmed from scrappers working with acetylene torches and by vandals.Concerned with hazards, the Detroit Fire Department had ordered personnel to stay out of the interior of the complex while fighting a fire. They had held special training sessions there so neighboring fire units would be familiar with the plant.The complex, consisting of 43 buildings, was designed by Albert Kahn and opened on Detroit’s eastside in 1907. Luxury vehicles were made there until 1956. It was sold the following year for $750,000. From the late 1970s through the late 1980s, the building was used as the Motor City Industrial Park. According to the Detroit Free Press it was most recently owned by Bioresource Inc., which emerged with the title after a lengthy court battle with the City of Detroit. The company was declared dissolved by the state in 2003 after failing to pay city taxes.

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1934 Packard V-12 LeBarron, tripic

2009-07-02T09:36:00.004-04:00

1934 Packard V-12 LeBarron tripic, click picture to enlarge.

These tripic images are from a catalogue published by the Danbury Mint Company and are used only for information purposes and are not intended to be an infringement of their possession rights. I have bought one f their die cast models that is a near duplicate of an old 1955 Ford Fairlane that I have used in a coupole of car shows to win a couple of trophies. I would display my die cast model along with my full sized car and some people would enjoy the model more than the real car. I will fully and completely recommend the Danbury Mint die cast models to anyone that wants to get these superbly detailed models for their own pleasure. In my opinion, they are undoubtedly the best that there is available.

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1932 Buick Series 80 Victoria

2009-07-01T09:10:00.004-04:00

1932 Buick Series 80 Victoria, click picture to enlarge.

The 1932 Buicks were available in four different series, the 50,60,80 and 90. They were all straight 8 cylinders and had a fresh new look that appealed to the public, but unfortunately the public was not buying. The Great Depression of the late twenties and early thirties had slowed almost everything down to a standstill and people were just not able to buy much of anything. Buick's sales for 1932 dropped more than 50%.

The Series 80 had only two models, one of which was the handsome Victoria shown here in this picture. It was a five passenger traveler's coupe and had a 126 inch wheelbase and 113 horsepower straight 8 engine and a three speed transmission. It sold for about $1,540.

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1931 Hupmobile Sedan

2009-06-29T16:17:00.006-04:00

1931 Hupmobile Sedan, click picture to enlarge.

Hupmobiles were built from 1909 through 1940 at the Hupp Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. The company's philosophy was to build a tough and dependable car and sell it at a working man's price range. This philosophy paid off well and production and sales soared to over 50,000 cars by 1929. The Great Depression that hit in 1929 slowed sales down. A workers strike in 1937 also hurt sales and few cars were produced between 1937 and 1940.Production of the Hupmobile cars ceased in July of 1940 due to financial difficulties and the pressures of the impending war years of 1941 to 1945.The 1931 Hupmobile came in a variety of body styles including the Model S 4-door sedan shown here. The model S sedan was priced at $995 in 1931.

An interesting personal story about the Hupmobile occurred in Atlant, Georgia in the early 1960's time frame. My wife and I were living on Matthews Avenue, just off of Dekalb Avenue, and I was going to a nearby convenience store. At the intersection of Mathews and Dekalb Avenues an older lady was sitting in a 1917 Hupmobile that was broke down. I stopped to see if I could help her and she thanked me and said no, that her mechanic was on the way and should be there soon. Now I gathered from her conversation that she was the only owner of that car and that her mechanic was the only person to ever work on it. Now when you consider that this was a 1917 car and the year then as in the early 1960's that car had only been driven by one lady and worked on by one man for over forty years. Astounding and amazing!!! Another odd thing that I noticed about that car was that it was chain driven like a bicycle. It did not have a regular transmission, drive shaft and rear end gearbox like most other cars have. My, my, these times, they are a changing.

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1929 Duesenberg Model J Derham

2009-06-29T12:12:00.005-04:00

1929 Duesenberg Model J Derham, click picture to enlarge.

This car was a legend in its time. I don't remember ever seeing one of these cars but that was probably because the people in my area did not have the money that it took to buy thses cars. In my research for this car I found a statement that said this car had a base price of around twelve thousand dollars and could go up to twenty five thousand dollars with a custom made coach and other options. The thing about that statement that struck my attention was that this was at a time when the average doctor only earned about three thousand dollars a year. The Duesenberg was featured in some of the ritzy movies of that time. Captain Eddie Rickenbacher, a famous WWI ace fighter pilot that was downed in the Pacific during the war, drove a Duesenber in the Indianapolis 500 race once. The Duesenberg also won the Le Mans Open race in Europe three or four times.

In February 1928 the Model J designation was born.
The newly revived Duesenberg company set about to produce the Model J, which debuted in December at the New York Car Show of 1928. In unsupercharged form, it produced a whopping 265 horsepower (198 kW) from a dual overhead camshaft straight 8 and was capable of a top speed of 119 mph (192 km/h), and 94 mph (151 km/h) in 2nd gear. Other cars featured a bigger engine but none of them surpassed its power which was three times bigger and was also both the fastest and most expensive automobile in the market. All these unique features, glamour and style found an inspiration in the expression; "It's a Duesy".

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1928 Austin Seven

2009-06-28T19:27:00.006-04:00

1928 Austin Seven, click picture to enlarge image.

This Austin is from the time frame when I was born and came onto the scene in "automobilia". I say that because I rememer the Austin pretty well from younger days. You may be able to tell that it had regular battery ignition powered headlights and not the older oil burning lamps of earlier years. The headlights were then a more integral part of the fenders and had a clean look about them instead o looking like they were an afterthought and just hanging from a frame mounted somewhere near the front of the car. Notice also that this Austin had the sporty looking steel spokes, similar to bicycle wheels, and they were not solid wheels or wooden spoke wheels as was common in those days.

I don't remember the Austin Seven, as this car is, but I remember The Austin-Healy, which was a low slung sporty car and looked much better to me than this car does.

Engine: four cylinder, side valve, 747cc, 11 bhp; Gearbox: three-speed sliding mesh; Suspension: transverse semi-elliptic front, quarter elliptic, live axle rear; Brakes: four-wheel non-interlinked mechanical. Right hand drive.

From its introduction in 1922 the Austin Seven carried lightweight open tourer bodywork, earning the nickname "Chummy" due to its small proportions meaning passengers had to be fairly friendly to travel anywhere! As production developed many different forms of bodywork were offered; the Chummy remained popular, and the confines of its bodywork became slightly more accommodating. Later Chummies are distinguishable by their upright windscreens, flat sided scuttle, and deeper hood arrangement. By the year of production of this example the Seven was in its heyday, and continued to sell extremely well into the mid-1930s. The Austin cars, and the different offshoots such as the Austin Healey and finally the MG sports car, were British or English made cars.

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1926 Chrysler Sedan

2009-06-26T08:11:00.005-04:00

1926 Chrysler Sedan, click picture to enlarge.

All right all you Chrysler fans out there. Here is one of your own that is just for you. The Chrysler cars have always been among the best cars on the road in America for as long as I can remember, and hey people that is a long time now.

The 1926 Chrysler sedan had a 109 inch wheelbase and weighed 2840 pounds. It had a six cylinder cast iron engine with a 180.325 cubic inch displacement and 54 horsepower at 3300 rpm.

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1925 Ford Model T, tripic

2009-06-25T16:55:00.002-04:00

1925 Ford Model T, click picture to enlarge.

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1923 Dodge Roadster

2009-06-23T13:38:00.004-04:00

1923 Dodge Roadster, click picture to enlarge

1923 Dodge built by the Dodge Brothers. Black with black top and interior. 4cyl, 25hp, and 3 speed manual transmission. The Dodge was the first cars to be built with an all steel body. Dodge was far more advanced than most of the cars of this era. It has a fuel pump system and an oiling system.

I never did much with Dodge products myself except for one old Dodge pickup truck that I bought from someone that I was working with at the time. I bought that old Dodge truck for ten dollars and had to go to his house and get it. I think that it was drivable so I could drive it home. At that time I was trying to make do with an old Ford Falcon that had lost so much compression that it would not crank by itself. After I got the Dodge pickup I started using it instead of the Falcon and I drove that old pickup probably for about another year. One thing in particular about that pickup that I remember that irritated me was that the lugs on the passenger side had reverse threads on them so when I thought I was loosening the lugs I was tightening them. I never did get used to that and I had to think about it each time I changed tires on that side. The purpose of that was to use the forward motion of the car to keep all of the lugs tight.

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1913 Ford Model T Speedster

2009-06-22T15:49:00.007-04:00

1913 Ford Model T Speedster, click picture to enlarge.

You may remember from the write up on the 1931 Model A that I discussed the Model T in that post. The Model T may well be the car that really made the Ford Motor Company thrive and do well in their first few years during the hard times of startup. If you notice closely in the picture you can see the slot in the lower front of the radiator housing that the driver would put the crank handle through to engage with pulley and turn the engine to start the car. That reminds me of a commercial that says "You've come a long way baby". Thank goodness that we don't have to start our cars like that with a crank handle anymore.

Henry Ford began producing the Model T in 1908 in Detroit at the Piquette Avenue plant and continued the run of Model T's until 1927 for nineteen years making it the longest running production of a single model car ever in history except for the German made Volkswagon Beetle. It has been said that Henry Ford said of the Model T, "You can paint it any color, so long as it's black". Whether he said that or not has not been proven but the saying has hung around longer than the car did and it does testify to the continuing "sameness" of the car. This sameness characteristic of the car was one of the features that made it affordable to the masses. Over the 19 years of production there were 15,000,000 Model T's sold, far outselling any other car made in those years.

The car had a 4 cylinder, 20 hp engine and seated three people in its regal high backed seats. it sold for $850.00 new in Detroint in 1913.

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Sincerely,
Maynard Wright, the Georgia Boy

1937 Chrysler Airflow

2009-06-19T16:48:00.003-04:00

1937 Chrysler Airflow four door sedan, click picture to enlarge.

Chrysler had offered the Airflow series of cars before 1937 but this year was the first true Airflow produced that actually had pneumatic, and/or hydraulic, shocks and brakes. This was the 1937 Chrysler Airflow Series C-17 only. This car had a 128 inch wheelbase and a 130 hp, 323 cid 8 cylinder engine and a 3 speed manual overdive transmission. Other features included hydraulic brakes and telescoping air shocks and a hypoid gear rear axle. Some of the cosmetic changes were a more V-shaped front grill and horizontal hood louvers. There were only 4,600 of these cars produced in 1937.

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1931 Model A Ford

2009-06-19T09:42:00.003-04:00

1931 Model A Ford 2-door sedan and Cabriolet coupe, click picture to enlarge.

How many of you people still driving today remember being able to adjust the "spark advance" from the steering column? That's like setting the ignition points closer or wider even while you're driving down the road in order to get more power or to save gas. Well, we did that on these old Model A cars and it was just as normal as mashing the gas pedal to go faster is to us today. As I have said before the Model A was the car that my generation grew up with so it is very familiar to many of us. It was said about the old Model A that if you had a screwdriver and a pair of pliers and a roll of baling wire and just a little bit of mechanical aptitude that you fix about anything that might go wrong with it. That was more true than it was not true.

The Model A was,in effect, the transition from the very successful older Model T Fords with the old hand cranked starting where you put a crank handle that was shaped like a bent steel rod that had two bends in it, and a pin through the end of it that engaed with a notch in a pulley on the end of the crankshaft. When the handle was turned by hand it turned the motor enough to get it started. This way of cranking the old Model T was nicknamed as the "arm breaker" because if you did not remove the crank handle quickly as the engine fired up the handle would be engaged with the engine and would fly around and hit you if you still had hold of it. As I said the Model A was a transition from the Model T to the newer, more powerful V-8 cars that came along later. The Model A had a 200.5 cid, 40 hp four cylinder engine and a 3 speed floor mounted gearshift. It had expanding shoe and drum brakes on all four wheels and safety glass in the windows which was the first time that safety glass was used in cars. Some style changes in the 1931 Model A included a new radiator shell and running boards with single piece splash aprons. The two door sedan shown here was the most popular of the model A's and the Cabriolet Coupe was next to it. The sedan sold for $490 and the voupe for $430.

1948 Chrysler Town And Country Convertible

2009-06-18T18:58:00.003-04:00

1948 Chrysler Town And Country Convertible, click picture to enlarge.

When this car came out I was in my mid-teens and had already bought my first car which was a 1940 Ford four door "humpbacked" sedan, a black one. I remember that we didn't have much money in our family and I could only dream and wish for a car as nice as this one was. This model of Chrysler was a real beauty and possibly one of the nicest cars made in America in those years.

Of all of the post war cars to hit the streete in America, the Chrysler Town And Country Convertible was probably the best looking and most wanted car of them all. The uncommon attractiveness that made it so appealing to so many people was the sides of the body that featured real genuine white ash wood framework and mahogany veneer panels. The interior featured all leather fittings with pleated leather inserts and bolsters. This "Woodie" shown here had a 323.5 cid straight 8 engine that turned 135 hp at 3400 rpm. It weighed 4332 pounds, had a Fluid Drive transmission and a 127.5 inch wheelbase chassis. In 1948 this car, with the availabe options, sold for $3,420.

1917 Pierce Arrow Runabout

2009-06-16T14:50:00.003-04:00

1917 Pierce Arrow Runabout, click picture to enlarge.

Hi people. This time the bridge behind the car may be more interesting than the old car is to many people. The sign above the bridge in the picture says, "Thompson Bridge 1832". I feel like I am as old as the Rock of Gibralta sometimes but this bridge is even older than me; how about that, all you sports fans? Besides that, this is also the only covered bridge that I know of that is still around anywhere in the country. I can vaguely or faintly remember seeing one or two old covered bridges but I don't remember where they might have been.

But now a little bit about the car.The Pierce Arrow may have been best known for its new type fender mounted headlights that were a tremendous advancement over the older oil burning lamps that were common in those days. The Pierce Arrow Motor Company rapidly gained a good reputation for building high quality, well built luxury cars that competed well in the market with cars like the Cadillac, Duesenberg, LaSalle, Lincoln, Marmon and Packard. The 3 passenger runabout shown here came with a 38 hp 6 cylinder engine with a selective sliding gear transmission. The car had both a battery and magneto electrical system, a power driven air pump to keep the pneumatic tires pumped up and it had a cone type leather faced clutch and a cast aluminum body. In 1917 the Pierce Arrow Runabout sold for $4,600.00; a fairly high price then.

I enjoy reading all of the reader comments that I receive so take a moment to send me any comments you have on these old cars. You can do that by using the comment button in the "posted by" line at the bottom of each post. You can also look at the other posts by using the "older posts" link in the line. Help spread the word about this old car blog to your friends.

1956 Ford Thunderbird

2009-06-15T17:25:00.002-04:00

1956 Ford Thunderbird, click picture to enlarge.

The rivalry between the Ford Thunderbird and the Chevrolet Corvette has been the strongest of any other two cars ever made for people of my generation. This is a strange feat considering that the cars are not classed the same by the manufacturers. The Corvette has always been called an American Sports Car as opposed to a European Sports Car. The Thunderbird, on the other hand, was called a personal luxury car. It was called a personal car because it was first made as a one seater that could carry two people. To compare the two cars, at first the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette in 1955 and 56 but since then the Corvette has generally outsold the "T-bird" judging by the number of each car that you see while just driving around. Performancewise the Corvette has more power and speed than the Thunderbird and the Corvette has been more of a consistant production car than the Thunderbird since the Thunderbird was stopped and restarted a few times during the production years from 1955 through 2005. Even with these factors showing the Corvette to be the better performer in many categories I still liked the Thunderbird the best, probably because I am just a strong Ford man anyway.

The 1956 Thunderbird had an optional 312 cid engine but the standard engine was the 292 cid V-8 with a Ford-O-Matic transmission. The open top convertible, by far the most popular model, came with two tops, a removable hardtop and the conventionl cloth top. The hard top had a round port hole window on both sides of the rear of the top that made it very appealing to the public. The car had a 12 volt ignition system that was a change from the six volt systems of the 1955 series.

If you want to comment or add to this post just use the comment button in the "posted by" line at the bottom of each post. You may also enjoy using the older posts link to see the rest of the old cars on this blog. Spread the word about this site to all of the old car enthusiasts that you know.

Sincerely,
Maynard Wright, Georgia Boy
mrw-ss@hughesnet

1929 Model A Ford Town Sedan

2009-06-13T13:21:00.003-04:00

1929 Model A Ford Town Sedan, click picture to enlarge.

Since this is my blog about old cars I feel like I have the liberty to tell some personal experience stories here if I want to now and then. The Model A was the car that my generation grew up with so we can spin a many a yarn about what all we did with them. I remember one time that a friend of mine and I had taken a Model A way back into the Everglades of Florida for a camping trip for a few days. We left the car in a good place and then went on foot for a few more miles and stayed there in the Everglades for maybe a week before returning to the car to go back home to Belle Glade, Florida where we both lived. We had enjoyed a good time and was happy to get back to the car and go home. But.....the car wouldn't start!!!

Back then it was usually easy to push one of those cars by hand and it it would crank pretty easy. Not this time. We pushed and we pushed until we turned blue in the face but that Model A would not start. Finally, we pushed that car up into a man's yard and asked him if we could leave it there for a day or two so we could hitch hike on back home and get a big truck and come back after the car. When we got back with truck and loaded the Model A into the truck and brought it back home we went over that car with a fine toothed comb until we found what the trouble was and we fixed it. What was wrong? We fixed that car by putting a new rotor button in the distributor. For a 3 cent rotor button we had spent a whole day in pushing that car and another two days to go home, get the truck and come back after it. For 3 cents.

There was another unusual thing about a Model A that happened too. Several years later, in the late 1940's or 1950's there was a friend of ours that lived close by and his dad had bought the boy a Model A replica because they were a fashionable fad at the time. It was a kit car that needed to be assembled. The problem was that the day the kit arrived at the boy's house his family was moving from Florida to Ohio because his dad was being transferred on his job. Well, to finish the story quickly, the boy sold that kit car to me and another friend for $10. We put that car together and drove it all over South Florida for several more years after that.

!929 was the second year of production for the Model A and there were several body styles introduced that year including the town sedan shown here, the convertible Cabriolet, the two door coupe and three or four different four door sedans. The Model A had a 200 cid, 40 hp four cylinder engine and a 103.5 inch wheelbase. The one shown in this picture had a Murray body, we had a Murray two door coupe at one time, and was priced new at $840. This car has been driven 6,300 miles since it was fully restored in 1985.

If you want to comment on some of these old cars just use the comment button in the posted by line at the bottom of each post. You can also email me using the address in the profile block. Spread the word and tell any old car enthusiasts about this old car blog.

1957 Cadillac Eldorado

2009-06-12T15:35:00.006-04:00

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe Deville, click picture to enlarge.

This is undoubtedly The Car that poor people dream of owning but never do. The car is known for class and luxury and cost. The Cadillac Eldorado has long been synonymous with elegance and prestige and money. I dated a girl in Atlanta a few times that owned one of these 1957 Cadillacs but hers were usually four or five years old when she got them. She just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being "high class" by driving Cadillacs. Her passions were Cadillacs and pink champagne. Needless to say we did not have many dates because I didn't care for that attitude.

This car had a 365 cid cast iron V-8 OHV 300 hp engine with a 4.00 X 3.625 inch bore and stroke and a 10.0 to 1 compression ratio. It had 5 main bearings and hydraulic valve lifters and a Rochester four barrel carburetor.

One thing about the Cadillac name that has disappointed me has been the recent change to making other type vehicles such as SUV's, pickups and vans just to be able to stay afloat in a very unstable economic downturn of the national economy. It just seems sad to me that the distinction of class and luxury has to suffer the deterioration of name that these "survival strategies" have caused. This is not peculiar to Cadillac alone though because some other luxury cars such as the Ford Motor Company's Lincoln cars have also gone into making "bread and butter" vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks.

If any readers want to make comments on the posts there is a comment button at the bottom of each post in the "posted by" line. You can also email me by checking the email address in the profile block. I would enjoy reading your comments and maybe using some of them in future posts to this blog. Spread the word and let others know about this blog.

1958 Studebaker Commander

2009-06-11T10:19:00.003-04:00

1958 Studebaker Commander, click picture to enlarge.

One of my uncles used to drive a Studebaker for many years. The particular one that I remember was a Studebaker President series which was the largest, most luxurious and most expensive of the Studebaker lineup. I also knew a good friend that liked the smaller Studebaker Champion series with its famous "bullet nose" aerodynamic design. As I said in my last post about the 1955 Desoto, the Studebaker, along with the Desoto, Packard and Hudson, was one of the old cars that died by the wayside, mainly because many of the feaures they introduced were just too far advanced ahead of their time and the public just did not accept the "new-fangled gadgets". Some of the things that they introduced were the new aerodynamic design that I just mentioned and a feature called "hillholder brakes" that allowed the driver to pull up to a stop sign or a redlight on a hill and mash the brake peddle and then take his foot off of the peddle and the brakes would still hold until the gas peddle was mashed which released the brakes. The Commander had a 259 cid V-8 180 hp engine and a three speed, three speed overdive or Flight-o-matic Transmission

1955 Desoto Fireflight

2009-06-09T19:23:00.004-04:00

1955 Desoto Fireflight, click picture to enlarge.

I am glad that I was born at a time where I was old enough to live through and enjoy what was the golden age of automotive history in the 1950's and 1960's. As you can tell by these old car pictures the cars made before WWII were mostly drab and bleak looking with a garish boxxy appearance. After the war when the manufacturers started producing cars for the public they still had much of that same blahness to them. But in the 1950's they changed all of that and started designing style and flash and glamour in the cars. This 1955 Desoto is a good example of that.

But there was an unorseen problem in that. Many of the manufacturers outdid themselves to their own hurt. What I mean by that is that they introduced new and improved features in the cars that were just too far in advance of what the public was ready to accept and so they rejected all of "these new-fangled gadgets" in favor of what they were more familiar with. Some examples of this were the Desoto, Packard, Hudson and Studebaker cars that died by the wayside.

The 1955 Desoto was a thing of beauty and a real pleasure to drive. It sported a powerful 291 cid Hemi-head V-8 that would literally flat out fly with you if you pressed the petal to the metal. The Hemi-head V-8 was very popular in those years and many different cars had them.

1956 Ford Sunliner

2009-06-08T15:19:00.003-04:00

1956 Ford Sunliner Convertible, click picture to enlarge.

The 1956 Ford was my all time favorite car out of all of the different cars that I have owned. I have had two different1956 Fords at different times and I really did like both of them. The ones that I had were the less expensive four door
town sedans, not the Sunliner or Crestliner or the Crown Victoria, all of which were more expensive than I could afford back then. These cars all had a 292 cid 225 hp Y block engine with a three speed Fordamatic automatic transmission. The speedometer registered up to 120 mph and both cars that I had would hide the speedometer needle down behind the 120 mph mark so I know that they would run at least 130 mph or better. I can remember that there were two girls in Atlanta that had a red and white 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air that I used to see somewhere aound the Varsity Drivein. they would pull up beside me and indicate, "Let's drag". The red light changed and there was a cloud of smoke and schreeching rubber and that Chevrolet would beat my Ford taking off but I was ahead of them by the time we got to the next red light. Yep, that Chevrolet, with a hopped up 327 id engine would beat my Ford in the drag but not on a flat out top speed run. I said that their 327 was hopped up because when it was sitting still you could hear it lopeing like it had 3/4 turned racing crankshaft an maybe oversized pistons too. There were two other body styles for the Ford line that were less expensive. One was the Customline and the other was the Mainline models. The 1956 Ford also offered two other engine choices, one was a 272 cid Y-block and a 260 cid six cylinder. Ah, but those were good times.

1937 And 1938 Bentley Roadster And Coupe

2009-06-06T20:44:00.004-04:00

1937 And 1938 Bentley Roadster And Coupe

The Bentley was created in 1919 by Walter Owen and H.M. Bentley, brothers with a desire to design and build a thoroughbred sports car. Although the company survived as an independent company for only ten years before being bought out by Rolls-Royce, it swiftly rose to the forefront of competitive motor cars. The 2-seat Bentley Roadster pictured is powered by a 110 bhp 4.25 litre in line 6 cylinder engine and a four speed transmission and had a top speed of over 100 mph. The Coupe deVillars of Paris had the same power train with a four speed overdrive transmission. These cars sold for about $15,000 each when they were new.

1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

2009-06-05T20:48:00.003-04:00

1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

This is the car that dreams and legends are made of. I remember one legend, (it really must be a legend because I don't see how it could possibly be true) was a story that my English teacher told to the class when I was still in grammar school; that a Rolls-Royce would ride so smooth and quite that you could put a penny on the hood and drive at 100 miles an hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats and the penny would not move. There are many other equally dubious tales that still lingon on about this fabulous old car.

After WWI the company built a production plant in Springfield, Massachusetts to try to gain a part of the American market. By 1922 they had made 230 Rolls-Royce cars. The U.S. version was just about the same as the British version and was powered by an in-line 6 cylinder engine rated at 85-bhp at 2,250 rpm. Rolls-Royce also built a coach body plant in America that produced a variety of body types, mostly with English names such as Piccadilly, Oxford and Stratford. The one shown here was called the Piccadilly and was made in America

1954 Plymouth Belmont Convertible

2009-06-05T10:50:00.006-04:00

This 2 door sports convertible was designed by Chrysler for the 1954 auto shows. Made of reinforced fibreglass, the Belmont uses the chassis from Dodge's 114" wheelbase convertible and two-door cars. The car was fitted with Dodge's 150hp, 241ci V8, with a Plymouth Hy-Drive semi-automatic transmission.

1932 Lincoln Convertible Coupe

2009-06-03T11:15:00.003-04:00

1932 Lincoln Convertible Coupe, click image to enlarge

In a long line of classic automobiles, arguably the most elegant of all Lincolns was the KB Series introduced in 1932. The KB had a 145 inch wheelbase and a new 447.9 cid V-12 egine and a 3 speed Silent Synchromeshed transmission that could move the car at speeds better than 100 miles per hour. New for the outside appearance was a V-type radiator with a rounded shell, a five door vented hood, twin horns, front fender parking lights and a sloping windshield. this Lincoln KB pictured here has a custom built body by LeBaron. There were only eighteen of these built in 1932.

1933 Dodge Business Coupe

2009-06-02T13:56:00.002-04:00

1933 Dodge Business Coupe, click picture to enlarge

The Dodge company made a number of appealing changes to the 1933 models. The flat radiator of the 1932 models was replaced with a gracefully curving V-shaped grill, and the old rear opening doors were replaced with the increasingly popular front opening doors, often referred to as "suicide doors". Some other changes included double interior sun visors, single bar front and rear bumpers, rounded front fenders, chrome plated headlights and the elimination of the old cowl lamps.This Business Coupe pictured here had a 70 horsepower 210 cubic inch in-line straight six cylinder engine and a three speed transmission that featured silent, smooth operating helical gears.

1957 Buick Special Convertible

2009-05-29T12:06:00.001-04:00

The 1957 Buick Special Convertible had a 250hp V8 346 cubic inch engine, and sold new for just under $3000. As a Model 46C Convertible, it was trimmed in two-tone cordaveen and included an outside left hand rearview mirror. It had a "Red-Line" bar-graph type speedometer.

1930 Packard 733 Convertible Coupe

2009-05-25T12:28:00.004-04:00

1930 Packard 733 Convertible Coupe, click on picture to enlarge

Although the 733 models were the smallest luxury cars Packard offered, they were by no means less appealing. The 733 came on a 134.5 inch wheelbase and was powered by a 319 cid straight eight with 90 hp at 3200 rpm. It had a 4 speed selective gear transmission with an additional low gear. The Standard Eight Convertible Coupe shown here was restored both mechanically and cosmetically. It is equipped with a luggage box for touring and pilot ray driving lights which turned with the wheels so that the car and the lights were always in the same direction. The coupe would cruise easily at fifty miles per hour and above, which was fast in those days, and it cost $2,660 new off the assembly line.

1936 Cord 810 Cabriolet

2009-05-25T08:45:00.003-04:00

!936 Cord 810 Cabriolet, click on image for a full page view.

What set the Cord 810 apart from other cars of that era was its distinctive appearance. The styling was defined by a hood that took on the appearance of a coffin, large front fenders, retracting headlamps, center hinged doors, a v-shaped split paned front windshield and the obvious absence of running boards. The 810 was powered by a 125 hp Lycoming 8 cylinder engine along with a front wheel drive system. Inside of the Cord was an aircraft designed engine turned metal instrument panel and bucket seats. This Cord Cabriolet shown here has 22,000 original miles and even though there has been substantial detailing the car has never been taken apart for a complete restoration effort yet.

2009-05-23T19:50:00.004-04:00

I found this on Old Cars Weekly News and Marketplace:

"The Packard Twelve Concept automobile will be offered for sale on eBay starting May 26th.

This one-of-a-kind automobile is offered for sale by Packard Motor Car Company, owner of the Packard trademark for automobiles and parts.

This is the only true Packard automobile produced since 1956 on its own Packard-designed and built frame and chassis, body, and suspension components. It has a modern aluminum V-12 engine, full time all wheel drive, and aluminum body and chassis.

A complete photographic record of the build process, copies of the 1999 Packard Centennial Calendar and other pertinent information relating to the build and development will go to the buyer. Original styling artwork will include the two large pencil styling suggestions from Stanley Jones as well as from Don Johnson and Arunas Oslapas."

To read more, go here.

____________--

1933 Buick Sport Coupe

2009-05-23T16:02:00.004-04:00

1933 Buick Sport Coupe, Click on the picture to see a full page view.

Styling and mechanical improvements were extensive for the 1933 Buick.A new V-type radiator and grill, an elegant rear curved panel and sweeping front and rear fenders were all part of the overall plan to make the new Buick more graceful and appealing to the buying customers. The Sport Coupe featured an 86 hp inline straight eight cylinder engine, a three speed synchronized sliding gear transmission and a rumble seat with a smooth plush seat in it. The options available included side mounts, a luggage reack and fog lights. This was a rare car with only 10 units built for export sales and 1,643 units built for the American market. In 1933 the sticker price for this car was $1,030.

The Jag's Pickup

2009-05-19T22:18:00.004-04:00

The 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne Pickup Truck

This one is for you football fans, maybe even the Jag's fans, that also enjoy anything to do with old cars. This is a picture of a detailed die cast metal model of the Florida Jaguars football team's mascot replacing pickup truck that is made and sold by Danbury Mint, 47 Richards Ave., Norwalk CT 06857. I can't imagine having a real live wild jaguar as a mascot at the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry games each year.

1941 Hudson Commodore Eight

2009-05-19T19:25:00.002-04:00

The 1941 Hudson Commodore Eight

The Hudson was a refined car for 1941. The bodies were longer and lower than the previous year models and the wheelbase was increased by three inches. Two verticle bars were added to the horizontal grill and the taillights were relocated from the fenders to the rear quarter panels.

Hudson also introduced Symphonic Styling for 1941 which allowed the customers a wider choice of interior and exterior colors and decors. Mechanically the Hudson Eight was fitted with a 128 hp eight cylinder engine and a new 3 speed synchromeshed transmission. This Commodore Eight convertible weighed 3350 pounds and was priced at $1,254. New in 1941 was the power assisted convertible top.

Buying Classic Cars Through the Internet

2009-05-15T14:04:00.003-04:00

Where do you find classic cars for sale? You could search the junkyards or spend hours scouring newspapers and magazines. But there is a better way. Why not search through the internet.

Many folks are selling their classic cars through the internet. After all, they can sell it without incurring huge fees, plus they can also capture a wide market. Some will post their old vintage cars on specialized sites that only take a small percentage fee or a flat rate for the sale.

This method also has benefits for the buyer. He (or she) doesn`t have to go through the hassle of finding the car they want, plus they can immediately see the condition of the vehicle through pictures and videos. No more relying on oral descriptions over the telephone. Even if the vehicle is on the other side of the country, you can see it right away.

To learn more, click here for your FREE REPORT on purchasing your classic car through the internet.
___________

First Indy 500 Winner (1911) - Marmon Wasp

2009-05-08T17:36:00.006-04:00

For more information, go to http://blog.coker.com/index.php/2009/04/13/blast-from-the-past/

Are Your Classic Muscle Cars Ready for the Car Show?

2009-04-25T14:15:00.004-04:00

Do you know what judges look for at a car show? Different classifications have different criteria of course. But if you have an idea what judges are looking for, your chances are greatly improved.

First, make sure you have a clean car. This may seem obvious, but it is essential. There sure be no dirt or debris inside or out. Take a few minutes after you arrive to go through and touch up the car. Also, never enter a car with scratches. This is almost always going to cost with the judges.

Don’t forget the tires. How you maintain your tires is a good indicator of how you keep the rest of the vehicle. This means underneath as well.

You should also think about your paint. Judges often like something original and creative. If you have an artistic flair, try to choose a paint scheme that will be memorable and outstanding without being tawdry.

Overall the car should have the look and feel that is appropriate to the style of the car. After you enter a few shows, you’ll begin to get a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. Good luck and win some trophies.

1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Sedan

2009-04-21T13:31:00.003-04:00

This beautiful classic car is the 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Sedan. It came equipped with a 90hp 6 cylinder engine and a 3-speed transmission. I featured front and rear fender bright work. It had bumper guards, a foot scraper under the front door, and a hump back trunk.

To find your own classic cars, click here.

1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

2009-04-17T10:55:00.003-04:00

The 1962 and 1963 Ford Thunderbird were two of the most glamorous and luxurious of all of the Thunderbirds. The rear passenger seats could be covered, giving the appearance of a traditional two-seater. It had a smooth flowing sculptured cowl that blended in harmoniously with the trunk lid and formed a beautiful sweeping contour that just seemed to set it apart from all of the other cars on the roads in those years. It had a 390 cubic inch V-8 engine.

1911 Stanley Steamer

2007-12-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

1911 Stanley Steamer

Car owner, Norman D. Shanklin

Photo by Ozzie Sweet

The Stanley Steamer utilized a noncondensing steam powered engine which was mounted directly over the rear axle and fueled by a front mounted boiler. By 1906 the Stanley Steamer had been given its familiar "coffin-like" nose and the steering tiller had been replaced by a steering wheel. In 1911 the Stanley Steamer offered a wide variety of steamers ranging from a 104 to a 120 inch wheel base models. All of the cars ran on the two cylinder steam engine, which was rated from 10 to 30 hp. The one shown here was an eight year restoration project. This model was made for long distance transcontinental journeys.

I have operated steam engines in a production facility before and am a little bit familiar with them in general. It is amazing to me to think of this car being very efficient when I think that there has to be both the steam engine to run the car and also a steam boiler to furnish steam for the engine. There would also need to be a coal storage bin on board to keep the coal in that was needed to fire the boiler. I don't foresee a return to the steam powered cars of yesteryears but if gas prices keep going up it may well be that we do return to some other type fuel for our cars in the future.

1910 Stoddard Dayton

2007-12-21T19:42:00.000-05:00

1910 Stoddard Dayton Runabout Coupe

Car owned by Dale A. Lyons, Picture by Roy D. Query

The Stoddard Dayton was produced to be the finest built car of that time. The company slogan for the car was "As good as it looks". Sales soared from 125 units in 1905 to 2000 units in 1907 because of the immediate success that it enjoyed.Hard times hit the company in 1913 after a failed merger attempt with Benjamin Briscoe and production was stopped. The Stoddard Dayton Model 10-H shown here had a 108 inch wheelbase and featured a custom made runabout body with a sporty Landau roof by coach builder E. E. Denniston.

I hope that you people that enjoy seeing and reading about these old cars will spread the word about this blog site and even help me build it by sending me more pictures and stories. I am just starting it up and will be adding more cars often.

1909 Packard Speedster

2007-11-20T13:08:00.000-05:00

1909 Packard Speedster
Owned by Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
Photo by Roy D. Query

Packard automobiles were built following strict quality standards and gained a loyal following accordingly.In 1909 Packard introduced the Model Eighteen, a downsized Model Thirty, which rode on a smaller chassis and was powered by a smaller engine and had a lower price tag than its popular big brother. The Model Eighteen had an eighteen horsepower 4 cylinder T-head engine and a three speed sliding gear transmission. This one has a white on white color scheme with a grey interior, a brass radiator, white artillery style wheels with solid white tires.

1907 Maxwell

2007-11-19T19:11:00.000-05:00

1907 Maxwell Tourabout
Car owner, Richard Baril
Photo by Ozzie Sweet

The Maxwell was a well built handsome automobile for its time, with a good reputation for reliability. In 1903 Benjamin Briscoe, an investor in the Buick automobile, was convinced that the Buick would not amount to anything and he sold his stock in the company to team up with an engineer named Jonathan Maxwell to build their own car. As it turned out we see that the Maxwell didn't last while the Buick is still doing good. This car has a 2 cylinder, 12 horsepower horizontally opposed engine with mechanically operated inlet valves. it had a honeycomb radiator with thermal syphon cooling, a two speed gearshift, a drive shaft instead of gears and chain and right hand steering.

1901 Lane Steamer Run-about

2007-11-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

1901 Lane Steamer Run-about

Owned by Arthur Eldredge, Jr

Photo by Ozzie Sweet

Steam powered automobiles were very popular at the turn of the century from the 1800's to the 1900's. With gas prices going out of sight we might see them coming back again too! At that time they had a potential for a larger market than either electric or internal combustion gas engines. William, Georgia and John Lane were avid proponents of steam powered automobiles and began building them in 1900. They were rugged, powerful and compact and soon began receiving awards for their outstanding endurance and performance. This one had a 6 horsepower engine and featured kerosene lamps. The original price for this car was $350,