58L-Y8

Kevin Thanks for the deeper context on the relationship between Northway, Cole and Cadillac. I recall reading that Northway was engine builder for both. One assumes as Cadillac volume grew, patience with special specifications for the low-volume Cole engine would diminish. If rumors that Durant was pursuing Cole got back to GM, who had had enough of his shenanigans, it was just one more reason to end the business relationship. I hope you will seriously consider writing a Cole history, to correct so much of the incorrect that's available. If not a book, perhaps an on-line site that you can add to and enlarge when further insights and solid information come to light. Steve

kfle Thank you for your in depth answers to my questions, it greatly appreciated that you're sharing your knowledge of this obscure marque. The body makers cited were some I surmised might have been sources. Willoughby histories have mentioned the company built series-custom bodies for Cole. Not surprising that suppliers began to balk since larger, high volume runs were becoming the norm, low volume builders were just a nuisances for them, sadly enough. Mr. Cole was prescient when it came to Billy Gurant, look what he did to Locomobile... I hope you will consider writing an updated Cole history since you likely have the greatest amount of knowledge on them. Others beside myself would welcome such a history. Steve

Your Dodge is more unique to American eyes being the Canadian production "Plodge', primarily an American-style Plymouth with Dodge grille, trim and emblems.

From what body companies did Cole source their bodies? Was the Springfield Body Company cited above as the source of TourSedan bodies the same one that became the in-house coachbuilder for Rolls-Royce of America? Your insights as to why Cole expired as an automaker by 1926. Its been attributed to being financially wounded by the postwar recession and J.J. Cole's decision to wind down operations before his personal fortune was depleted. Were any efforts made to sell the company to or merge with another automaker?

Handsome Roadmaster in an elegant color combination. Not to hi-jack your advertisement, but in the 1960's there was a television show with two sinister ladies who drove a '41 Buick convertible sedan they named 'Robespierre'. Does anyone else recall that and what the name of the show was?

Interest cars in the photo of the lady with the Afghan hound. Must have been her Cord 810 convertible phaeton she is leaning against. The convertible sedan at the far end is a 1938 or '39 Studebaker either Commander or President, nearly a rare as the Cord. Both cars bodies were built in Auburn's Connorsville, IN shops, the Cord during its production, the Studebaker under contract after Auburn-Cord production ended. Note the similarity of the chrome-plated thin cast windshield frame on both cars. Another similarity when seen in profile is the shape of the side windows/top form suggesting the same engineering personnel may have been involved with designing the folding top mechanisms for each. Or maybe the Cord's top frame tooling was simply modified to fit the Studebaker.

What model is it? Dictator Six or Eight? Commander Eight?

7,680: Drop in the bucket for the total market, best selling model for a severely-strapped company striving to survive until its able to field its last hope new compact car.

A Chandler Chummy touring. The telltale is that dog bone-shaped rear window which was the same shape as their radiator emblem. The "Chummy" term was applied to close-coupled style touring cars.

The true anomaly of that 1958 market was the success of the new four-passenger Thunderbird.

The Scotsman was central to the survival of Studebaker-Packard through 1957, it was introduced in May, and all of 1958. In a fine Drive-Report on the '58 Scotsman in Special Interest Autos magazine June 1984, they pointed out that the model accounted for 17% of 1957 sedans and wagons sales and a shocking 46.3% of those for 1958. Without it, its unlikely they would have had the continued cash flow to develop the Lark. Bare-bones as it was, it was the right car, at the right time, for the right price.

Those that bring new cars along with trophies to old car shows and cruise meets are simply displaying their need for ego gratification and validation by others. It seems to be a common phenomenon now, men-children who aren't comfortable with their personal identity that have to publicly display a costly 'toy' to elevate their social status. Any recognized expensive niche car will do, make isn't important. Equally quickly when the fawning admiration of their contemporaries wears off for the current car, that car is replaced with whatever promises to renew impressing those whose admiration they crave. Its quite a sad cycle to observe.

Like Michelangelo, Exner was in his Mannerist Crisis period when developing his later Mopar work.

The initial photo is a late Packard Twin Six 1921-23 Model 3-35 factory-bodied seven passenger touring. Note the polished nickel-plated radiator shell and drum headlights on forked stanchions which were becoming popular on higher-priced cars in the early 1920's. The Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels also contribute to a look which gives the immediate impression this could be a Rolls-Royce.

If pretty much everyone knows what your old car is without asking, that precludes some very interesting encounters and conversations.