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Detroit, 1:53 AM
Wed Nov 11
30 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #1952 more →

    Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors

    DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J

    1953 Chevrolet Pickup Truck

    1952 Dodge Pickup Truck

    PCH, Old School Euro-Luxe Edition: Bentley or Mercedes-Benz?

    1952 Dodge
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Six Flags Over Tomsk Six Flags Over Tomsk
    08/31/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors
    Wow. Two orphans I'd be more than happy to adopt.
     Reply
    Six Flags Over Tomsk was starred Six Flags Over Tomsk was unstarred
    Image of BlueBomb BlueBomb
    08/30/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors
    Starfire. Wow! Haven't heard that name in a minute. The family's pale green Starfire was named Betsy. She replaced my father's worn, faded. blue/green and white 1965 AMC Rambler. Now what was her name again?

    But, Betsy, now that was a car. 455 Rocket motor, 4 barrel carb, dual exhausts, with bench seats. Those seats carried Dad, Mom, and I up front, with my 4 sisters pulling up the rear.

    Mom hated that car. My father always drove too fast in it my mom says. It was fast though. Fast enough for dad to win a few bucks street racing Betsy on Fountain Ave in Bklyn every other Friday night. He said he had to race her sometimes so he could let, "let Betsy lift up her skirt a little and run." Don't tell mom OK.

    Now, 37 years after my Dad and Betsy's passing, my mom gets a huge smile on her face when she hears the roar of an American V8 going past. "Sounds like ole Betsy", then gets that melancholy look in her eyes she has sometimes.

    I miiss that ole girl. Thanks for the memories.
     Reply
    Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable promoted this comment Edited by BlueBomb at 08/30/09 8:48 PM BlueBomb was starred BlueBomb was unstarred
    Image of Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
    08/30/09

    @BlueBomb: Nice story, man.
     Reply
    Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable was starred Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    08/30/09

    @BlueBomb: Great story! My old man used to called it "blowing the carbon out of the engine" -- like it was a part of maintenance. But I like "lift up her skirt a little and run"--what a great line.
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    08/30/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors

    The Pontiac is a '53 and looks like a base Chieftain. Hard to tell whether it's a straight 6 or straight 8, but it doesn't matter much since there was only a 3 to 4 hp difference between the two.

    The Starfire is a genuine collectible - only around 2,200 convertibles were made this year. '65 was also the last year for the side exhaust outlets. The '66 has under-bumper pipes and taillights hidden behind a car-wide rear grille.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    08/30/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors
    That red beauty is a perfect--interior looks black? Also, the logo in the taillights is a lost art.
    It seems like every old Pontiac--say, pre 56, was green, especially this dark green. We need a close up of Chief Pontiac there on the nose, though.
    Great finds!
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
    Image of stephdumas stephdumas
    08/30/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors
    the Starfire was revived in the 1970s as a H-body Vega/Monza variant [en.wikipedia.org]
     Reply
    stephdumas was starred stephdumas was unstarred
    Image of Big McLargehuge Big McLargehuge
    08/30/09

    @stephdumas: The mediocrity is truly staggering.
     Reply
    FP: Your Volvo is awesome! Anyway promoted this comment Big McLargehuge was starred Big McLargehuge was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    08/30/09

    @Elvidnir: At least it looked good.
     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of Big McLargehuge Big McLargehuge
    08/30/09

    @FP: Yeah. Plus, they had yet to succumb to the heresy of front-wheel drive. I don't care how little power it has, as long as it's turning the right pair of wheels.
     Reply
    Big McLargehuge was starred Big McLargehuge was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    08/30/09

    @Elvidnir: Purge the Heretic: That's why I love my 240. Slow, but FR! And the Dana 30 can handle a fair bit more than it's got through it now.
     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    08/30/09

    @Elvidnir: Purge the Heretic: Dogmatic fixations are problematic, whether they're in religion, politics, computers, or cars. Miller race cars, Cords, Ruxtons, early Toronados and Eldorados, BMC Minis, Citroens, CRXs, Integras, early 90s Sentra SE-Rs, and RSXs are all "heretical"? Me, I don't care which wheels are driven as long as the car is capable. I'll take a decent FWD car over a mediocre RWD car any day.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of HoonThatFerrari HoonThatFerrari
    08/30/09

    @tonyola: And cupholder counts... you forgot cupholder counts.
     Reply
    HoonThatFerrari was starred HoonThatFerrari was unstarred
    Image of Big McLargehuge Big McLargehuge
    08/31/09

    @tonyola: I do get a bit fiery sometimes, but I guess the problem is that in my relatively young age I've only been able to own typically disappointing FWD economy cars. My discontent has been shaped somewhat by the '71 240Z that I bought as a project/weekender and had to sell for financial reasons. I regret that unfortunate decision constantly.
     Reply
    Big McLargehuge was starred Big McLargehuge was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    08/30/09

    In reply to Rust Hasn't Forgotten Staten Island, But It Hasn't Yet Eaten These Two GM Survivors
    The rust attacks the rockers, but the Silver Streak lives on.

    Gotta love the simple, classy lines on the Olds, too. I always thought "Starfire" was an amazing name for a car.
     Reply
    Edited by MushyHeirloom at 08/30/09 5:38 PM MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    I'll buy Henry J

    A drink any day.
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    Well, that's a pretty solid Allstate of affairs.
     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    Well hey, the $1400 you plunked down for your Henry J Vagabond may not have gotten you things like a trunk, glovebox, radio, heater, blinkers, or reverse lights- but it did get you a Willys 4-cylinder (or a 6 in the 1500-buck Corsair), and best of all, faux-reptile upholstery!.


     Reply
    Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable was starred Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable was unstarred
    Image of Mad_Science Mad_Science
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    For all you guys ruminating on cheap cars with long options lists, Senor Baruth over at SpeedSportLife has an interesting writeup on how we got here from there:

    [www.speedsportlife.com]
     Reply
    Mad_Science was starred Mad_Science was unstarred
    Image of Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing
    04/19/09

    @Mad_Science:

    That article is well worth reading. Thanks for pointing it out.
     Reply
    Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing was starred Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing was unstarred
    Image of Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    Nice find. That wee beastie has a hell of an underbite.


    When my Mom bought her rambler, the heater was an option. When she got her Nova, the cigarette lighter was an option. Kids these days, they got it easy I say.


    BTW, I'm wonder if this car didn't supply a bit of design inspiration for the SAAB 96.

     Reply
    Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet was starred Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet was unstarred
    Image of A strolling player A strolling player
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    This is excellent:

    "Frank Zappa recalls in his autobiography the torment and horror of travelling cross-country sitting on the bench-like rear seat of a Henry J (he called it an "ironing board from hell") in the 1950's."


    That front end looks like the perfect place in which to graft a faux Stude bulletnose. Bizarro baby-non-Stude, R3 powered, of course.


    Okay, sorry, <threadjack>: I can't identify this car at all... it should be easy but I'm totally blanking!</threadjack>

     Reply
    A strolling player was starred A strolling player was unstarred
    Image of If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
    04/19/09

    @Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy: Early '70s Plymouth Satellite. Probably a '74.
     Reply
    If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
    Image of Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
    04/19/09

    @FromaBuick6: With dogdishes from a 1980s Diplomat police car.
     Reply
    Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was starred Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was unstarred
    Image of mechimike mechimike
    04/19/09

    @Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy: That's either a 73 or 74 Plymouth Satellite. I've got one- the 74, last year of that body style. The roadrunner was basically the same car with hood nostrils.


    If I'm not mistaken, this one is painted Petty Blue.

     Reply
    mechimike was starred mechimike was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    04/19/09

    @Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy: I'm going to commit to 73, based on the rear.
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
    Image of A strolling player A strolling player
    04/19/09

    @Novaload Misses Murilee: Cool! You guys are awesome. '73 Satellite it is.


    I don't know why this one gave me so much trouble, I've never had too much of it identifying any of the other cars I've shot, but as I'm a child of a different era I guess I'm not immune to a few toss-ups.

     Reply
    A strolling player was starred A strolling player was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/19/09

    @Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy: When I identify cars I run all the possible models through Google Images until I get it right. This is especially fun when one's sense of scale and depth perception are less-than-stellar and you don't have a camera handy whenever you see the car. (It took me a few days' commuting past the '65-66 Buick to get it right.)


    Some are easier, and you can tell about what they are at a glance - the full-size mid-late '60s Chevy two-door that I've never seen from closer than 10 yards turned out to be a '68 Biscayne/Bel Air, for example, and the '67 Ford wagon was a gimme.

     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    Nasty little car that help to sink Kaiser as a viable automaker, but these were popular with hot-rodders in the later 1950s because of the size and light weight. This is one of the later ones - the early ones didn't have taillights on the fins - they had small round lights where the backup lights are on thus car.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of SmaartAasSaabr SmaartAasSaabr
    04/19/09

    @tonyola: these were the original bailout cars, Kaiser got money from the fed and had to make this :|
     Reply
    SmaartAasSaabr was starred SmaartAasSaabr was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    04/19/09

    @SmaartAasSaabr: According to Dutch Darrin, he proposed a drastically-shortened but good-looking version of the standard 1951 Kaiser that would have fulfilled the loan requirements while leaving enough money to design a V8 engine - something that Kaiser desperately needed to stay competitive in the 1950s. He was overruled by Henry Kaiser, who thought he found a cheap design alternative from a third-party metal supplier (AMP). Darrin hated the AMP car but reluctantly improved the prototype styling the best he could on a very limited budget. It ended up costing tons of money to get the AMP car production-ready. High costs and ugly looks doomed the Henry J from the start. Darrin claimed that had his alternative been approved and the V8 developed, Kaiser could have stayed in the car business much longer.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of SmaartAasSaabr SmaartAasSaabr
    04/19/09

    @tonyola: sounds about right


    At least they still made Manhattans in Argentina until what '62? ;)

     Reply
    SmaartAasSaabr was starred SmaartAasSaabr was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/19/09

    @SmaartAasSaabr: Well, the Falcon survived until...


    ...oh, we don't talk about that, do we.

     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of TriumphRacer TriumphRacer
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    I know a guy who has one of these. His has the extravagant trunk lid. It also has paint and a front bumper. He tells me that they used to be sold out of the Sears catalog.


    And I thought the Sears catalog was only good for the ladies undergarment pictures.

     Reply
    TriumphRacer was starred TriumphRacer was unstarred
    Image of Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
    04/19/09

    @TriumphRacer: Is his a Henry J or an Allstate (the Sears version)? I've been looking for one of those.
     Reply
    Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was starred Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face. was unstarred
    Image of engineerd engineerd
    04/19/09

    In reply to DOTS-O-Rama Sunday, Rocky Mountain Edition: Henry J
    I wonder what sort of motive force the owner has planned. Those rear tires look a little wider than stock. Is he planning to drag race this? What would you put in a Henry J if someone gave you one?


    Me? I would throw the cheapest V-Twin I could get and LeMons it.


    Or put a 351W in it and scare the crap out of myself and the passengers.

     Reply
    engineerd was starred engineerd was unstarred
    Image of Murilee Martin Murilee Martin
    04/19/09

    @JalopEngineerd: I'd put a blown GMC 292 six in it.
     Reply
    Murilee Martin was starred Murilee Martin was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    04/19/09

    @JalopEngineerd: Well, isn't the general rule for what to put in, "the biggest engine that will fit without bending the frame and/or your skeleton."
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
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