Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
GENERAL TOPICS => Tall Tales => Topic started by: Delmonico on July 28, 2009, 06:00:57 PM
-
Well we got one one planes, got one on mostly tractors, why not. ;D
-
Sounds good to me!
-
When the tractor thread got to "Ramblin" I ran across something, I knew, but was lost in the back of my mind. ::)
Who made the fastest sedan in America in 1957?
Wern't Ford, wern't Chevy, wern't a Mopar, it was a
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rambler
The 1957 Rebel. :o
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/1957-1960-rambler-1957-1.jpg)
That's what Motor Trend said.
Rambler Measures Up
Motor Trend magazine tested an array of offerings from American companies that year and came up with the following performance numbers showing how the Rambler measures up to the competition:
Car
0-60 mph, sec.
Rambler Rebel (w/manual transmission)
7.5
Chrysler 300-C (w/manual transmission)
7.6
Plymouth Fury(w/manual transmission)
8.0
Ford Thunderbird (supercharged w/man. transmission)
8.0
Studebaker Golden Hawk (w/manual transmission)
8.7
Dodge D-500 (w/manual transmission)
8.8
Chevrolet (fuel injected)
9.0 (approx.)
According to Motor Trend's test numbers, the Rambler Rebel was the fastest stock American sedan for 1957. Only a fuel-injected Chevrolet Corvette sports car was faster overall at seven seconds flat to 60.
Car
0-60 mph, sec.
Rambler Rebel (w/manual transmission)
7.5
Chrysler 300-C (w/manual transmission)
7.6
Plymouth Fury(w/manual transmission)
8.0
Ford Thunderbird (supercharged w/man. transmission)
8.0
Studebaker Golden Hawk (w/manual transmission)
8.7
Dodge D-500 (w/manual transmission)
8.8
Chevrolet (fuel injected)
9.0 (approx.)
When he took over as chairman of American Motors in October 1954, George Romney had big plans for the Rambler. Romney wanted to continue the course set by his late predecessor, George Mason, but with some fine-tuning.
Instead of just two automotive brands, eventually there would be four: Hudson and Nash would continue as producers of big cars, while the Metropolitan and Rambler would become separate makes on their own. In Romney's view, Rambler was the brand that deserved the greatest attention because it offered the best chance of earning a large share of the volume-car market dominated by Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth.
Accordingly, resources were allocated so that an all-new Rambler originally slated for the 1957 model year could be brought to market a full year early. The new Rambler became the hope of the struggling company.
But in 1956, as was the case since 1950, Rambler offered only six-cylinder models. Meanwhile, both Chevy and Plymouth began offering V-8s in 1955 -- and they were selling at a surprisingly good rate. Ford, of course, had offered a V-8 for almost 25 years.
Romney realized that in order to compete with the Big Three makes, Rambler, too, would have to offer an eight-cylinder engine. A large-displacement V-8 was being developed for the Nash and Hudson senior lines, so the program was expanded to also include a smaller-displacement version of that engine. It would be available in the 1957 Rambler, although the engine actually debuted in March 1956 in the Nash Ambassador Special and Hudson Hornet Special. Concurrently for '57, Rambler would shed the Nash and Hudson badges it had worn previously, becoming a separate make.
Thus, when the new 1957 cars were announced in autumn 1956, Rambler dealers for the first time had a product they could offer to people who desired the sensible size and advanced styling of the Rambler, but who wanted a V-8 engine under the hood. With base prices starting at $2,253 for a Super four-door sedan, the Rambler V-8 offered very good value. The big Kenosha drive away got a large number of cars out to dealerships quickly.
AMC's new V-8 engine came in two versions for 1957. Big Nash and Hudson models were equipped with a 327-cubic-inch version; with a standard four-barrel carburetor, 9.0:1 compression ratio, and hydraulic lifters, it generated 255 horsepower. Rambler V-8 models came with the 250-cubic-inch job first used on the short-lived Ambassador/Hornet Specials. It was the smallest V-8 offered in an American car in 1957, but it was surprisingly powerful for its size. With a two-barrel carb and 8.1:1 compression (some sources list it as 8.0:1), it produced 190 horses -- the same rating as the 272-cubic-inch V-8 in that year's Ford and more than the 265- or base 283-cubic-inch V-8s in the '57 Chevy.
No doubt the standard dual exhausts helped boost the Rambler's power. In addition, because it was designed around a unitized body/chassis rather than an old-fashioned body on frame, the Rambler weighed significantly less than the others, providing a more favorable pounds-per-horsepower ratio. (Of course, the Rambler was also at least seven inches shorter in wheelbase and about a foot shorter overall than the aforementioned competitors.) Rambler's torque rating was 240 pound-feet at 2,500 rpm.
The Rambler V-8 model line wasn't identical to that of the sixes. Both series offered four-door sedans and station wagons in Super and Custom trim. But the Rambler Six also offered those models in stripped Deluxe trim (although the Deluxe wagon was available for fleets only) not offered in the V-8 line. The V-8 series included a four-door hardtop station wagon not available this year in the six-cylinder line. And while both series offered a four-door hardtop, the six-cylinder version came only in midlevel Super trim, while the V-8 was available strictly as a top-line Custom.
In December 1956, AMC unveiled a third Rambler series: the awesome Rebel. At first glance, the Rebel seemed like nothing more than a very fancy Rambler V-8 hardtop sedan. But nestled under its hood was a block of dynamite -- the big AMC four-barrel 327-cubic-inch V-8 producing 255 horsepower and 345 pound-feet of torque. (For the Rebel, this engine was fitted with mechanical lifters and got a compression boost to 9.5:1.) This potent mill turned the lightweight Rambler into a veritable supercar.
-
There's a mid '60's Rambler sitting up town on my way to Wally............Buck 8)
-
Seen that pink and white 59 Classic Wagon for sale out garage saleing a while back. ;D
-
That picture looks like it was taken on the beach at Daytona, they were still racing on the beach in 57. They didn't open the speedway until 59.
-
Tom Machill (sp) who used to test for Mechanic's Illustrated used the Speedway to test and also had a lot of car shots taken on the beach till he passed in the early 70's. He articles were fantastic.
-
Yep, My Dad always had a subscription to MI and Popular Mechanics. Old Tom's articles was always interesting.
-
McCahill once wrote a car he tested handled like an eel caught inna vice. At the time, the dumb assed southerners what made stock car racin’ what it is didn’t quite know what he meant ‘n quit payin’ attention ta him. He was just too smart for the boys whut built winnin’ cars under the shade trees in the south east.
The review of the Rebel had about as much of an impact. No one entered one in the beach races in the last years of the course before the track was built.
Rambler, or AMC, had limited success in the NHRA. Bobby Allison won a couple three NASCAR races in a Matador. Mark Donahue, rest ‘im, was the last much hyped road course ‘ringer’ to win in what is now Sprint Cup racin’. Mark drove a Penske Matador to the win in Riverside in ’73.
-
When Penske quit NASCAR, Bobby bought Penske's Matador stuff and campaigned it for a couple of years as an independent. When they started using Matadors on "Adam 12" a bunch of PD's went to them. Dallas PD had some them in about 74.
-
Used to be one of these around town, the Ford, GM and Mopar guys hated him. ;)
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/69Hurst.jpg)
http://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1969-amc-hurst-sc-rambler.htm
They had traction problems but they made Gremlins with a 401 and a 4 speed. :o
-
Allison ran his own stuff all of ’73. Chevrolets with Coke sponsorship.
The most part of ’74 he ran his own Chevrolets ‘n finished the year drivin’ for Penske in the Ramblers. Again, with Coke.
All the races he entered in ’75 he drove for Penske in the Ramblers. When they got caught with an illegal motor he threw Penske under the bus. ‘Mr. Penske brings the cars, I bring the helmet’. I was there when he won both Darlington races.
’76 Penske switched to Mercury with Allison drivin’. The only Rambler start was the first race on a road course with a year old Rambler. Coke was gone.
’77 Allison bought the worn out Penske Ramblers. No wins. Never a factor for the championship.
’78 – ’80 he went with Bud Moore with Fords ‘n won 14. Never would own his own again.
-
I remember those blue Camaros sponsored by Sunoco that Mark Donahue drove in the Trans Am series for Penske.
-
Anyone remember the 1965 Dodge Dart Charger? I wouldn't have known about them except that I had one. Not new, of course, but picked up some 30 years later. It was a lot of fun but by then, parts were getting hard to get. It was a real sled, though.
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featuredvehicles/b_body/1965_dart_charger_273/index.html (http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featuredvehicles/b_body/1965_dart_charger_273/index.html)
-
I 'member it was some around when I was in HS, were 10 years old or less when I got out.
-
First I remember bein’ a Charger was ’66 when the fight between Ford ‘n Chrysler in NASCAR was beginnin’ to escalate.
Ole boy ‘cross the street bought one. Kindah a pinkish burgundy, looked faded brand new, with a milk white interior. ’66 Coronet with the ‘fast-back’ roof on it was all.
-
For the most part, them muscle cars were just warmed over sedans to one degree or another, but an interestin' part of auto history.
-
Ya all mentioned AMC. Let's not ferget the mighty Pacer er the Gremlin. I'll take a Javelin.
-
The Alabama State Patrol got some AMX's one year. There's one of them at the Museum at Talledega all decked out and also a Mustang Alabama State Patrol car.
-
Ya all mentioned AMC. Let's not ferget the mighty Pacer er the Gremlin. I'll take a Javelin.
I had a Pacer for several years till it went up in flames. Plenty of room for me, had a six and a three on the tree, got it real cheap cause it was an AMC. ;D
-
My uncle had a Marlin. Out of the Army, he went west intendin’ ta relocate in the PRK. Ran outtah gas ‘n money in Tulsa. That’s where they stayed.
The limited edition stuff. Always thought they were the beginnin’ of the end. They were awakened to aero. Ford would make a limited edition thing, Chrysler would counter. Went on for awhile then settled out. GM got back into it. Downsizin’ the cars came. The GM folks used everythin’ ‘cept Monte Carlos. They were aero junk. Nose was all wrong. The Chevrolet Division started whinin’.
NASCAR let Chevrolet add an LE nose. The Elliotts still blew ‘em away with ‘stock’ Thunderbirds. Established GM folks were enterin’ Fords. Then NASCAR let the Chevrolets put an LE backlight ‘n deck lid on their cars. Petty was still a big deal ‘n he were runnin’ Pontiacs by then. They did ‘nuff whinin’ NASCAR let ‘em put an LE nose ‘n backlight on the Gran Prix. Ta see either on the street was very rare.
All that led to the twisted, down-force things of the last generation ‘n the new car. The new car is kindah screwed up, aero ‘n suspension.
-
Weren't the Gand Prix just a hopped up Monte? Ma friends dad had one, the old fool got drunk one night and dragged it along a gaurd rail on his way home then parked it on the lawn. Didn't remember a thing in the mornin an stopped drinkin right then an there. Poor car was a mess.
-
MC, Regal, Cutlass, Grand Pricks all basically the same car, yeah.
-
MC, Regal, Cutlass, Grand Pricks all basically the same car, yeah.
If I remember right they called it back then the B chassis, the A being the full size. For the most part a reskined Chevell,Malibu and all the rest of it's more expensive cuzzin's. Chassis parts were pretty much the same.
Same with the Falcon/early Mustangs although the Mustang had a tigher steering gear box.
Camero/Firebird was based off the Chevy II/Nova, but Buick, and Olds didn't go with that one. Later Mustanges were based on the Torino, then the Pinto, but think they have their own chassis now or they may have stayed with the Pinto based one, been out of the bizzeness to long. :)
-
First I remember bein’ a Charger was ’66 when the fight between Ford ‘n Chrysler in NASCAR was beginnin’ to escalate.
Ole boy ‘cross the street bought one. Kindah a pinkish burgundy, looked faded brand new, with a milk white interior. ’66 Coronet with the ‘fast-back’ roof on it was all.
This was my ’66 Charger. Had it for a few years startin’ about ’70.
-
Thanks, I thought that was the case.
I'll never ferget the mornin when the guy was yellin "SCOTT! Did you take my car?" He was in fer a good whippin an I got ta be the lucky feller ta say, "No sir, you did that". Guess I was about 16 an that dude was skerry.
-
This was my ’66 Charger. Had it for a few years startin’ about ’70.
Back in 76-77 the boss had one like it behind the shop, 318-auto, ended up almost giving it away cause nobody wanted it, was decent for one it's age.
-
‘Bout as I remember it, Del. Rebodied stuff for marketin’. As long as the customer fell for it.
The PT Cruiser. A Neon station wagon but a bunch of Oprah watchers went Ga Ga for ‘em.
-
‘Bout as I remember it, Del. Rebodied stuff for marketin’. As long as the customer fell for it.
The PT Cruiser. A Neon station wagon but a bunch of Oprah watchers went Ga Ga for ‘em.
The 69-71 AMX was just a Javilin with the section for the back seat left out making it shorter. didn't fly, the Mustang proto-type had no back seat, story I heard is Iacoca, said nice car, but it needs at least a small back seat or it won't sell. If so I think he was right.
-
Ain’t goin’ against Iacocca. Smarter’n me. Do know the back seat in the 5.0 was big ‘nuff ta sit Andi in when she was out a baby seat. Ali, five years older, was cramped. My brief case when I drove it to werk fit. That was about it.
Folks would say they loved my sports car. Thanked ‘em but tolt ‘em there weren’t ever a sports car with a back seat. That was from Bill Boyer, a developer of the original Thunderbird.
-
T'was the way I learned it, never owned one but hung around a lot of those who did, the MG type crowd did not like folks when called there Mustang or Camero a sports car.
Only reason I never owned one was, well, the back seat thing. I HS we a lot of times took my 49 Ford cause more of us would fit in it. ;D
-
The Alabama State Patrol got some AMX's one year. There's one of them at the Museum at Talledega all decked out and also a Mustang Alabama State Patrol car.
Speakin' of Police Cars, found this yesterday, don't 'member where.
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/nice_pic_cop_car.jpg)
Said it was legit, the town used them for meter maids and for radar set-ups and let the bigger stuff do the chasin'. Kinda cute if you ask me. ;D
-
Did ya atchaly menion a part time cruiser here?
What I know as fact... part time cruiser versus standard mailbox, mailbox wins even if traffic is only goin 30 er so. Saw it with ma own two eyes. There was pieces of that car all over the road an the mailbox was standin tough. It weren't even a high speed deal. What a POS them things are. an they're ugly as sin too.
-
Never werked radar. Hated it. Revenue generator. The cars marked ‘radar’ as ‘warnin’’ ta the public were ‘n are a lie. By the time the ‘pubic’ saw ‘em they’d already been caught. No sport in that. Love ta see radar on my street. But do it honest inna unmarked car.
Duh beach had one the radar ‘Your Speed Is’ things set on Edwin t’other day. Limit is 25, 10 too slow. All’s I can say is the truck’s speedometer is just ‘bout right.
-
Got a spot I pass every day on the way to work that's out of town, bypass between 77 and I-80, just over the hill on one side and around the curve on the other, least once a week the Deputies or Staters are out there, don't need no un-marked, time they see em they're caught.
They got another one if I go through town around a curve on a one way street, they man that one on Sunday mornings and get folks on there way home from church to catch the football games, one a the Lincoln cops I know told me that.
-
I never got the point of them "yer speed is" things. We have a fixed one an a mobile on a trailor. They don't make nobody slow down cause they don't write tickets. More often than not, folks use em fer fun ta see how fast they can go. I gotta speedometer in ma truck and learned how ta read it years ago. I don't see why I have ta have another one on the side of the road. Odds are that if I'm goin too fast I already knew it cause I glance at ma dash board every now an again.
-
More often than not, folks use em fer fun ta see how fast they can go.
Give the man a cigar.
The troopers have a paved place off the shoulder where 264 runs under Va. Beach Blvd. east bound Reckon it’s the same everywhere. They nail the tourists who don’t have the time to hang ‘round for court. The limit is 55 ‘n on that stretch 70 makes ya feel like yer tied to a post. 70 is normal in traffic. 76 is Reckless.
I’m a cop, retired. Said before it’ll never wash off. But radar ‘n artificially low limits are a rip. The city ‘n state gets their cut. If that was it I wouldn’t object. But yer insurance company knows ‘n the rates go up forever..
-
I worked radar cars and Accident investigation on a government grant. It freed the regular units to answer calls and I would respond as a back-up when I wasn't busy. I didn't start writing till about 12 mph over the limit. I still wrote all I wanted to and then some. People normally don't pay attention to their speed. Their minds are otherwise occupied.
-
This was my ’66 Charger. Had it for a few years startin’ about ’70.
That's cool. I like the early ones.
-
Don't drive over the limit no more except by accident and then not more than 3-4 over. Younger days, 55 mph and a CB and a hot rod VW, yep, esp out in the open sandhill roads, might see another car every 10-15 minutes. Came over a hill one time running' a bit over 85, almost ran over the trooper in front, slowed down real quick. After 8-10 miles of 55, one of the first Mustang II Cobra's headed the other way a a good clip. Was far enough behind him he had room to uey before I got to him. As he went over the hil I opened it back up. ;D
-
We had a DPS trooper in my hometown that had a sliver Charger like that one, but it had a 426 Hemi. Those little old 8.00X14 tires would not last long.
-
I'll bet not. Man them things could scoot. I had a 318 Scamp that would grab rubber in 3 gears if ya had bald tires. The official name of the Scamp on the manual was Duster/Valiant. It was just a Dart with the Plymouth name on it.
-
The Dodge version of the Valiant was the Lancer. It came out after the Valiant. It evolved into the Dart. I remember the Dodge Demon to go along with the Duster.
-
We had a DPS trooper in my hometown that had a sliver Charger like that one, but it had a 426 Hemi. Those little old 8.00X14 tires would not last long.
That Charger only had the 318 auto, but someone had put a four barrel carb on it. They also added a rod and coil reverb unit in the trunk, for the radio. ( Found that out the first time I hit a railroad track a little too fast. CCCCLLLAANNNGGG!!!)
I was just a late teenager at the time and just like the looks of the car. I especially like the Electro Luminescent dash on the thing. It was also my first experience with hiding headlights. They never failed while I owned the car!
-
I had one of those factory reverb units in my 66 Pontiac GTO, you're right about the noise going over the RR tracks.
-
Those vacuum operated headlight covers could be fun at times. When one went by with only one side open we would say "padidle'. iF You was ridiin with a guy ya got sock him in the arm. If you was ridin with a girl ya got ta kiss her.
-
What I used to love was the rubber burners, used to cruise, find a car jacked up, would pull up to the light and point at the car and act like I was laughin at it. A bit of a pysic out esp if they had friends along. Light would turn green, they'd burn their rubber and most often look at my tail lights. ;D
Horse power don't do no good unless you got traction to use it. I only had about 125 hp so I needed to use it the best I could and not waste it ruinin' the tires. Course I got rid of all the isulation, sound deadnin' under coatin' back seat and most anything else I didn't need. ;D
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/scan0008.jpg)
Course I didn't weigh as much back then either. ;)
-
Del, There is a lot of us that were skinny when we were young. I weighed about 180 when I was in HS.
-
There's a lot ta be said fer fat an happy. Ain't no denyin it.
-
OK right thread: ;D
Worst thing about them durn fold in/fold out headlights was when the wrecked em and you fixed em, they'd watch them to make sure they opened and closed at the same speed. Most didn't before the wreck but they never bothered to check. Only did that in the TV comercials.
-
Leo, I ain't changing mine! Deal with it!
-
I had a new Duster( 70) with the slant 6 and later on( quite a bit) a '71 Dart Swinger, also with the slant 6. The Swinger was my work car and once I got a few things fixed, it was a good one. Liked to cry the day I wrecked it in an ice storm. Slid into a parked car, nothing I could do but go along for the ride and watch the hood crumple up. Drove it home, but while I was in the house calling my insurance, the frame broke where the torsion bar went through it. ::) :o :( :-\
-
I drove a lot of Plymouths, Dodges, and even one Chrysler(79 Newport) as police cars. I only owned one Mopar, a 1974 New Yorker coupe with a 440 in it. I wore that car out between DFW and Houston every weekend for over a year to visit my my Dad in the hospital before he died. It was a runner, not very good gas milege though.
-
but while I was in the house calling my insurance, the frame broke where the torsion bar went through it. ::) :o :( :-\
They sometimes did that when they were not wrecked, had one do that down by the farm, had to trailer it to Lincoln, ended up changing the stub frame cause it was cheaper than a different car and had more time an muscle back then than money. ::)
-
I owned two different Dodge Tradesman vans whilst layin carpet. The old style bodies on both. One was 318 an the other was the 340. I killed em both but it were my fault. First one was a 71 an I didn't change out the radiator hoses after it had sat fer years. The second one is embarrasing. The fuel filter clogged so I replaced it in the parking lot of an auto parts store. The fuel filter on the 73 was located UNDER the frame so when I changed it out the carb lost it's prime. There weren't no gas station around an I didn't have anymore cash on hand ta buy strating fluid. I had a can of Ronsonol in the van so I opened the doghouse an squirted that stuff in there. I now know that naptha is very bad fer engines. It washed the rings dry an that thing smoked an spit oil from that day forth. But, ta Dodges benifit the thing got me from Missouri ta Hollister even after that. That's a long way.
-
LOL, Del. Sounds like that VW would keep up with my car back then. I bought this one when I got out fof the Army in 1968 because I wanted to move a little. I hopped it up quite a bit and it really got along. Great fun, those 4 cyls were. I wasn't much bigger than you were, then.
-
LOL, Del. Sounds like that VW would keep up with my car back then. I bought this one when I got out fof the Army in 1968 because I wanted to move a little. I hopped it up quite a bit and it really got along. Great fun, those 4 cyls were. I wasn't much bigger than you were, then.
Yep, I had the heavy sway bars, the good shocks and tires, the solid steel motor mounts and the nasty clutch, most likey what screwed up my left hip.
I remember one time I was last in the drive, Dad grabbed it to run to the store, had the dame distributor as the Spyder Porshe had in it, about 35 defrees advance and all in by 1500 rpm, made an interestin' power curve. Our street was gravel, heard the engine rev and Dad let off the clutch to hit the pavement, heard it bog and he fed it the gas, heard the tire scream. ;D
Mom looked at me and tried not to laugh and said I should park it on the street or he'd get a ticket if I didn't. ::) ;D
-
Prolly the fastest car I ever had other than the BMW was ah 80 Buick Skylark.
We was doin' over 80 on the way back from "the Hunt" on Saddy night. Had ah rear tier go out and didn't even feel it till I slowed down to get off on the Ramp. The dang thing was actually flying.
-
Hit a gradual dip inna ’63 Falcon. She got airborne. Clutch ‘n brake pedals turnt inta rudder pedals. Hood, deck lid ‘n doors were control surfaces. I actually flew it home. ORF tower was really pissed.
-
This was my magic flying car:
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/scan0004.jpg)
Lucky I never rolled it end to end, came dang close once. Big dip on a gravel road north of me I'd never been on, saw it coming, tried to slow and went airborne nose down, hit them front tires it almost went over. ::)
Was fine as long as you landed on it's ass with the tires spinning a it. Used to be 6" 2", lost a half inch, lower four vertebrae are fused, and never had them worked on. Dr. Hanke and I thinl it's the beasts fault. More stupid stuff from younger days. Should have had better seats, but they were better than VW, 64 ford Galixie Buckets some one gave me.
-
We ustah due dat on nah dip at ah RRXing. Tossed ah feller in the back seat to the roof one time in the Montego . Tawlk about ah Rag.
If ya cut on the left turn signal and put yer foot on the brake pedal..... The Radio would play....with out the Keys, from the factory.
Anunnder cool car was ah Barracuda.... Man, was that back glass cool. The Push button shift was MADE ta do burnouts wid.
Sweet mud buggy!
Ya'll remember the VW Thing? The WWII kooble car?
-
I paid for it. The flyin’ car Wizards materialized in my bed room. I was atomized ‘n taken to Planet 13. There, I was thrown inta bed with Momma Whiz. Knowin’ my only way back home wuz ta wear ‘er out, I did. Last I saw they were werkin’ CPR on the wretched ole gal.
I passed out ‘n woke up in my bed back home. The Falcon in the drive, never ta fly again..
Del, the answer is I had ta take ‘nother pill ‘n can’t sleep. Might as well play with the….
-
Good luck, I'm off to bed.
-
I think everyone did stupid stuff in their cars when they were young, I know that I did. Before he was elected Sheriff, my Dad knew all the LEO's in the county. I had to behave myself around town or he would be the first to hear about it.
-
I done some things on them iron ponies that was plain dumb. musta had an angel on ma shoulder. Had to.
-
seems like that being young brings on that devil may care attitude with cars. Done too many things back then to hardly remember, was awful lucky with them close calls.
-
The red one would move, you could peg the 90 mph speedometer and it would keep goin' faster for a bit. Then it wouldn't go no faster and the speedometer would wobble. Durn bugs would have a slight frontend lift at what was 'spossed to be right at 100 and lose enough areo-dynamics it slowed. Least that's what the experts said. Fast enough.
We worked on it one night in the shop after work, headed out on I-80 west, CB said I had a clear shot and lost a rear tire at about 85. ::) Took my foot off the gas and rode it out. Tire was shot, so was the rim, kept the shiny side up though.
Had the suspension set up so it would corner like a real sports car, fun little car, don't want one like that no more, might get in trouble.
-
seems like that being young brings on that devil may care attitude with cars. Done too many things back then to hardly remember, was awful lucky with them close calls.
In motorsicklin they got a thing called a poker run. Ya follow a route an stop at certain places ta draw a card. At the end they have prizes fer the highest an lowest hand. I pulled outta the second ta last stop which was on a windy mountain road an was stuck bahind at least a hunnert other bikes. Pulled her over crost the double yella an nailed it. Leanin that thing in ways it weren't made ta be leaned an throwin sparks the whole way. Wore off one of the exhaust brackets and the primary case fluid plug. I passed em all but man that was STUPID. That's one of the reasons I've retired from 2 wheeled activities. Somethin gets inta ya. (but it was fun)
-
Hopefully we get smarter as we get older and not take any dangerous chances.
-
Oh, I'm Johnny Cautious these days. I just look back an wonder how in the world I'm still here. My main mission these days is ta make it ta bed at night an wake up in the mornin with Lil next ta me. Seem ta be doin ok with that so far...
-
Played in the snow with that beast:
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/scan0003.jpg)
as much as mud. Had a set of chains slightly to small to go in the tires, could not get then hooked. Simple, pull the cores out, and toss a sissiors jack or floor jack uner it and lift up the back, put them on and re-air them to about 10 lbs. Never came loose.
We'd hit the back roads and they ones that wern't plowed sometimes had drifts 3 feet deep or so, just don't slow down, hit it and tabbogon over them on the floor pan, could be 100 feet long and you'd still make it fine.
Was fun to do with someone whoed never done it before, freaked em out when they could feel the floor move up under their feet. ;D
-
Leo, didn't find the exact add I wanted, but this one will do:
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/1949NashAd-e.jpg)
and now you know why nice girls don't date guys with Nash's. ::) :o ;D
1949 Nash Ambasador ad, the full size one. Note it had coil springs all the way around as well as it having unii-body construction.
-
I remember seeing the old black and white Nash squad cars on Superman.
-
That's the equivalent of "don't date boys with vans" taday.
-
Da Buick was ah Hatchback. :o
::)
:-X
-
I done some things on them iron ponies that was plain dumb. musta had an angel on ma shoulder. Had to.
I think we all did. I sure did my share.
-
Cracked the nose cone on the gear box on the beast, made it hard to shift and the shifter would torque over a bit. Got another one, little brother was 16-17 and had helped put the bug he drove together. Paid him to put it in, $20 bucks and lunch. The bolts on the solid steel gearbox mounts looked a bit abused. Gave him some cash and he went and bought new ones and put them in.
Went out and jumped it the next day, limped back about 20 miles in second, was stuck there. didn't realize he missed the class on bolts, he just bought grade 2's, snapped half them right off. ;D Showed him the three lines on the heads of the old ones, the no lines on the new ones and off we went to a parts house and got ones with 5 lines. ;D
-
That was a lesson well learned.
-
On a slightly different track, as I was telling Leo today there are two folks here in Lincoln that have finished their third book of pictures and memories of Lincoln and are getting started on a 4th. Met them this weekend and bought their new book. They asked me to send them some memories of growing up here and any old pictures I know of. did some searching today on American Memory and found these two jewels from 1942 in downtown Lincoln, color slide. ;D
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Local%20history/1a34278r.jpg)
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Local%20history/1a34271r.jpg)
Some nice cars in them.
-
Had to make a run for bullets this morning, and the route took me up thru Virginia City there and back. On the way up I was slowed down by a nice ’68 Corvette. On the way back passed a fully restored Metropolitan in white and turquoise. Then Got slowed up thru VC by a pretty Shelby Cobra.
This week is Hot August Nights here in Reno! From now until this coming Sunday we will be covered in restored classic cars and trucks!!
-
I would have liked to have been there for that!
-
I would have liked to have been there for that!
They do it every year Pop, ya need ta take a drive up an see it sometime. Or the Rib Cook Off. Or the Blues Fest. It sure is a fun town even if ya don't gamble.
-
TL
Just got started last weekend, and runs through this comin’ Sunday. Still time to get here! Our monthly shoot is Sunday too. Bring you’re guns and join us. A lot of our group will be up in Idaho for the Idaho State Championships, we'll be a nice small cozy group.
-
I just got back from San Antonio lastnight, I put about 700 milea on my pickup on that little jaunt. I need to rest my butt. I would fly up there if I came.
-
Very cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlQo4Xt59PU&feature=related
-
Very cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlQo4Xt59PU&feature=related
Isn't that serviceman Eric Fleming AKA Gil Favor on Rawhide?
Slim
-
Looked like him.............. ::) 8)
-
Yessir, That's Mr. Favor. I can remember my Dad wearing one of those shop coats when he was Service Manager at our Ford Dealer.
-
There are some cool old car ads and promo stuff over there. Watched an 8 minute one when it was slow this morning on developing the 49 Ford.
-
Tripped o’er this lookin’ for another.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TRHinTPu5I&feature=related
Seems I remember sumthin’ ‘bout the crank lookin’ thingys on the door panels but I can’t remember what they were for.
-
Howdy folks,
Good to see other motorheads here! ;D A subject after my own heart (but only pre-72 or thereabouts).
At the Franklin, TN, 4th of July, before my band played, me and the missus were checkin' out the car show and ran across this:
(http://www.dorseyfoto.com/73/hudsonhornet0.jpg)
The owner came over and started chattin'...turns out he raced these things professionally, and was a champeen driver. I'm tryin' to remember, was it NHRA? NASCAR? Shoot, I don't know, I'm a drag bike afficionado, not cars...
Enny way, this beaut makes the word "cherry" sound like an insult. This thing was E-Macullate! And still on the road. And still fast as sh-t through a goose!
(http://www.dorseyfoto.com/73/hudsonhornet1.jpg)
(http://www.dorseyfoto.com/73/hudsonhornet2.jpg)
-
(That's the owner/driver, above, and my beeyootiful wife, below)
Figgered out what it is, yet?
It's a '51 Hudson Hornet!
(http://www.dorseyfoto.com/73/hudsonhornet3.jpg)
-
Yep, Them Hudson Hornets dominated the Nascar races in 51,52, and 53. Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas were the two main drivers.
-
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/Hudson_Coupe.jpg)
Low center of gravity, 308 CID Flat Head in-line six, dual carburetors 170 Hp from the factory. Very low center of gravity, lower than any other on the market at the time.
Guy I knew in HS had one he was restoring, ran into him at a stop light one night in my 49 Ford V8, walked away from me like I was standing still.
-
I would love to have one of those old Hudson's like that and restore to look one of the old Nascar cars.
-
Now here's one we all should remember.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKDhJL1BNdc&feature=related
-
Del, I don't ever remember seeing that commerical in 68. The big thing with the 68 was the rubber front bumper. I wish I still had my 66 GTO.
-
I saw a 68 Charger this evening.
Slim
-
Those 68 Chargers looked fast, just sitting still. I love the Superbirds and the Dodge Daytonas with the wings.
-
A good friend of mine got a Dodge Challenger R/T in '70. That was one of the wickedest muscle cars ever made. I can't remember whether it had a 383 or a 440 magnum, but it had so much pent-up fury, you could chirp the tires every time you started from a stop, unless you were real careful. And if you just stomped the gas, it wouldn't even move, just throw out a thunderhead of smoke and screamin' rubber!! :o
-
It would be worth a lot of money, especially if it had the 440 Six-Pack option.
-
A friend of mine from the neighborhood had a '70 Challenger with the 340. Kind of a metallic copper or brown with the same color interior and a brown vinyl roof. beautiful looking ride, and sounded wicked. He had it for about three months and rolled it in a corn field..........TOTALLED................Buck ::) :o :-\
-
I had a friend in college that bought a new 68 Baracuda with the 383 and a 4 speed. It was a screamer.
-
The 383 was a darn fine engine. I had one in a Coronet 440, long ago. In fact, it's one'a my favorites, just below the chevy small block V8's (307/ 327/350) that I've always loved.
-
It was a tough engine. The only Mopar I ever owned was a 74 New Yorker coupe with a 440. It ran pretty good for a big car.
-
I had a 71 Newport with a 383. Plenty of power.
I had a 77 Charger with a 400 after that. It was a dog compared ta the 383.
Slim
-
In 79, Mopar came out with a Police package Newport. I got issued my 79 in 80. It had a 360 4 barrel. In 80, they went back to the Gran Fury, which also had the 360. The 81 model had a 318 in it, it was a dog. They down-sized the Gran Fury in 82, but kept the 318. It was a dog. We drove them until 84, then I moved to the county. We had either Fords or Chevys.
-
And now an interesting video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk&feature=player_embedded
Look it over, watch it a time or two, first saw it the thing surprised me how bad the 59 was tore up, figured the 09 passengers had a better chance than the un-belted ones in the 59, but expected it to fare better. Thought about it and remembered something, not a true honest test, but they would need several more 59's to do it fully, see if you can figger out what they did to make it so bad.
-
The crash was offset and not straight headon.
-
The crash was offset and not straight headon.
Yep with that x frame (top frame in picture)
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/Delmonico_1885/Cars/ccrp_0910_01_zjunkyard_crawl1958_ch.jpg)
the way it was hit, the frame rail works like a big lever.
-
They should try that with an old twin I beam Ford an see what happens. I think you would see some differnt results. It'd be like a jackhammer goin through that new car.
-
They should try that with an old twin I beam Ford an see what happens. I think you would see some differnt results. It'd be like a jackhammer goin through that new car.
Would not go through it like happened to the 59, modern cars with they're crush zones and the less crushable passenger compartment are very safe and absorb the shock instead of transfering it to thepassengers. Would far rather be in a wreck in one of them than any car built 30 years ago and more.
Today the car is more disposable as it should be, saves lives and keeps badly rebuilt wrecks off the road.
-
I don't know about them new cars. I was in heavy trafic in 35 zone an saw what happens when a PT cruiser hits a regular old stationary blue mail box. Mail box did just fine, PT flung parts all over the road. If they puts wheels and an engine in US Postal mail boxes I'd buy one.
-
I had a friend of mine build a meat smoker out of one of those old mail collection boxes. It was a good one. I don't know what ever happened to it after he passed away.
-
PT flung parts all over the road.
The idea is not to have human parts all over the road, bet the folks in it walked away.
-
I'd rather be in my modern ford f-150. I'm relatively certain it'd take out anything smaller than a small tank. ;D
-
I'd rather be in my modern ford f-150. I'm relatively certain it'd take out anything smaller than a small tank. ;D
Well yes bigger is always better, but would take that 09 Chevy in a wreck that a much older large vehicle.
-
Hows about a DeSoto? I'm sure you'll say no. Deusenberg? Alot of folks survived wrecks in both of them.
-
Leo, It makes me sick to think about wrecking a Doozie if I had one, not quite as sad if I have a DeSoto. They made last one in 61.
-
My great grandmother had a Doozie an that thing was a tank. She used ta take us ta Bob's Big Boy in it fer burgers an real strawberry milkshakes.
-
Leo, Too bad you didn't inherit it, they're worth a bunch of money nowdays. I went to their Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Imperial Palace in Vegas has some of them their car collection. Jay Leno has 7 in his car collection.
-
I have no idea what happened to that car. It was most likely the reason for the break in at her house that led to her death. I imagine my grandmother had it sold before I was even old enough to drive. She came out from Missouri on a buck board so that car was quite a step up.
-
Those cars cost about $20,000 when they were built in 1929.
-
Well, I finally got my bike's gas tank done. It spent the whole summer in a local bike shop to get welded. Those guys lied to me, took 3 months, then gave it to me damaged. They said they were gonna fix where they'd knocked holes in the paint (into airbrushed graphics). After 3 weeks and no word, I went to them, gut cussed by the owner who said he wouldn't do a damn thing to fix it. During the 3 month ordeal they never would call to counsel me or talk about progress. When it was done they wanted me in the shop that day. With cash.)
In decades of ridin', I've seen more snakes and rats in the motorcycle business than any zoo.
Took the tank to a local Maaco auto body shop. They really admired the graphics. Told me they'd do what they could to fix it, called the same day to express their concern and offer a couple of alternatives. Took them 1 week. They fixed the dings fer free. Did a great job. And it was cheap.
With all this rain, I'm wonderin' when the heck I'm gonna get back on the road. ???
-
Them leaky gas tanks are a real pain.
-
Them leaky gas tanks are a real pain.
I tell you, TL, I'm almost afraid to put gas in it. If it still leaks I'm gonna be tempted to just put a match to it! >:(
-
We fixed gas tanks once in a while at the shop. Dad used a big soldering iron instead of a torch. He used copper to patch holes. I've seen him use a penny for the patch.
-
I had a solid mount tank on a chopper once that ended up cracked. I ended up chucking it and used rubber grommets on the new one and a red rubber ball shoved under the tunnel. That one lasted me til the motor blew. I rattle canned everything back then so paint was no concern.
Yer right about all the snakes and rats JD. Handed over an engine to a shop once and was told I'd have it back in a week. I called every week fer 6 months and got excuses. I finaly used the money I had ta pay for it an bought another bike. No sooner than I did that, the shop calls me an says it done, come an get it. I tolt em ta sell it ta someone else. Boy did they cry an cry.
-
Leo, Ain't that always the way it happens.
-
I finaly used the money I had ta pay for it an bought another bike. No sooner than I did that, the shop calls me an says it done, come an get it. I tolt em ta sell it ta someone else. Boy did they cry an cry.
That's a good one, Leo. ;) If I didn't already have so much money sunk in my tank (and sentimental value), I wish I coulda done the same.
TL, that's a darn handy tip. If I find a crack I may try that. It wouldn't have worked on the present problem, tho. They hadta cut off the entire rear mounting bracket and re-weld it on. If my back ain't hurtin' as much tomorrow (threw it out a coupla days ago) I'm gonna bolt it back on and fire up the Beast. ;D
-
Late September in Tennesee you havn't got much time left til spring. Hope yer back heals up.
The other bike I bought with the engine money was a 1974 Moto Guzzi Police Special El Derado. I sold that bile years ago but there are still some folks left around that only know me as Guzzi Tom. Ownin an ridin that thing was just plain cool.
-
A Guzzi--now that's a class ride! Way back in high school, a teacher of mine had a one cylinder bike, think it was an old Guzzi. One big-@ss cylinder, went Ka-Punk Ka-Punk Ka-PunkaPunkaPunka... ;D
-
I can remember back in about 74, Irving PD bought a bunch of the Guzzis. I don't think they kept them very long. Then just about everybody startin' ridin' Kaws when CHiPs was on. Now most folks went back to HD.
-
I've seen some PDs usin those space aged lookin BMWs lately. My Guzzi had the transverse vee engine in it and a shaft drive. It always attracted a lot of attention when ever I went ta a bike event. Very reliable too and quick once you dumped the stock exhaust. I found a company that made fishtails that fit it, they sounded great, looked great and increased the bikes performance.
-
I've only seen one of those Beemer Cop bikes. That one was a personal one that the owner bought to do escorts on his days off.
-
Here in Nashville, the police used to ride Harleys, then they went to the 4 cyl Honda 750's, and now they have modified...Road King HD's (I think they're RK's). I was cruisin' downtown on one of my harleys a few years back and a motorcycle cop waved me over with a scowl on his face. I thought "oh sheeyut, what now?" He looked up and down my bike as I was wondering what modified part might earn me a ticket. Then he said "you need to wash yer bike." ;D :o 8)
Well, I mounted the tank today. It was a pain in the butt--the painter painted over the rear bolts so I had to take some paint off to get the nut to fit. Then I installed the new petcock. Had to run to the Home Depot to get some washers because the new mounting hardware's a little different than the old. Tinkered around with the tank trying to get everything lined up, bolted it down. Went to hook up the fuel line and realized the petcock I have is a straight outlet, and I need a 90 degree!!!!! :-\ :o :P
-
I hate that when it happens. I always end up having to go back to the parts store a couple of times when I'm tinkering.
-
as far as I am away from town, if there's a chance in hell it might be different than what I think, I get every configuration, straight, 90, 45, wound in a circle if they got one. I'll buy one, one size bigger, one size smaller, 6 inches longer, 6 inches shorter, just allmost every size, length, diameter, everythihng, you'd be surprised at the amount of extra parts you can accumulate over a lifetime of living away from town. ;)
but there's no tellin how many times buying everything has saved me a trip back to town and a lot of times I'll need the other configuration sooner or later anyway. ;D
-
I'm with you OT. I used ta have a parts stash that filled an entire garage. At least one of everything.
JD, did ya get a Pingle? They are pricey but very much worth it. My S&S wouldn't run right without one.
-
With number of things that OT has to keep running, an extensive parts inventory is essential.
-
The petcock I put in was from my parts stash. Useta have more junk saved up but when we moved back from AZ I had to dump every extra pound I could find. Man, there's so much junk I miss... :( I've got some pack rat in me fer sure.
Leo, I might have to get somethin' like you suggested. This monster engine breathes through a 48mm Mikuni carb, and it takes a lot of gas to keep that thing runnin'. Just hope I can afford it... :-\
-
Last Pingle I bought was about a C note. Sounds like a bit much but wait until you have it feedin that Mikuni. Other companies offer high flow valves fer lower prices, but I swear by the Pingle. They come in different gas line configurations so you can get just what you need. Trust me, it is a worthy investment for a big carb and a big motor.
They look cool too.
-
It's getting about time to get the oil changed in the GMC before I go to Nebraska in a couple of weeks. I need to wash it to get all the fallout from our pecan trees off it. Other than that it should be good to go.
-
If yer goin ta see Del don't bother with the washin. Rumor has it that he looks down on such activity.
-
If yer goin ta see Del don't bother with the washin. Rumor has it that he looks down on such activity.
I bet that's true! ;D Might want ta splash some extra mud on yer truck, too, TL!
That Pingle sounds pretty good. I doubt they have one at the harley haberdashery store. May just get a cheap one there and order a Pingle. Need to find out first whether the tank still leaks. If it does, probly gonna have to retire it and get a new one.
-
I'm gonna start out with a clean truck, especially the inside. It's almost 800 miles up there one way. It won't stay clean on the outside for very long.
-
Well, I drove out to a shop that said they could get a Pingle, and there wasn't anybody there. Me and the dogs waited, drove around, called an' got the answering machine, went back... No luck. So I called and went to the tank fabricators. Turns out he had my old petcock (and never bothered to call to return it). I drove over there and got it--it's a Pingle.
Put everything together and put in some gas. No leaks. But it won't start. When I hit it with the ether it'll crank up and go off like a bomb (scared the hell outta the dogs), run a few seconds, then die. So it isn't getting gas. The battery ain't great, either. Got it jumped off the truck. Need to go get some more gas in the can to get the level in the tank up. Maybe I'll pull the plugs and change em'. What a PITA. >:(
-
I never minded workin' on other people's stuff when we had the garage, I just hated to have to work on my own stuff.
-
Well JD, the positive side is you already had a Pingle and were blessed by the other guy not being open when you were ready ta give him money. (after years of workin on them things I learned ta find the positive side)
If your tank was in fer welding, there could be some slag in there. I would drain the thing an disassemble the petcock. Replace the fuel line too. If you are getting ignition with the starting fluid but not with gas from the tank the next step would be ta check the float valve on the carb. If you do drop the bowl, blow out the jets while yer in there. Nothin wrong with changin the plugs, but if it's igniting I'd lean toward a fuel problem.
Another thought...are you using the same gas cap since the repair? A non vented cap will give you simalar problems.
-
Great suggestions, Leo. Thanks. That's an interestin' thought about the gas cap. I'll see if it's vented. I agree with you--it's a gas problem, I'm pretty sure.
I got the plugs cause the old ones were crapped out with carbon and needed changin', anyway. And I figured that even though the problem ain't the spark, anything I could to do get it to fire better would help. Plus, I want to do the easy stuff before I get into carb surgery.
Earlier, I coulda sworn I saw gas shooting outta one of the jets, but this afternoon it was looking kinda dry in the barrel and I didn't see anything spraying when I opened the throttle. I'll take another look tomorrow. Could be the jets're clogged from sittin' so long. Also, the way the gas feeds from the tank (the petcock is in a bad place), I might need to put another gallon or 2 in.
Since yer such an optimistic, sunny-side-a-life guy, Leo ;D I should mention that there ain't no gas leakin' from the tank. That's a downright blessing! :)
-
PS: I swished gas around in the tank and drained it before I mounted it. And I bought some fuel line and replaced the crossover line in front, but not the line to the carb--was too eager to get it running and it's kinda hard to get in there to change the line out. Probably was a case of a stitch in time saves nine or some such... :P
-
Check yer in line filter. Those 3 dollar plastic ones fer volkswagons work great. They also let ya know if you got flow. They aint perty but they sure do work.
-
Maybe the repairs will cure your problem.
-
I have been victim ta more "last thing ya'd ever think of" problems than I can count. If I can help in anyway, it'll do my heart good.
-
I learned a lot by watching my Dad while I was growing up. I got my first car at 14, which was a fixer uper. I learned from my mistakes. The most headaches for me was building race engines and keep the cars together.
-
This will sound crazy, but I think sometimes a vehicle doesn't want ta be fixed at a particular time. I have banged ma head against the wall trying to get something right and it just won't go. I walk away from it fer awile an when I get back to it everything goes tagether. I don't do anything different than I was doin bafore, the machine just decides ta cooperate. That's why all my stuff has always had women's names. I can list them all, Jezabelle, Isabella, Sadie, Magnalena and Misty. Had a car named Betsy and my current vehicle is named after Blaze Starr cause it's a Blazer.
-
Leo, That's happened to me a few times. Be sure and don't name any of your vehicles Christine. A friend of mine was helping me build a 327 race motor. We started drinking beer and I don't remember anything. We finished the engine and the guy picked the motor up. He put in his car and took it to Amarillo that weekend to the NHRA drags. He won his class and set ET and MPH records. I never drank beer anymore during the assembly, only when it was finished. I never told the guy what we did. I don't recommend drinking and mechanic work at the same time.
-
I sure appreciate the help, fellas.
I believe in magic when it comes to cars and bikes. I call it Voodoo Mechanics. Ages ago I was helping a girl get her car fixed. It wouldn't start, despite all our tinkering. Finally, I told her, "I'm gonna Lay Hands on it, and it's gonna fire right up." I placed my hands on it for a minute, then told her to turn the engine over, and it cranked up! True story.
-
A well placed kick usually works for me.
-
A well placed kick usually works for me.
We've often used the BFH technique. ;D
-
Good morning/afternoon, Gents. I've been readin' up on your mechanical adventures, and reminiscing on some of my own. I have been wrenchin' and hammerin' on stuff since I was a tad, sort of seem to have come by it natcherly, somehow. It has to have been passed in my genes, but it skipped a generation, and must be selective; my Dad, and my Li'l Bro didn't/don't have it.
I never had much care for "Crashler" products, although I did own a couple, and used a lot of them at work; I gotta say that for the most part, they were tough; we beat the he&* out of the stuff at work, and it seldom failed us; it might limp a lot, but it usually kept going enough to get back to town. I had a '69 Dodge A100 short wheelbase van for a couple of years, and it was always presenting me with one puzzle or challenge, or another, and I took it as a real pain in the a&*. I sold it to qualify to buy our first house, and thought good riddance. Actually, though, the Mopar performance cars of the sixties and early seventies were exciting and imperssive machines. The parking lot where I was based looked like a local downtown car show of today, with a number of Mopars, GMs, and Fords of the Muscle Car persuasion; I had a '68 Chevelle SS396 that ran 12 second quarters at OCIR and Lyons and Irwindale; it was our first "family" car - we bought it when my Bride was too pregnant to climb into our 4x4, or squeeze into the hot rod, and we needed a real "car" for the expected youngster. So both of our boys came home from the hospital in a race car, and later, they learned to drive in modified 4x4s and performance oriented cars; even our first station wagon, a '70 Chevy Kingswood Estate, had an early "shelf built" 383 Mouse Motor in it in 1973. A neighbor had a '72 impala with a 400 in it that sucked a valve and boogered the block, but the crank was good, so I gave him a few bucks toward a new engine, and took the old crank off his hands; I picked up a nearly new '73 350 block from another buddy, and voila: a 383. It was a runner, too. Back then, 383 Chevys were not a real hot thing, yet; today, ervery Tom, Dick, and Harry seems to have one. Nowadays, I have a '59 Chevy pickup that is in the process of being "resto-rodded", and my "daily" is a '02 Toyota Tundra 4x4 that is looking for a new suspension system in the future - funds available, of course.
On two wheels, my fist ride was an Ariel 500 single that belonged to a Navy buddy - I called it a leg buster. He let me ride it most any time I wanted, and it was a pretty good starting platform. I picked up a '59 Triumph 500 Twin for my very own first ride - actually my only own bike; I had three wrecks on that thing - wild youth and immortality, ya' know - and decided maybe I ought not to do that anymore. I sold it broken after the last mishap, and only rode the occasional odd bike after that. Had a friend who was a mech for a Honda/Yamaha dealer, and I got to ride one of their bikes from time to time. But my Bride is dead set against me being on only two wheels, so I restrain myself just to keep the domestic tranquility intact. That must be why I always drive with my windows open and the wind in my face. ;) ;D
-
Hairy, have ya ever seen an Ariel Square Four? That was a cool bike.
I had the opposite problem as you when I sold my last one...the wife cried her eyes out. Good thing we had the guns ta fall back on for fun.
-
Buck, I hope you have better luck with the delivery folks than I have. I've got 2 revolvers and a 30/40 Krag floating around somewhere. The Krag is lost and the Post Office is doing a trace on it. It is supposed to have been insured. The 2 revolvers were mailed from Florida on the 21st and have not surfaced yet.
-
Oh, yeah!! I rode an Ariel Square Four from San Diego to L.A. for a guy; that was a sweet bike, smooth compared to my Trumpet. He was broken, and wanted to get his bike to his folks place, so I volunteered, then caught a ride back to S.D. on the P-pad of my buddy's Beeser. Man, that was a rough ride; two 180 pounders on a BSA 500 twin. I walked funny for a couple of days after that. One day in the late seventies, I was coming out of the bank and heard a familiar but strange sound; you know, the kind of thing that you know what it is but can't get it to focus? Well, all at once it came to me, and I started looking for it; sure enough, a guy went riding by on a Square Four. It was restored, and the red and silver paint was perfect; along with the sound of those four cylinders humming through straight pipes. Neat.
-
There is a rich history bahind those Beezers. BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms and had been in business under that name for over 200 years. A gun maker gone biker, seems fitting.
-
Leo, I remember seeing a lot of BSAs and Triumphs back in the 60s. I was really a car guy back then. I really didn't get into bikes till I saw "Easy Rider",
-
Leo, I remember seeing a lot of BSAs and Triumphs back in the 60s. I was really a car guy back then. I really didn't get into bikes till I saw "Easy Rider",
That movie got a lot of people into it. Most of em missed the point. It wasn't meant to glorify a lifestyle it was meant to show stupidity. Everywhere Captain America an Billy went they met rooted folks an they just kept cruisin along. Dennis Hopper still beats his head against the wall over that movie an Peter won't even talk about it.
-
Wonder what Jack thinks about it? "Nick Nick Nick Nick....AHHhhhh!" ;D
-
I would not think that Dennis remembered much about it, considering the amount of dope he injested during that time period. Pete is sorta like the Carradine boys, STRANGE!
-
It was supposed ta be full of all sorts of symbolism but most who saw it just thought "Wow, cool bikes". They spent all that time trying ta get ta Mardi Gras an wasted all there time there on a bad acid trip. Then they died. The end.
-
Easy Rider was released in 1969, first year I was in college, I was takin a class where our assignment was to go see it and set through it a few times and then we disscussed it., the teacher was sure it would be a cult classic
Well
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid came out that summer too, now I really enjoyed it and was more impressed with it, but the teacher never did see it that way. ;D I guess it's just all in your tastes
used to be a lot of pretty good movies back then.
-
Most of them had perty good sound tracks back then. They used current music instead of studio orchesrtra stuff.
Gotta agree with you, Newman an Redford made a much better team than Hopper an Fonda.
Oh dear, this thread is beginnin ta drift ::)
-
well it ain't drifted too far, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had steam trains and bicycles. ;D and Dennis Hopper was in True Grit and I think there was train in it :o ::)
-
OH SH ! Raindrops keep fallin' my head!
-
I was just gonna post a big thanks ta OT fer gettin that song stuck in ma head. An here you come an say it first.
Cryin's not for me, no...
Well at least I'm free. Nothing's bothering me.
-
Leo, Here's hopin' it stays there for a long time!
-
Weren't that Burt that did that one? Bacharach er somethin like that. I just remember Paul ridin that bike around with the gal on the handlebars.
Leo, Here's hopin' it stays there for a long time!
Thanks.
-
Yep, I was a junior in College in 69. We saw Butch and Sundance at the Multiscreen in Guymon Oklahoma. Ol' Paul riding the bicycle with Katherine Ross on the handlebars. The Western movies, for the most part, were getting fewer in number and quality.
-
Kanza Kurt sent me this, wonder if they make a new version for a F-150, may need one soon.
http://vimeo.com/2638558
-
Wonder why it didn't catch on? ::)
-
Wonder why it didn't catch on? ::)
Might not have worked as good as the film, might not have been durable, might have been to expensive.
-
Strange looking vehicle?
-
Might not have worked as good as the film, might not have been durable, might have been to expensive.
Or perhaps all of the above. The demo came out 5 years before the depression, he prolly had it perfect right when everyone went broke.
-
During that time, most farmers didn't have the money to machinery.
-
Got to thinkin' also, most farmers would not have a way to lift that Fordson up high enough to put it together.
-
Have to have some pretty big beams in the barn and one heck of a winch........ ::) :-\
-
Some big beams and a big chain hoist.
-
Cost
-
Interesting film. Saw a film of that same idea applied to watercraft, for the military, it seems, probably back in the forties or fifties.
-
Might be from an article from Mechanix Illustrated by Tom Maycahill.
-
The only good I see with having that set up would be to pull a bob sled of hay or flat out transportation. It probably wasn't worth a dam on real hilly terrain. Go out to Montana Wyoming and the Dakotas and you can find other all terrain vehicles that would date in that era for use in snow. Not to exclude the areo cars. Many of still being used... But I am reasonable sure the cost of one, out weighed the owning of one. However give a farmer a need and a scrap pile and a long winter and they come up with outlandish contrapt(s?)ions.
-
Shop projects.
-
Building chevies in 1936;
http://www.dump.com/2011/07/15/fascinating-1936-footage-of-car-assembly-line-video/
-
That's when they had some metal in them things!. Those heavy presses remind me of the first years I had at Hoover's. Vacuums were still made of metal mostly, especially the canister models( Constellation, Slimline)........ ::)
-
Grew up pushin a Kirby. That sucker had a few pounds a metal in it. Could clamp the head ta a work bench an get all kinds of attatchments fer it, from grinding metal ta shinin shoes.
-
Electrolux or the Rainbow were the best canisters on the market in the '70's- '90's. Could strip one myself...
Got a good cussin' in the mid '70's by my aunt for the "Rainbow door to door" sales guy that talked her inta buyin' it... She's still usin' it last I hear...
-
My parents bought a Kirby from a door-to-door salesman for several hundred dollars, back when that was a LOT of money. (About 1950) They wondered if they had been had. The proof found in the pudding was that that heavy old beast kept on working for almost 50 years.
-
Just noticed this Topic...
Here are a couple of Iron Ponies I used to own. The Black one with the leather bags is a 1989 Heritage Softail. The Black one with hard bags is a 1994 Heritage Softail. The Blue one is a 1940 WL
-
The 45 inch flatty is beautiful. Them rocker clutches er a lot a fun.
-
So do any of you know why mortorcycles really have kick stands? ::) ;D ;)
-
Thanks Leo. The dumbest thing I ever did in 53 years of motorcycling was to sell that WL.
Del, The only reason I can think of is to hold the bike upright when parked.
-
Cause the gas leaks out if you lay it on it's side.
-
Wait for it, Drum roll please.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Cause it's too (two) tired and can't stand by itself. ;D
-
Geeeze, that needed a rimshot :P
-
I like my answer better, I have experience in the matter. Was kick startin an old bike in front of a Denny's an the stand snapped. Bet it was funny ta see, had ta get ta work covered in gas an lean the thing against a light post durring ma shift.
-
Got some hard bound 1930's Reader Digests, found it in that one, changed it from bicycle to motorcycle. ;D
-
Here ya go, Del.........ba-dum-dum......................CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::) ;D
-
Just ran across this, from a little over 2 years ago, the Christmas snow storm, awesome, about 60 miles west of me:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37tFRJW8JWY&feature=related[/youtube]
-
Now THAT'S a snow blower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o
-
My cousin, who is a case tractor collector, sent me this;
http://www.robertpence.com/oh_vintage_truck/oh_vintage_truck.html
-
A friend of mine sent me this link http://www.varietyvideosllc.com/about2.html
Some guy built a downsized replica of a 49' Merc from scratch.
-
Some guy built a downsized replica of a 49' Merc from scratch.
He wants somethin' unique a lot more'n I do. He got it. Hell of a job.
-
JJohnny, I had a buddy of mine that I went to College e-mail me that video, My Dad owned 4 Mercs when I was growing up, A 49, A 50, A 51, and a 52. He would have really enjoyed seeing that 49 replica.
-
Back in 1957 when I was a junior in high school you could buy a nice clean 49' or 50' Merc for $500. Of course back then $500 was all the money in the world.
-
Now a days you can't touch a nice used car for for four times that ::) :o
-
Those Merc's are classics. I would love to own a black '49 coupe with a souped-up '53 engine.
-
I'm pretty sure I've posted this before but don't remember. Ain't old age great?
My first car was a 1953 Ford Victoria 2-door hardtop... nosed & decked, no door handles, lowered 3-4" front & back, bubble skirts, lake pipes etc.
Bought it in 1956 and traded it in in 1958 for 1959 Chevy Impala Convertible. Wish I still had both of them!
-
Johnny, I love them old cars. My first car was a 56 Bel-Air 2dr HT. I bought it for 350., I fixed it up and sold it for a 1000. I wish I still had most of the cars I owned, except the 73 Vega wagon. I had a 55 Bel-Air 2dr Post and a 57 210 4dr.as well.
-
My first one was a '65 'Stang notchback. Traded it for a '66 Fairlane 500 ::)
-
I wouldn't mind having a 66 Fairlane factory drag car with 427 and 2 Fours or a 62 bubble top Bel-Air with a 409 with 2 Fours.
-
I wouldn't mind having a 66 Fairlane factory drag car with 427 and 2 Fours or a 62 bubble top Bel-Air with a 409 with 2 Fours.
There have been one of each recently on E-Bay. ;D
-
Del, They would be out of my price range. If they were original and matching numbers, they would be a minum of a Hundred Grand for each.
-
Mine was just a pedestrian 289 auto hardtop,TLD. ::)
-
I was talking about the Fairlane and a Bel-Air.
-
shouldn't that be a 1/2 49 Merc
That was labor of love
I owned a 53 Ford Custom Police bought it when I was stationed in No. Dak. The Flat head would turn slow on those cold mornings with a 6 volt battery but always turned over. Always admired the 49 merc.
-
The first two cars I remember my Dad having was 48 Packard he traded for his 52 Merc.
Funny what your remember, we went to a gas station ( remember when the attendent(s) filled your tank, cleaned your windsheild, check & filled your tires pressure, and checked the oil ? )
So on the 52 Merc. the gas filler was hidden behind the tail light , being brand new the attendent could not find it :)
I recall my Dad having to show him ;D
-
I remember them being hid bahind the license plate. They were spring loaded.
-
The 55, 56, and 57 Chevys had the gas cap in the left rear tail light.
-
The 55, 56, and 57 Chevys had the gas cap in the left rear tail light.
1955 Chev Bel-Air & 210 fuel cap behind a small door on the driver side rear panel..... on side just in front of the tail light...
1956 Behind tail light....
1957 In fin above tail light....
My First.... :'(
Got her in pieces and many of colors....took the whole summer to get here....legal to driver her a couple months later... :-*
(http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx10/yeti76620/My55BelAir_zps0ab8b36c.jpg)
-
I forgot that the 55 had a fuel door. My 55 Bel-Air 2dr post was egg shell white with a dark blue top, My 56 Bel-Air 2dr HT was metallic green/yellow, and my 57 210 4dr was orchid mist/white and I put 62 Impala hubcaps on it. The 55 was a 6 cylinder, 3 speed with overdrive, The 56 was a 265 with a 4 barrel and powerglide trans, and the 57 was a 283 with a 4 barrel and powerglide trans. My Dad did not appreciate my interest in Chevys. He was a Ford mechanic, and later he was the service manager at our local Ford dealership in Dumas. I had some Fords later on, a 63, a 64 Fastback, and a 64 Falcon Sprint 2r Ht. and a 77 Mustang 2. I owned a 66 Pontiac Gran Prix, then a 71 Caprice 2dr Ht. I had a 74 New Yorker 2dr ht with a 440. Since then I've owned new GMC and Chevy trucks and a Chevy Suburban.
-
Here is a video I got yesterday from a high school friend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=sDc0ID6PJeg&feature=youtu.be
Its a bit long but it shows some cars from the 50's. Among the neat stuff is the the fuel cap behind the tail light, a gas station attendant washing a windshield and someone using a column mounted stick shift.
Those were the days!
-
Johnny, That was a great video. I remember when my Dad had to go to OKC to a Ford school to learn how to work on those retractable hardtops. They had several electric motors to operate the mechanism. Most of it was in the trunk area. There was box in the center of the trunk area that served as luggage storage. The 55, 56, and 57 Chevys were the cars of that era.
-
One r two caddilacs had them that way too.
-
My Dad was a mechanic of some sort, all of my child hood. Most of my knowledge of auto mechanics, I owe to him. He bought me first set of Craftsman tools. I got to watch him work or cars of all makes, foreign and domestic, and when I was older, I helped him work on the vehicles.
-
Worked at a hotel that hosted a Skyliner convention every year. There would be 14 of em in the lot at one time, luggage was in the back seat acourse.
-
I don't know if we thought then we were living the time of our LIVES ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=sDc0ID6PJeg&feature=youtu.be
-
That's GREAT Major. I've always loved this music.
-
Most local TV markets back then had their own version of "American Bandstand", a place where teens could listen to music and dance. You were cool if you got on TV.
-
New Model A Ford museum;
http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/html/content_page.php?content_id=69nav_id=2
-
An oilfield promo from DODGE in the 20's
http://www.youtube.com/embed/nq2jY1trxqg?rel=0
-
Adams Farwell rotary engined car, 1906. Presently located in the National Automobile Museum, Reno, Nevada
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y0XbqHUAI-0?feature=player_detailpage
-
Been watching Jay Leno's Garage (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQMELFlXQL38KPm8kM-4Adg) lately.
Slim
-
My wife and I watched this Auto Auction in Kissimmee, Florida yesterday on TV. A Ferrari sold for $3,300,00. Hard to imagine having that kind of money to spend. https://www.mecum.com/collector-cars/results/
-
That Mecum show is one of our clients, we started setting up on Jan 2
today is the last of the load out....
They set a new record in cars bringing HUGE MONEY ! :o