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AJ, I've been trying to figure out that mystery word, as I have no chance otherwise to ID those convt top bows. Could that mysterious word be something like, "Comic Clown" car? (I remember when there used to be lots of old cars converted into circus-like parodies, with junk tied all over them, eccentric axles, and lots of bizarre sounding horns.) That 6th letter is pretty obscured in the photo. Can you make it out any better in person? It seems to be the "key," at least to the second half of that long mystery word. Am I right that the last five letters of the mystery word seem to be "Crown" or "Crowm" or "Chowm," or "Chown," etc? I'm just guessing that it might be easier to break down that word, than to match up those top bows by shape alone. Good luck!

You're right, Alsancle. He does owe you lunch. Great work!

Very cool. SOMEWHERE there is a Buick owner who could really use those doors...even if just as spare parts. This forum helps them go from being clutter in someone's shop to being valuable, much-appreciated parts for someone else. Well done!

Well said, Matt. I second all of that.

I've always wanted a Crow-Elkhart radiator badge for my emblem collection. (long story). Does anyone have one to sell?

Hello again, everyone. I couldn't help myself, and just had to bump this one back to the top. SOME DAY, I'm going to find someone who has a copy of that book which featured this hood ornament. Identifying this awesome old ornament is on my bucket list!

When I was a very young kid (IE: first grade of elementary school), my parents often took me to AACA tours and other old car events, within a few hour radius of our home in Dayton, Ohio. I specifically recall going to an event on a college campus in Granville, Ohio in about 1960 or 61, when I would have been about 6 years old. My parents at first decided it would be safe for me to walk around on my own, looking at the cars (it was a simpler, safer time). But then my dad came by after having changed his mind. There was a Stanley Steamer driving around the parking lots there, and Dad was afraid I wouldn't hear it coming, and would walk out in front of it. I distinctly recall wondering what a "steamer" was. When dad pointed it out to me, it just looked like one more old car. LOL.

Funny thing was, as much as I disliked that car, I certainly appreciated it enough to accept rides home in it! I lived a little over a mile from school, and the walk wasn't bad at all. But it was hard to look cool as a high schooler having to walk home. And, like many other kids at the time, I was impatient. It seemed to take forever to get there. LOL.

I used to ride home from school sometimes with a friend who had similar, in the early 1970s. Under full throttle, it could almost keep up with a Toro push mower... if the Toro was being pushed uphill in heavy, wet grass. LOL.

I can contribute to this discussion. As a professional automotive writer and advertising/marketing guy for over 30 years, I have personally seen a few cases of folks blowing up in a rage when they see a photo of their car depicted in a magazine article, car show poster, or auto parts catalog. Often folks think that they "own" ANY image of their car. But over the years multiple attorneys have advised me that, if you put your car on display IN PUBLIC and a photographer shoots an image of it, the photographer then owns that image GENERALLY SPEAKING. (Indeed, you can find images for sale on CD's or online featuring cars that photogs have shot at cruise-ins and car shows, often without the knowledge of the car owners.) However, attorneys have also advised me that it is much easier and cheaper to avoid conflict in the first place. So, if we need to use a photo from my files for my clients, we often alter the image, making the car more generic (IE: change paint color, remove any stickers from windows or bumpers, change wheels/tires, delete accessories like spot lights, etc), so that the image no longer exactly represents anyone's car. One thing for sure; we NEVER publish a photo with a license plate visible. Why open yourself for an argument? Besides which, no one wants to make car owners unhappy. Moreover, I've heard of cases when people sued because their face appeared in a photo, because they claimed they were damaged by the photo's appearance (IE: Like a guy who called in sick,. but then went to a car show that day, and his boss saw the photo). At my own swap meet/car show events, we post signs at every entrance warning attendees that we do take photos and/or videos at the event, and that we will be using those images in public in any fashion we think best. Thus, if they don't want their photo taken or used, they are better off not attending. Another thing is that folks often THINK that, if their license plate number is shown in a photo, then thieves will trace the plate to their garage and come steal their vehicle. It doesn't matter what is true. If people believe that, then they're going to get plenty angry when a photo featuring their license plate number appears. We live in "Lawsuit World" these days, and anyone can sue anyone with or without merit, for very little cost. Removing someone's license plate number from a photo is super easy, and often a pretty good idea, in my experience.

As Terry said, "C4" usually indicates 1964 model year. The "V" as third character suggests Lincoln. The "8164" is the "basic" part number, which in this case translates to grille parts. Yet one thing about these style Ford part numbers is that they are written to describe the vehicle which a part was originally intended for; not necessarily what it was actually used on. One famous example is the number for the Boss 429 engine, which bore a number which implied it would be used in Fairlane platforms. Yet as far as we know, the Boss 429 was only ever factory installed in Mustangs. The story goes that the engine was originally intended to be used in Fairlane/Torino platforms, but a later decision put it in Mustangs. Nevertheless, I would start by carefully examining Lincoln and Mercury grille areas in 1964 and thereabouts. Good luck!

I think Keiser got it. The yellow one doesn't have the running boards. but otherwise nearly identical. Neat car.

I believe it is the power-sending unit for a tachometer. Sun used one too for their early-60's tachs, but it was black plastic and rectangular.

Welcome. Nice looking car. One good thing about those Fords of that era. They were reliable cars to drive back then, and are perfectly capable of driving you just about anywhere today, too. No fears of driving them anywhere you want to go. Another good thing is parts availability. Good for you!

I have conducted successful searches here in Ohio, years ago. Step one, you MUST find that Vehicle Identification Number. Did your family ever have insurance on this car? if so, your agent might be a terrific resource. I have found some of my previously-owned cars this way, since my agent still had old files on the car, which included the VIN. Next, did you or your family ever have a title made in your name? Here in Ohio, for many years the state's policy was to shred titles for any vehicles which had not purchased license plates in the past 5 years. (I once sent a staff member to Columbus BMV headquarters for a magazine article we were doing, and my guy actually witnessed them shredding titles ruthlessly.) HOWEVER, many Ohio COUNTY registrars kept paper records on hand (but were not required to). Working on that same magazine article, we randomly chose a 1968 Camaro I had sold years ago, and set out to see if we could find the car. First, my insurance agent found the old VIN record for us. With no title records at the state, I turned to my Greene County, Ohio license registrar, and it turned out they had my old Camaro still listed when I had sold it, and were able to tell me whom I had sold it to. Yes, we found my car. No, the owner didn't want to sell. In your case, get that VIN. Then police reports, title records, etc, will be easier to come by. The cops can trace that VIN, but only IF anyone has registered it, or tried to register it. Good luck.

Here in Greene County, Ohio there lived an old guy who was very well known among the local car collectors. His name was Max Hofferbert. He and I had a very good mutual friend named Art Henry, who was legendary with flathead V8 Ford enthusiasts around here. (both long deceased). Anyway, one day a good friend at an engine shop called me looking for a set of V-12 Lincoln con rods, I heard that Max had a junk engine, so I went to him and bought those rods. While I was there, Max invited me inside his "other garage," where he kept some really nice stuff. His pride and joy was an old engine, which he explained his uncle had built from scratch, and actually raced at the Indy 500, about a zillion years ago. Other respected older hobbyists around the area corroborated his story. I thought that was the most amazing engine story I had ever heard. I couldn't imagine anyone having their own block cast, etc. But apparently there must have indeed been several one-off engines built in folks' garages for racing, back in the day. Very cool thread.

Yep, that looks like a PROJECT, alright. Good luck to you, sir!

When I was a kid I FINALLY got a job in a corner gas station, pumping gas, washing windshields, checking under the hood, etc, etc. (Remember those days?) Anyway, there was one mechanic who worked there part time (and full time as a mechanic in a local Chevrolet dealership). All the older employees there told me that this one guy was special; much better than any other mechanics there. (Frankly,. I was so young and knew so little myself, I was in no position to know if that was true). So anyway, one night a lady pulled up to the pumps. I walked out and she asked me to listen to a worrisome knock in her engine. It was a deep cast-iron sounding hollow knock, and I feared the worst for her. But I walked into the service bays, and asked ol Clint if he would come out and check out this lady's problem. He put down his tools, came out and stuck his head under the hood and listened to the knock. Quietly I said to him, "It's a rod knocking, isn't it?" He stood up, looked at me for a minute, and then told the lady that he did NOT think it was a rod. He went back inside, and returned with a quart of transmission fluid. He held the throttle rod to rev the engine higher, and then proceeded to pour in that trans fluid, almost stalling the engine several times. The lady was horrified, and you never SAW such a cloud of white smoke. It blinded every driver at that intersection. Then Clint told her to let him drive it while she waited. He pulled out on the street, stomped the throttle to the floor and held it there till he was out of sight. The white cloud this time was even bigger than before, if that is possible. Soon, he came driving back to the pumps, where the lady and I waited with our mouths hanging open. He revved the engine several times for her....but the knock was gone! He told her it was just a carbon build up. She paid for the tranny fluid, and drove away, still in shock. Wow, the memories of a teenage pump jockey.

Beautiful car.Welcome to this forum.

I'm not sure, honestly. I have some photos of several cool old-style craftsmanship projects that he was working on during my visit, but I don't recall any mention of wood spokes. Wait a minute...I think that MIGHT be his father, who lives next door and works on wood. I'll ask.

Steven Stutzman is indeed Amish, and as such, does not have a phone inside his home. When he hears a phone call, he must dash outside to the phone mounted on a pole. But he will return your call. I am not related in any way, and I will not get any commission or any other benefit if someone has him do an interior. I'm just passing along the word to fellow collectors. By the way, I found Steven through this same forum. Member Tom Muth gave me his contact info a little over a year ago. Thanks, Tom! Contact: Community Carriage & Leather 1195 Duffey Rd Peebles, Ohiio 45660 937-386-3368

One cool feature that Mr Stutzman did for my old Hupp was the robe rail in the back seat. I mentioned to him that my dad had always been paranoid about folks grabbing that rail to pull themselves out of the back seat; especially people who were older and over weight. As a little boy, I was forbidden to grab that rail at all, ever, because dad knew the original straps were old and weak , and wouldn't hold up under much strain. (The straps were made of old-timey fake leather). Yet, when one is trying to slide forward from that deep back seat and descend down to the running board WITHOUT leaning on the door, it's natural to want to grab that handy rail for support. Upon hearing me tell that story, Mr Stutzman made new straps from strong, thick leather (and another material sewn inside it, I think). He told me to go right ahead and use that rail as much as we like. Cool, eh?

Here in southern Ohio I am a big fan of an Amish gentleman named Steven Stutzman. His business is called Community Carriage & Leather. He just completed a beautiful restoration of my 1923 Hupp touring upholstery. I couldn't believe what a great job he did of replacing my original interior in authentic, old-world-style craftsmanship. Attached are some photos, before and after: Mr Stutzman has been restoring horse-drawn buggies and Amish hearses for many years. He is very skilled with leather. He has not yet done many cars of the 1960's and up. He is more focused on hand sewing leather or cloth the old fashioned way.

I grew up going to AACA and other old car events with my family. My mom was really creative, and constantly made things with antique car themes...especially Hupmobile themes. Somewhere around 1964 (my 4th grade year in elementary school), she made a sweater for me with an very good rendering of our 1923 Model R Hupmobile touring car on front and back. she made it large enough that I could wear it for a few years. Posted below is a photo of me posing with my little brother, wearing that sweater and standing in front of our Hupmobile. We were at Huffman Dam reservoir in greater Dayton, Ohio area, taking photos for family Christmas cards. This is the only photo of me wearing that sweater "back in the day." The next two photos were taken last fall, with my grandson Logan wearing the same sweater. The old sweater has a few holes here and there, and clearly won't live much longer. But I hope to take Logan and HIS little brother to the same spot at the Huffman Dam reservoir this upcoming fall, and try to recreate that photo. Come to think of it, I'll need to take my other grandson and his little sister, and recreate the same photo with them too. No need for jealousy! I miss my parents so much. Old photos like this bring memories flooding back.

This is a feature of the AACA forums which I really like. Now some obscure, unidentified parts which would have been difficult to sell at any price locally, have been positively identified and shipped around the world to someone who was likely very glad to get them. Makes me feel great for both parties.