I had to charge the dead battery on my riding mower today, so I grabbed a very familiar device. And then I remembered that I had bought it for my very first car, a 1963 Corvair Monza. My brother had given it to me in the fall of 1972, when he went off to a stint at Thule AFB as a contractor. By the time the cold Iowa winter of those pre-climate-change days set in, I didn’t use the Corvair very often, as I lived close to downtown. But when I did need it, the battery had gone dead. And it would keep going soft, as there was obviously some continuous drain on it. So I bought this battery charger. And I still have it today. And has it ever been used a lot over the decades.
It has no automatic features, so one has to remember to take it off after some hours, depending on the size of the battery. But it’s still humming away. And I found a couple of other relics for cars #2 and #3.
In 1973, I bought my first VW Beetle; a ’64. Since I was a free spirit and hit the road with all my worldly possessions rather frequently, I bought a factory roof rack, which was a sturdy galvanized thing. Keeping all my things from flying off was a challenge, but then I saw this roof rack bungee-web in the JCWhitney catalog, and ordered it. It’s from France no less, which makes some sense. And it worked great.
I’d just keep tossing stuff up there, and when it was a big pile, I’d throw this over and hook it to the four edge rails of the rack. It’s very flexible (well, it was anyway), so it would cover quite a load.
My Peugeot 404 wagon had a great big factory roof rack, and I used it on it too. Haven’t used it since, but it’s still in my bungee cord bin, just in case.
This is a brake adjusting tool for my Peugeot 404s. As is obvious, it’s pretty necessary unless one happens to have a similar shaped tool to stick into the backing plate of a 404 drum brake. Like so many things on the Peugeots, their adjustment provision was a bit of brilliant engineering, as one just inserted it into the hole and turned it. Much easier than the typical drum brake adjusters, which can be a bit of a pain.
I bought it at the Peugeot dealer in Santa Monica, and have kept it for…just in case. I ground down the polished end of it for some other purpose that I have long forgotten.
Got any relics from your early cars?
Bizarre semi-CC effect- that’s my zip code on the charger. No idea where they were located around here, though. A Google search didn’t turn up anything.
@CJC: Evidently they were “Woodward-Schumacher”; here’s a mid-1960s want ad, with the (new) Zip Code. For younger CC-ers: this is when classified ads were still divided up–“Employment for Women,” and “Employment for Men,” though it was just about to change:
Thanks George! If I have time I’ll walk up there this weekend. Curious on what’s there now.
They are Still in the battery charger business and are now located at 801 Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
“The Don” Schumacher has a real empire now, between the battery charger and other electronic items, and the huge drag racing empire he’s running.
http://www.shoeracing.com/drivers/tony-schumacher
https://www.facebook.com/shoeracing/
I’ve got two quarts of 10W-30 oil that I bought to use in my previous car, which are no longer of any use to me because my current car recommends 0W-20 or 5W-20. I’m not sure if that’s really the same thing, though.
My parents had one of those roof rack bungee nets that they used occasionally on their Voyager, which actually had a factory roof rack.
Kept the dealer window stickers from the new ones, if that counts (I feel like that may be cheating)? I do still have a set of JDM Toyota Curren tail lamps meant for my ’95 Celica coupe, but I had a custom pair made from another set that completely eliminated the amber reflector backing within the turn signal. I still used orange bulbs just so you know, Daniel Stern ? They looked like this:
I still have a few tube fuses stashed away from 20 years ago.
Got a mason jar full…I don’t know why, haven’t needed one in 15 years or better. Got a bunch of “bullet” Volvo fuses as well. ( bad wiring in the tailgate killed the parking and dash lights in the rain)..I had to change them on the fly in the dark..LOL.
In the summer of 1971 I purchased a set of SK tools and feeler gauges (valve adjustment) for my first VW… still have them. The SK tools are still in use, but the feeler gauges have been collecting dust for about 35 years.
I have one key set on a VEGA key fob from my ’71, plus the valve spring compressor for same. Hanging on the wall of my shop is the beautiful cast cam/valve cover for the OHC6 that was in my ’66 Tempest. Also still have the original key for my ’64 Beetle, as well as the original radio (non-op). Finally, I have the instrument gauge cluster out of my ’69 F-100 that I replaced with a better (non-hacked) unit from a ’68 parts truck.
I am leaving the country soon and trying to sell or junk as many possessions as possible.
Most of my tools are at my parents’ house, and going through their garage recently I discovered parts for cars I sold in 1995 and 2007, which means my parents needlessly packed them up through three house moves. Sorry mum & dad!
They included piston rings for a BMC A series engine and LHD headlights for a Beetle. (I had to change the lights to register it in UK)
Back in 1982, I put the roof-rack adjustment tool from my dad’s ’77 Wagoneer, on the windowsill of his patio, behind a potted plant. .
Last summer, I noticed it in the same spot I left it , 35 years ago. It’s aluminum and looks like new.
I kept the toolbox and generator for the Ferguson TEA-20 tractor my dad bought in 1975. The tractor is long gone. My mechanic friend recently bought the same model of tractor (but a different unit) that…. was missing its toolbox. So I gave him our box last month. He didn’t know his one was missing.
Date of manufacture is stamped on Lucas generators so that would identify exactly which year that tractor was built.
I still have a Vim № V-103 Slant-6 distributor wrench.
+1
Yes! In the shed I’ve got the glass back window from the original convertible top of my ’66 Bonneville convertible (purchased 1974 when I was a teenager, sold ’91). When the top finally went to shreds, around 1985, I was parking it on the street; I rented a garage in someone’s house and replaced the top myself (with a plastic-window one; the glass-window replacement was rather pricey).
When we got rid of my wife’s ’86 FWD Subaru GL wagon that had developed engine carriage rust at age 13, I clipped out the pair of horns because I wanted to install them in our ’99 Prizm (which came with a pitiful single-note horn) but never did.
Well I still have the entirety of my first car, so I suppose that counts.
From my second, the Crown Vic, I still have the owner’s manual. Nothing but photos and memories from the next two (Accord and Malibu #2).
Still have the sales brochures for my ’77 Civic CVCC 5-speed, 87 Sable and 2001 Prius. Also a special book Toyota put out explaining all the technologies in that first Prius..
Feeler gauge set I got for my first car, a used ’63 Bug, is still in my box of wrenches.
1st vehicle was a ’68 VW panel van given to me by my brother in 1979. I have the front emblem, a set of keys and an 8-track. 1981 was the Volvo-164-that-hated-me phase but I kept the factory tool kit adjustable wrench that I use all the time still.
Also from the early 80’s is a front seat cushion and a hubcap from my 1st 504. Plus the spokeless steering wheel/column from my 1st Citroen D Special.
Everything from 1990 on I still think is recent. 🙂
…stepping into packrat central:
The jack handle from my 67 Thunderbird.
Spare turn signal flasher for my 70 Cougar.
Although they did not come to hand in a quick search, I am pretty sure I still have the set of spare fuses for my 80 Renault.
Someone else’s pic, but the Renault’s fuses looked like these.
I also still have the front license plate bracket for my 85 Mazda and the (wrong) jack hold down bolt for the Renault. (it was what the dealer ordered, but then I found the original bolt under the back seat.)
And a key for my dad’s 60 Lark.
…and the hood ornament from my 66 Belvidere.
That hood ornament rocks!! Ok I’m a MOPAR freak.
I think my old BMW had the same fuses.
Yep got some of those. Fit nothing that I have owned or worked on in…..ok a long time.
I still have the original key from my 1962 VW Beetle. I have the floor mats, a key, and a name badge from my 1974 Dodge Dart Sport. I have the swivelling trunk key opening cover from my 1985 Plymouth Reliant. I have a whole set of keys from the 1982 Lincoln Town Car that I rented on the day my wife and I were married (I found them in my pocket when we arrived on our honeymoon). I also have the blue oval emblem from my son’s 1998 Ford Escort. There is also the Civic name badge from my son’s 2004 Civic that I taped on to my tool box.
1991 Geo Storm key. Going back further, I somewhere have a sparkplug wrench from the tool kit of a 1971 Benelli Mini-Enduro. My first motorized vehicle.
In a rusty old tool box, I have the old ’70 C10’s tree shifter handle and tailgate hinges from it’s 1st tailgate. And the timing light and dwell meter for it I bought in ’76. Also have a clutch centering tool and interior door handle removal tool for the old truck.
I have a huge of stash old ’60’s factory keys from various air cooled VW’s I’ve owned over the years.
Still using my Norco floor jack I bought from dad in 1975 from when he started his tool business. Would have all kinds of tools from ’75 but was burglarized in ’77. Have a 17MM open and boxed wrench with my high schools name etched on it from the tool rack in auto shop. Didn’t steal it, but left it in the engine compartment and found it later on.
Still have the 1 amp motorcycle charger I bought when I got my ’70 CL 450 Honda in ’78. Have a couple of shift linkage rods from my ’77 Rabbit.
Speaking of etching your name on tools, years ago the cops used to advise that you etch your name and social security number onto your belongings so that if they were stolen, the cops would be able to return your property to you. I etched my name and social security number onto most of my mechanics tools. Never gave it another thought, until 35 years later when I ground my social security number off of all my tools. Times change. That number is worth far more than the tools that it was on.
My brother etched his name and ss# onto the wire spoker hubcaps on his Mustang. Put cables on them. Of course they got stolen and sold to local hubcap shop. By the time we traced them there they had been resold because there wasn’t a phone number on them. Yep his info is probably still out there somewhere but at least they won’t call him. This was in 1982, stolen from hospital parking lot under shall we say less than positive health circumstances .
Oh boy, where do I start. The induction timing light and dwell meter I bought around 1978. The remote starter switch from a year or so later. Drum brake tools, R-12 a/c recharge kit, and other things I have not used in years.
There is a box in the garage full of assorted fuses and light bulbs plus a couple of old sealed beams.
Oh yeah, the original wheelcovers from my 67 Ford that I took off when I bought the kind with the exposed lug nuts as well as the set from the 66 Fury III that were too beautiful to leave on for driving. I need to clean the garage, I think.
I have the payment book and the factory options brochure from my first new car…1979 Ford Mustang.
I have the rear floor mats that I bought for my ’89 LeBaron in my 2005 Focus now even though they are brown & the interior is grey.
I also have the license plate frame from my late father’s ’73 T-Bird on my Focus since it was left behind by the buyer.
I have a long Delco Remy window distributor wrench for the hold down bolt and flexible screwdriver like tool with the allan end for adjusting the dwell that I bought almost 50 years ago along with a dwell meter for my Rambler V8 which used the DR distributor. Also worked for Chevrolet’s, Oldsmobile’s and Pontiac’s I have worked on over the years.
I still have a ring of 40 or so Volvo 240 keys from having owned all of them.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-nora-ii-iii-iv-etc-own-all-the-volvo-240s/
I’m not taking a picture, but, buried in a clothing closet is a step stool that I bought at Sears in 1967 so that my grandmother could get in and out of my International Travelall. After I die, if the children wish to throw it out, they may. While I am alive it is a reminder to me of this dear loving lady who, along with my grandfather, arrived in 1912 with no knowledge of English and made their way in America, raising five daughters and giving their grandchildren tremendous love.
My first response when I read the QOTD was no. And I have NO relics from my very earliest cars.
Then it occurred to me that I have one item left from a car I owned 10 years ago, the beloved Mazda 323…
I have the Darwin fish emblem that was on the back of the car.
As a kid I thought the original Jesus fish came meant the car came from Ixhoye Buick-Nissan/Datsun on Cape Cod.
I have a grease stained Chilton manual for many of my early cars, oldest being for the ’71-’77 Vega. Quite a collection of Holley carb parts from ca. 1980, along with a lot of tools for doing things like tuning up Detroit Diesel 2 stroke engines, removing injection pumps from Oldsmobile diesels etc. An old Sun Super Tach II, and at least 1 oil filter for the last 4 or 5 vehicles, and a throttle cable for my long gone ’83 F-150 to name but a few items.
I just know if I get rid of any of it I’ll need it the following week….
I’ll have to get rid of most of it next year when I retire and we move.
I hadn’t thought of manuals. I still have a couple Floyd Clymer manuals for my 1st vehicle. Anyone remember those?
Oh, let’s not start with the manuals. I am set for repeats of many of my early cars plus many for cars I haven’t owned.
I, too, still have my dog-eared ’71 Vega manual, plus another brand new one I never used.
I don’t have my Vega manual, but I still have the “Peterson Book of Vega” that I bought back then … 1976 or early ’77.
I have a bottle of Wynn’s power steering fluid additive that was a requirement for a Wynn’s-backed used car warranty on a ’92 Geo Metro with Armstrong steering. The ’95 Tercel it was replaced with was also unboosted steering, and both my current ’08 Toyota Yaris and whatever I’m likely to replace it with have EPS.
I still have the ice scraper I bought for my first car (76 Ford Courier) at Kinney Drugs in Canton NY in late fall 1983. (I have lived in San Diego for 30 years.)
Also the Black and Decker 12v trouble light my dad bought me for the same car (it uses a sealed beam!)
A set of spark plug gappers I bought in early 1984 to tune up a buddy’s Corolla that wouldn’t start. (Made me look smarter than I was!)
Several other tools I bought for the Courier – an analog voltmeter, a specific gravity tester for the radiator, etc.
And a Halon fire extinguisher I bought from JCWhitney, for either the Courier or my first new car (87 Mustang).
My first car was a 1978 Buick Century slantback four-door sedan, which I owned in 1988-89. I still have the hood ornament (it had a stand-up ornament, which broke off during the period when I had the car) and the owner’s manual. The car was a hand-me-down from my parents – although it was off the road for a couple of years in between – and the key ring that I still have my house and office keys on today is the same key ring my parents gave me with the keys to the Buick in 1988.
The Buick was replaced by a 1985 Plymouth Turismo, which I owned from 1989 to 1995. I still have a Chilton’s repair manual for that car (“Omni Horizon Rampage 1978-89”).
In the summer of 1986, my parents bought a new 1987 Plymouth Sundance, which I learned to drive on, and eventually ended up with later on (1997-2000). I still have the dealer badge from the trunk, which fell off at some point, from the now-defunct Bancroft Chrysler-Plymouth in Worcester, Mass.
I have a few tools from my father’s 1963 Peugeot 404, including this one. It says Peugeot in script on the bottom.
Last year I was actually using one of these wrenches on project I was doing with a friend of mine, and he looked at it and said “wow, this thing’s made in France!” Not the first country of origin one thinks of these days when thinking about hand tools.
Cool stories .
I have random keys, tools and spare parts dating back to the 1940’s before I was born .
I tend to buy the same brand of old vehicles over and over so I rarely let go of spares be they tools or parts .
-Nate
In 1978, I sold my metallic blue 65 Mustang fastback for $1100. While getting it washed and waxed, one of the rocker panels’ “MUSTANG 2+2” badges fell off; I shoved it in my pocket and kept it for almost 30 years. It was real chrome, unlike my “CAMRY” badge that fell off in 2001, which I discovered was cheap, bendable bargain bin plastic.
Just got back from the toolbox dive. Found a couple of good ones.
Bottom item is a 1/4″ drive bar I made to get at the rear fender bolts in my 1962 Triumph TR4, they were right up under the peak of the fin. There was a sheetmetal fold that interfered with using a wrench, and a regular ratchet didn’t fit so I bent up and shaped a bolt just so (I love having acetylene torches). It still comes in handy once in a while.
Top is the AMX logo that came off the grille I put on my 1980 AMC Concorde. I couldn’t bring myself to put that badge on a green 4 door so it wound up in a box.
I also have the serial number plate for my 1972 Matador somewhere, but didn’t see it tonight. A few years ago I rounded up my remaining Matador parts, found a guy who had one and sent the box to him UPS, no charge.
The 13″ wheel covers from my 1968 Plymouth Valiant Signet. I had upgraded to 14″ wheels.
A blankout panel from my 1976 Dodge Aspen. I had installed a vacuum fluorescent digital clock.
Spare Chrysler ballast resistor. Was in the glove box of one of the cars before I sold it.
This is a fun survey, Paul—you’ve always got such ideas up your sleeve! My first car, the ’67 Chevy I owned 1975-1980, was the height of my “do-it-yourselfer” days, ’cause of financial necessity and because I could do many shade-tree fixes myself. I did tune-ups, rebuilt the carb, some brake and muffler work, “Bondo,” and so on; a rusted frame eventually killed it. I still have Sears’s late-1970s timing light and Dwell-Tach sitting in my garage, two cross-country moves later (eBay photo)–I doubt I’ll ever use ’em again….
Three quarts of 10W40 from an oil burning 1964 Dodge. The oil is in paper cans. Motor oil in paper cans may be the single worst consumer automotive product of all time.
Ive got a few all metal cans of Valvoline 30 that were for the ’57 Chevy, along with the pair of original Guide T-3 headamps. Since all filaments work, I should try and sell those.
I still have the hood Bowtie emblem and trunk Powerglide emblem from my first car, a ’51 Chevy that drove in high school in 1964 & 65 before trading it in on a ’55 Ford. In fact, I also now have the title framed along with 2 pictures of a 16 year old me and my, then 9 year old sister hanging in my man cave. A couple of years ago, a relative of her husband found it in some old car titles and recognized my Mom’s name and address. Evidently someone bought it from the dealer and never changed the title before they finally junked it. It was still in good shape when I traded it in. My sister didn’t even remember the car until she found the pictures.
As someone stated above, I also have all the parts of my ’79 Chevy Malibu that I bought new.
I still have the ice scraper/snow brush combo (with wooden handle) I bought at Claber’s (a regional discount store chain in the Pittsburgh area) in 1975 for my first car. I also have a pencil-type tire pressure gauge with a Delrin plastic indicator purchased the same year and used a gazillion times. It currently underestimates pressure by only 1 psi compared to the new fancy dial gauges we have at work.
My father-in-law gave me a number of Craftsman and S/K metric sockets in the 70s that I still regularly use, and I have a gigantic Craftsman 25-mm open and closed-end wrench that was used on the oil drain bolt of the Volvo 240 that I owned from 1982-2003.
I have 7 things that I kept over the years and have no explanation as to why..but I did!?
A brand new fuel filter (I think) for my dad’s 49 Chevy pickup.
2 center caps for the steering wheels of 2 of my 66 valiants
The original key ring ( with emblem) for my aunt’s 66 Valiant
The original dealer tag for the keys to my dad’s 69 Marauder
The dash trim with the Marauder name on it from MY 69 Marauder
The hood ornament from my dad’s last Cadillac
I still have the gas cap off my first car, a 1968 Mustang fastback (with an “X” code 390! – not many of them were made!). I put a pop-open gas cap from a ’67 GT on it.
How about a door mirror from a ’74 Pinto wagon?
My Dad bought the car new with only a driver’s side mirror. After the first loaded to the roof family trip, realized that it really needed a mirror on the passenger side as well.
The local dealer couldn’t get one that matched, so they pulled the original and installed a pair from something else.
Almost 40 years after trading the car, that original mirror is still under a workbench in Moms basement.
I have a high-intensity red rear fog light (Hella, IIRC) that I bought for one of my Saab 96’s, probably at some time in the ’80s, and never got around to installing on any car.
I still have a Uni-syn for balancing the carburetors on my ’63 Corvair, along with a timing light, a side mirror still in the original box, and four wire wheel covers with spinner centers.
Because you know, one day I might get around to selling those old Corvair parts on eBay…
Yes!!! I still have my Uni-syn, which I may have even bought BEFORE my first car (SU equipped Volvo) as my parents also had a 122S and I started working on it before I bought mine in 1975. However, my timing light and dwell tach disappeared a while ago … maybe JPC “borrowed” them, since he mentioned he has one of each.
Here is a few relics from my 1st & 2nd cars. Assorted brake tools, dwell meter, battery terminal cleaner, distributor wrenches, bearing packer, door panel removal tool & the GM “jesus” clip removal tool. Sold my timing light years ago but still have most of the original tools that came with the Craftsman tool set I got for Christmas (at age 16) in 1968. 1st car was a 57 Chevy & the 2nd was a 68 Plymouth Sport Satellite convertible. Still use the bearing packer & brake tools from time to time as my wife’s 03 Saturn Vue & my 79 Century Turbo Coupe have rear drum brakes
I’ve never heard it referred to as a “Jesus clip,” but I think I know how and why it got that name!
“Jesus Clip”, yep know that one. Ok NOW I feel old :(.
Honda uses the same clip by the way. I was told it was because it looks like Jesus and his hair not what you say about getting the thing off or finding it again after you do ( among saying other things).
When I was young, a older timer told me that was what it was called because of what you said getting it off or trying to find it. Now I’m a OLDER TIMER !!!!!
I love an old “dumb” battery charger.
The older and simpler, the better.
Nothing smart wanted. No digital display. No battery analyzing and slow boot-up procedure desired. No fault-finding and automatic shut-down needed.
It’s aggravating to return to a battery that you’re expecting to be nicely charged just to find that the “smart” charger had shut down hours ago because it thought it had detected some petty issue. Seems like about any perfectly serviceable battery that’s simply discharged can trigger an error for a smart charger. Just charge (or at least try to) the stinkin’ battery, we’ll determine its serviceability!
I have kept relics from most of my coals, I have the left hand lug nuts from my Road Runner, same from my Barracuda, Dealer tag from my Daytona, Hood Ornament from my Peugeot, Festiva key, and many other things. These and other things are still in storage. I don’t know where pictures I have of these are but I do have pictures of some of my other treasures. Check out these. I have the tag from my “82 Supra and badge from my “Swinger” which I actually only owned in name for 3 months.
Swinger!!
Loving the then modern graphics on that charger.
I’ve got a few things somewhere from my first car, and emblem or two and the cheap-o tach/dwell meter.
I keep this on my desk (charger is just for scale):
But here’s the fun part- it came off this (!):
Nice little memory exercise, Mr. Niedermeyer. Made me think about the vehicles that were a part of my life over the decades.
My father bought a new pale-yellow 1968 GMC 1/2-ton pickup when I was nine years old. It was the first vehicle that entered my life and the last vehicle my father owned and drove. The most memorable trip in that truck was during the summer of 1968 when we drove from Washington State to Texas and back.
Kept the truck after my father died and I learned to drive in it. Even taught myself how to double-clutch. It served as my primary vehicle through college and first job. I’ll always have a soft spot in heart for it.
In 2007, I had to regrettably had junk the pickup but managed to saved a few reminders:
Horn button (with GMC logo), 4sp manual transmission shift knob, hubcaps, radio delete cover panel (with original color paint), jack & handle, hood and front fender side emblems, original non-locking gas cap, owner’s manual with order reference sheet, and a few other things. All in a box now.
Oddly enough, I don’t have anything from the cars I have owned and traded in over the decades.
I still have the key and the remote entry fob to my ’97 Concorde, my first car. It was totalled in a sideswipe accident while parked on the street. The key is my only tangible thing left, as the car surely was crushed, shredded, melted down and turned into something else, of course. So, it serves as a memoir of sorts. In a way, it is kind of like holding a locket of ashes of someone you loved dearly.
But, all is well. I now have a ’93 I bought a couple months ago. Plum with grey cladding. My favorite color combo for the Concorde. It is officially a classic, registered as such and treated as such. I also bought an ’06 Ram 2500 Laramie mega cab pickup the same time I got the Concorde. It has the 5.9 Cummins, and is dark blue with tan leather seats. Completely stock, never modded or lifted. Guess I went on a car buying spree, hehe. I am as happy as a clam. I also have my ’13 Chrysler 200 Limited, my trusty daily driver. I want more Mopars in my stable. Maybe a B-body Fury or Monaco, an R-body, K-cars, a Dart./Valiant. An ’87-90 LeBaron hardtop for sure. All of those are way before my time, but I like them still. Maybe I can convince my wife to trade her ’15 Outback for a JGC Limited or a Durango SRT8.
I bought a artificial chamois cloth – called a Plas- Chamois – soon after I got my first car in 1974. I still have it and use it whenever I wash my car. The darn thing just won’t wear out!