Category Archives: Auto History

Gary, Indiana, 1958 | Hemmings Daily

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Gary, Indiana, 1958 | Hemmings Daily.

 

I just had to share this photo from Hemmings.

I use to work at a Montgomery Ward back in the mid-70s in the automotive section. I hawked batteries, mufflers, shocks and stick-on compasses.

I use to work at a Montgomery Ward back in the mid-70s in the automotive section. I hawked batteries, mufflers, shocks and stick-on compasses.

So is it Montgomery Ward or Montgomery Wards? That little quirk of midwestern English gets so many English fundamentalists worked up, but as we can see from this photo of the parking lot of the newly opened Montgomery Ward(s) in Gary, Indiana, sometime in 1958, as found on Pleasant Family Shopping‘s excellent post on the mid-century history of the chain store, even the company seemed a little schizophrenic about its naming convention. What do you see here?

 

Thanks for reading

Timmontgomery ward automotive

Some night pictures – MercuryMarauder.net Forums

Worked there many years ago for a little extra money. If you look closely at this one you will notice the passenger side is a little off color wise, good ol DDM headlights. In front of a closed down Montgomery Ward Automotive.
Mall is reassessed at $16 million | The Augusta Chronicle

Montgomery Ward automotive shop would be perfect for maintenance on county vehicles and the cafeteria would be perfect for the jail kitchen. Parking would never be a problem and it is centrally located in Richmond county.

Car Feature: Jacobo Herrera’s Lincoln Is “The Missing Link” – RodAuthority.com

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment

Whether you like chopped, dropped or lowered car or not (they really aren’t my thing) you have to marvel at the workmanship that goes into one.  This Lincoln is unbelievable.

 

Car Feature: Jacobo Herrera’s Lincoln Is “The Missing Link” – RodAuthority.com.

 

When it comes to popular customs and lead sleds, one car stands above the rest as far as the most iconic in the industry, at least for most. After all, the 1949 Merc is no stranger to the hobby and finds itself accompanied by many of its same kind at virtually any show you attend. But just because the late 40s Mercury is one of the more notable lead sled designs amped up by today’s popularity doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have some stiff competition out there for the most gorgeous low-slung design.

AWESOME!

AWESOME!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

custom carscustom cars

Sittin Pretti draws custom cars for charitable cause | SLIDESHOW

ARLINGTON — Hundreds of auto enthusiasts turned out again to generate thousands of dollars for the Arlington Boys & Girls Club at the annual Sittin Pretti Summer Slam car show at the Arlington Airport on Saturday, Aug. 17. “It’s been a pleasure to …

 

Curb Weight – Save the Drive-In’s

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Any one out there remember Drive-Ins?  I sure do. We went to more drive-in movies when I was a kid than we did theater movies.  I remember the back of our Chevy wagon and one of my favorite sounds was the sound of cars driving slowly over gravel.  It was great to stretch out in back with the seats folded down and watch the movie.  (I can even remember the list of the movies I saw back then.)

Drive-Ins

But as we all know – Drive-Ins are fading into the past, sadly.  However, there is an effort to save them.  I read the magazine AutoWeek ….I love this publication, and they had a piece that mentioned Project Drive-Ins.  Apparently, Honda is working on funding to replace the old film projectors with digital projection.

Check out the video and pass it on!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

drive ins

Drive-ins still surviving

It’s a fun fact that might be hard to believe, but our region has the highest concentration of drive-in theaters of anywhere else in the country. Pennsylvania has the most theaters, followed closely by Ohio and New York. “Around here the drive-in was a …
Save The Drive-Ins By Voting

“I think it would be sad for our community because there is not a lot around in this small town,” said Jodi Tilo, Wants drive-ins open. “It would be very sad because I think it’s a great experience to come and watch movies. It brings back a lot of …
Honda wants to save America’s endangered drive-ins – CNBC.com

The Japanese car company has launched Project Drive-In, an effort to rescue at least some of the remaining theaters in the United States.

 

 

Curb Weight – Packard Wins – 09-02-13

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

Curb Weight is frequent blathering of car stuff – current and maybe some old stuff.  I hope you enjoy it.

If you are a car show buff and painful attention of fender/door gaps is what you are into then you’ll be glad to hear that  a Packard 1106 Twelve won the Pebble Beach Concours car show.

The 1934 Packard started life as a Taxi in Puerto Rico.  That is a long road to winning a Concours event.

The winner.

The winner.

Other winners were:

1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren – what?

This –>

Best in Show

Best in Show

1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Va den Plas

Great looking car. Huge headlights

Great looking car. Huge headlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least a 1932 Lincoln KB

These are beautiful cars. This isn't the car that won, just an exsample

These are beautiful cars. This isn’t the car that won, just an example

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

RuxtonAuto

Ruxton has been announced as a Featured Marque for the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Stay tuned for more info!
2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – Autoblog

The culmination of the 2013 Monterey car week took place yesterday at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Pebble Beach Concours: 1934 Packard Wins Best of Show …

Winner of Best of Show honors at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance was a 1934 Packard with Dietrich bodywork.

Vintage Hood Ornaments

By | | , , ,
2 Comments

I love hood ornaments.  The big heavy chrome or chrome on pot-metal ones, that let you know that the car behind it was something special.

Now days if your car is lucky to have one,  your hood ornament will be a cheap chrome coated plastic with a flexible base.   But I’m betting, if you walk around to the front of your car and look at it straight on, you will fine a 2D plastic logo belonging fixed as part of your grille.

But the older ones helped identify the car and gave you an indication of what the engineers had as an inspiration for the building rest of the car.

I have a few.  Started  as a photo project my son started.  Check them out, I have them for no other reason than I liked them.

Check them out.

IMAG0159 IMAG0160 IMAG0161 IMAG0162 IMAG0163 IMAG0164 IMAG0165

I don’t have a favorite, well maybe the Chevy ornaments.

Got a couple laying around on or off a car?  Drop me a note.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

classic hood ornament

Addictions – The Classic Hood Ornament — D’Scoop

Addictions – The Classic Hood Ornament. March 8, 2013. I will admit to having many many addictions. Sadly, for most of them, there are absolutely no cures for my sort of addictions. Take toilets, for example. It’s a passion of mine to find the …

Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az – The Lost Blog Posts

By | | ,
1 Comment

Let’s talk about the staging.

Most of these are original, but staged (well staged) with some period correct signs, gas pumps and vehicles.

Let’s check out the pumps.

I love old gas pumps.

I love old gas pumps.
IMG_0037

The paring is great. I recall my Dad having the oil can holder between the pumps at one of his body shops.
IMG_0063

The internals of one of the oldest pumps.
IMG_0081

Fantastic Dial Pump.
IMG_0082

These are all part of Lowel, AZ. Very cool place.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
antique gas pumps

 

zobowyqumy

Gas Pump Collector’s Guide: Antique gas pumps are enjoying increasing popularity among gas and oil memorabilia… http://t.co/7PvIiM53pj

Pawn Star – 1969 Lola T163 Can-Am For Sale

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment

via Pawn Star – 1969 Lola T163 Can-Am For Sale.

A true race car.

Lola 1969

Lola 1969

Chassis SL163/20 was delivered to American Lola importer Carl Haas on June 6, 1969. Its first owner, G Auto USA didn’t utilize the car, so in 1970 it was sold to SCCA racer Steve Weaver of Indianapolis. Weaver drove SL163/20 to 3rd place in the SCCA Central National Division points standings, with two outright wins at Michigan and Indianapolis Raceway Park. At the completion of the season, Weaver sold the SL163/20 chassis to Gregory Hodges, who campaigned it in SCCA California events. In 1973, Tony Settember acquired the car and entered it in the 1973 Laguna Seca Can-Am, where it blew a head gasket on just the second lap. SL163/20′s last appearance in Can-Am was under the ownership of Charles Semple, whose driver Bob Kemple qualified for the 1973 Riverside race but failed to start. After retiring from active racing, the car had a number of documented owners within America, New Zealand and France, who displayed it in their personal collections. In 2009, SL163/20 returned to California when it was sold to its latest owner. He had the car prepared for vintage racing by Toluca Lake Historics.

via Pawn Star – 1969 Lola T163 Can-Am For Sale.

 

I'm wonder if this is the same one I recently say on Ebay? Can't be that many around.

I’m wonder if this is the same one I recently say on Ebay? Can’t be that many around.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

lola race cars

Frank Gardner (racing driver)

1971 | European Formula 5000 Championship 1st Lola T192 Chevrolet Lola T300 Chevrolet | Lola Race Cars | T300 Chevrolet | Lola Race Cars | …
Lola race cars: Mac McClendon – the worlds most renowned Lola …

MyCarHeaven.com highlights this wonderful video that looks at Mac McClendon, the worlds most renowned Lola historian and restorer, and give a history of him, the cars and his business. Great stuff.

Read This: Three Chevrolets stolen from Monterey auctions

By | | , , ,
2 Comments

Three Chevrolets stolen from Monterey auctions | Hemmings Daily.

Maybe we can find this cars before they’re chopped up.

Beware of where your parts come from.

These are the cars:

 

1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air

1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air

1961-Chevrolet-Impala

1961-Chevrolet-Impala

61-Impala-SS-700x456

61-Impala-SS

 

 

 

 

 

Automotive Start-Ups

By | | ,
1 Comment

I got a note from a reader I’d like to share with you.  Not because he likes my site (who doesn’t??….no…no don’t answer that!!!) but he recognized the Parting Out ad and, well I’ll let read the comment:

ddsundowner says:   (ddsundowner.wordpress.com)

Great blog and always cool content! And Ps. thanks for support auto startups like partingout.com

I’m very big on startups and “Mom & Pop” enterprises. You can see that on this blog by reading the Racing Corner, where I highlight the small racing teams around the country.

So that gave me an idea “Why not give a shout out to all the small automotive company?” To which I answered, “Thanks ddsundowner!!!  That is what I’m going to do.

Now I don’t currently sell ad space and even if I did you wouldn’t see NAPA or Quaker State Oil, but I will place an ad for FREE  to small auto companies – just like the race teams.

You only need to contact me by dropping an email to timsweet@cox.net or fill out the contact from below.

I’ll need to see your work and you will need provide an image or logo (or both) you’d like to use.

HEY…IT’S FREE!!!  Lots of page hits and 100 new members a week…you’ll get some exposure with 10K plus page views a day!!!!

Drop me a note

Thanks for reading.

Tim

RJS Corvette

RJS Corvette

 

1965 Chevelle Vintage Race Car For Sale

By | | , , , ,
2 Comments

1965 Chevelle Vintage Race Car For Sale.

have a 1965 Chevelle Vintage Race Car. It has a 358 cu inch motor, new clutch, new 600 gear in a floater rear end, new Biulstein shocks, and new harnesses. It comes with power steering and a 3 speed transmission. It is race ready minus the lead. I am asking $6000.00 or best offer. Call 803-730-5844

 

Chevelle For Sale

Chevelle For Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice looking racer.

Tim