lump

Let's face it...the ONLY impression you can have of any seller is whatever connection to them you may have. Generally speaking, the copy and the photos in an ad are the ONLY connection you have to a seller. And if you see poor photos, you might even suspect that the seller is presenting the car that way on purpose, to obscure major flaws, or whatever. But let's not forget the OP's original premise, as spelled out in his initial headline. He wrote, "How NOT to photograph your car for sale." As a person who has spent most of his entire professional career using photography and copywriting to sell products long distance for many, many different companies, I can testify that really good photos and copy really help to sell items, and really poor photography can sharply diminish the odds of making a sale. So the OP's original point is spot on.

My buddy Corky has a Mitchell. I've ridden in it with him years ago, but don't recall the headlights. I've had lots of headlights from many era's before. I guess I just haven't noticed any like these brackets before.

Wow, Nzcarnerd, you're absolutely right. I blew the photo up several times, and could clearly read the script name on the radiator in the OP's photo. Well done!

Wow, very impressive detective work you've done on your Hupp Model 20, Max. Hat's off to you.

I really appreciate all of you whom have been looking at this tail lamp assy. I can see lots of people have viewed. Frankly, I didn't suspect it would be this tough. Indeed, when I first saw it, I ASSUMED the "GMC" and raised number on the bottom side of the stand would make for instant ID. Silly me!

The mounting brackets are very distinct. I've not seen any car headlamps like that before. Is Donald Axlerod still around? Last time I went to Hershey, he was the MAN, when it comes to identifying old headlights. That was all he sold in his large booth.

Thanks. I've seen many of your posts on this forum, and along with a few other members on here, you clearly are extremely knowledgeable on these very old cars. I admire and respect all of you. I grew up in the antique car hobby myself, and have dash plaques from 1957, of events which I attended with my parents. Yet I was just a kid, and didn't pay too much attention to identifying characteristics of the cars, with a few exceptions. Today I still have a 23 Hupmobile touring, and a 1970 SS 454 Chevelle. But I marvel at folks like you and NZcarnerd and others who can quickly ID cars of the teens and twenties. My dad could do that....but he is long gone. Best wishes.

Wow. Looks like a fortunate kid! Nice house, nice radio, nice clothing, nice pedal car. Must be "nice!"

Sorry, Keiser. I didn't mean to suggest anyone was "wrong" about the ID of this model. Hope I didn't offend. Clearly, this model like most of these models are only crude representations of cars of the era, as you said. They are artistically pleasing...not accurately detailed. And by the way, I am by no means an expert on Model T's....or anything else, for that matter.

Once again, it has features from several trucks. Generic. With electric-style headlights and spotlights, it must be representing the 1920's.

Right. Ford grilles were vertical, while your model is horizontal. It looks a bit like several trucks of that era, including Dodge of the early 50's. But I think if you ignore the grille, Keiser's first answer was probably closest. You have to keep in mind that many such models of this style are made overseas, by people who have never seen such a thing. Also, if the models are not LICENSED by the original automaker, then the maker has an incentive to keep it a bit generic.

Probably earlier than 1915, in my guess. Note that the 1915 model has black painted kerosene headlights, while the model has carbide-fueled brass lights, which are earlier, as I mentioned in my first reply. Also, your model appears to have a large shifter handle in it. IF I am seeing that correctly, then it wouldn't be a Model T Ford at all. Model T's were shifted by foot pedals alone...no shifter handle.

Wow, this is a sharp group of car folks!

Keiser is probably right...represents a Ford. But Fords had distinct front transverse leaf springs, and no vertical rods in front of the radiator. And Model T Fords were sort of spindly, and had very small tires. But again, this is a sort of generic model, representing lots of cars from that same era. At least, that is what I think.

It's a rather generic rendering of typical cars of that era, I suspect. The carbide-powered brass headlights make it from about 1912-13 or earlier, I believe. The tires are huge, and the brass hubcaps are too, such as might be found on a really large car, but they are so big in cross-section vs diameter that they don't match up with cars of that age. The front coil springs would be pretty uncommon. Maybe others will have different ideas.

Yes, Schacht, it is a NOS Hupmobile cap underneath the flapper girl. My parents Had several Hupp items, probably from the Hupp factory in Auburn. I remember going there with them more than once as a kid. They owned this one for about 20 years, and I've had it for nearly 40 more.

view from the backside.

I love this very-cool forum. Great enjoyment for a long-time car guy. Thanks to all of you for that. I grew up in the 1950's and 60's, with my parents being members of AACA, Southern Ohio Chapter. My mom started collecting hood ornaments way back when. Once in a while, as a gag joke at a party, friends would present Mom with some lame oddball chrome figure, pretending it was a genuine hood ornament. She got tops from bowling trophies, flag pole tips, and plastic toy soldiers painted silver. But one time she got a nickel-plated statue of a flapper girl in a bathing outfit, striking a pose. Everyone enjoyed the joke, but Mom actually really liked this one. She loved the roaring 20's era, and often made flapper costumes, antique swim suits, etc, etc, for use in our old car tours. So the flapper girl hood ornament was perfect, and she added it to her modest collection of "real" hood ornaments. In order to make it stand up, my dad bolted it on top of a New Old Stock Hupmobile winged "dogbone" cap, where it still resides today. Following in my parents' footsteps, I became a car collector, and kept that flapper girl hood ornament. Then one day I found it in a book about hood ornaments. I couldn't believe that it really WAS a hood ornament, and apparently was a pretty good one too. The book I was reading mentioned that the flapper girl was actually standing on a leering man's face. When I looked closely, I was shocked to see that this was true of the one I had in my hand. I had never noticed that before. But since that time, I have never been able to find that book again, or to ID this ornament any other way. I would love to figure out what book I saw it in before, as none of the books I have on my shelf show this ornament. I know that it is not for any specific brand of car, but rather is an artistic rendering by some famous artist, or such. Any ideas?

Awesome photo.

1917 is the year that the US entered WWI on behalf of the allies. This was before Sgt Alvin York's heroic action (1918), so it couldn't be a hero's welcome for him. But it could have had something to do with seeing the troops off to war.

Absolutely right, Keiser. The 42 Ford also had parking lights above the grille in that same location, but had a totally different grille design. And the lights were different too. Nice photo!

Wow, what an intrepid and adventurous man your grandfather must have been. And he was there right before the Great War came along and changed Europe forever. Very cool.

Nice car! I hope you will find that your ball joints are in great shape. They were a one-year-only for the 57 Buick, so none of the aftermarket companies ever bothered to make them. So you'll have to find NOS Buick made ball joints, which can be pricey. Hopefully your original units will be good enough, so that you can add some extra grease, and drive them as they are. After all, you won't put enough miles on it to wear out tires anyway. Drive it and enjoy it.

Yes, I believe that is a 1940 Ford Deluxe. Note the tail lamp on the passenger side. That's a good give-away.

Nice photo. Thanks for sharing.