Tuesday, November 22, 2016

ASSORTED, INTERESTING, OLD VEHICLES

MOPAR 

Let's start first with this big Chrysler Convertible in great condition. I think white and red are the perfect colors for this car.





Then a mildly rat-rodded 2-door Valiant; lowered, with dual exhausts, no badges, blacked out trim, no wheel covers, and matt gray paint





And now its close relation, a 4-door Dodge Dart





MOVING ON TO CHEVROLET

We saw this nice Chevy Camaro SS350 from the late Sixties, I think, with traction bars hanging down. If I recall correctly, these cars had single-leaf rear springs and the suspension needed additional rear stiffening for drag racing.






Now this car wasn't exactly sitting at the curb, but a nice yellow/black Camaro SS convertible can't be omitted from the day's spotting ...

(as I posted this picture, I see another yellow Chevy, an El Camino, in the background. I didn't see it yesterday)






As we rolled past a local fix-it shop, my wife spotted the black truck. My eye went to the 1961 Chevy 2-door mild custom with curved front pillars and flat-top roofline. We'll go back some other day and find out more about the truck.




FORD PRODUCTS

Here we have to be content with only one entry, but what a sight! The Edsel Ranger. You can't miss the look of the worst-selling range ever introduced by Ford. This one's about 1960.







And the final Ford is this little Surprise which I am including for Bill. After an hour of strolling around, we were walking back to the car through an alley and saw a nice Baja Bug. It was very trick, with fresh paint, 1220 motor, dual 2-choke Webers, roll cage, custom suspension, etc. etc.  Look in the garage behind it ...




I commented that "there's a car lover around here, that's for sure!" and two guys popped out of the shadows of the garage. We talked cars for 15 minutes, then my wife asked "What's under the car cover?"



Here is the owner and constructor of this "1927 Ford" He designed the car layout, built the frame, collected all the parts, painted the car, and built it up - here in his garage.



Drill press, lathe, welder, grinder, etc. He was an IT guy who went to community college shop classes at night for entertainment.

This car was intended to be black, but he saw a good friend (in a black car) get hit on a sunny, clear day ... and immediately made plans to paint his car a more visible color.



I particularly like the red coated exhaust and wheels. The body is a fiberglass bucket; the engine is a 289 with a 302 crank. For those who prefer a steel body, he's working on one of those too. The guy holding the tarp owns the VW out in front. Notice the friction shocks and low-capacity fuel tank (it matches the bladder capacity of an "older gentleman").


The car club he belongs to is 70 years old. They admit Ford vehicles only, which must be 1948 or older, have three major modifications from stock condition, have glossy paint, upholstery, and run. This is his third rod and you can learn more about it by checking this article from a year ago:


I hope you enjoyed theses finds.

Cazalea

MOTHER LODE OF OLD TRUCKS

My wife and I set out to see what we could find in an hour. We found so much that I have to save the "cars" for tomorrow - so here are the trucks:

This baby is a 15-passenger (or stretch) GMC van that has had a 4WD chassis thrown underneath. Notice the extremely long windows in the back.



Judging by the smokey residue on the fender it might have a diesel inside. Nice camping van? Off-road vehicle?



If you really want off-road, you could use this one, which we found about a mile from the van.



I think it's a Unimog. Who's our resident Unimog expert - is it Magnus?



And finally, if you want to work off-road, or underwater, this might be the vehicle for you. Snorkel-equipped, push-bar enhanced, flatbed Toyota Land Cruiser.





The civilians among us may have to settle for an early Ford Falcon-based Ranchero





Cazalea

A TREASURE TROVE OF VINTAGE

We saw these driving around!

First, a second-generation T-Bird. You don't see these too often anymore. My guess is about 1960 or so.





Next, we have a 1964 or so Dodge Dart GT, spotted in the auto parts store parking lot



the owner was in the car doing something and I didn't want to disturb him



Next a 1957 Chevrolet 3/4 ton pickup step side bed



I think this truck has nice lines - strong, simple, no confusion about its purpose. One of the first with a full wrap-around windshield. It's a very long cargo bed too.



And finally, if anyone is interested here's a 1953 Kaiser Manhattan for sale



Try to find one of these windshields, with the arched eyebrows!



A real bargain! The same price as my latest watch.






Cazalea

VINTAGE MOPAR & FORD

All the badges were missing and it's strangely striped. But my sources tell me 68 Plymouth Sport Fury Coupe.








Here's a 58-59 or so Ford truck in the process of bring restored. 











Your man on the street,

Cazalea

FORD & CHEVROLET, BY THE BAY

You never know what you will see on a walk in my town. First we saw a radical 1965 Chevy Impala low rider convertible, cruising low and slow. I was too stunned to get my phone working before he slipped past. But this shot led us down the parking lot towards a 1954 Chevy.



Is this a mild or radical custom job? Spider theme, web on roof, spider on hood, spotlights, sun visor, fuzzy dice, bullet caps on all the bolts in sight, 



"reversed" dish wire wheels, swamp cooler on the rear window ... a great period piece. Putting away my phone and straightening up, I turned around, walked 100 yards and stopped to see this great pair



of early Fifties Ford F150 pickups. 









We walked a bit more around the marina and took a long look out over the water. Time to get out there, we thought.

There's Mexico to the South.



Hawaii to the West (once you leave San Diego Bay)



and of course, Canada and Alaska (eventually)




I hope y'all had a nice day too.

Cazalea