A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2016, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector Chronicles ®
Volume IX, Issue 8
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
Speedo Displays Redux
2
Drivable Double Takes
2
Pics to Ponder
5
Here we are in August already! Hard to believe. Do not know about you, but I am politicked out. Voters are being impaled on the horns of a veritable dilemma. Put us out of our misery and get this election over! August 27-28 brings us the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance (nee Milwaukee Masterpiece). An interesting feature added this year will be the Saturday Motor Tour for concours registered cars. It shall run from Vets Park in Milwaukee to historic Cedarburg, WI; a distance of about 25 miles. Should be fun for both drivers and spectators! Mid-July saw the Street Machine Nats take place in St. Paul, MN, It was billed as a gathering of 7,000 muscle cars and 50,000 muscle car fans. It also attracted another
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crowd, thieves. At least 9 rides were stolen from hotel lots near the state fairgrounds venue. Sadly such instances are becoming more and more common, August Automotive Milestones 7-1937 Cord production ceases 11-1966 Chevy debuts Camaro 12-1908 1st Model T manf’d 12-1953 Fire destroys GM's Hydra-Matic tranny plant 14-1893 World's 1st license plate issued, Paris 17-1915 Kettering patents electric starter 18-1905 Cadillac crest trademarked 19-1958 Last Packard produced 21-1897 Olds Motor Vehicle Co. incorporates 22-1902 Cadillac Motor Car Company established 22-1902 Teddy Roosevelt becomes 1st U.S. President
to ride in a motor car 26-1957 FOMOCO debuts the Edsel 26-1950 R E Olds dies at home in Lansing, MI 29-1885 The world's 1st motorcycle, patented by Gottlieb Daimler
- Take that ride out for a spin!
GDYNets® on the Web Find GDYNets on the web:
CCC® Forum EMail:
August 2016
s
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.
Car Collector Chronicles
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Speedo Displays—Redux Last month on this topic I stated: I have not found any indication they (ribbon speedometers) were ever used by Cadillac. The same may be said by me as to Ford vehicles. If I am wrong in this regard, do enlighten me. Well I have been enlightened. Reader Bill Klemp reached out to let me know that Ford Motor Co. did in fact make use of the ribbon speedometer. He relayed that his father bought a spanking new 1958 Mercury Monterey that incorporated this feature. Additional research shows Mercury also used them in at least the 1959 model year. Thanks for this info, Bill!
Drivable Double Takes “During its death spiral a new Amphicar could be acquired for as little as $900.”
A number of curious rides have popped up on my computer screen of late. I found them to be of interest, and hope you will also. We all are familiar with the Amphicar, a vehicle that could traverse both highways and waterways. It is a descendant of the Volkswagen Schwimmwagen ◄, a WWII vehicle. It made its U.S. appearance at the 1961 New York auto show. While it was manufactured in West Germany from 1961 through 1967, actual production of the vehicle ceased in 1965 with number 3,878 rolling of the line. While of German heritage, the Amphicar was powered by a rear-engined Triumph four cylinder acquired from the Brits. The 69 c.i. power plant put out a whopping 43 h.p.! During its short life span they sold new for $3,800 MSRP. However, during its death spiral a new Amphicar could be acquired for as little as $900. Today, the value ranges I have seen are $32K-$66K. It seems that the fascination of a car/ boat has not dissipated. In the 21st century we have the WaterCar ◄. They are a bit more pricey than its predecessor. Be prepared to shell out a mere $155K for this ride. For $155K you also get this caveat from the manufacturer: The Complete Custom version may be a challenge or impossible to license and register for street use in some states. In these states the Panther must be purchased as a Turnkey Minus and licensed as a specially constructed vehicle if used on the highway. That seems to be a rather large chunk of change for a vehicle that
one may not be able to license for on-road use? The WaterCar, unlike the Amphicar, is unsinkable; its fiberglass body/hull being filled with 32 cu. ft. of U.S. Coast Guard approved closed cell styrofoam. For propulsion one gets a Honda 3.7L, 24valve, SOHC, V6, VTEC engine. It will do 38.235 knots (44 m.p.h.) in calm seas and 55 m.p.h. on the open road. A prototype, dubbed Python and powered by a 450 h.p. Corvette engine holds the Guinness Book of records for the fastest amphibious vehicle (52 knots/60 m.p.h.). Lastly, a feature which is getting more difficult to find in this day and age is that it is American made, being manufactured in Fountain Valley, CA! The Crown Prince of Dubai was so enthralled with the WaterCar that he has purchased 6 of them. I wonder if they are raced against one another? One will also find more than a few WaterCars in the U.A.E. countries.
Car Collector Chronicles
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Drivable Double Takes—Cont’d. Now, let us turn to more conventional, but nevertheless unique rides. It is hard to name these cars, as they are an amalgamation of iron. The first car to be presented is what I call a C-Bird, for obvious reasons. While the car is situated in Lombard, IL at present, it was allegedly created for use in a movie. What movie, has not been determined. The film, if there was one, may have never been released. I do not know. What we have is a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, a 1965 Cadillac Eldorado powered by a Pontiac 389 c.i. V8 coupled to a 3-speed AT. The interior cabin appears to be that of 2seater bird with a 1962 Cadillac dash. The front clip and rear quarters shout Cadillac.
“It appears the body work put into the ‘mix & It appears the body work put into the “mix & match” is rather well done. If it falls down anywhere, it is in the interior.
match’ is rather well done.”
Some like the final product, while others abhor the creation as an anathema. One person opined: “Someone hacked-up TWO desirable classics to make this abomination. May they be forced to drive a Reliant K-car for eternity.” I will let you be the judge. View these pics and see how well the actual car compares with your mental visualization of the described vehicle. Of late the owner has been campaigning the car on the net, without success. It was recently offered on ebay™ ◄, with a reserve. There, it was bid up to $19,200. That sum was not sufficient to meet the seller’s reserve. I have seen other postings on the net which indicate the asking price is $22,500. Love it or hate it, it is interesting. Next we turn to the Oldsmobillac. From the name it should not be too difficult to guess what is coming. I suspect the technical expertise to mate these two rides was far less than required to create the C-Bird. That is because both cars come from the GM family, and both are also from the same model year, 1954. Again, we have a motion picture inspired car. In this case we do know the film in which the car appeared. It was the 1977 Warner Bros. flick The Late Show, starring Art Carney and Lily Tomlin. The Oldsmobillac is currently able to be viewed by the public at the Martin Auto Museum◄ in Phoenix, AZ.
Car Collector Chronicles
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Drivable Double Takes—Cont’d. Museum owner Mel Martin bought the car at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2012. The hammer price was $29,700. The vehicle does bear an Oldsmobile body tag, but sports a California DMV custom builder VIN. For reasons inexplicable to me, museum signage states the car has a 394. c.i. Oldsmobile engine. I use the term “inexplicable” because a look under the hood shows what appears to be an Olds 324 c.i. V8. Also, those who know Oldsmobile also know the 394 was a 1959-1964 offering. One would think Mel, being a car buff/collector/expert would know what size mill is under the hood? I have sent an email to the museum seeking clarification. As this car does sport an Olds factory body tag on the firewall, that tells me the rear quarters were grafted on to the Oldsmobile body. As does the fact the interior (dash, steering wheel, gas/brake pedals) is all Olds components. I am no expert, but having worked in a body shop in the century when both these cars were produced it seems it would be far easier/ less challenging to mount an Olds dog house on a Cadillac body than graft Caddy rear quarters onto an Oldsmobile? Mac’s Motor City Garage ◄ brings us the next offering. At first glance one sees nothing out of the ordinary with respect to this 1958 Corvette. That is until the retractable roof is noted. Corvette never made such. However, GM stylist Francis H. Scott did; in his living room! It is a true one-of one. The story goes that Scott pined for a Vette. Unfortunately, his GM salary did not permit such an extravagance. Not one to give up, Scott purchased a totaled ‘58 Vette for $900. He removed the windshield to get it into his living room. During
the rebuild he discovered the removable hardtop fit inside the car trunk. One thing led to another and … . He had to make mods to the deck lid in order for it to close over the stowed roof. After completing the project Sott used the car as his daily driver for six years. As he was also a part-time musician in need of a vehicle to haul his bass fiddle to gigs, he eventually traded the car in on a full-sized Chevy! In 2005 Barrett-Jackson sold Scott’s $900 Vette for a mere $340,800 (a record price at the time)! Speaking of record prices, I do not know if this is one, but it seems mighty high for what the car is. A New Zealand buyer paid $39,833.48 USD for a 1958 Studebaker Champion ◄. The car is right-hand drive. The odometer reads all of 74 miles! A good buy?
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Car Collector Chronicles
Pics to Ponder There seems to be no end to the strange vehicle related things one is able to locate with little effort. This column will have plenty of material to present over time. Here is what we have for your July viewing: Can one say “cab over?”
Duh?
Back in the day when gas was cheap (1935 Graham House Car)!
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