Driving golden era cars in the modern era

[Forgotten Man]

NO EXCUSES!! Okay, you'll have to poke along the 10 for a bit through Cabazon and the pass, but I only do 50 or so on the 101 when I go up to Monterey in the Buick and it's fine. Turn north on 62 and go through Twentynine Palms. You'll have to climb the big 1200-ft grade into Morongo Valley, so be sure your cooling system is up to the job, but take it slow and watch the gauges and you should be fine. Cross the Colorado at Parker and pick up 72 which takes you 60 and the Arizona destination of your choice. Take a bedroll and lay out under the stars for a bit. We've got a Santa Ana tonight and it should be pretty warm and clear. Sure, you'll be lonely up there on those desert two-lanes, and it'll take you a lot longer than cruising at 80 in an a/c-equipped plastic egg with the rest of the herd, but you said you wanted to go back in time...

Sounds like a plan... now only if my motor was hitting on all 6! lol I'd take the chance!

Maybe next year!

 

[AtomicEraTom]

i wanted wires and white-walls. But my dad's prime was the late 70's and he can't get some of that out of his system. I had many good memories with that car, as I almost put all the miles on it, and once had the brakes go out going 40 miles an hour for about 2 miles through downtown portage before I rolled to a stop, through a grocery store parking lot. God I miss that truck.

I knew it! I knew that was a Chevy radiator shell!

Some 50s styled custom or "hot-rod" jobs aren't too bad, I am mostly about stock but, appreciate a fun period custom/rod. Now to bring some of it back to stock = :eusa_clap

Now, to have been true 50s, ya woulda had 30s Ford V8 wire spoke rims and hub caps with white walls! Too bad ya sold it.

 

[Mr. 'H']

A member on a classic car forum here posted this picture of this 1954 MG. It's just off a boat from England and is sitting in Dublin where I imagine the owner will be touring around Ireland. I'm not a fan of classic British cars in the way some are but I love that this car is so futuristic looking for its time and is being used for what it was built for:

 

[bettydarling]

A member on a classic car forum here posted this picture of this 1954 MG.

Amazing MG, I could see myself driving that down a country road, with a scarf billowing in the wind!!

Heres another 46 chevy pu, this guy restored it over 8 years, great site showing the progress. I really really want one!

 

[Tango Yankee]

While I don't have a golden era car, I do drive a PT Cruiser with a hood ornament! But since this thread talks a lot about the maintenance that's required for daily use of classic cars I thought some might find this video interesting. It's a 1950 Chevy film about Chevy cars and taking care of them at the dealership. Oh, and there's a nice hat in there as well. Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlQo4Xt59PU&feature=related

Regards,
Tom

 

[simmonsgc]

Wow!

Heres another 46 chevy pu, this guy restored it over 8 years, great site showing the progress. I really really want one!

Wow...now that's doing it the cowboy way. There's a difference between buying a restored vehicle and buying an old car/truck and doing it yourself over a series of years. Impressive stuff, and what a labor of love!

 

[PADDY]

Mr 'H's' 1941 Buick in Dublin...

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[Mr. 'H']

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Paddy that's hilarious, and so well produced! I can't get audio at the moment but this looks awesome. You did a great job.

And by the way "Lt. Dudley Smith" sat in the seat you're sitting in there:

 

[StraightEight]

Very cool video!

 

[Mickey D]

My 1937 Chevrolet 2 Door Sedan (streetrod)

Son's 1941 Ford 9N

 

[QMcK]

Hi,

Some really nice old cars here!

My "old" car is a 1979 Lada 1500. It's a modified copy of a mid 60s Fiat 124. It drives well and can keep up with traffic, although I'm usually a bit slower away from the lights. It's got plenty of 'get up and go', but I've got to work the gears pretty fast - the gearing is a bit on the low side, as it has a small engine. The steering is *really* heavy when the car's going slowly, but it gets quite light quite quickly.

Overall, it's quite like a modern car to drive. The newest car I've ever driven is from 1993, though - a (European) Ford Escort.

 

[scotrace]

Heres another 46 chevy pu, this guy restored it over 8 years, great site showing the progress. I really really want one!

Me too! I've been dreaming of one of these for years.

 

[David Conwill]

This thread reminds me ...

What is the best buy in a pre-1950 pick-up truck? I'm looking for a project vehicle.

I kind of like this Dodge K-34

I would say look for a Ford AA or BB. There's huge restoration and aftermarket support for Fords of that era, but the big trucks are sti under valued because they aren't sexy like the commercial cars. You can pick up an AA or BB for about the same price as just the cab of a same-year commercial car, because that's all a big truck is to your average man on the street: a cab with which to build a Jimmy Shine-style bobber truck.

The BBs look a lot like the Dodge you illustrated, too.

-Dave

 

[David Conwill]

My 1937 Chevrolet 2 Door Sedan (streetrod)

I love the stance. I'm a bit more of a restorer/trad rodder, so my preference would be for some steel wheels and stock-style hubcaps, but I must admit the mags look good.

I have a soft spot for the '37 and '38 Chevrolets, as my grandfather's first car was a Woodleaf Brown Metallic '38 coupe. My grandmother drove it through the war, and my dad came home from the hospital in it in 1946.

-Dave

 

[Forgotten Man]

Not sure if I've shared this link before but, it's full of great mid 30s Chevy's! And the song is one of my favorites, "Swing is in the Air" by Ambrose Orch.

The footage paints a wonderful image of driving in the 30s... big cities, country roads, and trains! A clip that will brighten anyone's day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZKXopavQZk

 

[Barchetta52]

Ford 9N

Mickey D, I love those Ford tractors. Very cool.

 

[StraightEight]

The footage paints a wonderful image of driving in the 30s... big cities, country roads, and trains! A clip that will brighten anyone's day!

As I recall, the footage is from an educational film from the period about unsafe driving, perhaps a theater short or something for driver's ed. I think it's elsewhere on Youtube in its original form.

 

[Tomasso]

Just today, a buddy and I are cruising around in his 57 T-Bird when it quit. He called the motor club and I called a cab.[huh] C'est la vie.....

 

[Forgotten Man]

As I recall, the footage is from an educational film from the period about unsafe driving, perhaps a theater short or something for driver's ed. I think it's elsewhere on Youtube in its original form.

Most of it is from a Chevrolet sales film, also displaying safe driving tips. Some of the footage was taken from the '33 World's Fair in Chicago of cars entering the main gates and some other random clips taken from not so well known footage of the era.

The combination of the song and all the cars and such just puts a big smile on my face.

 

[Smithy]

A member on a classic car forum here posted this picture of this 1954 MG. It's just off a boat from England and is sitting in Dublin where I imagine the owner will be touring around Ireland. I'm not a fan of classic British cars in the way some are but I love that this car is so futuristic looking for its time and is being used for what it was built for:

That's a MG TF, and a 1500 I'd wager. And in absolutely concours condition, what a beauty!

My mother had a boyfriend in the 50s who had one exactly the same, and he used to take her on hill climb and rally events in it. Although he was not popular with my grandfather as he used to roar up to the house in it and shoot the shingle from the drive all over the lawn!

I adore classic British sports cars more than any other. Many thanks for posting such a pearler of an example.