Buffalowed Bill
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Posts posted by Buffalowed Bill
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43 minutes ago, carbking said:
Lets not hijack the thread on this, call or maybe we might start a new thread sometime.
Jon
I think that it's too late to worry about the thread being hijacked.
After six decades in the hobby I often times find myself at odds with what is trending. Today I'm at peace with my collection. I like all cars, but I'm drawn to preserved, original, cars, regardless of age manufacturer or the continent on which it was produced. I admit to being drawn to the seldom seen cars, the more original the better.
What is troubling to me is that so many people in the hobby seem to be so provincial regarding their car interests. So many people that I talk to seem to have an attention span that is limited to a single decade or a single marque. There are far more metrics then make and model that can pique my interest. I would find these limits very limiting and boring. Today I can find cars to like everywhere. My level of appreciation didn't happen overnight, and it has certainly been aided by what I believe is a level of maturity, call it old age.🙂 It has allowed me to view someone else's car without feeling jealous, or needing to own it. I'm also a sucker for a good story.
Now that I have that off my chest on to the original question. I like tri-five Chevs just fine. I would have bought a 1955 back in 1961 when I was looking for my first car, but they were unaffordable. A 1953-54 Chev would have been doable but I ended up with a 1953 Studebaker htp. Today I don't spend a great deal of time viewing 3/5's, but I try to show some appreciation to an owner who has made an effort to preserve or restore an original car. All that to say it all depends on the car.
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I've been a Studebaker guy for sixty years, however it took me decades before I learned to appreciate the Lark and it's styling. That was in spite of the fact that I often used several during the 60's and 70's as a beaters. I now have four in my collection.
You have tapped into a make and model that is finally being recognize for it's utility, rarity and even it's styling. Although I can appreciate this car because of it's originality, it's condition is a stretch too far.
Join the Studebaker Driver's Club or just check into the forum. Networking is the best way to find the right car. Ask questions and be patient and we will help you find a suitable car.
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Gentlemen,
I have been using Optima batteries for decades, in some of my collector cars, both 6V and 12V. I'm not dissatisfied with either. In fact I preach the gospel of the battery and the technology. I could probably continue buying Optimas until I die, but my inquiring mind needs to know if there is any suitable competition from the newer iteration of AGM batteries, for both 6V and 12V collector cars that I should know about?
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I'm really glad that you decided to keep it! You saved me the problem of having to try to find a place for it in my own garage!
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The cars don't change. It's just a matter of who they can play with.😉
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Bob,
I'm a Studebaker owner of some of the vintage of the 40 you are looking at. There were three models available in 1940. I wouldn't begin to comment on what you are looking at, until I knew what model it is. Each model has some critical differences. The same goes for condition. But we need information and pictures!
Don't be frightened away because you have never driven a pre-war car. These are not difficult to drive and are very comfortable if properly sorted out. All of us here had to get our feet wet at some point. An hour of instruction and a little practice and you would enjoy your new driving experience.
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I'm a Graham lover. The innovative styling of the Blue Streak, it's the poor timing or dumbfounding lack of traction with the buying public are all part of the story that needs to be told. The Graham story and the lovely styling makes every car important. After saying all this, I think this is a stretch too far. Unless of course you have that special place on your property, where you can display yard art.
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17 hours ago, Avanti Bill said:
I love Station Wagons and I will agree this model is unique with the sliding roof, Studebakers were ahead of their time. However you can probably buy the best one in the country for a whole lot less than the restoration of this car, probably half. I think you have to be rational when you look at a project and unless the car has big sentimental value for some reason it is not worth the cost and time of a restoration.
I usually don't find myself on this side of a discussion. It boggles my mind when I see some of the junk that a some people undertake as a project. I generally take the stand that Larks are a dime a dozen so why not hold out for a better one. Well this is one of the better ones that I've been talking about. In my opinion this is worthy of salvation.
I think that we are just scratching the surface of the wagon craze. The only cap is going to be the limited supply. I think this car is at the tipping point. It's a matter of saving it now or condemning it to parts car status.
The car is not going to be for everyone. In fact there are so few willing and able to do the work anymore, that I may be only speaking to a handful of people. I think someone is going to step up to the plate and buy this car, I hope that he is up to the challenge. I believe that this car could be a lot of fun for the right person.
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2 hours ago, Avanti Bill said:
The only thing that would make it rare is if it were a "full package" car, ordered with the "high performance" option with either a R1 or R2 engine. This has neither and my advice is to run like the wind away from this project.
Hold on a minute-I'm not sure that I agree. While rarity and condition are somewhat subjective, there is a conspicuous difference regarding each car and the audience to whom it appeals. Virtually all wagons, of the post-war era, were considered to be beasts of burden to be used up and quickly disposed of. For decades they were ignored by collectors, only to be discovered during the last twenty years.
While some of us out west may become complacent, because some good examples have survived out here, I can attest to the dearth of rust free examples throughout the eastern two thirds of the country. This car a rust free, low mileage, top of the line Daytona that if it were east of the Continental Divide, would be in high demand. IMHO whomever buys this car will be happy with his choice. This is a car that is worth the gamble. I can envision a huge upside potential for this car-it would be fun to be able to do the discovery.
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They may not be as rare as some other wagons, but from the time they were produced they have had a spirited following. Judging from what I'm seeing the car looks like it was garaged, and lightly used for much of it's life. I see very little of the rust that is generally apparent in the sliding roof area, trunk and guardedly maybe even the floors. The dash may even be salvageable. IMHO the car is worth the effort, and much better then a parts car.
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One other thing to consider-when times are good, terms like "conspicuous consumption" and the "throw away society", really began to take on real meaning. The Roaring Twenties and post,WWll, boom are prime examples. Anyone having or maintaining, old anything, was stigmatized. From 1929 through the early post-war was a time of survival with what you have.
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Brings back memories of the neighborhood kid who street raced a 1955 Century. Unusual to see a competitive, Buick in the 60's. He must have gone through a horrendous number of three speeds. Half the time the car was parked in the ally with the rear end jacked up. A sure sign that he had blown another tranny. We joked that he had used up all of the three speeds in the Seattle area wrecking yards. That foolishness came to screeching halt when we noticed that he had grenaded the trans, tunnel and even put large dents in the hardtop roof. Lucky to be alive!
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I switched from JC Taylor to Hagerty about thirty years ago. It was a matter of premium cost for my fleet of antique cars. It had nothing to do with the quality of service. I have been treated very fairly for the two claims that I have had to file, with Hagerty.
However, I did run into one irritating coverage item with my coverage. I have one car, that for lack of a better term, is a "trailer queen." If I wanted coverage for transport to and from a show, loading, unloading, and while at a show, Hagerty informed me that they wanted an additional premium (paddock coverage). The additional premium amounted to more then several hundred dollars. That didn't sit well with me and I told them so. Whether this policy is still in place is something I will have to deal with shortly. I honestly don't know it this was unique to the company, but it's something to consider.
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On 5/18/2022 at 9:32 PM, 1937hd45 said:
Why come up with some rebranding that nobody ever read before and confuse the situation? Want to have an antique car show with a cutoff of 1949? Fine, advertise it as an antique car show with a 1949 cutoff, stock, no modifieds allowed.
We had one from 1961 to 1995 with a 1943 cutoff. Best pre-war car show on the east coast.
The problem is that these events have just withered on the vine. In my area of the country shows committed to original cars no longer exist. Thankfully we still have large car shows, in which more then 50% of the participating cars are original. I do appreciate what he is trying to counter though, I've seen it in the desert SW.
Whatever Greg wants to call his get-together is inconsequential. There is an obvious void. He is only trying to find out if there is any support for an event like his. God bless him for his efforts.
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On 5/16/2022 at 10:37 AM, West Peterson said:
I'm not sure, or maybe I'm not fully understanding what you're trying to say in regard to Greg's show, but I think you're confusing "authentic" with "original." The show that Greg is holding does not disqualify a car for being restored. Greg is trying to promote a show for cars that are unmodified. Cars that have never been restored, AND properly and authentically restored cars are both welcome.
Sorry about the confusion, my mistake. In my zeal to embrace the vetting of the "preserved" car I focused on that narrow segment of the original cars. Upon second blush it becomes obvious that the original car has to be the focus of any event. It was never my intent to ignore the restored or refurbished original. I just hope that any car show for original cars can make some concession to the preserved car. These cars are often overlooked at car assemblages. Their stories need to be told!
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As I read through the musings of each of you, I'm struck by how fortunate I've been to have done so much. For me there has to be two buckets one to empty, and the other to take the completed projects. Upon measure my completed bucket it far fuller then my bucket of dreams ever was. Some of my most memorable adventures have been accomplished without a long term plan.
My good fortune highlights how important it was for me to have gotten an early start on both travel and car related projects. It also magnifies how important my good health and an understanding woman has been. Patience wins the race. As some of you who are younger will come to realize, urgency will, at some point, change to reflective contentment. That's the time when you start going though your completed list and consider which ones you might like to revisit.
Several years ago I did consider a trip across the Gulf states. Not wanting to drive both ways I considered buying a retired Crown Victoria police car in Florida, flying in, and driving west through the South and along Route 66 to California, before driving up the coast to Seattle. I have driven along much of route 66, a number of times in the past, so It was not so much driving Route 66 as much as it the best alternative route considering my chosen trip time of November.
In bygone years I would have just done the trip solo. Today at age 78 it would have been challenge to attempt it without a willing companion. Failing to get my better half or any of my trusted friends on board with the project, and finally the raging pandemic made it academic.
Happy trails to all of you!
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I'm responding only because you asked. As a Studebaker guy I've picked up a little knowledge about the marque, and some other marques as well. You asked what's the difference between a 4cyl car a 6cyl etc.-if the top speed is maxed out at say 50mph. IMHO it's the pleasure of driving. For me pleasure driving is a matter of power and torque. Power and torque allowed for taller gearing, less shifting, and often a quieter ride.
While I personally love the straight eights, which were to become one of the features of the Classic Era, there is six cyl. Studebaker that has always intrigued me, or at least for the four decades since I first had a ride in one. The 1928 "Commander Big Six." This would be the last year for this engine and to my knowledge this was the only year that the model featured 3.3 two one gearing. My first ride was in a touring car and it made me a believer. We had six people in the car. Even with that kind of load the driver seldom had to shift down. The steepest hills no problem. Top speed I really can't say, but no doubt considerably higher then 50mph. I don't know if this is the kind of anecdotal information you wanted, but it gave me a chance to get this one out there.
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27 minutes ago, Terry Bond said:
Sounds like it should be an AACA meet.
For some of us the closest AACA chapter or event is at least a thousand miles away. In Pacific NW we have the survivors but no shows to take them. Cruise nights or single marque events are all that we have.
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If you will permit a little editorial license in a thread introducing an event, we in the old car hobby are in a cultural struggle, pitting the preservationist against everyone else. We who own original cars often have to come to grips with the reality that our cars are not as perfect as a restored car, and not as glitzy as a customized car. Our cars will seldom win a trophy at a show. The lack of recognition by the public can be very unsatisfying for the car owner. For some owners it is very difficult to put the car above their egos. It saddens me to see so many cars succumb to to owners' egos.
Meets like we are discussing can go a long way towards bridging the divide between originality and ego. The cars are out there. The people who appreciate these cars abide as well. It just takes this kind of event to put the two together.
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I have plenty that qualify but the event is 3,000 miles away!
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A very good chance that it has an overdrive transmission. Save it if yo can-it may be removeable from inside. The three piece floor bolts down. I believe that it looks like the original floor. If it is the original floor, I would be interested in purchasing the two outboard sections for my President coupe.
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Then finding out that so many of the "RULES that must be followed and cannot be broken" (which do not and cannot apply to our unique situations), CAN very easily be skirted or broken by the right (knowledgeable) person.
Only someone new to the system, or too lazy to do the necessary research, would consider skirting or breaking a rules. Breaking, or bending the law has consequences. The law is designed to mediate conflicts not to just be a PIA. Trying to give someone a break will often come back to haunt the perpetrator. Absolutely nobody is going to come to his defense when things begin to go sour. He learns, if he is given a second chance, that not playing by the rules will often leave him out on that preverbal limb, all by himself.
Quoting chapter and verse is the only way to handle any situation where there is the potential for conflict. As Grimy indicated, do your homework and go forearmed. Don't just show up and throw yourself on the clerks mercy. You want to be part of the discussion and not the victim. Do the research. If he says something you don't agree with, call him on it and ask for his source. Not just a general source but ask him for specifics like page and reference number.
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During normal times my experience has been that the DMV does a reasonable job handling the millions of activities within their preview. That includes to normal run of the mill titling and licensing exercises. Often times the types of activities we old car folks present them with are unique. In any large bureaucracy standards are set by rules and regulations. Expecting everyone to know all of this rules is like handing someone a carburetor and tell him to rebuild it, ignoring the fact that the guy may never have seen one before.
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Recent Car Show Obervations
in General Discussion
Posted
Keith,
I note that you call Western Canada home-can I inquire where? It's a pretty big place. Friends from BC usually travel south of the boarder for their car fix, unless there is a designated marque event scheduled for north of the boarder. If you had headed south of the boarder last weekend you would have been able to see what one of our large events looks like, the Greenwood cars show in Seattle. There must have been close to 1000 cars, more then half of which were unmodified.
I agree that the PNW is a Mecca for the unmodified car. Because of the climate our cars just last longer here then most places. The tendency to maintain as original is regional. It's based on the number of good survivor cars being available and the climate that makes for pleasant touring without the need for air conditioning.