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Classic car spotting this week.
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ghce
·My DW's Grandmothers first new car,, unrestored original. 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria.
The Last photo was her last drive...the day she let us buy it, October 8 1976. It just happens to also be my birthday. Thank you Bertha.
Reminds me of a similar event in our family though with a less happy outcome.
My Father actively hunted down this particular car in the late 60's a rare right hand drive 1957 Hudson Hornet 327 cu only about 2700 made the last of the Hudson cars to be made.
When we got it it still had the factory plastic on the seats and the car was in almost perfect condition except the previous owner had been hauling fish in the trunk and the floor had rotted out, an easy repair.
Was a fabulous car to drive and returned amazing MPG figures for a 327 V8, we used it as a commute car across our country to our family holiday home on the opposite coast, an almost weekly at times commute especially in school holidays.
It languished in a garage in the late 70's undriven and after my Fathers passing in 1981 I restored it to road going condition after its long layup in about 1984.
Subsequently I moved to a different city and a couple of years later was horrified to find that my Mum had sold it with out even offering or consulting me and at too low a price, probably a 1/5 of its real value to another car collector.
Several years later the new owner was chasing down the cars history and made contact with the family as he was showing the car at car shows.
He graciously showed my Mum the car in its present cared for state in about 2010 ( when these pictures were taken).
We had a lot of good times in this car for sure.
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MRC
·Spotted today at Cars in the park in Lichfield,
Pic extracted from 8mm film, sorry about the quality.
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RLC
·Reminds me of a similar event in our family though with a less happy outcome.
My Father actively hunted down this particular car in the late 60's a rare right hand drive 1957 Hudson Hornet 327 cu only about 2700 made the last of the Hudson cars to be made.
When we got it it still had the factory plastic on the seats and the car was in almost perfect condition except the previous owner had been hauling fish in the trunk and the floor had rotted out, an easy repair.
Was a fabulous car to drive and returned amazing MPG figures for a 327 V8, we used it as a commute car across our country to our family holiday home on the opposite coast, an almost weekly at times commute especially in school holidays.
It languished in a garage in the late 70's undriven and after my Fathers passing in 1981 I restored it to road going condition after its long layup in about 1984.
Subsequently I moved to a different city and a couple of years later was horrified to find that my Mum had sold it with out even offering or consulting me and at too low a price, probably a 1/5 of its real value to another car collector.
Several years later the new owner was chasing down the cars history and made contact with the family as he was showing the car at car shows.
He graciously showed my Mum the car in its present cared for state in about 2010 ( when these pictures were taken).
We had a lot of good times in this car for sure.
VERY cool story, nice that the cars we grew up with hold the past together for us.
Now THAT is more than ironic....The car that the Golden Hawk replaced was another 'Mom's' Car, a '51 Hudson Hornet, 302ci flashed 8.
Dad loved it 'cuz it was the fastest of the stock cars at the time....I remember it as a shiny red upside-down bathtub with wheels...that you stepped down to get into.
Edited:
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RLC
·Actually, SUPER like! You’ve owned it for 45 years. Still looks like new!
In 1953, my family visited family in Detroit. We visited the Ford Rotunda which was the focal point for the 50th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company. The rotunda was designed by Albert Kahn, and was built in Chicago for the 1933 World’s Fair. Henry Ford had it dismantled brick by brick, and moved to Dearborn. The building burned in the 1960s. The highlight of the show (to me) was a Lincoln convertible with white metallic paint (gold flakes), all chrome gold plated, and all knobs on the dash, solid 14-karat gold. Gold was 35 dollars an ounce then, and there was $8,500 worth of gold on the car. Shearling carpets, white leather upholstery. I wonder where that car is, today! A banner year for Ford.
Look in the trunk....Ford at Fifty and a 50th Anniversary calendar came with the car when Bertha bought it, along with many of the other memorabilia in thr trunk..
The Double Bubble wrappers & Tootsie Pop Sticks, when we got it.
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ghce
·VERY cool story, nice that the cars we grew up with hold the past together for us.
Now THAT is more than ironic....The car that the Golden Hawk replaced was another 'Mom's' Car, a '51 Hudson Hornet, 302ci flashed V/8.
Dad loved it 'cuz it was the fastest of the stock cars at the time....I remember it as a shiny red upside-down bathtub with wheels...that you stepped down to get into.
Yes those Hudsons were a great car brand, my Dad had quite a few different ones going back to a 1925 with lots of later 1930's Terraplanes.
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ghce
·So the Ice Warning was not standard on the UK GT?
Also, you need the US Spec hood!!!!
The Ice warning may have been fitted to some but it was not standard in the UK, yes the NADA hood was different to in the US as was the braking system.
My car is in New Zealand but these are pretty much the same as UK spec.
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...The Ice warning may have been fitted to some but it was not standard in the UK, yes the NADA hood was different to in the US as was the braking system.
My car is in New Zealand but these are pretty much the same as UK spec.
great cars.
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ghce
·My Neighbor had 2 of the NADA spec cars for awhile and another friend randomly had one in HS. Considering there was only 2,000 made, and only 1,800 actually sold in North America, they are pretty rare. I think the last 200 went to Sweden if I remember right. Really interesting pre unibody type construction, with fascinating front suspension. ( as you know) The US Spec aka NADA cars had 3 functional hood scoops, one was for intake, the other 2 were for engine cooling, and had a flap to open and close them as needed. All US spec had the ice detector as well. (First car with one if I remember correctly)
They were and are a pretty amazing car which given their age makes them a bit unusual in that when properly set up they drive as well and many cases even better than most modern cars, the only fly in the ointment was when set up from the factory they could under steer dramatically and unexpectedly in certain very rare situations a problem which is easily resolved by uprating the tyres and anti roll bar.
I have had mine since 1987 and it has been the most reliable car in my ownership with almost nothing other than tyres and oil, quite amazing given the reputation of British made cars of that (or any ) era.
I have always had great fun scaring the bejeezus out of other motorists who aren't aware that these are really a sports car in Saloon styling with their V8 engine and great road holding abilities.
Comfort, power, great design, unforgetable looks yet they remain one of the most monetarily undervalued cars in the classic market and can be bought very cheaply compared to most other inferior cars of the day probably due to the Staid reputation that Rover pursued with all of its models ie ministerial and doctors cars.
The P6B ( B for Buick V8) is a real wolf in sheeps clothing.
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Alpha
··Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega CollectorMore than a few weeks ago 🤦 when the love of my life and I enjoyed a blast around Scotland in the 308GTB 🥰
Image taken in Inverness
Image taken in Inverness
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vbrad26
·My father in law bought one last December.
It was somewhat of a mechanical project...but it has been in the shop ever since hah.
He bought it out of sate, shipped it home, had it in the garage for I think 2 days and at the shop it still sits.
Sadly, it will probably be the only dog-leg Ferrari I ever get to drive 🙁.
I would probably kill to drive an F40...
It was somewhat of a mechanical project...but it has been in the shop ever since hah.
He bought it out of sate, shipped it home, had it in the garage for I think 2 days and at the shop it still sits.
Sadly, it will probably be the only dog-leg Ferrari I ever get to drive 🙁.
I would probably kill to drive an F40...
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Vercingetorix
··Spam RiskMy father in law bought one last December.
It was somewhat of a mechanical project...but it has been in the shop ever since hah.
He bought it out of sate, shipped it home, had it in the garage for I think 2 days and at the shop it still sits.
Sadly, it will probably be the only dog-leg Ferrari I ever get to drive 🙁.
I would probably kill to drive an F40...
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vbrad26
·Cooper Cobra whitewalls? You should be banned or worse for posting that picture.
Haha came with the car. But they looked to be brand new. Or at least hardly driven on.
Like I said..."project" hah.
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SeaMSTR
·Whilst we are on the subject of classic Italian exotica, I spotted this rare pair of Fiat Uno’s in North London, earlier in the week. Not seen one for a number of years! One had quite a good registration, too...
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Canuck
·Not a classic car. A truck. This is almost its first time out, after a 40 year restoration project. My friend acquired it from the estate of a deceased friend of his who began the restoration circa 1980. The truck is a 1956 Ford. It has been updated with front disc brakes, a 1967 Thunderbird V-8, a Ford C-6 transmission, dual 4-barrel carburetors, 9-bolt Ford rear end, air, cruise, tilt, power steering, reversed Ford steel wheels, and power brakes. My friend acquired it about 3 years ago, as a project vehicle. He has since fitted the box, including a maple floor in the box, updated electronics, done the interior, finished restoring the box, installing one new side of the box, new tail gate, fitting it, and having it painted, etc. etc. He has put about 1,500 miles on it since bringing to the state you see it in. He took me for a ride in it. Impressive, but driving it in a residential neighbourhood meant he had to restrain himself!
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Canuck
·I spotted this one in the Ford Rotunda in Detroit, in 1953, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Ford Motor Company. It is the 1953 Lincoln convertible with all the chrome, gold plated, and 14-karat gold knobs on the dash! Metallic white paint used gold flakes. There was $8,500.00 worth of gold on the car at 1953 gold price of $35.00 per ounce. That would be 243 ozs. of gold. That’s over $400,000.00 U S at current gold prices! The car had white leather upholstery, and sheep skin (shearling) carpets. I think this picture is reasonably current, so the car likely still exists.
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Alpha
··Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega CollectorBack in 2009 and came across a 'Mini' rally in Switzerland - ok thread drift but sure we are all used to that 😀
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...
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Waltesefalcon
·Holy cow, which Torpedo is that one?
