Every now and then I feel the need to break up the old routine. For those of you who’ve been reading my posts over the past few years, you may know that the reason I started to write for CC was due to the loss of my boring old job at the bank and resultant cabin fever with nothing to do. Top tip: Never get downsized during a recession. So, it was back to the old drawing board! I was qualified, but despite applying for many jobs hither and yon, I still had very few interviews, and most companies did not have the decency to let me know when a job was filled.
image: dilbert.com
I now have a rather low opinion for HR folks–formerly “personnel,” for those of you old enough to remember. But never mind! I got the chance to write for a great online publication, and have since been gainfully employed by a great company for nearly a year and a half (hint: part of their greatness is no HR department–the owners make the hiring decisions!). As a result of finding a good place, I was able to get a CC of my own (the Lincoln, I’m sure I do not need to further elaborate) and have a bit of freedom in just taking off for a fun day trip. Like to Hannibal, Missouri, for instance.
One of my favorite things about writing for CC is the friendships I’ve made, both with readers and the CC editorial staff. I always think of a big glass skyscraper with “CC, Inc.” in neon at the top, but the truth is your fearless writers here are just a bunch of gearheads from many walks of life who love to write about cars. Anyway, late this past winter I received an email from fellow editor Jason Shafer. As you may know, JS lives in MO, and formerly lived in the cool little river town of Hannibal for several years prior to moving to the big city. As a result, he knew there was a great show in the heart of downtown Hannibal every Mothers’ Day weekend.
I am always up for a car show (weather permitting, of course) and so when he proposed that we meet for the show (Hannibal was about halfway between our current cities of residence) I thought it was a terrific idea. For one thing, it is nice to see different cars. I go to many, many shows, and I regularly see the same cars over and over. So a change of pace is nice. Secondly, I had previously met Jason (along with JP Cavanaugh, Ed Stembridge and our fearless leader, PN) at the 2013 CC Editors’ Cavalcade in Iowa City.
So, now that I have rambled on for way too long, let’s look at some cars! Upon first arriving downtown, this amber-colored Monte Carlo immediately caught my eye. Nice color, no vinyl top and factory-correct Rally wheels and whitewalls made for a handsome car.
Despite healthy sales during its run from 1970-72, Chevelles (mostly fake SSs) outnumber Chevy’s mini-Eldorado by about 754 to 1 at shows. A shame. They are handsome cars.
The 1964-66 “Flair Birds” are a favorite of mine. Not just because of their style, most excellent interior and Rube Goldberg power top, but also because my grandmother bought one new.
Her car was navy blue with white interior, blue dash and carpet, and a white top. It replaced a metallic lavender 1959 Pontiac Catalina convertible and she liked it so much that she kept it all the way to 1977. This, when she typically kept cars the then-usual two to three years. Suffice it to say that she loved that T-Bird dearly!
And why not? This was one of the great interiors of the ’60s, a Interstate-going private aircraft. I especially love the “eyeball” auxiliary gauges.
Of the 1964-66 run, the ’65 is my preferred version, as all of the trim details were just right: wheel covers, grille, chrome fender vent, and the first appearance of the sequential turn signals.
Whoever owns this example is a lucky man (or woman) indeed!
Well so far we’ve seen a GM and a FoMoCo product, time to round things out with a Mopar. A 1970 Challenger Special Edition, to be precise.
This one was of course very attractive to your author, with its “Brougham” trim level, green paint and green interior. The vinyl roof with a limousine-style backlight, spiffier interior and an overhead console were all identifiers of the Special Edition package–along with the “SE” sail panel emblems.
Mmm, green! Me like green! Uh, where was I? Oh yes, here we can see the cloth and vinyl seating that came standard, and while this car does not have the Rallye gauges or power windows, it does have factory air and automatic transmission.
This car looked really honest. I have been known to utter my disdain for the so-called “tribute” cars, where Boomers who never got over high school take a clean original Chevelle, Coronet or what have you, paint it Resale Red and go to town with repo SS, Hemi or GTO emblems. Let’s call them what they are: Fakes. Fakey fakey fake fake fake…
I seem to have digressed again; sorry about that! But anyway, this car did not fall prey to fake Hemi-itis, and for that, I salute this car’s owner.
In 1970, the “Airtemp” logo on the quarter panel of a Challenger, New Yorker, or Belvedere was a mark of distinction. A/C was still expensive in the ’70s, and still not exceptionally common.
Can you tell I like Thunderbirds? Yes indeed, there was another excellent example at the show, this time a silver-blue 1964 Landau.
Landaus received an extra-Broughamy interior with simu-wood door caps and other refinements, as befitting its status at the top of the T-Bird heap.
And there are the coved seats! Aren’t they great?
This car appeared to have its original Wixom-installed Thunderbird-logoed windshield washer bag. Now that’s cool!
The lines of this car are just great–not a bad line anywhere in my opinion. And despite my preference for the 1965 model, really, any 1964, 1965 or 1966 Thunderbird will receive a big thumbs up from me!
Jason and I had at this point reached the edge of the show, so it was time to turn around and seek out some more cars. Here we can take a look back down the show field, with the Mighty Mississippi in the extreme background.
In addition to T-Birds, and Broughams, I also like white interiors and metallic aqua-painted cars. So you just knew I was going to share this one, right?
A bench-seat equipped 1968 Super Bee with bumblebee stripe-delete, no less. It does have factory air conditioning though. And there’s that great late ’60s B-body instrument panel, shared with the unforgettable 1968-70 Charger!
It even had an 8-track cassette adapter! Remember those? Not me, I wasn’t even born yet–but I bet many of you CCers had them at one time.
As previously mentioned this is a stripe delete car. Cars so squipped only received the cartoon Super Bee logo. Looks good!
Late ’60s B-body interiors speak to me. The full gauges, sport steering wheel and “Tick-Tock Tach” all speak to me. And a white interior too! Nice!
This was the first year of the Super Bee, which ever-whiny Dodge received after hearing about Plymouth’s upcoming “Super taxi cab,” the Road Runner. Dodge was like the annoying younger sibling back then, getting whatever it wanted: “Plymouth got a fastback coupe? Whaaaa! I want one too! Plymouth got a sporty coupe version of the Valiant? Whaaaaa! I want one too!” Such pissing and moaning ultimately killed Plymouth. Thanks a lot, Dodge!
But I can’t stay mad at Dodge, for they still made some great cars! Like this one. And who can fault a healthy 383 four-barrel mill?
Original paperwork was also on display, telling the car’s story–something often lacking at shows. Looks like this car has been in Missouri since new–other than many trips, as you’ll see in the next picture.
The original owner only kept the car for about eight months. But the second owner, who bought the car in December 1968 with only about 8K on the clock, still owns the car to this day! While the A/C is factory, it was apparently added from a Charger later on. Very neat to see the car with the same owner for nearly 46 years!
How about a 1963 F-85 Cutlass? This one looked great in silver with red interior.
The Cutlass nameplate was just getting started in ’63, but it would have a long and prosperous future ahead of it, with many upwardly-mobile 30-something Boomers lining up for an opera-windowed example in the mid-’70s.
The ample interior brightwork contrasted nicely with the red vinyl upholstery. And the consolette is a nice break from the big honkin’ consoles of today. Really, do you need a console big enough to hold a Coleman Playmate cooler?!
And none of that wimpy red-seats-only schtick, with everything else black–so popular these days with tightwad auto makers–if, indeed, red interior is offered at all! Sigh, folks in the ’60s were spoiled for choice, weren’t they?
The details on ’60s American cars are second to none. I love the “spinner” wheel covers, the tasteful chrome molding and wheel arch trim, and especially that F-85 logo with the rocket motif! Detroit art–or is that Lansing?
It’s just a trunk, but I liked the sign inside. I believe I have the very same affliction, but it’s OK–I don’t care to be cured!
When it seems everybody has to have a Mustang, Corvette or Camaro as a show car, a 1963 F-85 Cutlass convertible is a breath of fresh air–and a real beauty.
Gee, we’ve been pretty heavy on the domestic iron, haven’t we? Time for a break–and what a lovely break! Any E-Type Jag-you-war (XKE to you Yanks) is a beauty. Some really don’t care for the 2+2 like this one, but I like them too. True, it’s not quite as sporting or quite as attractive as the close-coupled, uh, coupe, but still quite nice.
And that dash, while not quite as cool as the Series I unit, is still very compelling. Purists might not care for the automatic either, but for sedate cruising in English splendor, I can see the appeal. It’s not immediately apparent in the picture above, but the interior was navy blue leather–a lovely contrast with the silver paint.
And under the hood? Bliss. At least for those who knew the ins and outs of these very complicated cars–and knew how to tame them without taking it down to Nigel the Mechanic for every little thing.
What a lovely car. Even in 2+2 form, the long hood, feminine line of the rear flanks, slim chrome bumpers and always-lovely wire wheels all speak to me. Not sure of the year on this one, but I am going to guess 1970 or so.
And now, a car you just knew I was going to be all over: a 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible. Looking especially fetching in white with burgundy interior, too!
As I have oft-mentioned, my grandfather’s first Lincoln was a dark green 1966 Continental sedan with no vinyl roof and dark green leather. It replaced a circa-1962 Electra 225 if I remember correctly, and cemented his relationship with Ford’s premier marque for the rest of his driving days. As a Midwestern lawyer, though, I am rather sure he never seriously considered a Continental convertible. My Grandma Ruby got the convertible!
Look–dual radios! This was a rarely-seen Ford option– the Dual Symphony Sound Stereophonic System–for the mister and missus who just can’t decide on a station. Of course, I am kidding. The left-hand controls are for the HVAC system.
This appeared to be a nice original car–perhaps with a repaint, but the interior was clearly original. Clearly unoriginal was the shag carpeting squares in the footwells. Not my cup of tea, but easily reversible at any rate.
Some prefer the 1961-65 a bit more than the revised 1966-69, with its more upright and pure lines. But I really like the later 1966-up Connies too. You could tell it was the “new” one, but at the same time it was clearly a Continental.
Such clean lines. So purposeful, yet so elegant. It makes many of today’s cars look downright convoluted, doesn’t it. Ah, those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end. But they did.
As the resident early Sixties Ford fan, Mr. Shafer was rather taken with this ’64 Galaxie convertible. I liked it a lot too, but as I suspected Jason was going to eventually write it up, I only took this single shot. The red/red is very nice, though.
Here was another nice B-body Mopar, this time a 1969 Sport Satellite convertible. The medium blue paint, white top and white interior was very nice.
No A/C in this one though. But hey, the top goes down, so no worries, right? Buckets and console are also a plus. See, once upon a time, center consoles were NOT designed so a baby elephant could sit on it and not feel crowded.
This one was in nice shape, though the paint appeared to be modern base coat/clear coat. White interiors on convertibles just make sense to me. Black interiors on convertibles does not. Um, hot car, hot day, black interior and top down? That’s a recipe for flash-frying the backs of your legs!
Just like the Challenger SE, I loved this car for its non-“tribute” status. Another REAL car, what REAL cars looked like in the late Sixties. How refreshing.
The only thing that would have made it better from an historical perspective would have been full wheel covers and whitewalls–or perhaps redlines? Really, how many Sport Satellites would have come off the lines with the Magnum 500s? Not too many, I’d guess. But they do look snazzy!
I was also taken with the “racetrack” stamped into the hood. I had never noticed that before, but it looked really good.
Going down a block and back a decade or so, we have this 1959 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight two-door hardtop. I was very interested in this one, and despite the non-correct wheels (I would much prefer the original “spinner” wheel covers) it was an amazing car.
All the details on this car were great! And the paint and chrome were done to a T.
Inside was perfect, right down to the correct upholstery. And what a great steering wheel!
Back then, an Oldsmobile was clearly a cut above from a Chevy or Pontiac, with very upmarket trim and chrome details–especially on a top-of-the-line Ninety-Eight like this one.
1959 was the high water mark for fins, but the Olds really didn’t have them–the fender-top sheetmetal had more of a jet-tube effect. And while some think of the ’59 Olds as the weakest of the 1959 GMs, I like them very much.
Especially the dual-cowl instrument panel. Check out the trim panel for the clock, with “Ninety” and “Eight” spanning the clock face. Cool.
Clearly a well-loved car, it absolutely sparkled in the early-afternoon sun!
The 1968-69 Fairlanes and Torinos are not very frequently seen, so this one was nice to see. But there’s something extra uncommon with this one.
Yep, despite being a two-door hardtop in upmarket Torino trim, it has the old reliable straight six. A bit of an odd combination–you’d think the tightwad who would select the six would want it in a four-door sedan.
The inside was just as original as the rest of the car, but just like the Sport Satellite, I doubt very much that this car was sold new with Magnum 500s.
OK, time for a ubiquitous Tri-Five Chevy. “Oh Tom, why?!” Well, the ’56 is the underdog of the trio, and I liked this one’s dog dish hubcaps and black-and-white paint. If it were a ’57, it would look a lot like one of the Black Widow racers. Maybe that’s what the owner was going for.
This one looks to be a One-Fifty judging from the abbreviated side trim. A nice looking car, and with aftermarket A/C, not the steam room one of these would have been in 1956 in Missouri!
Yes, factory air was available, but I imagine it was very rare on a bare-bones One Fifty. Nice radio blank plate too! I wonder if there’s a modern radio in the glovebox. Seems likely…
Turning from the ’56 Chevy, I saw a late-model Pierce-Arrow, a 1936-38 model. Ooh, great! From a distance it looked original, but as I got closer my heart started to sink…
Hmm, nice subtle color, all trim intact–but those wheels and tires look suspiciously modern.
Power window buttons?! JC Whitney gauges? Oh no…
It is hard to see in these pictures, but beneath those lovely louvres resided a modern V8–a 350 Chevy, I am quite sure. Of all the lazy, stupid….oh! Arrgh! To do this? To a Pierce-Arrow. A PIERCE-ARROW?! Grrrrr!
True, it was well done, and not painted pink, and no day-glo leather buckets inside. But it still pissed me off. Come on man? If you want to be a lazy bozo with all the modern conveniences, just buy a freaking clown-car 2014 Camaro! Don’t ruin a classic! I was getting pretty wound up by this time, so Jason and I broke for lunch–we had been wandering around for about two and a half hours at this point.
After refueling, and exiting the restaurant, the first car I laid eyes on was this 1969 Camaro RS. Yes, yes, another “bellybutton classic,” but this one was very sharp with its uncommon colors of navy blue with white vinyl top and white interior.
And a white hockey stick stripe! Such a refreshing change, I was beginning to think all of these were red with black interior by now.
While I would have swapped the RWLs for some redlines, this was a very nice car, and of course you gotta love the RS’s hidden headlights.
So too, the white buckets and console with “stirrup” shifter. Looks like factory air, too.
As you can tell, cars were beginning to leave, but there was still plenty to see, like this early ’80s Monte Carlo SS. Many of these got hot-rodded and wrapped around trees in the ’90s–much like 1969 Camaros did in the ’70s–so a clean example like this was neat to see.
The blue interior was just as clean as the exterior. White or dark metallic blue were your only choices on the SS until 1985, when a broader range of colors were offered, including black, silver and burgundy.
Although a little rusty and sporting one RWL tire, my Oldsmobile radar went off upon seeing this 1979 Custom Cruiser. Although sporting some rust, it was still complete and in fair shape.
The interior was especially nice, though the five-and-dime steering cover would have been trash-canned in short order if I owned it.
An easy way to tell a 1977-79 Custom Cruiser is the woodgrain “eyebrows” over the wheel wells. In 1980, the woodgrain was lowered and simply went straight across the flanks.
This one was an eight passenger model, with a rather comfy-looking “way back” seat.
It was interesting to see the third seat with the same upholstery as the rest of the car.
By the late ’80s, it seemed most B-body wagons, got the same pleated vinyl or cloth–though the Custom Cruiser’s third seat always matched the rest of the interior trim through 1990.
While there was some rust in the front fenders, the lower rear quarters appeared OK.
I remember riding in my Dad’s 1979 Bonneville sedan, and though I was extremely little, I remember it as a nice place to be. This Olds cabin looked pretty comfy too. And with that, we come to the end of the car show pictures, but stay tuned for a whistle-stop tour of Mark Twain’s hometown!
First stop was lovers leap, prominently featured in Twain’s novels and, more recently, the scene of a runaway Camry that would have made its’ own leap, if a well-placed tree had not stopped it.
In 1990, my parents took us on a vacation to Hannibal. I remember the trip fondly. We rented a condo with a full kitchen, went up to the lighthouse, toured the two big mansions (one of them is a bed-and-breakfast now), rode the riverboat (the Mark Twain, duh!) and all in all had an excellent time.
This was my first time back. I was a little worried it would have changed a lot in 25 years’ time, with Starbucks, Home Depots and other retail dreck all over, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it much the same as it was when I was ten. To this day, it is a nice, picturesque little city.
Here is the aforementioned lighthouse. I remember climbing what felt like five hundred steps with my little brother to the top, where we poked our heads out and Mom, at the bottom, took our picture.
After walking downtown for about four hours I was in no mood for steps on this occasion, and this picture was snapped from the comfort of Jason’s F-150.
And finally, here we have the home of the “Unsinkable Molly Brown.” After the nickel tour, Jason took us past some promising old-car spots, with several interesting finds and one surprise sighting at a convenience store. But those cars will have to wait for another time. All in all, it was a nice mini-vacation and Jason was a great host. I just might have to do it again next year!
Tempted by aqua, but olds wagon for me.
Such an interesting variety there Tom! Faves for me were the Monte Carlo (gold doesn’t always look good, but on that Monte…hot damn!) and the Cutlass’ delicious red interior (the gauge pod atop the dash looks like something Chrysler would do). Other than the ride height and wheel/tyre size, I even find the Pierce-Arrow mostly acceptable (although I hope they added a/c!). Fave overall though is the E-Type – best looking car in the world ever! Thanks for an enjoyable read!
Having at one time been the HR department, and for county government, I learned a couple of things:
1. When the economy is down, jobs are far and few between, and the number of applicants for what is available is high; HR/personnel people can afford to get sloppy in their methodology. And will. After all, they’re got the power, so why should they be worried?
2. Anyone who says a government/civil service employee works hard is a liar . . . . . or is delusional as to what “working hard” means. My adjustment into the real world of private industry was long and painful.
3. Civil service protections mean nothing when the opposition party takes over the courthouse. The wrong letter after your name means you’re going . . . . sooner or later.
and when HR get to go through the ‘retrenchment’ process with someone, it’s like they won the powerball, and they cant hide their glee. All IMHO of course.
I love 64-66 Thunderbirds, my only complaint about them being the combination of bucket seats, console, and . . . . . a column shifter? Obviously, somebody at Ford didn’t want the car to be too sporting.
And your comments regarding fakes needs to be put in EVERY article on 60’s and 70’s cars, capitalized, in 90 point type. And a ‘fake’ placard put on every car in a show that’s guilty of such a rebuild.
The column shifter was integral to the operation of the Swing a Way steering column on these. When shifted into park, the column would swing. When shifted into a gear, the column was locked in place. Of course, there was probably another way to go about that, and the tilt column would eventually chase the Swing a Way out of the marketplace.
Console shifter notwithstanding I still find those interiors to be one of the nicest ever fitted to an automobile. I prefer the brushed aluminum trim to the Landau’s simul-wood, though it is an interesting effect on the door panels!
All nice rides and Hannibal is a great little town. I’m left wondering what engine the 56 Chevy has (I’m gonna guess Stovebolt 6) and then the Custom Cruiser. Oldsmobile 350? Perhaps a 403?
Tom, you have done such a fine job of describing your trip, it is almost like I was there!
Since Hannibal is mentioned, I have to plug it some. Not only did Mark Twain and Molly Brown grow up here, so did “Shoeless” Joe Jackson the baseball player, Mr. Lear (I forget his first name) known for the Lear Jet, and Cliff Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Cliff Edwards is also known as Ukulele Ike, part of the inspiration for the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian.
Let’s also not forget that you ever watched M*A*S*H, Colonel Sherman Potter was from Hannibal.
Back to the subject at hand, a number of these cars are annual attendees of this show; it is weird how seeing them online brings a different flavor to them. Well done, sir!
Some very great finds! Looks like you guys had a great time. I’ll be sharing some of those car show classics I put on facebook a few weeks back soon!
Enjoyable trip. That early Monte Carlo was a real looker, perhaps one of the best styled cars to come out of a strong Chevrolet styling studio. I never cared for the newer ones after these.
The Super Bee’s early travels took it to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, not far from the JPC homestead. I love original cars with long ownership history like this.
That 63 Cutlass is a real rarity – cannot recall the last time I saw one of those, particularly a convertible. And silver would have been a very uncommon color back then, but it looks quite good on this car (and I am not a silver car fan).
The less said about the Pierce Arrow, the better. Sad.
I’m not a fan of the Pierce Arrow, either, but who knows what it looked like before it was resto-modded?
(heavy sigh)
Sure, it would have been a million times better to be an authentic restoration, but if it was sitting in a junkyard as an engineless shell, I’ll concede that its current condition is better than having it melted down to become an appliance, or a girder in a Chinese building.
Great fun but overwhelming. Looks like you had the perfect day!
Ugh, I got married under that lighthouse…if I knew then what I know now…
Awesome story, with awesome cars! My favourite Thunderbirds are the “Flair Birds.” I love the first gen Monte Carlo. I also love the 1968 six cylinder Ford Fairlane. V8s are nice, but everyone has seen them, not many have seen the six cylinder. I love the 1956 Chevy 150. I also like the more recent Monte Carlo SS. I remember seeing them when I was in the 7th through the 9th grade, and I thought they were the most awesome looking car Chevy offered.
Tom,
Before we condemn the owner of the Pierce Arrow for “ruining” a classic car with all the mods, did you ask him/her about the car? It could have been nothing but a shell in a storage place or in a barn that had nothing but the body(no seats, interior, drive train etc) if that was the case then my hats off to who ever did the mods as it brought a car back to life that might have wound up as parts of a building or parts of a cooking appliance.
As for restoring to Pierce Arrow greatness with nothing but PA; I cannot fault the owner for not trying to totally restore it. Pierce Arrow parts were hard to find in the 1930’s and next to impossible to find in 70 years later. Perhaps this resto- mod PA was done in the 1980’s or 19990’s when the internet was non existant or still limited? It is much easier to find parts for a PA in 2014 then it was back then where you had to dig through catalogs or call junk yard after junk yard.
Of course in the end it is the owner’s choice since he/she put up the bread to buy and restore it. It is a tasteful creation and I like it.
I agree. I’m not a big fan of mods to the car, but I admire the creativity behind it, and as long as it’s under the hood, and the shell of the car hasn’t been touched. I don’t mind modifications as long as it’s to improve the performance and the safety of the car.
Leon,
I largely agree, but I think I got wound up because from a distance it looked totally factory and when I saw what it really was, I got REALLY disappointed. And yes, if it was a basket case, it is worth it to modify it some to get it back on the road and presentable. But I have heard and read of far too many horror stories of solid, complete cars being turned into hot rods. Now that bothers me!
I did not even know they made a cassette adapter for an 8-track unit. I do know they made a adapter to add FM to your system. They offered that for home units. I have one from my Grandfather’s old 8-track unit. It was made by KOSS and you slipped it in and turned the knob on it and you got FM goodness.
Cassette adapters were quite common in the late ’70s as cassettes took over from 8 tracks. Lots of people had 8 track decks that had cost them some $$ and didn’t want to toss them. Once new albums started to be cassette or vinyl only these were around for a few years. They were notorious for eating your favourite tape, just like an actual cassette deck would do only sooner.
Busted cassettes with tape wound around them were a common sight along highways all over North America for 20 years.
Busted cassettes were also a common sight in the UK.I had a £9.99 cassette player in my Sunbeam Rapier and threw out a ruined Twisted Sister tape which was still following me 10 minutes later as it’s tape was still trapped in the cassette’s workings.
My experience was not with the HR department firing me, but with the director doing it. It was somewhat of a surprise although I did know funding was probably a problem. I could have been given a few months warning, but instead got two week notice. The HR department talked it over with me, so I decided to just go. There were few options anyway, and I think the director did get some jollies from firing people. He had not been there long, so who knows. I could play the retirement card, which I had told him a number of times, so really do not understand why things were not done is a more above board manner.
I might add that some time ago I met the real world Alice. I am not sure if she knows that she is the real Alice or not. My source is fairly reliable but I don’t know any details.
Looks like a good car show with lots of variety. My hometown has a similar show on Father’s Day, and you never knew what you’d find there.
Dad would have loved the Custom Cruiser, he was the lease & fleet sales manager at the local Chev-Olds emporium in the late ’70s. The Custom Cruiser was not a big seller but they moved a couple every year. We used one very like this for the last ever vacation with the whole family in ’78. It was fully loaded with a 403 and I recall Dad saying it cost as much as a Cadillac and no one would buy it. It eventually ended up with the dealership principal’s wife for a year or two and then was sold as a used car.
Thanks for posting it, it brought back some good memories!
Never knew that is how the rear door on the E-type opened. Great article all around.
I thought that was pretty cool too. I’ve seen the odd E-type in the wild but never knew that’s how the hatch opened.
1970-72 Chevelles, yawn, seen a billion of them.
Same year Monte Carlos, yippee!!!!! I will spend 20 minutes looking at one at a car show, and walk right past Chevellezzzzz. [Unless they are survivor regular ones]
And I agree with this : “This car looked really honest. I have been known to utter my disdain for the so-called “tribute” cars, where Boomers who never got over high school take a clean original….”
Usually it’s some guy who never turns a wrench and just has money to buy ‘memories’. They were not the cool guy, so they pay to try to be one.
A true car guy will know more than “what’s popular”.
Lots of nice looking cars. They would be even more nice looking if they had their hoods and trunks closed so as not to ruin the body lines of the car for a picture. I never have my hood or trunk open on any of my cars at these things and if asked by coordinators I refuse. Now if you walk by, and I am there, I would open it if asked but under no other circumstances. Besides if my car looks that nice on the outside you can bet the engine compartment looks great, but closed it stays.
The silver-blue ’64 Thunderbird Landau is an outstanding example. What photogenic cars these were, the one from the other day towing a boat is still stuck in my head. You don’t see the 64-66s too often at shows in Calif. lucky you guys!
Great piece, Tom. Our 65 T-Bird had those redline whitewalls – love seeing them again.
These interiors were stylish and comfortable. Besides the driver’s seat where I lived most of the time, I also loved to sit in the back of that car and “lounge.” I remember a long, enjoyable Thanksgiving Day ride with my Dad’s cousin and me in the back.
These were special cars and I’m glad to see them being appreciated and preserved. BTW, note that the Landau does not have power windows (though it appears to have A/C). So many folks were still avoiding that option at the time, including my Dad (“just another thing to go wrong”).
A vote for the Woody Custom Cruiser…
Nice finds! Mopars are actually getting some decent love here. I agree that the Chally is more interesting in its ‘normal’ form than another orange one with 440 six pack or a Hemi. If its a total basket case, then build it however you want, but this car seems like a survivor…I wouldn’t mess with it too much outside of bolt on go fast goodies and wheels.
That ‘Bee is interesting…never seen a column shifted bench seat model. Seems an odd choice for a performance oriented or sporty car. But then again, look at nearly every Duster.
Lovin that drop top Satellite the most though, that’s the money shot of the whole show as far as Im concerned. Looks like its roadtrip ready for sure.
Ill say that the ’59 Olds looks dead on, for what it is. Stock wheelcovers and skinny tires? NO WAY. Those aftermarket wheels make the car pop…theyre perfect for what the owner is trying to do. Its not ‘my thing’, but it definitely gets the point across.
I also disagree on the Pierce-Arrow. Yes, originality has its die hard fans…but lets look at another angle. I like his choice of wheels/tires. The slightly dumped stance means business and while Im far from an expert on P-A’s Ill bet you a million spacebucks that a SBC under the hood makes for a much more reliable and easy to maintain driver car. A repower like this makes perfect sense if you intend to actually DRIVE the car, as opposed to build a museum piece. JMO.
+1 on the Superbee,so often overshadowed by Roadrunners at shows.Though I’m a Ford fan I really liked the Superbee,Challenger and Satellite,so nice to see them NOT sprayed orange and turned into Sexton Blake hemis & big block 6 packs.
I love the T birds and still can’t figure out how the 67 came to be after these beautiful earlier models.
Excellent choice in cars Tom and thanks for another fine read.
The E type is gorgeous and would be in my lottery winning garage(along with Nigel the mechanic).
Question for the Mopar fans out there. The 70 Superbee has an Airtemp sticker on the passenger side window – were these being phased out in 1970? I ask because our first car with A/C was my dad’s ’70 Fury III 4 door hardtop, and it didn’t come with the same sticker. Insights appreciated.
Cheers, Rob’t
AirTemp was sold off by Chrysler in 1976, so the sticker is probably good. Here’s a link that might interest you:
http://www.allpar.com/corporate/airtemp.php
Good question on when that sticker went away. Now that I think about it, I did not spend any time around new Mopars in the 1970-71 era, and had never noticed just when that sticker disappeared.
Chrysler’s assembly quality being what it was then, I would also not discount the possibility that the sticker was missing as a result of an assembly line glitch. There may also have been a window broken in shipment or at the dealer that was replaced by glass without the sticker.
Good old HR! One of my degree’s emphases is in HR. As a naive youngster, I actually was really excited to use it and be a positive intermediary between an employee and their employer. Haha. I learned. HR is not your friend! My God. After witnessing (and feeling) such disturbing treatment by employers I’d love to be my own boss. Good for you for getting a job you like.
Remember, HR is not your friend!
Nice trip Tom. I love to see old Midwestern main streets with their human scale store fronts adorned with CCs up and down both sides. I really like that Monte. Looks so classy with the Rally wheels.
Fave has to be the Sport Satellite convertible. Aqua blue with a white interior is such a perfect convertible color scheme. I never understood why my dad bought his ’67 300 vert with a black vinyl interior.
Thanks for a great tour Tom, always good to break new ground and see different cars as you say. Also the pictures of Hannibal, as it didn’t make the cut for our US trip itinerary but I’m sure it will still be there for a good while yet!
What a beautifully-presented bunch of cars, even the unrestored originals, although things like the Continental’s shag carpet mats (! – I bet they’ve been in there 40 years) or the Custom Cruiser’s steering wheel cover arguably should be removed for the show. I think the Pierce Arrow is nicely executed with those custom wheels that echo the originals.
It would seem the Jag (Jag-you-are not war!) is a ’69, check the license plate! The exposed head lights and even the side markers don’t bother me, and I also wouldn’t kick it out of the garage for having the larger tail lights although the slim early ones are much nicer and what they based the F-Type units on.
The Magnum wheels at least allow for a decent sized tire to be mounted, the 56 Chevy’s are tiny by comparison. I have to say the Custom Cruiser 3rd seat only looks comfy for under 10’s.
Loving that ’59 Olds…
We don’t have HR at my place of employ any more – now we have HC, Human Capital !!
Also known as Human Cattle around here.
Anyway, nice road trip in one of my favorite states. I particularly like that you sought out “normal” cars, my favorite is probably the E-Type. I’ve always wanted one, and I like the 2+2 as well, partially because it’s the only one I could afford.
But they are so terrifyingly complex and rust-prone I’m much better off with a simple and terrifyingly rust-prone older car…
“Human Capital?” Oh brother…
What a fantastic collection of beauties. Despite my handle, that great 66 Conti convertible is second on my favorites list of your finds. The Monte Carlo wins hands down, and extra points for no vinyl top and the best looking color I have ever seen. The 56 Chevy has the same birthday as mine, so how could I not like it as well. And the fact that it’s a stripper is a bonus! The red 64 Galaxie convertible is beautiful, looks like the car on the “Hazel” introduction in 64. It would be better looking without the side skits, in my opinion. Speaking of opinion’s, I will never forget the time the parts manager tried everything he could do to give me a job, I had the experience and qualifications he wanted, and great references also. But I could not get the HR girl to fall in love with me, and since he was not allowed to hire on his own he got someone he was not happy with at all. Great write up, my old computer took forever to load all of the fantastic pictures. Thanks.