8E45E

Ken Purdy was an excellent automotive writer, and I have found many of his stories in True, Argosy, and even Playboy magazine (it was the August, 1967 issue where I learned of some of the more exotic makes I'd never heard of before, like Bizzarrini.) Unfortunately, he came down with some kind of chronic illness that left him in constant pain, and he decided to terminate his life early by his own hand in 1972. I recall it was in a 1973 Automobile Quarterly where there was a one-page tribute to him. Another well-written autobiography was 'The Longest Auto Race' by George Schuster in 1965; his personal account being part of the Thomas Flyer team in the 1908 New York-to-Paris race. And no one tested and described new cars the way Tom McCahill did in Mechanix Illustrated!!! Craig

It could have been the Ultraumatic transmission that was causing the grief that made a previous owner do a switch. Craig

Unsecured loads must be an epidemic: http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/quite-scary-driver-fined-for-unsecured-scrap-load-in-edmonton/ar-AAH5not?li=AAggNb9&ocid=iehp Craig

Congrats! You found the 'secret' serial number that was stamped on the chassis: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?68956-New-Secret-Serial-Number-Location-Or-not-per-CP&highlight=secret+serial It is common knowledge Studebaker used a Roman numeral 'I' for a number '1' in their serial numbers: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?105144-Turning-Wheels-Article-about-S-N-plate-I-used-fror-1&highlight=serial+1931 Craig

Attempted theft of cargo or sabotage does not absolve the vehicle operator of responsibility. State and Provincial laws require a daily walk-around of one's vehicle with a checklist when they are in fleet use. As a reminder, all the city vehicles and several oil company fleets have this immediately above the driver's outside door handle. https://www.westernsafetysign.com/products/vehicle-check Craig

Did you ever watch 'The French Connection'? Craig

Right! And when they die, they name public buildings and parks after them in their memory. Craig

I believe a hood with see-through panels was available to Studebaker dealers in 1951 to show off their new V8 engine. Of course, 1940 Pontiac one-upped them all with a see-through car: https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php/2011/06/07/the-tin-indian-that-wasnt-rm-to-offer-see-through-pontiac/ As did the 1968 Quasar Unipower even with see-through seats! http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/1968-quasar-unipower-the-car-to-be-seen-in/ Craig

Here is another '58 Villager: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?47835-Orphan-of-the-Day-01-15-1958-Edsel-Villager And a Round-Up: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?66875-Orphan-of-the-Day-11-14-1958-Edsel-Roundup Craig

Are there any references to Fisher Body Corporation being owned by General Motors in that publication, being dated '1927'? It appears to have been printed earlier before GM bought them out. Unless Fisher Body still had some previous non-GM contracts they had to finish fulfilling. Craig

Too bad Pebble Beach won't schedule a time for ' press (or professional) photographers only' with no other spectators around. The best photo in this set is the one of the gray '31 Bentley. Craig

Parker Brothers had a game where one could also be a Used Car Dealer: https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/dealers-choice-2/ Craig

Here's another Fiero home creation: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?46221-Remember-the-Wizard-of-Oz&highlight=fiero Craig

1911 Case in Moose Jaw, SK If that doesn't trip your trigger, perhaps this 1966 Chevrolet factory painted in Sunset Tan/Flambeau Red, genuine J.I.Case colors. Craig

Good one! How many MILLIONS would it have cost a film producer for NYC to close the Brooklyn Bridge to traffic, install rails with operating streetcars and add some horse-drawn wagons to the mix? Craig

Being from the Museum of Modern Art, one can bet it was restored and digitized to the best standards to the point of perhaps making it appear 'unauthentic' to some. And they would not lie about its age. Craig

I believe there is mention of it in a 1975 issue of the old Car Classics magazine, which was called "Quarter Century Chronicle", which had a listing of all new US and Canadian new cars from 1946 through 1971, or so. It included one-off eccentrics such as the Aurora, Sur-Vival, and backyard operations, including the Apollo, and Omega. Craig

Tell them they now make bathtubs with a door just for them!! https://www.wayfair.ca/American-Standard--52-x-30-Walkin-Soaking-Bathtub-3052OD.709.SLPC-L590-K~ASD10743.html?refid=GX181716672389-ASD10743&device=c&ptid=607588772370&targetid=pla-607588772370&network=g&ireid=64960009&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI69j11-KE5AIVdf_jBx1dOA5AEAYYASABEgIPZ_D_BwE Craig

Mike, bear with me on the issue date of that one. I quickly checked before running off to a meeting last night, and that particular article in the September, 1980 TW is strictly on 2R trucks. There is an another issue (which I will check again later for), which has the 'Body Drops Through the Decades' showing the famous hole in the floor of bodies being dropped from the second storey and mated to their chassis on the main floor. It covers several years from the 1920's to close to the end of production. Craig

Perhaps a Canadian Meteor, 1956 vintage. I believe that same trim was also used on a later Australian Ford. https://mystarcollectorcar.com/april-2018-1956-meteor-rideau-convertible-he-had-to-talk-the-wife-into-it/ Craig

Either check your September, 1980 Turning Wheels where there's a series of photos called 'Body Drops Through the Decades', or the Asa Hall/Richard Langworth book, 'The Studebaker Century' I believe there will be some photos of help. Craig

A lot of 'corporate' neckties are similar, and are never offered for sale. This includes the nice Coca Cola one with stitched old-style Coke bottles on it, and Moen Faucet's 'tap tie'. I really wanted to buy one of those Coca Cola neckties, but they have to be earned through sales results and would never be released for general sale. Craig

Sourcing it from Europe, not California would be one's best source for authentic material. Craig

You'll have to find the right buyer for them. If they're too old, they won't be safe enough to use on a vehicle. Perhaps someone will do a replica of a vintage Sears Auto Center and will want them to fill a tire rack and Allstate tire stands in front with them. Craig