A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2016, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector Chronicles ®
Volume IX, Issue 6
Exploring:
Ca
Car Collecting Today
High RPMs
Classic Rides Reports From the Field Oldsmobile (1897-2004) Cadillac (1902- ) Allanté (1987-1993)
Corvair (1960-1969)
◄ = Clickable Link
IN THIS ISSUE: High RPMs
1
Readers Respond
2
Readers’ Rides
2
Last Plymouth
3
Upcoming Events
4
Generation Y
4
Pics to Ponder
CCC® Forum EMail:
◄
OldsD88@gmail.com ◄
June 2016
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5
It has rained all night, and now all day. That, combined with the fact I am going to NC for a week, said to me it was a good time to start on this month’s issue. For the NC trip I drove my 2002 Ford F-250 with a Triton V10 engine to Cincinnati where I met up with a friend who drove the second leg. My truck has only been driven locally since I purchased it a year ago. I shall now find out what kind of gas mileage a V10 truck gets on the open road. To date, In strictly city driving, I have been averaging all of 7.47 MPG. Given the city mileage, is 10 MPG on the highway wishful thinking? We shall see! As it turns out, 10 MPG from the Triton V10 engine was in fact wishful thinking. On the highway at speeds of
70 + mph I averaged 15 MPG! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised at this turn of events. June Automotive Milestones 3-1864 R. E. Olds born in Geneva, OH 6-1925 Chrysler incorporated 6-1933 1st drive-in theater opens (Camden, NJ 7-1928 1st Plymouth built 12-1954 Packard offers tubeless tires 12-1975 Chrysler ends Imperial production 16-1903 FOMCO estab’d 17-1946 1st phone call from a car made in St. Louis. MO 18-1923 1st Checker Cab 19-1947 Tucker premieres 19-1969 Four millionth Cadillac built 20-1941 Ford signs 1st contract with UAW 22-1954 Packard and Studebaker merge 25-1956 Last "true" Packard produced in Detroit
25-1957 Last Hudson produced 26-1958 1st Nissan, nee Datsun imported into U.S. 27-1985 Route 66 decertified 29-2001 Last Plymouth built 30-1953 Corvette debuts - NYC 30-1969 Last Rambler manuf’d
- Time to uncover the car!
GDYNets® on the Web Find GDYNets on the web: ®
CCC -THE FORUM ◄-A web site to discuss the newsletter, the hobby and our cars. Car Collector Chronicles® ◄ Saved 62 ◄-Our 1962 Olds convertible, Ransom Eli Olds and things Oldsmobile related web site. The Gray Lady ◄-1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville web site.
SAVED 62: A website devoted
to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobile cars and the company founder, Ransom Eli Olds.
THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville, lots of Caddy information and an extensive repair library.
DAVE’S DEN: ◄-A site devoted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive information on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmobile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. George Yaros.
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Readers Respond I have to acknowledge that I was quite surprised by the fact that our May issue elicited more than a bit of responses from readers. The content must have struck a spark or two (pun intended)? One response was from ACDelco®. It wanted permission to use a photo I had posted on Facebook® of parading AC spark plugs. The request was received from #ACDelco100. A good thing it used Facebook® to reach me, as I do not tweet! Cincinnati reader Mark Turner reached out to share his Indy 500 experience. Mark is a journalist, regular contributor to Cincinnati Profile ◄, an online journal, and maintains his own auto related blog ◄; both recommended reads. Mark related:
“The content (of our May issue) must have struck a spark or two?”
I was doing some work for the track getting video of cars and logos. Having full access to the entire track, I wandered down to the pits so I could be there at the finish. The winning car stopped on the bricks and the media, including myself, washed out and engulfed it and the driver. There's a trick you learn when shooting video. You put your hand behind your back and feel around for people or objects. If you feel something, obviously you go a different way. Well I kept doing that as I backed up until I suddenly didn't feel anyone behind me. I took a big step and tripped over the right front tire of the winning car. My fall was partially broken by the front wing which snapped off as I hit it! Yes, I literally broke the winning car.
Better him than me is all I can say. How does one gracefully extract themselves from such an awkward circumstance? Jon Schapiro, from Long Island, wrote to confirm that SE Wisconsin is not the only part of the country experiencing day-to-day temperature differences of 30 degrees. Brian Gibbon also reached out to comment on the weather. His comment was one of “hoping for a fast winter.” That is right, he hopes winter shall be short and sweet. He may do so, as for him winter has yet to arrive. Brian hails from Australia, where while cars are right hand drive, they are driven on the left side of the road and winter is on the near horizon.
Readers’ Rides The emails from Jon and Brian sparked (Yes, I know the AC reference is getting a bit old. No more, I promise.) another thought.. Each attached pics of their Cadillac cars. Being a Cadillac fan myself, my interest was piqued. Jon has a Versailles Green 1958 Sedan de Ville. She is mighty nice looking ride! Brian is lucky enough to own 2 Cadillacs, a 1957 Eldorado Seville and a 1960 Coupe de Ville. The ‘57 is a white over gray 2-door hardtop, one of 2,100 manufactured. The 1960 Coupe de Ville, also is a 2-door hardtop, maybe Olympic White. It was produced in far greater numbers (21,585) than the ’57 Eldo Seville. What I find
interesting is that the ’57 sports narrow whitewalls, while the 1960 has wide whites?
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Readers’ Rides—Cont’d. The point is, I am certain I am not the only one intrigued to see and learn about the cars CCC® readers own. I am also certain you are justly proud of your ride and have taken more than a few pics of it. Let that pride shine through on the pages of CCC®! Send your photos, locale and anything about your car you want to tell us: Why you acquired this particular car, how/when/where you found it. All of us are interested in hearing from you and seeing your car photos. Share your passion with your fellow fans ol’ rides. After all, are not these cars meant to be seen and enjoyed be as many folk as possible?
Last Plymouth Our “Automotive Highlights” column for this month makes note of the fact that 28 June 2001 marked the demise of the Plymouth automobile. On that date the last automobile bearing the Plymouth marque, a Neon, was assembled. Years ago I mentioned in these pages that as a recent college grad in the market for a car I looked at the Plymouth Arrow. Remember them? I did not buy one, electing to go with a Ford Pinto instead. I have also referenced in this publication the durability (ubiquitousness) of the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon. When was the last time you laid eyes one of them? This article is about yet another Plymouth “last.” While in NC last week we dined at the Pik N Pig in Carthage ◄. For those not in the know, of which I number myself, the Pik N Pig is a barbecue joint of some repute, at least locally. Barbecue is not unlike old cars, everyone has their favorite. As one who first opts for the ribs from the Mrs.’ grill, then for the offerings from Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati ◄, I can only say the Pik N Pig was ok. But then being a Yankee, what the heck do I know? At any rate, as we entered the rib joint a couple pulled into the lot with an old two-tone Plymouth, seldom seen. How old? Can you say pre-WWII? I was eyeballing the ride after dinner when the owners approached. I got the history of the truck from Paul Christensen and his wife. The Plymouth in question is a PT-125. Note, that is a PT– One Twenty Five, not the PT (Personal Transport) Cruiser which sported a Chrysler logo. In this instance “PT” refers to Plymouth Truck. Not only is it a 1/2 Ton pickup, it is the last real pickup that Plymouth offered to the motoring public. When vehicle production resumed after the war, Plymouth chose to not compete in the truck market. That thinking prevailed until 1974, when the “Broncoesque” sport utility TrailDuster hit the Plymouth dealership showrooms. Here is the skinny on Paul’s truck; which is not the one pictured above (I did not have my camera with me at the restaurant). Paul’s truck is (Sumac) Red and Black. The one pictured is Mountain Orange and Black. Paul bought it in L.A. in 1989 from the original purchaser. It spent all its life in California until Paul and his wife moved to NC. It presents itself as stock. The exception being a 218 c.i., 95 h.p.flathead six, vs. the correct 201 c.i. 87 h.p. engine, powers the truck Being stock means it has a 6 volt electrical system. It also means the truck does not have turn signals. The truck sits on a 116 inch wheelbase and rolls on 600 x 16 bias ply tires. The same basic truck was manufactured by Plymouth from 1937 through 1941. All civilian truck production ceased with the outbreak of WWII. Paul’s truck was number 379 of 599 which were produced at the Los Angeles assembly plant. In 1941 Plymouth produced
“This article is about yet another Plymouth last.”
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Last Plymouth―Cont’d. a total of 6,037 pickup trucks. The trucks sold for $625. That amount is a sum equal to $9,647.62 in the year 2016! The NADA® Bluebook says today this truck has a dollar value of Low-$7,375, Avg.-$13,050 and High- $19,300. I mentioned that such trucks are seldom seen. Of course the low production number has a lot to do with that fact. Not only were few examples produced in 1941, even fewer have survived. That is because the nature of pickup trucks back in the day was to be driven hard and put away wet. The Plymouth Owners Club ◄ postulates that Paul’s 1941 Plymouth P125 is but 1-of-19 known to be restored to stock condition. Should you encounter Paul’s truck, or one of the very few others, do take the time to learn about It and a bit of Plymouth manufacturing history.
Upcoming Events Toledo, OH might be a city you want to hit this summer? On 13 August it shall be holding the 75th birthday celebration of Jeep®. A parade, indoor and outdoor car shows, Jeep history displays and film screenings are some of the activities planned. The goal of the organizers is to have one example of every Jeep vehicle ever made, or as close to this as is possible. More info is found at Facebook.com/ToledoJeepFest ◄. Aficionados of milk trucks, will be gathering in Springfield, IL for four days this month to tout all things DIVCO. For those who fondly recall the days when milk was delivered to one’s door it would make for any interesting time: DIVCO Meet ◄. If milk trucks are not your thing, you might enjoy the annual gathering of the Professional Car Society ◄. This group shall be rendezvousing with their ambulances, hearses, funeral cars and flower cars in Gettysburg, PA in mid-August. The Milwaukee Masterpiece is no more. It has changed its name to better reflect the true nature of the event. Henceforth the event shall greet the automotive world as the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance ◄. The exhibition will take place on the shores of Lake Michigan at Veteran’s Park on Saturday and Sunday, 27-28 August. The Heritage Museum & Gardens in Sandwich, MA offers monthly “behind the scene” tours of its stored automobile collection. The tours are guided by the museum curator, include access to employee only areas of the museum and provide a detailed look at what all is involved in maintaining, moving and making the collection available to the public for viewing. Go here ◄ for more information.
Generation Y People born before 1946 are called the Greatest Generation Folks born between 1946 and 1964 are know as Baby Boomers. Persons born between 1965 and 1979 are referred to as Gen X'ers. Those born between 1980 and 2010 have been labeled as Generation Y. Why do we call this last group Generation Y? Y should I get a job? Y should I leave home and find my own place to live? Y should I buy a car when I can borrow yours? Y should I clean up after myself at home? Y should I wash and iron my own clothes? Y should I buy any food? Why do we call this group Generation Y?
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Pics to Ponder
I am able/glad to report that by publication date the SE Wisconsin weather has improved considerably. I am almost willing to venture a guess that spring has indeed sprung. What I do know is, I have had to mow the lawn three times already!
Ok, I’ve had my say for the month. Now it’s your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC® at OldsD88@gmail.com.
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-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE: TBD