A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2015, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector Chronicles ®
Volume VIII, Issue 9
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
GDY Nets® On the Web
1
Milwaukee: They Have Come and Gone
2
Keeping Up with the 2 Times
It appears that summer is beginning its departure. Can this be happening already? Trees are turning, leaves are falling. How can this be? The month has been fairly quiet around here. We did take in the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours. Kudos to the ladies and gents for bringing out their fine rides despite the threatening weather on concours day! One of my current endeavors is to find a source for reinforced rubber blanks to fabricate a replacement for the rubber piece used on my Oldsmobile tailpipe hanger. In my mind’s eye I was looking at using a piece of old tire. While I am sure it would work, I think I have fund a supplier of the material I need in a size I can use, and at a price I can afford. It
How Others View Us Car Nuts CCC® Forum EMail:
◄
OldsD88@gmail.com ◄
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took a bit of effort, but my continual searching online appears to have finally paid off. If you too are in need of bulk rubber for your automotive projects check out the folks at Rubber Sheet Roll. ◄ September Automotive Milestones 9/2/1959 Ford Falcon debuts 9/2/1893 Duryea builds/drive first American automobile 9/4/1917 Henry Ford II born 9/4/1957 Edsel goes on sale 9/7/1954 Ford intros T-Bird 9/11/1911 Milwaukee Mile Speedway opens 9/11/1970 Ford Pinto goes on sale with MSRP below $2K 9/13/1899 NYC site of first U.S. auto fatality 9/15/2011 Last American rear wheel drive auto produced (by Ford of Canada) 9/16/1908 GM formed by Wm. Durant 9/17/1854 David Buick born;
Arbroath, Scotland 9/18/1886 Powel Crosley Jr. born; Cincinnati, Ohio 9/19/1919 Buick founded 9/19/1937 Duesenberg closes 9/23/1969 Dodge Challenger debuts 9/26/1967 AMC's Javelin debuts
- Wash ‘em, polish ‘em and drive ‘em!
GDYNets® on the Web Find GDYNets on the web: ®
An Oldsmobile of Note
September 2015
s
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.
Car Collector Chronicles
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Milwaukee: They Have Come and Gone
“… [T]hreequarters of what these meets are about is being with like minded folks.”
CCC® readers already know that Milwaukee hosted both the Cadillac and Oldsmobile national meets this summer. They also know that yours truly attended both events and was an active participant (greeter, parking attendant and show judge). I have already remarked that as a daily commuter my perspective and level of enjoyment of these events differed significantly from that of folks traveling to Milwaukee and staying at the host hotel. I still maintain the commuter misses out on a lot of just what makes a national meet a memorable experience. That having been said, permit me to comment on the two meets from my perspective. Both were well worth all the time and effort required. I recommend that all old car buffs take part in a national meet at least once. I recommend that you do so, even if you choose not to have your car judged. After all, three-quarters of what these meets are about is being with like minded folks. Probably what surprised me the most about these meets was the difference between Cadillac people and Oldsmobile folk. There is/was a readily discernable difference. It is hard to describe, as it presents more as a feeling than anything else. Also, I am not sure how much my own background contributed to what I felt? However, I do know that my feelings were both shared and confirmed by others. Cadillac people present themselves as being serious about their rides and the pride of ownership. They focus on maintaining the status attached to the Cadillac name. At a Cadillac national meet one cannot help but get the feeling that this is indeed serious business. This was most apparent from the way outsider interest was handled. Onsite inquires from non-Cadillac owners were responded to with the statement, “This meet is for Cadillac owners, if you want to look we will let you.” Different strokes for different folks: CAD PEOPLE OLDS FOLK Registration table open all day Registration table kept limited hours Tailgate Party Welcoming Reception - Beer & Brats - Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres All/Anything Oldsmobile celebrated Only non-modified Cadillac permitted Most cars on display every day Most cars trailered until judging day Spectators welcomed Spectators permitted What I do know is that each meet had its own atmosphere, ambience, whatever term you want to use to characterize it. That it did surprised me. Having experienced both, it is hard not to be drawn to the merry men and women of Oldsmobile!
Keeping Up with the Times
This came to my attention and I initially thought it might have potential. CCInfo ◄ is a smartphone app that permits people who have downloaded it to get info on your ride while at a car show. It requires the car owner to add a special low-energy device to their vehicle which broadcasts a sensing signal that is recognized by the mobile app. you have had to have uploaded your car info to a master database.
For it to work
While at first blush this seemed like a neat idea, going to the retailer’s website revealed it is more commercially oriented than consumer focused. To get the transmitter, database access and the mobile app costs $195 the first year, and then $60 a year going forward. The master database listing incorporates five advertising slots which I could sell at whatever price I want. To whom I would sell them, I have no idea. Nor do I have any interest in doing so. What started out for me as a neat idea with potential ended up being a non-starter.
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An Oldsmobile of Note
This baby showed up at the 2015 Milwaukee Masterpiece. A thing of beauty she is, no doubt! The color combination is notable simply because it is not the usual white/red that most seem to be. It is owned by Robert Cattelino from Jefferson, WI, has 50K on the odometer and sports a wonder bar radio. She wears factory colors of Capri Blue over Royal Marine. Here ◄ are more pics. Moreover, she can be yours for a mere $89,995!
“She wears factory colors of Capri Blue over Royal Marine.” This car also appears to blow out of the water the previous assertions made to me at the OCA Nats that there are only ten 1954 Oldsmobiles known to exist. I say that as the owner/seller of this ride is also offering another 1954 for sale. That being so, I am able to account for at least twenty 54’s without too much effort or research. Over 354,000 were made. How many still exist, I do not know. I shall continue to investigate.
How Others View Us Car Nuts
Ever wonder what others think of us car nuts/gear heads? One take on this recently appeared on my computer. It struck my fancy. I present it to you in the hopes you too shall be entertained by it: What a Car Enthusiast Looks Like to Everyone Else ◄ Ian Duer 11/14/13 5:20pm I used to take it as a given that an interest in vehicles inherently made sense. People were either into cars or they were not. I assumed that even someone who wasn't into cars understood the fascination, even if they didn't share it. When I took the time to really look at the world around me, I had a realization. I WAS WRONG. To understand how a car enthusiast must look to anyone else, I needed an angle. I initially thought of using the perspective of a "car hating Millennial," which seems to be a popular bogey-man. There were problems with this. For one, no one seems to agree on what a Millennial actually is or if they really all hate cars. Secondly, I wasn't looking for an antagonistic perspective. Instead, I decided to work from the mindset of someone who views cars as another appliance, like a washing machine. Frightening.
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How Others View Us Car Nuts—Cont’d. The other day, I was visiting Steve. I'd overheard him at work, talking to other wash-heads. I was mildly curious about the hobby. I'd known some people who were into it, so I decided to bring up the subject. Steve perked up immediately and asked if I wanted to see his laundry room. I can say this: my laundry room is simply a place for my washing machine, his was something wholly other. All over the place were posters of professional washers, and vintage metal signs advertising long gone brands of soap and fabric softener. On the wall was a peg board with little silhouettes so that things like irons and detergent bottles always went back in the right place. He also had a collection of tools, some of which were familiar and some that I couldn't imagine the purpose of. In the corner were many boxes which seemed to be full of vintage washing machine parts. Most shockingly, in contrast to my laundry room, he had not one but FOUR washing machines. "Why the other three when you have that one?" I was referring to the newest of the four. I'd seen ads for it and I was pretty sure it could easily do anything the others could. "Oh, that one. Never use it." He goes on to explain that his wife picked it out for when she has to wash clothes. "Given the choice," he continues, "I'd have skipped the purchase, but she says mine are too complicated and touchy." He then motions proudly to the other three. "These are mine!" I'm a bit confused by what I'm seeing. All three machines have all sorts of esoteric levers, switches and gauges that seem outdated and out of place even on these machines. All of them are at least a few years older than I'd expect someone "into" washing machines to care about. "Er. What does this lever do?" I'm sort of embarrassed to ask, but how else will I learn anything. "That one engages the linkage between the wash drum and the motor." The tone of voice he uses suggests I have asked a profoundly stupid question. "Why do you want to do that? I'm pretty sure my does that on it's own." I'm sort of confused at this point. He looks at me as if I've grown a second head. "Well I suppose if you've never tried it wouldn't make sense. Let me tell you, once you get the hang of it you gain a fine control of the exact engagement point that is far better and smoother than those automatic linkage systems. More efficient too." "Wait just a second," I reply. "I'm pretty sure when I was purchasing my last machine the automatic drum linkage was actually slightly more efficient than the manual version." "Lies," he insists. "Those numbers only reflect the EPA tests. I've monitored my own usage quite carefully and I always manage to exceed the estimate. Well, I suppose that's only when I'm not washing spiritedly, but when I want to I can get better efficiency." Over the course of this tour I find out that he has three machines because, he says, they all offer distinct washing experiences. The newest, is what he calls his weekly-washer. It's a strange pale orange color. I swear the last time that color was popular had to be at least a decade ago. Compared to the others it's the most boring, but it's also the toughest and the most easily replaceable. Next comes the very loud green unit. This is apparently the "fun" washer, it has a larger motor, upgraded stabilizers, and tons more done to it. "Spins 20% faster than when it left the factory," he announces triumphantly. The last one, I learn, doesn't work. He's restoring it and upgrading certain components along the way. I'm told that good examples are too rare and too expensive but that he always wanted one.
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How Others View Us Car Nuts—Cont’d.
Apparently, all three washing machines have a bottom mounted drive attached to the wash drum, while most modern washing machines (like his wife's) have a side mounted drive. I had thought side mounted was better, even though I rarely consider it at all. He informs me that it was all clever advertising to hide the fact that they were cheaper to manufacture that way. I then ask about models with dual drive that have both bottom and side. Once again I am apparently wrong; Steve says those dual drive machines lack soul, and detergent is far more important than extra driven parts. Steve often washes clothes that are already clean because it helps him relax. I can kind of understand that. Sometimes a load of towels is kind of meditative for me because it requires almost zero effort and lets my mind wander. This, I am told, is not what he meant. For some reason he picks the most technical garments he can find to wash, because it requires full attention and really lets him test out the capabilities of his machines. I learn about washing machine shows. Steve apparently hates something called the "Pantz" movement. These guys modify the stabilizers because it makes the machine look "cool" somehow. I'm told the result is a machine that can only be operated on the gentle cycle. "These guys are ruining otherwise good machines," he says. Honestly I remember most of those models from high-school. I never thought they were very impressive, but I don't tell him that. At this point my brain is overflowing with technical jargon and details I once considered irrelevant. My head is spinning faster than the drum in the strange olive green number which he fired up so I could see it in action. Now that I look at it, I notice it has had a bulge molded into the access panel to allow clearance for a larger motor. The obnoxious whine it emits does nothing for me. It looks kind of silly. In short. I just don't get it. I resolve never to bring up the subject again to him. I may, however, ask him for advice next time I buy a washing machine. I probably won't follow it.
– 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. –– Now that you have finished reading this month’s issue of the newsletter, if so inclined, like CCC® on Facebook® by going here ______________________________________
-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE: • TBD