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In the end, much of the Saturn line was re-badged Opels. That was one of my main disagreements over the organized bankruptcy of GM in 2009 where they had to shed Saturn and the dealer network. I feel the existing Saturn dealer network should have been retained and turned into GM 'Import' dealers, selling Opel, Holden, etc., since they almost were anyway. That way, the parts department would have already had stock in place, (at least for the Astra line), and very possibly, it would have increased sales for Opel and Holden where GM might not have had to spun off their European operations and closed down their Australian division. But its too late now. Craig

I agree 1972 is the best looking of the Mark IV series for those reasons stated above, though I would actually opt for a Mark III over a '72 Mark IV. The major reason I don't like the Mark IV is the one feature that started a 70's fad to the point it became tacky and worthless; the Opera window. (Though, if I remember right, one could actually have ordered a Mark IV 'Opera window delete', but even then, the opening rear windows still only retracted about an inch or two.) Craig

From City of Vancouver Archives: http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/as-auto-show-72-in-pacific-showmart-building-7 Craig

Here's the Production Order for a Studebaker truck with "mis-matched" front & rear tires from new in Post #58 here-------------> http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?104804-Cars-From-Our-Past/page2&highlight=marti I believe it was not uncommon for the rear to have much heavier-duty tires than the fronts. Craig

Here are some Sterlings with their hoods closed: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?58874-Orphan-of-the-Day-02-05-1923-Sterling-WB http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?50648-Orphan-of-the-Day-04-22-1935-Sterling-HC-140 http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?51181-Orphan-of-the-Day-05-11-1941-Sterling-Steel-Hauler Craig

I bet it was a station wagon or a convertible; the heaviest body style of the lot, which would account for the poor performance. Neither the Super Sport or the Hot Shot were available that early, and one can expect much better performance from the little two-seaters. Craig

I feel it is a right move for Ford at this time. The market has changed since the early 1990's when passenger cars were the norm. As of late, SUV's and light trucks command something like 63% of the market, and passenger cars only 37% of the market. Ford is still #1 with the F-series trucks. The profit margin on passenger cars is very thin on economy models (as BMC/British Leyland found out), compared to X-overs and SUV's which have a much higher return on investment for the automakers. Therefore, I can see Ford's reasoning over that decision. Perhaps the reason people prefer taller vehicles is because their kids are now taller? The SUV market is obviously too lucrative to be ignored by automakers who one would never expect to offer one, specifically, exotic/super-luxury car manufacturers, including Bentley, Maserati, Lamborghini, (although they did offer the LM002 much earlier.), and shortly, Rolls Royce. Craig

It could also be a Sterling Bullet. Craig

The top chrome Dodge script is from a '53 or '54 Canadian Dodge 'Regent', 'Crusader' or 'Mayfair'. Craig

At last year's MCACN show: Craig

I prefer to use the term "vintage" over 'antique' or 'classic' as they lines are very fuzzy defining the latter two when it come to vehicles. Craig

This is what bothers me about what I'm starting to see in recent years on calendars featuring vintage cars and trucks. For whatever reason, the licence plates are blanked out with an ugly white or black rectangle which totally take away from the photo. The sole reason of a licence plate is to be conspicuously displayed on the vehicle, as we all know what happens when it is missing or obscured. Unfortunately, some of these are YOM plates that are intentionally blanked out, which only add to that beautiful, professionally photographed vehicle is disappointingly blanked out for no real reason. Craig

This 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is long sold, but an excellent presentation of one of Cadillac's finest postwar models: https://www.leftcoastclassics.com/1966-cadillac-fleetwood/ It clearly shows the original owner's nameplate on the dash. Craig

There was an interesting article in Hemmings Classic Car on that fire, and how GM's divisions that used the Hydramatic, Lincoln, and the Independents had to cope: https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/2013/06/Component-Substitutions-and-Changing-Times/3725911.html Craig

I would definitely keep it all original as some others here have already said. There are very few factory painted in a tri-toned combination. The majority were two-tone. Craig

The old Car Classics publication had a nice Gardner article, circa 1974. I recall it was rather complete with lots of history of the company. Craig

That appears to be from a standard autowrecker's ball-type marking paint bottle. Automakers commonly used a grease marking crayon. Craig

A third generation Mopar A-body four door hardtop would have looked sharp! Too bad they never made one!! Craig

Does the 1946-'48 Sportsman qualify as of yet? Craig

I find I have MORE fun making my own 'tours' when there's a meet going on. Perhaps the best 'self-tour' for me was in 2007 was the Studebaker Drivers Club International Meet when myself and another club member from California went on a tour of the old Foundry. The lessee's of the facility were more than happy to show us around, and treated us like gold and asked 'when are the rest of you guys coming?' http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?6678-South-Bend-self-tour-2-The-Foundry&highlight=foundry Others took the bus tour to the ACD Museum, where I had been before, and others looked for something to do. After I posted my photos on the SDC Forum, I sure got some upset individuals who had no idea there was plenty of local stuff to see at the time that didn't cost a dime!! Craig

Now you get my point. Even though salt is used in places just east of the Rockies, the corrosion is not quite as bad as we have a drier climate, and it can get VERY cold in January/February which slows the corrosion process some. There are cars here that are 25 years old with still presentable bodies on them, but of course if one wishes to make such a purchase, it's still wise to look underneath it, and under the carpets, regardless where it's located. Craig

That proves that cars HAVE improved from the 1950's and 1960's. There has been much advancement made on rustproofing since that time, and on many cars, the two-stage paint job often still shines like new, (not counting cars where it has peeled off). Mechanically, they have improved as well, not to mention, the lubricants and seals used on them. Because of that, a lot of them are still presentable daily drivers, and their 'half-used-bar-of-soap' look keeps their design from looking dated. Yes, it is difficult getting my head wrapped around seeing a rather pristine original 1988 Chevette at a local car show regularly, in addition to a 1986 Dodge Aries that also appears regularly. It is then I have to remind myself these 80's cars are now 30 years old!! Craig

I have had flat sheet metal parts cut with a CNC machine after drawing them in Solidworks and saving as a .dxf file. Craig

Like this one I linked? http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?49896-Orphan-of-the-Day-03-27-1930-Isotta-Fraschini-Tipo-8A-Castagna Craig

I was there on three separate occasions; 1989, 1995, and 2010. I liked their selection of vehicles, especially in 1995 when they had "The Duesenberg Room" dedicated to Fred & Auggie's cars. It was supposedly the largest display of Duesenbergs in one place in the world at that time. More on one of the cars that were part of the collection here: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/252323-1937-duesenberg-j-of-father-divinewas-it-sold-cheap-by-mother-divine/ Craig