car crazy

Have to agree with the last paragraph as a possibility-we're seeing the effects of the Fed's Quantitative Easing (for Covid) manifest in some interesting ways, particularly in real estate and the stock market- with inflation a likely byproduct..

An Honorable Mention to one of my favorites, 1964's Good Neighbor Sam, starring Jack Lemmon and Romy Schneider. Jack Lemmon really puts the '64 Thunderbird convertible through its paces through the streets of San Francisco, trying to cover over billboards before daybreak..

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9403167/Fords-100-foot-long-wonder-truck-Big-Red-tracked-40-years.html

The 454 became available on the El Camino in 1970. There was even an LS6 454 available as an option,with 450 hp. I can only imagine the thirst that engine must have had!

Thanks, Glenn- I was always infatuated with this 'particular 68 SS, and I am grateful Rocky was as well, and that he preserved it in its original state. It's a very special car. You're right-it does seem that many El Caminos seem to have new, larger "crate" motors, and are modified to differing degrees. These definitely won't be modified under my stewardship. It's too bad sheet metal wasn't available at the time to save your Dad's truck. But you will always have those memories of your Dad and his truck. Those are forever.

My El Camino story starts in 1972,when I was a sophomore in High School. I had a job at a local wheel alignment shop,Weber Wheel Alignment (still in business today!) in West Palm Beach. Directly across the street from the shop was Independent Truck Equipment, a business that rebodied trucks to customer order. The owner of the shop,Rocky Derr, quite a character,drove a fully-optioned ‘68 El Camino SS 396, deep burgundy with black top and black interior that he'd bought new. Rocky had special ordered the El Camino to his specifications. It had bucket seats, console, power windows, tilt wheel, a/c, bed rails,mag-style wheel covers, and, of course, the powerful 396 engine.-it was fully loaded, fairly unusual for the time, as I recall.Rocky enjoyed the "muscle" of his SS, and, from time to time, particularly after he'd partaken of a beer or two, I would literally be able to hear the SS from several blocks away,tires squealing and engine roaring, before I'd be able to see it. The SS sounded really good and looked fantastic in those colors. Muscle cars being the order of the day,I thought the SS 396 would be the PERFECT car for me. I approached Rocky and asked if he would sell it. "Absolutely not!" was his reply I would ask him from time to time,but his answer was always a firm “no”.I didn't give up-as the years passed I'd continue asking, and his standard answer to me was always “Jim,you don’t have enough money to buy this truck”. In late 1980, Rocky special ordered an ‘81 El Camino SS, in identical colors and similar options to the '68, and the '81 became his new “driver”. The '68 was gently retired, but kept in his building and driven from time to time. I still kept trying to buy the '68 SS, but to no avail.One day in April,2002, I got a call from Rocky. He had decided to sell his '68 SS,and,fortunately, thought of me first. He wanted quite a healthy price at the time, but I knew I'd regret it if I didn't buy it, even if I paid too much, especially after waiting 30 years. I bought the truck,and,of course, I’m really glad that I did!. She’s in my collection today.Rocky passed on in 2009,and his widow decided to keep his ‘81 SS. She tucked it away safely in her garage, evicting her new Lexus in the process. She'd use the '81 SS from time to time and it was her pride and joy, and it kept memories of Rocky close to her.Last Thursday I got a call from the family,saying the ‘81 was going up for sale. Like any car nut, I couldn’t say no.The two “sisters”, Rocky’s two burgundy special-order El Camino SS’s, are now together again, residing safely in my garage.

Gorgeous car!!......The Great Gatsby was filmed and enjoyed by so many in those pre-internet days of easily spotting or discovering automotive anachronisms- F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925, and the novel actually takes place in 1922..

Don't have a picture of the car, but the owner's name was Millard Newman, and he had quite an impressive collection of Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts..

Congratulations!...1980 was the right year for that series..

Word..

I'm in El Cid, so best to keep your new find a secret!..Seems when I buy another car, I think it might be a good idea to sell one-but seems I can never bring myself to actually sell a car- decided to keep the '34 Packard, along with the rest..

While I've not met you, pretty sure I might have seen you and your car on the road today on Olive Ave-if so, you were moving right along!

Good question!..GM's marketplace boldness ceased years ago, and one can only assume that GM now proudly acknowledges their diminutized status as an automobile manufacturer with their new logo.

This is an example of what appears to be a fake sign currently on Ebay-red rust is usually a dead giveaway as well.....buyer beware..

My "second Dad" was a car collector, owning around 30 or so cars. By age 13, I was helping him drive his collector cars to and from his storage facility, which was located about 5 miles from his shop. Enduring this for 3 years, his wife and daughter thought it best that I get my driver's license THE VERY MOMENT I became of legal age to get one. On my 16th birthday, to make sure I passed, his daughter took me for my driver's test in her easy-to-maneuver 1970 Datsun 510.

Porcelain sign makers "back in the day" took a LOT of pride in their finished product. A good rule of thumb is to study the quality and font of the lettering of the sign you're looking at. Letters should be even in size and not sloppy in appearance. With the cost of signs today, you certainly need to be wary of fake signs, many of these come from India, and are sold on Ebay I have attached 2 pictures-the first is a reproduction Studebaker sign, the second is an original. Take some time, and study the letters on each sign, particularly the "R" in service. Look at the spacing and differing size of the all letters on the first,the reproduction sign. And look at the letters on the original, you can spot the difference between the two. It takes time and practice, but you'll learn to be able to spot a reproduction, especially a poor one. Stay away from buying signs on Ebay.

Fantastic images, George Cole-thank you for sharing these

I know it's probably a long shot,but I need 1 (or two) Denman 8.20-15 Wide whitewall tires.Have an older set that is on my 1948 Cadillac,and one of the front tires suffered a road hazard I really like them,and want to keep a matched set on the car, so need one and would buy two or more if available. An older tire is fine,as they have been out of production for a while. Will be at Fall Hershey. Thank you. Jim (561) 373 7200

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1961 Renault Resort Special Jolly.12,00 miles.Newport Beach,California car.Excellent condition.One of 50 built,and much rarer (and cuter!) than a Fiat Jolly. $62,500 Jim (561) 373 7200

In the early 1970's,as a young,enthusiastic "car guy",I would go to every vintage car show I could attend.I frequently would see a yellow, early 1928 Model A "AR" Phaeton.I got to know the car's owner, Frank Hill,and eventually he shared the story of his car with me.An American who had emigrated to Australia in the late 1960's,he met his wife,Dot,in Australia,and eventually they both decided that they would relocate to the United States. Returning to the United States by ship,they were en route to their ship for their departure when Frank spotted the Model A, sitting for sale several blocks from the port. He had the driver stop,and he examined the freshly restored car. Much to his wife's surprise (at a minimum!),a deal was quickly struck for the purchase of the car. With all the challenges of shipping the car to the United States (I have all the shipping documents),eventually the car arrived at it's Port Everglades destination ,and was driven to their home in the West Palm Beach area.The car was subsequently used and enjoyed at many shows,and was a well-known car here in South Florida.Upon Frank's passing in the early 1980's, the Model A was sold to another local enthusiast,and after several years of enjoyment,the car was parked in his garage,where it remained until my purchase of the car for my collection in 2013. I have recently purchased a very nice original 1964 Supercharged Studebaker Avanti,and decided to put several cars up for sale as a result,one of them being a 1934 Packard 1100 that I have listed in this forum.The 1928 Model A is the early "AR" model with the "AR" features,and,being restored many years ago,has a great patina that is in keeping with the "vibe" of a Model A.As it is an older restoration,it is not a show car by any means,but a car that a lot of enjoyment and pleasure can be had with.And it is the desirable Phaeton body style.The car is priced firmly,and fairly,at $16,500.Please contact Jim at (561) 373 7200.

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1927 Austin 7, chassis number 36828, with Maythorn and Sons (coachbuilders for Bugatti, Delage, Minerva,Hispano Suiza, etc) coupe body, built for the Pulitzer family of New York publishing fame. Purchased for use at their home in Palm Beach, Florida and used by the Pulitzer family until 1935, when sold to J.C. Ohmer of West Palm Beach. The Austin was kept by Mr. Ohmer until 1969, when it was purchased by Mrs. Marjorie Greene, also of West Palm Beach. Mrs. Greene, with the help of her son Dick Greene, a well known restorer of vintage race cars and vintage motorcycles, restored the car over a period of 20 years. The car was carefully and painstakingly restored to it's correct original specifications,winning an AACA Senior award in 1989. During the car's restoration Mrs, Greene insisted upon keeping and restoring each and all of the car's original components. The car has a rich, dark blue body with black fenders and a black bonnet and scuttle. The car is equipped with it's original Elephant Motor Company bumpers, as well as it's Austin moto meter-style radiator cap. The fabric roof, dickie (rumble) seat and rear mounted spare wheel definitely give the car a handsome and formal appearance,. The quality of the restoration is still excellent,with light patina and light care-wear. The car's correct Bedford Cord upholstery still presents in good order. The car's original 747cc inline four engine runs well. Thanks to its rarity and outstanding history, this bespoke Austin was invited to the 2017 Boca Raton Concours d'elegance,where the car won an award in class. Mrs. Greene enthusiastically showed her Austin all over Florida through the 1990s, and it was invited the inaugural 1996 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Mrs. Greene would usually appear with her pride and joy wearing an Austin badge necklace and spark plug earrings, and she and the car were featured in a 1999 issue of British Driver magazine. The extensive file that accompanies this car includes many photos of Mrs. Greene with her beloved Austin.Being a car enthusiast from West Palm Beach, I remember her and the car very well.When the opportunity arose,I purchased the car and brought it back home to West Palm Beach. It is now time for me to pass this special car on to it's next caretaker. An extensive history file, that includes a hand-written bill of sale from Mr. Ohmer to Mrs. Greene in 1969, as well as recent receipts, will be included in the sale. Also included are original tools and a logbook documenting J.C. Ohmer’s maintenance from 1935-1938. The car was purchased from Mark Hyman at Hyman,Ltd.,so will post some of the photographs done professionally by Hyman Ltd. $37,500 Contact Jim at (561) 373 7200.