58L-Y8

This is peripherally related to Willys-Knights. Perusing the Standard Catalog "Willys-Knight" topic, listed for 1930 is a Willys 8-80, 120"wheelbase, Continental engine model 14W, 245.4 ci L-head straight eight are noted as introduced in April 1930. The model is continued into 1931 as the 8-80D, 120" wb, same body selection as the 66B, identically priced. The 8-80D continues in 1932, is supplemented with an 8-88 (Silver Streak) on 121" wb same body selection as the first series 1932 66D but with a roadster added. The second series 1932 66D had its body selection reduced to only two, a Custom sedan and Custom Victoria. Finally, for 1933, the 8-88A (Streamline) reduces to only a coupe and sedan, the W-K 66E to only a sedan. Being interested in the most obscure of the obscure, can someone enlighten us on these rare Willys models: do sales number exist for these and the 66B, D and E? Its well known that W-O was hit hard by the deepening Depression, continuing these two middle-priced car series must have had some degree of positive response to continue them as long as they did. So, if you are knowledgeable about these, please share it with us.

Thanks for posting a picture of an original emblem, much better than the replicas. If ever there was an underrated car, the Wills Stainte Claire is it.

Wills Staint Claire is simple and elegant.

To compare it with the standard four door sedan, a profile view would be helpful along with a rear three-quarters view, thanks. For 1936-'37, Studebaker had a two door sedan named the St. Regis which has a long front door similar to your car. If the rear of the sedan body matches with the standard four door, then it would have required only lengthened rear doors, roof and floor extensions to complete the body unit. What are size are the tires? They look larger than what was standard for regular passenger models. Your Serial Number should be helpful to identify a commercial chassis. It would be useful for you to post this information and questions in the Studebaker section and also the Studebaker Drivers Club Forum. Mr. Richard Quinn is the pre-war research source who could answer your queries the best. He frequents both.

One way to help out with website housekeeping is to grayscale any originally black and white photos you decide to post before doing so. There is an excellent, easy-to-use free shareware photo software available at irfanview.com, give it a try.

The Brewster York, Derby and Speedster tourer, Newmarket, plus the Newport and Riviera town cars are the crème de la crème of their Rolls-Royce designs.

Oh, Boo-hoo. I know, sorry, that's not nice....

The trick for the savvy is to approach a hobby as an entertainment, forget about monetary gain altogether. Treat every use of the old car as one would any other form of entertainment or diversion. All forms of entertainment require some type of expenditure to gain access or be equipped to participate. The experiences shared and memories made are what keep a person centered and sane. Better yet, for those seeking those experiences with modest means, there are myriad less popular makes and model years of cars available to acquire at reasonable money. Half the fun of owning a rarely seen collector car is explaining to the curious what it is and who made it. Look where other have bypassed for the real value. The most popular and widely recognized collector cars will always command the higher prices but its a pretty limited selection of choices if that is one's main criteria. To paraphrase Auntie Mame: "Automotive history is a banquet of choices and those poor blighters are eating the same stale biscuit over and over".

Fleetwood on that K with polished hood and cowl?

Thanks AJ for the look at one of the most interesting Willys-Knights, the 66B plaid-side roadster. Medium-priced car though it was, it offered buyers style well beyond its price class. Amos Northup, you done good! We'll never forget you.

Thanks for showing us these rarities. If its not too much trouble, would you give us a detailed look at each car, please? I've never seen any of these Case cars in all the years of shows and museums.

There isn't an endless supply of these Franklins, someone needs to rescue this one before the weather completely ruins it.

The radiator shell and hood look to be from a 1931 REO Flying Cloud Model 30, which because those also shared the 358 ci straight eight would be long enough. Perhaps an export detail.

Amazing how many fellows who should be familiar enough with body design and details in that period can not recognize a badly modified coupe such as this. The telltale is always the cowl and front door upper edge that were treated completely differently than a roadster or phaeton. Only the convertible coupe and convertible sedans are like the closed cars. But roadsters and phaetons are always the most desirable and expensive so the financial motivation to create a deception for gain to foist on the unschooled is strong.

So, its a landaulet town car, similar to the one gifted to the Vatican. You'll find a period photograph from the Vatican Archives on page 159 of Michael Keller's first volume mentioned above. Wonderful another example survives or is it that particular one?

Thanks for the detailed analysis of this '35, obviously trying to make it into something it wasn't originally. What's to become of such cars....?

As the professors used to assign us: Please enumerate the many expensive things wrong with this 1935, compare and contrast to what is correct. We stand ready to be informed what is correct and how to recognize it. Steve

Lovely '37 Terraplane Utility Coupe but one detail is so incongruous I have to say something: whitewall tires! If even a single '37 Terraplane Utility Coupe ever left the dealership with whitewall tires I'd eat my hat! Those were the cars Ole and Lena bought to use on the farm and go to town once a week. Trucks and utility cars weren't dressed up, but that was then and this is now so what do I know.

Flackmaster gave you solid advice, nice to know that you take it seriously. Now, will the seller be realistic? No way to know until the offer is made. If they're like 90%, they have a totally unrealistic price in mind. Check the variety of '48-'50 Super Eight convertibles currently for sale in all conditions to get an idea of the price ranges.

Flackmaster knows of what he speaks, thorough assessment of the condition of the body structure regarding rust and whether the engine is stuck are major considerations. Otherwise, know that any car stored for forty-seven years is going to need every function system restored to its function to a greater or lesser degree. Appearances such as paint, chrome, interior etc. are secondary at this point. Packards have great clubs, parts and an extensive knowledge base to call upon if you should purchase this convertible.

For research on any Graham-Paige, you should turn to Michael E. Keller, author of the definitive two volume Graham-Paige histories: The Graham Legacy, Graham-Paige to 1932 and The Graham Legacy, Graham-Paige from 1932. On page 151, Mr. Keller discusses their foray into the custom-bodied 837 with a dual cowl phaeton by LeBaron for the New York auto show. Catalogued were two other LeBaron-bodied models, a seven-passenger sedan-limousine and an open-front town car. Your car might also be an individual custom order as the 837 chassis was made available to custom coachbuilders in an effort to raise the luxury reputation of the top-of-the-line eight cylinder 827 and 837 models. We'll be very interested to see your custom-bodied Graham-Paige 837 as soon as you are comfortable to allow us to do so.

The rear section of the roof is '55-'57 Nomad/Safari, the lower body Pininfarina '59 Eldorado Brougham. While it may simply be the rare Brougham sheet metal, rather pointless to use it for a kustom when most wouldn't recognize the difference between it and the regular production '59 Cadillac components. Years ago, I ran across two '60 Eldorado Broughams in St Catherines, Ontario, one fully restored, the other a rough, rusty parts car so a few such cars do still exist.

This auction includes the rarest of the rare: a 1942 Studebaker President Eight Skyway sedan-coupe. Its the top-of-the-line '42 Sedan-Coupe, one of 605 of all President sedan-coupes built that year. Only half a dozen survive. https://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auction/day-2-approx-100-collector-cars-trucks-the-james-graham-collection/

This auction includes the rarest of the rare: a 1942 Studebaker President Eight Skyway sedan-coupe. Its the top-of-the-line '42 Sedan-Coupe, one of 605 of all President sedan-coupes built that year. Only half a dozen survive.

Cartoon Cadillac, as long as they've gone this far, might as well make it a roadster to finish it. Yes, the proportions are way off.