Old gas stations

[David Conwill]

Yup. My '61 Falcon had a Rusteze bumper sticker (it needed it) and my '62 had a Dinoco oil-filter cover.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Speaking of '62s (and off-topic), here's a photo of mine....

Rob

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Saw this on a recent back-roads trip...

Rob

 

[LizzieMaine]

Rare example there of the very first internally-lit molded plastic sign -- Shell introduced those in 1948, and it changed the face of roadside advertising forever.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

You'd think he'd take it down and preserve it, but I guess not. [emoji3525]

Rob

 

[Fading Fast]

Rare example there of the very first internally-lit molded plastic sign -- Shell introduced those in 1948, and it changed the face of roadside advertising forever.

Maybe for the more efficient / cheaper, but not for the aesthetically better.

 

[tonyb]

Speaking of '62s (and off-topic), here's a photo of mine....

Rob

I once had a ’62 two-door Falcon wagon. It’s among the cars I regret ever selling.
How long has this one been in your care?

 

[tonyb]

Saw this on a recent back-roads trip...

Rob

If I was in the neighborhood, I’d attempt to find the property owner and make a cash offer on the sign, while there’s still enough of it left to preserve.

But then, I respect that some people prefer to let nature take its course, sorta like those totem poles in what is now British Columbia and the Alaska panhandle, which were meant to gradually, gradually return to the earth from whence they came.

When my brother died suddenly and unexpectedly a dozen years ago, his widow left his Dodge van right where he parked it the night before he kicked the bucket, under the cherry tree, which for the next several years dropped leaves and fruit on it and did its part to return it to nature.

So yeah, I clearly understand how some folks find “pickers” annoying. A piece of a person’s heart isn’t for sale, and disregarding emotional attachments to such objects is something of a moral failing.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

I once had a ’62 two-door Falcon wagon. It’s among the cars I regret ever selling.
How long has this one been in your care?

Tony, I've had it going on 20 or so years; it belonged to my wife's dad, and I'm the third owner.

We added a hi-po 302 V-8 from a 1972 Grabber Maverick, an 8" rear end and disc brakes from a 1977 Grenada, and a completely new Mustang front suspension; plus we lowered it and shaved the door handles to make it our "Ratwagon".

It was a father-son project that I used to teach my oldest son mechanics, and it was a rewarding experience.

Rob

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^
The Maverick, as I recall, was essentially a Falcon in new clothes.

Three Falcons passed my way back when they were just used cars — the green ’62 two-door wagon I alluded to above; a kinda copper-colored ’65 two-door in the “new” body style; and an early body (I forget the model year) off-white four-door I frequently stole from one of my brothers.

My memories of those cars, with the exception of the wagon, are not entirely pleasant. But hey! they got me where I was going.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

I've got a '65 Mercury Comet with a small block sitting in my brother in law's back yard I need to go get, as he's tired of mowing around it, but it's halfway up the state of Georgia and I don't feel like working out the logistics of getting it back down here to Florida.

That, and I've already got too many projects that I haven't finished yet, lol.

Rob

 

[tonyb]

A guy who lived up the street from me for close to 20 years in our old close-in city neighborhood had a real weakness for Comets. He had three or four or more of the things at any given time and off-street parking for only two, so he was always shuffling the ones that slept on the street so as not to get ticketed for leaving cars parked for longer than however many hours were allowed — 72 of ’em, I think it was.

I loved that guy. He preferred a yard full of “native” plantings over grass, made outdoor art from found objects (the bowling ball installation was among the more memorable) and was a perpetual thorn in the side to the newcomers bent on “improving” the district.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Sinclair at the 1964 World's Fair...the orbiting gas station is the coolest.

Rob

 

[BobHufford]

Sparta, Missouri.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Various.

Rob

 

[BobHufford]

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

When I hear "Dogpatch", I think of Li'l Abner (and Daisy Mae and Moonbeam McSwine, lol).

Rob

 

[3fingers]

When I hear "Dogpatch", I think of Li'l Abner (and Daisy Mae and Moonbeam McSwine, lol).

Rob

I was Marryin' Sam in our high school production of Li'l Abner. Them's all kinfolk of mine.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Various.

Rob

 

[3fingers]

These two stations were both in the country outside my hometown.
Both also had cafes and the bottom one had cabins behind. I remember both, but the cabins were no longer open by my time. The lower one's owner also had the reputation of being the guy who knew where to find anything you were looking for.