I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

Ah, yes--correlation but not causation! It's like when some media outlet posts a list: "These people surrounding Celebrity X have all died in the last 10 years"

Well, duh---celebrity X happened to know a lot more people than average.

fintail

I visited the Archduke Ferdinand car in November. It is in an amazing military museum, and there's a large exhibit about the incident. I've also read that the "death car" stuff is creative, to put it nicely. I can see superstition if the car was a beloved possession of the prior owner, but when it is just a transportation object, I don't get it.

And you'll definitely find the regalia in historical exhibits - but not on regrettable old men having parties (at least not with public knowledge). As you say, reflection, not glorification. Hiding things doesn't make progress.

uplanderguy

On this we agree, Shifty. I am always amazed when it occurs to me that the stuff was happening only a decade-and-a-half before I was born, not a couple or three hundred years ago. One expects civilization to evolve, but...sheesh. I guess I can understand the keeping of some small [non-permissible content removed] stuff if you were an Allied soldier there and actually acquired it yourself. Of course, it is important to not forget though.

Similarly, you couldn't give me a Studebaker truck used in Russia during the war.

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

I visited the Archduke Ferdinand car in November. It is in an amazing military museum, and there's a large exhibit about the incident. I've also read that the "death car" stuff is creative, to put it nicely. I can see superstition if the car was a beloved possession of the prior owner, but when it is just a transportation object, I don't get it.

And you'll definitely find the regalia in historical exhibits - but not on regrettable old men having parties (at least not with public knowledge). As you say, reflection, not glorification. Hiding things doesn't make progress.

Really?---they allow swastika displays in Germany?

fintail

In museums/historical context, yes. Nobody is going to confuse a legitimate museum with being some kind of revisionist dirtbag venue.

However, if you get a big flag and march around chanting slogans, there will be trouble (and depending on the area, worse trouble here).

Mr_Shiftright said:

Really?---they allow swastika displays in Germany?

uplanderguy

Back to "Hazel" for a minute--here's a commercial for the new Mustang where Hazel uses the term "It's a 'doozie'". We'd been talking about both Hazel and that line recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf5FkfKrhng

Mr_Shiftright

Pretty far from a Duesy, but it was a great value in its time and I doubt any new car presentation since has generated that level of response from the general public. People stormed showrooms just to have a look and the working man, or working woman, could readily afford one.

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

Pretty far from a Duesy, but it was a great value in its time and I doubt any new car presentation since has generated that level of response from the general public. People stormed showrooms just to have a look and the working man, or working woman, could readily afford one.

My dad bought a black over red 260 V8 from a small dealer in the town where he worked not long after the introduction. I was only 7 at the time but I remember how we'd go to the grocery or a restaurant and come out and there would be a crowd around the car- sometimes someone would even have the hood up. A different time...

When I was 11 my mom would pick me up from the bus stop in the Mustang(our home was 11 miles away; long story). One day a couple of my mom's friends picked me up instead. They told me that Mom had been in an automobile accident. I asked if she was okay and they told me she was unhurt. I next asked how the Mustang was and all I got was, "You should be glad your mother wasn't hurt." I kept asking, and kept getting the same answer. It turned out that the car was a total loss. Of course for years afterward my mother-who never passed up a chance to tell a story that made me look bad-told people, "I was in a bad accident and all RB cared about was how bad the car was damaged."

texases

My first car was a '65 Mustang with the 170 and a 4 speed. While taking driving class they showed slides of horrible accidents. I especially remember the T-boned '68 Mustang, with the teacher saying 'You kids that drive small cars, be careful!'.

uplanderguy

I don't want a Mustang as a collector car as it seems they're everywhere, but when I watched that commercial with Hazel, I kept thinking...."Beautiful styling, and the base car has vinyl buckets, carpeting, and full wheelcovers...at $2,368!". It really was a masterful styling and marketing job. Who'da thunk it was a Falcon underneath? I seem to think the introduction day of April 17 became a 'good luck' day for Ford and I think (accent on 'think') they introduced other cars that day...maybe the Maverick. I think the Taurus was introduced Dec. 26 and that was also considered a 'good luck' day at Ford.

RE.: Accident in an early Mustang--I know two people who were in serious accidents in early Mustangs, both of which where the hood flew up while driving.

uplanderguy

Got a flyer from the biggest Studebaker parts place today. Advertising '64-66 NOS rear bumpers at $195 until the end of March. I think I'm compelled to get one, just to have it. I remember in the '90's when NOS bumpers were $70, but I thought I had heard they were about gone at that price. Regular price now $300.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

I don't want a Mustang as a collector car as it seems they're everywhere, but when I watched that commercial with Hazel, I kept thinking...."Beautiful styling, and the base car has vinyl buckets, carpeting, and full wheelcovers...at $2,368!". It really was a masterful styling and marketing job. Who'da thunk it was a Falcon underneath? I seem to think the introduction day of April 17 became a 'good luck' day for Ford and I think (accent on 'think') they introduced other cars that day...maybe the Maverick. I think the Taurus was introduced Dec. 26 and that was also considered a 'good luck' day at Ford.

RE.: Accident in an early Mustang--I know two people who were in serious accidents in early Mustangs, both of which where the hood flew up while driving.

Not a car I'd want to be in an accident with, even setting aside the lack of mandated safety features in them. They simply were not a robustly-built vehicle, and the Falcon chassis was engineered to a barely acceptable standard.

texases

Agree - our '65 Mustang was a tin can, even ignoring the rampant rust. My next car, '72 Duster, was much much better.

explorerx4

Speaking of Mustangs, I saw this in the parking lot at work today, last day of February in CT.

fintail

Park Place has received some more "ordinary cars" - this one is pretty rare, I think, looks nice, but look at the price.

I see they also have yet another DeSoto on the site, as well as an Edsel. What's next, a 60 Ford?

ab348

That '56 Ninety-Eight is gorgeous. Not sure if it is $30K gorgeous, especially given it is a 4-door, but it sure is pretty.

Mr_Shiftright

Might be close to market if it is near show quality--that would include being more or less dirt-free underneath. Engine doesn't quite look up the mark.

Nice seats. I love the feel of plastic against my skin.

explorerx4

If I sat on those seats, they would remind me of the sofa in the living room when I was still living at home.
It was covered with plastic, too.

fintail

Saw the older guy in the early 70s 911 commuter I see now and then, today it was out in the rain.

If I am in the area over the weekend, I might stop by Park Place to check out the Edsel, no pic yet.

uplanderguy

A friend sent me this link a couple days ago. Ad says "Super 88" but sure looks like it says "Dynamic 88" on the front fender to me. Duh!

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1060136/1959-oldsmobile-super-88-for-sale-in-greensboro-north-carolina-27407?utm_campaign=03012018&utm_content=03012018_featured_newsletter_template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=zaius&zm64_id=Ym9iY2FyaXBhbG1hQGhvdG1haWwuY29t

imidazol97

Vin seems a little odd.

Mr_Shiftright

imidazol97 said:

Vin seems a little odd.

Obviously one of the first ones

roadburner

Hey Shifty, have 993 values really gone this crazy?

uplanderguy

Super 88's are one model above a Dynamic 88, BTW.

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

Hey Shifty, have 993 values really gone this crazy?

In that case, I'm afraid so. He's got two aces in his hand---extremely low miles "virgin" Porsche, and the very last year of the air-cooled cars. Personally I think the air is going to leak out of that bubble, but there's always a strong market for very low mile Porsches--mostly because most of them really rack up the miles. Porsche isn't like Ferrari, Lambo or other "exotics"--they have endurance and can run up 150K no problem.

berri

I'm not sure, but I think an upgrade to a Super 88 was about trim, not like the engine upgrade going from LeSabre to Wildcat.

fintail

Out on the road today, saw an early 70s Trans Am with a driver who looked so stereotypical it had to be on purpose, a Hummer H1, and an 82-85 5th Avenue in very original looking condition.

uplanderguy

I'm not sure, but I think an upgrade to a Super 88 was about trim, not like the engine upgrade going from LeSabre to Wildcat.

Could be right; I do know a Super 88 was a more-expensive model than a Dynamic 88.

Some folks are just so lazy about dotting the 'i's' and crossing the 't's', especially in an ad!

I know I like 'original' and/or 'authentic', but similarly, two things that drive me nut about sixties Studebakers I see are 1) the accessory door-handle guards being installed upside down (on probably half the cars I see with them--I don't like the looks of them even when installed correctly) and '62-63 Larks with the front bumper guards installed one bolt in too far on each side. On the surface, neither of those issues sounds too big of a deal, but removing the installation will most likely result in scratches. Sigh.

Take the small extra time to be sure about stuff!

explorerx4

A green big box Volvo(7xx) wagon in nice condition.

uplanderguy

A Studebaker friend of mine just went yesterday to ten miles east of my old hometown to look at a Volvo wagon that is being sold by a fellow who runs a Volvo repair and sales shop out in the country--he used to work for a Volvo dealer in a city about fifty miles north. His place is called "The Swede Shop".

My friend is on a Volvo wagon kick of late--likes wagons in general but of course not many to choose from, even in the used-car realm.

explorerx4

Plenty of older Saab's and Volvo's around here.

uplanderguy

Amazingly, where this shop is currently, is fifty miles from a Volvo dealer and is in a very rural area--the borough-proper of the area, where people shop and bank, etc., is only 5,900 people. He apparently advertises outside the area, a good idea.

kyfdx

Lane Auto Museum just acquired a Studebaker Lark. Looks to be in great original shape. I saw it yesterday.

fintail

Stopped by Park Place to look at the Edsel listed on their site without pics (and maybe sit in a G-Wagen that just popped up, no dice). It's a HT, and somewhat nice looking in a pretty color combo:







However, the paintwork is not perfect and the chrome is no better - a 10 footer. Also needs wide whites badly.

This machine had nicer paint quality:



Oh look, another DeSoto:



Normal car 1955:



Not sure what I would call this color - orange coral maybe:



So many relatively ordinary sedans, never seen anything like this, these cars are much different than their usual fare:



The pretty 56 Olds 98 I linked earlier had a "hold" tag on it - it looked very well finished.

stickguy

man, they pack them in tight. I would not want to be responsible for parking those babies! would need about 5 spotters, and not like they are really tight handling.

berri

I remember that the Edsel aqua color was fairly popular on many cars as a two tone back in the late 50's. I like Desoto's and the pictures also reminded me that the 64 Dodge and Plymouth twins had a one year, kind of neat looking greenhouse on the coupes. Neat stuff in those shots.

imidazol97

@fintail I enjoy those pictures. If you have more of that "museum," I'd appreciate your posting them.

Are they taken with a phone? I'm curious because the quality is really good and the colors turn out great. I
was looking at the blue-greens on the Desoto and the 54? Ford next to it and how the difference in the greens
are what I remember from the 50's.

fintail

Yep, pics taken with a Samsung Note 8. Higher model Samsung phones of late have excellent cameras - I don't carry a DLSR on trips anymore, the phone does fine.

I don't have more pics from my brief visit today, but that dealer Has a site, here

They tend to have more exotic material, and very optimistic prices, which I suspect are made for negotiation. It's still a fun place for an occasional visit though - salespeople are used to browsers and don't mind lookers, and you never know what you will see. I've never seen an assortment of relatively everyday sedans such as this before. The Ford nosing its way in it s a 53.

imidazol97 said:

@fintail I enjoy those pictures. If you have more of that "museum," I'd appreciate your posting them.

Are they taken with a phone? I'm curious because the quality is really good and the colors turn out great. I
was looking at the blue-greens on the Desoto and the 54? Ford next to it and how the difference in the greens
are what I remember from the 50's.

uplanderguy

RE.: That '55 or '56 Mercury sedan--I always thought Packard and Mercury sedans of '55-56 looked similar--front wheel opening shapes, cut of front and rear door glass, brows over headlights. Since they were simultaneous designs, seems that this is accidental.

ab348

That might also explain the attempt by Jim Nance of Packard to acquire 1956 Lincoln bodies for the '58 Packard line. Probably just as well that never happened.

uplanderguy

Really. You probably know he went to run the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln division at Ford, where he was fired in 1959 or 1960. Edsel was similar to Packard/Clipper in that there were 'junior' and 'senior' lines. He and McNamara didn't get along.

Ironically, the Edsel dealer where I live now picked up Studebaker, as did Newman and Altman in South Bend, who had been Packard dealers, picked up Edsel, then picked up Studebaker. They eventually bought the truck rights and Avanti rights from Studebaker and continued to build the Avanti in South Bend for twenty years. Nate Altman said he loved the Studebaker years as he'd be called in to the corporate office as a local dealer, on product decisions.

James Nance ended up running a bank in Cleveland the rest of his life. He lived in Chagrin Falls, a nice suburb about fifteen or twenty miles north of me.

uplanderguy

kyfdx, is the Lane museum in Nashville? If so, I was there in 2007 when I was working nearby. Really unusual stuff there at that time.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

Really. You probably know he went to run the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln division at Ford, where he was fired in 1959 or 1960. Edsel was similar to Packard/Clipper in that there were 'junior' and 'senior' lines. He and McNamara didn't get along.

IIRC Nance got out of the car business after that and went into banking, a much harder business to kill.

ab348

Quick! Get out your checkbooks and rush to Amelia Island for this gem at the Gooding auction:

https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1957-porsche-356-a-1500-gs-carrera-coupe/

I wonder if Charlie Ross will be able to get it up over $1 million.

PF_Flyer

Was at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force over the weekend and didn't expect to run into a car sighting

The Vapor Special Operations Supercar, commissioned in 2009 as a recruiting tool

PF_Flyer

And a couple of Pontiacs from this morning's background flick

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

Quick! Get out your checkbooks and rush to Amelia Island for this gem at the Gooding auction:

https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1957-porsche-356-a-1500-gs-carrera-coupe/

I wonder if Charlie Ross will be able to get it up over $1 million.

I hope whoever buys it understands that this engine is not a normal Porsche engine--it's a devil to rebuild and will cost.....a lot......probably 10% of the car's value.

I don't get their estimate though--you should be able to buy one already done for not too much more than that.

stickguy

Parking at the office today, a 70 or 71 Monte Carlo. Looked pretty clean. Rally wheels. But added double wide stripes down the hood.

fintail

Here's one not seen often these days - someone on another forum I frequent just picked this up:





I remember when I was a little kid, the aesthetics of these were eye-catching to me - so many sharp angles, and immense overhangs. Probably a 130hp V8.

xwesx

stickguy said:

man, they pack them in tight. I would not want to be responsible for parking those babies! would need about 5 spotters, and not like they are really tight handling.

I wonder if they drive them in, push them, or have them on wheel dollies? I seems like dollies would make maneuverability far greater , as well as lowering the likelihood of damage. Old iron like this isn't really known for its precise road feel.