Gunsmoke

It may have been a custom job, looks like it has a dual windshield dividing rear seat from rest of car. At any rate, unique top.

Joe P my query was "what are you likely to bring home on Saturday morning" after doing some tire kicking. My personal preference is for the Mercury, my Dad had a '55 4dr, my brother a '56 hardtop, both great cars. Learned to drive my Dad's '61 Mercury, so I guess I have a bias.

Many of our parents/grandparents typically bought "used cars" in 1954/55, but many families were fortunate enough to be able to buy new ones. In that era, the typical man had an annual income of about $3300, and women $1100. A typical average family income was $4400, with only about 40% of families with incomes above $5000. So a guy out tire kicking for a new car typically had a pretty modest budget to work with, let's assume a family income of $6000 (about $65000 today)(inflation from 1955 to today is about 10-15 fold depending on product) . The automotive dealers advertised heavily, had fancy brochures and lots of pennants waving in the breezes. By then stock car racing was gaining huge popularity, and the adage "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" influenced lots of buyers. So imagine you are one of those modest income tire kickers heading out Saturday morning aiming to replace your tired 1950 XXXXX with something new for your wife and 2 young children. You and she have decided a 2-door basic car is all you need, and you don't have the good fortune of knowing all the goods and bads we have learned in the 65 years since. Note most of the following are off internet, tried to get basic 2 door models of most makes available on Automobile Row back in the day. Some 2-doors were only available in "hardtop" form. Also found this interesting full dealer price list for Ford in LA, anyone have a similar one pager for other makes in 1955? The spread between a basic Ford and the T-Bird is surprising, and the options which we would now consider largely standard equipment could add 40%-50% to the price. I left out T-bird and Corvette. Oh, but I did throw in the 1955 Ferrari Europa as the car your grandmother, now 95, wishes he had brought home! What are you bringing home on a January 1955 Weekend. I added a Lincoln Continental since Cadillac is here as well, great looking car. First year I think.

1912 Staver has nailed it. Here is 1922 McLauchlin Buick, has correct matching hub cap. as he indicated, McLaughlin Buick's were a high end car here in Canada, some of the heavy brass top irons I had went to a guy in Ontario who was restoring one, he only needed 3 or 4 fittings of the dozen I had. Sold rest to an antique shop picker, probably still there! Thanks.

The 5 bow top suggests a larger car. A couple of years ago I had a set of those very heavy brass top iron fittings exactly like these which the PO said came off an early 20's Buick. Have looked at many brands of that year and these types of top irons seem to be GM affiliated. I agree that Cadillac wheels were much different. Closeup of hubcap shown here. There were only perhaps 100 car makers back then, so finding a match should be easy! Picture taken in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, pretty remote area, so likely a Big 3 or top 6 or 7 manufacturers.

Fascinating stuff, thanks edinmass for introducing us to another short run automobile.

I'm guessing this is a circa 1922 Buick or Cadillac based primarily on folding top irons and rear wheel spokes etc. Note spokes have flat spot as they enter hub. Anyone able to confirm the hub cap? Interesting side curtains and appears to have an accessory folding running board storage rack.

Thanks for the advice NarveN, Rob in Maryland told me he had over time decided to use a modern switch (with a mounting bracket made to match original equipment)and separate coil on these cars as well for reliability. I started up the engine for the first time in perhaps 60 years last summer and it ran nicely up to temp with this coil, but never drove it or put it under power. I'm probably a year away from driving this car, so will see how it performs. The idea of zip tying a newer style coil to the old one makes sense, I presume one would just put jumper wires between the various connections and effectively be running the 2 coils in series if I was to use original switch which is part of coil assembly.

edinmass, I often notice your CV takes up a whole page/screen, you giving any thought to condensing it? Save on scrolling for your fans Others also have fairly long CV's, AACA should encourage members to be "scroll conscious". Just a suggestion/thought.

We'll send you the invoice for our time! Now this carb does look Motorcycle, have never owned one so I'll let the experts chime in.

CG said "I think it's supposed to be a White engine." Note tag on Witte Engine above.

Finished off the Roadster dashlight switch and ignition switch/coil install in new dash. Regards the dashlight switch, I had this old scrap of original dash a PO had saved (why?), and wondered for 5 years what these 3 holes were for. 2 years ago I found these cars had a dashlight switch, I found one (thanks Rob in MD) and used the old dash piece as a guide. The ignition switch/ coil combo mounts from backside thru a 7/8" hole, no bezel or any trim, so a carefully reamed hole and 3 steel studs welded to back side of dash (before installing dash) secure it in place. This good switch/coil came with a donor car, but no keys, locksmith made keys for $35. Not sure where I'm starting next.

Tag appears to read "Witt 5/hp? engine carburetor 25.00 ? Am I missing something? Is there something written on opposite side of tag? Here is a Witte Engine, circa 1920's I'm guessing and a Witte 5hp farm engine from 20's/30's, not sure what they used for fuel supply.

I think what you are seeing is not a handle, but the central hinge for the trunk. These cars had a round trunk lid with only one center hinge in line with the "raised rib" extending length of car. Initially the raised ribs for these cars were a way to rivet panels together because they were made of material not suitable for welding (can't remember what material). eventually they went with steel but kept the raised ribs as a style decision.

The post-war "style change era" for the American big three (GM/Ford/Mopar) (and smaller companies as well) really began about 1949 (45-48 were largely pre-war design idioms/carryovers). The "bathtub Ford/Nash and the smoother all body GM's and MOPARS commencing about 1950 were the start. By early fifties, American post war "affluence" began to creep into the economy and car buying habits. The Big 3 recognized that "excess, glamour, big and opulent" would sell, regardless of technical weaknesses. So over the 10 year period from about 1953-1962 the design studios (including Harley Earl's) were focused largely on exterior cosmetics only, and "flash" was the soup de jour. As we are aware, this 10 year "cosmetic extravagance" existed only in America. Thank goodness it was short lived, and while many nostalgically look back at the "bulky, chrome and finned" era as a pinnacle, many others see it as an awful example of waste and excess. Virtually none of the cars of that era (with a rare exception perhaps) are highly sought after because frankly they were terrible automobiles all things considered. In reflecting on why one year might differ dramatically from an earlier year (opening query late 50's), remember it usually took 3 years from concept design to production, so a guy like Halley Earl would have influence on style of GM products 2-3 years after he retired. Competition and sales were high, and every year the companies tried to have something new, translated as "something that looks totally different", even if the rolling chassis was identical to 3 or 4 years earlier. A period I have no taste for.

Good to see you focused on the "ordinary ones"! The Bugatti Atlantique (i think that is what it is) is such a stunning car, I know only a handful were built and exist, have always been surprised no one has done a quality reproduction. Experts, I don't know this particular car, is it a recently assembled one, I understood some guild was doing one?

Since housing is used and did not likely come in that box, is same # 1973759 stamped on housing?

8E45E, we have 2 books referred to in this post (an AACA no no!), the initial post (AMBU) deals with pre 1920 cars (I don't recall FRP or Porter in it, and I've since sold it), but the hidden-hunter book was published in 1922 around time Porter went out of business.

I've been fascinated by old cars since I was 8 or 9 years old and "helping" my mechanic Dad fixing other people's cars in the wood plank floored garage sitting 50' from the house. Still think/dream about it regularly. Articles like this post rekindle my interest and fascination with the early pioneers of the automobile, and encourage me to continue with my present restoration work. Thanks to Walt, Steve, and all the contributors, the dialog and debate makes great reading.

Enjoyed reading every word in this topic, from the opening query, thru the sceptics and doubters (not naming any names), and finally the real experts (special thanks to Walt G). Being such an apparently fine automobile, I'll be surprised if one does not survive in obscurity somewhere.

Dodge's first 8cyl was 1930 I think (DC8).

Sorry to hear of your loss. I sold a 1929 Dodge Sedan in Canada about 4 years ago (went to Ontario) for $2500USD, and it was not near as good condition as this one. I am sure there is a Dodge/Chrysler club near you (or antique car club) who would know the market in your area. Car looks complete and pending it's mechanical condition (is engine turning freely, brakes, etc) it would likely be a good restoration project for someone, or a car that could be made good mechanically and kept as a "survivor" (drive it like it is found). Regrettably, often these nice sedans attract hot-rodders who only are interested in good steel bodies and throw away everything else. I know someone on this site will offer you an opinion of value. Good luck, nice old car. BTW, what is car sitting next to it with the trunk?

See this car coming up for auction soon, while it is a 1932 Imperial CH, the color scheme is what I initially intended for my Roadster. Stunning car IMHO.

Here is the guest cottage where I retained the "wood look". Have down-sized from 4000 ft sq to 1100 ft sq, including garage and workshop. Now back to old cars.

A few pics of the above mentioned house renos that took me away from old cars for 8 months! I built main house in 1979, guest cottage in 1995, have now moved into guest cottage (it is above my garage workshop!) and my youngest son and his wife and children have moved into main house. Amazing what a new paint job will do!